Middlebury Snow Bowl

[Smellytele]

Always had a good time there

 

[Carl_Greig]

Middlebury Snow Bowl allegedly opening Wednesday December 11th at 09:00. Per the Ski Middlebury app.
Their website www.middleburysnowbowl.com has been down for several days. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[thetrailboss]

Middlebury Snow Bowl allegedly opening Wednesday December 11th at 09:00. Per the Ski Middlebury app.
Their website www.middleburysnowbowl.com has been down for several days. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The site is working now and is saying that they are planning on opening Wednesday.

Conditions – A Vermont Original

www.middleburysnowbowl.com

 

[Zand]

The site is working now and is saying that they are planning on opening Wednesday.

Conditions – A Vermont Original

www.middleburysnowbowl.com

???
They had a week and a half of perfect conditions to get open and they're going to open on a day with 2-4" of rain?

 

[thetrailboss]

???
They had a week and a half of perfect conditions to get open and they're going to open on a day with 2-4" of rain?

Yeah, that also confused me.

 

[Carl_Greig]

Does anyone have any info on whether the Bailey's Falls lift is going to run this season? They said in an email in August that they have the part they needed and are going to get it fixed but, it seems like nothing is happening. The blue barrels at the bottom seem like they haven't moved in years.

Thanks

 

[thetrailboss]

Does anyone have any info on whether the Bailey's Falls lift is going to run this season? They said in an email in August that they have the part they needed and are going to get it fixed but, it seems like nothing is happening. The blue barrels at the bottom seem like they haven't moved in years.

Thanks

I think they are waiting for snow. And maybe a load test. It’s all natural back there. But I know that they were committed to running it.

 

[drjeff]

My daughter was racing up at Middlebury last weekend. She said, and from the pictures of the bases of her SL skis she was free skiing on after her race runs on some of the natural snow terrain on the main side, the natural snow terrain is close, but still needs a little more snow to get solid coverage, especially in/along some water bar areas and crests of ridges/knolls that are in wind exposed areas. Hopefully the next few days will deliver that extra natural they need to get the Bailey's Falls pod open

 

[Carl_Greig]

I agree the snowpack is not quite there to run Bailey's Falls right now. I'm just curious if they are on track to run it this season. I think it was last February when they finally communicated to passholders that the lift was broken and not going to run at all for the 23-24 season.

They then announced last August that it will be refurbished, so I bought a pass again.

Exciting Updates Coming to Bailey Falls – A Vermont Original

www.middleburysnowbowl.com

This season they raised pass and ticket prices, which I have no problem with if all the lifts are actually running. But, without that third chairlift at the bowl the ski pass maths don't make sense for me, as Bolton is the same drive time, has more operating days and hours and is cheaper.

Neither of these updates form today address what's going on with Bailey's Falls and I'm starting to feel like they are doing a bait and switch again.
https://www.middleburycampus.com/ar...ass-prices-by-90-plans-to-install-rfid-system https://archive.ph/0QqhF
https://us18.campaign-archive.com/?u=4ae7a1d1f22de9289384b1218&id=fb9542b6b2 https://archive.ph/ceoZ0

 

[AdironRider]

Sounds like the Bailey Falls chair needed a bit more than just one part. Got a new drive, controller, haul rope, plus a myriad of other parts. Passed load test this week, just needs final inspection (and as other stated, just a bit more snow since its all natural). Historically Bailey's doesn't run till Feb on average so they seem on track given the challenges of repair to me.

In terms of pricing a Midd season pass is 529 (or 599 which gets you an under 18 pass as well), while a Bolton pass is 929 (769 local rate) or 879 without night skiing. Day tickets are 55 bucks at Midd vs. 99 at Bolton (peak rates are higher but have the same spread effectively in price). That is a pretty significant difference in pricing....

 

[thetrailboss]

I agree the snowpack is not quite there to run Bailey's Falls right now. I'm just curious if they are on track to run it this season. I think it was last February when they finally communicated to passholders that the lift was broken and not going to run at all for the 23-24 season.

They then announced last August that it will be refurbished, so I bought a pass again.

Exciting Updates Coming to Bailey Falls – A Vermont Original

www.middleburysnowbowl.com

This season they raised pass and ticket prices, which I have no problem with if all the lifts are actually running. But, without that third chairlift at the bowl the ski pass maths don't make sense for me, as Bolton is the same drive time, has more operating days and hours and is cheaper.

Neither of these updates form today address what's going on with Bailey's Falls and I'm starting to feel like they are doing a bait and switch again.
https://www.middleburycampus.com/ar...ass-prices-by-90-plans-to-install-rfid-system https://archive.ph/0QqhF
https://us18.campaign-archive.com/?u=4ae7a1d1f22de9289384b1218&id=fb9542b6b2 https://archive.ph/ceoZ0

Thanks for posting those links. Looks like the manager who was working to expand offerings and actually improve the place left and has been replaced by someone from Dartmouth. As an alum, I’ve skied the Snow Bowl a fair amount. It’s intended to be a racing facility while offering recreational skiing for locals and the school community. Only recently have they refocused to market the place to the public and their recent upgrades (new Sheehan Chair, snowmaking upgrades, lighting) are very significant for them.

Additionally, the school administration made it clear that the area needed to generate more revenue and stop being a cost center.

So yes the rates have increased but so has the scope of the operations.

 

[Carl_Greig]

Sounds like the Bailey Falls chair needed a bit more than just one part. Got a new drive, controller, haul rope, plus a myriad of other parts. Passed load test this week, just needs final inspection (and as other stated, just a bit more snow since its all natural). Historically Bailey's doesn't run till Feb on average so they seem on track given the challenges of repair to me.

In terms of pricing a Midd season pass is 529 (or 599 which gets you an under 18 pass as well), while a Bolton pass is 929 (769 local rate) or 879 without night skiing. Day tickets are 55 bucks at Midd vs. 99 at Bolton (peak rates are higher but have the same spread effectively in price). That is a pretty significant difference in pricing....

Passing load test is very reassuring and I get that this referb was a not cheap or easy task. I didn't know Bailey's falls typically doesn't run until February. In my defense, this is my third season there and I have never seen that lift turn. I misspoke in regards to Bolton being cheaper. What I meant is that with the larger and longer night operation, more lifts/trails and the addition of Monday Tuesday operations, the Bolton pass is the overall greater value option. With Bailey's Falls in play, the Snowbowl pass is fairly priced and continues to make sense for me.

I fell in love with The Snowbowl my first time there. I'm very much looking forward to riding Baileys Falls and finally accessing the terrain it serves. I've asked the front desk, as well as patrolers and instructors I've met on the chairlift and nobody could tell me if the backside terrain was going to happen this year. Thank you AdronRider for clearing this up and thank you to thetrailboss and drjeff as well!

​

 

[Smellytele]

Will be hitting it up early March. Been a few times before and always had fun. Glad the other lift should be good to go!

 

[Getskied]

I am surely alone in this opinion and my personal preference for more surface lifts but in a world without money or consequence I’d decommission the Bailey Falls lift and put a t-bar back where the old surface lift was to send skiers back to the frontside. Turn the entire pod into the sidecountry-esque experience it wants to become and run it on less snow as well (and stop investing in an old chairlift that runs at best about 15 days per winter, or figure out a way to defy all odds and rational investment advice and get a snowmaking trail back there permitted. BTW I do remember snow guns running on upper Youngman when I raced at MSB in the early 1990s; perhaps I’m the only one).

My other uninformed opinion is that if there is enough natural snow to have the entire frontside open then the backside shouldn’t be closed due to lack of snow. It makes for a nice quiet and scenic touring experience instead but even when the lift does run I think it’s only on weekends, and the Bowl is closed altogether on Mon/Tue.

 

[thetrailboss]

I am surely alone in this opinion and my personal preference for more surface lifts but in a world without money or consequence I’d decommission the Bailey Falls lift and put a t-bar back where the old surface lift was to send skiers back to the frontside. Turn the entire pod into the sidecountry-esque experience it wants to become and run it on less snow as well (and stop investing in an old chairlift that runs at best about 15 days per winter, or figure out a way to defy all odds and rational investment advice and get a snowmaking trail back there permitted. BTW I do remember snow guns running on upper Youngman when I raced at MSB in the early 1990s; perhaps I’m the only one).

My other uninformed opinion is that if there is enough natural snow to have the entire frontside open then the backside shouldn’t be closed due to lack of snow. It makes for a nice quiet and scenic touring experience instead but even when the lift does run I think it’s only on weekends, and the Bowl is closed altogether on Mon/Tue.

You’re right about the snowmaking on the upper most part of Youngman’s. They need to run that line down to the base. They also need to run one down from Sheehan. Considering the aggressive marketing and night skiing addition, adding snowmaking is not that crazy of an idea.

 

[Carl_Greig]

I've had two people who live nearby tell me that there are plans in the works to bring snowmaking infrastructure to the backside terrain. Pipes as well as another pond. It's just a rumor and should be treated as such but, I trust and respect the sources. The future seems bright for this little hidden gem.

 

[thetrailboss]

I've had two people who live nearby tell me that there are plans in the works to bring snowmaking infrastructure to the backside terrain. Pipes as well as another pond. It's just a rumor and should be treated as such but, I trust and respect the sources. The future seems bright for this little hidden gem.

The new manager, who ran the place in 2023 and 2024, had some serious ambitions and energy. It was great. He was interviewed by the Storm Podcast last year. The night skiing has really taken off.

Having grown up in the NEK, I was ready for a bigger skiing experience, which was Sugarbush for me. I skied a fair amount at the Snow Bowl, but having a car and being close to Killington/Pico and Sugarbush gave me options.

Again, the biggest regret was not completing the ski patrol course/OEC training and working there.

 

[Carl_Greig]

Mike was solid for sure. I can't blame him for going where the money is and I hope he is doing well. I haven't yet met the new manager or even seen her around. The student patrol thing seems really cool. I dig the blue patrol jackets.

 

[thetrailboss]

Mike was solid for sure. I can't blame him for going where the money is and I hope he is doing well. I haven't yet met the new manager or even seen her around. The student patrol thing seems really cool. I dig the blue patrol jackets.

Where did he go?

 

[Carl_Greig]

Where did he go?

He is now manager at https://www.oakhilloutdoorcenter.org/

Newsletter #19

Friends of Oak Hill Newsletter #19Summer is here and there is a lot happening at Oak Hill. Most important, we on the Board of Directors are delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Hussey as the General Manager of the Center. Some of you know Mike, who joins the OHOC from Middlebury...

www.oakhilloutdoorcenter.org