Mountain Creek

[Brettski]

I'll go there maybe once a season, on a weekday, if I'm sure school is in session, just for a different place to ski. In about a month and a half I'm actually moving about 5 minutes away from MC but I'll still drive the extra 5 minutes to Hidden Valley if I want to go somewhere close.

Our company used to sponsor a race team on Tuesday nights I believe it was...at hidden...very tiny place

Still family run?

 

[JesusBuiltMyCrotchRod]

been there mountain biking
been there skiing

just dont like the place

MC skiing..Bad.
Diablo mountain biking...epic.

 

[Method9455]

Hidden almost went out of business but they survived. Its not that bad, only a few trails but no crowds. No high speed lifts either but you can get more runs per hour at HV on a slow lift than MC on a fast lift because the lift lines are so insane.

 

[ERJ-145CA]

Our company used to sponsor a race team on Tuesday nights I believe it was...at hidden...very tiny place

Still family run?

They were bought by a couple of guys from Newton over the summer, their projected opening is 12/15.

 

[Dr Skimeister]

They were bought by a couple of guys from Newton over the summer, their projected opening is 12/15.

There are some mounds of snow at the top of the 3 summit trails that are visable from down in Vernon. It doesn't look like any appreciable trail cover yet.

 

[millerm277]

There are some mounds of snow at the top of the 3 summit trails that are visable from down in Vernon. It doesn't look like any appreciable trail cover yet.

Their cam picture makes it look like they're definitely working at it though.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Their cam picture makes it look like they're definitely working at it though.

That's a big mo-fo whale..December 15th is an awfully late opening date based on the weather we've had...

 

[ERJ-145CA]

Yeah, I was hoping they would open earlier but maybe the new owners are being conservative with it being their first time owning a ski area. They probably want to make sure the mountain is in great shape for their opening. I noticed they lowered the prices of lift tickets, weekday tickets last year were $35, this year they're $19.

 

[Dr Skimeister]

It's probably been 10 yrs since I last skiied Hidden Valley. I might check it out this winter. I wish the new owners the best of luck. Timing is good for them with the changes down the street at MC possibly pushing some non-park-playing clientele away. I think the key will be the quality of the snow they're able to make or the blessing of Ma Nature.

 

[tekweezle]

night skiing is probably their best quality.

not too far of a drive from metro ny area is good or bad depending on how you see it.

 

[ERJ-145CA]

Here is a blurb about MC from the skier news on skiernet.com:

New Jersey weighs in -- looking good for opening this weekend at Mountain Creek; skiers are taking a wait-and-see approach with the ill-advised switcheroo. Creek is trying to move the edgy youth crowd to "South," where the trails don't suit the park'n'pipe crowd, and moving the old-schoolers to "Vernon," where the infrastructure doesn't suit anybody. If nothing else, Intrawest resorts across the country have perfected the art of far-flung parking lots and converted school buses. That's what people want when they go skiing, isn't it?

http://www.skiernet.com/skiing-news.html

 

[millerm277]

That says it well, I think it will only last this year until they change back to the old set-up.

 

[Rob A]

In the past, MC was a pretty decent place. Weekday nights especially were always good WHEN EVERYTHING IS OPEN.

MC has severely struggled the last couple seasons, and hasn't been 100% open in the last 2-3 years, and that's with only 45 trails (seems like less every year). When it was VV/GG before the merger, there were 52 trails, MC cut out a different trail almost every season (moon spin, granite view, etc.). So much for the old 5 year plan that stated there would be a bunch of expert terrain only added to Granite with a new lift off of Southern Sojourn, that was like 9 years ago. No progress has been made on that project.

MC was always good on weekday nights, and weekend mornings were manageable with the season pass ($179 for me). You could ski from 8-12 until it go REALLY crowded, then just call it a day. I live 25 mi away, so it was always worth it. Last year I would ski there 2-3 times weekly, usually Tues, Thurs, Sun.

Here's the problems with MC to date. As always, they wait WAY TO LONG to open ANY decent terrain. South and Bear were always pretty good, and opened first. I could enjoy the early season because South and Bear were exceptable until the real good terrain over on Vernon (Zero G, Eagle Hunt, Lower Eagle, Great Northern Area) and Granite (Pipeline, Devil's Bit) got going. The last 2 seasons, MC waited till way into Feb to open their BY FAR 2 best runs, that being Pipeline and Devil's Bit. Zero G is also one hell of a run, but it would also be one of the last to open, and now it's a race zone, so one of Creek's best trails is lost. The crowds are often unmanagable at times on Weekends, it can get REALLY bad. The gondola on vernon, as well as the smelly "temporary" tent lodge are horrible, as is Vernon's parking. South has the better lodge and parking, but that is now lost, as South and Bear this season have become terrain parks.

I can't find much good about MC this year. My season pass went from $179 to $299, and for what? Getting rid of half the resort? I fear what the early season will be like. I usually always go opening weekend, and NOTHING worth skiing is planned to be open. Hell with all this cold weather they haven't blown ANY snow on all of Granite peak, or ANY trails worth skiing on Vernon. How retarded is it to open South/Bear and Vernon without a way to get between them? South and Bear will have some decent runs open, but it's park terrain, so who knows.

I don't know what I'm going to do this weekend, I'm not skiing that piddly shit at Vernon. So I think I'll go over to South and play dodgeboard and try to make the day somewhat enjoyable. If they know what's good for them, they will get all of the runs people want open ASAP. It's only Dec, and they are already pissing me off. I'm not optimistic for this season.

So what's good about MC in summary? Granite peak is really nice, as is Vernon (when uncrowded) on a Weekday when EVERYTHING is open. South/Bear were good, but they are now lost. Expect to wait well into Jan or Feb before Vernon and Granite really get going. Pipeline is one hell of a trail, who knows when it and others will get going this year.

 

[trainlazz]

I have a co-worker on the ski patrol there and I learned how to ski there 4 seasons ago. I haven't been back in 2 seasons and I'll never go back. "Jersey Powder" as my co-worker sarcastically calls it looks like the sugar in the raw that you get at Starbucks!
About the only thing I will miss about the area is the sunday brunch buffet at the George Inn just up the road from the place. Mmmm...fifteen bucks and I waddle out of there every time!

 

[Method9455]

Rob I'd be wary of that plan. They are going to make the south and bear lifts "park pass only" to avoid people "just skiing through the park". I'm on a crusade to prevent people "just skiing through the park" because my best friend hurt his neck because of it, but I totally feel your plan. This whole setup is ridiculous. That being said - there won't be much of a park so hypothetically itd be a good idea to hit south, but they might make you buy a park pass for it. I dunno when that restriction is going into effect.

 

[kingslug]

I learned to ski there...........that is all.

 

[gladerider]

skiied there a lot during the 80's. not being harsh to the park rats. the rats in MC are spoiled brats hormonally out of control. if you have little kids, AVOID. they will get run over. they will get hurt.
here is my logic as to why they had to raise the season ticket. so many cheap season ticket holding park rats pissing off normal customers.

 

[Rob A]

Well MC opens today. 12 trails are open, Vernon and South are open, Granite and Bear are closed. I'm surprised Bear is closed with all the snowmaking they did on it. And according to their snow report, the guns are finally going one decent trail atleast (zero g). But that's the race trail this year, so it's not like we will even get to ski it often. And still not a drop of snow on Granite, how do they plan to have skiers migrate from peak to peak with no connection?

 

[millerm277]

And still not a drop of snow on Granite, how do they plan to have skiers migrate from peak to peak with no connection?

Shuttles? Or driving between peaks....

 

[JesusBuiltMyCrotchRod]

No superpipe this season. Not an ounce of snow has been made in it and guns have been removed. hmmm, wonder why they don't tell passholders this in advance?