Okemo - RFID

[tnt1234]

Okemo has been pretty lax about checking tickets, even at the main base quads, and especially in singles lines. I'm never up there on holidays though, so they may be more thorough then. And they don't scan, to correct some earlier posts.

FWIW, they posted on Facebook that this wouldn't result in less jobs, and based on them rotating people to organize the lines/sit in the shack/stand at the loading line, I believe it. Maybe one or two less people at the Six that they can move elsewhere.

So looking at your stats, sounds like you are the man to ask....

Might be in Southern VT for a few days over X-mas break....safe to assume Okemo is every bit as crowded over the holiday as stratton?

I'd be there with kids. Haven't been there in many years. Last time was off holiday, midweek trip. How does Okemo do with the crowds? Is it just a mess, or can you get a fair amount of skiing in?

Thanks in advance....

 

[ss20]

So looking at your stats, sounds like you are the man to ask....

Might be in Southern VT for a few days over X-mas break....safe to assume Okemo is every bit as crowded over the holiday as stratton?

I'd be there with kids. Haven't been there in many years. Last time was off holiday, midweek trip. How does Okemo do with the crowds? Is it just a mess, or can you get a fair amount of skiing in?

Thanks in advance....

Both mountains get the reputation as being crowded with 20 minute waits. However there's always lifts that are less than 10 chair-waits even on the busiest of Saturday's I've been. South Face and Glades Peak are always the least crowded lifts on the mountain at Okemo. Also brings you to the best terrain.

 

[dlague]

Both mountains get the reputation as being crowded with 20 minute waits. However there's always lifts that are less than 10 chair-waits even on the busiest of Saturday's I've been. South Face and Glades Peak are always the least crowded lifts on the mountain at Okemo. Also brings you to the best terrain.

+1


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[spiderpig]

So looking at your stats, sounds like you are the man to ask....

Might be in Southern VT for a few days over X-mas break....safe to assume Okemo is every bit as crowded over the holiday as stratton?

I'd be there with kids. Haven't been there in many years. Last time was off holiday, midweek trip. How does Okemo do with the crowds? Is it just a mess, or can you get a fair amount of skiing in?

Thanks in advance....

But I'm never there on holidays. Seriously. But stick to the Green, Glades, Morning Star, Black, and Sachem chairs as much as you can from 9-3.

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[benski]

But I'm never there on holidays. Seriously. But stick to the Green, Glades, Morning Star, Black, and Sachem chairs as much as you can from 9-3.

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You literally just listed there fixed grips.


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[spiderpig]

You literally just listed there fixed grips.


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Actually, there are two more.

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[tnt1234]

Jackson Gore side get crowded? I remembered some good terrain over there.

 

[crank]

I find that Jackson Gore is less crowded early so it can be a good strategy to head over first thing. I like to park over there. Skied a day at Okemo last season between Christmas and New Year and it being a cold and blustery day, the heated bubble 6-pack chair was mobbed and nothing else had more than a 2 minute line.

 

[HD333]

Best plan of attack for busy days at Okemo based on our few years there is as follows:

Ride Sunburst 6 until a line forms, 9:00ish. Lap World Cup, Defiance.
Head to Jackson Gore, but not the base just the Quad, Jackson Gore doesn't seem to wake up until 10:00.
Once a line forms there make your way over to South Face. Riding Solitude/Green Ridge Triple on the way over for a few decent trails.

Green Ridge triple while slow usually has short lines and you can take it to the summit and head to South Face via Glades PeakQuad from there.


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[yeggous]

Best plan of attack for busy days at Okemo based on our few years there is as follows:

Ride Sunburst 6 until a line forms, 9:00ish. Lap World Cup, Defiance.
Head to Jackson Gore, but not the base just the Quad, Jackson Gore doesn't seem to wake up until 10:00.
Once a line forms there make your way over to South Face. Riding Solitude/Green Ridge Triple on the way over for a few decent trails.

Green Ridge triple while slow usually has short lines and you can take it to the summit and head to South Face via Glades PeakQuad from there.


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This is useful information. My wife and I are planning our annual pilgrimage to southern Vermont for the last weekend in January. I am very hesitant to go anywhere in that area because I can't stand the prices and lift lines. We're accustomed to skiing in New Hampshire, so this is a big shock to us.

Last year for our Vermont trips we visited:
1) MRG, Sugarbush
2) Magic, Stratton
3) Burke, Jay

This year I am considering swapping out Stratton for Okemo or Killington. I could be convinced to ditch Magic too if the snow is not good.

My issues with Okemo in the past are related to lift lines on the weekend. The place is an absolute zoo. What length of lines should I be expecting with your recommended strategy? Would I be better off going to Bromley or Killington?

 

[Tin]

This is useful information. My wife and I are planning our annual pilgrimage to southern Vermont for the last weekend in January. I am very hesitant to go anywhere in that area because I can't stand the prices and lift lines. We're accustomed to skiing in New Hampshire, so this is a big shock to us.

Last year for our Vermont trips we visited:
1) MRG, Sugarbush
2) Magic, Stratton
3) Burke, Jay

This year I am considering swapping out Stratton for Okemo or Killington. I could be convinced to ditch Magic too if the snow is not good.

My issues with Okemo in the past are related to lift lines on the weekend. The place is an absolute zoo. What length of lines should I be expecting with your recommended strategy? Would I be better off going to Bromley or Killington?

Ever consider Pico? Cheap, steep, long runs, and little to no lines.

 

[crystalmountainskier]

Back on topic- Vail isn't using RFID to estimate lift wait times. They are using location data from guests' smartphones with the EpicMix App installed.

 

[tnt1234]

Best plan of attack for busy days at Okemo based on our few years there is as follows:

Ride Sunburst 6 until a line forms, 9:00ish. Lap World Cup, Defiance.
Head to Jackson Gore, but not the base just the Quad, Jackson Gore doesn't seem to wake up until 10:00.
Once a line forms there make your way over to South Face. Riding Solitude/Green Ridge Triple on the way over for a few decent trails.

Green Ridge triple while slow usually has short lines and you can take it to the summit and head to South Face via Glades PeakQuad from there.


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Good info - thanks.

 

[yeggous]

Ever consider Pico? Cheap, steep, long runs, and little to no lines.

Good suggestion. I have Ski VT passes so ticket cost isn't a huge deal. All the extras are the killer. I haven't been to Pico in several years.


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[thetrailboss]

Bump.

So now that the season has begun and Snowbird's system is up online I figured I would respond. A lot of places out here have RFID--Squaw Valley, all the Vail Resorts, Brighton, Solitude, Alta, and now Snowbird.

I first used RFID at Zermatt in 2002 I thought it was pretty cool and efficient. Made for a nice souvenir as well.

In terms of season passes, Alta was my first RFID pass. Except for the very first day where there was a 3 second pause for the system to recognize my Alta/Bird pass, there were no issues.

This Saturday on my first outing of the season, with a new Alta-Bird pass, the Alta folks were proactive and encouraged folks to walk up and ensure that their passes opened the gates before they opened the lift. I did so and no issue. Overall, I saw no real issues for anyone this weekend. They are able to see on their tablets who is going through the gates and kid passes are color coded so that they can tell if an adult is using a kid's pass. For season passes they see the picture of the passholder for quick ID. Pretty cool.

The Bird's system is now exactly the same. No issues. Kept my pass in my coat all day long and had no issues at any gates. My wife's Alta pass allows her to track her runs....Vail's program is insane in this regard because it Emails you your stats at the end of the day.

As for day passes, some have been finicky with me, but overall no major problems. I had one day in 2012 or 2013 at Alta where my day pass got too close to my phone and might have gotten screwed up, but they fixed it.

So for me it is great. Love it. Makes my life a whole lot easier. Now at Snowbird I don't have to pull my pass out on every run or deal with scanners that sometimes don't work or read right.

I have not read all the comments, but I wonder why folks complain--paying extra for a day pass? Problems with day passes? Seems like a first world problem to me, but to each their own.

 

[jimmywilson69]

Its whining that happens on ski forums, which as you know are comprised of about 2% of the skiing population.

I personally can't see why a resort wouldn't implement it. The same scanner jobs still exist, just watching a computer screen instead.

 

[billski]

The problem with Jay is that the readers don't go low enough toward the ground. Lots of children have problems because of this..

Resorts that get big dumps readily solve this problem by digging the rfid gates out.

 

[thetrailboss]

Its whining that happens on ski forums, which as you know are comprised of about 2% of the skiing population.

I personally can't see why a resort wouldn't implement it. The same scanner jobs still exist, just watching a computer screen instead.

Lots of reasons why they'd implement it.

Deterrence of theft
Less labor (they only have one monitor or two for the gates now instead of 3 or 4)
Information, information, information (which lifts are used most, where a person skis, etc)

But it is a very expensive system.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I'm sure it is expensive, but it hasn't stopped many resorts from implementing it. Obviously a place like Killington that has many access points it would be a huge expense. But would it save them from people not paying? I'm not sure how many people actually aren't paying.

 

[thetrailboss]

I'm sure it is expensive, but it hasn't stopped many resorts from implementing it. Obviously a place like Killington that has many access points it would be a huge expense. But would it save them from people not paying? I'm not sure how many people actually aren't paying.

Very true. Makes me wonder if the information is what is driving resorts to implementing it--knowing their skier's needs and habits in order to better deliver and plan operations.