Stowe Thread

[hovercraft]

Was Stowe turning cars away on busy days?

(I haven't skied Stowe last season at all. On previous years, I was able to get in on weekends as late as 10am)

On busy days, meaning pow days, holidays snd mid winter weekends people couldn’t get up the mountain road in the morning . Most of those days it would take anywhere from 1 to 3 hrs getting to the mountain once they were off the highway.

 

[Smellytele]

On busy days, meaning pow days, holidays snd mid winter weekends people couldn’t get up the mountain road in the morning . Most of those days it would take anywhere from 1 to 3 hrs getting to the mountain once they were off the highway.

But were they turned around?

 

[hovercraft]

I guess that depends on how you define that. there wasn’t enough parking so some people waited in line until a spot opened up, some people turned around themselves before getting to the mountain and some people were told there was no more parking at the moment.

 

[drjeff]

What else to do is limit access further to low level Epic passes and cap day tickets via reservations. Every place that did so this winter had highly manageable crowds and traffic. Gunstock, Pats and Cannon were all fine on sell out days.

But Vail certainly doesn't care about crowding

Why don't they do it like town beaches on the Cape? Season parking pass for property owners is cheap, then gouge the tourists.

A bit more challenging with a ski resort, as some of the weekend regulars may drive an hour or so each way and not be property owners or long term renters in the area.

Vail would have to do something like they did 2 seasons ago where you had to designate your "home/primary" resort so if any COVID shut downs happened, then you might of be eligible for some form of compensation if you had reservations at that resort for those days.

Something that seems like it should be easy that isn't, which could result in a big overselling of parking passes and lead to those who paid for one, not getting a space on a day they want.


Happened to my wife on MLK Saturday this season at Mount Snow where she didn't feel like heading over to the mountain until late morning, and all of the paid parking was full, so our parking pass was useless that 1 day

 

[deadheadskier]

A bit more challenging with a ski resort, as some of the weekend regulars may drive an hour or so each way and not be property owners or long term renters in the area.

Vail would have to do something like they did 2 seasons ago where you had to designate your "home/primary" resort so if any COVID shut downs happened, then you might of be eligible for some form of compensation if you had reservations at that resort for those days.

Something that seems like it should be easy that isn't, which could result in a big overselling of parking passes and lead to those who paid for one, not getting a space on a day they want.


Happened to my wife on MLK Saturday this season at Mount Snow where she didn't feel like heading over to the mountain until late morning, and all of the paid parking was full, so our parking pass was useless that 1 day

No, this has nothing to do with Covid and wouldn't need a Covidesque response in strategy. That's ridiculous

Pass holders at Cannon, Gunstock and Pats could ski whenever they wanted last season. Day pass purchases required a reservation. It worked GREAT. Sold out days the mountains were all busy, but not overwhelming.

None of those mountains have widespread paid parking. They all have limited preferred paid seasonal parking areas. 95% of the parking remains free.

What Vail is doing at Stowe and what they've done at Mt Snow has ZERO to do with improving the customer experience or reducing traffic. Absolutely zero. Their statement otherwise is disingenuous bullshit. The policies are 100% a cash grab and nothing more than that.

 

[cdskier]

No, this has nothing to do with Covid and wouldn't need a Covidesque response in strategy. That's ridiculous

Pass holders at Cannon, Gunstock and Pats could ski whenever they wanted last season. Day pass purchases required a reservation. It worked GREAT. Sold out days the mountains were all busy, but not overwhelming.

None of those mountains have widespread paid parking. They all have limited preferred paid seasonal parking areas. 95% of the parking remains free.

What Vail is doing at Stowe and what they've done at Mt Snow has ZERO to do with improving the customer experience or reducing traffic. Absolutely zero. Their statement otherwise is disingenuous bullshit. The policies are 100% a cash grab and nothing more than that.

The only potential challenge I could see is that with the sheer number of Epic passes sold, even allowing pass holders to ski whenever they want while requiring day pass purchasers to make a reservation could potentially lead to the area still being overcrowded. Depends on how many people at Stowe on any given day are passholders vs day ticket holders. Hard to say for sure what would work without knowing the breakdown between those 2 groups. (And of course Vail would also need to set a reasonable limit on reservations to avoid overselling a day, which I'm not convinced they would do anyway).

In other news...I think drjeff has been completely assimilated by Vail now!

 

[hovercraft]

The elephant in the room, they want to monetize parking. If they really wanted to fix the crowds, sell less passes, or charge enough for the pass so it self regulates. I would rather pay 1500 for a pass then to spend 1500 total for pass plus parking fees. It just feels wrong, especially when you know they are being devious. Be truthful we see an opportunity to make more money and we are going to take advantage of that. Instead of hiding behind we want to help the overcrowding. It’s an insult to our intelligence.

 

[JimG.]

The elephant in the room, they want to monetize parking. If they really wanted to fix the crowds, sell less passes, or charge enough for the pass so it self regulates. I would rather pay 1500 for a pass then to spend 1500 total for pass plus parking fees. It just feels wrong, especially when you know they are being devious. Be truthful we see an opportunity to make more money and we are going to take advantage of that. Instead of hiding behind we want to help the overcrowding. It’s an insult to our intelligence.

This is the bottom line. Vail wants more money but doesn't want to raise the price on their stupid cheap pass. So there will be times you, as a "season passholder", can't ski because there is no room for you or your car.

I was just going to say that it makes no sense to "save" by buying a cheap megapass if you have to spend an equal amount just to park.

 

[hovercraft]

This is the bottom line. Vail wants more money but doesn't want to raise the price on their stupid cheap pass. So there will be times you, as a "season passholder", can't ski because there is no room for you or your car.

I was just going to say that it makes no sense to "save" by buying a cheap megapass if you have to spend an equal amount just to park.

Spot on, in essence they are saying buy our cheap pass but if you use it, we are going to charge you a penalty. WTF

 

[jimmywilson69]

BUTTTTTTT

They're being inclussive by making it "available" to all.

which by the way is such woke bullshit

 

[trackbiker]

I was just going to say that it makes no sense to "save" by buying a cheap megapass if you have to spend an equal amount just to park.

That's their whole business model. Sell cheap passes and make more money on food, lodging, lessons, rentals, parking.....
They'll add parking fees to as many areas as they can get away with. Why is anyone suprised?

 

[trackbiker]

BUTTTTTTT

They're being inclussive by making it "available" to all.

which by the way is such woke bullshit

It's not even true. And they know that. And it's not the customer they want.

 

[jimmywilson69]

anyone with a brain, knows its' not true. but it looks good on Social Media and press releases.

Let me say I'm all for as many people having access to the sport as possible. Sure the cheap pass model does open that door, but not like they are selling it and certainly not to the "markets" they are claim to be opening to. How are these people going to be able to pay to park once they've bought their cheap, yet still expensive season pass?

 

[flakeydog]

It's the Six Flags model, you can buy a summer pass for 2x a day ticket and pay $20-30 to park every time you go. Get you there, then nickel and dime you every step of the way. Come to think of it, it also the Spirit Airlines approach as well. Or a hotel that adds parking and "resort fees" to a room rate, usually to access an empty parking lot and sketchy pool/hot tub you couldn't pay me to get in.

So there you have it- Is Stowe/Vail now becoming the Spirit Airlines of skiing? Way to keep it classy Stowe!

 

[Vter]

Just an add-on
Skiing Stowe since my parents put me in leather boots, skis with screws holding metal edges & cable bindings…around 1967.
Traffic was brutal during the holidays…no toll-house lift to the Big. I loved that little hill, after “tucking” Toll Road last run off of the Single Chair, I was around 10 years old by myself. Hot Cocco and Toll House Cookies in Ski-up room. Best memories of my life (including 100 day yrs in BC) god I still have frostbite toes, earlobes & fingers that “lite up” to this day. God dam, I loved Stowe…sadly after making my dream come true of many years of moving to Stowe. So for 10, I moved ! It’s still kinda the same cool hills, but I hate the VAIL Vibe !
I moved between Smuggs & Jay and my life is Wonderfully Stowe Free. I have peace, not shitheads around me everyplace I go. Vermont is a wonderful State, I learned the long long way Stowe is not Vermont living….it’s nice fer sher but it is isn’t Vermont.
Not to be a downer fer shur…check out 20-30 miles out and then you’ll know what Vermont living is like. You got the Hills down the Road, you have a lifestyle that’s unbeatable. You got to be Strong, self sufficient or need not apply !
See ya around, I got a truck that will pull you out of a snowbank and also Change fer a Nickle.

 

[Vter]

Yup, I miss “ticket books” too. Buy a book of tickets, give a ticket to the booth master, ride-up. Didn’t matter who had the ticket, if you had a paid ticket, up you went. Give-a Ticket to your son, up he went. No ticket, no ride unless you cried ! Ahhh, the Good Old Days.
I remember Austrian ski instructors saying “no bathroom”…”you ski now” … yup, pee in my stretch DH racer pants, cry, and shut the fuck up & learn to ski ice well. I learned the hard way…however became a proficient skier at a young age and a happier one after about 10 years into 56 years of this thing we do about sliding down snow covered mountains on boards still Fun shit !

 

[Vter]

Noticed that it doesn't really seem like there is a Stowe thread.

My question is what do you think are some of the easier blacks on the mountain? Thanks

Upper Smuggs is awesome, drop into the trees to your left or right when filled in & test your skills. Can’t get into too much trouble there, but should you choose you can hit some hardy stuff and always know your on the way out. I learned that stuff earlier on in the 70’s, but always return as it’s often forgotten…and the run-out is outrageously fun & fast, should you choose to let ‘em Run

 

[Vter]

Yup, Upper Hay is good for the soul, just please stay away from standing on the head wall, I like to come in Fast

 

[cdskier]

Apparently Stowe won't be operating the zip line this summer. Not sure if it is related to the accident that occurred last year or if there's some other reason.

 

[Kingslug20]

Costs money