Summer 2024 improvements

[zyk]

Belleayre is adding a learning area at the top of the mountain. I'll be there next weekend to take my granddaughter on her first gondola ride and picnic up top. Will report back. Hopefully no clear cutting involved.

 

[x10003q]

Belleayre is adding a learning area at the top of the mountain. I'll be there next weekend to take my granddaughter on her first gondola ride and picnic up top. Will report back. Hopefully no clear cutting involved.

While Belleayre is also adding a restroom next to the new top gondola repair/ski patrol building, there is nothing in the UMP about adding a warming hut near this beginner conveyor lift at the top. The 'trail' is 112ft wide and 285ft in length with an 8% slope and right next to the topof the gondola. I wonder what they think is going to happen when the beginners/kids using this area need a warmup/food break/weather break? Back down the gondola? The only lodge at the top of Belleayre is the Sunset Lodge and that is about a flat 1/2 mile from the top of the gondola. Are they expecting beginners to pole 1/2 mile to the Sunset Lodge for an indoor break and, since there is no green trail down from the top, pole 1/2 mile back to take the gondola down ?

ORDA probably could have found a flat beginner area near the Overlook Lodge to serve the same purpose of having early season snowmaking for beginners.







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[kbroderick]

Meh.. a row or 2 of b-net will do the job, and not cause the snowmakers and groomers as many issues... signed a "professional" b-net setter and roller...

If fan guns are the plan, it should be probably be a double net.

The pipes can be buried under the snow (if they're willing to make enough), as Sunday River does with the race arena spur on the bottom third of Monday Mourning. Fixed fan guns limit the helpfulness of that, though, as you'd still need to protect them (and with normal fan spacing, you'd need a continuous string of nets because they'd be too close to effectively spot net).

 

[cdskier]

ORDA probably could have found a flat beginner area near the Overlook Lodge to serve the same purpose of having early season snowmaking for beginners.

They also wanted beginners to be able to have the experience of taking the gondola to the top so they could say they went to the top of the mountain. Putting something near Overlook lodge doesn't check that box.

(FWIW, personally I thought that was an odd reason to use as one of the justifications for putting a beginner area at the very top).

 

[slatham]

Bromley:

New Kliks on Upper Twister, including 2 new/added tower pedestals where there had been a gap between hydrants, so added capacity to a critical area. Not yet sure exactly how many new Kliks in total will be installed.

4 new pedestals for permanent towers on top section of upper corkscrew (prior tower guns were actually sled towers). I believe these will all be Kliks. There may be some further down the trail as well.

New pedestals on lower most lower boulevard with 2 new/additional hydrants for added capacity. Plus 2 new/added towers where hydrants already exist.

Replaced water pipe on upper twister, which is not only for Twister but is the primary up line for anything off the summit.

Replaced one of their pumps with a brand new, high end pump.

New rope for East Meadow double, looks like the rope will be swapped out this week.

Avalanche Glade cleared of last years tree downfall, dead trees, and underbrush.

 

[machski]

If fan guns are the plan, it should be probably be a double net.

The pipes can be buried under the snow (if they're willing to make enough), as Sunday River does with the race arena spur on the bottom third of Monday Mourning. Fixed fan guns limit the helpfulness of that, though, as you'd still need to protect them (and with normal fan spacing, you'd need a continuous string of nets because they'd be too close to effectively spot net).

Race arena pipes at SR are not buried under snow, they are buried under ground. They dig out the pipe connections and hook up hydrants and stand pipe prior to each season. Once they make enough, they come in and remove the header pipes and hydrants after that line is drained. Seems like that is extra man hours but they claim it is minimal.

 

[doublediamond]

A lot of areas out west do that same thing with temporary hydrants.

 

[slatham]

Stratton has some significant improvements, notably 160 Kliks.

Stratton Mountain Capital Expenditures - What's New For Winter 24-25 - STRATTON MOUNTAIN BLOG

Stratton Mountain Capital Expenditures are over $20 million for 24-25, enhancing multiple facets of the guest and employee experience.

blog.stratton.com

 

[slatham]

Magic

New tower guns on Lower Magic Carpet and Show Off. 45 in total so I would guess some would be on other trials. Heard they came from Killington, with some discussion about maybe getting more.

 

[Newpylong]

Stratton has some significant improvements, notably 160 Kliks.

Stratton Mountain Capital Expenditures - What's New For Winter 24-25 - STRATTON MOUNTAIN BLOG

Stratton Mountain Capital Expenditures are over $20 million for 24-25, enhancing multiple facets of the guest and employee experience.

blog.stratton.com

Man I guess they were really hurting for content:

"KLIK greatly enhances snow quality at given temperatures"

Absolutely cockamamie lol. They're fricken hydrants that have no bearing on snow quality.

 

[kbroderick]

Race arena pipes at SR are not buried under snow, they are buried under ground. They dig out the pipe connections and hook up hydrants and stand pipe prior to each season. Once they make enough, they come in and remove the header pipes and hydrants after that line is drained. Seems like that is extra man hours but they claim it is minimal.

Ah, fair point. For some reason I was thinking some of that line was sitting on the ground.

It's worth noting that once the hydrants get pulled, it's incredibly unlikely that you get any more snowmaking there even if the season goes to crap.

 

[WoodCore]

Man I guess they were really hurting for content:

"KLIK greatly enhances snow quality at given temperatures"

Absolutely cockamamie lol. They're fricken hydrants that have no bearing on snow quality.

Agree on the snow quality but, it did lend to increased quantities being laid down last season on the trails equipped with the new hydrants. Stratton was more willing to turn em on for shorter windows.

 

[slatham]

Man I guess they were really hurting for content:

"KLIK greatly enhances snow quality at given temperatures"

Absolutely cockamamie lol. They're fricken hydrants that have no bearing on snow quality.

Perhaps they mean the pre-set levels reduce human error and thus increase snow quality. But I agree with your over point…

Quantity of snow given a certain window is a huge win.

 

[Newpylong]

The (preset) stages already existed on the built-in valves before Klik. All Klik does is consolidate air/water to one handle and migrate the mixing to that handle. There is no change to snow quality, just startup and shutdown time, and obviously safety.

 

[Abominable]

We've spoken a bit about efforts to reinvigorate little Holiday Mountain in Monticello / Bridgeville NY. According to an emailed newsletter they are cutting some trails, adding some snowmaking infrastructure and adding a new quad.

http://link.skiholidaymtn.com/m/1/58420246/02-b24276-00691c2cdc364be09d34ef56a6ffe5d5/1/570/cd82873a-2282-4f32-ad65-f0a2723a6068#

 

[KustyTheKlown]

We've spoken a bit about efforts to reinvigorate little Holiday Mountain in Monticello / Bridgeville NY. According to an emailed newsletter they are cutting some trails, adding some snowmaking infrastructure and adding a new quad.

http://link.skiholidaymtn.com/m/1/58420246/02-b24276-00691c2cdc364be09d34ef56a6ffe5d5/1/570/cd82873a-2282-4f32-ad65-f0a2723a6068#

$400 antique double chairs for sale on there

one of the first places ive ever skied. only place where i have ever seen hasids skiing

 

[machski]

Ah, fair point. For some reason I was thinking some of that line was sitting on the ground.

It's worth noting that once the hydrants get pulled, it's incredibly unlikely that you get any more snowmaking there even if the season goes to crap.

True, when China why they bury RA side in prior to pulling the hydrants. If it does go to crap, they just make a massive amount on MM and plow it over with the cats after the pull.

 

[tnt1234]

Belleayre is adding a learning area at the top of the mountain. I'll be there next weekend to take my granddaughter on her first gondola ride and picnic up top. Will report back. Hopefully no clear cutting involved.

Where exactly are they putting this trail?

 

[Newpylong]

Top of the gondola.

 

[tnt1234]

Top of the gondola.

Off the back side?