Superpasses: more crowds?

[Smellytele]

Although I have skied at some of the mega pass areas (killington, wildcat, Sunday river and Loon) already this year, my pass is at Cannon. I plan to ski Burke, smuggs, MRG, and Bolton this year as well.


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[Greg]

I have to agree with BG...10 minutes was an eternity yesterday. Skied all day at Belleayre, snowed more overnight and during the morning, all lifts ski on all day. In fact, in 3 days I skied there this week I never had a lift partner other than the folks I skied with.

Megapasses certainly do increase crowd sizes.

Let me clarify. 2 rides on the north face were about a 10 minute lift ride, both around 10:45-11:15. 2 others when we did hit the front after lunch waiting for the summit quad were maybe 10 minutes (I'm guessing; I didn't time any, but it certainly wasn't a frustrating wait). The rest were well under 5 minutes and several were ski-on. I remember much worse waits over the years; granted it is early season still so we'll see. All I know is I'm tired today and feel satisfied with my ski day yesterday. No waits at all wouldn't have allowed me to ski any harder or any longer than I did.

 

[JimG.]

Let me clarify. 2 rides on the north face were about a 10 minute lift ride, both around 10:45-11:15. 2 others when we did hit the front after lunch waiting for the summit quad were maybe 10 minutes (I'm guessing; I didn't time any, but it certainly wasn't a frustrating wait). The rest were well under 5 minutes and several were ski-on. I remember much worse waits over the years; granted it is early season still so we'll see. All I know is I'm tired today and feel satisfied with my ski day yesterday. No waits at all wouldn't have allowed me to ski any harder or any longer than I did.

Guess what I'm saying is that there were a few people at Belleayre and nobody in line. Sounds like there were more people at Snow and some in line each time you rode the lift.

Perhaps crowd is a poor description, but it sounds like there were definitely more people at Snow than in the Cats. I think that will be a trend as the season progresses.

Haven't heard any reports from Hunter or Windham.

 

[Greg]

Guess what I'm saying is that there were a few people at Belleayre and nobody in line. Sounds like there were more people at Snow and some in line each time you rode the lift.

Probably. Take the megapasses out of the equation and imagine this weekend was pre-Peak Resorts. I wonder if it really have looked that much different between Snow and Bell.

 

[kingslug]

Hunter...but the 6 moves fast so waits were 10 to 12 minutes...no wait for Northside..5 minutes for the F...fast and firm..huge rollers and moguls on Eside drive..nothing poachable...Racers looked tempting but I think the redcoated ones would be unsympathetic to my cause..fun day

 

[JimG.]

EPIC! Now we know where all the skiers were.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Hunter...but the 6 moves fast so waits were 10 to 12 minutes..

Yet another example.

Again, 10 and 12 minute waits in early December are not normal.

Those long lines may be EPIC & they may be IKONic, but they are not normal.

 

[deadheadskier]

Yet another example.

Again, 10 and 12 minute waits in early December are not normal.

Those long lines may be EPIC & they may be IKONic, but they are not normal.

Well, to be fair, the snow conditions are abnormally good for the Catskills for early December. When is the last time you've skied at Hunter in early December? Ever been there 12/6 after they got two feet of snow days prior?

As for my experience this weekend at an Epic ski area? I skied Crotched with my four year old both days. Lifts were ski on both days. Maybe a 4-5 chair wait at most. This despite it being the best opening weekend I've ever seen for Crotched in terms of snow conditions and available terrain. Wildcat apparently wasn't too crazy either despite having 60ish percent of their terrain open, which is almost unheard of for 12/6.

I do think the "megapass" era will increase crowding at member resorts some, but I don't think the impact is nearly as great as good weather and a solid economy have on ski area crowding.

Crotched almost never looks like this early December



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[BenedictGomez]

Well, to be fair, the snow conditions are abnormally good for the Catskills for early December. When is the last time you've skied at Hunter in early December? Ever been there 12/6 after they got two feet of snow days prior?

Not 100% sure as I wasnt there, but probably last year was almost as solid. I skied Magic on December 1st last year and it was legitimately like February, all woods in play etc...

 

[JimG.]

Crotched looks like it was fun this weekend too.

 

[JimG.]

Well, to be fair, the snow conditions are abnormally good for the Catskills for early December. When is the last time you've skied at Hunter in early December? Ever been there 12/6 after they got two feet of snow days prior?

As for my experience this weekend at an Epic ski area? I skied Crotched with my four year old both days. Lifts were ski on both days. Maybe a 4-5 chair wait at most. This despite it being the best opening weekend I've ever seen for Crotched in terms of snow conditions and available terrain. Wildcat apparently wasn't too crazy either despite having 60ish percent of their terrain open, which is almost unheard of for 12/6.

I do think the "megapass" era will increase crowding at member resorts some, but I don't think the impact is nearly as great as good weather and a solid economy have on ski area crowding.

Crotched almost never looks like this early December

I worry that certain megapass member resorts will experience crowding and that others will not.

It is very odd to me that the Cats were empty except for Hunter this past weekend (for me Fri Sat).

 

[abc]

It is very odd to me that the Cats were empty except for Hunter this past weekend (for me Fri Sat).

Not odd at all. It’s proof of the Epic effect.

I’m the proof. I bought Epic pass before Vail bought Peak. So Hunter came as a freebie. Why not ski it? I did just that, today! Adding to the crowd.

 

[Harvey]

Now if you’re a dumbass sucker laying window ticket prices. Yeah it’s expensive. But if you’re that dumb you deserve the price. Same goes for food.

Count me as a dumb ass sucker. I try to buy food whenever I am at an independent.

 

[Harvey]

Totally agree with you and I'm hoping more folks feel like us and forego the megapass to frequent the smaller family run areas. Speaking of which, hoping to get up to McCauley mountain in Old Forge soon.

Blood Brother.

If you haven't been to McCauley I am guessing you will dig it.

 

[Cornhead]

Blood Brother.

If you haven't been to McCauley I am guessing you will dig it.

Oh he couldn't have had a better baptism at McCauley, 2ft of lake snow on a $12 Friday if Alzheimer's isn't kicking in.

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[jimk]

Well, to be fair, the snow conditions are abnormally good for the Catskills for early December. When is the last time you've skied at Hunter in early December? Ever been there 12/6 after they got two feet of snow days prior?

I do think the "megapass" era will increase crowding at member resorts some, but I don't think the impact is nearly as great as good weather and a solid economy have on ski area crowding.

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Also, I think the average price of gasoline is pretty reasonable right now across the country. (AAA says it's $2.57 on 12/9/19.)

 

[180]

Hunter was packed. Went back after skiing Plat and did 2 hours of pow pow! Over 4000 both days! more than a third Epic and lots of day tickets. Biggest day so early in 20 years. Skiing was great. Blowing snow on Racers, Upper Cross over. Nailed the North lift line. Great run, should have snow making.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/R3i3i4qApTGBBhaf8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/41EnCWnx76RRGshu8

 

[BenedictGomez]

Hunter was packed........ Biggest day so early in 20 years.

 

[JimG.]

Blood Brother.

If you haven't been to McCauley I am guessing you will dig it.

Been there after a 2 foot dump. $12 Friday lift ticket for sweet knee deep lake effect. Barkeater rules.

 

[njdiver85]

I ski at Mount Snow. Megapass in full effect there given they were ground zero for the big snowstorm last week. What was truly disappointing was that they were still at Pre-Christmas staffing levels, leaving much needed lifts idle, such as Heavy Metal over at Carinthia, or limited ability to manage the lines. On Sunday, my pass was never scanned all day given lack of staff.

Early season staffing levels has been an issue in the past, and so far this year the large open trail count at this early stage, and megapasses only serves to amp this issue up to 11. Is it really that hard to increase staffing levels by 10% early season and put all that into lift ops? The money spent will pay off in more satisfied customers who will remain Epic next year rather than jump to Ikon, for example.