The NEW Magic Mountain

[Bosco DaSkia]

hugh conway cannot be defeated.

 

[slatham]

Due to the questions regarding the veracity of my post about the possible cancellation of work days, I'll delay my lift update to Monday 10/16 so we can see if a work day occurs on 10/14.

While 2 days are posted on the official calendar, I suspect they simply have not been removed. In early September my source indicated that an 'open to the public' volunteer work day would almost certainly NOT occur due to (unspecified) liability concerns. I'm told they were considering allowing the racing team to do some work since they are run by a non-profit with an insurance policy. Take it with whatever size grain of salt you'd like, but the info came directly from a member of the 'Magicment'.

Based on my conversation with Geoff on Saturday I think these are happening……

 

[slatham]

What is the issue with the top bullwheel and why wasn’t it discovered during the previous 5 years of construction ?

While there could be an issue, I was under the impression it was more typical work that you would do when the lift has sat idle. Better to be proactive and get whatever might need to be done prior to new rope and load test.

 

[Newpylong]

Does the top bullwheel bearing just need to be greased? Lol.

 

[Bosco DaSkia]

installing a new zerk fitting, no doubt.

 

[slatham]

Does the top bullwheel bearing just need to be greased? Lol.

Per a Magic social media post, this is the reason.

Of course Hugh will learn through his Ouija Board that there’s a seismic anomaly under the top terminal that requires the lift be removed….

 

[RH29]

Per a Magic social media post, this is the reason.

Of course Hugh will learn through his Ouija Board that there’s a seismic anomaly under the top terminal that requires the lift be removed….

And with the way this project has gone for Magic, he's probably gonna be right.

 

[AdironRider]

Seriously, its been over 5 years and by far the most poorly managed lift install in the history of skiing, but at this rate 90% of the posters in this thread think Magic management deserve reach arounds for such a job well done.

 

[skiur]

Yup, 3 years ago I could still give magic the benefit of the doubt, but that ship has sailed a long term me ago.

 

[skiur]

Per a Magic social media post, this is the reason.

Of course Hugh will learn through his Ouija Board that there’s a seismic anomaly under the top terminal that requires the lift be removed….

While hugh obviously has a personal vendetta against current management of magic, majority of what he has said is true.

 

[Smellytele]

I ski there a few times a year. As long as they have a lift to the top running I don’t care. The old black was in need of condemning. I like the terrain and don’t care about the fucking drama of people bitching about they were not being told the truth and I couldn’t care less about who the fuck owns the place. Not giving them season pass money and saying that those that do don’t seem to be the ones bitching.

 

[ThatGuy]

In the lifts that never get completed category is the beginner area rope tow that never seems to get mentioned

 

[NYDB]

In the lifts that never get completed category is the beginner area rope tow that never seems to get mentioned

That area is so underutilized. if They could somehow put a lift (I know, I know) in to the top where the old lift terminus was (or a big carpet, tow or whatever) it is a nice separate big learning area. Really nice setup for beginners.

 

[NYDB]

I ski there a few times a year. As long as they have a lift to the top running I don’t care. The old black was in need of condemning. I like the terrain and don’t care about the fucking drama of people bitching about they were not being told the truth and I couldn’t care less about who the fuck owns the place. Not giving them season pass money and saying that those that do don’t seem to be the ones bitching.

I’ve been a pass holder since the current ownership took over. I wish black was complete a couple of years ago. Certainly by Dec 22. im not thrilled but what are the other options? Nelsap? skinning only? Is there another ownership group with deep pockets and more competence with mountain ops ready to buy it?

I do feel like the current group is trying their best more or less, even if it doesn’t work out some of the time. I think they have more wins than losses since taking over though. The big errors would be the drive replacement-running it while surging-on red and black construction. I can’t think of too many others.

 

[Newpylong]

Replacing a return bullwheel bearing is not World War Z. If we replaced ours in the middle of winter I think they will manage without snow on the ground if it comes down to it.

 

[urungus]

Seriously, its been over 5 years and by far the most poorly managed lift install in the history of skiing, but at this rate 90% of the posters in this thread think Magic management deserve reach arounds for such a job well done.

LOL, it’s not even the most troubled lift install at Magic, let alone “the history of skiing” … Green chair took 16 years to complete after construction began in 2003.

 

[ne_skier]

Multiple things can be true at once.

-Magic does have a handful of valid excuses as for why this project has taken so long
-Magic should not have prematurely declared victory by selling passes on the premise of a completed Black Chair the past couple of seasons
-Magic has had quite a few PR blunders concerning lift issues, from the Pfister "returning my calls" situation to suggesting that 20+ minute lift lines are typical at competing mountains
-I and many other people who generally defend Magic have their qualms with the mountain (you heard some of mine)
-There are a number of people who seemingly only exist here to stir up drama

I'm not losing hope over a bullwheel bearing. If Pfister shows up it'll be taken care of. Let's just hope we get some good snow this season to top it off.

 

[chuckstah]

Replacing Black summit bullwheel bearings Monday, rope splice mid month per social media.

 

[tnt1234]

Wish them the best. I've only skied there twice, but not for lack of trying. Second time was a great storm last year...among the first ten tracks down red line, and tons of fresh snow in the trees. I think it would like a 16-20" day...just amazing.

Place has really fun terrain, but the red lift was a drag. We skied bell to bell and got 11-12 runs in IIRC.

First time, once again storm chasing, but things turned funky. Half the mountain got frozen rain, but somehow, Re and black line, and the two glades up top under red were amazing. Very strange. Meanwhile, Bromley was all snow. Next day there was fantastic - till I separated my shoulder!

Anyway, love the laid back, old school vibe and magic, and hope they get black running, and it snows like crazy this winter...

 

[hughconway]

Due to the questions regarding the veracity of my post about the possible cancellation of work days, I'll delay my lift update to Monday 10/16 so we can see if a work day occurs on 10/14.

While 2 days are posted on the official calendar, I suspect they simply have not been removed. In early September my source indicated that an 'open to the public' volunteer work day would almost certainly NOT occur due to (unspecified) liability concerns. I'm told they were considering allowing the racing team to do some work since they are run by a non-profit with an insurance policy. Take it with whatever size grain of salt you'd like, but the info came directly from a member of the 'Magicment'.

Good news - according to a FB post by the former head of mountain ops, it appears that the liability concerns have been mitigated (participants will be required to sign a liability waiver) and the 2 work days are moving forward. After seeing this online yesterday, I ran this past my initial source this morning and they were able to confirm that it is now a go.

With that out of the way, it's time for the lift update:

Green Double - inspected and certified to go for the season.

Red Double - Did NOT get flooded although it was very, very close. Apparently Mtn Ops was able to use heavy equipment to divert the water flow and came literally inches from the vault being flooded & submerged. Unfortunately, NONE of the required work announced in June/July has been completed, so the rope still needs to come off the bottom bullwheel for a new liner and/or bearing work. The equipment required to lift the bullwheel is being used on the top terminal of the Black Quad. Once complete, the plan is to move on to the Red Double work. Given Pfisters skills and history with this lift, I'd say there is a >80% chance that this chair is 'ready' for the start of the season.

Black Quad - Essentially zero progress made so far this off season. The equipment required to lift the top bullwheel was scheduled to be brought to the summit this past Saturday, but I do not believe that occured due to the weather. The plan was to handle the work on the top terminal this week in preparation for pulling the new haul rope and splicing next week. Since splicers are even more in demand and difficult to schedule than Pfister, Magic/Pfister have to complete that work this week and not run into any unexpected surprises. Given the way this install has been mis-managed, unexpected surprises are pretty much par for the course. Assuming that the top terminal and haul rope work is completed by the end of next week as scheduled there is STILL a pretty long punch list of items that need to be tackled before the lift can be inspected, load tested and (possibly) certified for operation. If this project were happening at a well run and funded mountain, it would have a 50/50 chance of completion for opening day. Since we're dealing with Magic, the chances are somewhat lower. Perhaps around 25-35% chance that the lift is completed, inspected and certified for passengers before the end of the 2023 calendar year? I'd bump those chances up to approximately 50% by the end of the ski season.

Beginner area upper tow rope - Despite newpylong's insistence a few years back that this is an (sic) "easy project that Magic can easily handle without outside assistance in a single off-season" there is STILL no plan to complete work on this lift. The concrete pads were poured a few years back, but electric service has not yet been extended and the parts have been sitting in a pile gathering rust since the start of COVID.

Beginner area magic carpet - This is the only fully functional and reliable lift on the mountain. It's primed and ready to carry beginner skiers and snowboarders almost half way up the bunny hill.