The NEW Magic Mountain

[MG Skier]

Unrelated to everything else you said, but if you ask me, it's way harder getting on Black than Red - Longer than average distance from wait line to load line with no downhill slope, slingshot start (both have that), and the lift runs faster. Even Evel Knievel misloaded on opening day! Green does load nice and slow for people learning to ride a chairlift, and so long as LMC is open it isn't a half-bad spot to get your legs. Traversing down crowded Wand with much better skiers flying by you is where it could get messy.
Will be interesting to see if Red loses the popularity contest to Black going forward. The longer ride time and the shade certainly don't help. They probably get some cool data from the ticket scanners that show when people come/go, what lifts they frequent, when they break for lunch etc.

I was wondering what the plan was for the end caps on the Black Lift. I had no idea they were lights! When I skied on Friday AM after Talisman, the uphill side of the lift said MAGI and I had to chuckle, then they added the C.
I will say the compression sheaves looked pretty wild!

 

[Newpylong]

They actually realased a lot of information over time via the Alpine updates, way more than most areas would. I mean they even posted pics of Do Work welding the tower 13 arm extension on social media.

I took the question as would they ever release a post mortem (and fault) as to why the install was botched (all the f-ed up sheave trains, the alignment, etc) to begin with. They released the hows but not the whys and I don't expect that to ever change.

 

[ne_skier]

Would definitely be interested in knowing but zero reason for Magic to further elaborate on the process. All it would do is worsen the attitude among some here that Black isn't totally safe, and even if a beginner chair is 4-5 years down the road, releasing a timetable of engineering fuckups that I can only imagine would be attributed to the company responsible for engineering wouldn't be a great way to get them to take that project. Would just be another "They aren't answering my calls" moment.

 

[JoeB-Z]

I took the question as would they ever release a post mortem (and fault) as to why the install was botched (all the f-ed up sheave trains, the alignment, etc) to begin with. They released the hows but not the whys and I don't expect that to ever change.

It really can't change as to a post mortem story. Clearly Stephens Engineering perhaps got some things wrong. Then you point the finger at possible Pfister issues, tower alignment etc. Was everything to print? Were Magic's lift mechanics involved? That becomes a circular firing squad. And who do you call for your next project, a simple problem or a big problem? Quite frankly, these firms have plenty of business so they can tell you to take your business elsewhere. Who is elsewhere? As a mechanical enginer with two degrees plus a law degree I am being cautious here. Reread this and assume I am dissembling to get closer to my opinion.

 

[skithetrees]

I honestly can't believe anyone thinks Magic should be thinking about another used lift install after they just set a record for ineptitude for used lift installs.

Smart money is Magic isn't doing a whole lot of work this offseason. 1) because they never do until fall then rush through it to open and 2) they are probably broke after the lift fiasco and their poor performance this year

Families with young kids that are the bread and butter of the mountain would love it. Not realistic at this point in time, but it would be great. It’s not so much about loading as the terrain. First few hundred yards in either direction off of green are probably the hardest “easiest way down/beginner” trails around.

 

[NYDB]

Tough luck on the mountain rental today. at least it's not refrozen boilerplate with 0 degree windchills like it'll be tommorow

 

[ne_skier]

Sure is a good thing they made that snow mountain on Talisman. Weather Channel and Opensnow both showing high and low temps in the 30s and 40s through this week and next - not good. Only upside to this is some good spring skiing this weekend and next. A storm is needed, but some consistent cold temps that aren't just a Friday night refreeze would be a start.

 

[NYDB]

I see highs in the 50's next week, all week. And rain on and off all week. thats going to eat up that snowpack quick.

 

[Newpylong]

Some thinner snowmaking trails are likely going to close - everywhere. I doubt they made enough down Wizard to last.

 

[slatham]

Question is, do they reinforce weak spots tonight through Saturday morning?

 

[ne_skier]

You have to try and get Wizard from Talisman’s exit covered for the week’s worth of snowmaking done on that trail to mean anything in a week or two.

 

[MG Skier]

I was curious if they would fire up snowmaking again. Lets hope there is some funding for that! all the more reason to start blowing snow earlier next year.

 

[MidnightJester]

The question is how late will they be willing to make & blow snow. If they are willing there are possible snowmaking nights into the 20's currently on long rage forecasts. Would they late season blow snow to keep what ever Lift assisted runs last the longest the longest. Is snowmaking possible to the Top late season

 

[MG Skier]

Per Snow Report:

February 28th: Spring weather has arrived early. So, now is the time to get after it. The unusually warm weather in the 50s is making itself known on the trails. This weekend should be some nice spring conditions but things are melting fast, so there is no reason to wait. Thursday will be the one cold day for a re-freeze and we will be making snow to shore up some areas before the warmth returns Friday through Sunday. Time to wax and go!

A few small 6" storms would help a ton Ma Nature!

 

[Magicsnowboard]

The two lifts (red and black) are effectively the same speed. Black is maybe two chairs faster. I spent a lot of time comparing last week (I had 4 days of riding Black in a row). I snagged the first-ever black chair on Thursday when they ran it at the 11-minute advertised speed; it was too fast for anyone to get on. The chair stopped 4 or 5 times on our first ride. They then slowed it down to about red chair speed, and everything worked fine. The approach to black was a bit too uphill. Perhaps that can be modified. However, with that said, it was awesome.

It's so great to have a new view; ~13 mins with no lines is perfect. I think they really nailed the right combination of uphill capacity and downhill crowds. The Upper East Side was a bit more crowded, but it still felt empty compared to "resorts." The Lower East Side trails actually thinned out, given fewer people riding green. I did some math, and at 1,500 ticket sales, Magic should see no more than a 1-2 minute line. Even if they increased sales by 500 tickets (unlikely due to parking restrictions), it would be a 5 - 6 minute line, with barely enough people to queue.

A beginner lift in Little Dipper / Nelson Learning Center would be amazing and is the missing piece of a beginner's progression. But I don't see a business case. I have young kids, and when their friend's families come, they are so happy to have a relaxed experience without a crazy lodge, shuttle buses, etc. Not once have I heard a complaint about the short carpet or the long (and admittedly scary green chair ride), perhaps for older beginners, but for attracting young families, don't underestimate the attractiveness of the small mountain experience.

I'm very happy they have it done. I'm also happy they made the snow deep on the east-side trails. I thought they should have gone west earlier vs. reinforcing the east side, but clearly, I was proven wrong with this weather.

 

[Newpylong]

Is there snowmaking on the narrow section of Upper Wizard from the summit down to where the top of the old Black chair top terminal was? I seem to remember there was as it's the only way into the West Side with the old black chair gone?

 

[slatham]

Is there snowmaking on the narrow section of Upper Wizard from the summit down to where the top of the old Black chair top terminal was? I seem to remember there was as it's the only way into the West Side with the old black chair gone?

Yes

 

[ne_skier]

Looks like last night’s flash freeze hit very hard, Magic staying closed today for a large scale grooming operation. On the bright side, looks like good snowmaking temps all through Friday morning

 

[Bubba]

Families with young kids that are the bread and butter of the mountain would love it. Not realistic at this point in time, but it would be great. It’s not so much about loading as the terrain. First few hundred yards in either direction off of green are probably the hardest “easiest way down/beginner” trails around.

Definitely the most difficult. It’s why kids who are raised at Magic are some of the best youth skiers around.

 

[NYDB]

Ooof. Down to 15 trails. Hope they last a few more weeks.