VAIL SUCKS

[ericfromMA/NH/VT]

They did and Crotched still has no posted planned opening date. I'm disgusted with Vail and Epic, first and last year for us ever. I get it has been warm but given what others in the same region have been able to do, Vail is epic failing in my book. Likely due to staffing and management failure rather than just weather at this point.

I'm coming to think that too. I will most likely be a 1 and done as well.

 

[So Inclined]

Imagine being a condo owner at Attitash right now.

My parents have a couple time-share weeks up in the MWV, including one at the condos right across the road from Attitash. Which, somewhat dated as those units are, can be a solid base of operations for a week. Lots of good memories there. Nothing like getting a 6"-10" midweek storm, walking 5 mins over and having virtually the whole place to myself because Attitash could so reliably be a ghost town M-F. That seemed to happen for me many, if not most years.

Yet nowadays I'm so glad those weeks are relatively easy and cheap to exchange if I want. Even having an Epic pass, I all but rule out planning a big trip up there; I'd rather pay to go somewhere I can reasonably count on the conditions, the lifts, etc.

 

[MadKitty]

My parents have a couple time-share weeks up in the MWV, including one at the condos right across the road from Attitash. Which, somewhat dated as those units are, can be a solid base of operations for a week. Lots of good memories there. Nothing like getting a 6"-10" midweek storm, walking 5 mins over and having virtually the whole place to myself because Attitash could so reliably be a ghost town M-F. That seemed to happen for me many, if not most years.

Yet nowadays I'm so glad those weeks are relatively easy and cheap to exchange if I want. Even having an Epic pass, I all but rule out planning a big trip up there; I'd rather pay to go somewhere I can reasonably count on the conditions, the lifts, etc.

You should write a letter to the editor of the Conway daily sun!

 

[ThatGuy]

In the old days, when thing aren't working (no shuttle, no rental etc), you get a voucher for something free (lift ticket, free rental etc). These days with most people skiing on passes, what do they give as compensation? Hot chocolate? Or just a shrug of the shoulder?

You get a nice hot chocolate voucher if you’re lucky and there’s workers around

 

[Kingslug20]

Supply chain issues...no hot chocolate for you.

 

[njdiver85]

Mount Snow must have stockpiled all the hot chocolate in Vermont given their lift issues!

 

[Kingslug20]

Went to the gas station across from Hunter to get a sandwich for my fine dining in my truck..they were out of food....
I think we are becoming a second..world country.

 

[Smellytele]

I have been pleased with the Ikon so far this year. Went to someday bigger today For day 2 there this year. Parked at white cap but skied mostly Barker and Speare which both skied well accept right stuff. Weird traversing over and back to Jordan with Aruora and oz closed. Rogue angel was fun on the whales though. Been to sugarbush 3 times and loon twice and k once. So glad I didn’t get the septic pass!

 

[jimmywilson69]

Be glad you have options. My only close options are Epic next year. My only non-Epic option, for reliable snow, will be Blue Mountain. Considering that its 2 hours away and a zoo on the weekends, I'd rather not. Epic has me by the balls...

 

[ThatGuy]

Be glad you have options. My only close options are Epic next year. My only non-Epic option, for reliable snow, will be Blue Mountain. Considering that its 2 hours away and a zoo on the weekends, I'd rather not. Epic has me by the balls...

PA/NH skiers really getting the shaft under Vail.

 

[deadheadskier]

Be glad you have options. My only close options are Epic next year. My only non-Epic option, for reliable snow, will be Blue Mountain. Considering that its 2 hours away and a zoo on the weekends, I'd rather not. Epic has me by the balls...

Damn

As if central PA isn't a tough enough location for a skier to reside. I'd lose my shit. Sorry man

 

[RichT]

I have been pleased with the Ikon so far this year. Went to someday bigger today For day 2 there this year. Parked at white cap but skied mostly Barker and Speare which both skied well accept right stuff. Weird traversing over and back to Jordan with Aruora and oz closed. Rogue angel was fun on the whales though. Been to sugarbush 3 times and loon twice and k once. So glad I didn’t get the septic pass!

Septic Pass...........I LIKE THAT!!!

 

[abc]

As if central PA isn't a tough enough location for a skier to reside. I'd lose my shit. Sorry man

If I have to say so, people who choose to live away from snow and mountain have other priorities. Beggars can't be choosers. It's not like they have a vast options to choose from before Vail came in.

So it's either put up with whatever Vail provides and make the most of it. Or they can just ski out west like all Floridians and Texans! By not buying a Vail Epic pass, they give up local skiing. If it's so crappy, it may not be such a huge lose. What they gain is the freedom to ski anywhere when they go out west. Taos? Jackson? A-basin? Wolf Creek??? Are those not worth giving up PA local skiing every other year?

 

[deadheadskier]

If I have to say so, people who choose to live away from snow and mountain have other priorities. Beggars can't be choosers. It's not like they have a vast options to choose from before Vail came in.

So it's either put up with whatever Vail provides and make the most of it. Or they can just ski out west like all Floridians and Texans! By not buying a Vail Epic pass, they give up local skiing. If it's so crappy, it may not be such a huge lose. What they gain is the freedom to ski anywhere when they go out west. Taos? Jackson? A-basin? Wolf Creek??? Are those not worth giving up PA local skiing every other year?

I'm not sure you're making Jimmy's night here, but yes he has options.

 

[PAabe]

I have not skied out west since I was a young kid and have no intention of doing so in the near future. Every part of that trip is expensive and a hassle.

Vail has now taken over 3 companies that each operated 2/3 different ski areas throughout the state. So it's not like there's not options for south/central PA and MD - it's all the options are Vail

PA is a mountainous state and it's not like we dont get snow. In fact there are several cross country operations that rely on natural snow, and with downhill, Blue Knob, Laurel, and Tussey basically count on natural snow to get most/many of their trails open.

I am fortunate in that I can get to Montage in 2 hours but it's not like I would go up there multiple times a week to do a few night laps. Yes there are options in NEPA in the poconos but Vail has taken over basically all of the reliable major operations in the rest of the state.

There used to be a lot more smaller operations around and I kind of blame the better ski technology, desire to do hot laps on detachables, and humungo insurance rates and liability on causing those to disappear.

 

[2Planker]

Yup and people who gave it an honest effort have already quit for this year

 

[MadKitty]

If I have to say so, people who choose to live away from snow and mountain have other priorities. Beggars can't be choosers. It's not like they have a vast options to choose from before Vail came in.

So it's either put up with whatever Vail provides and make the most of it. Or they can just ski out west like all Floridians and Texans! By not buying a Vail Epic pass, they give up local skiing. If it's so crappy, it may not be such a huge lose. What they gain is the freedom to ski anywhere when they go out west. Taos? Jackson? A-basin? Wolf Creek??? Are those not worth giving up PA local skiing every other year?

You'd be surprised how many rippers those little areas in PA and the midwest produce. If you want to ski well skiing a lot is a necessity and small night skiing areas allow the locals to get a ton of days in while maintaining normal work/school schedules. Remember, regardless of how much vert you have you can only make one turn at a time.

 

[PAabe]

Every ski area in PA has night skiing as far as I know and many/most? schools have a ski club. Vail is not hospitable to the ski clubs or kids in general

Blue, Bear Creek, Shawnee are and consequently are packed every friday night. It's a radical time

 

[abc]

Vail is not hospitable to the ski clubs or kids in general

What Vail will do with these new mountains remains to be seen.

But if one's focus is clubs and kids program, and one's home mountain lose those under Vail, what's the point of buying an Epic pass after all?

 

[raisingarizona]

You'd be surprised how many rippers those little areas in PA and the midwest produce. If you want to ski well skiing a lot is a necessity and small night skiing areas allow the locals to get a ton of days in while maintaining normal work/school schedules. Remember, regardless of how much vert you have you can only make one turn at a time.

I’m not surprised at all. The park skiing explosion during the late 90’s, early 2000’s changed everything for small ski areas.