VAIL SUCKS

[inthewuids]

I ran into an old Wildcat buddy of mine at Cannon on Saturday. He still has a pass and skis Cat as his primary hill. Says it's still much more crowded than the Peak days, but running better this year. He also said the one thing that is noticeable is the additional skiers all tend to be lower level. The percentage of good skiers overall is lower and the result is the trees tend to not get skied out and beat to shit as fast as they once did. Basically said Cat used to be loaded with ripping skiers getting after the natural terrain and I'd agree with that. It always had a very high percentage of expert skiers. But now it's a lot more people just into the groomers, so stuff like Polecat is a mad house.

I found that interesting.

This is absolutely true. I also think Thompson Brook has been seeing significantly more traffic, but the in-bounds woods are being left alone.

 

[snoseek]

Attitash being quiet mid-week is definitely kind of odd, but Wildcat has always kind of seemed like that to me. I don’t have numbers though, so who knows.

Honestly though, after last year, if I had to drive 2 hours up here I wouldn’t have bought a pass this year either. However, I think the real crime here was Peak’s failure to properly invest in the mountain’s infrastructure over the past decade. Vail just bought the mountain sight unseen, and is dealing with the consequences. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s true at other mountains that were under the Peak pass as well.

Peak only cared about Mt snow. They did wildcat and attitash dirty in that regard. Their daily ops and season length were OK though. At least that fucking peice of shit triple is getting junked at attitash.

 

[deadheadskier]

This is absolutely true. I also think Thompson Brook has been seeing significantly more traffic, but the in-bounds woods are being left alone.

He specifically said the stuff around Roost OOB has seen less traffic this year. Pretty tight in there, so that probably scares off lower level skiers lapping that area.

And while Peak did skimp on some investment, they did at least do the one pretty large snowmaking upgrade at Cat in 2015. Probably the biggest investment in their system in 20 years.

 

[shpride]

I’ve skied Attitash quite a few times this year all on weekends and lines are definitely less this year than past years. The lots are pretty full so I think having all the lifts open has taken pressure off the main lifts.

 

[jimmywilson69]

So its somewhere between Nobody skis there anymore and everybody ski there. Got it

I'd like to get up there next season and check out both. Operations are what matters to me, lifts, snowmaking, grooming, etc. If that appears to be functioning normal again then It might be time to make the trip.

 

[Kingslug20]

But if everybody shows up...yet nobody goes...hmmm....this is very confusing..

 

[2Planker]

What locals are you talking to? All the locals I know still ski up at Wildcat, and have been pretty happy this year.

Sorry. You are entitled to your opinion but the 2 local ski/race clubs we run both bailed last year.
Cat admits #’s are down. AT has F&B GM tracking sales but not skier visits

 

[snoseek]

I'm correct saying the schools are off today right? I mean midweek pow usually brings a decent crowd yet this place is pretty slow today..I'm not complaining

 

[Edd]

I'm correct saying the schools are off today right? I mean midweek pow usually brings a decent crowd yet this place is pretty slow today..I'm not complaining

They are off, and Gunstock is dead as hell. It’s weird.

 

[snoseek]

They are off, and Gunstock is dead as hell. It’s weird.

I guess the media was successful scaring people from driving. I've gotta imagine the roads down there are a shitshow today.

 

[Edd]

I guess the media was successful scaring people from driving. I've gotta imagine the roads down there are a shitshow today.

Durham to Rochester wasn’t great driving. Decent until Alton Bay and then pretty snowy around Gunstock. Hopefully better on the way home.

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

I'm correct saying the schools are off today right? I mean midweek pow usually brings a decent crowd yet this place is pretty slow today..I'm not complaining

That photo

 

[2Planker]

They are off, and Gunstock is dead as hell. It’s weird.

Off doesnt happen much anymore. Now its just a “remote day”

 

[inthewuids]

Wildcat was actually shockingly dead today as well. Quietest I’ve ever seen it in a powder day.

 

[inthewuids]

Sorry. You are entitled to your opinion but the 2 local ski/race clubs we run both bailed last year.
Cat admits #’s are down. AT has F&B GM tracking sales but not skier visits

Well I’m honestly not really in touch with the racing community at all, so I’m not surprised I haven’t heard that.

I’m speaking to the C-Lot crowd that I chill with, who haven’t really ditched, as far as I’ve seen.

 

[snoseek]

Wildcat was actually shockingly dead today as well. Quietest I’ve ever seen it in a powder day.

It was quiet. I was also prepared for wind and that never happened. The extra elevation kept the snow skiable. The trees were dreamy.

 

[Former Sunday Rivah Rat]

Now they just need to fix the housing issue, so people can actually move here to work those jobs.

What's wrong with Gorham or Berlin? North Conway, Bartlett, and Jackson are kind of pricey for ski area workers. There's not much housing in a National forest.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

i like gorham. the cheapest hotel i stay in for skiing is in gorham and is actually quite nice. i also had a pretty outstanding restaurant meal in gorham that was very modern and foodie. i dont think that restaurant is there anymore tho and i dont recall the name. i am always confused why gorham is so affordable when its so close to sunday river and also to the conway areas. i guess not close enough? more popular in the summer? i plan to base in gorham for the long easter weekend with a day trip to saddleback, and then sunday river, and then loon or waterville or cannon on the way back south.

 

[inthewuids]

What's wrong with Gorham or Berlin? North Conway, Bartlett, and Jackson are kind of pricey for ski area workers. There's not much housing in a National forest.

It’s not necessarily the affordability that is the issue. Its availability. And next to zero housing developments happening to change that.

Plus, with Berlin and Gorham, the only place to shop for groceries is basically Walmart, which is a hard sell for a lot of people understandably.

 

[thetrailboss]

It’s not necessarily the affordability that is the issue. Its availability. And next to zero housing developments happening to change that.

Plus, with Berlin and Gorham, the only place to shop for groceries is basically Walmart, which is a hard sell for a lot of people understandably.

Is Shaw’s gone? I think that there used to be one in Berlin/Gorham.

When the mills closed that really hurt that area. Additionally, I think for folks coming from MA/Southern NH it is just too far north and requires folks to pass North Conway/Conway.

It is a big ATV/snowmobile destination. Different crowd than skiers and riders.