VAIL SUCKS

[jaytrem]

The issue is by the time you know the line is that long at 5 and 17 you are on the backside and trapped!
Think if I ever go there again I would have my skins with me!

They would probably pull you pass for skinning up a non-authorized route.

 

[chuckstah]

Crotched will wind up with too much R word to hit 100%. Was there yesterday, the old T-Bar line was open but thin as all heck. Any R, that line is done. Fun day though, they have definitely made a ton of snow since my last day there. Do have to say I do not like the NCC1707 park set up. Jupiter's is their best run but not having the lower run to ski straight into coming off that pitch blows.

The t- line is considered part of Dark Star Glade, which is never closed. You usually won't want to ski it, but it's never roped. They will claim 100 percent open whenever all the non-gladed terrain is open. Questionable accounting for sure, but that's how it's been since the glades were removed from the trail report lowering the overall trail count.

 

[jimk]

I don't really have a dog in this thread since I don't ski VR much these days, but here are two recent threads you guys might find interesting (and relatable) from another site about VR operations at six resorts in the mid-Atlantic US. One of the comments I thought most profound was along the lines of death by a 1000 cuts, everywhere a cost cutting measure can be made, it's being made.
Negative: https://www.dcski.com/forum/107647
Occasionally Less Negative: https://www.dcski.com/forum/104890#new

 

[2Planker]

I don't really have a dog in this thread since I don't ski VR much these days, but here are two recent threads you guys might find interesting (and relatable) from another site about VR operations at six resorts in the mid-Atlantic US. One of the comments I thought most profound was along the lines of death by a 1000 cuts, everywhere a cost cutting measure can be made, it's being made.
Negative: https://www.dcski.com/forum/107647
Occasionally Less Negative: https://www.dcski.com/forum/104890#new

Cutting cost is one thing....
Cutting costs while RAISING Prices is BS.

Have another bowl of the $14 chili...

 

[Smellytele]

They would probably pull you pass for skinning up a non-authorized route.

Skin up sun up catwalk to lift #9 would be a short skin.

 

[joshua segal]

FWIW: Crotched Mountain hit 100% open on Sunday, January 21, 2024 when the rope on Comet Drop was removed.

 

[Former Sunday Rivah Rat]

Went to Attitash tuesday. It has a ton of snow but they can't seem to open alot of terrain. The top of both Attitash and Bear Peak were either icy or loaded with death cookies. Man that place sucks. I feel sorry for all the condo owners.

 

[zyk]

Went to Attitash tuesday. It has a ton of snow but they can't seem to open alot of terrain. The top of both Attitash and Bear Peak were either icy or loaded with death cookies. Man that place sucks. I feel sorry for all the condo owners.

Ouch feels like you just kicked me in the... Fair warning DO NOT RECOMMEND. We got a place there during the downfall of Peaks. Small money buy in and was more for hiking although I did ski Wildcat this year. Has worked out great for us, but DO NOT RECOMMEND. We leverage it into multiple vacations a year, but flexibility is crucial and traveling off season which we like. Also everything costs money. A one bedroom condo with a kitchen for the price of a cheap motel room works for me.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I think I'll wait a week or so to see if it runs properly before I get on it again, it felt like it was powered by a herd of hamsters.

Since my above comment the other day about my fear of getting stuck on Super Condor, McConkey's lift stopped working for 30 minutes this weekend, and the people who were stuck on it were given "vouchers" (for what I'm not sure, article didnt say), and yesterday Payday went down and it is still down today. These Vail lift issues seem to be piling up coast-to-coast. Flukey outliers? Incompetence? Something else?

 

[jimmywilson69]

Its not just Vail. lift systems everywhere are a mess. See SB thread, See KZone.

complex machines that work in a harsh environment that are aging...

 

[BenedictGomez]

that are aging...

Per liftblog, all 3 of those lifts in question are 26-27 years old.

Not sure what the typical lifetime of a given lift is without major refurbs, but I imagine that's getting up there.

 

[drjeff]

Per liftblog, all 3 of those lifts in question are 26-27 years old.

Not sure what the typical lifetime of a given lift is without major refurbs, but I imagine that's getting up there.

The other factor is, especially with detachable lifts of that vintage, is those machines are basically 1st and 2nd generation machines, constructed during the inital building boom of highspeed lifts, so to some extent, the relative real, reliable lifespan of lifts like that may not truly be known. Time may show that the tipping point between "regular service/repairs" being cost effective and "we should of replaced that lift from a cost effective perspective X number of years ago in hindsight" is more in the 20-25 year range than the 30-40 year range.

My hunch is that over the next 10 years, you are going to be seeing a great deal of capital expenditure at numerous resorts across the country, on replacement of aging lifts, both fixed grips and detachables, as there were LOTS of lifts, of both types installed in the 80's and 90's, and not a lot of companies out there that will do a full gut and replacement of the entire drive systems, just keeping bascally the structural steel for the towers and top and bottom terminals

 

[jimmywilson69]

or no expenditure and a bunch of broken down lifts...

 

[x10003q]

Per liftblog, all 3 of those lifts in question are 26-27 years old.

Not sure what the typical lifetime of a given lift is without major refurbs, but I imagine that's getting up there.

It becomes impossible to get parts. Custom one off parts are insanely expensive and take a lot longer to manufacture.

 

[RH29]

or no expenditure and a bunch of broken down lifts...

You'll see more streamlined lift fleets. More flagship six packs and eight packs and fewer redundant HSQs and fixed grips. I think the T-Bar will keep making a comeback as well.

 

[tumbler]

Dopp & LP has everyone by the balls. Design complicated machines with a limited life span. And oh yeah, don't manufacture the replacement parts to the old lifts!

 

[snoseek]

Maybe vail should get into the lift making business, do it good and get a piece of everyone's cake.

 

[MikeDeJ]

It becomes impossible to get parts. Custom one off parts are insanely expensive and take a lot longer to manufacture.

And from a liability stand point you are now on your own.

 

[HowieT2]

How Vail Resorts Sparked the Great Northeast Ski Revolt

The ski giant has purchased dozens of regional resorts, but when the mountains didn’t receive a Park City-like upgrade, the backlash began.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[pinion]

Attitash came to symbolize Vail’s struggles in the East

Never thought of this this way before... but yes!