Wachusett

[wa-loaf]

:blink: When was this? I missed a good chunk of skiing mid season last year but the only time you get any peace and quiet is the weekday morning till 2-3 and and at nite after 8:00 pm.

He's right, last year was really slow until February. I went over Christmas week and a few Saturdays in January and parked midway in the main lot.

 

[WJenness]

:blink: When was this? I missed a good chunk of skiing mid season last year but the only time you get any peace and quiet is the weekday morning till 2-3 and and at nite after 8:00 pm.

Late Feb / all of March when I went at night the place was dead. It was great from a skiing perspective. I'm sure it wasn't so great from a making money perspective.

-w

 

[jack97]

He's right, last year was really slow until February. I went over Christmas week and a few Saturdays in January and parked midway in the main lot.

Must have missed out, I banged up my collar bone mid jan; I took up the dangerous activity of walking my dogs in the early morning.....

Late Feb / all of March when I went at night the place was dead. It was great from a skiing perspective. I'm sure it wasn't so great from a making money perspective.

-w

That's when the after school programs ends, come March the weekends are tolerable.

 

[billski]

Late Feb / all of March when I went at night the place was dead. It was great from a skiing perspective. I'm sure it wasn't so great from a making money perspective.

-w

sounds like "snow in the backyard" syndrome...

 

[hiroto]

sounds like "snow in the backyard" syndrome...

Yeah. Good time to go Wa is when there is no snow in Boston. This is a BAD year.

 

[billski]

Yeah. Good time to go Wa is when there is no snow in Boston. This is a BAD year.

:roll: With the current rate of melt in the metro area, Wa may be a good bet by the end of this week! :wink:

 

[learn2turn]

Most of the school groups are six weeks, a few may extend to eight. They always start the first non-holiday after New Years. Once in a while some cancel a night because of rain or extreme cold. They don't have them on Pres Week but without cancellations, they are usually done by then. Some simple calendar math will let you know when crowds in the afternoon/early evening will thin out. For example, for Thursday, many school groups will have their last night Feb 7, barring cancellation, that's over a week before Pres week and almost two months before the end of the season.

Holiday nights are great at Wa, all the groups are out and the place is empty. Try MLK Monday night or any night during Pres week.

Why didn't more people show up on Sat 12/29? The skiing was great and the place was empty. Oh yeah, it drizzled until 10:00 AM. Scared everybody off. Well they missed out because the skiing was great all day, no lines, and it wasn't at all wet enough to uncomfortable.

 

[learn2turn]

Seasonal programs vs. day skiers

That is a great point. They may have made a conscious decision to switch from focusing on families, weekenders and season holders to events, racing and schools ski clubs.
...

Well you have to remember that pre-season booked programs provide a lot of guaranteed income. That's important in an industry that's weather dependent. The race team, dev team, school groups, night racing league, etc. are always going to pay and always show up. That's a big deal for the mountain. Temps below 15F, a little bit of silly drizzle, lack of backyard snow, some frozen granular conditions (it's not ice unless there are fish underneath it), dates before Xmas or after March 8, and the day skiers at Wa almost completely disappear. If the mountain relied mostly on the day skiers for income, it would have a much tougher time blowing all that snow and grooming twice a day. If the day skiers weren't so fickle, the season long programs wouldn't be as important.

 

[LineSki15]

Well you have to remember that pre-season booked programs provide a lot of guaranteed income. That's important in an industry that's weather dependent. The race team, dev team, school groups, night racing league, etc. are always going to pay and always show up. That's a big deal for the mountain. Temps below 15F, a little bit of silly drizzle, lack of backyard snow, some frozen granular conditions (it's not ice unless there are fish underneath it), dates before Xmas or after March 8, and the day skiers at Wa almost completely disappear. If the mountain relied mostly on the day skiers for income, it would have a much tougher time blowing all that snow and grooming twice a day. If the day skiers weren't so fickle, the season long programs wouldn't be as important.

I agree, it's a good move strategically for the mountain, most closer-to-boston mountains have to rely on the program/club/racer crowds because those are the people that are most likely to come consistantly, I don't know about you guys, but as a weekend skier, I'm trying the extra hour for some 'big" mountain skiing over the Wa. now night skiing is another story.

 

[Shrewsbury999]

Wachusetts being busy

I am new to this blog, but I have seen a recurring theme "The crowleys are gouging the public". I have to disagree with this assessment. The management at wachusetts take their responsibility to the community very seriously. I am involved in the Race club (which is non-profit and most volunteer) at Wachusetts and have been impressed with their commitment to this organization. Be aware that the mountain does not make money from the race club (except for the passes etc) but they continue to support the team. They are committed to developing young skiers, either through the mountain's programs or associated clubs.

The challenge that the mountain faces is that they can not expand due to the state restrictions. If you want to make a difference, call you representative and allow the Crowleys to develop the mountain to its full potential.

I am of no relation to the Crowley's and I only know them through their commercials but I have seen the results of their commitment to the community. They should be commended.

More trails, more lifts, more fun.