Whaleback Mountain to cease operations

[thetrailboss]

That's a pretty steep slope

Maybe experts could hold on, but as far as beginners and intermediates, I think the intimidation factor alone would be enough to sway them somewhere else.

I'd love to see whaleback get funding like MRG did, but lets face it, it doesn't have the allure and mystique that MRG did. Granted the chair wouldn't be nearly as long, but I just don't see people being "commited to the cause" enough to fund a chair, and if I'm not mistaking, MRG also got a small grant for the single chair due to it's history

The Upper Valley has A LOT of well-to-do folks. Between Hanover and Woodstock you have a lot of wealth. But a lot of those resources go to other things...and the neighboring Dartmouth Ski Way gets a lot of love from the donors.

 

[skiNEwhere]

The owner of Silverton Mountain bought a used chairlift from Mammoth for "only" $20,000 and did much of the labor himself (digging and pouring concrete tower footings, hauling towers). Assuming the concrete footings are still good at Whaleback, I don't see why they can't buy a used chairlift. They might not even need to rent a cargo chopper to install footings depending on the weight of the tower, maybe an F-450 or higher could lug them up.

This of course is all speculation and best case scenario, my point being though that I think they have options for a relatively cheap chair installation.

 

[jack97]

That's a pretty steep slope

Maybe experts could hold on, but as far as beginners and intermediates, I think the intimidation factor alone would be enough to sway them somewhere else.

That trail is (upper) Face, there are a couple of trails next to it that has roughly the same pitch and some with glades. The rest of the trails are more tamed, beginners and intermediates would not have a problem with it.

 

[thetrailboss]

The owner of Silverton Mountain bought a used chairlift from Mammoth for "only" $20,000 and did much of the labor himself (digging and pouring concrete tower footings, hauling towers). Assuming the concrete footings are still good at Whaleback, I don't see why they can't buy a used chairlift. They might not even need to rent a cargo chopper to install footings depending on the weight of the tower, maybe an F-450 or higher could lug them up.

This of course is all speculation and best case scenario, my point being though that I think they have options for a relatively cheap chair installation.

A good Hall double would be nice.

I think that lift is pretty old...so I imagine that, like Middlebury, they would have to do completely new footings and bases because the concrete is probably too old.

 

[thetrailboss]

And I've got to get to Silverton...hear it is pretty cool.

 

[skiNEwhere]

That trail is (upper) Face, there are a couple of trails next to it that has roughly the same pitch and some with glades. The rest of the trails are more tamed, beginners and intermediates would not have a problem with it.

Are you referring to skiers skiing down the easier trail?


I was referring to the fact that if a surface lift ran up the same path as the old lift, the slope might be too steep for beginners to hold on to the lift, therefore they wouldn't be able to get to the top to access that terrain. Even worse is if they slid off the surface lift onto the double-black. Magic carpet is out of the picture. The only plausible option I see would be a T-Bar since I think it would be really hard to hold a poma disc between your legs.

Looking at a topo map, if they wanted to build a surface lift flat enough that beginners wouldn't have trouble holding onto, they would have to cut down a few trees, intersect a couple trails, and it would still be on an intermediate slope.

Do you think an intermediate could handle the poma at K? If not, I think the surface lift idea has be to scrapped all together

 

[skiNEwhere]

And I've got to get to Silverton...hear it is pretty cool.

I have not either, it's on my bucket list though. It's almost 6 hours away, so I'd have to set a few days aside

 

[jack97]

Are you referring to skiers skiing down the easier trail?


I was referring to the fact that if a surface lift ran up the same path as the old lift, the slope might be too steep for beginners to hold on to the lift, therefore they wouldn't be able to get to the top to access that terrain. Even worse is if they slid off the surface lift onto the double-black. Magic carpet is out of the picture. The only plausible option I see would be a T-Bar since I think it would be really hard to hold a poma disc between your legs.

Looking at a topo map, if they wanted to build a surface lift flat enough that beginners wouldn't have trouble holding onto, they would have to cut down a few trees, intersect a couple trails, and it would still be on an intermediate slope.

Do you think an intermediate could handle the poma at K? If not, I think the surface lift idea has be to scrapped all together

my bad.... I think they will place a surface lift on an intermediate trail, just not sure where tho. Skiers wanting to ski face to y.o.o.m will have to earn it.

 

[skiNEwhere]

my bad.... I think they will place a surface lift on an intermediate trail, just not sure where tho. Skiers wanting to ski face to y.o.o.m will have to earn it.

No worries....If they want install a surface lift on less of a slope, while cutting down the least amount of trees, I think it would have to run through Leviathan and Blubber (Both blues)

 

[thetrailboss]

It would be nice if they could find an area that wants to donate an old fixed grip chair for a tax write-off or something like that. That would help on the expenses for sure. The engineering and other work would probably still be expensive, even at a discount. But it's possible, especially in that area where there are lots of talented (and well-off) folks.

I'm really pulling for the folks at Big Squaw. They grabbed the bull by the horns and showed that a non-profit in the middle of the sticks can operate a ski area with a chairlift. They were able to get Boyne/Sunday River to send some guys over to help get the chair up and running for them. Maybe Killington/Okemo/Sunapee could do the same here.

 

[dlague]

Big Squaw - another save!

 

[thetrailboss]

Big Squaw - another save!

That is just unreal. That is a real success story and demonstrates what a community can do when it pulls together.

 

[manhattanskier]

Love where all this us going, making a point to go to whaleback this year, lots of other places that are community oriented.

Sent from my XT907 using AlpineZone mobile app

 

[xwhaler]

Where are people coming up with the idea that they are going to replace the double with a surface lift to the top?
I've not seen any mention of getting rid of the old double----they have mentioned they would like to put in a surface lift but I've always assumed that it would be an additional lift that would help bridge the gap between the carpet and the top lift.

As I've mentioned before I think the most logical place for a T Bar would be up Spout which could service the terrain park/race slope.

 

[buellski]

So no chairlift this season?

I read somewhere that the lift needs a lot of (expensive) work and that they were not going to run it and instead run the handle tow for the park and the other lower area. I know that their long term plan is to replace the double with something...they're thinking a surface lift but man that is steep. So I was asking for confirmation that they were going to run the double this year.

AFAIK, the lift will run. The purchase and installation of a surface lift is supposed to be in addition to the double.

"If the foundation acquires Whaleback, our plans include one new surface lift..."

http://www.vnews.com/sports/outdoors/recreation/7547628-95/letter-our-strategy-for-whaleback

A couple of items from the FAQ:

Q: What is the $100,000 being spent on?
A: There are a number of significant expenses right out of the gate; for example, the lease payment to the bank, property taxes, deposit for the power company, insurance, mountain pre-season-prep and maintenance, among other.


Q: What improvements are planned for the mountain?
We can’t promise major improvements for this winter because we don’t take the reins until the end of October; however, improving the on snow experience is a top priority. We can make a few modest investments in snowmaking that will have a noticeable impact, such as high performance snow guns. Also, there is an opportunity to improve lighting. As for the future, we have a strategic plan that calls for significant capital improvements to snowmaking and buildings, a surface lift, nightlights, and trail improvements.

 

[Abubob]

Whaleback to Reopen

http://www.vnews.com/home/9039202-95/whaleback-will-reopen-after-raising-100000-in-two-weeks

IN THE VALLEY NEWS TODAY!

Whaleback Will Reopen After Raising $100,000 in Two Weeks
By Sarah Brubeck

Valley News Staff Writer

Friday, October 25, 2013

Enfield — Whaleback Ski Area will reopen for another season.
The Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation, a nonprofit group set up to keep Whaleback in operation, said Thursday it raised the first $100,000 it needed in order to reopen the ski mountain on Dec. 26.

The money marks the initial phase of a $2 million capital fundraising campaign that the organization launched this month in an effort to put the winter recreation facility on a firm financial footing.

“It’s taken a lot of hard work up until now to get to this point,” said John Schiffman, chairman of the foundation. “We’re pleased that the community has responded very positively. We have a lot of work to do, but we are one-third the way along to achieving what we need to.”

Burdened by debt, Whaleback’s previous operator shut down in March. The ski area had been open for eight seasons under a group led by former Olympic skier and Tunbridge native Evan Dybvig. A succession of owners have tried their hand at running it since 1955. Randolph National Bank foreclosed on the property earlier this year and failed to attract bidders at an August auction.

 

[LasersInTheTaiga]

Why not just steal a lift from Ascutney? One day it's there, next day it's gone. 10,000 skiers and no one saw a thing.

 

[ss20]

http://unofficialnetworks.com/ski-lift-stolen-czech-republic-96232/