what about the little guys???

[SkiDog]

I was wondering the other day....again relating to the weather...what do the smaller resorts that aren't in the true mountain areas do when the weather is like this?

For example I live in NJ....we have Mountain Creek (formerly Vernon Valley). Now there hasnt been but a few flakes of snow, and then immediately back to WAY WARMER temps..they cannot possibly make snow, and even if they could I doubt they would as it would likely be just throwing away more money. So what do these places do? How can they possibly survive.

With the shorter ski seasons on the east coast as of late, are we possibly going to see the "death" of the lower North East ski resorts? I.E. NJ, CT, MA, etc????

M

 

[SkiDork]

Is mountain creek open?

 

[SkiDog]

Is mountain creek open?

for grass skiing maybe....

I do wonder they might have the mtn still open for mtn bikers.....but certianly NO SKIING....

M

 

[gores95]

I was wondering the other day....again relating to the weather...what do the smaller resorts that aren't in the true mountain areas do when the weather is like this?

For example I live in NJ....we have Mountain Creek (formerly Vernon Valley). Now there hasnt been but a few flakes of snow, and then immediately back to WAY WARMER temps..they cannot possibly make snow, and even if they could I doubt they would as it would likely be just throwing away more money. So what do these places do? How can they possibly survive.

With the shorter ski seasons on the east coast as of late, are we possibly going to see the "death" of the lower North East ski resorts? I.E. NJ, CT, MA, etc????

M

I would not classify MC as a "little guy". They are owned by Intrawest which CERTAINLY is not a little guy. If you are referring to the fact that its acreage or vertical does not make it a larger ski area I will concur. But believe me MC does have the snowmaking and grooming resources to get the mountain white even without natural snow. All they need are seasonal temps.

We actually skied for a couple of hours there just before Xmas. Two slushy trails down the mountain. Riding up the chairlift with all the brown around was really quite depressing. I noticed they've closed today and with the highs in the 50's and 60's the next week or so (with liquid precip coming) I would imagine they will be closed for a while.

Let's hope the over-talked pattern change on or around 1/20 brings us back to a COLD SNOWY reality!

 

[SkiDog]

I would not classify MC as a "little guy". They are owned by Intrawest which CERTAINLY is not a little guy. If you are referring to the fact that its acreage or vertical does not make it a larger ski area I will concur. But believe me MC does have the snowmaking and grooming resources to get the mountain white even without natural snow. All they need are seasonal temps.

We actually skied for a couple of hours there just before Xmas. Two slushy trails down the mountain. Riding up the chairlift with all the brown around was really quite depressing. I noticed they've closed today and with the highs in the 50's and 60's the next week or so (with liquid precip coming) I would imagine they will be closed for a while.

Let's hope the over-talked pattern change on or around 1/20 brings us back to a COLD SNOWY reality!

Never tried to imply that they didn't have the "muscle" to cover the mtn in white with season temps...my point was how to they sustain when there isnt seasonal temps...its like throwing money away.

M

 

[Greg]

Can't speak for too many ski areas around here, but Sundown is holding on okay. They are very aggressive with their snowmaking and will do so at every opportunity. They also tend to stockpile and won't immediately spread the whales around. This approach has kept them going through the warm spells.

 

[loafer89]

Well Powder Ridge gave up and the mountain is for sale, but I think other factors where at work besides the changing climate. Honestly this would have been a brutal year to keep that place open as Woodbury looks to be struggling to stay open.

I would expect Yagoo Valley to be next to give up on skiing if the climate continues to warm being located so close to the Atlantic Ocean. The skiing in Pennsylvania is nothing thrilling, Whitetail and Montage are closed, Camelback has 9 trails open out of 33 and they are a snowmaking powerhouse.

What happens in the next 4-6 weeks weather wise will probably make or break the season for alot of smaller resorts.

 

[Paul]

Well Powder Ridge gave up and the mountain is for sale, but I think other factors where at work besides the changing climate.

PR was/is owned by a complete asshat who tried to extort $ out of the town of Middlefield to build his Summer waterpark.

He has a track record of doing this same thing, buying, then bankrupting ski areas.

 

[gores95]

If this warm weather contiunes for NE (God forbid) I wonder if any ski mountains/resorts will fold? From what I understand ski resorts normally bleed red let alone this cr-ppy winter must've thrown them for a loop!!!! Any thoughts if any mountains could pay the ultimate price?

 

[SkiFirst]

I was thinking the same thing. The money some places must of lost this past holiday season. Can they make it up? Not so much in the north But in Pa, NY NJ. This was the biggest week of the year for family vactions and such and there was just no snow to be found. I hope things turn around soon so we dont have to worry about places closing down. IF that is what they would have to do???

 

[56fish]

I was wondering the other day....again relating to the weather...what do the smaller resorts that aren't in the true mountain areas do when the weather is like this?

For example I live in NJ....we have Mountain Creek (formerly Vernon Valley). Now there hasnt been but a few flakes of snow, and then immediately back to WAY WARMER temps..they cannot possibly make snow, and even if they could I doubt they would as it would likely be just throwing away more money. So what do these places do? How can they possibly survive.
M

7 Springs in W PA trucks the snow to ramps when necessary!

[/IMG]

And, the drift-filled bumps were nice yesterday!

[/IMG]

 

[kingslug]

Plattekill has been trying to stay open but I think they are losing the battle. If it wasn't for their world class mountain biking I think they would go bust.

 

[C2H5OH]

Bobcat, which is right next to Plattekill is not even mentioned in "Ski the Catskills" brochure this year. I think 2004 was last year for them.

 

[goldsbar]

Bobcat, which is right next to Plattekill is not even mentioned in "Ski the Catskills" brochure this year. I think 2004 was last year for them.

IIRC, they were only open a few days for a year or maybe two. Too bad I never got to ry it. Those were great years for Plattekill. I remember regularly skiing in the woods.

 

[MarkC]

Bobcat, which is right next to Plattekill is not even mentioned in "Ski the Catskills" brochure this year. I think 2004 was last year for them.

The word is bobcat will return with enough snow. As for Plattekill they are still fighting to keep snow on the trails. In years past this would have been impossible, but they have doubled their snowmaking capacity. All of the mom and pop areas are struggling. Lets just hope we can get some natural stuff soon so we dont loose some of these true gems. I can't speak for everbody here but i would quit the sport if every area was a K-Mart. To me places like that are all cookie cutter and have no character. There is nothing like knowing the names of everybody on the slopes as you rip it all day in fresh powder.

 

[C2H5OH]

... As for Plattekill they are still fighting to keep snow on the trails. In years past this would have been impossible, but they have doubled their snowmaking capacity...

Their snowmaking improvements are good news. I loved Plattekill since the first time I've been there 5 years ago, but it seemed that their snomaking was holding them back. I have not been there last year though and this year's $46 lift ticket seem a bit expensive.

 

[MarkC]

I have not been there last year though and this year's $46 lift ticket seem a bit expensive.

There are many discounts availible. You should be able to pick up a $10 ticket at some point this season. http://plattekill.com/winter/specials_new.html