Wildcat on the block: Wildcat Sold to Peaks Resorts

[Breeze]

I think the first and biggest improvement needed at Wildcat is outright replacement of loads of late 1960's era underground rusted steel pipe in the snowmaking system.

I say that not because I think Wildcat needs to blow more snow "just" to pile it higher and deeper to groom, but because the location and wind scour requires some consistent promise of reasonable recovery from adverse weather events. When a third or half of effective snowmaking system is blown out because the on-mountain infrastructure is rusted to rupture, there is a BIG problem.

Latest I've heard on that is a @ 3 million dollar price tag.

Breeze

 

[threecy]

I think the first and biggest improvement needed at Wildcat is outright replacement of loads of late 1960's era underground rusted steel pipe in the snowmaking system.

+1

Based upon what I've seen and heard whilst walking those trails during snowmaking, there are a lot of leaks in the air and water lines. With pinhole or greater leaks all over, the loss of water/air/pressure eventually adds up.

 

[Angus]

I was thinking a Mt. Snow, Crotched, Attitash & Wildcat combined pass would be pretty nice for someone living in the boston area. I skied at Mt. Snow a few years ago and was surprised by how quickly I could get there. I also thought the terrain was fine - crowds weren't bad but it was late season. & I will make the day-trip drive in the spring to ski at Wildcat with more light on the road, etc. I'll go to crotched for 1/2 days just to get some runs in with my family.

 

[deadheadskier]

In theory, if Peaks does take over, I'd imagine they'd probably only look to replace the damaged water pipes and install Fan Guns.

Not sure that would bring the $3M price tag down or not. What do their fan guns cost? 20K a piece?

 

[Smellytele]

At this moment they do have a "Nor'Easter" pass which includes Attitrash, Mount No and The Crotch for $1049 or the "Granite" pass for Attitrash and The Crotch for $699. those are the early season prices that look like are good until today. I would assume they might think about adding it to those - not sure what they would charge.

 

[threecy]

In theory, if Peaks does take over, I'd imagine they'd probably only look to replace the damaged water pipes and install Fan Guns.

I don't know if they have an REIT involved (I suspect they do, since pretty much everything else Peak Resorts has is owned or financed by them), but repairing/replacing snowmaking pipe will probably be a smaller expense as compared to running electric around the trails and purchasing a bunch of Polecat (perhaps that name will have new meaning at Wildcat) snowguns.

 

[Angus]

isn't water a big deal (or lack of it for snow making) a big deal at Wildcat?

 

[eatskisleep]

I think we are lucky peaks can't develop and put real estate on the mountain. I like Wildcat the way it is. Unfortunately, student season pass prices have risen considerebly in years, but hopefully they will come down next season so I can afford a pass again.

I also pray to God that they don't start grooming all of our favorite trails at Wildcat. People keep on coming back to Wildcat for a reason... decent (not the best, I'll take MRG for that) bumps, and good woods.

 

[dropKickMurphy]

Not sure it'd be that easy...they'd probably need a FGQ to justify putting in a lift for days the HSQ cannot run...capacity of FGQ+HSQ > FGT+old gondola. I'm not familiar with Wildcat's permit, but Smuggs, for instance, traded the rights to two double chairs in exchange for one detachable (yet to be installed).

Also, if it's too windy for the HSQ in winter, the upper mountain area can be pretty brutal. It's probably not a bad idea to keep folks off the top 500 or so vertical feet in those extreme situations.

That's what I was thinking. If it's too windy to run the quad, anything above the top of the Tomcat lift is likely to bewind-blasted ice anyway.

From my own selfish standpoint, I have a hard time imagining what kinds of infrastructure changes would actually "improve" the skiing. More/better lifts? Hell, You can already get more vert in a given period of time at Wildcat than pretty much any other ski area in the country. Just over 6 minutes to ascend 2000+ feet. And on Sundays and weekdays there is seldom any line at all to get on the HSQ. So what exactly would more lifts do for us?

Increased snowmaking? That would probably come with widening trails and more grooming.

I'd like to see more terrain added, but the NFS lease kind of restricts that possibility.

On site hotels/condos? Personally, I love the views just the way they are.

I really wouldn't mind a new base lodge, maybe something along the lines of what Saddleback built. But the existing one is fine by me. A little worn and dog-eared. But then again, so am I. It's got a good bar, places to sit and grab a bite to eat, bathrooms. What else do I really need?

If "improvements" bring crowds and higher prices, I'm all for keeping Wildcat just the way it is.

 

[Mapnut]

I'd say the best thing about this change, assuming they don't mess up the mountain, is that there will be owners with sound enough financing to keep the area going and make any investments that are truly necessary. I don't know anything about the present owners, but if they have been trying to sell the place for years, they probably don't have any money to invest.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

If it is Peaks, that really does offer up some intriguing possibilities in combination with Attitash. Two completely different ski areas serving completely different needs. Just fixing the current snowmaking system to improve efficiency would enable them to blow the same amount of snow for less money, or conversely more snow for the same money. Combined with the marketing opportunities with Attitash (combo pass, sampler for 3-4 days, discounts for passholders) and I could see a more profitable future for Wildcat even w/o splashy infrastructure investments.

 

[EPB]

Combined with the marketing opportunities with Attitash (combo pass, sampler for 3-4 days, discounts for passholders) and I could see a more profitable future for Wildcat even w/o splashy infrastructure investments.

This is exactly what I was thinking. Maybe some new snow making pipes, other basic upgrades and they're golden. Having Attitash down the street enables them to offer huge terrain variety for a weekend/vacation on the same lift ticket.

 

[deadheadskier]

Just don't take away the $25 Sunday afternoon deal :uzi:

 

[sull1102]

Peak = Baby ASC?

 

[eatskisleep]

One good thing would be to blow plenty of snow top to bottom on lift and gondi line so they can keep it top to bottom bumps in the springtime.

Otherwise, change nothing.

Keep the park rats over at Attitash please...

 

[EPB]

One good thing would be to blow plenty of snow top to bottom on lift and gondi line so they can keep it top to bottom bumps in the springtime.

Otherwise, change nothing.

Keep the park rats over at Attitash please...

Completely agree. Any snow making efforts at Wildcat should be made to keep trails sufficiently covered for as long as possible. There's no point in schlepping up to Pinkham Notch for a terrain park anyway.

 

[St. Bear]

One good thing would be to blow plenty of snow top to bottom on lift and gondi line so they can keep it top to bottom bumps in the springtime.

Otherwise, change nothing.

Keep the park rats over at Attitash please...

Just blow enough snow so I don't have to ski around dirt patches during a snow drought in Jan.

 

[Smellytele]

The dirt is part of the fun

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Peak = Baby ASC?

Only superficially in that they own multiple resorts in the NE. The reality is that ASC was incredibly poorly run form a strategic and financial perspective. They ran up massive debts building their empire in New England and when they IPOd, instead of using those funds to pay down the debt, they doubled down by blowing it all on Steamboat and Heavenly. The cherry on top was massive expenditure in poorly built, poorly located, and poorly conceived Grand Summits not to mention dumping a truck load into the comically designed Canyons. Under the crushing debt burden, they had to cut back on everything they could find, degrading the skiing product and customer service. When the hoped for real-estate profits didn't come in due to lousy execution, the house of cards fell apart.

Peaks appears to be taking a much more measured and cautious approach, with a strong focus on improving the skiing experience via snowmaking upgrades and well thought out customer service enhancements. Eventually, it seems that they will layer some real-estate on top of that, but the priority seems to be polishing what they have in place.

One good thing would be to blow plenty of snow top to bottom on lift and gondi line so they can keep it top to bottom bumps in the springtime.

Otherwise, change nothing.

Keep the park rats over at Attitash please...

This is actually interesting, in that it reveals a real opportunity for Peaks. In light of the large snowmaking firepower in place at Attitash, it's distinct two-mountain layout, and the large contingent of vacationing families in the North Conway area, I could see Peaks pulling a "Carinthia" with all or most of Bear Peak and turning it into a massive terrain park. That would keep the boarders and other assorted park rats happy while leaving the majority of Attitash, including its best cruising terrain for the skiers, with Wildcat being the additional relief valve for a more challenging and organic skiing/riding experience. In sum, you'd have a huge amount of terrain for all needs with a nice mix of powder skiing and possibly late season skiing at the Cat complemented by reliable conditions throughout the season at Attitash.

Completely agree. Any snow making efforts at Wildcat should be made to keep trails sufficiently covered for as long as possible. There's no point in schlepping up to Pinkham Notch for a terrain park anyway.

Yup. Just polish what you have an ensure a May closing each year by blowing a little deeper on one way down from the top.

 

[Geoff]

I could see Peaks pulling a "Carinthia" with all or most of Bear Peak and turning it into a massive terrain park. That would keep the boarders and other assorted park rats happy while leaving the majority of Attitash, including its best cruising terrain for the skiers, with Wildcat being the additional relief valve for a more challenging and organic skiing/riding experience. In sum, you'd have a huge amount of terrain for all needs with a nice mix of powder skiing and possibly late season skiing at the Cat complemented by reliable conditions throughout the season at Attitash.

I think Bear Peak is probably a little too steep for the North Conway park rats. Carinthia is flatter'n a pancake. I think you'd have a better play pen over on the old side of the resort where it is flatter.