Colorado, better late then never

[EMSC]

After skiing at Eldora yesterday, I would have to guess that only the steepest, highest altitude, north facing stuff would have any possibility of having not softened up during the big warm up (hit over 80F in Denver Tues). So from this point on, it's either about refilling with new powder on top of hard frozen stuff, or hoping for warm spring days to re-soften things each ski day... So far all the snow is in Utah from this storm and dust on crust at best today in Colo... Hope it doesn't stay that way for long.

 

[Tony Crocker]

After skiing at Eldora yesterday, I would have to guess that only the steepest, highest altitude, north facing stuff....

So why not go to Copper on a midweek day off with likely minimal traffic?

 

[EMSC]

After skiing at Eldora yesterday, I would have to guess that only the steepest, highest altitude, north facing stuff....

So why not go to Copper on a midweek day off with likely minimal traffic?

Baby duty. I had to be back home no later than ~3pm to relieve the grandparents.

I'm dying at the fact that I only have 3 days on my Intrawest pass this year... I'm planning to beg to try to get at least one more weekend day in at Copper, but unsure if it'll happen :-( So goes the baby ski season.

 

[EMSC]

Wish I had the flexibility to ski mid-week this week instead of last week.

I just figured it was worth mentioning that Colo has not been left out of the fresh powder that Utah has been getting. Though it started off a bit smaller here it picked up in the last few days. Especially good totals at Vail and Beaver Creek with 48" and 36" respectively in the past 7 days (32" and 25" in 48 hrs). Dropping off to numbers like 18" at Breck, 11" at A-basin and 9" at Eldora... (all 48 hr numbers)

However the wild card is a forecast ~10 degree above normal patch for 3-4 days (fri-mon) again before more storms are predicted. I know Mikesathome is rooting for a final big snowy push next week.

 

[mikesathome]

Wish I had the flexibility to ski mid-week this week instead of last week.

I just figured it was worth mentioning that Colo has not been left out of the fresh powder that Utah has been getting. Though it started off a bit smaller here it picked up in the last few days. Especially good totals at Vail and Beaver Creek with 48" and 36" respectively in the past 7 days (32" and 25" in 48 hrs). Dropping off to numbers like 18" at Breck, 11" at A-basin and 9" at Eldora... (all 48 hr numbers)

However the wild card is a forecast ~10 degree above normal patch for 3-4 days (fri-mon) again before more storms are predicted. I know Mikesathome is rooting for a final big snowy push next week.

Yes I am, but I am very happy with the amount of snow they have been getting keeping things fresh. I arrive to abasin by 12noon on 4-16-10!

 

[Tony Crocker]

A very impressive week across the West. Sample snow totals below:
PNW: Whistler 23, Crystal 40, Bachelor 37
Sierra: Squaw 37, Kirkwood 49, Mammoth 38 (only ~6 in SoCal & AZ though)
Intermountain: Targhee 53, Alta 84, Park City (must be Jupiter) 81, Snowbasin 49, Brian Head 37
Colorado: Aspen 35, Vail 48, Steamboat 40 (falls off farther east: Winter Park 27, Breck 18, Loveland 18)

Interior Canada (and the US places farthest north) continue to be shorted. No more than a foot anywhere except 20 at Whitewater. Judging by Schubwa's report the Whitewater number may be more representative of the backcountry lodges.

And of course we have the dishonor roll of places that closed April 4 as the snow bounty was ongoing: Bridger, Jackson, Crested Butte, Telluride, Taos etc. Even Wolf Creek is closed midweek and has removed its season total from its snow report page.

 

[rfarren]

And of course we have the dishonor roll of places that closed April 4 as the snow bounty was ongoing: Bridger, Jackson, Crested Butte, Telluride, Taos etc. Even Wolf Creek is closed midweek and has removed its season total from its snow report page.

Why did those places close so early? I'm sure almost everyone of those places has enough snow to stay open for at least another couple of weeks.

 

[Marc_C]

And of course we have the dishonor roll of places that closed April 4 as the snow bounty was ongoing: Bridger, Jackson, Crested Butte, Telluride, Taos etc. Even Wolf Creek is closed midweek and has removed its season total from its snow report page.

Why did those places close so early? I'm sure almost everyone of those places has enough snow to stay open for at least another couple of weeks.

I don't know for certain, but the common reason in the west is lack of interest and customers. Usually based on history, the closing date is often known at the start of the season, and seasonal employees line up their summer jobs and departure dates. Thus even if the areas wanted to stay open additional days, they often no longer have the staff to do so.

For those areas on USFS land, the use terms of their contract come into play as well.

They also probably rely on Tony's historical snowfall data.

 

[rfarren]

Nonetheless, you would think a mountain like Bridger, which is mostly visited by locals and college students would still be open if they had the snow for it. That is, of course, unless the USFS forbade.

 

[Marc_C]

Nonetheless, you would think a mountain like Bridger, which is mostly visited by locals and college students would still be open if they had the snow for it.

No, you wouldn't. You're not listening. The entire decision is based on economics and an ROI calculation in a spreadsheet. Even the marketing, brand image, buyer awareness, and PR buzz aspects are all distilled into numeric values that feed a cost/benefit equation.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Ski areas are funny like that. They don't want to continue operating when it's guaranteed that they'll be spending more than they're taking in. I think it's something they learn in business school.

 

[socal]

Nonetheless, you would think a mountain like Bridger, which is mostly visited by locals and college students would still be open if they had the snow for it
No, you wouldn't. You're not listening. The entire decision is based on economics and an ROI calculation in a spreadsheet. Even the marketing, brand image, buyer awareness, and PR buzz aspects are all distilled into numeric values that feed a cost/benefit equation.

Or is he listening to the wrong person? Didn't you say in your post before it was because there wasn't enough interest?

I don't know for certain, but the common reason in the west is lack of interest and customers.

But at the end of the day it's a money issue. I'd think that for a resort that depends on locals that their season pass price was based on operating the resort till X date, so while the snow may say the seasons not over their budget says it is.

 

[Marc_C]

Or is he listening to the wrong person? Didn't you say in your post before it was because there wasn't enough interest?

No. As you conveniently quoted me...

I don't know for certain, but the common reason in the west is lack of interest and customers.

Lack of interest = lack of customers = lack of revenue, specifically, enough revenue to offset operating costs.

Like you said, it's a money issue. The good will garnered by extending the season doesn't pay the bills.

 

[Tony Crocker]

The common thread among the April 4 closed areas is a tiny local drive-up population base. April 11 is probably the most common close date among western resorts. It's quite well established that ski areas won't stay open for local resort season passholders. When many of the season passholders are from drivable metro areas (Mammoth, A-Basin, Killington) there arises a legitimate question whether the long season is enhancing those pass sales and thus the areas should continue to serve those customers. Mammoth has made only minor changes to its late season policy since Dave McCoy's departure while Killington under Powdr Corp has decided to blow off those customers.

 

[rfarren]

Nonetheless, you would think a mountain like Bridger, which is mostly visited by locals and college students would still be open if they had the snow for it.

No, you wouldn't. You're not listening. The entire decision is based on economics and an ROI calculation in a spreadsheet. Even the marketing, brand image, buyer awareness, and PR buzz aspects are all distilled into numeric values that feed a cost/benefit equation.

Gee, thanks for the lesson captain obvious.

I don't know for certain, but the common reason in the west is lack of interest and customers.

[/quote]

That being said, Bridger is not a destination resort. It's a local mountain that has a university nearby. One would think that as long there is snow there would be local support and people who want to ski there. One would also think that college students probably make up for most of the day tickets there, and being that college doesn't finish till the first week of may there would still be a market.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

One would also think that college students probably make up for most of the day tickets there, and being that college doesn't finish till the first week of may there would still be a market.

Don't most ski areas virtually give away their season passes to college students?

 

[rfarren]

One would also think that college students probably make up for most of the day tickets there, and being that college doesn't finish till the first week of may there would still be a market.

Don't most ski areas virtually give away their season passes to college students?

I don't think Bridger is a great deal for students. Moonlight and Big Sky both have special season passes for students but Bridger doesn't. MSU students receive a $100 gift card for food and merchandise on the mountain if they buy a season pass.

 

[Admin]

Mammoth has made only minor changes to its late season policy since Dave McCoy's departure

This afternoon they confirmed that they're going for July 4th again this year:
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/News/2 ... -July-4th/

 

[EMSC]

think Bridger is a great deal for students. Moonlight and Big Sky both have special season passes for students but Bridger doesn't. MSU students receive a $100 gift card for food and merchandise on the mountain if they buy a season p

And college kids are going to spend how much on lunch, lessons or etc...? They brown bag it and drink beer at the car (the $100 food card long since spent).

Anyway, Denver has a metro population approaching 3M; yet only Abasin and Loveland will be open after the 18th... (maybe Echo but who realy wants to go there if your not a park rat). Which should give you an idea how many skiers are die hard and how many are golfing, biking and etc.. by mid-April. For Utah it's what? ~1.5M in SLC and only Snowbird usually stays open (Alta just added an extra weekend or two though correct?). So it doesn't surprise me that Bridger shuts fairly early.

 

[Marc_C]

For Utah it's what? ~1.5M in SLC and only Snowbird usually stays open (Alta just added an extra weekend or two though correct?).

Only one additional weekend. It's something they've done in the past, but it's not added for the reasons you think - it has absolutely nothing to do with the recent snow or "extending" the season. In the 10 seasons I've been here, Alta always closes with wall-to-wall coverage and over a 100" base.

There is a huge closing day party at Alta that has steadily been increasing in size over the years. Enough for the SL County Sheriff's Office and Dept. of Water Quality to take notice. If it's a nice day, imagine the Wildcat parking lot still 90% full with tailgaters at 6:30 and over 400 partiers on the top of High Rustler. By adding the additional weekend, thus generating 2 "last" days, the party on either one is diffused just enough for the comfort of the Alta Marshall's Office and the SLCo Sheriff.