Jackson Hole - Shut down for 7 days??

[berkshireskier]

http://www.jacksonhole.com/weather-snow-report.html

The Jackson Hole resort may be shut down for 7 days! Apparently, they had a ferocious wind storm last night that knocked down the electric poles on the road to the resort. They have no electricity at the resort today and they're reporting it may take up to 7 days to get service restored. I can't ever remember a major resort in the US shutting down for an entire week in the middle of the ski season? I'm just glad I don't have a vacation planned for JH in the next week or so. One of the best snow winters too in JH history.

 

[EMSC]

Holy C$@p. I want to see pics of the damage that can shut them for a whole week.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I'm just glad I don't have a vacation planned for JH in the next week or so.

At least they are offering refunds, though it doesn't say if that only applies to lift tickets. Lodging in JH with no power in winter would not be pleasant though.

I can't ever remember a major resort in the US shutting down for an entire week in the middle of the ski season?

A lot of Sierra resorts have been effectively shut down during the atmospheric river storms in January and this week with high rain/snow line and 100+mph winds. Mammoth has been about 10% open this week.

On MLK weekend 1980 I was at Tahoe during a 60-hour rain event which included a 24-hour power failure. Except at the casinos which had emergency generators and did a thriving business that weekend.

One of the best snow winters too in JH history.

Not really. Their press releases use a site near top of the Bridger gondola that probably gets more snow that 90% of terrain plus it includes snow before November. Fortunately the JH snow report web page http://www.jacksonhole.com/weather-snow-report.html also provides the more realistic numbers from the long term mid-mountain site. Back out the 28 pre-November inches from that and you get 278 inches, 118% of normal snowfall season to date. That site has had 11 past seasons over 118%, topped by 572 inches (156%) in 1996-97.

 

[Marc_C]

Holy C$@p. I want to see pics of the damage that can shut them for a whole week.

From KPVI News:

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — A wind storm is suspected of downing 17 utility poles along the Moose-Wilson Road, causing a major power outage in Teton County.

Lower Valley Energy says the outage began Tuesday night and affects 3,500 to 4,000 customers in Teton Village, the Jackson Hole Airport and three subdivisions.

The company said it began re-routing power Tuesday night, but the outage could extend for several days in some areas.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort was closed Wednesday.

A spokeswoman says the resort's heavy equipment and personnel will be helping to clear snow so repair crews can access power lines.

 

[Admin]

Much more info than that KPVI story, as well as photos of the damage as requested by EMSC:
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/2017/0 ... er-notice/

 

[EMSC]

17 utility poles

From early stories - Makes me think of 17 wooden normal utility poles.

Admin's pic tells the real story: 17 very large high voltage line towers.

Looks like perhaps poor construction of the bases? or perhaps enough rust or something over time to weaken them at the base.

 

[berkshireskier]

17 utility poles

From early stories - Makes me think of 17 wooden normal utility poles.

Admin's pic tells the real story: 17 very large high voltage line towers.

Looks like perhaps poor construction of the bases? or perhaps enough rust or something over time to weaken them at the base.

If I'm reading the story correctly, apparently they were steel poles and, from the photo, it looks like they snapped in half (from too much stress?). I wonder if wooden poles would have fared better?

In any event, it's a total bummer for anyone there, hoping to ski JH.

 

[Admin]

I'm guessing that means that our holiday weekend in Utah will be even busier. Targhee can only house so many people, and a good chunk of visitors fly into SLC anyway, so I'm guessing that many of them will just rebook and stay here.

 

[Admin]

Just added a drone video of the damage to the story at http://www.firsttracksonline.com/2017/0 ... er-notice/

 

[berkshireskier]

Just added a drone video of the damage to the story at http://www.firsttracksonline.com/2017/0 ... er-notice/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for updating and posting this story. Must have been incredible winds to knock down that many poles.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I wonder what the financial hit will be to the resort during the very peak of its season -- are they insured against something like this under the Acts of God clause?

 

[Admin]

I wonder what the financial hit will be to the resort during the very peak of its season -- are they insured against something like this under the Acts of God clause?

Despite popular perception, there is no such clause. That said, in all probability they have business interruption coverage.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Despite popular perception, there is no such clause. That said, in all probability they have business interruption coverage.

You should get a job with an insurance company!

 

[Admin]

Despite popular perception, there is no such clause. That said, in all probability they have business interruption coverage.

You should get a job with an insurance company!

:lol:

 

[berkshireskier]

I wonder what the financial hit will be to the resort during the very peak of its season -- are they insured against something like this under the Acts of God clause?

Despite popular perception, there is no such clause. That said, in all probability they have business interruption coverage.

I am (indirectly) in the insurance business (although not property and casualty or general liability) but, you're right, they MAY have some sort of "business interruption" coverage under their general P and C and liability insurance policy. You would have to read the terms of their actual insurance policy to see under what conditions this provision would apply and what the coverage entails (there are most likely certain exclusions and probably a fairly large deductible). Even with insurance coverage, I'm guessing this will be a fairly large financial hit for the ski resort. Furthermore, the hotels, restaurants and other non-resort owned businesses would have to have their own insurance coverages.

The last message I saw from the resort said that they think it will be at least Monday before then can re-open. Again, I'm glad I didn't have a vacation planned for this week at JH.

 

[Admin]

I am (indirectly) in the insurance business (although not property and casualty or general liability) but, you're right, they MAY have some sort of "business interruption" coverage under their general P and C and liability insurance policy. You would have to read the terms of their actual insurance policy to see under what conditions this provision would apply and what the coverage entails (there are most likely certain exclusions and probably a fairly large deductible). Even with insurance coverage, I'm guessing this will be a fairly large financial hit for the ski resort. Furthermore, the hotels, restaurants and other non-resort owned businesses would have to have their own insurance coverages.

All very true. I just opted for the short and simple answer. ;-)

 

[jamesdeluxe]

When I was at JH in January 2008, we had 70-mph winds all the way to the base and they shut down lifts -- I scooted over to Snow King and had a great day with virtually zero wind.

Is it possible to bury that type of high-voltage wire? I'm sure the resort would prefer that, if feasible. Of course, that would entail big guberment stepping in, and that's only acceptable to those commies on the east and west coasts (and maybe the pinkos on Colorado's Front Range).

 

[EMSC]

Is it possible to bury that type of high-voltage wire? I'm sure the resort would prefer that, if feasible.

Possible? Engineering wise, yes. Would they ever do that in that location? Not a chance. Way too expensive for a rural line like that. But there are many buried lines in metro areas where land is much more valuable.

-Front Range, non-pinko :lol:

I've been on the last tram of the day at ~10am from huge winds (old tram). We did some pretty big slams into the top tower and also the top station as we docked...

 

[berkshireskier]

Is it possible to bury that type of high-voltage wire? I'm sure the resort would prefer that, if feasible.

Possible? Engineering wise, yes. Would they ever do that in that location? Not a chance. Way too expensive for a rural line like that. But there are many buried lines in metro areas where land is much more valuable.

-Front Range, non-pinko :lol:

I've been on the last tram of the day at ~10am from huge winds (old tram). We did some pretty big slams into the top tower and also the top station as we docked...

Yea, usually always better to bury electric lines (from a safety and aesthetic viewpoint), phone lines, cable lines, etc but, as you note, very expensive to do, especially in more rural areas. It will never happen in most parts of the country. I live in a rural part of New England and we lose power fairly often, usually in the summer, from high winds in thunderstorms bringing down trees or large branches on to the wires. Longest we went without electricity was about 4 days, in an especially bad and widespread summer squall line. A total pain, especially without a generator. We have a well with an electric pump, so no running water when we lose power. No doubt the electric company spends a fair amount every year repairing downed lines and also trimming trees all along the electric grid system. I'm amazed at how often I see large tree trimming crews working along the roads, to try to minimize falling branches and trees from taking down lines. Of course, those costs get passed along to ratepayers.

I would not want to be on that JH tram in high winds, but I understand the new tram was engineered and built to operate safer in higher winds. Not sure if that is true in reality?

 

[Admin]

I would not want to be on that JH tram in high winds, but I understand the new tram was engineered and built to operate safer in higher winds. Not sure if that is true in reality?

Working at Jay years ago, I was on a test run on the Tram when we knocked out the left front window with the right bumper while docking. It was, uh..."sporting."