Mt. Waterman and Snowcrest/Kratka Ridge

Update: Although they are still working on a few things, It looks like all the required upgrades/permit renewal issues this season WILL be met, so Waterman should be able to open! =D> \:D/ They might even have some burgers to sell this year, too! :shock:
 
Well! The scumbag doctor that owns Newcomb's Ranch (yes, the one under FBI investigation for healthcare fraud) told Rick if he hires me that Waterman people won't be welcome at Newcomb's. So I will not be at the mountain this year and will not be a source of information any longer. The California Medical Board wants to interview me about Dr. Rundall on wednesday and hopefully that immoral piece of crap will lose his license soon, be in jail and no longer control the mountain. And if all goes well the state will seize all his assets and Newcomb's will be for sale again.
 
So any more Waterman updates? Looks like some local snow may be around the corner, with news reporting snow levels will be dropping as low as 4500 ft during this week's predicted storm.

Will they be ready to go when the snow falls?
 
Predictions of 50-year storms should always be taken with a large grain of salt. The storm track is more likely to drop south over land, resulting in maybe a foot of dry powder, not what one really wants to build the initial base. Mammoth prediction is now 1-2 feet, which is not particualry noteworthy by their standards.
 
Fairly clear now that the snow is in the 2 foot range. In the old days Waterman would definitely open chair 2 up top on that.
 
Phone line says Dec. 26 opening.

Going forward this monster thread should be confined to management issues, when and whether Mt. Waterman will open etc.

Once Waterman opens, trip reports should be new threads.
 
How serious are the new owners about making Mt. Waterman a viable ski area? I have to really question their intent when they report on the snow report that they've received 3 feet of snow, but they're not "planning" to open until December 26. This is Southern California skiing, not Utah or Colorado. You've got to be ready to take advantage of every opportunity when it happens. This coming weekend is going to be one of those big weekends that help a Southern California ski area operate in the black instead of the red. I'm disappointed that the owners of Mt. Waterman do not seem to be ready to go. There is no excuse if they're intention is to make Mt. Waterman viable. If you don't have enough snow yet, then please do a better job of communicating that through your web site and snow phone. (BTW, the old Newcomb snow reports suck. Take a lesson from a real resort like Mammoth Mountain or Keysone Resort and form a similar script).

If they receive another foot or two of snow and don't open then I view this as opting to pass on what would be a good weekend to kick off the season. They've got a motivated ski patrol, they've got motivated customers, but so far I'm not seeing the same from the owners/management. I'm glad that the snow phone is running and has been updated. It's great that you've got a web site, but I'd like to see some better communication from the new management.

If it's possible to operate this weekend then they should. and they should remain open daily for the holidays through at least January 5. Southern California skiers and snowboarders are largely motivated by storms and this is one of those weekends.

I really want to see Mt. Waterman succeed. I'd also love to see that success allow for the reopening of Kratka Ridge, but they need to get back into the routines of the past and be prepared to open on a moments notice if they're going to be successful.
 
this "opening date" has upset me. a week? to let the powder pack? and the fresh stuff float away? this could be the best conditions mt waterman has ever opend to and it seems that they were not ready and maybe to lazy to open. mt baldy is opening and they are in the same boat as mt waterman in the amount of snow making and base depth. i hope someone from mt waterman reads this thread because they need to get their act together.
 
I also was surprised to hear they won't open until the 26th. I guess you could skin up and take a few laps, do some skier compaction? I might go up Saturday but there still is the question of whether hwy 2 is even open? Anybody been up there since Monday?
 
hwy 2 is open, according to link on watermans website. although you might need chains a few miles east or west of waterman? but with the lifts not open im not sure how much enforcement they will have on that. i was thinking of dointg the same but i dont wanna waist a day a baldy either.
 
ski-the-face":2dm0ugaf said:
hwy 2 is open, according to link on watermans website. although you might need chains a few miles east or west of waterman? but with the lifts not open im not sure how much enforcement they will have on that. i was thinking of dointg the same but i dont wanna waist a day a baldy either.
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I did it before a few years ago when they were closed and know one complained. Baldy will be a complete sh*t show on Saturday with everyone and their 1/2 price coupons.
 
I think the face of chair 1 is marginal on 2-3 feet of fluff over no base. It might be just chair 2, and that may be the case a week from now.

mt baldy is opening and they are in the same boat as mt waterman in the amount of snow making and base depth.
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Baldy does have some snowmaking to maintain the beginner and high traffic areas. It may be more this year with the new reservoir on Mullins Mile.

Nonetheless I share the skepticism about management. Once again Mt. Waterman was a no-show at Ski Dazzle.

I'd also love to see that success allow for the reopening of Kratka Ridge
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They shouldn't even think about this until they demonstrate a viable model for Waterman, which they are barely getting started.
 
They shouldn't even think about Ski Dazzle until thay prove they can run and let people know what is going on.

Tony is right on 2-3 feet of Fluff being iffy. I used to be Lynn's man to test things out. One day we get 3 feet of fluff I ski the face and he ask should we open. I said Lynn my car is packed and I am leaving for Mammoth now. Bottom line every turn was pow on dirt. They did open and close the next day, I heard it was a ski sacrifice session.

I hope Rick and Tico pull it off, but I have some major doubts that they "get it".

SM out...
 
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