Patrick
Well-known member
Okay, I'll make a exemption and go a quick, although I'm currently swamp right now.
No details and responding to specific quotes at this time.
1) Shames and MRG comparison.
I agree with most people that the two are closely related. Lucky and I are, I think, the only skiers here that have skied both areas a number of days.
I agree that soulskier's sale pitch and ill advise comments regarding MRG shouldn't be used as a rejection of Shames is viable possibility. Like I've mentioned before, you cannot compare East or West...Apples or Oranges. One is not better, just different. I'm sure on this, Tony and Soulskier are much more alike that between soul and myself. I don't want this to become a East-West thing, because I believe that was Soulskier and others are working on is important. I am totally behind soul's work and believe in Shames potential.
2) Shames and MRG: Why these are so similar?
Terrain and snow is very different. In-bound is different (not better or worst) and outbound is...there is no alpine at MRG. We do get our big powderdays at MRG, but aren't definitely not as frequent as Shames.
Where Shames and MRG are so common? Community of skiers getting together to run a ski the way they want to. The type of skiers that would tempted by a trip to Shames and are the same type as those that like MRG. No fancy HSQ and finding the goods even if it isn't on the map. Not sure what the ratio would be, but I wouldn't surprised that MRG shareholder or average MRG skier AT setup/
tele/skins ownership would be amount the highest in the East and probably higher that the ratio at places like Whistler.
Many of MRG skiers travel a lot and I would think would choose a Shames type place versus a Whistler. A number of it's skiers have traveled or lived out West, only to eventually choose to live (back) East like JSpin, Hamdog and others.
Overall, It's a culture thing and that is why I think that MRG and Shames are so related.
As Shames will be trying to do, since the MRG Coop started, it has gone an excellent marketing job with little cash and carved a niche for themselves. People in the know, what heard about MRG and it's recognized way behind it's immediate market area. With a little and smart publicity, Shames can do the same.
3) Why Shames instead of BC interior?
I understand Tony comments. The proof that some people will choose Shames over the other destinations is that Lucky Luke and myself have made our first trip to BC (minus Whistler for myself). Lucky went back for 2 year. Lucky's other partner, Pete the Pete (seen in Chic Chocs TR), has returned two years also. (Pete and my trips didn't overlap as Lucky was staying 2 full weeks). Pete has been to Red and Whitewater, however he choose to return "twice" to Terrace. Lucky sent a general email inquiring about a possible trip and return to NW BC. Skiing Shames, but also hitting Bear Pass near Stewart. I have driven that road, the only thing I can say is...wow.
As the Shames is, people that like yoyoing on lifts to access powder terrain are probably not going to make Shames their #1 destination choice, however people that like Slackcountry and don't mind skinning, might.
4) From Patagonia to Terrace, why?
I read a comment about Soulskier being sold on the idea of Shames without ever skiing there. There is nothing wrong with that.Heck, I had skied Mad River Glen only TWICE went I decided to buy a share and it was way more expensive (exchange rate at all). This was before the Coop was tested and had a few years behind it. Why? Because I liked what I saw: mountain, terrain and infrastructure. No McSkiing. I believe it was the way to go and know after over 10 years, I can say that I'm really proud of what the Coop has done.
5) Storm days?
T-bar line doesn't even need to change. Deliverance Trees (official in-bound trail) are awesome. Real steep trees off to the skier left heading from top t-bar toward base as awesome terrain. There is also a bunch of mellower trees also.
6) Plane tickets
Pretty sure it wouldn't so expansive from Montreal or the East when there is a seatsale. Although I was out of luck, as the 3 (Lucky, Pete and myself) of us all bought our plane tickets with points. Lucky and I have either too many points or not many opportunity to use them. However I remember looking at the prices and they weren't so much more expansive than flying to Vancouver at that time. You just have to lookout for sales.
7) Shames and other NW attractions
Tony mentioned Last Frontier. I know that LF were at Shames on my last day because it was dumping. There was also a film crew on that day. All the skiing was in-bounds and just beyond the ropes...and it was excellent. Smithers has less snow and offer some interesting backcountry skiing as it's on the side of Hudson Bay mountain which is huge. The road from Prince Rupert to Terrace along the Skeena River is amazing. Bear Pass and Stewart BC also (this is more out of the way - but offer great terrain for those who wish to be to it).
Crap...there goes the quick response...back to work. :?
No details and responding to specific quotes at this time.
1) Shames and MRG comparison.
I agree with most people that the two are closely related. Lucky and I are, I think, the only skiers here that have skied both areas a number of days.
I agree that soulskier's sale pitch and ill advise comments regarding MRG shouldn't be used as a rejection of Shames is viable possibility. Like I've mentioned before, you cannot compare East or West...Apples or Oranges. One is not better, just different. I'm sure on this, Tony and Soulskier are much more alike that between soul and myself. I don't want this to become a East-West thing, because I believe that was Soulskier and others are working on is important. I am totally behind soul's work and believe in Shames potential.
2) Shames and MRG: Why these are so similar?
Terrain and snow is very different. In-bound is different (not better or worst) and outbound is...there is no alpine at MRG. We do get our big powderdays at MRG, but aren't definitely not as frequent as Shames.
Where Shames and MRG are so common? Community of skiers getting together to run a ski the way they want to. The type of skiers that would tempted by a trip to Shames and are the same type as those that like MRG. No fancy HSQ and finding the goods even if it isn't on the map. Not sure what the ratio would be, but I wouldn't surprised that MRG shareholder or average MRG skier AT setup/
tele/skins ownership would be amount the highest in the East and probably higher that the ratio at places like Whistler.
Many of MRG skiers travel a lot and I would think would choose a Shames type place versus a Whistler. A number of it's skiers have traveled or lived out West, only to eventually choose to live (back) East like JSpin, Hamdog and others.
Overall, It's a culture thing and that is why I think that MRG and Shames are so related.
As Shames will be trying to do, since the MRG Coop started, it has gone an excellent marketing job with little cash and carved a niche for themselves. People in the know, what heard about MRG and it's recognized way behind it's immediate market area. With a little and smart publicity, Shames can do the same.
3) Why Shames instead of BC interior?
I understand Tony comments. The proof that some people will choose Shames over the other destinations is that Lucky Luke and myself have made our first trip to BC (minus Whistler for myself). Lucky went back for 2 year. Lucky's other partner, Pete the Pete (seen in Chic Chocs TR), has returned two years also. (Pete and my trips didn't overlap as Lucky was staying 2 full weeks). Pete has been to Red and Whitewater, however he choose to return "twice" to Terrace. Lucky sent a general email inquiring about a possible trip and return to NW BC. Skiing Shames, but also hitting Bear Pass near Stewart. I have driven that road, the only thing I can say is...wow.
As the Shames is, people that like yoyoing on lifts to access powder terrain are probably not going to make Shames their #1 destination choice, however people that like Slackcountry and don't mind skinning, might.
4) From Patagonia to Terrace, why?
I read a comment about Soulskier being sold on the idea of Shames without ever skiing there. There is nothing wrong with that.Heck, I had skied Mad River Glen only TWICE went I decided to buy a share and it was way more expensive (exchange rate at all). This was before the Coop was tested and had a few years behind it. Why? Because I liked what I saw: mountain, terrain and infrastructure. No McSkiing. I believe it was the way to go and know after over 10 years, I can say that I'm really proud of what the Coop has done.
5) Storm days?
T-bar line doesn't even need to change. Deliverance Trees (official in-bound trail) are awesome. Real steep trees off to the skier left heading from top t-bar toward base as awesome terrain. There is also a bunch of mellower trees also.
6) Plane tickets
Pretty sure it wouldn't so expansive from Montreal or the East when there is a seatsale. Although I was out of luck, as the 3 (Lucky, Pete and myself) of us all bought our plane tickets with points. Lucky and I have either too many points or not many opportunity to use them. However I remember looking at the prices and they weren't so much more expansive than flying to Vancouver at that time. You just have to lookout for sales.
7) Shames and other NW attractions
Tony mentioned Last Frontier. I know that LF were at Shames on my last day because it was dumping. There was also a film crew on that day. All the skiing was in-bounds and just beyond the ropes...and it was excellent. Smithers has less snow and offer some interesting backcountry skiing as it's on the side of Hudson Bay mountain which is huge. The road from Prince Rupert to Terrace along the Skeena River is amazing. Bear Pass and Stewart BC also (this is more out of the way - but offer great terrain for those who wish to be to it).
Crap...there goes the quick response...back to work. :?
... at least around here.
us by claiming it's some ridiculous number like 800 a couple thousand feet up without some documentation to back it up.
falling for a 600 inch claim at Kicking Horse. I just got through analyzing Revelstoke's similar claim for a feature admin will hopefully be publishing here within the next month. As I've said before the number of ski areas in the world that get 600 inches stands at one, Mt. Baker, with only Niseko within shouting distance. Both of those places have VERY unusual topographic/meteorological phenomena contributing to their unique microclimates.
But then Oct is far and away my busiest month of the year at work (Jan is 2nd). Crazy-busy period finally ended for me yesterday though (still busy, just not crazy). 