trackbiker

No. That's a Maine thing, bub.

Blue is 4 season resort with mountain biking, glamping, and weddings which are a huge profit maker. Elk is only open for skiing so I don't see near the same price for Elk. I don't see a lot of space for real-estate development so I'm not sure someone would be buying it to build condos but I could be wrong about that.

West Mountain is worth hitting on the way up or back from central/northern Vermont or Gore or Whiteface. When it's 100% open it has a lot of fun runs. Especially on the Northwest side. Skis bigger than it looks. Lines never get too long even on weekends.

They did do a good with the lodge renovation. They really only had one moderately steep short trail at the bottom.

I think the snowmaking equipment and possibly the lifts were auctioned off if i remember correctly. It was a good place for beginners. Better than a beginner going to Camelback where they would just be on the bottom of the mountain with the masses anyway. But newbies don't know about places like that.

If you guys can get down 1000 vertical feet as fast you got down White Lightning, you should enter the downhill at the next Winter Olympics! 😉

I skied Spring Mountain last night more for the nostalgia than the skiing. I learned to ski there and try to get back once a year but it's been a few years. Conditions were dust on crust but edge-able. Lift line on the west side was ski-on or a chair or two wait. I had heard that they had an All Weather snowmaking system. This was the first time I saw it and it was blowing out "snow" at 45 degrees. I think it is essentially a sno cone machine inside that blows the shavings out onto the slopes. The production was low and it appears that it would take a long time to cover a slope. When I left around 7:00 there were a lot of kids in well organized group lessons on the main slope. Good to see that they are doing well. SMI All Weather Snowmaking Video.MOV

I know that but somebody should tell the author. It appears he doesn't actually know what vertical drop means. Obviously, there is no proof reading or editing anymore. From a quick look at a topographical map the headwall is about 200 vertical feet.

Wow! White Lightning is 1000 vertical feet! He actually says it twice. 🙄

How were the crowds? Might hit it tonight.

Planning on heading there after work. Hope the crowds are still low. Was mobbed last Tuesday when I was there. Their lift line management sucks. Do they close Timberline every night for racing?

The biggest problem with Denton Hill is it's in the middle of nowhere with a low population density. I always wanted to check it out but I can be at a lot of other larger places in half the time. Their best option would be to get any schools in decent driving distance to start after school programs.

Laurel Mountain and Denton Hill are both state owned. Lauren was updated with a new lift and lodge renovation several years ago and is currently operated by Vail. The same is planned for Denton Hill. At first no one bid on operating it. Now I think some locals will operate it in the next year or so after a new lift and upgraded snowmaking are installed. I don't think the state would be interested in owning Elk. It wouldn't be hard to find a private company to buy and operate it.

Looks like Smuggs this past Saturday. Skiing by Braille.

I don't think so. It's managed by the Fairbanks group who also manages Jiminy Peak and Cranmore. I think the ownership is one of the usual real estate companies that holds the real estate for tax and liability reasons.

Waterville Valley is a good option for New Hampshire since you have the Indy Pass. It skis bigger than it looks.

I agree. I just skied Berkshire East this past Saturday. They do a great job and would be a good match for Elk. They did a good job with Catamount so far. Elk could add some glades and a high speed lift but otherwise leave it alone. Corporate ownership would ruin Elk.

Actually I think the passes discourage people from taking up skiing. Beginners don't buy season passes. When they think about trying skiing they look at the now exorbitant day ticket prices plus rentals and go snow tubing or ice skating. I actually heard a father at blue a few years ago suggest to his two young boys that snow tubing might be more fun after seeing the lift ticket prices.

It has an angle station with unloading like the Collins lift at Alta.

Is that the first time that they didn't get 100% open?

Just put it at the curb. People will take most of it.

Don't forget you have to make reservations for Powder Mountain I think 4 days a head of time.

It's a high speed quad.

Boot up at Jackson Gore to avoid the steps and the slow lift at the main lodge.

I was there last Saturday and Long Haul was running. Upper Runaway and Upper Fast Track weren't open so I was surprised it was running. Conditions were better than expected. Hard but carveable.