Another reason Vail stinks.

[C1erArt]

Drove out for an evening ski session at Boulder. Got to the mountain and the gate was down and there was a sign saying Boulder is closed for the season mid week days. Nothing on their Facebook page, and you had to drill down to their hours of operation page that was apparently updated today. Guess Alterra figures they gave us enough value for our Epic passes. 

[EdBacon]

I'll give them another week before BB closes. 

Stopped by for about a half hour today around noon. Place was almost empty. 

[JFskiDan]

5 hours ago, EdBacon said:

I'll give them another week before BB closes. 

Stopped by for about a half hour today around noon. Place was almost empty. 

i thought i saw a FB post about pond skimming at BB.  never seen that before, but if thats the case, its over.  

[EdBacon]

On 3/9/2025 at 6:35 AM, JFskiDan said:

i thought i saw a FB post about pond skimming at BB.  never seen that before, but if thats the case, its over.  

Yeah they were doing a pond skim thing and a "rail jam" with the one rail in the "terrain park". 

The place felt very sad. 

Edited March 10, 2025 by EdBacon

[JFskiDan]

1 hour ago, EdBacon said:

Yeah they were doing a pond skim thing and a "rail jam" with the one rail in the "terrain park". 

The place felt very sad. 

im still blown away that they continue to run both JF and BB.  If frost had lights, maybe they would abandon BB?

[EdBacon]

4 hours ago, JFskiDan said:

im still blown away that they continue to run both JF and BB.  If frost had lights, maybe they would abandon BB?

When BB was a terrain park it had a justification for staying open. Vail very obviously favors JF over BB. 

I guess BB is small enough that Vail doesn't notice the loss on their overall bottom line.

[RidgeRacer]

20 minutes ago, EdBacon said:

Vail very obviously favors JF over BB. 

As well they should. 

[EdBacon]

1 hour ago, RidgeRacer said:

As well they should. 

I mean favors in the sense that they keep it open more than two months total. They haven't exactly spread the love around at JF either. 

[C1erArt]

19 hours ago, JFskiDan said:

im still blown away that they continue to run both JF and BB.  If frost had lights, maybe they would abandon BB?

Wonder if the condos factor in. The condos at Saddleback took a real hit the years it was shut down

 

On 3/3/2025 at 5:07 PM, C1erArt said:

Guess Alterra

Vail, not Alterra. 

[Schif]

56 minutes ago, C1erArt said:

Wonder if the condos factor in. The condos at Saddleback took a real hit the years it was shut down

I was thinking the condos might have been a factor as well, but realistically Vail is so much bigger than a small condo association in the Poconos. 

[JFskiDan]

1 hour ago, C1erArt said:

Wonder if the condos factor in. The condos at Saddleback took a real hit the years it was shut down

 

Vail, not Alterra. 

 

36 minutes ago, Schif said:

I was thinking the condos might have been a factor as well, but realistically Vail is so much bigger than a small condo association in the Poconos. 

i feel like  the condos at BB could care less about BB.  The big draw there is the lake.  they are far enough from the slopes that i doubt BB is that big of a draw for owners.  Air B and B type thing maybe, but that place only being open weekends and maybe some nights or whatever, it might as well be closed.  i would think the condo association at JF would throw a fit, being that they are right there slopeside, but i really doubt they would be able to fight vail.  

Edited March 11, 2025 by JFskiDan

[saltyant]

Vail's rad, I just renewed my Epic pass which provides access to more than 80 mountains across the world for under $800. That's cheaper than the stupid pass to ski just 2 mountains in the Poke n O's for $900

[EdBacon]

Vail just announcing $100 million in "cost saving efficiencies" so who knows. 

[C1erArt]

4 hours ago, JFskiDan said:

 

i feel like  the condos at BB could care less about BB. 

Never see anyone at the BB condos during the week. 

[C1erArt]

Boulder closing on Saturday. 

[JFskiDan]

1 hour ago, C1erArt said:

Boulder closing on Saturday. 

[RidgeRacer]

On 3/11/2025 at 1:01 PM, EdBacon said:

Vail just announcing $100 million in "cost saving efficiencies" so who knows. 

Oh boy. Never good

[Schif]

58 minutes ago, RidgeRacer said:

Oh boy. Never good

The $100M of cost savings is a program started in 2024, according to their latest statement they are on track for that $100M annualized number by the end of next year. All of it seems to come from operating efficiency, global shared services, and expanding workforce management. 

To put this in perspective, this is a company that expects between $854M and $896 EBITDA this year, so it's a decent chunk of their budget they are looking to save here. How much of that is Consulting/Analyst magic is yet to be actually seen though. 

In other Vail News, they seem to be adding Crans-Montana in Switzerland to the offerings. Looks like it cost them about a Million to do that. 

[C1erArt]

Although JF is still open weekdays even with minimal crowds, at least. 

[JFskiDan]

1 hour ago, C1erArt said:

Although JF is still open weekdays even with minimal crowds, at least. 

i just looked at their website for a view of the cams.  wanna know the saddest thing?  20" of snow this year.  e-gads.  it used to snow in the Poconos.  

[EdBacon]

You can't view the webcams anymore without downloading Vail's app. 

[C1erArt]

I tried looking through the app, and got a message that the WebCams were not scheduled to be running. So maybe they’re just shut down and will show up on the Jack Frost webpage when they’re running.

[Kyle]

On 11/28/2025 at 7:02 PM, EdBacon said:

You can't view the webcams anymore without downloading Vail's app. 

For 12 monthly payments on $19.99? 

[JFskiDan]

Not having the webcams on JFBB.com sounds like a terrible idea, but we know, at least in the past, they dont care much about selling day passes, and its really those people that wouldnt have the app, and would want to take a look at the cams.  

[EdBacon]

4 hours ago, JFskiDan said:

Not having the webcams on JFBB.com sounds like a terrible idea, but we know, at least in the past, they dont care much about selling day passes, and its really those people that wouldnt have the app, and would want to take a look at the cams.  

I mean, I've had season passes most of my life to various places and I've always used the webcams to see the conditions before heading out. I imagine a lot folks on here do the same. Just seems like Vail wants to force people to use their app. 

Edited December 1, 2025 by EdBacon