Gore Mountain Conditions

[Tjf1967]

IMO this is too personal. Bone's a decent guy.



Maybe he felt that way, but that's not where I was coming from.

I learned from Mike Pratt that there are often barriers to enacting the most obvious and logical solutions. And you can't easily throw those barriers under the bus in an interview, because they come from the people you ultimately report too.

Because it looks like this interview isn't happening, I feel like I can be upfront about my own opinion:

Nobody's got capex budgets like ORDA. IF a private operator had those big capex budgets, and was short on help, they would probably dial back a bit on the new lifts and lodges, and invest something in human capital. Well, maybe Vail wouldn't do that, but I don't see their model as sustainable or even popular.

I still think something broke

 

[snoloco]

Nobody's got capex budgets like ORDA. IF a private operator had those big capex budgets, and was short on help, they would probably dial back a bit on the new lifts and lodges, and invest something in human capital. Well, maybe Vail wouldn't do that, but I don't see their model as sustainable or even popular.

Except that Whiteface and Belleayre have invested a lot in human capital, and significantly improved their snowmaking performance as a result. Gore actually regressed from last year despite having much more favorable weather this year.

 

[Cork]

One other detail-I was all over the mountain today. If they had any guns going, I didn't see them. Seems odd...

The snowmakers were given the weekend off. The crew has been working hard, but they are shorthanded and inexperienced. I very much appreciate their efforts, but the 5 P's were not heeded by the uppers to help them succeed...

 

[Kleetus]

The snowmakers were given the weekend off. The crew has been working hard, but they are shorthanded and inexperienced. I very much appreciate their efforts, but the 5 P's were not heeded by the uppers to help them succeed...

I appreciate the snowmakers Gore has 100% and with marginal temps today I get giving them they day off. Still, it's abysmal how little they have made with the weather they had.

Maybe a bit jaded by being to VT last couple weekends. But even Belle in mid December after a huge rain event had better coverage and conditions in much more marginal temps. Gore should have been blowing it up over the last few weeks. What they did blow recently is all ice.

 

[Capdistski]

Gore did well today - kudos.

Handled the big day well from my perspective and I had a great day skiing for almost 7 hours. Darby and Echo were my favorites. They really need Open Pit to Darby - the curve on Cloud around to under the lift got bumpy and the falls were piling up.

I still think the snowmakers seemed asleep at the wheel for 7-10 days but they woke up at the bowl this week.

BTW I didn’t realize they had cut Half and Half - new trail. Stumbled on it and thought ‘what the hell is this? - didn’t it used to be a little glade shortcut?’. Always hate to lose a glade but like Backwoods I think the net result is worth it - nice to avoid a flat on Peacful Valley.

 

[SDC]

didn’t it used to be a little glade shortcut?

Yeah, that caught us off guard today. A good decision imo.

 

[Kleetus]

Gore did well today - kudos.

Handled the big day well from my perspective and I had a great day skiing for almost 7 hours. Darby and Echo were my favorites. They really need Open Pit to Darby - the curve on Cloud around to under the lift got bumpy and the falls were piling up.

I still think the snowmakers seemed asleep at the wheel for 7-10 days but they woke up at the bowl this week.

BTW I didn’t realize they had cut Half and Half - new trail. Stumbled on it and thought ‘what the hell is this? - didn’t it used to be a little glade shortcut?’. Always hate to lose a glade but like Backwoods I think the net result is worth it - nice to avoid a flat on Peacful Valley.

I'm sorry but what? The bowl was ice sheets on moxham and 46er. Sure it handled crowds well but most trails were icy not long after opening or had obstacles to avoid. I love Gore but I'm not holding back any punches this year after the product I skiied today with WEEKS of cold temps.

How many people gave up on skiing after experiencing what they did today? I saw a lot of people at the bar and rode up with a lot of people that were headed there after a couple hours and said as much based on conditions.

 

[Kleetus]

I'm sorry but what? The bowl was ice sheets on moxham and 46er. Sure it handled crowds well but most trails were icy not long after opening or had obstacles to avoid. I love Gore but I'm not holding back any punches this year after the product I skiied today with WEEKS of cold temps.

How many people gave up on skiing after experiencing what they did today? I saw a lot of people at the bar and rode up with a lot of people that were headed there after a couple hours and said as much based on conditions.

Today was also my first day at Gore. Record latest for me. Stayed away and went to Belle or Stratton/Sugarbush as I do IKON and ORDA passes every year. Normally would have at least 4 or 5 Gore days in by this point. Not regretting my decision to do Belle early in the season or go to VT last two weekends. The difference is night and day

 

[snoloco]

I posted a more detailed report in the trip reports section. @Kleetus I feel very much the same as you. I would've expected today's conditions just after a thaw. Not after 2+ weeks of perfect temps.

This picture of Showcase is I think the most indicative of Gore's snowmaking this year. A thin ribbon only a third the width of the trail. Everything to looker's left of the lift towers is natural and even thinner.

 

[Harvey]

My bad, it looks likes the interview is on.

I'm skiing for a few days, but I'll get back on it.