Greek Peak Conditions

[Emily]

Not just at Greek. It’s economy wide. Wages have a lot of catching up to do from the last 40 years of wage stagnation. It’s not going to improve overnight and there is inflation risk. Not too many people want a seasonal job without benefits any more.

I couldn't agree more, but as I indicated, Alterra and Vail seem to be doing it right when it comes to wages and recruiting of their seasonal staff. Quite honestly, to see five lifties at the bottom of a fixed grip chair day after day made us wonder how they are doing it.

Based upon the staffing issues we heard about last year with Vail, we were second-guessing ourselves about purchasing Epic and Ikon passes.

We are not sure what next year will look like for us. We are really impressed with Greek Peak's pipe and pump upgrades, but we'll see how the rest of this year goes.

 

[Scrundy]

Yea wasn’t that fun getting whacked by chair. I started timing chair, holding just ahead of gate and slide down so I was moving when chair hit me. Much better

 

[wonderpony]

Yea wasn’t that fun getting whacked by chair. I started timing chair, holding just ahead of gate and slide down so I was moving when chair hit me. Much better

Can you please clarify that? What happened? Which chair?

 

[Scrundy]

Can you please clarify that? What happened? Which chair?

The belt wasn’t running so you had to load like all the other chairs. Being the chairs on the quad are much heavier the poor liftie could no way hold it back very much, hence getting wacked by chair pretty good. They did slow lift down to make it tolerable, wouldn’t want to be smacked at speed. Made for a long ride up but was a beautiful day so no biggy.

 

[tirolski]

We also learned that each ski area is being run as an autonomous business, so the deep pockets of Alterra and Vail are not subsidizing day-to-day operations.

How is Vail letting each ski area be run as an autonomous business & not subsidizing day-to day operations?
Have they seen the light?

 

[Campgottagopee]

The belt wasn’t running so you had to load like all the other chairs. Being the chairs on the quad are much heavier the poor liftie could no way hold it back very much, hence getting wacked by chair pretty good. They did slow lift down to make it tolerable, wouldn’t want to be smacked at speed. Made for a long ride up but was a beautiful day so no biggy.

I've hated that loading belt from day 1! Every time I'm on it I feel like I'm going to fall over....lol

 

[Tjf1967]

It must be installed wrong.

 

[Campgottagopee]

It must be installed wrong.

I would think so too....Doppelmayr installed it. I think they're on there 4th belt.

 

[tirolski]

I've hated that loading belt from day 1! Every time I'm on it I feel like I'm going to fall over....lol

I’ve skied Greek at least 3 times and don’t remember the belt ever spinning correctly. Maybe I just got lucky. It’s funky for sure.
I liked the lift to the right of that as it was simpler.

 

[Emily]

How is Vail letting each ski area be run as an autonomous business & not subsidizing day-to day operations?
Have they seen the light?

I guess I should clarify. I'm not certain what Vail's internal systems are, but we chatted with Bobby Murphy (G.M. at Stowe) and he said that he is responsible for the bottom line at Stowe, including any capital expenditures. In other words, any new lifts, snowmaking improvements, etc. hit his bottom line, and impacts his compensation. He also said that he has more freedom to make decisions this year. The conversation started with snowmaking and staffing.