Today's Swim

[APphysics]

@Harvey

some stories/stashes should be left for close, trustworthy friends. wish he had the same mindset for swimming holes as he did for Gore that’s where and why I don’t believe him. shit, I have a ton of ski TRs I don’t post in order to not “doom the spot”. I don’t mind taking people to a stash but gonna get to know you first.

look at blue hole. doomed. permitted. trashed. soon others will go the same way. yes, anyone can enjoy these spots but social media spreads like wildfire compared to word-of-mouth over a beer with some friends. that’s where it’s lost on people. “oh it’s only a post, majority won’t go.” WHAT?!? you have 60,000 people who follow you!!! even if .5% show up that’s 300 NEW PEOPLE!! the swimming hole won’t know what hit it in this day of spreading information.

 

[APphysics]

Maybe I’m being a little bit hypocritical. I bought a hot springs book years ago in Montana that took me to some amazing places. I didn’t write the book but I did buy it. I guess now that print is practically dead, this new format is the modern day guidebook. Whatever, I don’t have to like it. Stay off my lawn!

@Ripitz books need to be sought after and take time to read. social media reams info down thousands of viewer’s throats in 30 seconds flat. that’s the difference.

 

[Ripitz]

“I started posting about swimming holes, but I made sure to keep details vague to respect the places and the people who know them best. My goal isn’t to give it away, I want to inspire others to seek adventure.” - The_Man

 

[Harvey]

Maybe I’m being a little bit hypocritical.

I was not saying this. I'm saying that I may be on thin ice criticizing the_man. You are generally under the radar.

some stories/stashes should be left for close, trustworthy friends. wish he had the same mindset for swimming holes as he did for Gore that’s where and why I don’t believe him. shit, I have a ton of ski TRs I don’t post in order to not “doom the spot”. I don’t mind taking people to a stash but gonna get to know you first.

Not sure I understand the mention of Gore here. I was referring to someone I didn't know criticizing me for writing about Gore, it didn't relate to the_man. Or are you referring to something else?

look at blue hole.

We did.

Peekamoose Blue Hole: Paradise Lost? • NYSkiBlog

I first heard Peekamoose Blue Hole was in trouble last year. I recommended the spot to a buddy, and upon his return he told me a tragic tale.

nyskiblog.com

Blue Hole garbage run

yes, anyone can enjoy these spots but social media spreads like wildfire compared to word-of-mouth over a beer with some friends. that’s where it’s lost on people. “oh it’s only a post, majority won’t go.” WHAT?!? you have 60,000 people who follow you!!! even if .5% show up that’s 300 NEW PEOPLE!! the swimming hole won’t know what hit it in this day of spreading information.

I can't resolve it. Is it a matter of degree? Because the "efficiency" of social media is high, that's the key? I'm not saying yes or no. To me the monetization is more of a difference, but still not sure. NYSB turns down all kinds of opportunities to monetize content.

I'm not really motivated by money. I used to speak to Skiology Matt. He had all kinds of advice/criticism about the way I run this site. He felt I was leaving a lot of money on the table. He doesn't understand my motivation. I learned long ago not to take something I love and turn it into a business. That kind of thinking ruined my first love (ceramics/pottery) for me.

---

The difficulty of access is another thing. Nobody really pushes back about all the exposure Tuckerman gets. Or if I spent 10 grand to go heli skiing (lol) is someone going to be upset if I write about it?

One thing I am ok with, is our mission to promote small family ski hills. I don't see the lines disappearing at Epic hills because NYSB is promoting Woods Valley. I feel those places are vulnerable, and have no issue giving them exposure.

The day I skied Dry Hill was insane. 4am alarm, driving in insane lake effect to hike/earn multiple 200 vert laps. A good story, but I don't think it is going to blow that hill up.

AP don't take any of this as criticism. I have the utmost respect for you and your approach.

 

[tirolski]

Stay off my lawn!

Stay outta there!
"Nobody goes there anymore because it’s too crowded". The late great Yogi Berra.

Swimming holes are sacred places.

Fishing holes are sacred places to boot.

 

[APphysics]

I interviewed Shane:

Interview: The_Man_Within_The_Map

A "new" force in eastern skiing.

nyskiblog.com

...he confirmed it in the interview.

(me thinking this next bit was a quote from shane)

This is a difficult topic for me. I write about all kinds of stuff.

Three years ago I rode a lift with a guy who told me I'd ruined Gore mountain. I haven't written about Gore since. Not sure that's an appropriate response, but I'm just not feeling it. The hate was visceral.

This winter I had an incredible day skiing in the Vanderwhacker Wild Forest with @BRLKED and an excellent crew of quality people from North River. I was dying to write about it, but I knew I couldn't.

I have a need to tell stories. I don't totally understand it.

I apologize, I read this as a quote you pulled from the interview said by shane.

I’m happy you kept NYSB open and didn’t take Matt’s approach to monetize it. I think it’s kinda scummy that you need to pay for HIS forecasts. it’s a wx forecast for F sakes. I can see where you’re making the similarities between you and shane about exposing places. NYSB or you aren’t under the gun here. giving exposure to a mom and pop shop is completely different (IMO) than blowing up a swimming hole for money or worse, likes. there’s a big difference between you and shane. if he had stayed with reviewing resorts, I wouldn’t have a problem with him. he crossed the line with swimming holes. you going out to Blue Hole and cleaning up is be part of leave no trace and helping your community. that’s admirable and genuine way to donate to help a problem. shane on the other hand is creating the problem you just clean up.

 

[APphysics]

@Harvey a blog/forum is also a different more slow style of social media. you have to sign up, you have to like to write and convey your thoughts via writing. I don’t have a problem with forums. in my young catskill days I found out a lot info on the 35er bushwhacks via the catskill mountaineer or catskill peak bagger. but guess what, that info needed to be sought after and took time to read and… it was free.

it is the instagram and tiktok style of wildfire that is a problem. it is so easily passed around, shared and viewed. even if shane doesn’t mention the spot in the subject of the post, some person in the comments will yell it out because they are excited they can ID where it is.

filters are important. I did a write up of a bc catskill zone that I was very proud of—really wanted to post it because it’s a sweet line and proud writing. I passed it along to @Ripitz to read over. his advice was not to post it. I took a step back and really though about the impact that that piece would have just sitting on the internet. not just for the area but for the neighbors of the DEC property that bordered it. i swallowed my ego and I respected @Ripitz and since he’s a member of the catskill ski community, I took that as respecting the whole community. the write up was never posted. instead if ski friends I know in person ask about that zone, i’ll send em the write up. the info is controlled but also shared and free.

 

[tirolski]

Ya can buy yer own swimming hole near Homer NY in The UpState.

18 acre lake on ~36 acres <$150K.

L2 Us-11 Homer NY 13077

www.cnyrealtor.com

This one has a cold brook, camper and game room on 18+ acres for <$130K.

6346 Cold Brook Road Homer NY 13077

www.cnyrealtor.com

 

[Brownski]

It’s certainly a complicated topic. I would not know about the blue hole without the internet but I can see (and could already see in- holy shit- 2016) how it was eventually ruined by it. I wonder if Shane read my blog post and decided not to come on because of it. Oh well. Not for nothing but Junior is in his twenties now and about to finish grad school. That went by quick

 

[Harvey]

I’m happy you kept NYSB open and didn’t take Matt’s approach to monetize it.

Matt was actually recommending that I make the advertising more intrusive. I was a digital marketing pro for two decades before I recently retired. I know: if you took out the header image of @Scottski63 on Plunge and replaced it with a big ad, it would likely triple annual ad revenue. He also wanted me to remove the (trademark!) radar shot that is on most pages and replace it with an ad. Not doing it.

Now that I'm retired, there are two things I am no longer getting for free, through work. One is hosting, the other is security/version updating.

Ad revenue, about $800 a year doesn't quite cover the hosting. I don't have a quote for the security updates yet, but it's likely going to be a lot for a retired dude.

I really don't want to charge for content or membership. Mrs Road REALLY wants to sell NYSB tee shirts, more for the fun of a joint couple activity than the money. If we can get that going (next summer?) maybe I can cover those cost.

FWIW I had a company offer me a small fortune (upfront and annual payments) to log 4 acres of our land, build a road and put up a cell tower. Not doing that either.

TLDR; there is some kind of change coming to the NYSB "business model."

/drift