Transparency in Snow Reporting

[Campgottagopee]

To be honest I don’t check the trail reports. I have fun no matter what the conditions are. Just glad to be out there when I can.

Rt on my brother
There's more to it than the conditions

 

[Alfredeneumann]

This is precisely why I said:

"Say what you will about Gore or any mountain, but no one has the economics that Mad does."

Clearly Gore is in a different situation than a private operation. But the fact remains that there is pressure within ORDA to hit numbers, even if the consequences of not doing so aren't the same as they are at West Mountain or Plattekill.

If there are 500 ski areas in the US, how many of those report the way Mad does? If there are others who are they?

What is your theory on why Mad is unique in this way? Mad has made this part of their brand, because it is allowable within that "culture."

You can call it altruism, or a fanatical dedication to the truth. But I suspect there are more hard economic (or political) realities lurking beneath.

FWIW, as someone who tracks it closely, with a place near base elevation nearby, I find Gore's snowfall totals to be quite honest.

I’m not comparing snowmaking, as MRG basically has none. I’m comparing the honesty in the descriptions of what is on the mountain.

 

[NYSnowflake]

Mt. Snow had a good trail reporter when they were owned by Peak. The Whiteface snow reports this season are absolute marketing feel good statements with zero info on the actual ski conditions. It’s really annoying. Also, why isn’t ORDA giving any info on where they make snow in the report? wasn’t there a snowmaking ikon at some point? I don’t even see one listed in the legend.

 

[not2brite]

To be honest I don’t check the trail reports. I have fun no matter what the conditions are. Just glad to be out there when I can.

More of an early season thing. If I’m making a drive want to know in advance there’s enough open to make it worthwhile.

 

[MarzNC]

Wachusett in MA is pretty clear when conditions aren't optimal. The daily video report and phone info are well worth checking before heading out.

Same for Cataloochee in NC.

As I think about it, many mountains on the Indy Pass in the east are good about snow condition reports.

It's funny when a mountain has a few webcams but people don't bother to check them. That happens often for folks who only take one ski trip a year in the southeast. Over the past decade, SkiSoutheast has helped to install multiple cameras at all the ski areas/resorts that didn't already have them. They still get emails a few days before a busy period asking whether or not there is any snow on the slopes if it's been warm where people live.

 

[RichTee]

Hunter's reports are worthless...

 

[snoloco]

All of the Vail resorts in the Northeast have done a horrendous job with snow reporting, or really any type of communications. Vail laid off most of the marketing staff when they took over and consolidated it to Broomfield.

As for other resorts, the mega pass era has somewhat reduced the importance of snow reporting as a marketing tool. It used to be that if your snow report reflected what should be a really good day, you got more skier visits and thus more ticket sales. Since most people have paid for their lift access before the season even started, that has less of an effect. While any resort will put a positive spin on things, I think it's less common to post outright misinformation for the purpose of driving more day ticket sales.

ORDA is the exception. Whiteface in particular has really struggled to keep their snow report up to date this season. There have been times when it wasn't updated until 9 or 10am. There have also been times when trails that have been open for days are still listed as closed on the report. All 3 ORDA website snow reports have the capability of displaying the snowflake icon for snowmaking, but it isn't always updated.

 

[Harvey]

Vail laid off most of the marketing staff

Megapass.

 

[Sick Bird Rider]

I have to admit that if the snow chair looks depressing, I generally don't post a picture. Hang on to your dream (and check the weather!). That's about as transparent as we Hinterlandians get.

 

[Brownski]

I have to admit that if the snow chair looks depressing, I generally don't post a picture. Hang on to your dream (and check the weather!). That's about as transparent as we Hinterlandians get.

Hey, keep that shit to yourself, bro. Whatever the most recent chair pic depicts is the current snowpack in the hinterlands. End of story. I’m hanging by a thread down here.