Massanutten started daily ops today and opened up the Mass Transit/Yee Ha route, making it easier to bounce between the Peak and Ridge Triple lifts. I'll probably be out there tomorrow morning for Day 2.
It also looks like snowmaking on No Hess has started
Single digits at Massanutten tonight, Dec. 14. At midnight, the snowguns are blowing on the lower mountain trails, but not on the tubing hill or the upper mountain. Should be plenty of open trails for the holiday period.
Fair to say I've never seen this many trails open by mid-December in the 20 years I've been paying attention to Massanutten. From the morning ops report on Dec. 15, 2025.
👀
I think I may be giving my sons an early Christmas present this year...
I have wanted to ski Massanutten in December for years, but they never have both Paradice and DJ open. This situation should be rewarded.
Stephen wrote:
Have they dropped the 4 hour ticket this year?
Sure looks that way.
Mnut has implemented dynamic pricing for 2025-26.
Quite a list of open trails for Christmas week at Massanutten! Even managed to get Meadow open, which means beginners can spread out more. Here's the Snow Conditions report for Dec. 23, 2025, 7:44am:
Perhaps there is a correlation between this and dynamic pricing...
I will miss the four hour pass though.
wfyurasko wrote:
Perhaps there is a correlation between this and dynamic pricing...
I will miss the four hour pass though.
Massanutten was one of the first resorts in the region to have a 4-hr and 8-hr option about twenty years ago, instead of having all day tickets 9:00-5:00. Definitely helped to spread out people getting started in the mornings on weekends.
My guess is that relatively few people who stay overnight bought the 4-hr unless they were never-evers. For those people who take a lesson, not being rushed is probably better in the long run.
When buying a 2-day ticket, night skiing on both days is included. That's useful with kids because can ski 9:00-11:30, take a long lunch at the condo, and then return mid-afternoon and ski into the lights until dinner time.
Note that holiday Mondays are not peak rates for lift tickets. Most people who stay on resort don't use the chairlifts on Monday since they have to check out by 10:00am and usually start driving home around lunch time. Tubing tickets for Monday mornings sell out very early on.
I really liked the 4 hour ticket, but it wasn't much cheaper than the 8 hour ticket to make a lot of sense. I liked it psychologically. I can loop the mogul trails until I'm exhausted and then get kicked out, vs. not getting myself to stop when I really shouldn't do one more run.
Window ticket prices at most places are ridiculous. Just to go up and ski one day for a reasonable price without a season pass is fleeting. Massanutten has been able to provide that, and the 4 hour ticket helped. Will I ever see a $50 lift ticket again anywhere like I enjoyed last year?
On that note, not necessarily directed just to you marz, I listened to a podcast with Vail CEO, and the Southeast got some strong mentions. The interviewer commented on how the industry grew more than Vail, and the CEO said that a lot of that was because of the Southeast (and the midwest) where they don't have much presence. First of all, with their bank of resorts just over the border into Pennsylvania, they do have a big presence. Second, we have some particular needs that maybe they don't understand as well, snowmaking, snowmaking, and snowmaking. Massanutten and Timberline have pulled ahead, because they get it. I also heard just now that Wintergreen has invested a lot more recently too. Next, I would say a lot of it is about window ticket prices. How do you get started as a beginner these days? Either you're rich or you have a pass, and beginners don't go out and buy a pass. I think a big reason is that our region is one of the only places left in the country where the window ticket prices are still accessible, because they haven't bought into the big pass model of a cheap pass bought well ahead of time and out of sight window ticket prices. That model gives the resorts some insurance against a bad weather year, but it keeps new people out of the sport. It seems to me dynamic pricing is the best answer, because holiday lines are ridiculous.
marzNC wrote:
wfyurasko wrote:
Perhaps there is a correlation between this and dynamic pricing...
I will miss the four hour pass though.
Massanutten was one of the first resorts in the region to have a 4-hr and 8-hr option about twenty years ago, instead of having all day tickets 9:00-5:00. Definitely helped to spread out people getting started in the mornings on weekends.
My guess is that relatively few people who stay overnight bought the 4-hr unless they were never-evers. For those people who take a lesson, not being rushed is probably better in the long run.
When buying a 2-day ticket, night skiing on both days is included. That's useful with kids because can ski 9:00-11:30, take a long lunch at the condo, and then return mid-afternoon and ski into the lights until dinner time.
Note that holiday Mondays are not peak rates for lift tickets. Most people who stay on resort don't use the chairlifts on Monday since they have to check out by 10:00am and usually start driving home around lunch time. Tubing tickets for Monday mornings sell out very early on.
Check out the lift ticket prices in the northern midwest (WI, MI, MN, OH). As with real estate . . . location, location, location . . . applies to cost of operations and pricing for consumers.
The Indy Pass is a game changer for many people who only ski 4-10 days a season. Massanutten was on Indy from the first season. So was Bryce. Wintergreen, Wisp joined as well. All my skiing at CV was using Indy.
I joined the Indy pass this year too. I also have a Timberline season pass and bought several Massanutten four packs.. I’m looking forward to hitting a lot of the local mountains this winter.
Weekends at Timberline have become unbearable from MLK to President’s weekend.
marzNC wrote:
Check out the lift ticket prices in the northern midwest (WI, MI, MN, OH). As with real estate . . . location, location, location . . . applies to cost of operations and pricing for consumers.
The Indy Pass is a game changer for many people who only ski 4-10 days a season. Massanutten was on Indy from the first season. So was Bryce. Wintergreen, Wisp joined as well. All my skiing at CV was using Indy.
I am admittedly biased because of a longstanding family connection to the mountain, but Wintergreen has absolutely stepped it up with the snowmaking. Last year was incredible -- 100% of the resort open for most of the season. This year the new manager has also been aggressive with the snowmaking. Heck, they were even blowing at above freezing (but below on wet bulb, obviously) this past Sunday, and opened new terrain on Monday. I appreciate the early season aggressiveness!
Stephen wrote:
I really liked the 4 hour ticket, but it wasn't much cheaper than the 8 hour ticket to make a lot of sense. I liked it psychologically. I can loop the mogul trails until I'm exhausted and then get kicked out, vs. not getting myself to stop when I really shouldn't do one more run.
Window ticket prices at most places are ridiculous. Just to go up and ski one day for a reasonable price without a season pass is fleeting. Massanutten has been able to provide that, and the 4 hour ticket helped. Will I ever see a $50 lift ticket again anywhere like I enjoyed last year?
On that note, not necessarily directed just to you marz, I listened to a podcast with Vail CEO, and the Southeast got some strong mentions. The interviewer commented on how the industry grew more than Vail, and the CEO said that a lot of that was because of the Southeast (and the midwest) where they don't have much presence. First of all, with their bank of resorts just over the border into Pennsylvania, they do have a big presence. Second, we have some particular needs that maybe they don't understand as well, snowmaking, snowmaking, and snowmaking. Massanutten and Timberline have pulled ahead, because they get it. I also heard just now that Wintergreen has invested a lot more recently too. Next, I would say a lot of it is about window ticket prices. How do you get started as a beginner these days? Either you're rich or you have a pass, and beginners don't go out and buy a pass. I think a big reason is that our region is one of the only places left in the country where the window ticket prices are still accessible, because they haven't bought into the big pass model of a cheap pass bought well ahead of time and out of sight window ticket prices. That model gives the resorts some insurance against a bad weather year, but it keeps new people out of the sport. It seems to me dynamic pricing is the best answer, because holiday lines are ridiculous.
marzNC wrote:
wfyurasko wrote:
Perhaps there is a correlation between this and dynamic pricing...
I will miss the four hour pass though.
Massanutten was one of the first resorts in the region to have a 4-hr and 8-hr option about twenty years ago, instead of having all day tickets 9:00-5:00. Definitely helped to spread out people getting started in the mornings on weekends.
My guess is that relatively few people who stay overnight bought the 4-hr unless they were never-evers. For those people who take a lesson, not being rushed is probably better in the long run.
When buying a 2-day ticket, night skiing on both days is included. That's useful with kids because can ski 9:00-11:30, take a long lunch at the condo, and then return mid-afternoon and ski into the lights until dinner time.
Note that holiday Mondays are not peak rates for lift tickets. Most people who stay on resort don't use the chairlifts on Monday since they have to check out by 10:00am and usually start driving home around lunch time. Tubing tickets for Monday mornings sell out very early on.
Given how many trails are open, sounds like a pretty good holiday week overall at Massanuten. Of course, more like spring skiing then early season.
Outer limits is my leading indicator of it's time to try to go to WG.
&please tell me blue ridge pig is still open :)
wgo wrote:
Great news about Wintergreen stepping it up - having several good options in central virginia is definitely a good thing. Highlands is a very fun area when it is fully open and Outer Limits is bumped up.
Blue Ridge Pig is indeed still open and good as ever. Outer Limits is on the next round of terrain to open … hopefully this next cold snap holds!
pagamony wrote:
Outer limits is my leading indicator of it's time to try to go to WG.
&please tell me blue ridge pig is still open :)wgo wrote:
Great news about Wintergreen stepping it up - having several good options in central virginia is definitely a good thing. Highlands is a very fun area when it is fully open and Outer Limits is bumped up.
ok good, otherwise no pig no reason to go.
natehurst wrote:
Blue Ridge Pig is indeed still open and good as ever. Outer Limits is on the next round of terrain to open … hopefully this next cold snap holds!
pagamony wrote:
Outer limits is my leading indicator of it's time to try to go to WG.
&please tell me blue ridge pig is still open :)
wgo wrote:
Great news about Wintergreen stepping it up - having several good options in central virginia is definitely a good thing. Highlands is a very fun area when it is fully open and Outer Limits is bumped up.
Snowmaking on No Hess in earnest. There was a note in the Daily Report about daytime snowmaking.
Massanutten Daily Report for December 30, 2025:
I may be there tomorrow with my daughter. Feel free to say hello if you see me.
marzNC wrote:
wgo wrote:
Mnut 100% openWay to start the New Year! I'll be there this Sunday.
Natehurst-I had a season pass at Wintergreen for many years. The bumps on Outer Limits many years ago got me back into skiing the mid Atlantic regularly. I used to feel that Wintergreen was the best place in our area. But, they aren't doing as well now. Still much of the Highlands isn't open, and they aren't letting Outer Limits bump up like they used to. They used to brag that they could open the entire mountain in just 5 days of good snowmaking weather, and I remember some years where that was true. We've had plenty of cold weather, and there are years past where they would have been fully open with this much great weather.
natehurst wrote:
I am admittedly biased because of a longstanding family connection to the mountain, but Wintergreen has absolutely stepped it up with the snowmaking. Last year was incredible -- 100% of the resort open for most of the season. This year the new manager has also been aggressive with the snowmaking. Heck, they were even blowing at above freezing (but below on wet bulb, obviously) this past Sunday, and opened new terrain on Monday. I appreciate the early season aggressiveness!
Had a good time at Massanutten today. Pretty empty in general. I drove up the mountain about 10:00 and there were plenty of cars heading down, presumably people who had just checked out of resort lodging. Snow was best on Showtime, per usual. MakAttack was a steep groomer, as was Slot. Snowmaking overnight should make for a good time on Monday morning.
Photos taken around 11:30am, January 4, 2026.
The lines did pick up after 1:00, but it was still manageable. I didn't see you there, but we were all over the mountain. It was fun. Did the beginner runs more than the expert runs. This was my first time using Phantom wax on my skis that I applied. I heard about the stuff from you, marz, thanks. I put them on these skis, because they were new skis last season, and the wax only lasts like three days. I've had that problem on old skis, but never new skis. Anyway, they were very slick, and faster than everyone else. I've never had that experience. So, the next question, we'll see how long it lasts.
zNC wrote:
Had a good time at Massanutten today. Pretty empty in general. I drove up the mountain about 10:00 and there were plenty of cars heading down, presumably people who had just checked out of resort lodging. Snow was best on Showtime, per usual. MakAttack was a steep groomer, as was Slot. Snowmaking overnight should make for a good time on Monday morning.
Photos taken around 11:30am, January 4, 2026.
Stephen wrote:
This was my first time using Phantom wax on my skis that I applied. I heard about the stuff from you, marz, thanks. I put them on these skis, because they were new skis last season, and the wax only lasts like three days. I've had that problem on old skis, but never new skis. Anyway, they were very slick, and faster than everyone else. I've never had that experience. So, the next question, we'll see how long it lasts.
Phantom is not a wax. It initiates a chemical reactions that changes the composition of the bases. So even after a stone grind, your skis will still be treated.
Since there was snowmaking overnight and into the morning all over Massanutten, the skiing on Monday was fabulous! I spent the entire morning on upper mountain trail with a friend who is a local. We started in Mueller's Mile and worked our way over to MakAttack. Slot, No Hess, and Upper MakAttack are steep groomers at this point. Showtime had the most dry snow.
Even though it felt cold, it was clear by mid-morning that the snow was softening a bit. In general, stayed better than Sunday afternoon. Perhaps mostly because there were fewer people on the slopes.
Snowmaking around 8:00am, January 5, 2026
Paradice remains my favorite trail
Is it still working for you? Did you get a grind, and it still works? In practice.
marzNC wrote:
Stephen wrote:
This was my first time using Phantom wax on my skis that I applied. I heard about the stuff from you, marz, thanks. I put them on these skis, because they were new skis last season, and the wax only lasts like three days. I've had that problem on old skis, but never new skis. Anyway, they were very slick, and faster than everyone else. I've never had that experience. So, the next question, we'll see how long it lasts.
Phantom is not a wax. It initiates a chemical reactions that changes the composition of the bases. So even after a stone grind, your skis will still be treated.
Stephen wrote:
Is it still working for you? Did you get a grind, and it still works? In practice.
marzNC wrote:
Stephen wrote:
This was my first time using Phantom wax on my skis that I applied. I heard about the stuff from you, marz, thanks. I put them on these skis, because they were new skis last season, and the wax only lasts like three days. I've had that problem on old skis, but never new skis. Anyway, they were very slick, and faster than everyone else. I've never had that experience. So, the next question, we'll see how long it lasts.
Phantom is not a wax. It initiates a chemical reactions that changes the composition of the bases. So even after a stone grind, your skis will still be treated.
The first pair of skis that I treated with Phantom was good for 100+ days, mostly in the east on manmade snow. Never waxed them after the DIY treatment with Version 1. All my other skis have been treated. Those I've done a stone grind are just as good as they were before the grind.
For skis I take out west, I sometimes wait until a stone grind makes sense before treating with Phantom. I only used to wax the skis I took to the Rockies once a season. The skis I've used the most have had Phantom since 2019. Probably have skied them 25+ days each season since on soft snow.
Pretty direct report for Massanutten this afternoon . . .
We are closing Upper Mak Attack and Masstransit for the rest of today because it is a sheet of ice. Slot and No Hess will remain closed today. Muellers mile is TBD based on mountain operation assessments. The snowmaking team plans to fire up as soon as proper temperatures arrive this afternoon giving the mountain a refresh.
We suffered from the same weather event up at Killington - trail count dropped from 140 to 95. Been mostly groomed runs the last 2 days. Mountain ops has done a good job with these and a couple of the blacks/double blacks under the guns have skied quite well.
Heading a bit further north to Sugarbush on Wednesday since it is also on ikon.
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