MLK day last week and this Sunday were the busiest days I've seen in a very long time. What is going on? Is everyone jumping ship from 7Spring or did everyone get some free voucher?

North Summit parking, packed. Packing on the main lots, we arrived at 8:45, ran to the lot for water at 10 and the entire lot was FULL.

Long lift lines, people stabbing the tops of my board with poles as they cut in line, people skiing in jeans out of control bashing into little kids, just pure chaos.

Anyone have any idea what was going on this weekend? One thing I kept hearing in the north summit building when we went in there to get something to drink, was people talking about how nice it was to get out skiing for the first time this year finally or, wow HV has changed alot.

There has to be a reason...some government check, a freebie promotion that I didnt hear about, SOMETHING lol...

Last year this time, much better snow and more open trails/slopes, I would have been the ONLY person in the skier service building.

Was fun with the family, but dangerous. Even ski patrol there was cutting people off, which I never see, ever.

Definitely bigger crowds this year than prior.
Speak with lots of people and have often been told that the quality of the snow is so much better at HV than 7S. More than once been told by strangers on lift that they had skiied at 7S day before (even staying at 7S) and came to HV in search of better snow.

I looked at the webcam this morning and it looks pretty busy. I there a school holiday today? I was there on what was supposed to be MLK weekend and the lift lines were pretty good.And the weather was good. Perhaps the snow on the ground in Pittsburgh and the fact that the Steeler's are home ( and I mean home with their families) for the playoffs had something to do with it.

No school today for the kids - end of semester. My wife's a teacher and they have in service today.

Sincraft -- I talked to an employee I know and apparently they are having a lot of success with their noon - close Sunday lift ticket. I was there yesterday skiing from about 10:30AM - 3PM and the increase in crowd right at noon was discernible. I guess if you are bringing a family on a weekend that ticket is the best value going in the area.

The type of crowd they had Sunday definitely begs the slope expansion (or, at this point, more accurately: lift installation).

It was the 1st time this season I have felt uncomfortable with my 2 1/2 year old son on Continental. But I'm not going to get mad about their success. Just say again that the Outback expansion BETTER HAPPEN THIS OFF SEASON.

My take is that people are fed up with overpaying for family skiing, and HV is the best deal going. That's basically why my family was there on MLK weekend, and not at 7S, and yes the parking lot was fuller than I had ever seen.

However, I do miss the 4 hour flex ticket from prior years.

Me too. I loved that deal.

Timberline was also taken a bit by surprise this weekend, especially Sunday. It was packed. I ruled it out as "the Collegial GS Race" but there was more than that.
Sat was raining... Sunday was beautiful.
College started the following Monday.

Was Sunday FREE SKIING for everyone?! Seriously, I don't know, but that was almost scary busy.

That ticket is only available to 'groups'
http://www.hiddenvalleyresort.com/SkiGroupRates.aspx#one

Just so there is no confusion.

Also, the F&B and, entertainment is drawing on it's own!

It took a little while, but Buncher got it right. They first invested the money to get the infrastructure top notch (snow making and lifts). They listened and acted upon customer feedback about the not-so-good stuff (food and bev). Now they are marketing it properly and voila... the masses come. I haven't been there yet this year, but it looks like the secret is out.

If only there was some vertical (Laurel would have been perfect).

Dave
I like Hidden Valley. I spend every Christmas week up there. We used to drive to Laurel when it was open for the Lower Wildcat. Buncher did a great job and I only wish he would get a chance at Laurel. Great family resort.

I skied 7S midweek and it was empty. I think in the future I'll probably try HV to save some money.

I heard from people at 7S that HV had better snow and cheaper prices as well. Most of the people I talked to at 7S had a gift card or season pass but would have been skiing HV if it was cash out of pocket.

7S's prices are crazy, consider a family of four going to ski for a Saturday:

$70 x 4 - lift tickets
$30 x 4 - rentals
$65 - food
= $465 for a family of four to go stand in line for 65% of the day and dodge beginner skiers the rest of the time on packed slopes.

I think 7S and HV are working to define their markets, 7S is the snowboard/terrain park drink at the Foggy Goggle type while HV is the family friendly ski area.

Hopefully this influx of people will push HV to expand terrain a bit as well.

Skiing is not an inexpensive sport regardless of where you ski. I just hope HV can make enough profits at these prices to reinvest in the resort. Until they can start selling real estate, I doubt that the Outback expansion will proceed since this involves $$millions in lift(s) and snow making construction. However, if Laurel Mountain opens next year, it may provide more competition to HV and they may need to open the "outback" slopes to compete for advanced type skiers.

...so, in other words, the only way HV is going to open the outback expansion is with more home sales.

Who knows? That is only speculation on my part based on feedback I got from Scott Bender. They are very secretive, so when they want us to know about it...then we'll know. Investment in the ski area infrastructure is no where near where it was a few years ago at HV and at most resorts. Look for new survey stakes in the Outback expansion area.

Yea I heard that they aren't going to budge on expansion until they sale real estate.

Who knows. At least widen the trails and possibly expand the north summit lodge. Last year, I was thinking wow this is nice that they put this here for so few people, now I realize that it's too small for the weekends now.

So how is snowshoe this time of the year during the midweek? Im thinking of making a day trip down some day. I'm concerned that I keep putting it off for after a snow day but, will lose out as this may never come and I'll end up in spring conditions.

Regarding Snowshoe, our condo GM said conditions are really good even with all lousy weather. He said mid weeks are WIDE open down there.