Support Local Resorts Or They Wii Close
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The Colonel
March 13, 2014
Member since 03/5/2004 🔗
3,110 posts

With plenty of snow on slopes.  I spent the better part of an hour yesterday (less today) trying to gauge slope traffic at Timberline / Cannan Valley, Snowshoe, the Virginia resorts, Liberty and sister resorts, and Seven Springs.  Most observations were between 1:30-2:30.  The observed results were pretty consistent:  Snowshoe had considerable on-slope activity, followed by good slope activity at Massanutten, limited at Ski Liberty and Seven Springs, and next to nothing elsewhere(especially at TL and Canaan)!

Definitely not a scientific survey/result, but interesting none the less.  All resorts appeared to have great slope coverage and conditions.

I was easy to see that the Snowshoe investment and commitment to season long snowmaking, the massive season pass sales thanks to the Ridiculous Pass Sale, and the highest altitude slopes have achieved the desired large number of sliders throughout this season, especially this late season part, despite the fact they farther from the Mid-A metro areas than any other "local" resort!  

As for the rest the problem is us, a few spring-like days after a long colder than normal winter and we pass on the continuing joy of sliding down still snow covered slopes for less than ideal spring days back at the ranch.

My fellow DCSkiers, if we do not support our local resorts they will reduce hours and/or close with snow ladened slopes.  Vote with your boards and planksand hit the slopes in what remains of March; and consider taking a day off to enjoy local sliding on the next pretty spring day, you will not regret it!

See you at Smowy Luau, head cold and all!

The Colonel

 

 

MephitBlue
March 13, 2014
Member since 11/8/2009 🔗
181 posts

I plan on going to Liberty this Sunday, so they will be getting my support.  It looks like Liberty is planning on being open at least through the 23rd.  They've announced that tubing is closing this Sunday, but made a point to say that a closing date for skiing has not been announced.

JohnL - DCSki Supporter 
March 13, 2014
Member since 01/6/2000 🔗
3,565 posts

Timberline is empty Mon-Thurs in January and February, much less in March. So, Mon-Thurs March traffic doesn't matter much. It survives on (Fri-Sun) weekend (and especially holiday weekend) business.

As for Snowshoe, it is the main mid-week destination resort in the Mid Atlantic area, though I'd wager a lot of the people you saw on the slopes were from NC, SC, GA, TN, AL, etc. They don't know any better. ;)

Reisen
March 13, 2014
Member since 01/25/2005 🔗
368 posts

I bought the Snowshoe pass and am considering planning a trip next weekend (the 21st). 

I love March skiing, but it can be a busy time!

Blue Don 1982
March 13, 2014
Member since 01/13/2008 🔗
1,595 posts

Planning to hit SS 3/14 - 16, 3/21 - 23 and 4/4 - 6.

7S 3/30 if it's open.

rbrtlav
March 13, 2014
Member since 12/2/2008 🔗
586 posts

Probably going to liberty tomorrow and whitetail Sunday if time permits it. After that who knows. I bought the 14-15 snow time pass, so I'll probably try and go next weekend too. 

ParkCrewDrew
March 13, 2014
Member since 01/24/2014 🔗
125 posts

Blue Don 1982 wrote:

7S 3/30 if it's open.

Highly likely! 

 

I personally love riding in the spring!   It's just so nice to enjoy the warm temps and riding the last bit of the season.  If the resorts are open I will continue to ride! 

scottyb
March 13, 2014 (edited March 13, 2014)
Member since 12/26/2009 🔗
559 posts

sum of usins will bee skiin webber deys got lifts or no, iffin u got sno u go skis it

 

unused NAXO21s fo sales, u buy

nakedskier
March 14, 2014
Member since 02/3/2005 🔗
93 posts

I'm seriously considering hitting up Blue Knob on Sunday.  After reading about the $299 season pass deal, I'm awfully tempted to get it.  

I got the Snowshoe pass last year but did not use it enough to make it worth it (yeah, I know.  Not many trips to make it worth it but I couldn't find anyone to go with me that could commit to at least an overnight!  And the drive...)

If it's really three hours by highway from DC, and has the terrain that they say they do, Blue Knob will definitely be getting my skiing dollars for the rest of the season and next!

Blue Don 1982
March 15, 2014
Member since 01/13/2008 🔗
1,595 posts

nakedskier wrote:

I'm seriously considering hitting up Blue Knob on Sunday.  After reading about the $299 season pass deal, I'm awfully tempted to get it.  

I'm pretty sure when I swapped my Snowshoe pass at 7S they had something on the swap form for Blue Knob.  I'd check for sure but they (BK) may swap with Wisp and Hidden Valley also. 

MephitBlue
March 16, 2014
Member since 11/8/2009 🔗
181 posts

Got back a bit ago from skiing Liberty and heard they are at least open through next week.  I heard rumors of longer from someone, but another person said they are slated to start demolishing the current lodge two weeks from now as they are going to build a much bigger lodge in its place.

rbrtlav
March 16, 2014
Member since 12/2/2008 🔗
586 posts

I got to Liberty on friday and Whitetail today. I personally thought Liberty was in much better shape, the only thing I saw there that was really lacking base was some of the terrain parks at the midstation stop. Whitetail on the other hand had a horrible mix of slush and ice by around 1PM today, the morning was nice, but between the horrible mix of conditions and the quickly expanding bare spots they have I think that if I can grab another day it will be spend on the backside of Liberty.

The Colonel
March 24, 2014 (edited March 24, 2014)
Member since 03/5/2004 🔗
3,110 posts

Look at the SkiLiberty web cams and ask yourselves why the resort is closed.  Obviously lots of skiable snow on trails, but attendance fell off forcing premature closure (albeit later than many past  seasons) despite the very skiable slopes.  Wonder how attendance might have faired this abnormally cold week with snow being mentioned in the press?

MephitBlue
March 24, 2014
Member since 11/8/2009 🔗
181 posts

The Colonel wrote:

Look at the SkiLiberty web cams and ask yourselves why the resort is closed.  Obviously lots of skiable snow on trails, but attendance fell off forcing premature closure (albeit later than many past  seasons) despite the very skiable slopes.  Wonder how attendance might have faired this abnormally cold week with snow being mentioned in the press?

I'm not surprised Liberty closed, but my understanding is that they had another reason besides just skier turnout, though I suspect that did play a large part in decision making.  Liberty has been waiting for the season to end to start the demoliton and construction of a new lodge, so staying open longer may have impacted the start of this work.  

I am surprised that Roundtop closed, but Whitetail is remaining open.  While the conditions on Whitetail's webcam look good, I would expect Roundtop would have the better conditions.

I'll likely be heading to Whitetail or Massanutten one day this weekend for a farewell day to the ski season.  

Mo
March 25, 2014
Member since 03/26/2001 🔗
33 posts

 

I am surprised that Roundtop closed, but Whitetail is remaining open.  While the conditions on Whitetail's webcam look good, I would expect Roundtop would have the better conditions.

Went to Roundtop on Sunday (their last day) and the conditions were pretty decent for this time of year -- machine groomed granular with hard-pack underneath. I hadn't been to Roundtop in several years, but a friend told me about their last day special -- an all day lift ticket for $19.64 -- marking their 50th anniversary (1964). 100% of their slopes were open with edge-to-edge coverage. Very few thin or bare spots.  Certainly a good deal for less than $20. 

Ullr
March 25, 2014
Member since 11/27/2004 🔗
532 posts

I can't speak for everyone, but we stopped going to Liberty, when the conditions started to get bad, and they kept lift tickets at full price.  We will be going to Whitetail on Friday since they dropped their prices, but Liberty was charging the same amount for a lift ticket last week as they did did in the middle of the season.

rbrtlav
March 25, 2014
Member since 12/2/2008 🔗
586 posts

I went to Liberty on both Wednesday and Sunday, the conditions we clearly not perfect, but for March 23rd I will take them any year. I have a season pass for next year (and in turn march), so conditions were less of a factor. I know the lift prices there are kind of high, but I can understand that it is hard to justify lowering prices when 100% of the terrain is still open and in fair condition as long as the temperature is under 60. (and they still have a 3'+ base except for the terrain parks) 

That being said on Wednesday (in the light rain) I may have been one of 30 people on the slopes, and almost all the people I saw were there for college night, NCC, or season pass holders. On sunday (closing day) they never even pulled out the fences for the ONE lift they were running on the backside, and the longest line I had was around 4 groups deep.They could have easily made it another week, but they were clearly running at a loss, and after this cold spell this week would have rapidly deteriorating conditions. I know they had a record year, but I would take the conditions they had this year, any year.

I might go to whitetail this weekend to close out the season, (I question why Whitetail is open and not Liberty or Roundtop based on the base left, but not my choice) but I got 41 runs and 21.5 miles of skiing (on decent snow with no bare spots) in on Sunday March 23rd in southern PA, so I can't complain. I think that might be a great way to close out the year.

Blue Don 1982
March 31, 2014
Member since 01/13/2008 🔗
1,595 posts

To the Colonel's point - My friend was at SS this weekend and below is an email  he sent me this AM.

I wanted to speak out a little. Saturday was sopping wet no doubt. Sunday was prime February skiing. The excuse of losing some of the base is irrelevant with what they were going to open, no bare spots there. I can say this, there was no crowds this weekend, which I loved, no lift lines, and basically every run was just you on the slope, no one else around to bother your line! So the money is the bottom line, the people didn't come this weekend. The reason they couldn't get a crowd next weekend is because they were only going to have Ballhooter open, c'mon guys, don't do it half-ass, open the mountain! So the people who planned to ski this weekend lost out, and Snowshoe doesn't really care. OK, thanks, feel better.

The Colonel
March 31, 2014
Member since 03/5/2004 🔗
3,110 posts

With a warm mostly sunny week forcast in the lowlands, with no major metro areas nearby to lend credence to a day trip to a less than optimal condition situation, and with the experience of poor attendance the last weekend in March ( rainy forecast did not help) I do not blame them for closing and would rather they spent the saved operating cost on improvements for next season!

The Colonel

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