Just heard gossip that T-Line may have put permanent snow stick bases 30 feet into the slope of White Lightening on the headwall. If this is the case they would have to hazard off the hoses and electricity leading to the sticks ruining one of the best lines down WL next to the trees. Anyone at T-Line know if this is true? If so why would you possibly think this is a good idea??
That would be hugely annoying and frustrating. The side slope skier's R below the headwall is usually terrific even a few days after a storm. PLEASE say it ain't so.
Signed, a longtime TL season pass holder.
Norsk - what I heard (which is only T-line gossip at this point) is that the guns are out into the trail skiers left (on the treeline on the opposite side from the lift side tree line). Hopefully, this isn't true as I can't see any reason to cut off a portion of the trail that has some of the best snow and is away from the bombers in the middle of the trail. Hopefully the weather turns soon and we can see for ourselves.
Guess we will have to wait a while to find out...looks like the only "slope" Tline was able to open after the weekend of snowmaking was the tiny bunny hill (Woods Hole). I know there's a well-deserved frown on criticizing Tline on this forum, but honestly, after all the hype from Tline on social media over the past few days, opening with just the bunny hill is such an embarassment. I'm honestly glad to see the new emphasis on improved marketing at Tline, but overhyping and not delivering is deadly.
Stupid move,if true putting HKD Towers where rumor says they are going. Why not ask on their Facebook, they are pretty quick responding to questions there.
Norsk wrote:
Guess we will have to wait a while to find out...looks like the only "slope" Tline was able to open after the weekend of snowmaking was the tiny bunny hill (Woods Hole). I know there's a well-deserved frown on criticizing Tline on this forum, but honestly, after all the hype from Tline on social media over the past few days, opening with just the bunny hill is such an embarassment. I'm honestly glad to see the new emphasis on improved marketing at Tline, but overhyping and not delivering is deadly.
The social media presence makes me feel much better about Timberline as a ski hill. Remember when Fred used to run the facbook page two years ago? He announced three different opening days, all of which were wrong. I personally won't ski there until they put in a new lift, because I got tired of waiting 30 minutes each ride. the only way to improve those lifts is to get more butts on the hill. And I hope that having someone manage their social media can achieve that.
Is that what used to be Silver Streak? (Not sure I recall the name correctly.). It was the best rrail on the mountain, then they cut down the tree line that separated it from White Lightning. Its amazing how those guys run a ski area.
Denis wrote:
Is that what used to be Silver Streak? (Not sure I recall the name correctly.). It was the best rrail on the mountain, then they cut down the tree line that separated it from White Lightning. Its amazing how those guys run a ski area.
Other side.
But it defeats the reason for widening WL; apparently for racing. But if you then narrow the trail for snowmaking equipment...
Sigh.
Denis, things have gotten worse since you have left.
Back when they cut the trees by Silver Streak I do remember the stated purpose was to allow WL to host bigger races. Did this ever happen? I know I've seen SARA races there but I was under the impression they wanted higher level competitions.
I also miss having Silver Streak as a separate trail. I only had a couple seasons before the trees were cut.
I don't see the thread as critical of Tline, just a legit question about the nature of improvements to their mountain. Management should be looking at DCSki every day. This is a wonderful opportunity to show responsiveness in a public forum:
1) They respond that this is idle gossip and not true (win - providing useful info)
2) They ride up take a pic of the true location next to the tree line ( win - discredit misinformation)
3) They say yes the location is as reported and explain logical explanation (win)
4) They say they made a mistake and are moving pad to new location (WIN)
5) They do nothing and wait until we see for ourselves and this thread turns into a bash TLine thread (LOSER)
Logic is not their style.
Imagine if they solicited customer feedback regarding changes prior to implementation?? But, that would require good business acumen.
I popped the question to their Facebook. I guess the final answer will come from someone who actually knows the mountain and sees it firsthand.
"According to Tom Blanzy, Timberline GM, we anticipate the skiing surface will not be more narrow than it has been in the last several years and since we last widened the trail. New snow guns are placed where we typically leave guns
set up through the winter to maintain snow levels on this trail."
TomH wrote:
I don't see the thread as critical of Tline, just a legit question about the nature of improvements to their mountain. Management should be looking at DCSki every day. This is a wonderful opportunity to show responsiveness in a public forum:
1) They respond that this is idle gossip and not true (win - providing useful info)
2) They ride up take a pic of the true location next to the tree line ( win - discredit misinformation)
3) They say yes the location is as reported and explain logical explanation (win)
4) They say they made a mistake and are moving pad to new location (WIN)
5) They do nothing and wait until we see for ourselves and this thread turns into a bash TLine thread (LOSER)
well those three, maybe four, stachions are as reported. no guns mounted on them yet. Patrol will probably have to fence the slope off so skiers don't go behind them and ski over hoses and power connections. Lost terrain........................
Wait til you see the "glade" between Thunderstruck and Upper Almost Heaven. West Virginia Chainsaw Massacre.
I saw what they did and it made me sick to my stomach. They have the best glades south of the Catskills and now they have ruined a large portion of that. They have dozens of people on their Ski Patrol and many others in the Valley that could have given them advice on how to properly "clean" a glades. Instead, they chopped down dozens of large trees leaving big, dangerous stumps. They basically cut another trail in there - now the place will be filled with beginners which is not what glades are about. Finally, they left all the big trees they cut in there so that they will need feet of snow before it will be safe to go in there. Basically, the place is filled with wooden rails now. I will take twice the snow it used to take before it is safe to ski in there. Unlike the WL improvements, this is permanent. The best trees on the frontside are ruined forever. I can't think of a better place for people to learn to ski trees. RUINED!! FOREVER!!! I've heard they did similar things to trees that we can't see from the lift as well. I really hate to dump on TL. I've been a huge supporter but this is just too much to bear.
TomH wrote:
Unlike the WL improvements, this is permanent. The best trees on the frontside are ruined forever. I can't think of a better place for people to learn to ski trees. RUINED!! FOREVER!!! I've heard they did similar things to trees that we can't see from the lift as well. I really hate to dump on TL. I've been a huge supporter but this is just too much to bear.
Terrible news. Agree that those were some of the best learning glades around - my son loves skiing in there. What was the point of doing this? So people could ski near a tree or two and claim they skied a glade?
They have the best intentions but never ask those in the know what will work best for glading.
Since they ignored the old adage measure twice, cut once nothing can be done now. However, people have complained before about how they did the same thing in the Cherry Bowl years ago. I guess they forgot that. Is it really that hard? I can name 20 people by name on their staff that would know how to properly manage a glade. Especially when it really didn't need anything done except clearing away some downed wood and branches. It was great in there last year. If they have the best intentions they could at least pull out all the downed wood they created when they left all the logs in there and cut those stumps flush. If only for safety reasons for all the folks that will be in there that shouldn't.
So I did see the damage first hand yesterday. There are new stations all of the way down White Lightening, about 4 of which do indeed make the trail more narrow right at the headwall. For now there were no hoses on the back side of them (hoping they're buried) so I was able to ski behind them. Overall they seem like a dumb idea (particularly since they aren't even being used) but I'm not sure how much they'll affect my skiing. Someone did bring up that they may cause problems for races being held on that trail as they definitely create a safety hazard.
The real question yesterday was why was Timberline not using any of their fancy new snowmaking gadgets? They had pulled the mobile guns onto the few trails that were open and were making snow in everyone's faces. I'm no genius but it seems like making snow on unopened terrain during the day and everywhere at night would be the best thing to do, especially on a busy holiday weekend.
Oh yeah, the "glading" between Thunderstruck and Almost Heaven did appear to be a disaster. I hope their explanation is that some folks with chainsaws came through in the middle of the night without permission. Unfortunately those folks were just looking to drop some trees, not steal any fire wood. There are downed logs and knee high stumps everywhere...
TomH wrote:
They have the best glades south of the Catskills
You have never skied at White Grass I can tell :)
Of course I have. I should have made that lift served. I'm lazy and prefer lots of vertical but that is just me. For those inclined to billy-goat it Whitegrass is the place to go.
Good one!
"There are downed logs and knee high stumps everywhere”¦"
people who leave 2 foot high stumps and downed timber in glades meant for skiing should be shot.
Heads up in Cherry Bowl too. Same glade killer went to town and choked out clean lines, leaving a stumpy mess. Saw it my self this past summer in both locations while biking and could not for the life of me figure out what or why this would be done.
Be carfeful charging these locations after this weekends snow. Now that Fred has begun advertising all his (it used to be our) gladed runs and naming them, he better get the check book open for who ever ruins themselves on tslimes human created log jams.
Lest anyone think I am a nut case, the above comment was inspired by an exchange in one of Greg Stump's films. They were talking about liability and people taking responsibility for themselves. Someone said, "people suing ski areas should be shot". Then Scot Schmidt said, "People shooting ski areas should be sued". :)
