Ski2Live Live2Ski

Last year it got me to take 4 trips to New England and to book a trip to Vail (which got cancelled) and I skied Hunter a lot. Frost was nice to have as an option when I did not have the extra 90 min a r/t to Hunter took.

Yes - at all Epic mts.

JF's job - since Peak and then Vail acquisitions - isn't to be competitive as a standalone mt. It is to be a local option for folks from eastern PA and NJ who want a pass to larger mountains in NY VT NH (and now CO and UT).

We were offered refunds once the plans changed so it is hard to see what claim folks would have who opted against getting refund. And I just checked available reservations at Okemo - the only day in the season I could not currently reserve is tomorrow. So I am not feeling reel hindered by reservation policy except for the annoyance of needing to lock in plans before weather and conditions are known.

Pass holders did get to book 7 priority reservation days before anyone else could book. So I am currently set for 5 days Xmas week and 2 over MLK. And as soon as I use my Xmas days I will have 5 more days to book for other holiday weekends before non pass holders get a crack at them (they can only reserve a week in advance). So I am not real concerned about getting my days in - just takes pre-planning. As a lawyer I am really not seeing any viable legal claims over anything Vail has done so far. Just frustration at poor communication and inattention to their smaller hills. Down side of reservation system is needing to lock in plans without condition info. Like I couldn't switch from Frost to Hunter yesterday when Frost lame out and had 2 runs open after storm. And I am going to Stowe first next week which got a dusting while Okemo got 40" and Snow got 26" this week.

Good point re competition - which makes sale for club use more viable. But I am not sure Vail cares that much about local competition. They want a presence in NEPA to drive Epic pass sales by providing people in this region with a local option. It was critical tp my decision to get Epic rather than Ikon or ORDA pass. I dont imagine day ticket sales at Frost will amount to much more than a rounding error for them. They certainly are not acting like they care about driving those sales. No publicity for their opening and pricing day tix way above local competition.

Yeah can't see it lasting long - at least with Vail - if they go through fully with ditching the park. It would make more sense to install lights at Frost to enable nights there and either sell BB off (if there is a buyer - most likely for private club use) or just shut it and save expenses.

Given the age of their lifts they could make "selling off chairs" a pretty steady 2nd income stream.

Appreciate the effort and attention to detail that went into this post and image

No - not a thing was open. Beware the word "resort" in a title. This was the "Golden Eagle Resort".

Message boards are kind of off the beaten path for the last decade

Can't imagine pix here are likely to get Blue in much trouble. This is kind of off the beaten path. FB or IG are where things would get caught by govt.

Posting pix of folks not wearing masks is a real good way to cut season short. What kind of idiots won't wear masks skiing - they make you more comfortable in this weather.

Amazing how many PA places are not. Only Montage, Frost and Blue. Decided the limited trails Frost had to offer were not worth trip. Holding off til back at Stowe etc for 5 days 24th-28th

Cool - def the place to go in Pokes today with that open

Had been thinking about hitting Blue today having just dug out - given the limited terrain at Frost. But those pix changed my mind. May well do JF. Have the day off. Beats not skiing.

Don't know why I started this report saying "Sugarbush" - it was actually Okemo as stated later in report

Drove in Boots from JF to BB at 4pm once

Because you asked here if I posted a report.

Tue Dec 16 - Mt Snow Stayed at Colonial Motel in Brattleboro and ate take out from Panda North. Motel Breakfast got cancelled so hit McDonald's drive thru for 2 sausage egg burritos (breakfast) and McMuffin (in car lunch). Frustrating day. It was cold as fuck, the only lifts that run TTB were closed until 11 am, and they were blowing snow on some of the open runs. Lift lines much more chaotic here. Still managed to ride solo every run - but had to make a point of wanting my distance, not automatic. Skied 8 runs on the shorter lifts (best was the North Face - but making snow on one of those and sketchy coverage on the other). Was psyched when one of the TTB lifts opened for run 9 (the non Bubble one) but then they had snow guns firing right at lift riders in bitter cold and I was "F this I'm done". Nice three day warm up outing. Heading back next week for 5 days at those 3 places with more open.

Sugarbush Mon Dec 15 - Stayed at Common Man Inn and Restaurant. Nice place with good restaurant on premises I got take out from, best I could ask for grab and go breakfast and cool waterfalls out back to walk around. Okemo was best of 3 ski days as they had a lot more opened. Again no lines and no prob riding even 6 person bubble loft solo all day. Nothing real challenging (or even to the level of Centerline - the black that was open at Stowe) but a great cruising day - got in over 22k vertical.

Poaching is a benefit of not having a season pass. Soinds like JF area may have gotten 24" No I never posted a report. Brief update. Stowe Dec 14 - Stayed at Golden Eagle - nice room but didn't love surprise $20 resort fee add on. - Mtn had basically 3 TTB runs off quad and a 4th off Gondola. Lightly groomed conditions were a pleasure to ski but top half of each run was in thick fog. - no lift lines on quad and had each chair to myself. Did Gondola right when it opened and most germ free and rode solo. Then tried it once again later in morning - more people then and didn't love waiting in somewhat enclosed area for 5 min before riding - at least all were spaced and masked. Again rode solo. - called it quits after 8 runs (long ones at over 2000 vertical feet) as legs getting sore and wanted to save some for next 2 days. Also skiing in dense fog not my fav.

If they don't open much and groom what they do open it would be a good day to poach. Waiting to see what JF opens as I reserved there. They at least have always open trees.

Paid Blue that for season passes for 3 in 18-19

For folks who ski as much as you and are locked in Blue customers based on geography it could be a plus as it would reduce crowds.