Ski2Live Live2Ski

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.

Per FB - JF opening Friday with 4 beginner and intermediate trails BB shooting for 12/18 When is the last time JF opened pre BB?

On a more fun note

Scary thing is next season pass prices may be calculated based on multiples of this year's day passes. Long term if 4 hr night tix remain ~$80 they will not be selling $400 unlimited passes. For example Epic's reimbursement scheme if season is shortened is based on a pass being worth 7 day tix. So if you skied 5 days before getting Covid you get 2/7 of your price refunded. By that logic if day tix are worth $120 then a pass is worth $840.

I won't be there

JFBB are taking reservations for a Friday opening

If you ski enough for sure. But it looks like at Blue this year the break even point is ~4 weekend days (3 if you count the VIP line benefit and buddy pass).

Though I suspect prices may fall if demand not there at those rates. Doubt they will be at capacity midweek nights and better to sell 2 $50 tix than 1 $80 ticket.

Def the year to have a season pass. Everyone has pushed day ticket prices up through the roof - likely due to Covid uncertainty and capacity limits. At those rates I will stick to Epic resorts unless someone is offering up a buddy pass.

To avoid undue lines they will need to cut ticket sales by at least as much as lift capacity goes down. Also they are trying to get more people to ski AM and fewer PM by making the prices for AM 4 hr tix lower than for PM ones.

Blue's main draw seems to me to be from Philly. They do draw some from NJ - but NJ quarantine rules don't apply to neighboring states, all reports are that PA is not enforcing theirs, and lodging not an issue for NJ to PA skiing. Camelback being right off 80 draws much more of the NYC crowd- who now may more likely go to Mountain Creek or Skills due to restrictions

Don't know for sure what Blue's policy on lifts will be. The approach the Epic resorts are taking is they don't allow parties to share lifts except on 6 person lifts they will put a single and a double on opposite ends - but will allow even a single party to have their own chair if they prefer. By my estimate that approach will cut lift capacity by at least 50%. Had Blue said what they will do about parties sharing lifts?