Ski

I agree, MS...they went out on a limb because they believe Montage is a hidden gem. I think it sucks that commissioner Washo doesn't get it. A company comes along and makes a fair offer for something that's losing $1 million a year and they get treated like they are trying to rip them off. Sno Mountain guaranteed they'd use local construction workers. They'll begin paying taxes on Day 1, when many companies try to work out a deal that defers taxes. and, maybe best of all, SMI will be installing the 180 guns for Sno Mountain...

We were rooting for Snow Time to be able to simply take it over last time. I never seem to make it down to Roundtop for the ASRA races, but I can sure vouch for what they did at Windham. Sno Mountain, though, has the guaranteed capitol lined up. And their plan to invest in the water park is what's key to Montage making it. What's needed on the skiing end is no secret: snowmaking, a new lift, a few more trails, terrain park features, and a halfpipe. They spent a year interviewing emloyees and know what to do. Snow Time would be good, but Sno Mountain will be great. Their idea isn't to just turn a profit, but to push the envelope. Who the hell would have ever thought to connect the parking lot and the lodge with a tram? And I'm all for having them turn the upper mountain into a McDonald's Playland sort of place; we'll never see it other than when we pick up our season passes. I've spent the last two summers wondering if I was going to have to pick a new home hill. I've been through the shutting down of three ski areas and find it funny how people are always surprised when it happens. Montage was one vote away from death. The million dollars they lost last year was going to be 2 million this year, as snow guns, lifts, and plumbing continue to fall apart.

From today's online Scranton Times-Tribune: Two weeks ago, Lackawanna County commissioners had no bids for Montage Ski Resort. Three days ago, they held a public hearing on a lone, $4.1 million offer. By Thursday afternoon, they had two bids, both in the $5 million range.

A lot of Purgatory locals hated the change to Durango...but Purgatory was about as un-family friendly as a name could get. Come to think of it, I actually grew up on Hell Mountain, just outside of Mountainville, NJ. Anyone else from around there? Or even heard of it?

We'll try and get 'em to tweak it, toast...gotta try and find an angrier moose than Bullwinkle, though:

From today's Scranton Times-Tribune: Minority Commissioner Mike "Girlyman" Washo pressed the county on delaying the deadline, and wanted to know why an appraisal of the property hadn't already been carried out by the county. He also expressed incredulity that Sno Mountain would invest $1 million in pre-planning if they weren't guaranteed a sale. The question finally drew a pointed response from (Sno Mountain President) Denis "The Dude" Carlson. "If we don't get it done by July 3, we don't think the project is viable for this season," he said. "Then we'll step aside and we'll come back next year, when nobody has bought it again." Hey President Carlson:

I was just reading another MB, 'though I won't mention it by name...and a member of that board posted about the gang problem at Montage. Aside from me and my heavily armed crew, what other gangs are at Montage? Kind of hard to blend in when there's only 40 other people on a typical weekday. Seriously, my guess is that he saw a big Puerto Rican family and panicked.

Toast, you do realize it's situated roughly between Elk and Camelback?.....the moose logo isn't an accident.

Yeah, MS, come to think of it, we'll never even see the water park crap. They confirmed that it'd be put right outside the main lodge and then in between and around the right side upper slopes, like Main St. and Highball. And it's actually Sn

Montage has relied on Areco-style guns...like cement mixers that have to be pulled around btw ATV's. Even the mounted guns on Boomer are big-ass Areco's.

Oh, hey, Nick! Yeah, it was funny...she had made a sign "I Love Sno Mountain" and I was holding her at the speaker's podium. The councilman first said, "I guess we know which side you're on." Then after I was done speaking, she whispered to me that "I have something to say"...so she said she loved Sno Mountain loud and clear into the microphone. F*ck, though, I was nervous. I gotta have a few shots before I do that sh*t again. And 1st Grade, it was three trails that DIDN'T open...not the other way around.

The only thing they said about a park is that they'd have a lot more snow to work with. Right now, Montage has 26 working guns; this December, they'll add 180! Sno Mountain is just a group of investors. They brought in experts for all the ski related issues. They will use SMI for snowmaking---they have installed snowmaking at 300 ski areas in both hemispheres. Montage has hurt Elk ever since they opened. Elk's in big trouble, now. BTW, no more Jimmy and Johnny. No more bullshit adds. They said first class everything from now on.

BC is a bunny hill compared to Montage's current terrain.

Also, the founding owner of Elk got up and said "Do it!"

They believe they can spend $18 million dollars and turn a profit, once it's a four season operation. And the county, which was losing a million or so $ a year, will immediately start getting tax revenue from Sno Mountain. It would be insane to reject it.

The county has a July 3rd deadline to tell Sno Mountain they will negotiate the deal. Not make a deal, but just tell them to take it to the next step. Sno Mountain is already $1 million into this...that's what they spent so far for studies and architects, etc...they are 100% serious. They'd sign a deal today. They are building a separate snow tubing lodge. An entire lodge just for the tubing area.

Your woods runs will just move further over, right? Yes, it will be renamed Sno Mountain. The new moose logo is to make it more friendly. The snow tubing park will have an 850' magic carpet. Hmmmmm.....trying to recall what else.... They will guarantee to have funds to be open for at least 10 years. They will have student passes and school discounts.

BTW, anyone in the area should check out Newswatch 16 at 11pm...they had a camera there for the entire 2 1/2 hr meeting. Ty and I both spoke...I'll try to recall wtf I said: "Hello, my name is Cole and I'm here representing the paskiandride.com message board and the 900 members who welcome Sno Mountain and wish them good luck on this project. I've volunteered at Bell Mt., Mt. Tom, and Hogback Mt., all of which are now on the pages of NELSAP, which is where Montage was also headed. Every part of Sno Mountains plan is dead on. You have it right." blah, blah, blah Then Ty, who was holding her handmade banner, asked to speak: "I love Sno Mountain." Huge applause....

Just got back from the meeting at Montage...er, make that Sno Mountain, if all goes well. What will change? EVERYTHING! New high speed lift that will run top to bottom, next to the Long Haul. Not right away, but they will be cutting three new 1.5 mile trails to skiers right of Fast Track. 180 new tower guns to put down 1' in 2.5 days on every trail. Snow tubing will be on the left side of the lot, on the opposite side of the lodge. New snow tubing lodge. New main lodge. A TRAM from the lot to the lodge. Wave pool and state of the art summer water park. Holy crap! Everything! And they have the money!

Hey, I think it's just fine that a bunch of semi-crazy kids from Montage join us on PASR....the more the merrier. It's not like they went to a bunch of threads and flamed. I can see how they come off with a bit of an attitude, but so what? Apparently, one of them earned his attitude. And anyone from Montage is a brother...unless they step on my ski tails in line. And as far as Head goes, it's a company that just lured what a lot of people on here consider the greatest skier in the world away from Atomic. There are two reasons to pay for Bode: first, he's a big name; second, he's far an away the best skier for a company wanting to make changes and improvements in their gear. K2, Rossi, Fisher, and Atomic all credit Bode with improving their line. And World Cup racing is where all the major testing is done on recreational skis, including park/pipe skis. Settle down, Rob. Jeez....

The investor group that was turned down with the $9 million bid says they are a little pissed and still interested. Wasn't one of the main investors indicted in Philly on a "pay for play" money scandal? It sounds like Snow Mountain LLC has a ton more money, but I'm not picky about who buys it, just as long as it stays running. Tonight's meeting is still ON, according to the newspaper.

From someone who has never won anything. But you still just have to try and pile on these kids 'cause, uh, why? A little jealous, I suppose.......

Hahaha, you bought his shoes, DH! But you gotta remember, DH, that I have the back of any Montage local.

I imagine Long Haul being shut down and rusting would be a major embarassment to new owners...maybe an upgrade and with some new fittings it could be run at nearly twice the current speed. That would make the woods a little more fun to get to and do laps through 'em...

If they advertise Montage like they have Elk, then they'd be all set. Elk has given the world the impression that it has some mysterious fluffy snowfalls, worth driving the extra distance. Montage is MUCH more convenient than Elk for almost everyone; 10 minutes rather than 30 for the vast majority of skiers/riders. The problem is that new ownership always creates a buzz and will give Elk some really hard days ahead, even with little effort. If Sno Mountain LLC offers a cheap student rate---that Lackawanna was crazy for not already having---Elk is in BIG trouble.