Ride Delaware ?

This was this years trail map (or maybe they are using leftover ones from years past... That being said, with the low skier volume and the relatively recent addition of the new chairlift, I believe I was still looking at an old map with the t-bar on it... Either way, the combination of good terrain, good natural snow, and cheap prices make it a new favorite of mine... It's got a great "down to earth" vibe and slow lifts like Elk... If your looking for something a little different and are willing to drive for it, find Plattekill... You wont be disappointed...

Great TR... Love to see people still out there getting at it... Love the dedication too... Keep up the good fight... Conditions look awesome...

But would they label a t-bar as an express lift?

I mean, I'm not on crack right? It really says something about an "express" lift somewhere right?

I don't know why it took me so long to pose this question, but I remember seeing on their trail map i got at the mountain something about an express lift. I know we don't have many catskill afficianados here, but I was wondering if anyone could clear this up for me. I love the vibe there, and dont mind the slow lifts, but having a lift on the trail map that isnt there or not being planned in the near future, seems odd... To add to this mystery, I have seen no info on it anywhere... Is this the old t-bar?

I feel really bad for you... I can imagine that having that much snow and having an incredibly long season end on May 22 is heartbreaking... I hope you can pull through...

Yeah, sucks you can't drink... I would need a pick me up after hitting that joint? I'd imagine that hunter is better than that now that it will have a six pack and hs quad?

What's with all the spam lately? The firewall slowly losing it's strength? We went from no spam for a good time to porn spam and health ads...

I'd try depending on the day... Summer is the busy season at the beaches

Anybody got a real TR?

It took me a solid 5 days on the snow before I could really get my balance on a board down. I learned at Snowshoe during a freeze thaw, and my knees were black and blue for a week after that trip. That being said, props to her for liking it that quickly (especially if she was getting her ass kicked). I mirror the above. I will buy bindings and boards online, but I would never mess with boots online. Best case scenario is to go to a store, try boots on, find the size and model she likes, and then go back home and order them online. It will save you the money you want to save, and the hassle of playing the return game with REI. I haven't ridden a "beginner" board going on 9 years now, but I would make sure it is directional twin instead of a true twin. Thats the only advice I've got for now...

There is some dude that worked on the Delorean for the movie that actually buys Deloreans and remodels them into the time machine for collectors... He had one on ebay awhile back for like $120k... The flux capacitor didn't work, but it looked just like it...

Yeah, no Delorean... Just me being a dipshit... Instead of reading the actual post I guessed that it was on May 1st, May Day, since it landed on a weekend... Whoops...

I figured we would have had a short TR posted by now... Nobody went?

Look at the bright side, at least you guys have some options... Even in Southern Jersey. Closest ski shop to me that is a full service shop is in Newark, DE, nearly 1.75 hours away...

I sent them an email several years ago that was promptly replied to. It was peaceful, so the response was peaceful. I didn't know they didn't allow backpacks. Thats pretty interesting. I personally think backpackers are almost as bad as gapers in some places. I have no problem with someone wearing one out west and taking their lunch, avy gear, or drinks with them since it can be long trips in between a quick stop at the base lodge. I don't even have a problem with it at some Northeast Mountains if you want to save some money and take a small lunch or something with you. However, at a PA mountain, and most Catskill Mountains, there is absolutely no reason you should need to take a pack with you. Minus Elk's lower lot, you can easily leave whatever you might need in the car and walk out there quickly to grab it. To me it just seems like way to many people think it looks cool rather than it being utilitarian. That being said, I do think it is ridiculous to ban them, unless they are blatantly saying "What the hell do you need to wear a backpack for? Seriously..." And since they aren't, its a stupid ban. We continue to go back to the tree skiing. One of these days I am going to actually get some pictures in the "mythical" Elk trees. I have been in them, others have been in them, but nobody has proof. I really wish they weren't sticklers on it, because then you could have a bunch of fun. While you can poach easily on weekdays, it is kinda risky on weekends. However, if they keep blocking the sides of the trails with evergreens, then they wont be able to see if we are indeed in the trees I wish there was a way to convince them to change that policy. However, everybody there has been working there for like 30 years and are pretty set in the way they do things. If they had tree skiing I would definitely go there more often than I currently do. It would definitely make it less boring if you add some variety. Luckily I found Plattekill this winter and was very pleased. They have a very good Elk vibe, basically no rules, and no lift lines. Elk should take a lesson...

And we continue to digress... Gas is what it is... It probably won't reduce my trips next winter, even if it is at $5 a gallon. Would it be awesome to see it cheaper? Yes... Would it help curb what is sure to be rampant inflation? Yes... Would cheap gas continue to help the economy grow? Yes... Is gas a privatized industry with several (even if they are smaller) competitors? Yes... Do they also believe in supply and demand that help to drive profits and make a business sustainable? Yes... As long as we don't suffer any gas rationing, I won't cut, and will hopefully increase my trips next year. There is nothing I gain out of bitching about it...

Alas, my season is now over. I was really hoping to get out for another 3 day stint in VT, but I really need 3 days of good weather to make the drive worth it, and that just hasn't been happening the past couple weeks... Season lasted from Dec 6 to April 7... Not my longest season, or the most days, but it was acceptable... I guess I'll see the snow in 6 months...

I agree, "ski fast, lose pass" is bullshit, but I have never seen that one enforced... Trees either... However, every time I am in the trees is on a weekday when there is only one 70 year old ski patroller on mountain lol

You receive a proxy vote in proportion to the amount of shares that you own in the company. Most of the time these votes have nothing to do with the way that separate business entities within the company are run ie: jf/bb. These votes usually do with larger decisions such as stock offerings or mergers and acquisitions. Even more likely, is that these proxy votes will be used to vote in members of the board who do make day to day operation decisions. Obviously this is just a short synopsis on how this works, but it is the general idea. It will be interesting to see how Peak Resorts manages the resort with the public offering. The decision to stay open longer/shorter is likely more complex than we believe it is. As we all know, the decision to open early is mostly a marketing ploy for PR. The results of this ploy are likely not able to be calculated monetarily. While they are incurring a great deal of costs early on (staff, snowmaking, lifts, lodge operations, etc), they are also generating revenue. On the flip side, they stop making snow, cut back lift ops, and cut down employees at the end of the season. From what I have been told the last several weeks (even into April), generated lift lines and therefore revenue. With such decreased costs, they probably broke even, maybe a slight loss. However, it is revenue. The real question is how much peak would benefit/lose by not opening early and closing late. If they open in Mid December through late March, is that decrease in costs and loss in revenue proportionate. Are they actually losing profit depending on how they manage operating costs? Who knows. Only time will tell. The only way we could find that out would be to see their income statements for the jf/bb properties.

Elk's already the bomb... It would be 2X the bomb if we were able to ski the trees legally Although it would surely get vetoed, we should try to get a petition in line to have a small gladed section cleared to "test" the concept...

Although I haven't boarded at any Peak Resort mountains, the best we can hope for is something like what happened with ASC. A huge influx of cash meaning that we will get a bunch of awesome lift, snowmaking, and lodging upgrades before slowly being run into the ground with expensive mismatched acquisitions. Then somebody with better managing skills will pick them up several years after the company downturn, consolidate business practices, perform the necessary maintenance that has been neglected, and run it more like a business should be run. Either way, we gain. However, it would just be nicer to see them succeed from the outset. On another note, if Peak can stay close to its core business and not get too big too quick (Intrawest/ASC), I think this could be an excellent decision. Lets hope it plays out well for them, and for us...

I was trying to find some witty one liner for that, but I couldn't, so I'm glad you did it for me...

I believe the addition of some spruces in select areas really is beneficial from a wind standpoint. The mountain holds up incredibly well during windy periods and it is tough to feel the wind on many of these areas. However, they should definitely work on making "improvements" that will significantly better the experience. Very few people are going to look at their improvements and say "gee, they added a bunch of spruce trees and i think we should try out Elk next year". I would definitely approve of some glades. With their exposure, being farther north, increased snowfall, and spruce trees covering most of snow in the trees from sun, they could definitely have some decent glade skiing on good snow years. I doubt that will happen, so I'll just keep my rock board with me for those days I'm feeling adventurous. I wonder what other "improvements" they will add to the list. I hope it isn't the addition of several hundred Douglas Firs lol

Well, according to Elk's Daily Photo page, they are doing some serious tree cutting this year. Elk often lists 700+ new spruce trees every year on their improvements page, which does really help block wind, but this year they are cutting down trees on the west slope to replace them with Spruce trees. I am sure this isn't the first time they have done this, but I have been following Elk for 10 years, and this is the first time I have seen them cut down a massive swath of trees to replace them with Spruce trees. The only downside I see to this is that it will make it a little more difficult to poach in that area on powder days, but most of the fun stuff in the trees is farther up anyway. Props to them for blocking the wind, but it sucks that these trees won't be a decent size until 2016.