Ride Delaware ?

http://m.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/us-winter-2013-2014-snow/18574742 Let's hope accuweather is as accurate here as they are at predicting the hi's, low's, and snowstorms during the season. The upside to this shitty (and hopefully incorrect) forecast is that it has Sugarbush on the outskirts of above average snowfall. Seriously though, they are the first one I have seen that isn't calling for a cold November. The 10 day is starting to trend downward. Winter is Coming...

Damn Internet sarcasm... I got it now... SMH

Unfortunately, I think I am too dense to understand this. Unless of course you are referring to blowing mice as being mean. Then I fully understand your concern.

I actually expected a rather lengthy response from you on this. I think they are going to have a world of trouble getting enough financing for the project, much less actually getting past phase I.

Wow!!! Never would have guessed that this would be Doug's first concern. In other news, SR blew out the mice last night. That is all.

From today's Rutland Herald KILLINGTON — A local developer has received a permit to begin a $100 million project, but the permit conditions might prompt the developer to appeal. On Monday, the District 1 Environmental Commission issued an Act 250 permit to SP Land Company to allow the developer to begin the first phase of Killington Village. The permit has been a long time coming, and SP Land President Steven Selbo expressed a reserved form of celebration Monday night. “I’m excited to take this step, is the best way to put it,” Selbo said, noting SP Land filed the permit application in February 2012. “I’m happy we’ve gotten to this step.” SP Land actually received two permits Monday. The first was to construct a 1,276-car parking lot and to realign Killington Road and the parking lot of the Killington Grand Resort Hotel. The second permit allows SP Land to construct 193 residential units; a 32-unit subdivision; 31,622 square feet of commercial and retail space; and a 77,000-square-foot skier services building to replace the Ramshead and Snowlodge base lodges. The proposed conditions surrounding the second permit have proven the most contentious for SP Land and the three organizations with party status including: Rutland Regional Planning Commission, Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission and Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission. In January, the three commissions sent a letter to the District 1 Environmental Commission, suggesting that after the completion of phase one, SP Land be compelled to conduct a traffic corridor study along Killington Road, Route 4, Route 100 and Route 103 arteries from Killington to Interstate 89 and I-91. SP Land objected to this condition, asserting in a letter in January the proposed permit conditions “as a whole are well outside the scope of what is permissible under Act 250.” During hearings in 2012, the Agency of Transportation, SP Land and the three planning commissions agreed with the findings of a traffic study showing no mitigation measures would be required for phase one. The Rutland Regional Planning Commission withdrew its support of making the condition mandatory, but the other two planning commissions maintained their collective position. In issuing the permit, the District 1 Environmental Commission decided to make the study mandatory. SP Land would be obligated to pay for as much as 50 percent of the study, with a cap of $25,000. The Agency of Transportation and the three regional planning commissions would fund the balance of the study. The scope of the study is unclear; it refers to studying “traffic impacts from the Phase I development upon the Killington Road/US4/VT103 corridors from Killington to I-91 and I-89.” There is no reference to Route 100. Selbo said he has not decided if he will appeal the decision. “We’re just letting this sink in right now,” Selbo said. “I’m cautiously optimistic we will find a way to work with everyone.” SP Land has 15 days from the date the permit was issued to file a motion to alter the permit. A last-minute suggestion from the Rutland Regional Planning Commission to force SP Land to include 495 units of affordable housing was not included as a permit condition. Just saw this on AlpineZone. Pretty big news for the East Coast's busiest ski resort. They have been trying to push this through for years. An outside company is developing the land which requires massive infrastructure improvements, one of which is rerouting Killington Road to allow for placement of the village. Only Phase 1 was approved. The eventual plan supposedly calls for 2,300 units, but only the first 220 have been approved. This plan also includes a mandatory traffic study after Phase 1 is complete. The developer is concerned because that traffic study could be used against him to limit the following phases, which would likely be where most of the profit would be made since the initial phases will be swallowed up by infrastructure costs. What does this likely mean for the everyday skier? Increased prices on almost everything and parking being located farther away, some of it out of walking distance. I would not be surprised if parking close to the base eventually becomes a paid affair. One of the nicest things about Killington is the access to free parking close to the base lodges. I like concept of villages, but I also like the access road scene as it is now. I can't see there being this much real estate demand, but I could be wrong. Killington already gets a bunch of grief, and becoming a sold out glitzy resort probably wont help their street cred, but more power to them. I'll continue to support them early season, since they are the only show in town, but I am definitely glad I picked the condo at Sugarbush to call home. The village will likely not have a visible effect on my early season riding there outside an increased push to open Snowshed earlier in the season for ski in/out. Furthermore, this is seen as the first step in the ultimate plan to go through with the Pico interconnect. Personally, I like Pico the way it is and would hate to see the increased traffic over there. If I understand this correctly, Killington already has the approved interconnect plans and permits, but will not begin construction until parts of the village are complete. They continue to pay a boatload of money to renew these permits each year because they don't believe they could get them renewed should they allow them to lapse.

They actually look like some fun little tree shots. I am guessing these aren't "on the map?" Looks pretty cleared out. I think somebody could take a hike through there with some clippers to cut some of the willy wacks, but overall, not too shabby.

I don't think I've ever flown anything more than coach. Must sound weird to hear that from a "rich kid" Doug...

The wait is killing me!!!

I heard your dancing is about as good as your karaoke...

ABE is picking up some really good flights here lately. I know that a buddy of mine got his flight to Denver cheaper, and he didn't have to worry about paying to store his car.

It's only the beginning of October, but there remains very little hope for the Northeast in the 10-Day forecast. That being said, it could always change on a dime and drop a solid 10-20 degrees. However, it looks like our western brethren may be looking at an opening sooner rather than later. Loveland ran the guns almost 50 consecutive hours this weekend, and their whales are starting to look pretty good. It's always tough to estimate weather out there since it's significantly colder in the pass, but maybe they will be skiing and riding within a week?

Do I sense sarcasm?

The Greek and Gore passes probably offer the best value even though the distance/gas money probably offsets that value a little bit. I don't understand why some people give Gore so much grief. Decent snowmaking, decent natural, high speed lifts, and excellent glades. If they got closer to 250" instead of 180", I think they would offer some of the best and most consistent glades in the Northeast throughout the season. That being said, I haven't been to Gore in 8 years, long before the Ski Bowl and Burnt Ridge expansions. Wouldn't mind getting back. I haven't been to Greek since I was looking at colleges 10 years ago. It didn't knock my socks off, but I wouldn't mind going there as a change of pace.

I would venture to say that was probably before Doug's time...

I recently bought a brand new pair of pants and jacket for when I'm not patrolling. I also bought a Smuggler's Notch Bash Badge Plus and got a Killington Express Card. Im trying them both out this year to see if they are worth the savings for next year. Since I will get my pass from Sugarbush free for patrolling, I have a little extra cash to spend elsewhere. I'll most likely use the Smuggs Pass for an off day or two each week i'm up there (free skiing from opening until Dec 10 and from March 10 till closing), and the Killington Card for early season and possibly a random mid season day at Pico. Smuggs sent the pass last week but sent me the regular Bash Badge (no free skiing) instead of the correct one. After comparing ticket prices for different product options with the lady over the phone, we figured out (as I already knew), that I had indeed bought the Bash Badge Plus. She sent a new one (which apparently got here today) and told me to cut up the old one and throw it away. Now all I need is some cold weather to use them.

Whew... I was afraid the Steaux fandom was a thing of the past. Glad to see the universe is still running smoothly.

It's quite expensive, but if there is a good early season day, or a discount, or a patrol day, I'll give it a shot. You've talked it up so much that I have to give it a shot at least one day.

As you well know, just because you work in the family business, doesn't mean your rich. Your several years older than me, and a couple years ago you were still talking about juggling your expenses to see which trips you were going to take. Maybe things have changed for you, but I'm still in the same boat.

No, and I doubt I ever will. I made that assumption based on stats, so I wouldn't be surprised if the reality is much different.

You would think that as long as the temperatures are cold, Tahoe is usually a decent bet early season since most of their resorts have decent snowmaking firepower.

First official winter storm of the season has been named. The storm is named Atlas, and the bulk of the snow will hit Wyoming. Johnny Law is usually up on this a little more than me, but does anyone know why temps have been so mild here and continue to look that way for the 10 day? Its 5 degrees or more above average for both highs and lows in the majority of the Northeast, including ski region.

Nice. When I was in VT last week, they were really starting to pop. I hear it's almost peak season. However, once I got to the Catskills, it was incredibly green. I didn't expect that abrupt a change that quickly.

Your best bet may be Belleayre again if they stick to a semi aggressive snowmaking strategy. They don't seem to be projecting the early November opening anymore, but they have been aiming for T-Day the past couple years. Hunter seems to have gone the way of Powdr's Killington. They haven't really pushed the past couple years.