Thread: Manitoba Mountain, Alaska: SKI DREAMS DO COME TRUE!

oy! such a fuss over a couple friggin' t-bars. there's gonna be hell to pay when somebody tries to bring heli-skiing to alaska...

Originally Posted by BFD

What is your point?

It was a pretty simple point that I was making- one that you confirmed in your post while simultaneously being too dimwitted to realize it. So... Thanks

Originally Posted by goldenboy

It was a pretty simple point that I was making- one that you confirmed in your post while simultaneously being too dimwitted to realize it. So... Thanks

Call me a dimwhit. What do lifts on Manitoba add? Judging by the recently added pics (and my roadside guessing) it's not particularly difficult for a small party to ski a number of lines in a day as it is. Unlike say, Jumbo, where a lift would greatly increase the amount of skiing done (and will likely never work as a resort) Your "skier" assertion I imagine depends on how you'd parse "skier". David Brower was one.

Originally Posted by BFD

What is your point?
I would of been against this lift 20 years ago and I am against it now. Good thing is I do not take them seriously. I came to Alaska over 30 years ago to experience bigger mountains and wilderness. I have been displaced from areas due to conflict with other users I found incompatible with my recreation. I am raising two sons and would like to see them have the chance to experience Alaska as I have had.
I do not really know what you are saying about the gear. People have been traveling in these areas as long as I can remember. Only difference now is there are more people and less blisters.
As for your south face comment. Where it is at for most of the winter is where the best snow is. Since the ridges in Turnagain run east and west there is south facing skiing. However that is not even close to being where it is at for most of the Alaska winter. That is why it is so hard to get good photos in Dec.

And yet you choose to live in Cordova one of the very few places in AK that has a public, albeit small ski hill that the community is very( rightly so) proud of. You even volunteer there from what I understand??????? How do your kids( who are rippers) feel about it...have you asked them?

Originally Posted by Scotsman50

And yet you choose to live in Cordova one of the very few places in AK that has a public, albeit small ski hill that the community is very( rightly so) proud of. You even volunteer there from what I understand??????? How do your kids( who are rippers) feel about it...have you asked them?

I believe Eyak was started before he moved there. Again, I don't get the appeal of Manitoba other than a kumbaya fire circle.

It would make more sense to put a couple tows on Tincan if you ask me. More terrain, less trap, more avalanche danger though.

I have one small piece of information to add to this whole 'conversation', but first;

I have read this thread, but I am unaware of MtnRA's involvement in the whole 'Shames Debacle', so I am in no position to comment on them, or their ability to make this thing work. Although I am in favor of simplistic lift systems that focus on real skiing and not resorts that focus primarily on real estate and F&B to be profitable.

When I first heard of this plan for a new ski area in Alaska, I was intrigued and forwarded a couple of links to the new owner of Alyeska. Who, I figured would be interested and could maybe shine a little more light on the project. As I assumed that he would have some experience in dealing with the laws and regulations in the region as well as an understanding of what it would take to make it work. Apparently he was already familiar with it and responded simply with;

"Never gonna happen"

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

I don't get the appeal of Manitoba other than a kumbaya fire circle.

From the 10 pics you've seen I'm sure it must be easy to know all about what the options and opportunities are in the area.

I know its the internet, but the armchair quarterbacking gets pretty old. Come take a look for yourself, go tour up there and see what you think, then comment.

I'm interested to see where this goes and if any of the right parties "step up" and give the idea the boost it needs to actually become a realistic project.


I recently went up and skied some corn on the mellow face, and I must say, manitoba is an absolutely stupid place to tour, its a long flat boring slog with only the top (maybe) 1000 ft being skiable in any real sense (plus the 15 minute skin out is plain annoying). The options off of the top are amazingly impressive, but relative to the terrain in the rest of the area, without quicker access up and out, there are much better options elsewhere.

as to the whiners concerned with public access and motorized use, your concerns have been thoroughly addressed and your fears should have been quenched, but the continued unrealistically negative response makes it seem that there is another issue at play, whats up?

"Never gonna happen"

JB3 is a hypocrite and a coercive lier, all the promised BS that he showed up in Girdwood with has been completely ignored and the focus for alyeska has been entirely on realestate development, increased property values, and beginner and intermediate terrain (at the cost of employee health insurance and reasonable salaries for patrol and other key departments within the system).

Originally Posted by AKturnanburn

I know its the internet, but the armchair quarterbacking gets pretty old. Come take a look for yourself, go tour up there and see what you think, then comment.

Dumbfuck - I've actually been there. I still don't get it. That whole stretch of highway is fine enough for roadside shits and giggles I don't know why anyone would pay money to ride lifts there.

Course I can see reasons for beginner and intermediate terrain at a resort

And yet you choose to live in Cordova one of the very few places in AK that has a public, albeit small ski hill that the community is very( rightly so) proud of. You even volunteer there from what I understand??????? How do your kids( who are rippers) feel about it...have you asked them?

Yes we have a lift and I volunteer there and the town is proud of it. My move here had nothing to do with there being a lift. We were looking to live by the ocean and I wanted good accessible touring. As you know we have that.
I volunteer because I think it is a great resource for the kids of our town. I enjoy watching the kids walk up to the hill. I do not see Manitoba in the same light.
There will never be any kids walking up to the hill after school to ski there. Manitoba is being pushed as an economic engine for the community. Our town knows that is not possible with our hill.
If they want to actually build a resort to serve a community I mentioned earlier the mat su borough and Hatcher Pass better fits the bill. I was informed here that they looked at Hatcher but thought the snow was not as reliable. I have my doubts on how hard they looked. A simple check of the snotels shows 35" presently at Summit Lake and 54" at the last recording at Independence Mine.
Anyway politics is what you get
L involved with when you have been somewhere too long. There are not many issues that I get too worked up about. Preserving accessible ski touring is one of them.
As for my kids they have seen me make a fool of myself before over these issues. They could care less about Manitoba. But hopefully 3o years from now they won't be saying. dad was right. Hopefully there will be important issues to them and preserving what they enjoy now will be one of them. Either way at least they will know it is ok to have an opinion and take a stand and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

I don't know why anyone would pay money to ride lifts there.

If you've been there you should know the reasons (dumbfuck). maybe the 2 second glance out your window while driving didn't give you a real idea of what is up there off the top of that lame mellow shit.

Originally Posted by AKturnanburn

If you've been there you should know the reasons (dumbfuck). maybe the 2 second glance out your window while driving didn't give you a real idea of what is up there off the top of that lame mellow shit.

Still don't get why I'd pay money when I could skin up for free..... I realize you AK fucktards have some mystical magical idea of "mountains" your junk ain't that special.

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

Still don't get why I'd pay money when I could skin up for free..... I realize you AK fucktards have some mystical magical idea of "mountains" your junk ain't that special.

I wouldn't even think that someone as awesome, core, extremo fitness gnar as you would consider riding a lift, but there's a bunch of families and highschool kids that would actually pay to ride a lift for flat gaperish and mystically magical terrain.

Bottom line. It's a cool little pocket of the world, no it's not the most rad thing ever but it has potential to help out some locals and bring skiing to a lot of peeps that wouldn't otherwise go into the mtns. What's the big deal? Go hike, sled, heli, whatever, nobody gives a fuck what you do, why hate on this desperate local grassroots attempt at sustainability? What do you suggest to bring in for the winter that will attract families and keep the frikken school open and prevent a awesome little place from becoming another Alaska ghosttown?

Here's a little helmet cam from last week off the top of Manitoba Mountain.

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

I believe Eyak was started before he moved there. Again, I don't get the appeal of Manitoba other than a kumbaya fire circle.

Yea I knew that and have met and skied with BFD in Cordova and I knew he was quite supportive of the local ski hill so I was interested in delving deeper into his position on Manitoba.

Originally Posted by MtnRA

Here's a little helmet cam from last week off the top of Manitoba Mountain.

Holy FUCK! Where do I send my $500 for my lifetime founders shareholders pass.....sign me up Tonto!

Originally Posted by AKturnanburn

why hate on this desperate local grassroots attempt at sustainability?

how do you parse this as local, grassroots (MRA sure as shit ain't either of those) and sustainable (harsh truth - making money makes you sustainable)

ok, keep it simple. why do you hate on this hugh? why is this a bad idea?

Originally Posted by covert

ok, keep it simple. why do you hate on this hugh? why is this a bad idea?

I'm still waiting for why a lift here is a good idea. I mean, why the fuck can't I ski this sick shit without one?

you can. that also applies to almost all mechanized access just about everywhere.

personally i'd like to see more small local hills. remains to be seen if they can survive. there are good reasons why so many died off in the last 30 years.

What is a local hill? Is Silverton a local hill?

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

how do you parse this as local, grassroots (MRA sure as shit ain't either of these)

Your obvious beef is with MRA, and I'm guessing your negative perception stems from the half retarded presentation they've had on here. I get that. What you don't realize is that the meat of the project, idea, and location comes from a soulful longtime resident and ripping lifetime skier that's dug roots in the area and is desperately trying keep the area afloat by any means. He was on the local board for a while and was instrumental in helping to create a land sale in the area as well as other community efforts. He certainly has no personal financial benefit, as his business is done outside the area, and as you mentioned, the project is not exactly a giant revenue machine.

I'm not sure why I keep responding, as I know your negative spew has no bounds, but I guess I just can't fathom why you would be so unreasonably against something that will only do good for the local community.

Originally Posted by BFD

What is a local hill? Is Silverton a local hill?

my definition of a "local hill" is an affordable place just down the road a piece where your kids can learn to crush it and you can jam a few laps and then drink beers in the sun with your buddies. silverton is not that. manitoba might be.

my definition of a "local hill" is an affordable place just down the road a piece where your kids can learn to crush it and you can jam a few laps and then drink beers in the sun with your buddies. silverton is not that. manitoba might be.

As was mentioned above I am an active volunteer at our local hill. I think I have a good understanding of what is involved in operating a community hill.
I think the whole MRA website is a joke. I would be embarrassed to have my name associated with it.
If you draw a 25 mile radius from Manitoba you will have less people than the town of Silverton. You need 25 miles to include Hope, Moose Pass and Cooper Landing the communities in this area. You would not find enough local people to staff your hill in this area.
There are places like Valdez and Palmer that are screaming for a lift. There is an established ski scene. The locals are doing road runs with their cars. A busy weekend at hatcher pass could have a few hundred people shuttling road runs. Valdez probably less do to the population. These are places a model like they are talking about may have a chance of success. At least their is a sizable enough population base to support the hill financially or through volunteer effort when that fails.
I do not know Dave Scanlon. I will say people move to Hope because there is nothing going on. This resort will do nothing for the town of Hope or the dozen or so kids that live there. The only benefit could be to the gas station if they have one there. If those kids want to become rippers they better buy skins. Worked for my kids.

Originally Posted by AKturnanburn

I'm not sure why I keep responding, as I know your negative spew has no bounds, but I guess I just can't fathom why you would be so unreasonably against something that will only do good for the local community.

Originally Posted by BFD

If you draw a 25 mile radius from Manitoba you will have less people than the town of Silverton. You need 25 miles to include Hope, Moose Pass and Cooper Landing the communities in this area. You would not find enough local people to staff your hill in this area. There are places like Valdez and Palmer that are screaming for a lift. There is an established ski scene. The locals are doing road runs with their cars. A busy weekend at hatcher pass could have a few hundred people shuttling road runs. Valdez probably less do to the population. These are places a model like they are talking about may have a chance of success. At least their is a sizable enough population base to support the hill financially or through volunteer effort when that fails. I do not know Dave Scanlon. I will say people move to Hope because there is nothing going on. This resort will do nothing for the town of Hope or the dozen or so kids that live there. The only benefit could be to the gas station if they have one there. If those kids want to become rippers they better buy skins. Worked for my kids.

What local community? The only reason that seems to get passed around is "positivity" and desires for "local" and "sustainable" neither of which seem really to be true. So sorry I'm not into the kumbaya circle suckfest thing that's de riguer around here.