Crystal Mountain Becomes Alterra

[Buster Highmen]

In regards to the stagnant skier market for the last forty years

http://www.nsaa.org/media/303945/visits.pdf

I'm reading a slight growth in the pnw numbers which only cover the last 22 years while NE seems stable.

[Rock Knocker]

I'm reading a slight growth in the pnw numbers which only cover the last 22 years while NE seems stable.

But the customer base is becoming much more demanding. Forty five minute waits in the chair line wasn’t uncommon at Stevens in 1971. Now there would be hell to pay. So that increase in technology, capacity and speed has to be paid somehow. It’s very similar in both time and mechanics how both the music industry ( CD’s) and the ski areas (snowboarding) were hugging themselves and congratulating each other for being smart as their industry grew for reason that had nothing to do with those in charge.

[Buster Highmen]

The ski areas charge a lot more for day tickets.

I never remember the Stevens lot being full @ 7:30 before. Alpental chair 2 lines seem a lot bigger, no infrastructure improvements there.

I just don't understand the motivation for the sale. Maybe JK didn't want to try to float through an El Nino (see 04/05) but long term, there sure seems to be growth here. The Seattle population has exploded with a high percentage of outdoor types too.

In the case of growth, that doesn't explain a sale.
In the case of stagnation/decline, that doesn't explain a purchase.

[PNW_Skier206]

I just don't understand the motivation for the sale. Maybe JK didn't want to try to float through an El Nino (see 04/05) but long term, there sure seems to be growth here. The Seattle population has exploded with a high percentage of outdoor types too.

I feel like it has to be he got offered too much money to pass up. Nothing else makes sense to move on so quickly.


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[oftpiste]

In a conversation with JK about El Nino years and their impacts on Xtal and other local resorts, he told me with very little sympathy for other resorts' struggles, "if they don't have the money to survive a few bad seasons they have no business being in business."

[Buster Highmen]

Guess snot.

[ACH]

In a conversation with JK about El Nino years and their impacts on Xtal and other local resorts, he told me with very little sympathy for other resorts' struggles, "if they don't have the money to survive a few bad seasons they have no business being in business."

Well that's telling...
However, it raises more questions for me then it answers.

[Mofro261]

The ski areas charge a lot more for day tickets.

I never remember the Stevens lot being full @ 7:30 before. Alpental chair 2 lines seem a lot bigger, no infrastructure improvements there.
.

Fast moving chairs put a lot more people in line at the top. Lift lines on ch1 when it was a double were brutal, weekends with LWSC had as many as 30 buses lined up in lot4. Memba when it was an hour + to navigate the old doubles CH1 and CH2 at xtal to get to green valley?

[oftpiste]

Well that's telling...
However, it raises more questions for me then it answers.

It was an interesting conversation. The tone was a little bit... um.... dismissive to others' circumstances. Bidness is badness I guess.

[pipedream]

I think she was mad because they sold to some hill billy from WV

As a "hill billy" from WV, I'd advise you to keep yer mouth shut unless you wanna be short some teeth, too

Snowshoe is no joke - it's the closest thing to a real resort the Mid-Atlantic has and it receives significant traffic from DC. Their snowmaking and mountain biking are top-notch, I think you'll find yourself happier year-round eventually...

[PNWbrit]

As a "hill billy" from WV, I'd advise you to keep yer mouth shut unless you wanna be short some teeth, too.

Nice banjo.

A colleague who is involved with CMAC program met with new manager the other day he said he was impressed with the guy's ideas and enthusiasm to get to know about the different communities at the mountain.

[Rock Knocker]

As a "hill billy" from WV, I'd advise you to keep yer mouth shut unless you wanna be short some teeth

Just like you?

[Bunion 2020]

As a "hill billy" from WV, I'd advise you to keep yer mouth shut unless you wanna be short some teeth, too

You sound like my Couzin, she is short some teef, but her gums are magik. 2nd couzin so its not weird.

[oftpiste]

Like^^^^^

[Buster Highmen]

You sound like my Couzin, she is short some teef, but her gums are magik. 2nd couzin so its not weird.

pps.

[ACH]

Well this took a turn...
Lulz


Snowshoe does have the bike park thing nailed for their region, bringing that to Crystal has some good potential AFAIC.

[Rock Knocker]

Ned Beatty works in the ticket booth at Snowshoe.

[PNWbrit]

Snowshoe does have the bike park thing nailed for their region, bringing that to Crystal has some good potential AFAIC.

I was reminded recently that the MDP at Xtal specifically prohibits lift accessed biking.

[Buster Highmen]

I was reminded recently that the MDP at Xtal specifically prohibits lift accessed biking.

bahstids
Here's the Record of Decsion: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nfs/11558/ww...T3_4263892.pdf .

See rec 8, page 65:
Mountain bikes will not be transported on chairlifts or the Summit Tram (see W 7).

Sorry to have missed that one, was too obsessed by the boundary closure issue. No reasoning, rationale or principle cited. Weird.

Rec13 is interesting:
Crystal Mountain will develop a shuttle van system from the base area to Sunrise in order to provide Crystal guests an opportunity to visit the park and to help reduce peak summer traffic volumes. The system will be implemented based on demand for such a system, in coordination with MRNP.

I'm not aware of any such van.

[PNW_Skier206]

Their snowmaking top-notch

LOL some of us prefer the real stuff


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[PNWbrit]

LOL some of us prefer the real stuff

Beggars can't be choosers.

We might be grateful this year that JK got so much snow making infrastructure up and running.

[Rock Knocker]

Is that Pipedream all dressed up for a hot date with his sister with no teeth?

[ACH]

I was reminded recently that the MDP at Xtal specifically prohibits lift accessed biking.

bahstids
Here's the Record of Decsion: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nfs/11558/ww...T3_4263892.pdf .

That was 2004.
Different people were in place and things have evolved.

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-rel...und-recreation

My understanding is that an appeal to amend that part of the MDP has been filed by the new owners with land managers in that district.

[PNWbrit]

an appeal to amend that part of the MDP has been filed by the new owners with land managers in that district.

That's really great news.

[ACH]

That's really great news.

If it's true...
I heard this second hand and don't know the original source of the information.