Wifey and 7 ladyfriends had a trip booked to the Virginia Lakes Yurt, run by High Sierra Snowcats, starting tomorrow (Friday). Mike Deacon (awesome guy) sold HSS last year, and the op has a new owner. If you don't know, the entry is at Conway Summit on 395.
Despite the various "Do Not Travel - You Will Die" warnings from NWS, CalTrans, Cal Office of Emergency Services, etc., they say that, if Conway Summit is open between 7:00 am and noon on Friday, they will give ZERO refund. If 395 is open during that time, HSS is insisting that they can "run the trip" and refuses to rebook them for next year. (They are booked up for this year already.) But if the Summit is closed, they will give a total refund. The total cost is crazy - something like $12k.
When the girls asked if they could get there, what would they ski, given ESAC's High and Extreme forecasts for Friday and Saturday, the owner gave them the ultimate mansplain -- "you probably wouldn't know the names of the runs anyway." The ladies have all been to the yurt multiple times. Ask the guide a question and he basically tells you to shut the fuck up before you arrive. A+ guide behavior!
WTAF??
I get that they are probably running low on cash, but wouldn't you rather rebook them for next year (they refused to offer this) than keep the money and create eight angry women/moms who won't patronize your business again (this was an annual trip) and will instead talk shit on social media (and the TGRz)?? I guess not. What a shitty situation.
Anyway, so now I've got a wife who is super bummed to miss her big ski trip AND is looking at eating $1,500. Suffice to say, she's fucking pissed. Buyer be-warned.
Hope the mega snowfall totals and some pow laps this weekend will cool her anger.
/BLOG
Pic of a much better lodge operation...wish we had more of this hut culture here in the lower 48.
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