Won't be up this weekend as I have a family commitment. Worked out pretty well considering the conditions.
Always up for a beer or 3.
Ahhhh that's right. Triple F. Forced Family Fun!
Trouble with you is the trouble with me,
Got two good eyes but we still don’t see!
I'd love to meet some of the "characters" form this forum. I'm up most weekends. It would also be great if we can throw some skiing in.
I am sure the Spring season is one major reason for the new VH lift and taking down to the base. While I loved the early/late season at the top of MT Ellen, I agree that good spring skiing is about snowmaking (and exposure) not elevation. And I would take Steins over FIS.
I'd like to see this. Spring Fling and Steins both have a similar northern exposure. The VH Quad servicing that section of the mountain in April would be very cool. Even Twist/Moonshine/Eden if they hold up or get late snow. They could use the Gatehouse Lodge since the loading for the new quad will be lower.
It would be great for early season as well. There would be a lot more options for people and less congested.
I think we'll need to agree to disagree on this. Superstar base/KBL is at 2500' - a lot closer to the elevation of Glen House (3000') than the base of LP (1600'). Coffee Run usually runs into trouble before Stein's itself. I'd rather sacrifice a little in terms of spring bumps duration in order to get a nice, interesting cruiser in Lower Rim Run - sure beats a flat run out in Coffee Run. Obviously snowmaking commitment/budget is a huge factor. But I think we have to assume that's a constant here as between LP and ME. With superior elevation and aspect, ME would win out. How many times have you looked at the Monroe Skyline while coming across a muddy Roxbury Gap in the Spring to see upper mtn at ME bathed in snow while LP is mostly melted out? Given that the top of Stein's is lower than Glen House, elevation is a pretty big factor in this case, IMHO.
The new lift location will certainly make the spring set-up more straightforward and compact - all roads lead to the true base.
They do keep Spring Fling open pretty late - it's the last to go before Stein's. The issue is the easterly exposure of Snowball in order to get there - that's what goes first.
For early season, elevation seems to matter a lot more, so I'd be surprised if they went down this route. How many times have we heard Win talk about "we started on OG/Ripcord and then came down the mtn as temps allowed". My guess is that you'd average at least a one week later opening if early season is on the VH pod.
Good point. Early season I'd much rather ski Snowball/Steins/Spring fling than Jester/Downspout/Lower Downspout/Coffee Run or Gondolier. The runout from the bottom of the triple back to Super Bravo is long and boring...and I imagine requires a tremendous amount of snowmaking juice.
This new quad could be a game changer.
I get the elevation issue and with that being said other mountains do that. Look at Stowe they get the mountain ready from top to bottom. Understanding that they really don't have a choice, but it gets done. Also you could move over to birdland and murph, dominio ect ect. Then you would really have a strong opening with lots of options.. I know it's counter intuitive but it would be a significant improvement in the experience then doing what happens now at opening IMO. Just thinking out of the box.
Agree that early season, elevation is a major issue.
As for spring, of note, spring fling got the new pipe and towers so one would think they made more snow there than in the past.
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