Vail Sucks 2024-2025

NewEnglandSkier13

After a couple seasons off, I think it is well deserved that this thread makes a return this season. Top of mind is the patroller strike at Park City, but their Northeast operations have also been lagging behind again. I have been hearing many complaints about Attitash and Wildcat. Wildcat currently has only 1 run from the top open and only 7 trails open in total. There is really no good excuse for that, and instead of running lower mountain lifts on windy days, they have been completely closing the entire mountain. It's also worth noting that the Epic Lift Lines Instagram account has been reactivated this season.

slatham

That is beyond pitiful given the cold temps.

obienick

The other day Wildcat had the Snowcat lift closed for maintenance. The alert literally said “Beginners can take Bobcat and use the tunnel to access Wild Kitten.” I cannot imagine how much turmoil ensued. First that tunnel is always an ice fest. And second the bottom pitch of Wild Kitten where Lower Wildcat joins is really steep and treacherous. Any other resort it’s a blue and I wouldn’t go out of my way to announce that it is that day’s beginner terrain. Experience of a Lifetime™!

It would really behoove Vail to replace Bobcat with a lift that dumps skiers closer to Wild Kitten and to regrade/reroute the trail at that final pitch. But we know Vail’s motto for their NH properties: N.O.P.E. = Not One Penny Ever.

NewEnglandSkier13

The other day Wildcat had the Snowcat lift closed for maintenance. The alert literally said “Beginners can take Bobcat and use the tunnel to access Wild Kitten.” I cannot imagine how much turmoil ensued. First that tunnel is always an ice fest. And second the bottom pitch of Wild Kitten where Lower Wildcat joins is really steep and treacherous. Any other resort it’s a blue and I wouldn’t go out of my way to announce that it is that day’s beginner terrain. Experience of a Lifetime™!

It would really behoove Vail to replace Bobcat with a lift that dumps skiers closer to Wild Kitten and to regrade/reroute the trail at that final pitch. But we know Vail’s motto for their NH properties: N.O.P.E. = Not One Penny Ever.

Snowcat is still closed due to unspecified maintenance. The snow report still recommends the same "beginner route."

hazlntskier

While I don't doubt the stories about Attitash and Wildcat, Crotched in my opinion has been doing very well. Not only did they get almost 50% of the trails open, they also have re-surfaced the open terrain more than once this season already. Also from what I have seen the staff appears very engaged.

ski_it

Well at least Park City has a two sentence operations alert on their home page.
The only snow, trail and weather info on the site I could find had the barebones basics. I guess they are using the Euro model. It’s probably on the Epic app.

NewEnglandSkier13

While I don't doubt the stories about Attitash and Wildcat, Crotched in my opinion has been doing very well. Not only did they get almost 50% of the trails open, they also have re-surfaced the open terrain more than once this season already. Also from what I have seen the staff appears very engaged.

Yes, from what I've heard, Crotched seems to be an exception.

NewEnglandSkier13

Ad now today Wildcat hs announced that they taking a break from snowmaking while "the pond refills." Is it really possible for the pond to be that empty with how little snow they made?

obienick

they also have re-surfaced the open terrain more than once this season already.

That’s not really impressive at all especially when you have nearly 100% fixed equipment like Crotched has. That’s what all areas normally do following rain-freezes. You’re just used to Vail’s standard western-mentality M.O. of blow deep and forget. Which simply doesn’t work in warmer, wetter climates with competitive competitors near by.

The best possible manmade surface is topping off with 1-2” of dry manmade every night.

NewEnglandSkier13

And Wildcat is completely closed for the second day straight. It turns out that Snowcat hasn't opened at all this season, but they haven't shared why or when it is expected to reopen.

skelley19

While I don't doubt the stories about Attitash and Wildcat, Crotched in my opinion has been doing very well. Not only did they get almost 50% of the trails open, they also have re-surfaced the open terrain more than once this season already. Also from what I have seen the staff appears very engaged.
Yes, from what I've heard, Crotched seems to be an exception.

Crotched does seem to get the most love of the NH properties but why are they are only at 50% while other similar sized mountains in the same climate are at or very near 100% such as Pats and Wawa? Is it a water issue with the pond running dry?

hazlntskier

The pond was very low at the start of the season because of the dry weather and they have not been able make snow at times because of the limited water. All of the terrain except for Pluto's, UFO now have snow. My understanding is Pluto's drains the full pond so it is quite often later on the list.

Pat's Peak is owned by a company the drills wells and they supposedly have the 'Seven Sisters' wells to supply water.

Also regarding Wildcat, given its location at the top of Pinkham Notch probably means not a lot of water to be had without pumping from a lower elevation.

rickbolger

Well the experience at Okemo was pretty darn good a month ago, and it looks decent today as well. Doesn't suck

Wildcat being closed is quite understandable today. Doesn't suck

As a stockholder and passholder, the ongoing terrain & lift counts at Wildcat and Attitash are absolutely embarrassing. Sucks hard

obienick

Usually (pre Vail) the issue with Wildcat is their pond freezes.

joshua_segal

I can certainly confirm that water, not management, is the issue at CM. The last melt-down resulted in a good recovery of the pond. In addition to resurfacing, CM added Reentry and Big Dipper. By this weekend, Jupiter's Storm, Comet and Blastoff should be added - bringing CM to about 2/3 open.

ILOVE2SKI

Just 7 trails open at Wildcat. 14%. Pathetic.

lotsoskiing

Just 7 trails open at Wildcat. 14%. Pathetic.

That's nuts

NewEnglandSkier13

Just 7 trails open at Wildcat. 14%. Pathetic.
That's nuts

Yeah, the trail count has been the same for over a week. Their snow report has also had the exact same wording for just about as long. It also seems that Cheetah has been closed most days for racing. At least it seems like they may finally reopen today in some capacity.

ILOVE2SKI

Just 7 trails open at Wildcat. 14%. Pathetic.
That's nuts

That’s Vail!

People need to stop buying Epic passes (whether day tickets or season passes, since they count toward the stock metrics the same way). Vote with your wallet.

Eventually Vail will fail, just like ASC (but I actually liked ASC (for the most part haha)!)!!

ILOVE2SKI

Just kidding! Only 5 trails today, 10%

Wow!!