joshua_segal;c-45691 wroteI haven't skied anywhere but Crotched Mountain, season to date. But except for the glitch last Saturday (Dec. 18), I've got to give CM credit for providing a COVID-safe environment.
1. Social distance: Corrals have been redesigned so that lanes have about 8' of lateral spacing, while the inherent lenght of skis provide 6' front and back.
2. Unless part of the same pod, chairs on the quads are maxed at 2 and the double at one.
3. Guests and staff have been 90% compliant with mask requirements and of the 10% who haven't, no one (at least that I've seen) has refused to comply when asked by a patrolman or other mountain personnel.
4. In the Patrol Aid Room, all surfaces encountered by our patients are sanitized and disinfected. Tobbogans are wiped down with disinfectant before being returned to the mountain.
I know little beyond that regarding other indoor spaces, since I ski home to eat or use a restroom.
Crowds all week have been much greater than I'm used to seeing on pre-Xmas weekdays. I don't know if that's because of pent up demand to get outdoors, the unusually great early season snow - or perhaps, people are intentionally choosing a smaller area sensing that it might be safer.
I don't think we can objectively judge Vail until COVID-19 becomes a bad memory as opposed to an ongoing threat.
Joshua, I appreciate your input and perspective. Today was my 15th day spread among the four nh vail resorts, everyday they have been open excluding Christmas; not sure any of the four were open Christmas?
Crotched is significantly out preforming attitash, wildcat and sunapee in every area that matters this year: snow surface, staff/customer interaction, traffic flow, covid enforcement, lift operation, getting trails open, parks, etc. My kids start lessons/programs this week at attitash after years at crotch, I will report back but doubt they could be much better than crotched. I obviously cannot speak to the patrol room but I did think crotched patrol handled the storm day well despite a difficult situation.
Some of crotched's success this year is undoubtedly associated with the more modern snowmaking system in a difficult year but if I could get bob katz ear for a minute I would tell him to replicate the management and approach at crotched across the state.
