joshua_segal
June 14, 2023 - Weds.
With the last snow of 2022-3 long gone, it's time to put last year thread, Crotched Mountain - 2022-3 Season,
http://snowjournal.com/discussion/3662/crotched-mountain-2022-3-season#latest to bed and start thinking about the 23-24 season.
The summer work at CM in the post-Peak Resorts era remains impressive. In the last month the visible work includes removing a number of chairs from the lifts for the annual "grip tests".
Trailwork includes trimming back spruce trees that were beginning to encroach on many of the trails. A chipper is on the premises and they have been grinding up the limbs that were trimmed.
General appearance has been augmented by mowing the base areas. I'm hoping for a great season. Our management is already working to make it happen. Let's hope that Mother Nature will be on the same page with us!
I'm reasonably sure that other less visible things are happening.
NewEnglandSkier13
I'm sorry, but grip testing and regular trail brushing is impressive? That seems like the absolute bare minimum of required off season work.
joshua_segal
NewEnglandSkier13;c-60877 wroteI'm sorry, but grip testing and regular trail brushing is impressive? That seems like the absolute bare minimum of required off season work.
Never saw it done this early in the summer at any of the areas at which I worked. About the only thing I've seen before August has been grip testing. Trail work typically starts in late September or early October.
I've worked at 5-ski areas under 10 management groups. Perhaps your experience is with better run areas.
newpylong
That's because brush isn't typically cut back now and trails mowed, etc because it still has 4 more months to grow...
Still, things must have gotten bad if any of this normal maintenance is impressive.
joshua_segal
newpylong;c-60880 wroteThat's because brush isn't typically cut back now and trails mowed, etc because it still has 4 more months to grow...
Still, things must have gotten bad if any of this normal maintenance is impressive.
There's a difference between removing brush (normal maintenance) and removing trees up to 4" in diameter.
If you know CM, they've added significantly to the skiable terrain on Pluto's to the east of the Rocket.
lotsoskiing
joshua_segal;c-60881 wrotenewpylong;c-60880 wroteThat's because brush isn't typically cut back now and trails mowed, etc because it still has 4 more months to grow...
Still, things must have gotten bad if any of this normal maintenance is impressive.
There's a difference between removing brush (normal maintenance) and removing trees up to 4" in diameter.
If you know CM, they've added significantly to the skiable terrain on Pluto's to the east of the Rocket.
Was just at Oak Mt. They have been doing the same brush cutting (my highly technical term for it: "thwack") and then bringing a chipper around to clean up the piles o' thwack. Makes a nice look along the edge of the trails.
newpylong
joshua_segal;c-60881 wrotenewpylong;c-60880 wroteThat's because brush isn't typically cut back now and trails mowed, etc because it still has 4 more months to grow...
Still, things must have gotten bad if any of this normal maintenance is impressive.
There's a difference between removing brush (normal maintenance) and removing trees up to 4" in diameter.
If you know CM, they've added significantly to the skiable terrain on Pluto's to the east of the Rocket.
If you're clearing vegetation from trail edges, that's normal maintenance regardless of size/type. I am happy to hear things are back on track there. I always liked Crotched, I got married at the Inn there!
joshua_segal
newpylong;c-60883 wrotejoshua_segal;c-60881 wrotenewpylong;c-60880 wroteThat's because brush isn't typically cut back now and trails mowed, etc because it still has 4 more months to grow...
Still, things must have gotten bad if any of this normal maintenance is impressive.
There's a difference between removing brush (normal maintenance) and removing trees up to 4" in diameter.
If you know CM, they've added significantly to the skiable terrain on Pluto's to the east of the Rocket.
If you're clearing vegetation from trail edges, that's normal maintenance regardless of size/type. I am happy to hear things are back on track there. I always liked Crotched, I got married at the Inn there!
The Crotched Mountain Inn was sold a few years ago and is operating as the Blue Bear Inn.
Work continues on the mountain. For those familiar with the west Double, they opened the area by the condos. It night be for the benefit of patrol because it would have been difficult to evacuate a chair stopped there, but I have high hopes that they may groom it.
joshua_segal
We're starting to get close to the season with various events at the mountain scheduled including a hiring event and Patrol refresher.
I've never seen CM this prepared for the opening of the season with so many deferred maintenance issues addressed. All we need is snow!
joshua_segal
Oct. 10, 2023, Tuesday
Color is beginning to appear although it is late. Still only, perhaps, 20%.
Mower could be seen on the mountain yesterday. In many a year 30 years ago, skiing would be available already (not at CM), and October skiing was the rule, not the exception, as little as a decade ago. Even CM open before Thanksgiving in the '80s.
While not officially announced, I suspect (barring a rainstorm, like last year), that CM will open the first weekend in December.
yardsale
joshua_segal;c-61777 wroteOct. 10, 2023, Tuesday
In many a year 30 years ago, skiing would be available already (not at CM), and October skiing was the rule, not the exception, as little as a decade ago. Even CM open before Thanksgiving in the '80s.
I'd like to see in any decade where October skiing was the rule. Can you share who and how many times an area in NE opened by Oct 11th? Can you post up those stats? Opening before Thanksgiving and Oct 11th is a big difference.
Quietman
I was skeptical also, but a quick check of Killington's site shows the following open/close dates. No data from before 1987.
joshua_segal
Between 1974 and 2000, there was October skiing in 25 of 26 seasons.
Columns:
/Season/ opening / Closing / Season's snowfall / number of days open
2014/2015 November 3 – May 24 / 197” / 192
2013/2014 October 23 – May 18 / 196” / 199
2012/2013*** October 13 – May 26 / 208” / 195
2011/2012 October 29 – April 22 / 152” / 176
2010/2011 November 2 – May 1 / 263” / 179
2009/2010 November 7 – April 25 / 230” / 153
2008/2009** November 2 – May 2 / 283” / 169
2007/2008 November 16 – April 20 / 282” / 157
2006/2007 November 23 – May 6 / 294” / 165
2005/2006* October 29 – May 1 / 191” / 166
2004/2005 November 9 – May 15 / 206” / 188
2003/2004 November 10 – May 12 / 215” / 184
2002/2003 October 25 – May 26 / 291” / 204
2001/2002 November 6 – June 1 / 192” / 202
2000/2001 October 29 – May 27 / 316” / 202
1999/2000 October 25 – May 29 / 209” / 205
1998/1999 October 22 – May 25 / 186” / 204
1997/1998 October 1 – May 25 / 242” / 205
1996/1997 October 4 – June 22 / 301” / 233
1995/1996 October 17 – June 10 / 307” / 224
1994/1995 October 3 – June 4 / 182” / 214
1993/1994 October 1 – June 9 / 279” / 243
1992/1993 October 1 – June 1 / 300” / 229
1991/1992 October 21 – June 14 / 198” / 226
1990/1991 October 27 – May 28 / 206” / 214
1989/1990 October 10 – May 28 / 249” / 208
1988/1989 October 13 – May 21 / 202” / 211
1987/1988 October 12 – June 1 / 238” / 227
1986/1987 October 10 – June 3 / 233” / 224
1985/1986 October 1- June 3 / 198” / 224
1984/1985 November 3 – June 2 / 220” / 212
1983/1984 October 20 – June 21 / 238” / 246
1982/1983 October 17 – June 16 / 197” / 240
1981/1982 October 20 – June 15 / 268” / 225
1980/1981 October 14 – May 27 / 257” / 226
1979/1980 October 10 – May 23 / 138” / 221
1978/1979 October 16 – May 22 / 292” / 219
1977/1978 October 24 – May 23 / 341” / 195
1976/1977 October 27 – May 15 / 346” / 201
1975/1976 October 30 – May 5 / 232” / 173
1974/1975 October 19 – May 12 / 307” / 190
1973/1974 November 5 – April 30 / 193” / 177
1972/1973 October 20 – April 15 / 267” / 184
1971/1972 November 9 – May 18 / 323” / 192
1970/1971 November 18 – May 21 / 334” / 184
1969/1970 October 24 – May 4 / NA” / 178
1968/1969 November 9 – May 10 / NA” / 183
1967/1968 November 5 – April 7 / NA” / 154
1966/1967 November 4 – May 2 / NA” / 180
lotsoskiing
Going to be tough to get it this year.
DrJeff
Wsan't it around 97 that the K-1 replaced the K Peak double with the mid station? That DEFINITELY affected their ability to open earlier, as they could just lay down a quick window dressing of snow on a buffed out, relatively tame, short Cascade, and often then they closed up for some period of time after that Early Oct opening. Now it seems with Northridge and the stairs, they try and stay open once they get open, and as a result, lay down more snow, on more length of terrain than in the past.
More of a apples to oranges than an aplles to apples comparsion in my mind
newpylong
First year for K1 was 1997 yes. Good discussion on KZone recently about this topic.
Many different factors amongst the obvious warmer Falls have impacted this:
-Until the stairway was put in, numerous methods were tried to avoid TTB, but were not long lasting. They had to get TTB to open for the most part.
-They don't dust and open any longer as opening day traffic has increased exponentially
-World Cup
others
lotsoskiing
I remember the year(s) they ran the truck to the base of Canyon. That was a mess.
NELSBEER
Returning to Crotched.... Josh's first weekend of December guesstimate is probably good, roughly the same time as last year. Notable this is a week earlier than Crotched was opening the last few years under PEAK & probably not as critical due to Sunapee being open a few weeks earlier on the same pass.
Little appears to have changed at first glance, but a lot of time & effort have gone into delivering the best quality skiing/boarding experience.
Over the last few years the now 20 year old SMI Polecats and their support structure (electric & pipes) have been given in depth service, culminating in this years trail edge clean-up that focused on trails where the guns had gotten buried in the woods.
The batter boards are in the snowmaking dam and the pond is already full. Good ground water levels will contribute to faster pond refill rates so we're set for a great snowmaking year.
The lift configuration remains the same, but a lot of not terribly visible work has been done. The Rocket ran better than ever last winter, this year the grips are all re-built (this was on-going I think), the rubber bumpers in the hangers were replaced (smooth the ride), the chairs were balanced and adjustments made to make the unloading area ride smoother. The top unload ramp was updated & now has a carpet surface. The footrests have had gussets welded on to prevent the bottom bars from falling off - a problem that arose with the age of the lift. Look forward to pleasant, uneventful Rocket rides this year!
The triple "ROVER" lift got a new cable last year, but had a few residual problems that caused it to be shut down the end of the season. It has been gone over extensively and will be ready to provide extra capacity on busy weekends.
The WEST double had a load test this year (required every 7 years per ANSI std), it passed
Valley Quad doesn't have the chairs on yet, but grips are on the chairs awaiting hanging.
Lawn cutting is underway using a tractor with a flail cutter. Slow but steady and doing a good job. Rumor has it that the AeBe got beaten up at Wildcat (again, Sic), Wildcat lives up to its name when dealing with lawn mowers (and skiers). Hopefully the AeBe will be back for the steep stuff. The Honduran Professional Weed Whacking crew is expected soon, their work plus what the summer crew did should lead to more space & less pucker brush all around the hill.
Inside the base lodge all lighting has been upgraded to LED's... saves power and makes everything look cleaner and brighter. The dining room should be a little less glaring with the light change. Part of Vail's zero carbon efforts.
The ski shop will be selling, SKIs, first time in a while. Crotched is going BIG time.
ski_it
Sounds great. Thanks for the update Nels
obienick
Did Rover even spin last year? Never saw it spin or saw it mentioned that it will/did spin.
