rickbolger
a smart GM would put a stop to that duct tape stuff post-haste
joshua_segal
rickbolger;c-66550 wrotea smart GM would put a stop to that duct tape stuff post-haste
As soon as they supply their uniforms, that problem goes away.
obienick
Vail has owned the mountain for five years now (July 2019). Their inability to bring in uniforms by this point is a bit of a disgrace. The lead time is nowhere near that long.
NELSBEER
Hand me downs & used items have a great tradition at CM. Many of the bags & emergency equipment in the patrol area still sport "TM", for Temple Mountain, for years many Patrollers wore NASHOBA Valley coats they had purchased while working there.
There is a lot of shifting, especially in summer, between areas to allocate skilled individuals and equipment where they are needed. This summer saw our mechanics at Attitash, Okemo folks running heavy equipment on trail upgrades at Crotched and all hands on deck for the Craftsman's Fair at Sunapee.
Our Winch Cat came from Hunter, the black Prinoth (with our old lift boom) was surplus from Sunapee I believe . The maintenance crew is re-building our "NEW" dump truck (says Stowe on the door).
Our 2 "NEW" Piston Bully 400's arrived recently, they are 2018 or thereabout models replacing 2009 machines. One of them was reportedly factory re-built this summer. Check the logo on the door, it is from a major Western area, we're getting more exotic.
All in all Vail seems to honor Yankee Ingenuity & all the boxes seem to have been checked for good snow, good lifts and good grooming for the coming year.
rickbolger
joshua_segal;c-66553 wroterickbolger;c-66550 wrotea smart GM would put a stop to that duct tape stuff post-haste
As soon as they supply their uniforms, that problem goes away.
OK, I have more questions. I don't really know the arrangement/agreement on this
Who gave them the Okemo gear?
Do the patrollers think that Crotched customers might get confused about what mountain they're on? (that's a rhetorical question, in case anyone was wondering)
Are these patrollers employees? If yes, do they understand they work for Vail Resorts, not some bygone era or romantic past incarnation of Crotched? If not employees, do they understand they are on property owned or leased or otherwise paid for by Vail Resorts and they look unprofessional?
I'm definitely no big fan of Broomfield but I'll double down on this. If I were GM and someone can't wear that parka correctly I would take it back with prejudice.
newpylong
A $6B company that won't buy you guys coats is pretty rough.
NELSBEER
Crotched's patrol was mostly volunteer until Vail came on the scene, volunteer patrollers typically bought their own NSP (National Ski Patrol) standard coats. Kept costs down & allowed us to work at multiple ski areas transparently, that patroller that looked familiar at Cannon, Waterville or Macintyre may have worked at Crotched too. Interesting fact Ski Patrol credentials are valid nationwide, don't be surprised if you spot a vacationing Crotched Patroller working at a Western Resort.
The mix of patrol uniforms has yielded more chuckles than confusion over the years. The stated intent has been to switch to "Vail Resorts" standard uniforms. A changeover to Helly-Hansen as a supplier slowed things up but this year many boxes of Vail Resort standard patrol equipment is being distributed. The odd coats (Okemo...) were mostly issued to patrollers who had worn out their old coats & didn't want to buy replacements for a single year's use.
Vail has moved to a primarily paid patrol, all of whom will have the new unforms this season. If there are enough to go around, the remaining volunteers will have them as well. They are not being cheap about it, pants, middle insulating layer, Outer Shell and Vests are standard issue. The vests have many compartments and are replacing the traditional patrol packs/knapsacks. Helmets are available as well.
Just for the record, the patrollers in the most beat up looking equipment, up to now, have frequently been the most experienced patrollers; 20, 30, 40 & even 50 years of experience (coats last up to 10 years). The people in the most worn looking duds have typically had the best stories to tell on the lift, the best knowledge of the hill & conditions to share and many accident responses under their belts as well.
obienick
Again, a multi-billion dollar company -- one that's spending 9 digits a year on lift installs -- taking 5 years to issue new uniforms and in the meantime issuing misbranded uniforms is not a good look nor is it indicative of good upper management.
Ski areas generally replace uniforms on a 5 or so year cycle meaning that Crotched was basically skipped.
rickbolger
obienick;c-66568 wroteAgain, a multi-billion dollar company -- one that's spending 9 digits a year on lift installs -- taking 5 years to issue new uniforms and in the meantime issuing misbranded uniforms is not a good look nor is it indicative of good upper management.
Yes, all these things are true. So is the fact that if bad looking, foot dragging, bad upper management is paying you, you do what they tell you if you want to keep cashing a check.
If not, go for it! And you might as well go all in...
tedede
And yet Crotched is consistently rated in the top 10 of all Vail properties in customer satisfaction surveys despite our minor shortcomings in the uniform department.
Uniforms were overlooked for Patrol during onboarding in the peak of the pandemic. That didn't impact customer care one iota. Patrol still gets a dozen or more notes and cards each year from guests that end their day in the aid room thanking us for the care we provide. Not a single one has mentioned our uniforms.
Honestly gents, we know you don't like Vail. That's fine. Just open a thread in The Pit and rant away. This thread is about this season.
FWIW, it looks like we'll have some awesome snowmaking weather starting this weekend, so we should be in good shape for an early Dec opening.
joshua_segal
I agree wholeheartedly with tedede's post above. Basically, we have a cross section of skiers, a few on SJ - a lot more on AZ, who find it an avocation to bash the so-called corporate areas. And as Ted suggested, our Patrol is not a collection of empty suits wearing a fancy uniforms. I'd rather that the corporation put their money into making snow and keeping the lifts running!
Quietman
Patroller jackets are universally recognizable by design. It doesn't freaking matter what area's small patch or logo is on it!! What matters is the people who are wearing the jackets that will go above and beyond to help you when you need them! Joshua said it perfecticlly, "I'd rather that the corporation put their money into making snow and keeping the lifts running"
And it's about time that the majority of the patrollers are finally getting paid, unlike it was pre-Vail. Even now, with all of their advanced 1st aid/medical and ski area ops training, they are making just slightly little more than a ticket scanner. The patrollers that I know aren't doing it for the money or the fancy HH gear. Joshua was perfectly happy working in his jacket that was so old that it was more pink than red. :D
If it doesn't bother the employees, or the customers who rate the patrollers highly, why should it bother you??? Oh I "forgot", You are "definitely no big fan of Broomfield!"
rickbolger
Doesn't bother me at all. I could care less what they wear. Please point out where I said that so I may correct it. What bothers me is employees who don't appreciate what they have, and don't appreciate their employer.
My position is, and I apologize if not clear, if the boss gives me something and tells me to wear it, I wear it. And I don't demean other parts of the company I work for by covering it with duct tape. I may complain within the company, but not when public facing.
BTW I have mid cap funds in virtually all of my retirement accounts, so I benefit when Broomfield -- and by extension Crotched -- gets it right.
yardsale
Crotched homies reactions are as predictable as the tides.
ski_it
Only thing universal about the design is the big plus sign on the jacket. I’ve seen black and I believe yellow and orange too as well as a skirt w/pants. Heck, buy yourself a red Hansen, some white duct tape and you can duck all the ropes you want.
Now back to CM. Looks like you may pick up some base this week.
Quietman
This and the upcoming cold will be very welcome!!
joshua_segal
About 2" of heavy wet is down by my condo, the ground is white and it's snowing hard.
NoahEastCoastSkier
Anyone think it’s worth getting a lap in tmmr? Will I get in trouble by ski patrol or is it allowed?
joshua_segal
NoahEastCoastSkier;c-66618 wroteAnyone think it’s worth getting a lap in tmmr? Will I get in trouble by ski patrol or is it allowed?
I don't know what tmmr is, but if it's motorized: no. No patrol on hill, but management will shut you down.
I took a t2b (hiking up) on Solstice Glade (the glade - not the trail), today 11/28. It's the only run on the hill that is derocked and destumped. It wasn't great, but it was skiing!
joshua_segal
It looks like 120 or so consecutive hours of snowmaking weather starting tomorrow (11/30/24). It should be no problem to open on December 6 as scheduled.
