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US has a lot more issues regarding legal liability and lawsuits than pretty much anywhere else (Insurance costs). Could this impact the ability to reinvest in infrastructure?

Most of these “cult” ski areas listed are independently owned. I noticed that none of them are owned by Vail, Altera or Boyne, with the exception being Mammoth.

How many lifts are required to run either mountain late season? Common treads at Mammoth, Abasin, Killington, MSS is that skiing starts/ends at the parking lot. W/B village is a long way from the snow line this time of year. Lots of uploading and downloading required.

Race camps must bring good $. Both Copper and Winter Park usually keep lifts spinning for race camps after they close to the public. Checking webcams at Copper, it still appears that Excelerator is running for race programs despite the minimal snow.

Abasin only needs to run 2 lifts for spring operations. From that, due to the social scene, they keep the restaurants and bars busy. I suspect this is where the $ comes from in the spring. I suspect it all comes down to the economics of staying open. This likely varies from mtn to mtn on...

Kicking Horse likely falls into this group. Its multiple ridges of nothing but steep chutes. Some years you even have to hike up from the lower chairlift to the upper.

ABasin has zero local lodging. Closest is Keystone and intermediates don't generally like it as much as other areas. Therefore I think it will always be a niche ski area. Its one of my favorite mountains. Pali face generally always has good snow. On a true powder day, there are hidden...

I think the new snow allowed them to extend.

I think it has to be more than this. Otherwise the list would be the same as the resorts with the highest skier numbers (Breck, WB, Vail).

I think there are many other remote small areas that have devoted skiers. Places such as Red Mtn (not so small) and Whitewater in BC come to mind, however there are many others especially in Montana.

I have continued to subscribe to Opensnow, however I should probably cancel it. The forecasting is no better than any other source and it frequently grossly overestimates the snow totals. I guess I like reading the detailed written forecasts and find these helpful.

Sunshine Village appears to have added another season. Plans to reopen for summer skiing June 20-July 5.

I hadn’t heard about this. What have you come across regarding this merger? 1 pass?

Did he mention if this was new this year or an ongoing trend. I wonder if the hot western weather this year created a shift to Europe?

Where did he go to school?

I dont know many details on the lands at Le Massif. However, the highway providing the fastest access provides access to the top creating an upside down mountain. At the top there are scattered homes off the access road, but no base or commercialized area. At the bottom they built a Club Med.

Yes this is a terrible practice among US ski resorts and is not unique to vail. I recall considering working as a ski instructor at Mad River in Ohio while in college in the 90’s. The pay would not have covered the gas for the 90 miles round trip.

The majority of the 5-10 day per year skiers are at best intermediate skiers who only like groomers. Therefore manicured runs such as DV appeal to them.

I believe they have new management this season.

There was a point in time that Alta had some of the lowest cost day tickets in the country. Obviously thats no longer the case. Perhaps this had slowed skier numbers?