2009-10 Ski-Day Totals

[Marc_C]

I think Admin said that no precise figures were available, but I've always wanted to know Snowbird or Mammoth's revenues vs. expenses when they stay open through late spring/early summer.

Can't comment on Mammoth at all (although I suspect it's similar), but I'd guess that Snowbird's incremental expenses to offer skiing are fairly minimal. They're already running the Tram for rides/sightseeing, and in deep spring, the only other lift operating is Little Cloud. After the second weekend in May, they go to a Friday - Sunday schedule. Thus all it takes is one additional lift crew (3 people), a handful of patrollers, and a cat operator 3 days a week.

 

[Admin]

They're already running the Tram for rides/sightseeing, and in deep spring, the only other lift operating is Little Cloud.

Minor correction: this year's spring ops schedule, to be published to our news section at 11:30 a.m. MDT this morning, involves three lifts -- the Tram, Little Cloud and MBE -- to the end. It'll be just those three lifts beginning May 3, and the three-day-per-week schedule begins the week of May 10 this year.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

spring ops schedule involves three lifts -- the Tram, Little Cloud and MBE -- to the end.

Sorry for the ig'nant question, but MB doesn't get torched earlier than the main side of the mountain?

 

[Admin]

spring ops schedule involves three lifts -- the Tram, Little Cloud and MBE -- to the end.

Sorry for the ig'nant question, but MB doesn't get torched earlier than the main side of the mountain?

Most of it, yes, but you're thinking the wrong way. "Torched" in terms of softening as the majority of the terrain back there faces that section of the compass ranging from E through S to W, not in terms of melting out -- there's plenty of snow back there to last beyond the end of May. Once you realize that it generally will refreeze overnight, even in May, softening earlier is a good thing.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Sorry for the ig'nant question, but MB doesn't get torched earlier than the main side of the mountain?

I think another piece of this puzzle is that Mineral Basin may get the most snow within the area. I've heard this comment from a couple of locals, and it also fits the situation on Mt. Hood, where the permanent snowfield for summer skiing is on the south side of the mountain. Recall also that the only snow on Mt. Fuji last July 29 was on its south side. My guess is that counterclockwise circulation around northern hemisphere low pressure systems moving west to east can deposit more precipitation on south slopes, especially isolated peaks.

With regard to Mammoth there are some external factors favoring its late season:
1) Huge drive up population base
2) That base has year round summer sports availability so the impulse to hang 'em up when the warm weather arrives may be lower than in areas with cold winters.

Like Snowbird, Mammoth's gondola is used for scenic rides. Also for mountain biking when the snow is gone. I've skied Snowbird in May in 3 seasons, and it's a bare bones operation compared to Mammoth's at that time.

By observation Mammoth's patronage over Memorial Day and July 4th weekends is substantial. I've posted numerous pics of this over the years. Over 8,000 skier days last Memorial weekend according to snowboard247. I have read comments on Mammoth Forum that the new owners have an excessive debt load and they are trying hard to raise revenue. So I find it hard to believe the late season is costing them much. I think they got out front with an earlier than normal July 4th call this year to make a marketing statement that it's business as usual in terms of ski operations.

 

[Admin]

I think another piece of this puzzle is that Mineral Basin may get the most snow within the area.

That's an over-simplification. Mineral Basin stands to do best when storm flows are from the southwest or southeast, when it's on the windward side of approaching moisture and not in the lee of the ridgeline. Upper LCC (specifically Catherine's Area) seems to accumulate the most on a northwesterly flow, which is particularly generous during pronounced lake effect bands. I'd reckon that over the course of the season this balance tips marginally in the favor of northwest-favored areas. However, it would appear to this casual observer that Mineral often has the deepest snowpack at Snowbird.

 

[Marc_C]

I'd reckon that over the course of the season this balance tips marginally in the favor of northwest-favored areas. However, it would appear to this casual observer that Mineral often has the deepest snowpack at Snowbird.

Consider those winds and the associated topography. A lot of what falls in Little Cloud gets blown over the ridge into Mineral Basin.

 

[Admin]

Consider those winds and the associated topography. A lot of what falls in Little Cloud gets blown over the ridge into Mineral Basin.

True, certainly some seasons more than others.

 

[EMSC]

And back to ski day counts in this thread....

16 days total. My lowest by far since my final year living in Atlanta (1998) when I only had 8 days :shock: . But then a late December baby can do that to you.

By resort:
7 Eldora
3 Copper
3 Beaver Creek
1 Winter Park
1 Loveland
1 Buttermilk (new to me)

by month:
Oct 1
Nov 2
Dec 4
Jan 1
Feb 4
Mar 3
Apr 1

Only 2 real powder days, but at least I was able to keep the interesting story lines going in a year with poor overall snow - world cup races, para racing, an october day with my brother, etc...

 

[Tony Crocker]

But then a late December baby can do that to you.

Adam was born in December 1984. 1984-85 was my lowest season, also 16 days. It could have been even fewer but Dec. 1984 was the snowiest December in the SoCal mountains of the past 35 years. We did spend one week at Tahoe with my friend Richard Weinstein and family. Becky was able to ski 2 full days at Squaw and Kirkwood and share 2 days at Heavenly. It worked well because Richard's non-skiing wife took care of Adam during the day and we watched their kids when they were at the casinos every evening.

 

[Marc_C]

We ate our babies, so it was never an issue for us.

 

[EMSC]

We ate our babies, so it was never an issue for us.

But did they taste like chicken? If they didn't, then you may have eaten someone else's babies.

Adam was born in December 1984. 1984-85 was my lowest season, also 16 days. It could have been even fewer but Dec. 1984 was the snowiest December in the SoCal mountains of the past 35 years. We did spend one week at Tahoe with my friend Richard Wenistein and family. Becky was able to ski 2 full days at Squaw and Kirkwood and share 2 days at Heavenly. It worked well because Richard's non-skiing wife took care of Adam during the day and we watched their kids when they were at the casinos every evening.

We never even tried a big trip this year as a family (or even a weekend). Jr was in the NICU for 9 days and we were warned against going to higher altitude with him too fast (aka avoid it for 1-2 months). Though by now he is fine. Hoping next year to try a couple of 3 day weekends or such as a family at least. First comes some summer hiking once his head muscles are completely stable enough to handle that.

 

[Patrick]

And back to ski day counts in this thread....

16 days total. My lowest by far since my final year living in Atlanta (1998) when I only had 8 days :shock: . But then a late December baby can do that to you.

Morgane was born in October 97. I skied 15 days (Dec 13 - April 26). Worst for a non-season ending injury season.

My season looked like this:

Tremblant 3
Whiteface 2
Fortune 2
Killington
Sutton
Jay Peak
Ste-Marie
Mad River Glen
Edelweiss
Sugarloaf
Stowe

Months?
Dec 2
Jan 1
Feb 3
Mar 6
Apr 3

Previous season was 18 days, following 23.

******

However for baby number 2, Tara was born in November five years later and I got 38 days from January 3rd to May 3rd. I registered Morgane to ski lesson to make sure we would be out one day a week, continued my Master racing + took one season parental leave. :mrgreen: France for one month, oh yeah, my wife is from France. So not much a change from the previous (39) and the following seasons (38).

That season looked like this: :shock:
Edelweiss 9
Trois Vallées 6 (Courchevel-Meribel-Val Thorens-Menuires)
Fortune 5
Jungfrau 4 (Mannlichen-Kl. Scheidegg-Grindelwald-Wengen + Schilthorn-Murren)
Tremblant 3
Whiteface 2
Mad River Glen 2
Cascades 2
Le Brévent-Flégère
Les Grands Montets
Vallée-Blanche
Sugarloaf
Ste-Anne

Months?
Jan 10
Feb 8
Mar 14
Apr 5
May 1

So the moral of the story, it gets better at the second kid as long as the first ones skis...and you take time off.

 

[Tony Crocker]

So the moral of the story, it gets better at the second kid as long as the first ones skis

I had that experience too. Andrew was born April 24. I had 23 days that season and 4-year old Adam was along for 17 of them, including a late March week in Utah and a final Mammoth weekend April 1-2. It doesn't measure up to Patrick's season though.

We ate our babies, so it was never an issue for us.

Recalling the dog picture comments also, perhaps W.C. Fields has been reincarnated as MarcC. :lol:

 

[BobMc]

I'm at 45 right now, probably end at maybe 46.

43 at Solitude
1 at Snowbird
1 at Alta

All days on either a Saturday or Sunday. I was at Solitude every Sunday they were open.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I was at Solitude every Sunday they were open.

"Did you try my Chili Verde?"

 

[EMSC]

So the moral of the story, it gets better at the second kid as long as the first ones skis...and you take time off.

We're still in a somewhat sleep deprived state, so way too early to even think about a possible #2. Not that I'll get to, but it would be awesome to take some time off Especially in the jan-april time frame :-D

 

[Marc_C]

We ate our babies, so it was never an issue for us.

Recalling the dog picture comments also, perhaps W.C. Fields has been reincarnated as MarcC. :lol:

 

[Anthony]

Only 20 days this year :-( as a normal year ends up at about 28/30. The lack of snow in the Laurentians wiped out the local hike and ski options that we usually count on and trips to Alta ( Que ) from some local lift serviced powder . Highlight of the season was going out to Western Canada and quick trip to the Massif . Skiing Whiteface NY with temps in the 80's was also interesting . Can 't help but notice how low the water is in the St. Lawrence. No surprise as hardly any snow to melt this year in the watershed area.

 

[Admin]

64 today and not done yet.