Given the reaction on social media today about the light snow, it's time for the annual Snowshoe thread.
Love it. hate it, fire away.
PS - Light Snow at Mtn Lodge - snowshoemtlodge.com
I'll start. :D
Never been. It's 5.5 hours from me - same as Hunter. Vermont is 7-7.5 and my pass works at all of those places. I'd rather drive the extra distance and have options rather than an only show in town. I'd consider going with a group or an organized club trip to try it out, but I'd sooner go to New England if driving. If I felt like flying, can get a nonstop to SLC out of BWI for the same amount of time and be skiing those resorts.
If I had an Ikon pass, I'd probably still go to New England over Snowshoe. Not a knock on the hill itself as it always looked like a great place, but it's just so darn isolated.
I'm at 9 hours to Killington vs 4 hours to Snowshoe. Worth it to me to do some long weekends to Snowshoe that aren't holiday weekends when the crowds are horrendous. Not worth it to drive 9 hours each way to spend two days in VT.
superguy wrote:
I'll start. :D
Never been. It's 5.5 hours from me - same as Hunter. Vermont is 7-7.5 and my pass works at all of those places. I'd rather drive the extra distance and have options rather than an only show in town. I'd consider going with a group or an organized club trip to try it out, but I'd sooner go to New England if driving. If I felt like flying, can get a nonstop to SLC out of BWI for the same amount of time and be skiing those resorts.
If I had an Ikon pass, I'd probably still go to New England over Snowshoe. Not a knock on the hill itself as it always looked like a great place, but it's just so darn isolated.
Mongo wrote:
I'm at 9 hours to Killington vs 4 hours to Snowshoe. Worth it to me to do some long weekends to Snowshoe that aren't holiday weekends when the crowds are horrendous. Not worth it to drive 9 hours each way to spend two days in VT.
superguy wrote:
I'll start. :D
Never been. It's 5.5 hours from me - same as Hunter. Vermont is 7-7.5 and my pass works at all of those places. I'd rather drive the extra distance and have options rather than an only show in town. I'd consider going with a group or an organized club trip to try it out, but I'd sooner go to New England if driving. If I felt like flying, can get a nonstop to SLC out of BWI for the same amount of time and be skiing those resorts.
If I had an Ikon pass, I'd probably still go to New England over Snowshoe. Not a knock on the hill itself as it always looked like a great place, but it's just so darn isolated.
Yeah, where you live and the travel time determines whether or not a place is worth it. Were I in your situation, I'd agree, but my location changes that.
RodneyBD wrote:
What is happening with potential trail/expansion of terrain south of Soaring Eagle lift?
I haven't heard anything close to official about that, but would love to see it.
I'm excited to see how the changes around Skidder slope will change the dynamic at the top of the mountain. I know it will make me more likely to take Grabhammer lift. It was already a favorite of our family, even if it is super slow the shorter wait times usually made it worth it on a busy day, but then you were limited to one of the blues below it. That will be nice to have Grabhammer trail as an option off the top of Grabhammer lift and even the Hootenanny trails if you are willing to skate/pole over there. I wonder how this will change the experience for the 1st-timer lessons. There isn't as much room where the magic carpet seems to be for those who would not yet be comfortable getting on a chairlift.
This page has some drone footage of the demolition of the Shavers Center yesterday.
I think it is a public link
Snowshoe had their guns on for a short time this morning near Ballhooter. My buddy has my old nest cam in one of his condos at Mtn Lodge.
nickhaas212 wrote:
Why does Snowshoe keep canceling chairlift projects? Does Alterra not believe in funding this resort? It dissapeared from Lift Blog's upcoming lifts for 2023 and 2024. This is the second time in two years.
At least before shavers center collapsed the new powder monkey was still on the table. I wouldn’t be surprised if alterra is re-evaluating the lifts as part of needing to replace shavers center. There was a decent investment in snowmaking and grading this summer as well so saying alterra isn’t funding the resort would be false, it’s just not as glamorous or obvious as some of the huge projects at other resorts.
It’s probably worth evaluating the new shavers center and lifts together for both $$$ and flow reasons. I’d expect an update sometime in the next few months. I’m hoping them needing to rebuild that building actually results in a different plan than they originally had.
Spoke too soon.. on Facebook now
“ANNOUNCEMENT TIME!!! We are extremely stoked to inform you that next spring we will be replacing our Powder Monkey chairlift with a brand-new fixed-grip, quad (4-seater) ahead of the 2023/2024 Winter Season. The new lift will increase uphill capacity, ease congestion in the Basin area, and improve access to our legendary Western Territory area.
The current Powder Monkey lift is a triple (3-seater), that was installed in 1977. This will be the first new chairlift on the mountain since the Soaring Eagle Express lift was installed in 2006.“
Yeah they turned the guns on Saturday evening and they were stilling running when I left Sunday morning, We had a light dusting of natural snow, too. I'm hoping they will be able to open as planned.
What about the new planned blue run over on Western? Is that still in play?
Snowshoe posted opening
11/22 pass holders only
11/23 general public
Approx 12 trails including Gandy Dancer and Progression Park
Blue Don 1982 wrote:
Snowshoe posted opening
11/22 pass holders only11/23 general public
Approx 12 trails including Gandy Dancer and Progression Park
Several Alterra resorts are opening a day early for pass holders only. As are a few Boyne resorts. Killington has done that for a while. Ikon holders qualify.
This is just incredible
I saw on Facebook that the first whale is Mount Ballhooter, elevation 4849. Haha!
Bonzski wrote:
Nice whale pics BlueDon!
Who's going to be there tomorrow?
Who's going to be there Weds?
Powder monkey was the first time I rode in a triple chair lift. I thought it was amazing. I remember at the basin there was a rock formation, that kinda looked like an old mans face. They stuck a log into its 'mouth' and painted the tip red.
I tried to find a photo of that everywhere and couldnt. I remember having a camera with me once but who knows what happened to those pictures. Kinda makes me sad because that was one of the fond memories I had with my father who recently passed away.
Time flies. Enjoy it while you last on this earth. It will be nice to see the change of lift to increase capacity, however one would argue that should have been a fast lift. But oh well.
BTW while it's on my mind. I have to say that Snowshoe's drive in feels like big mountain skiing. If you ever driven into park city from Ogden you know what I mean. You feel like you are driving to a point that is so close yet so far and everything changes dramatically as you go up. The least impressive drive to a resort for me was Holiday Valley NY.
I have a T Shirt and a hoodie with this on it
Grumpy dad wrote:
Powder monkey was the first time I rode in a triple chair lift. I thought it was amazing. I remember at the basin there was a rock formation, that kinda looked like an old mans face. They stuck a log into its 'mouth' and painted the tip red.
I tried to find a photo of that everywhere and couldnt. I remember having a camera with me once but who knows what happened to those pictures. Kinda makes me sad because that was one of the fond memories I had with my father who recently passed away.
YOU MADE MY DAY SIR!
I didnt know they swapped the cigar out for a cig. That's funny.
Do you think someone carved that out or was that natural? It couldnt be natural. Or was there two heads and one had a cigar and one a cig? I cant remember, I just remember the cigar guy with about 2' of snow on top of his head lol.
I skied those trees down to powder monkey like a fool with my dad. Dad was a tall guy and was constantly getting wapped with branches. Me as a kid, I was just ripping through there.
Edit: I just noticed that ski tip in the picture. Dynastar SKINNY SKIS! Yes sir!
Edit#2: I just ordered a canvas print. It's 1:1.5 ratio. I didnt want to go too big as Im sure it's already going to be super pixelated. So 18x12 for $31 plus an exorbitant shipping price.
I love when resorts list a tiny connecting trail as a trail.
7S should name the run out from the cortina chair to the Avalanche chair. Call it a trail so they can say they have more open.
Hit Snowshoe for opening passholders day and it was absolutely gorgeous. Bluebird day rising to upper 30's, low 40's from low 20's skied opening till about 2. Snow was crisp and held up all day, with amazing coverage. Guns had just turned off, no ice, no bare spots, no slush, just well groomed and some nice fresh chalky gun powder on Gandy. Terrain Park run was fun to ski with the rollers. They also had Hootenany to Flue open for another option. Worth opening day even though they saved Spruce for the next day.
The reworked skidder area is pretty neat. They have created lanes to improve traffic flow as you exit right from Ballhooter. You can also now take Crosscut and go left around Grabhammer and access Gandy or Heisler. The covered carpet repositioning is ready to take skiers up to the crest after offloading Grabhammer-we will see how this works.
Looked like the scoreboard was updated with electronic open/close signage for each trail and lift. Perhaps this is a precursor to RFID. I suspect the new Powder Monkey FG Quad going in next year will start the RFID rollover. Weird without Shaver Center.
In my triumphant return to the Mid Atlantic I was at Snowshoe Black Friday. I was greeted by rain, fog and wind! It was like I never left ;)
Also, the changes (in the last 20 years) totally confused me. Driving in on the "new" road" past Top of the World I got so confused. It didn't help that visibility was about 50 yards. Loved the village. Missed Shavers. The "face" mentioned above was gone but it was good to see those 1970's condos still standing proudly. The slopes where fun but I can see how the crowds will crush them. I can see how the new lift next year will greatly help the flow. Lifties where a little militant, but it is early they will get jaded soon. I had a lift ticket fall off for the first time ever....Luckly I had the stub!
I will be back but mid-week only for sure!
oldensign wrote:
I will be back but mid-week only for sure!
Smart move, for sure! Sounds like a fun trip, despite the rain. I'm bummed we didn't get out there, we had been able to ski there on Thanksgiving weekend when it was open for several years and really enjoyed it despite the very limited terrain.
Two mid-week passes for $129
Bone dry at Arbuckles. Not even a portable set up at the bottom yet. (Screenshot 12/13/22 at 7:15 AM)
swoop wrote:
Does anyone know if they started blowing Cupp???
Snowshoe is currently trying to open up the Soaring Eagle lift for this weekend, THEN
they will begin to tackle the Western Territory side of the mountain. Cupp Run and Upper Shay's
can open up pretty quickly as long as the weather cooperates. I'm leaving Th to ski Fri-Sun there.
Silver Creek is scheduled to open this weekend too.
From the shoe this morning Fri 12/16 ...
Good morning from the 'Shoe! We've got an inch of fresh snow, and the trail count is going up with both Silver Creek and Soaring Eagle now open. We're hoping to open Logslide and Widowmaker by early next week. Our snowmakers also got started "across the road" last night so the countdown to Cupp is officially on! Stay tuned for more updates on the Western Territory in the next few days. The forecast is looking fantastic for around-the-clock snowmaking and several shots at natural snow over the next week.
Looking into the crystal ball...Cupp could be open by Christmas!!!
Yesterday was a surprise mini pow day. Started the morning with a couple inches and kept falling well into the afternoon.
It's -8F and windy.....but there's lots of dedicated skiers/riders out there! Good to have the fix-grips!
Got 3rd tracks on Cupp opening today. Nobody around, did over dozen laps skiing up to chair each each time. Leg burn kept me warm while carving railroad tracks. Surface was spectacular, starting out frozen carpet then slowly changing to sluff layer on top. Second round of whale building on upper Shays, would expect it opening this week.
Basin side - Grab Hammer was choice with Spruce and Gandy close 2nds. All had great snow. No lines at Ballhooter another pleasant surprise. Guns blowing whales on Ballhooter and Knot Bumper.
Bonzski wrote:
No lines at Ballhooter another pleasant surprise. Guns blowing whales on Ballhooter and Knot Bumper.
Thanks for the report Bonzski! Sounds like some quality laps! Can't believe there were not crowds on basin? This IS Christmas week right? Expect tomorrow will be a different story.
swoop wrote:
Bonzski wrote:
No lines at Ballhooter another pleasant surprise. Guns blowing whales on Ballhooter and Knot Bumper.
Thanks for the report Bonzski! Sounds like some quality laps! Can't believe there were not crowds on basin? This IS Christmas week right? Expect tomorrow will be a different story.
Yeah I was very surprised. Maybe today was a big swap day with guests leaving & arriving 🤔
Looks like the crowds found Ballhooter today, based on the webcam. Maybe the daytrippers all targeted today as the day to go? Bluebird, mid 40s can draw a crowd.
Harder to see liftlines on the TLM webcam but based on how far back you can see the singles line extending looks to be busy there as well.
wgo wrote:
Harder to see liftlines on the TLM webcam but based on how far back you can see the singles line extending looks to be busy there as well.
Yeah, it was crowded Wed -- singles line seemed to move slower than the others. They seem to strategically stop panning the cam just uphill of the lift lines. Upcoming weather's not looking great, so figured I;d get a day in before it warmed up & got wet.
Shotmaker wrote:
It’s snowing on the mountain this Friday am. Predicting steady snow through Saturday afternoon. Totals look to be 4” with as much as 8”. Bluebird on Sunday temps will stay below 32 much of the day. Should be a great weekend at the Shoe!
To not jinx us, I'll leave my powder skis at home.
Thank you for your consideration!
Bonzski wrote:
Shotmaker wrote:
It’s snowing on the mountain this Friday am. Predicting steady snow through Saturday afternoon. Totals look to be 4” with as much as 8”. Bluebird on Sunday temps will stay below 32 much of the day. Should be a great weekend at the Shoe!To not jinx us, I'll leave my powder skis at home.
Bonzski wrote:
Shotmaker wrote:
It’s snowing on the mountain this Friday am. Predicting steady snow through Saturday afternoon. Totals look to be 4” with as much as 8”. Bluebird on Sunday temps will stay below 32 much of the day. Should be a great weekend at the Shoe!To not jinx us, I'll leave my powder skis at home.
Hahaha 😝
Some snow is in the forecast every day over the next 10 days!
Mongo wrote:
What happened today? I saw a FB post that Ballhooter was closed but comments were shut off and I couldn’t ask why. Something about ice?
Yes, per usual all the HSQs were shut down due to the sleet/ice. PowderMonkey, Grabhammer and PowderRidge continued running. The need to operate in these conditions is why the replacement lift for PowderMonkey will remain a fixed grip.
The long weekend was... not that great. Ballhooter was down for mechanical reasons on Friday and OH MY GOD the lines at Grabhammer and Powder Monkey were instantly horrendous. Crowded as heck on Saturday and Sunday. Miserable cold rain on Sunday, so we left early.
I did like the new magic carpet setup at the top of Grabhammer though. My teenage son didn't have the patience for it and went stomping up the hill anyway lol but good enough for daddy.
Mongo wrote:
“The long weekend was... not that great. Ballhooter was down for mechanical reasons on Friday and OH MY GOD the lines at Grabhammer and Powder Monkey were instantly horrendous. Crowded as heck on Saturday and Sunday. Miserable cold rain on Sunday, so we left early.”
It appears a few school systems had teacher workdays so there were many more families than typical on the mountain. Ballhooter was fixed by Saturday. This downtime can and does happen at every resort from time to time. Agree Sunday was a downer but the snow quality held up for much of the day and was exceptional on Friday & Saturday.
“I did like the new magic carpet setup at the top of Grabhammer though. My teenage son didn't have the patience for it and went stomping up the hill anyway lol but good enough for daddy.”
If and when Ballhooter is down (mechanical or freezing rain) it does keep the entire basin accessible. What I learned is most people side step facing the more difficult way. They have their tips pointed up the incline rather than rotating 180 where they can be perpendicular to the slope and traverse at a slight angle towards the entrance. I hope you have a better time should you return!
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