I'm a passholder at Hidden Valley. Local to both resorts by 1 hour only. Sadly, the best time for me to ride is Sunday, Monday or Tuesday evening. Sometimes Thursday's, and usually Saturdays.

HV CLOSED their slopes Mon-Tues evenings, and closes at 7pm on Sunday. Well, had I known that before I bought my pass for the year!

On top of this, the place shuts its lights off, and you are basically intruding on the staff if you stop for a drink and food after the last season. It's like salt lake city. At a certain evening hour, EVERYTHING shuts down (or least it did when I was there last). 7 Springs still going a bit afterwards. Heck they even keep the lights on for a while to look at the slopes while you hang out for awhile.

I think the biggest pain point to me this year is, that HV's crowd over the weekends has increased dramatically. Sure the lift lines aren't that bad, but the slopes have been very crowded. I feel like I'm at 7Springs, all funneling down a very thin trail.

So what's the answer? 7Springs has more terrain and definitely more vertical. The off slope activities surely are there for drinks/food after, and when with the family, obviously even more.

My biggest issue with 7s is the price. I dont think it's worth it but with HV raising their day passes too, it's a toss up.
My second biggest issue with 7s is the parking. I HATE taking a shuttle to slopes. HATE HATE HATE. I want to park, ride, and walk back to the truck to grab a bite for lunch, drink some coffee and heck, pickup that extra layer or drop it off.
Had they had season pass parking, I think I would have opted for them this year, however next year I think the choice is obvious for me.

Anyone having the same turmoil in their heads with who they spend their money with? Is it a lesser of two evils or, do you have one resort over another that is always clearly the winner for what you want/need?

Maybe I'm just disgruntled from this horrible year. Rain / warm in the forecast too.

you don't think 429 is worth it for Springs??

I debating getting a pass at springs (3 hours away) versus Roundtop (20 minutes away).

Hopefully, they'll do the resort swap in 2012 - 2013 like this season.

If I recall correctly, a season pass holder at either Wisp, Snowshoe, 7 Springs or HV got 50% of lift tickets at the "non" pass resorts and 1 free day (Sat + Sun excluded) at each.

Is it really 429? I thought it was higher than that during the cheapest time to buy. I know HV is 350 if you buy before a certain date and a little discount if you had it previous.

That parking is what kills it for me. Now if I owned a place up there that might be different. HMMMMM!

Actually, you get one free pass at those locations, and 50% off any day of the week except holidays and Saturdays. Sundays are INCLUDED with this deal.

Ask me how many times I actually got to use this program this year? ONCE.

I've been waiting to 'get my moneys worth' at Snowshoe. Waiting for that good dumping and a day that there are no emergencies at work to step away. Looks like I may have waited too long. I've seen HV way too many times this year.

I have 3 days off next week. I put them on my calendar 1 month in advance. It's the only way I wont get scheduled for meetings and even then I constantly have to decline stating that I had these days slated. HOPEFULLY I will get a day at Snowshoe next week, probably Weds if anyone else is going, let me know. I'll probably snowboard. My knees aren't holding up well for skiing, and I really want to hit Cupp run on my board which I've never done.

Sincraft,
Get to the Shoe based on the weather...
You have already misse so many gret snow days, for example, the Mon-Wed of Pres. Day weekend the slopes were groomed to perfect with "powered sugar".
Here are two weater sources that provide good info, espcially the NWS in Charleston WV.
GET THEE TO SNOWSHOE, they are offering some great specials for March, including reasonably priced lodging.
The Colonel
The NWS forecast:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php...nit=0&lg=en

Chris Bailey blog:
http://www.wsaz.com/blogs/chrisbaileysblog/Wednesday_Severe_Weather_Tracker_140827783.html

Snowshoe Site for Deals and slope info:
http://www.snowshoemtn.com/mountain/win-mountain/snowreport.htm

Wow - did not realize Sundays were included. My son's wrestling schedule kills off most Saturdays.

This really helps for 2012 - 13.

It is until 4/1 then goes up to 479. Parking has never been a problem for me. I always get there very early (like 7-730) and get right in front of the lodge.

OK so , wait...when I called them and asked if they had special parking for passholders, they said no. I recently looked on their site, and it states that Thur-Sun, people must enter through the north summit, except season pass holders.

So is the front lot only available to season pass holder during those days and, what is it like for the night season as far as parking?

Are you talking weekend times? I like to park right in front of the superpipe during the week.

Just went to 7s's site.
Prices posted for the 12-13 season. HV doesn't have their prices posted.

7's deal for newcomers. Ski for free in March. I'm staying there this weekend (please no rain, please let the ponds on the slopes drain, please snow HA fat chance)

Also, 5% off if paying cash/check.

Even with my 50% discount at springs, I'll probably spend $70-80 that I could put toward 7s season pass usage, and won't feel guilty if I spread out my riding 2 hours at a time in between rains!

Sounds like a no brainer to me.

I'm going to call HV tomorrow and see what they have in store for next year for prices , terrain etc - however I seriously doubt that I will hear anything to change my mind short of , opening 3 more runs, a speed lift and a special lodge/warming hut for season pass holders lol

Springs is class act all around. Snowtime could learn alot about ski area management from them. i think you gave me a good argument to get a pass there since the deal is so good. I always park in that lot by the superpipe/in front of the lodge even on weekends but like I said, I get there early. will be nice next year because i can park right there hit the triple and ride the pipe all day.

I also agree that HV needs to revamp their closing times. Ski season is short enough in this area and you need to be open as much as you can. HV has made great improvements. Every year, they get busier and its now time to move on with their expansion plans but I think their focus and money is on their north shore project. If this is so, maybe they need to lease out the resort end as they did the food services, to a company willing to invest. The food end has improved vastly, with decent food, many options, resonably priced, and much enjoyable entertainment.

HV just released their 12 - 13 season pass rates.

335 is not too shabby.

http://www.hiddenvalleyresort.com/SeasonPassesRateSchedule.aspx

yea I saw that too. I think they raised their after april rate like $30 this season.

Honestly after thinking about it, I think I'm still going with Springs because of the singles line. HV is getting busier, and riding alone is getting to be a pain to worm my way onto a lift, especially on the front side. I pretty much spent my entire winter on the north summit of HV even in the winter.

And if it snows decently, I'll be that much better off at 7springs midweek. Lots of areas to run around that aren't tracked out by 10am with fresh. I'm surely going to take more 'sick' days next year. Promised I would this year but there was always something coming up.

As my son gets older, I'm hoping my sick days aren't spent babysitting a sick kid, rather a kid sick of being at school needing his fix for the mountain air!