Greek Peak Conditions (2016 - 2017)

I think the 950 vert is based on the proposed expansion plan which is probably never going to happen. I once heard that lift 4 was going to be replaced with a HSQ that would start at the very bottom, sail high over the Alpha slope, and drop you off at the very top of what was going to be the expansion plan. So, that new proposed lift would serve 950'. This is what the guy at Bergers ski and snowboard shop in Binghampton told me.  The east  mountain does not currently start at the very top. Its lacking about 200'  if you look on Google earth, you can see how they started to clear the upper part of Zues for the new lift. It was so long ago now that it's all grown in. I'm going to go measure it now. I actually think the expansion plan is really cool.

That's a great story but I'm afraid that is all it is. Even the trail map that shows the current top of chair 4 and the proposed extension shows that it is well below the top of chair 2. You aren't gaining any elevation whatsoever.

There were surveyors in the area above chair 4 last year, but I never did inquire as to why they were there. I know that the previous owners were serious about the HSQ being run from the base to the chair 4 summit. They also wanted to add a summit lodge. I believe the budget was around $13M for the project, which also included some additional development. The failure of Tennessee Financial Bank ended that plan.

They are going to rip out the new Quad at 1A, and move it over to replace lift 2, and a real High Speed Detachable is going to go in at 1A.

Big D wrote

They are going to rip out the new Quad at 1A, and move it over to replace lift 2, and a real High Speed Detachable is going to go in at 1A.

I heard something very similar, but that a high speed six pack is going to replace 1 and 1A. The existing fixed quad was going to replace chair 4 and extend to the clearing above the existing top terminal. The timeline is 2-3 years. However, my information did NOT come from either of the owners or top management, so take it with a grain of salt.

I find it very hard to believe that the owners will go to the expense of re-engineering and relocating the fixed quad, as they barely had the funds to install it in the first place.

I have a pass at Greek Peak (well, actually at Toggenburg but you can ski at GP as well for no additional cost, not bad for $325!)  While GP is a great little mountain I also wondered about the claimed vertical - went to the topo maps and couldn't find anywhere near the 900'+ advertised.  It's just not there.  It's about 700'  Seems to ski bigger though - maybe because of the multiple peaks, glades, etc.  Best thing around here, for sure, and they have done an incredible job w/snowmaking this year.

Holy shit! They just replaced 1A two years ago. Its a lot of work to re-engineer an existing lift. For a 700 foot mountain there is no need for a detachable anyway. Besides, it's not long enough to replace lift 2, or 4 especially with the expansion plan. 1A is faster than your average fixie anyway because of that integrated magic carpet thingy.

It was in the Newspapers, a while ago. Cortland County is getting $300 million to use for Economic Development, and they are going to invest $136 million in Greek Peak for "Slopeside Improvements". As GP is 1 of the County's largest employers and they are looking to increase Tourism.

(Down here Broome County is getting $500 million, and some Rich Robber Barons are trying to get there hands on the money to use to tear down a bunch of old IBM Endicott buildings.)

Big D wrote

It was in the Newspapers, a while ago. Cortland County is getting $300 million to use for Economic Development, and they are going to invest $136 million in Greek Peak for "Slopeside Improvements". As GP is 1 of the County's largest employers and they are looking to increase Tourism.

Big D - I don't think that money has been committed to GP yet.

I can't imagine what they would spend $130M on. Maybe adding 200 feet to the hill?


Ethan - that proposed expansion is not really any higher than the top of chair 4 - the map makes it look like it is, but it's not by more than a few feet.

The $130M is definitely not committed to GP. That figure is simply the portion of the grant that GP applied for. I would find it hard to believe that the state would invest that sum of money in a private enterprise that is worth less than 1/10th of that amount according to the owners.

In terms of spending the $130M, keep in mind that the current infrastructure of GP has passed its useful life. It would not be unreasonable to spend that amount on the mountain just to bring it up to date. Plus, the owners could probably find a way to enhance their bar even more, which is their main priority.  

On an aside, I also heard that they plan to triple the pumping capacity for next year. That would be a positive thing.

Greek now claims 1,000 employees. This will help in getting some of the economic development funds.

MAJOR EMPLOYER

During the winter months, Greek Peak employs up to 1,000 people. Many of those employees are locals from the Cortland and Central New York region.

As part of the tax incentives they are receiving, they must also agree to employ at least 200 full-time employees.

It's interesting to me that so,many people seem to think Greek Peaks infratlstructure is outdated. To me, it seems just fine. Lift 2 is definitely outdated, but it is an awesome piece of History that works fine. Lift 1A is now replaced with a very nice quad, and the rest of the lifts are Halls which are hands down the most reliable lifts out there. The lodge has been updated, and is just as extravagant as Hunter, or windham with a very nice bar and resturant. Not to mention the coffee shop. The last time I was there, they were blowing, and they seemed to have plenty of Snowmaking capacity. That has been updated too. Brand new pump house, two new compressors, and refurbished pumps. Also new pipelines, and a few more towers. I Although, I will say, there is no such thing as too much snowmaking capacity. I'm all for Snowmaking upgrades. I just personally think the mountain is just right. Its a nice balance between snoloco's dream mountain, and an old school mountain such as Plattekill.

If you place GP in the category of small CNY ski areas, I completely agree that they fit in fine. However, if they want to return to the grandeur and skier visits of the 70's and 80's, they need to overhaul their snow-making system to compete with those areas 90 minutes south of them. It does not take Camelback, Blue Mountain, Shawnee, BB/JF a week to open a trail, as it does at GP. In fact, even after the rain and warm weather last week, Camelback and Blue had 100% of their snowmaking trails open, which in Camelback's case, is 100% of their mountain. Keep in mind that skiers had to take the shuttle bus last week at GP just to ski East because they still don't have snowmaking on Upper Mars.

Folks also want modern (fast) lifts, and while I agree that the Hall lifts are bulldogs, their time has come. Who installs fixed grip quads anymore?

There are reasons that Camelback sold for $67M and GP sold for $7.5M. three years ago. Yes, it has to do with skier visits, but GP's skier visits used to exceed some of the ski areas in the Pocono's back in the aforementioned time period. The challenge is that GP rested on their laurels and folks realized that there was no need to drive past the Pocono's or Catskills to ski much more modern ski areas.

Don't get me wrong, I believe that GP is the most diverse mountain around, but that's not enough to entice the masses to drive past more modern ski areas.

be careful what you wish for; i'm glad greek is upgrading lifts and snowmaking but i hope it never becomes another blue mt or (gasp) cameltoe

I hear you, Gorg. It's definitely a conflicting desire to wish for upgrades because they may also attract the masses. One of the reasons I no longer drive to Killington every weekend anymore is just for that reason.

Agree with you on that. I always wondered what was supporting Greek Peak. I figured I was triple Cities, Syracuse, and other central New Yorkers such as myself. I always liked that the lift lines were short, and you could find a place in the lodge.

You're right, No one installs fixed quads anymore. I thought it was strange that they would purchase a brand new fixed grip quad. I guess its just too short for a detachable to be necessary. Honestly, I think it's a nice lift.

Rj1972 wrote

There were surveyors in the area above chair 4 last year, but I never did inquire as to why they were there. I know that the previous owners were serious about the HSQ being run from the base to the chair 4 summit. They also wanted to add a summit lodge. I believe the budget was around $13M for the project, which also included some additional development. The failure of Tennessee Financial Bank ended that plan.

Bwhahahahahaha


Yea, and to think this whole time I thought it was GP not paying their bills that ended the project.

Sunday marked the 15th anniversary of our Pre-Super Bowl Party at chair 5.

You can talk lifts, vertical, new owners, old owners, expansion, no expansion, but this is what Greek Peak is all about in my book. We have an effin blast, it's just how we roll  

 

Great stuff there Camper Stamper !!  Good friends , good  times , good food , brewskis and skiing , helluva combo !

Btw :   TMP still gigging in the area these days ??