Greek Peak Conditions (2016 - 2017)

Jamesdeluxe wrote

Rj1972 wrote

I'm amazed that Elk commands a premium over the other Pocono ski areas.

Does Elk qualify as the Poconos?

Or have anything to do with GP

Rj1972 wrote

Ahhh, so that's how Elk determined the discount for next season. It certainly makes sense.

I'm amazed that Elk commands a premium over the other Pocono ski areas. Camelback charges $599 for their full pass, albeit Elk ranks a bit higher IMO in terms of terrain. As far as Camelback goes, they plan to reopen again on March 25th.

You know years ago Greek had a super special - If you are a resident of Philadelphia, PA you could buy a Greek Peak seasons pass for $99. Heard that $99 deal still continues to this day.

If so,I can't amagin anyone driving a 1 1/2 hours past Elk to get to Greek. Having skied both a lot it's a no brainier, i would pay the extra at Elk. Save on gas and time not to mention conditions are much better at Elk.

Wow! A $99 pass for Philly residents is a great deal! Of course, the drive is probably 3.5 hours, so not sure it makes sense to drive past the Pocono's to save a few hundred dollars on a pass. Granted, GP is a superior mountain IMO to anything to the south, but they don't have the infrastructure that the Pocono areas do.

scrundy wrote

If so,I can't amagin anyone driving a 1 1/2 hours past Elk to get to Greek. Having skied both a lot it's a no brainier, i would pay the extra at Elk. Save on gas and time not to mention conditions are much better at Elk.

Many folks do like Elk, but for me, it just doesn't have the diversity of GP. However, you raise a valid point with respect to the additional 1.5 hour drive.

Rj1972 wrote

scrundy wrote

If so,I can't amagin anyone driving a 1 1/2 hours past Elk to get to Greek. Having skied both a lot it's a no brainier, i would pay the extra at Elk. Save on gas and time not to mention conditions are much better at Elk.

Many folks do like Elk, but for me, it just doesn't have the diversity of GP. However, you raise a valid point with respect to the additional 1.5 hour drive.

This x2! I drive past Elk to get to GP without even thinking about it. Other than tunk bumps on a spring day or an early season day on a free warren miller voucher there's not much of a reason for me to go there.
The vibe reminds of a state park we used to go to as a kid that didn't allow diving, splashing or chicken fights - No Fun Beach!

I don't think they  even let tunk bump up  this year!

gorgonzola wrote

 chicken fights  

I totally forgot about chicken fights, totally!!! What a hoot!

Yeh they had bumps on Tunk but had to mow um down early this year. As you probably know that's where they seed the hill. When late season touch up is needed they mow um down and spead it out,just happened sooner this year. I guess I like the state park feel,a lot less boarders too. ( not that I mind them)I am down with Greek too and am not looking to bash. I just prefer Elk

 Tunk had bumps this year. They were mowed down a few times more this Winter. Should have been there the 12th and 13th they were fun.Elk usually leaves three snow making trails bump and one natural trail. That's more than most ski areas. Glades coming when the owner from Philly expires. I like Greek but in a Winter like last, Elk beats Greek hands down.

FYI:  The $99 pass to Philly area residents was only offered last year.  Just within the group that I know of, (25-30 skiers), it encouraged us to come up for more than just one long weekend, as has been our tradition.  We averaged 3-4 weekends, and with the money we spent in Trax and in lodging, more than made up for the discounted pass. I strongly encouraged them to bring back the deal this year, but they chose to follow the State money and went with the "Ski Cortland" campaign --even putting up a billboard on I-95 in Chester, PA (one of the poorest urban areas in the entire country).  Surely, the weather killed any marketing attempts this year, but it would have been nice for the GP folks to have focused on the population that year in and out gives them business although the Poconos are 1.5-2 hrs closer.

I've spoken at Widener University on a couple of occasions, located in Chester, and although I didn't spend an appreciable amount of time there, it certainly was a very depressed area. I also recall quite a bit of security on nearly every corner of the campus. Chester is probably not the best place to advertise, but if the billboard is in a high traffic area on 95, maybe it will garner some attention.

One thing I do know about the Ski Cortland campaign is that it cost GP significantly more than they anticipated, and it did not yield the results they were hoping for. I assumed all of the marketing campaign was covered by state funds, but that was apparently not the case.

I been woundering and maybe someone can tell me? Is the problem with Greeks snow making more that they don't have adaquit water supply? I know thay have that creek,but not sure where they draw the water for snow making from. If its from that creek that can't be near enuff or am I wrong? Or do they get it from the pond up by the fields?

The primary water source is via Gridley Creek and Hope Lake, the manmade lake behind Hope Lake Lodge. They do not have a water supply issue.

While they have been upgrading pumps, compressors, and pipes, they simply lack the capacity to make an appreciable amount of snow. They can operate around 50 guns in ideal conditions, but not on the same lines. This really limits their ability to get a single trail open in much less than a week. When you look at a trail like the Iliad, they might have a dozen guns on it, which just doesn't get the job done in an efficient manner. They also spend quite a bit of time dragging guns and hoses around, which again is an inefficient use of labor. There are also areas that do not have air lines, so they must rely on fan guns and portable diesel generators to operate them. Likewise, one of their connector trails, Upper Mars, connects chair 4 to chair 5 and does not have any snowmaking at all on it. They need to run hoses from other trails in order  to make snow on it.

There has been so much deferred maintenance that it really will take a significant capital infusion to bring systems up to date. The owners are whittling away at it, but they have barely scratched the surface. Hopefully, they will get there some day.

Work has begun on the new blue trail for DH biking

Is it going to be a machine built trail? Thought I heard something about that.

I know they had a dozer in there yesterday for some stuff

Awesome

A 1963 Carlevaro-Savio chair modified with Borvig chairs.

That's my favorite chairlift. There's just something special about it.