Greek Peak Conditions (2016 - 2017)

campgottagopee wrote

We've had high-speed lifts since 1958

YO, RJ check this out, bro ^^^^^^ seems GP has been practicing your "shady" marketing ever since the 50's. Notice the mention of high speed lifts

That is a great find, Camp!  A high speed T-Bar.   The funny thing is that GP's T-Bar's were fixed grip, but they actually manufacture detachable T-Bars.

Rj1972 wrote

GPPartner wrote

I would struggle to compare GP to Camelback, as they have access to a NYC market and average 900,000 visits per year--

GP used to draw from the same metropolitan markets back in the 70's and 80's.

And just think where we would be had all that money from the 70's and 80's been put back into the hill. You know like they do now. New owners don't even take a paycheck out of the place

campgottagopee wrote

And just think where we would be had all that money from the 70's and 80's been put back into the hill. You know like they do now. New owners don't even take a paycheck out of the place

I hear you. The prior owners always struggled, but remarkably kept the place afloat for 55 or so years.

Ok guys and gals- this is fun, but I must return to my day job.  I can assure all of you that ownership cares and loves all of you and truly enjoys posting and listening to concerns.  I am sure they spend many sleepless nights worrying about the sustainability of a resort that means so much to them, their families, their customers, and their employees. Nothing more they would hope for than 6 feet of snow, new infrastructure on the hill, happy customers, and to have Cuomo to share the wealth when it comes to improvements at his ORDA resorts.  Anyway have a great day all of you and thank you for caring!!!

Thank you GPPartner for joining in the banter.  All the best!

WORD

I love the banter :)

Rj1972 wrote

campgottagopee wrote

And just think where we would be had all that money from the 70's and 80's been put back into the hill. You know like they do now. New owners don't even take a paycheck out of the place

I hear you. The prior owners always struggled, but remarkably kept the place afloat for 55 or so years.

Exactly my point RJ. Lets give these guys some room. I've said it many times in here, it took 50 years to run the place into the ground so lets give these guys say 15 to 20 years before we start throwing stones. They've picked up the pieces, invest back into the hill, and are running with it. I say positive feedback, constructive criticism, and support will go along way to helping that.  

One more comment, GPPartner:

Your marketing department really needs to do a better job. There was never a mention of the capital improvements over the summer (new fan guns, bridge project, etc.) Guests want to hear that you are continuing to invest in the place--even if not a shiny new lift or trail.

No problem and I will pass along.  Unfortunately last winter was harsh, so only R&M was done, and some minor improvements.  Fan guns are continually shipped pre season to try and then paid for or returned after the season.  The bridge was a Town of Virgil project, with some help from GP.  

Rj1972 wrote

One more comment, GPPartner:

Your marketing department really needs to do a better job. There was never a mention of the capital improvements over the summer (new fan guns, bridge project, etc.) Guests want to hear that you are continuing to invest in the place--even if not a shiny new lift or trail.

As someone considering coming back to GP with a family in tow next year what I'd like to hear is that every chance they get they are running their snow making system at full capacity in order to put down a truly solid base as quickly as possible. I don't care about the bridge upgrade, and I don't care much about anything else that doesn't really add to the skiing experience. The parking lot is what it is - as long as I don't wreck my car getting in and out I'm ok.

If I compare the Song skiing experience to GP, it truly doesn't seem that much different to me. Yeah I know Camp will argue the terrain is a lot better, and on paper there is a bit more vert, oh and they got that high speed quad at GP  but overall the skiing isn't that much different and there are some things I like better about Song.

GPPartner - here's one suggestion for you...when there is enough snow to open terrain, freakin open it. Don't make your customers either not ski it, or poach it. That's BS. It's not a big place that takes hours to open, but the way your ops work if you don't poach a trail it's typically skied out by the time its officially open.

As for food / drinks, if I understand correctly the 8% resort fee at GP applies to everything - so if I go order $50 worth of food for the family, add resort fee (8%), tax (8%), and tip (15-20%) to that? The resort fee is just F'd up.

Hoping to ski GP sometime soon. I do miss the place, but I'm having a hard time finding a compelling reason to spend $700 more to ski there instead of Song/Lab. Cranking the snow making, and opening all the skiable terrain from the start would go a long way toward bridging the value gap for me.

GPPartner, by you taking the time to join in posting here shows your level of commitment not only to GP but to it's faithful as well. It's appreciated.  Cheers

billyymc wrote

The parking lot is what it is - as long as I don't wreck my car getting in and out I'm ok.

As for food / drinks, if I understand correctly the 8% resort fee at GP applies to everything - so if I go order $50 worth of food for the family, add resort fee (8%), tax (8%), and tip (15-20%) to that? The resort fee is just F'd up.

With respect to the parking lot, first impressions can be lasting. If a guest is greeted with a mine field of a parking lot, and then walks from their car through the mess in front of the welcome center, he will not be off to a positive start. The entire area needs to be paved, including the crushed stone mess by the foot bridge. This is not a huge capital project. Instead, a sign was made to warn skiers in front of the Welcome center of the uneven pavement. Seriously! With the warm temperatures this week, the area could have been paved mid-week, or when they were closed.

This year they replaced the wood on the chair 2 towers, which was by no means a large or costly project, but was noticed.  Adding the new trail signs spruced the place up last year. It's smaller projects like these that add to the total guest experience. It's what I refer to as the shabbiness factor. Paint the towers, replace the lights with low energy one's, and so on.

Yes, snow making needs a massive upgrade, in addition to what has been done over the past few years. I'm afraid that our erratic climate is here to stay. I would highly suggest that the owners take a trip to the Pocono's to see how it's done. GP is not competing with New England resorts, but folks who used to drive past the Pocono's to ski GP, stopped doing so.  

However, I believe there have been operational issues this year. They still aim snow guns into the trees and don't build deep enough bases to provide insurance for inclement weather. They created an excellent base on the Odyssey, and look how well it has held up. But, you take a trail like Alcmene, where they blew very little snow, and it gets wiped out in no time.

As far as the resort fee goes, you know my opinion of that. They've lost thousands of dollars in revenue from my family over the past two years based on the principle of the resort fee.

Please don't misconstrue my intentions, I enjoy skiing GP, as I feel it is a very diverse mountain for its location and size. I have homes at both GP and Killington, but certain prefer the drive to GP, as it's significantly closer for me. I want to see them do well, but it's going to take capital and a more effective marketing effort.

campgottagopee wrote

RJ and Parris --- what's the big deal about chair 2??? If there was snow enough to open Ronnies I would agree with you. Do you guys enjoy ripping massive GS turns down Castor?? That's one bad ass green circle run

Beginners generally bring in revenue for rentals and lessons. Chair 2 is a great beginner area.

 Camelback blows and bear creek is on the verge of closing if they aren't already, they haven't had snowmaking temps for over two weeks . I'm not crazy about the vibe or terrain at elk but I will say they have maintained their systems and facilities impeccably for years when Greek didn't and it shows.  Blue probably has the most snowmaking capacity per acre in the east, they've done an amazing job opening and keeping terrain open this year. Bottom line though I drive past these areas every chance I get for better snow QUALITY and skier experience, less crowds and Yahoos. Yea no shit they need to expand snowmaking and have 20 years of catching up to do - keep up the good work and let's hope we turn the corner in February!

billyymc wrote

If I compare the Song skiing experience to GP, it truly doesn't seem that much different to me. Yeah I know Camp will argue the terrain is a lot better  

WHOA, you got me all wrong Billy. I wouldn't argue that simply because anyone who would want to doesn't know what the hell they are talking about

Rj1972 wrote

billyymc wrote

The parking lot is what it is - as long as I don't wreck my car getting in and out I'm ok.

As for food / drinks, if I understand correctly the 8% resort fee at GP applies to everything - so if I go order $50 worth of food for the family, add resort fee (8%), tax (8%), and tip (15-20%) to that? The resort fee is just F'd up.

With respect to the parking lot, first impressions can be lasting.

Begs the question why it wasn't done in the first 50 years of ownership. Especially since it's not that much money.

Rj1972 wrote

campgottagopee wrote

RJ and Parris --- what's the big deal about chair 2??? If there was snow enough to open Ronnies I would agree with you. Do you guys enjoy ripping massive GS turns down Castor?? That's one bad ass green circle run

Beginners generally bring in revenue for rentals and lessons. Chair 2 is a great beginner area.

You should learn your way around RJ. That great beginner area you speak of can be can be accessed from chair's 1, 1A, and 4. juss-sayin

gorgonzola wrote

  keep up the good work and let's hope we turn the corner in February!

We're turning! We got 5ish inches of heavy POW from that storm, snowing now and they're calling for LE to crank up later in the week.