Greek Peak Conditions (2017 - 2018)

Then why the constant negativity? You didn't answer my question. Do you feel your constant armchair QBing is being helpful?

Have you had any good skiing days there this year?

campgottagopee wrote

Then why the constant negativity? You didn't answer my question. Do you feel your constant armchair QBing is being helpful?

Have you had any good skiing days there this year?

I certainly can be critical, but that's how we grow and improve. There's always room for improvement regardless of how well a business operates. I've seen thriving businesses go under when they become too complacent.

Yes, I've had some good skiing this year at GP, but it can always be better.

So you feel you are doing good by Greek Peak. Got it.

In terms of snow making, this sign is on the Iliad today, one of their main trails, and a trail they just made snow on last week.  Please know that I am not criticizing the hard men and women who make snow. These guys bust their tails in harsh conditions. However, they have supervisors--supervisors who decide to only run a half dozen guns on Hercules and Lower Zeus when it's -9 degrees rather than blanketing the mountain with their 64 guns. These are the same supervisors who determine the air/water mix and how to position the guns. Granted, it costs money to create deep bases--something I'm sure they have plenty of, given how busy Trax is, Camp.

When my ski area consultants looked at the infrastructure and equipment during the bankruptcy, the estimated cost to bring just the snow making system up to date was staggering. The new owners are doing a good job with their annual incremental investments, but they also need to use the systems they have efficiently. Snow making is hugely expensive, and they need to maximize their output for the cost.

LMFAO!!! That sign is on skiers left, the side they don't make snow on -- you truly are amazing.

Again, the practice of making snow only on half of the trails is something that started many, many, years ago and one I'm not fond of. Snow should be, and at one point in time was made, tree line to tree line.

Supervisors???? They are all under Wes. He's the only constant here. Maybe you should be talking to him

Ok, one to positive and fun things here at GP.

This year will mark the 17th Annual Super Bowl Party. They party started with just myself and one of my buddies drinkin beer on a Super Bowl Sunday at chair 5 after a day of skiing. My partner in crime in this now winters in FL (i'm totally jealous) and I don't feel right doing this without him. That said, the torch has been passed on to a couple of young bucks in our A18 Gang, Brando and Travis. This is now the official A18 Gang Super Bowl Party. All are welcome to attend. GPP and his Partner usually stop by for a beer or three so if you haven't met them it would be a good chance to do so. It's a celebration of winter, outdoors, and friends. BYOB and a smile. Boo handles all the negative nuts so you best stay away if you know what's good for you

Stop by RJ and I'll buy you a shot and a beer  

Hey Camp - you going to be tailgatin at 5? I may be up there Sunday and decide to shed my anonymity finally...haha.

I've had about 8 or 10 days/nights at GP this year - way lower than normal simply because the conditions haven't been all that enticing. Most of that isn't their fault though, the rain/thaws have been brutal. Have had a couple days where the conditions were surprisingly very good this year, but mostly just ho-hum.

It does appear they aren't using their snowmaking capability as well as they could, but I really have no idea.

In general the hill itself hasn't been that busy when I've been there, or when I've looked at the webcams.

Looks like some snow coming though, so fingers crossed.

campgottagopee wrote

Ok, one to positive and fun things here at GP.

This year will mark the 17th Annual Super Bowl Party. They party started with just myself and one of my buddies drinkin beer on a Super Bowl Sunday at chair 5 after a day of skiing. My partner in crime in this now winters in FL (i'm totally jealous) and I don't feel right doing this without him. That said, the torch has been passed on to a couple of young bucks in our A18 Gang, Brando and Travis. This is now the official A18 Gang Super Bowl Party. All are welcome to attend. GPP and his Partner usually stop by for a beer or three so if you haven't met them it would be a good chance to do so. It's a celebration of winter, outdoors, and friends. BYOB and a smile. Boo handles all the negative nuts so you best stay away if you know what's good for you
 

Atten: Billy

See you there

Just look for the camo

campgottagopee wrote

Stop by RJ and I'll buy you a shot and a beer  

Thanks, Camp. I appreciate the invite. We'll connect one of these days, but I'm out of town on business this weekend, so no skiing for me. What was I thinking scheduling this trip on Sunday?

I used to ski GP a lot in my younger years. I didn't really have much to compare it to at the time, but it seemed to me like they made a lot of snow, and they made it wall to wall. I later transitioned to Plattekill as my home mountain. Plattekill is nothing astronomical when it comes to snowmaking. They also do not cover wall to wall on several trails, although, they are extremely wide trails. But all I can say, is the few times I have re-visited GP under the new ownership, I've been slightly disappointed. They definitely do not make as much snow as they used to. I also went night skiing there 2 years ago and was a little disappointed by how many lights were out.

I feel like the previous owners were trying to make the best of what they had. They knew things were tough, but they went full send. Even though their snowmaking and lift infrastructure was outdated, it seemed as though they made the best of it and reaped it for all it was worth by always opening lifts as soon as possible, and making a lot more sanow that they do now. The new owners on the other hand, seem to have to much anxiety about it. Anyone agree with me?

A few things that seem weird though. For one, Karyatis Way doesn't really have a proper snowmaking system even though it is a key trail and they somehow manage to make a lot of snow on it.  It has like 2 hydrants on it that are single off shoots from each end of the trail. The trail does not have air, or electricity. Just water. So that means they have to bring in a portable generator to run a few portable fan guns as well as an extensive network of Hoses and power cords t connect everything together. There's a few other places on the mountain where they do this including Middle Pollux which is also a key trail. It's a very labor intensive and inefficient way to make snow, and I never understood why they couldn't just run a little more pipe and some 250KCMIL cable which would probably cost about the same as diesel fuel after one season.

Also, Upper Mars Hill. How come that doesn't have snowmaking? It's not long (or wide) and wouldn't require much infrastructure to add snowmaking to that. Seriously, some 4" pipe and like a half dozen hydrants is all it would need.  It makes it impossible to get to East when there's a lack of natural.  I mean shit, they have snowmaking on Posideon, what good is any of that if you cant get to it! It's like building a road that goes across a river but never building a bridge. What good is it.

Don't get me wrong, I love that mountain. I'm hoping to get out there this year, maybe if we get some good snow. GP was a special part of my upbringing as was Plattekill.

Last question. Do they ever make snow on Olympian? I've seen there are a few hydrants at the top, but never used.

Sprry for the long post, It's a very interesting place to me.

campgottagopee wrote

Atten: Billy

See you there

Just look for the camo

Rode the quad a few weeks ago with a guy in white/brown camo - was that you? I thought he said he was from Dryden area but maybe I was mistaken. Very chatty dude.

Everything on the ski side of the road has been run into the ground. What used to be is no longer. It needs fixing/upgrading and all that cost's millions. I feel we will get there, but again, it took 50 years to run  the place right into non-existence so it will take a few years to bring it back up to par.

They made snow on the Big O as little as 5 years ago +/- . As a kid I remember the snowmaking whales on top of that thing were massive!!!

The other thing is we used to get alot more natural snow which as we all know is key.

billyymc wrote

campgottagopee wrote

Atten: Billy

See you there

Just look for the camo

Rode the quad a few weeks ago with a guy in white/brown camo - was that you? I thought he said he was from Dryden area but maybe I was mistaken. Very chatty dude.

LOL --- nope, that Doug, one of our crew. He's a ripper

He's a landscaper so he skis every single day in the winter.

campgottagopee wrote

billyymc wrote

campgottagopee wrote

Atten: Billy

See you there

Just look for the camo

Rode the quad a few weeks ago with a guy in white/brown camo - was that you? I thought he said he was from Dryden area but maybe I was mistaken. Very chatty dude.

LOL --- nope, that Doug, one of our crew. He's a ripper

He's a landscaper so he skis every single day in the winter.

Yep that was him. My daughter and I rode the lift with him...funny guy. Later we were at the top of Olympian and he came flying down, jumped over the headwall and was hooting an hollering as flew pretty much straight down it jumping the bumps like a little kid but at SPEED!

You got it!

He's originally a Virgil boy --- we all grew up skiing together ---  you should see him in the trees

There's a vid of him completely airing out the headwall on Hercules  

Ethan Snow wrote

When you get down to it, Woodstream is really all about natural snow. The snowmaking just keeps most high traffic and sun exposed terrain covered straight through the season so there is always something to ski on. It also keeps the resort looking legit from the road throughout the season.

Do you make/print your own season's passes?

Ethan Snow wrote

I used to ski GP a lot in my younger years...

...It's a very interesting place to me.

You remember the GP that I remember. Those were definitely fun and brighter times. When their bank was seized by the FDIC five years ago, and the resort went on the auction block, I became very emotional about the place, brought in several different consultants, looked at various models for the assets, and then came to my senses. The ski business is not a business I know--nor one that I was willing to risk my money on. Since then, I've continued to invest in and grow the business I know and love.

I'd love to see GP get back to the era when it was a bustling and vibrant area.

Rj1972 wrote

 . When their bank was seized by the FDIC five years ago, and the resort went on the auction block

OMG!!!! You are such a riot!!!

You paint quite a picture with that brush of yours --- too funny

campgottagopee wrote

Rj1972 wrote

 . When their bank was seized by the FDIC five years ago, and the resort went on the auction block

OMG!!!! You are such a riot!!!

You paint quite a picture with that brush of yours --- too funny

Non, now, Camp.  You know darn well the previous owners made every payment, and had nothing past due up until they were instructed by the FDIC to file for bankruptcy. If you recall, the FDIC demanded payment for the entire balance due on their loan from Tennessee Financial. There was no way for them to repay the entire loan, which is why they had the loan in the first place. Per Senator Schumer, the FDIC agreed to continue to fund the operation if they filed for bankruptcy. They were instructed by the FDIC to either file for bankruptcy or repay the entire loan.

For some reason folks wanted to blame the GP owners for the bankruptcy or Tennessee Financials Failure, but they were never late with their loan payments. In fact, they hit the metrics required for Tennessee to release $13M to fund a fixed quad and high speed quad (chair 4 area expansion).  I know people don't want to believe that the real estate was beginning to fund the ski area improvements, but it was. Remember, they were selling timeshares, and people were buying them. People need to stop thinking of the place as just a hotel.

I'm not re-hashing this with you yet again.

We've already agreed to disagree.

Previous owners owed so many people prior to going BK that it wasn't even funny

No local bank would even begin to touch the Hotel. It was set up to fail from the get go, and it did.

Why do you think the FDIC pulled the plug on Tenseness Bank???

Not one single improvement had been made in the last 15 years on the ski side, not one