Greek Peak Conditions (2017 - 2018)

Hoser wrote

So what happened to the lines I experienced in the early 80s at GP?   Reference to earlier comment on never any lines.    I waited forever at the zues chair and took the t bars as the chair on the right always long lines

Ski areas to the south, and much closer to the NY, NJ, and PA major metropolitan areas began investing in infrastructure improvements that matched GP’s. No longer was there a need to drive by those areas to ride chairlifts instead of surface lifts. The improvements to snow making and lifts eventually surpassed that of GP’s. Not everyone cares about terrain, so skier visits declined considerably. Then the high speed quads went in, and snow making improved even further to the south.

GP also had one of the top ski school programs in the East under Gordy Richardson. They pioneered many ski techniques that were featured in skiing publications.

The busses from Philly and NYC also stopped pouring into the parking lots.

Any skier visit numbers you can reference? Could it be that lifts just get people up the hill faster now? You can get the vert in by noon what took you bell to bell in the 70's.

Interesting comments guys makes sense on the change from the 80s

tjf1967 wrote

Could it be that lifts just get people up the hill faster now?

You haven't been to Greek Peak have you?

The only real change in GP's lifts from the 70/80's until now is the replacement of two T-Bars with a fixed grip quad. They also removed a Poma lift. Nearly all of the ski areas in the Pocono's have detachable quads.

I do have skier visit numbers from when we looked at acquiring GP, but definitely can't share them. Suffice it to say that skier visits are down.

Really??? Why is that?? Common oh wise RJ enlighten us. It was a public auction so why should that info be a secret if you actually have it.

The biggest change that nobody talks about is it used to snow it's ass off around here ---- not so much now

campgottagopee wrote

The biggest change that nobody talks about is it used to snow it's ass off around here ---- not so much now

You are right about that, and it didn't go up to 60 degrees in the middle of the winter, either.

A long time groomer at GP told me once that everyone is a hero when it snows.

tjf1967 wrote

Could it be that lifts just get people up the hill faster now?

billyymc wrote

You haven't been to Greek Peak have you?

True, but on the bright side... if your coat zippers need oil, you're at the right place.

bumps wrote

tjf1967 wrote

Could it be that lifts just get people up the hill faster now?

billyymc wrote

You haven't been to Greek Peak have you?

True, but on the bright side... if your coat zippers need oil, you're at the right place.

LMAO!

bumps wrote

tjf1967 wrote

Could it be that lifts just get people up the hill faster now?

billyymc wrote

You haven't been to Greek Peak have you?

True, but on the bright side... if your coat zippers need oil, you're at the right place.

Nice. And if your skis need waxing just ski close to the lift towers.

It looks like this could be the last good weekend, for real.  If any of you are skiing, I'd love to say hi. I'm the older than dirt woman with a red helmet and mismatched outfit, skiing very slowly down the skier's right side of Iliad (or some other slope), trying to keep my left ski on the snow in the turns.  I truly appreciate hearing mountain updates.  

WP

wonderpony wrote

It looks like this could be the last good weekend, for real.  If any of you are skiing, I'd love to say hi. I'm the older than dirt woman with a red helmet and mismatched outfit, skiing very slowly down the skier's right side of Iliad (or some other slope), trying to keep my left ski on the snow in the turns.  I truly appreciate hearing mountain updates.  

WP

Post of the season.

Great to have you here wonderpony.

Wow, Harvey.  Thanks! I'm touched.  Seriously. I lurked on this website for a few years before joining, as most skiers on the forum seem to be men with lots of experience.  I wasn't sure that as a female totally amateur skier who needs to screw up her courage to ski Odyssey that I'd fit in.  But, I love skiing, and I sure as hell appreciate having GP half an hour from home.  There are days at the tail ends of the season that I will ski the bunny slope just to ski.  I figure I can always work on keeping that left ski down.  :p

And, thank you, Harvey, for this forum. :)  It keeps me sane when I'm stuck at work and would rather be skiing.

You are welcome.

Forums, not just ski forums, are mostly anonymous and because of that they get rough and tumble. I learned early on that the only choice was to moderate the hell out of things, of just accept the fact that many or most women would be driven away by the rough stuff.

Marznc is a veteran of ski forums and takes a "boys will be boys" approach to all the $hit that goes on. You seem to have a knack for ignoring that stuff too.  Really appreciate the perspective of the few women who hang here.  Your passion for skiing is evident, a great addition to the forum.

wonderpony wrote

  There are days at the tail ends of the season that I will ski the bunny slope just to ski.

That’s a great quote.

I agree. My tracks at the Plattekill Learning Center on Feb 18:

wonderpony wrote

It looks like this could be the last good weekend, for real.

WP, what makes you say that? I thought their base was good...what have you heard?

I plan to get up there tomorrow, even though cycling is my priority at the moment. Went out today for 40 miles to try out the aerobars I just installed - and the gusty NNW wind almost took me out at one point!  

I haven't heard anything. I was just looking at the warmer temperatures and mid-week rain. However, it's now looking like it might not be so bad. I may be cancelling my yoga reservation to ski once again!

I skied GP yesterday and conditions were pretty good.  Most of the main trails looked like this:

Well groomed, good coverage, and little if any ice.

A few spots are getting thin or are already closed such as the Zeus head wall.  Olympian has some bare spots and there is a bare spot on skiers right at the top of the steep section of Trojan that comes up on you quick.  

This last section under chair 5 is toast.  The high March sun just won’t let it hold the snow.

The fat lady definitely HAS NOT started singing.  Best bet is that she’s in a limo somewhere on her way to the opera house!