Machski

Well, the new 8-pack won't service the MTB terrain. The MTB is served by the Seven Brothers chair. But you're on point, they are going to replace 7 Brothers with a HSQ (probably the current Kanc) when the install the 8-pack. And that will make a big difference in access to the MTB terrain. Nope, bike park is CURRENTLY serviced by Seven Brothers. But the plan is for that to give way to the Kanc Lift in the future as the bike park is expanded. It is undoubtedly why Boyne proposed an 8 at Kanc as it will likely be identical to Big Sky's Ramcharger 8, ordered with bike carriers from the get go. Whether they will use Seven Brother's too when the Kanc is cut into the bike park remains to be seen.

Nice! I am sure an 8 pack chair won't draw any attention to the park when they replace Kanc with that machine.

Yes, but you only get 7 days max on Ikon at A-Basin. So without unlimited option, looks like most chose to not burn a limited day on WROD.

Anyone hit up Loon's grand opening weekend of their DH park?

Vail is only doing the Keystone/Breck season bookend change because they are loosing the ABasin tie in on the Epic. ABasin gave Epic the longest season in Colorado, something Vail has seen has had traction with the local market. They were not willing to cede that niche. Hopefully they will see the value in Wildcat's late season product with a great setup (single lift serves all terrain ). Early season at Mount Snow I'm not so sure about. Time will tell on both.

Well, as far as I can tell both Crested Butte and Kirkwood do not have machine made and groomed boulevards cut into their epic terrain outside of what they had from Vail. Same at Whistler. I would think Vail would leave the Cat as is and rough (maybe clean up the base lodge though). If they want groomerville polished they can do that to Attitash. I don't think the Front Four + has been bulldozed at Stowe or had more snowmaking added than what was already there.

But with an ever growing portfolio, Vail is going to be hard pressed to make resort infrastructure investment capital stretch over all their areas. Vail has shown zero interest in upgrading lifts at it's New England resorts it has owned (granted, it sounds as though the planning for West Bowl at Sunapee is progressing though groundbreaking is not imminent). They did jump on upgrading lifts this summer at recently acquired Stevens Pass in WA but with Crystal fully Ikon, they had to as Steven's lift system is aged compared to Crystal. We all agree probably the most pressing lift upgrade is the Attitash Summit Triple. If Vail is going to invest, that should be target one and penned in for next summer. Time will tell.

I would tend to agree on Okemo but not Stowe. Forerunner should have been replaced from the old original HSQ to a HSS so I do not believe from a capacity standpoint Stowe's main mountain lift system is all that good. And the lookout double, well that had a nice rope evac this past season that lasted hours. Maybe that is the solution for Attitash and Stowe. Take down the Forerunner and move it to Attitash and put a HSS up at Stowe. Okemo/Sunapee did a similar swap for the Sunburst 6 and Sun Bowl. I still doubt you see anything get done before next year, probably longer if the Summit Triple at Attitash functions reliably this season.

Please, crossovers while not the norm are not as uncommon as you think. Go out to Mammoth, Panorama Gondola and Unbound HSQ share a tower or two. Sunday River's new T-Bar will be sharing a tower with the Locke Triple from what we are hearing. No way will it cost $8 million for a summit HSQ just because of one shared tower. With that said, Vail has yet to invest any $$ in lifts not already ordered by the previous ownership in the East. What makes anyone think they will be quick to do so at the newly acquired ones?

Our friends who had a deposit in said they have been told the "sale" is more seeking investment partner(s). They are keeping their deposit in place for now.

Well, Guess this isn't a big surprise. https://www.newenglandskiindustry.com/viewstory.php?storyid=774 Kind of a shame for the NH far North country. Will miss the opportunity to debate how it worked or didn't.

Went Friday and had to leave around 130pm. Friday with the lighter traffic, top stayed skiable til I left although it was very thin with rock coming through. Balance of the trail was full covered then, a few thin spots, but not too bad. Overall, very good.

Same with Sugarloaf.

I subscribe to the idea of finding good, but less expensive, outer gear so that when it becomes to worn out, I can toss it and not feel bad. Especially ski pants, where I use Columbia's Ridge 2 Run. You can get them for like $85 bucks, great water repellent, not very insulated other than their thermo reflective lining but I just layer. When they are shot, at that price the get tossed (or used for snowblowing/other utility activities). Jackets are arguably harder, but I look for clearance deals online or shops like ski and snowboard liquidators in No. Conway.

Will be tough, but I'm in already for the K Triathlon Saturday (assuming they don't postpone it due to too wet trails for MTN biking) and SR on Sunday (have to do so e stuff at condo and I was a complainer when they were going to chop that weekend. Feel I have to show up regardless of wx now). Will suck after 4 unreal spring days at Mammoth this week.