This is a story about coffee, set in the fictional town of Coffeeville. You can imagine that drinking coffee was pretty important to the local residents. The coffee was so great, people came from all over to enjoy their favorite beverage. There were a number of different places in town to enjoy coffee, and everyone seemed to have their favorite place. Life was good.
The most well known place in town was Squawbucks, which had a reputation for providing a higher level of service and a posh environment. Of course, prices were quite a bit higher than some of the other places in town, but the menu was outstanding, offering a huge selection of beverages. Squawbucks also had smartly added many extras to it’s menu, sometimes selling more sandwiches and baked goods than coffee. Although prices were higher and lines were often longer than other places, people kept coming back. There was something special about telling people you were a Squawbucks customer.
Around the corner was a smaller local coffee place, known as Al’s Coffee. Al had established his shop a few years after Squawbucks, hoping to provide something different. While the menu wasn’t as large as Squawbucks, Al used the highest quality beans and kept prices low. Al took pride in opening his coffee shop earlier than the other shops in town, and always tried to be the last shop open to cater to the local die-hard caffeine aficionados. The service was always friendly and efficient at Al’s. Lines were short, and although the furniture was not the newest, there was always an open table.
For many years, the two shops lived together in harmony. Although each shop served coffee, they realized that maybe they were not serving the same customers. Squawbucks and Al’s always remained competitive, which was good for everybody. The cost of beverages remained a bit lower as neither shop wanted to lose customers. There was plenty of incentive to stay open. If Squawbucks decided to open at 6:00 am, Al would immediately call his employees to open the store at 5:30 am.
Then one year, everything changed. Squawbucks developed a huge expansion plan. With a vision of creating a huge coffee emporium, spanning an entire city block, Squawbucks purchased Al’s Coffee. Plans were soon announced, calling for a complicated system of escalators and elevators to connect the two stores. The president of Squawbucks and Al himself stood together in front of an espresso machine and promised that each store would maintain their own identity.
But none of that happened. The system of elevators and escalators was never built. Still, things did change. The pricing at Al’s was immediately changed to match Squawbucks. The hours for both stores were shortened, opening at 8:00 and closing at 4:00, which didn’t work for the coffee addicted population of Coffeeville. On some days, Squawbucks didn’t even sell coffee, finding it easier to just put people on a short little shuttle bus over to Al’s.
This wasn’t really popular with the people that used to enjoy Al’s shorter lines. It also became much more difficult to find an open table. Sometimes Al’s opened late, and customers were just told to go to Squawbucks, and the lines there just grew longer and longer, and while the coffee was still good, it was not the Al’s experience that people enjoyed.
The employees at Al’s were not all happy with the transition. Some left to work for other coffee shops, while others were told to leave, and were replaced by Squawbucks people. As time went on, Al’s became more and more like Squawbucks. Some of Al’s customers just accepted the change, as they lived right in the neighborhood and had little choice. Quite a few others started driving across town to some of the other small coffee shops, where lines were short and the owners truly cared about the quality of the coffee.
Squawbucks never even noticed that Al’s customers had left. They found new customers that just wanted to put a Squawbucks sticker on their car. One day, people noticed that everyone at Al’s was wearing Squawbucks uniforms and people knew the end was near for Al’s Coffee. It was only a matter of time before it was just another Squawbucks. They still served coffee, but it sure wasn’t Al’s.
It sure make one want to go out and simply grow, pick, roast, grind, and brew their own coffee. And then put it in a reusable thermo-mug.
Then there was this other place that opened nearby that sold coffee with extra Sugar in it. Squawbucks started to take an interest in their sugary formula. To be continued…
🙂
You’re one sad, sad man, huh? Similar to you missing the old days, I’m missing the old days of this site when it had more substance than bitching about businesses trying to keep the lights on. Hopefully your maturity level will ride before you see your site fully collapse.
Also those constant jabs to the marketing–ever wonder if they are people, too? That probably make way less than you ever did prior to blogging all day instead of skiing? To be clear, I’m in no way affiliated, but maybe just think on it.
Your constant whining has become trite and meaningless. If life is so terrible here in monopoly land of imaginary coffee shops, you can always take matters into your own hands and make changes to your decisions; both of where you ski, and how you look at your skiing.
Most likely this will be removed because it doesn’t mirror your opinions, but I challenge you to leave it up and see if anyone else agrees that we would like to hear about skiing again. If all is lost, so be it. There is plenty more noise to occupy my time on the internet, just like there are plenty more ski resorts if we are all so fed up with Instagram posts being from different lifts.
Yes I normally delete personal attacks but so you can feel better about your self I am leaving this one. Site about to collapse? Growth has been over 300% just this season. I don’t see it slowing down yet. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
And I am a very happy guy. Ask my friends 🙂
Sweet!
UA’s the best source for news, and more views that nearly a year’s views on a thread of very well know forum.
That’s a lot of customers every month when you think a globl chain sells over 300,000 coffee passes a whole year.
I bet Sqal reads the local paper too
and when customers think, rightly or wrongly, there’s bait n switch, the customer won’t come in.
300% increase (ie 400%) or even 300% is a lot of passholders chiming in for information, views, opinions. Everyone will believe the mountain could use a tweak here and there, but in the main, UA has the pulse of lots of passholders.
Are the demographics radical enviro tree huggers, kids, ski bums on $1.50 a day, or older people, inter-staters, etc etc.
Our demographic seems to include families that have been coming to the mountain forever; a lot of ski team families; seems to include mostly locals and bay area people, yet we have sent stickers to about 15 different states. To be honest, one of our biggest sets of readers are employees of Alpine Meadows…
Interesting because, like your broad appeal, the people at the IOV meetings ranged from kids to old timers,all after real information, vision, ideas and direction.
UA is the voice of Squalpine as your figures and demographic spread show.
I’m glad I knew things from ‘over the ridge’ like when a manager told me about the Plan – but I knew it was changed. How’s that: long time resident managers weren’t aware the whole plan was reduced!
Iirc there were 80,000 glossy brochures sent to 80,000 people who decide where they’ll stay, ski, and buy condos. I bet your hits show you get to a lot of them. Don’t tell me they weren’t aware of Unofficialalpine’s relevance to their core customers until recently.
Can’t be: vail resorts has 300,000+ globally. UA must have views from a really high % of SV’s main core skiers, like Team families.
Btw, Team thought closing date might be April 19. Was there any word on that “conditions permitting of course”?
PS: as a small community, I like the Headlines and Pseudonymns that people use.
Regarding “Our demographic seems to include families that have been coming to the mountain forever; a lot of ski team families; seems to include mostly locals and bay area people, yet we have sent stickers to about 15 different states. To be honest, one of our biggest sets of readers are employees of Alpine Meadows…”.
15 States and a 300% growth, is a huge spread, bigger n Texas even.
– JR.
Fans in 15 States ‘share’ and the word gets around.
With you Mark.
Great story Unofficial. and the people I know love your site and ALL the widely different points of view you leave up!
I love my coffee too as I read the latest woes in the banking, finance and private equity market. It’s brutal out there! (Did you know that 11% of some power bills are Roi on infrastructure, but I digress)
One day I was skipping down the Forest to meet up with busloads of people for the local Fairys-in-the-Garden poitical convention when I came across the Big Bad Wolf and his builders, 3 little piggies,
Ho ho ho, they said as they were building away. Whoa, I said, – just look at those design problems, you’re nutz. . Anyway they didn’t listen. The local candidates were away with the pixies and they didn’t know about easements and a great big cave and a freaking massive pipe!
They had no idea how flawed it was. It was so badly thought through, I think they were in cahoots with people while other cahooters had other ideas as other cahooters cahooted with the cahooters. Sheese the local cop, Noddy and Big Ears, couldn’t find why where the water was going.
Anyway the 3 Bears started sniffing and the piggies adecided to not build with Straw. All they need is to hire Al back, and realise that they lost a couple years and lots of money because they didn’t put their listening ears on and have a cup of coffee with their customers 🙂
Haven’t been around here long have you ? In fact judging from your misplaced comments, you are likely not welcome in very many places. If you don’t understand the deep issues, don’t comment.
Thank you Mark for the story. It fits.
Mark’s more in tune than Jaded
Squaw hasn’t simply released, in recent memory, definite start dates for Hotwheels’ upgrade.
The interconnect ‘deal’ wasn’t exactly announcd as 100% sure fire definite:- lots of escape clause words.
There’s no certain closing date for holiday makers to work with.
Didn’t they make out that 5000 people over May to December 2013 liked the first two ‘Wrong Plans’?
What prompted them to change their mind as passholders defevted but UA’s hit rate rose 300%.
UA has more intuneitionthan Jaded gives him credit for.
The Unofficial Survey really identified the real issues and beliefs spread across many different groups, and that’s because he has coffee with customers, like Jim Kercher and those execs who listen.
Keep listening in Mark. UA rocks!.
I’m glad UA chose to “do” both Fbook and the blog to get information out. Thanks UA.
As Squaw’s own facebook feed shows, lots of its fan didn’t realise the deal was something very different to what they thought it was about.
Mr ‘More Jaded Than You’ might not agree with your solution, but I’m yet to see anyone come up with any solutions. Or is “the same as before” widely accepted as A-ok by the majority? We’ll see when your results are released.
Of course UA are in tune, Mr Jaded More than You.
Example:
At least 6 months ago Sierra Watch couldn’t link documents when the reporters snooped into the 8 mile pipe story and SW posted they were looking into it too. other long time squaw skiers couldn’t find documents or confirm sources. UA though was right on the money ages before, in Feb 2014, the water board explained what’ they’re planning. The water board also says they aren’t sure how to fund it, but UA mentioned grants with more certainty than the water board does. UA’s so in tune they must be Channelling Alex’s ghost.
Here is Sierra Watch’s summary on Feb 14 of the article on Feb 13.
February 14, 2014:
Martis Water and Squaw Development?
Thursday’s Sierra Sun includes an update on the effort sink an eight-mile straw under
Martis Valley to provide more water for Squaw Valley.
As the issue develops, Sierra Watch is looking closely at three key issues:
1. Martis water is important to Martis Valley already − as a source of drinking water and in its
natural relationship with the Martis Valley watershed.
2. Pumping water out of one watershed to service another is rarely a good idea; it comes at great costs
− the costs of expensive infrastructure and the costs to a region’s natural resources. We need look no
further than Owens Valley in the Southern Sierra − drained dry when its water was pumped to service
L.A. sprawl.
3. By importing water into Squaw Valley, you could lift a natural constraint on urban development;
new water capacity could end up subsidizing development projects that are don’t fit the size and scale of Squaw.
You can read the article here – http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/northshore/10170638-113/valley-squaw-
source-district or below:
If you have any questions feel free to call me
Tom”
I’d say UA is psychically in tune with the soul of Squaw. Or my name’s not Alex Cushing’s Ghost 🙂
I read that article and thought why are TDPUD ‘monitoring’ the 8 mile straw as if it was out of left field? Why didn’t they deal with regional water people ages ago and say “heck yeah sign thisdeed- , Squaw can have x,000 emergency gals a day for genuine emergencies, not washing Escalades or watering lawns – before SW scream from rooftops.
Btw Can’t wait to see the survey results: the issues are THE issues whether people agree on some or none or all of them. You did an amazing job
What’s long time skiing and living in the valley got to do with knowing about board amalgamation deals, bus costings, secret water, planning, drains, roads and grants? Is that what long term lappers debate on the chair and in bars? Jeez at a public meeting all they said was “Ask Mike”. Did Montgomery from ‘over the ridge’ and long term museum pickleballers use their local knowledge only to end up at High Camp after spending big bucks on an expert? Seriously, log term nappers or lappers didn’t see what was going on.
Rip van Winkle
Reading this snippet of an article published on 2/14/2014 in the Tribune, how many years of “public consultations” didN’T wake up Truckee and Martis and Squaw and all the others?
“After examining potential water sources such as Pole Creek, Deep Creek and Cabin Creek — all ruled out due to either poor quality or environmental constraints — a 2009 study concluded Martis Valley as the best option.
“Although we’d have an uphill battle with communicating that because of the perception it would have of Squaw stealing Truckee’s water, we knew that the science was behind us,” Geary said.
SVPSD is currently reviewing options it’s already explored and any potentially overlooked alternatives before proceeding with project details, which is expected to be completed in December, Geary said.
The Martis Valley option cost has been estimated at $30 million, he said.”
gosh, all these long time squaw skiers and residents look like they either didn’t know, their silence acquiesced it, or they were looking at a distracting model while another game was in play.
UA woke the reporters up too.
SnowWhite
Water $30m,? Does that include part of the Power line’s$47m. What’s the gas line cost and cable? Then add the extras that always blow budgets out. Can we see these estimates as well as the readings at wells over the latter half of 2013? I like to see things add up.
I saw the article says ” a 2009 study concluded Martis Valley as the best option. “Although we’d have an uphill battle with communicating that because of the perception it would have of Squaw stealing Truckee’s water, we knew that the science was behind us,” Geary said”
Excuse me but “we’d have an uphill battle with communicating that” sounds like this was a big secret.
Why, too, would Truckee think it was theft IF they found out. Did Truckee know: the local ex politician said things I won’t repeat.
The “ASk mike” anser wasn’t an answer.
Telling us about Oranges when asked about lemons makes me smell rotten apples
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml#
Huh? We’re told in the media that the water guru wasn’t sure how to fund a 8 mile pipe.
We’re told no new taxes, but this law talks about tax paying off bonds.
But AB471 is hot off the Press to amend section 52395.4 of the California Government Code.
Do the changes allow repayment of infrastructure finance with property taxes? Can a city or county, – but not a town – increase property taxes for these projects. What does it all mean?
More importantly, this was coming for at least a year, if not way back with policy makers. If this affects the valley, who saw it coming and did anyone keep it hush hush.
who’s that local official guy who turns up all the time at iov meetings.
I’d like to see some fresh invigorating ideas because there’s the Devil we know and the one we don’t.
Incidentally if TOT is down, will that lower the ‘alimony’ payoff to the County?
That’s not fair, jaded.
1. Next day after posts, SVAM got onto things. Is it our fault they don’t have a Jim Kercher shooting the breeze, pouring beers and stopping problems in their tracks;
2. Around 40% of all revenue is early bird pass sales: they pass the weather risk to the passholders. I think we deserve max lift operations – whatever it is after factoring in avi risks or cover – if only to stop defections to other regions.
3. business is struggling to keep the lights on? VR sold $120m of real estate at NLT and have decent snowmaking to keep the passholders happy, SVAM lost 2 years and a third of its buildings because they believed 5000 visitors thought Plans !&2 were great. Good lord VR take some on investor trips to Europe. The China one was great – and they’re bringing Asians to NLT to fill midweek beds and struggling restaurants. What’s SV got? Orange Chicken , signs in english and some Spanish speakers.
4. bloggers helped – free – older business owners get savvy with the net. What you done to help the lights stay on?
5. Marketers are underpaid? Pay them more, don’t un-roster them, reward smart ideas, and run things past savvy legal departments. .
6. accept less than the best (even in a low tide season)? Many lowered their expectations to accept what falls from the sky, but in tune management really would help, wouldn’t it.
Yeah. You’re wrong. This blog has become a must-read for me in the last year or so.
Keep up the good work, Mark.
Wot he said Mark!
The rise in readership says it all, but do we loyal readers get 3 cups of Al’s coffee with every silver spoon subscription 🙂
If it wasn’t for UA I wouldn’t know about Sierra Watch’s brand new clear explanation about the nop process or what to write to the nop county people. Thanks UA. You’re a ‘must read blog’.
UA is a must read.
I can barely find anything on any other blog or website that shines a candle to UA.
Doesn’t look like there are many folks that agree with you-I haven’t noticed one!
“More Jaded than You” might find that the media reps in the region are in tune with what their readers believe is needed in the area”.
– Mayumi Elegado, and a panel of other media members talk about the Changing Landscape of Media at Good Morning Truckee, March 11, 7 a.m., Truckee Tahoe Airport, $12/general public, $10/Truckee Donner Chamber members.
http://www.truckeechamber.com/truckee-insights-news-events/calendar/event/?a=75
Lol. UA publishes views by KL Fan Club so how dare you claim that different points of view aren’t published.
Communication has changed everything, as these speakers will say. http://www.truckeechamber.com/truckee-insights-news-events/calendar/event/?a=75
Jaded, you may not agree with Op-Eds but at least people are waking up to issues and questions like never before.
In the good old days, vested interests could work on agendas and keep secrets or fob off questions at public meetings with no one else finding out. “We consulted”, they’d say. Today, Letters can circulate uncandid answers pretty quickly. Letters like Gaffney’s can inspire people. Leaders are also held to account if they are caught napping. The world is smaller and people can chose to get involved if they feel strongly about something. Don’t shoot the messenger. Instead present facts and argument.
Btw, UA has a huge number of diverse opposed views including KSL Fan Club’s, pro-incorporation, in favour of leaving things with Placer, you name it. At least people are thinking, not napping. As Gaffney’s gutsie letter said, at least you won’t be able to wake up one day and say “Hey What happened?”
Where can I get a #FreeAlsCoffee sticker ??
lol!
I heard the boss sneaks into another place for cookies with his coffee.
Where does one get a nice cup of tea?
The Village I hear serves Twinings Earl Grey, and a nice scone with jam might be delightful m’dear
Elizabeth
I’m waiting for the Epiccoffee price list on the 10th – more stores with reliable ok coffee in the hotel lobby. It’s not Al’s but I drink Nescafe anyway. 43 beans in every cup
Then I opened my Sqal’s email and thought ‘yippee’, that’s a deal too good to pass up.
Luckily undercover reporters uncovered they watered down the 43 beans to 3. Nothing personal but where are the missing 40 beans! 🙁
Wow, you also scooped Squaw Valley Times who posted this up only a few hours ago …. but do they sell good coffee ? 🙁
Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows have partnered with Sugar Bowl to give their passholders skiing privileges at Sugar Bowl and Royal Gorge Cross Country for the 2014-15 season. The partnership represents a new era as independent resorts continue to partner to offer incredible value for their season passholders.
The new partnership with Sugar Bowl gives Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows season passholders access to four resorts in the Lake Tahoe area: Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and now Sugar Bowl. Combined, this means skiers and riders can experience 9,650 acres, 69 lifts and 419 runs across 13 legendary Sierra Nevada mountain peaks.
Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows Gold passholders will receive four free days at Sugar Bowl and/or Royal Gorge. Silver passholders will receive two free days. All tickets will be redeemable any day of the 2014-15 winter season except for Saturdays and during holiday periods. If tickets are used for Royal Gorge, North America’s largest cross country ski resort, cross country ski rental equipment will be included free of charge.
Sugar Bowl Resort offers 1,650 acres of exceptional skiing and riding across four mountain peaks, and averages the most annual snowfall in Tahoe at 500 inches per season. In addition to their superb beginner and intermediate terrain, Sugar Bowl offers coveted big mountain terrain and gate-accessed backcountry skiing.
“We are constantly striving to provide more value to our loyal season passholders,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. “Two years ago, we added value through our partnership with Sierra-at-Tahoe and the Mountain Collective – and we’re continuing that mission now by adding access to Sugar Bowl’s incredible terrain.”
“The spirit of Sugar Bowl is very much aligned with the soul of our mountains,
continued Wirth. “We think the partnership is a terrific fit, and we know our passholders will really enjoy Sugar Bowl and Royal Gorge.”
With the new addition of Sugar Bowl, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows passholders now have access to a total of twelve resorts in North America. The Tahoe Super Pass will continue to offer access to Sierra-at-Tahoe, as well as to Alta, Snowbird, Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Mammoth and Whistler Blackcomb through the resort’s Mountain Collective partnership.”
I will always drink “Al’s coffee”. Too many sweet secret spots for even squawbucks to foul up. Thanks Mark, UA keeps the soul of Al’s coffee alive! See you there :0)
http://unofficialalpine.com/?p=3322#comment-13741
How can this water thing be hush hush since 2009 AND be $30,000,000 and 8 miles looooong????
How many people were snoozing when $30,000.000 was floated around committee meetings and Al’s Coffee Shop?.
Whether you think this project great or not, you have to ask who didn’t notice $30,000,000 on the table, and if they didn’t see it, why not?
Spot on, in so many aspects.
Hey Valleygirl, as you know, if you want tea, AlsCoffee has always served a variety of teas and beverages on their boundary, and you are welcomed to take a great steeped brew for a wander outside the shop. AlsCoffee has never tried to force their beverage plans on anyone (for long), it ultimately realizes people just love the location, and they let them do their own thing. No phony artsy photos of tailgating needed in grand plans, it is real and part of the accepted/loved culture at Al’s.
Mark, my favorite word in you op-ed piece is,”realized.” Everyone please go read it again, as at one point in recent history the healthy, very HEALTHY, differences were celebrated and utilized for the betterment of each place. When the decision makers go back to realizing and encouraging the differences, the souls of both shops will return.
Spot on, Mark. We all know haters gonna gate, easy to hide behind a keyboard.
This ends the public service announcement, we now (should) go back to your regularly scheduled snarky comments from Ullr and his pathetic excuses for three “winters” in a row.
Realised? Is that like Real Estate but without the vision?
…’Realized’ as in realised big buildings are heat wells that turn marginal snow to rain
Thanks for the reminder Alpine Dreamer, steeped brews are my favorite! Just make that cup Black!
Quite simply, they naively accept a process. Next meeting is on April Fools Day. 🙂
What happened to the SV-branded glasses coz I really need glasses.
I can’t see the fine print in the new 4-resort season pass.
I can’s see about a third of the buildings anymore.
Has anyone seen them? I think I left them on the Escalade by the jaccuzzi in the carpark 🙂
….and did anyone see my pipe? You can’t miss it.
without glasses I can’t find my Escalade, my Jaccuzzi or my road map. Wtf. They were right on top of Well 1 last time I looked.
I better drop over to KSL and borrow there map or I’ll never find Squaw Colorado – right next to your Aspen Meadows -, isn’t it?
I’d like to tick ‘friendly staff’ in your survey but “max lifts and $’ are too tempting to tick. Should I put $ ahead of people ..and if I do, how do i then point fingers at KSL??? What a moral dilemma!
Looking back, Squawbucks should take a look at KSL. KSL was very determined to not scale back a thing, but somehow they changed their mind. As UA reported 10/02/13:
“• California Strategies, a Sacramento based lobbyist firm was penalized $40,000 by the Fair Political Practices Commission for violating rules regarding “covert lobbying” in connection with KSL’s development proposal at Squaw Valley.
• Chevis Hosea, vice president of Squaw Valley Real Estate LLC, made the statement :
““The project is not being downsized. Everyone is asking us to cut the project in half, and we are not going to accommodate that.”
There’s a phrase that goes against all of the PR-speak coming out of KSL that claims they are working with the community and will be sensitive to things like historical and environmental concerns. No, KSL did not make any new friends with that brash statement.”
Next the “Right Plan” stunned lots of people. some reductions scaled from 7 to only 2 storeys.
What a backflip over October to December! Someone deserves a medal, and you deserve a ski run named after. Whatcha think
http://www.snow.com/epic-pass/passes.aspx
Tahoe Value Pass adds 50% unlimited tickets at Canyons!
Access to Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood with limited restrictions. All Saturdays restricted at Northstar and Kirkwood.
$52 pass holder tickets available for purchase during blackout dates at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood.
Unlimited half-priced tickets available for purchase at Canyons in Park City, Utah.
Read the fine print for yourself if you can find any.
Do you think Squabucks released the SquawBowl hype because they knew that Vailjeans was about to release the epicdeal?
Aside from the usual blkouts, $409 is amazing for Heavenly 7 days a week, NS & Kwood 6 days, + 50% off at Canyons. Or add a bit and get the whole Evil Empire.
What do you think about a non Saturday Sgarbowl pass will be: $250-$300?
I bet SVAM increases its prices $30 and I bet the locals renew at SVAM anyway.
The more gapers and tourists at Nstar the better!
Thanks Vail Resorts!
Hey, the Kirkwood marketing missed the Canyons deal that comes with the Tahoe Value pass.
Btw the Pak City case shows the importance of mistaking local ‘knowledge’ for historical legal facts. Over in UT the resort thought the lease was renewed. http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_25088248/pcmr-tries-dismiss-talisker-claims?IADID=Search-www.parkrecord.com-www.parkrecord.com
Actually the epicpass.com site says the 50% off is on an unlimited number of day passes at Canyons and the (I think) Vail Resort’s CO resorts. Check it out: no blackouts either iirc on the half price tickets to, I suppose, help last minute holidayers go to snowy places over Xmas. They’re wicked clever.
Konichiwa,
Epic offer $49 deposit deal. Squaw survey asks if you’d like pay part now, rest later.
Epic adds more of the world faster than Putin can. Squaw asks ‘would you like an international flavor’
Epic adds 50% at snowier canyons for Tahoe Value $409 adult pass, Squaw adds few free tickets to Sugarbowl.
Squaw needs its locals imo.
Mountain Collective was a lifesaver for many this season …but visitations to Tahoe were down weren’t they.
“Unlimited half Price tickets to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Canyons.” is what I see on the epic tahoe local and tahoe value passes. It’s their own little mtn collective isn’t it.
You published the release date and Kapow it’s true again. Well done!
Do you think Canyons will add upper Park City Resort’s slopes – Vail Resorts is running the Landlord’s case agaunst Park City’s execs who are saying they were led down the garden path into lots of mistakes,
http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_25202379/vail-taliskers-canyons-deal-scrutinized
Potentially PCMR might be added to the Epicpasses as Vail did when Heavenly added Nstar and then Kirkwood. Will we get 50% day tickets?
Tough call. PCMR didn’t see a lot of things and now ssay that the Landlord watched them erect Lifts before pouncing on legal technicalities. Later PCMR noticed dates on deals and thought they were basically tricked into not renewing. Upshot is: PCMR might lose the upper mtn so Canyons gets much bigger.
Hey Al,
My boss at Death Star Coffee wants to know many beancounters you roast per cup.
And how come your cofee doesn’t have as much frothy hot air like Squawbucks?
-Luke Vader.
I heard Squbucks special was ice coffee but they weren’t a hit with customers 🙂
Think what happens if Vail wins and the Interconnect in UT goes ahead. Surely the BIGGEST and Greatest snow on earth demolishes SVAM’s marketing plan to be the biggest in Nth America. Where will the destination tourists chose to go? Did Squaw see this coming? Will its loyalest core skiers ever defect even if they raise pass prices to $1k.
mazing read, UA. SQAM must be crunching numbers: how many of yiour people were defecting to Sugarbowl and Epics to get Japan, half of europe, Co and a chunck of Utah though?
http://unofficialalpine.com/?p=3322#comment-13791
Why would anyone expose a town to big legal bills when the wannabes keep saying ‘nah, that can’t be right’. Then their jaw drops time and time again. If they can do better, let’s hear what’s their wish list and how they’ll bring about their vision for Sqalpine.
I think I can see why KSL, a private equity company, asked about the economy in their survey.
Vail Resorts will soon release their figures. Last time they said the visits to tahoe – over some peak periods for holidays – were down 24%. Ouch. Will there more pain, and how will families of ‘de-rostered local employees afford passes. I’m sort of wondering if an emplyee family pass plan might work and if your ‘one resort at a unbeatable price’ migh be a really great idea even if it’s limited to people in a few zip codes.
Why don’t we ever heard wht a town could write up as permits on all these little things. http://www.parkrecord.com/popular/ci_25298774?source=most_viewed Oh yeah, the town isn’t created yet: do they expect voters to ‘trust us, we know what whaat we’re doing’ party.
Sheese, the coffee game can be ruthless.
Moonshine and FOSV again remind us we can comment to NOP. But what do we say?
“Hi, I’m a long time Squaw skier and they’re using Alpine Meadows. They need to surround AM with razor to keep those kids off my snow!
Written comments on the Revised NOP are due by March 24. Send all comments to:
Placer County, Planning Services Division
3091 County Center Drive Suite 190
Auburn , CA 95603
Attention: Maywan Krach, Community Development Remember that all comments submitted in response to the original NOP will apply to the revised one as well.
http://mountaincollective.com/
Each 2014-15 passholder will receive:
12 days total at The Collective destinations:
2 days at AltaSnowbird
2 days at Aspen/Snowmass
2 days at Jackson Hole
2 days at Mammoth
2 days at Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows
2 days at Whistler Blackcomb
Plus 50% off all additional days at The Collective destinations
No blackout dates
Up to 25% off lodging at The Collective destinations
Receive 1 more day at one of the Collective destinations when you purchase today. 🙂
Also 2 days to ski in Chile and Australia
2 days at Thredbo in Australia
2 days at Valle Nevado in Chile
Mtn High has (or had) a pass that sells Hours. Would that help?
How about half day tickets that are half price?
Or a pass that gives a refund if the average number of lifts is less than the max?
Can a town limit the number of cars a day? Or was the pro carpark people filling up lifts they don’t want to pay for?
Can they charge for bus seats to discourage people.
Or make Squaw so freaking great with zipslides and a beer fountains on every lift tower, people ski there instead? [Patent Pending]
There’s gotta be ways and means to spread the crowd out on weekends.
I’m taking the patent out on this thing I call the “Go Button”. One push and all the lifts start turning. Well I thought it was a great idea but the lift company didn’t want it. Back to the drawing board , eh?
I invented the Off Button. I’ve sold heaps to the lift company. My buttons are soooo amazing, some lifts haven’t been ‘ON” for years. Squaw should buy a few more, y’reckon 🙂
I wired my buttons through the cash register, and guess what???!!!!
I turn on more lifts and the cash register lights up like a casino! Clever eh?
Finally some answers bout what we dumies can raise with the County. if we so chose.
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/northshore/10554329-113/squaw-county-eir-environmental
It’s good to see Sierra Watch’s explanation. It really helps. Thanks Sierra Watch!
Hey the full Epicpass no longer covers any Euro resorts. Didn’t it give free days at dozens of Euro resorts, so what happened? .
Hey I had to chime in and say wow, 82 comments – Al must have great beans!
What’s the other guy using? Pungent slowly roasted beancounters? ::)
Squawbucks has great coffee. We source our bean counters through Craigslist – 3 beans to every cup – before slowly roasting and flaming them, piping hot. Yum yum.
Mr Magoo couldn’t miss a Infrastructure Finace District, could he??????
Sounds bigger than 8 freaking miles of pipes no one saw neither.
The local ex truckee politicians and committee people must know these things, same with bureaucrats, surely, or are they needing spectacles. Spill the beans!
The ex politician spilled her beans everywhere over at Squawbucks. Sierra’ watchers will have to clean it up.