We’ve spent some time at UnofficialAlpine.com looking at the trend towards mega-resorts in the snow industry, and our position is clear, it’s not what the industry needs to survive. Our series on keeping the industry alive was published last fall in two parts. Part one looked at the challenges facing the industry, and part two looked at the possible solutions to keeping the industry alive. Unfortunately, the trend towards mega-resorts seems to have no end.
These temple destroyers, devotees of ravaging commercialism, seem to have a perfect contempt for Nature, and, instead of lifting their eyes to the God of the mountains, lift them to the Almighty Dollar. – John Muir, 1912
In honor of John Muir’s birthday, we’re sharing a link to a nice piece by Megan Barber over at Curbed Ski, which explores the rise of the mega-resorts. Do they really fit your definition of what skiing should be? Kudos to Curbed Ski for drawing attention to the survival of skiing and riding that is affordable for families and sensible for our environment.
One thing that’s struck me as kind of odd this past week is all the media and talk about due to the gondola linkage Squaw and Alpine will be combined into a 6000 acre mega resort. They’ve already been combined into that these past few years, with one ticket or pass enabling the skiers and riders to access all of that acreage. Sure, there were a few minutes and miles on the roads necessary to do that, but they have already been combined! That’s not new news.
I agree that for local and Bay Area “real” skiers and riders, a mega resort may not be the way to go. And most of the local ski areas don’t need more visitors on weekends and local school holidays. But week days in between are not that busy and this is where the resorts probably see the opportunity. That want to attract the destination skiers and riders from Europe, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and back east. When we lived back east and we were researching our western ski destination we would look at 2 stats, total skiable acres and average snowfall to narrow down the list of possibilities. After that, a fun village/town was important. A shuttle is not the same as a lift connection. I think this would attract more Euros and other destination skiers, but only if we get the snow . We had some very disappointed visitors from Europe and Australia this past season.
the shuttle is easy and efficient and does not and will not ever reach into the five lakes region – I use the shuttle frequently – not to ski both mountains but to get from our condo at Alpine to access the public transportation system that picks up down the road. they are clean and efficient and do not create any frickin eyesores that a Gondy would – as a matter of fact the Gondy will ruin the vista we now have out our back window – but that is not why I oppose the gondy – it is unnecessary and does not open up new terrain – SV would be better served by upgrading the existing infrastructure before dropping $$ on a pipe dream.
Tens of millions of dollars to construct a new gondola
when capial could be better spent on improving public trans
mega resort like mega anything less oversight
lower quality control = lower quality product delivery
what therefore is the point of spending millions on a new lift
when the financial return will not likely be close to profitability
and only creates more negative sentiment among full time residents
Wirth is a capitalist plain and simple
and always uses psuedo celebs to vouch for his character after making poor decisions
if a person is of good character and personal integrity
they should do not need feined and hollow sounding support in public media, public relations 101
“integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching”
c.s. lewis
what does wirth really do in those corporate meets outside of public scrutiny? jules to the rescue, what does “good guy” mean? that you get a free pass, lunch, locker and early ups
i want me some me too
Edited to tone it down just a bit…
Either pay them off to manipulate better local weather or get more snowmaking- a small resort with good snow is always more fun than a large one without
The issue of the gondola aside I’m not sure what the big deal is with combining two adjacent resorts. This is a trend that has been going on for decades, even at smaller resorts–Homewood used to be 2 separate areas as was Mt Rose. For destination skiers have a wide variety of runs to ski over a 1 week or more vacation is very desirable. Locals know the hidden places on a mountain to keep themselves interested and when conditions get boring they stop showing up; destination skiers are stuck. There is little negative environmental impact from such mergers; maybe even a small benefit if people don’t need to drive between resorts. Where I do see a problem is in expanding into the backcountry–the stagnation of the skier population doesn’t justify it and the backcountry itself is getting more crowded with skiers, riders, and snowmobilers–it doesn’t need to shrink any more.
I’m surprised that JH is listed at 2500 acres; it certainly feels much, much larger than that. Must be something fishy about how different resorts calculate skiable acreage–like they calculate snowfall and depth.
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/opinion/16002364-113/julia-mancuso-opinion-my-friend-andy-wirth-is
Can I get it wrapped, with all the accessories?
So you’re saying that opinion was bought and paid for? 😉
Come on over, Jules, we never see ya at Alpine!!
Metaphor for grandiose plans that will not come to fruition.
What ever happened to thr red dog and granite chief lift upgrades promise by wirthless not so long ago?
Still waitin’……
is a term which describes the behavior of businesses
to continually act with complete disregard toward the greater good of society while operating with a ruthless for profit only mentality.
Think earth day, when corporations jump on the feel good notion of helping to bring environmental awareness to masses for one day yet will continue to operate with disregard to the environment with business as usual attitude while shifting the burden of conservation, recycling and minimal use on the consumer.
Ksl resorts operates golf resorts and ski areas in CA that require intense water consumption and want to build a thousand more condos in the next 20-25 years in our tiny community without thoughtful consideration for the increase of carbon emissions and fossil fuel consumption in light of proven science on the effects of global climate change this causes while the whole time the pr spin is that they are environmental stewards.
That is what is called sociopathic capitalism
Have a fantastic day
You’re government also Chemtrailed and used HAARP on that sacred day-
and just what exactly do any of your myths have to do with the Gondola project ??