Silverton Mtn: guided skiing only for '05/'06

**Ground Control** · 08-05-2005, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by truth

Your estimates on revenue are flawed. It's doubtful that they are booked to the levels you use. Remember that not only would unguiged allow for more day ticket sales, but it would also open up season pass sales as well as increase the revenue from non skiing sources (food, beer, rentals). I have to believe that when unguiged goes green that there will still be many skiers without the required skills or confidence to enter the backcountry style terrain alone. Thus the "gapers" will continue to use the guide service while extremo rockstar TGR surfers like horse will be more apt to venture to Silverton for thier unfettered turns.

I'll admit that my estimates of the number of skiers at Silverton are pretty optimistic, but I don't think it makes any difference. The point is that unguided skiing undercuts their core business, which is people paying a lot of money to ski the BC.

People are only going to pay for that if Silverton maintains its reputation as an area with sick terrain, uncrowded slopes, and fresh snow. Too much unguided skiing will diminish this reputation and will cause a lot of customers to get away with paying 1/3 as much as they otherwise would. Tons of ski areas with a lot better infrastructure go broke trying to sell lift-served skiing to the masses.

IMO Silverton would be wise to focus on the "high-end" experience for rich skiers that don't realize that you can hike in most of the BC for free, and ski any line you choose.

**Mountain Junkie** · 08-05-2005, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Ground Control

The point is that unguided skiing undercuts their core business, which is people paying a lot of money to ski the BC.

People are only going to pay for that if Silverton maintains its reputation as an area with sick terrain, uncrowded slopes, and fresh snow.

Here's the deal. You pay $35 for unguided, and you get to ski one bowl/gully. Pay for a guide, and you get to access everything else. The unguided service is not undercutting their core business. Think of the guided skiing as a sacrifice. Pretty much the entire mountain is going to be guided, just like in years past.

If they offered unguided skiing on the entire mountain for $35, I'll quit my job and move to Silverton for the winter. Ain't going to happen.

**Buster Highmen** · 08-05-2005, 04:29 PM

As usual, there's a lot of invalid ass umptions and bad information.

The bottom line is that the BLM has yet to approve unguided skiing. It won't ahppen until the BLM gives the go ahead. THis is distinct from the EIS.

If approved, unguided skiing will include zone 1 which consists of Tiger, the bowl to viewers right of the lift continuing to viewer left all the way to the Colorado chute, including Split ski, Dolores and tree shots. Evidently, some of you know this area better than I.

**horse** · 08-05-2005, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

If approved, unguided skiing will include zone 1 which consists of Tiger, the bowl to viewers right of the lift continuing to viewer left all the way to the Colorado chute, including Split ski, Dolores and tree shots. Evidently, some of you know this area better than I.

That's what I heard as well, which would be awesome.

I just got fired up when some here were in favor of guided only in the future. So it goes with the interwebster.

**truth** · 08-05-2005, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by horse

I just got fired up when some here were in favor of guided only in the future. So it goes with the interwebster.

Nice try, try re-reading to see what you really said. JONG.

**Plakespear** · 08-05-2005, 07:31 PM

Just wondering, how much would opening the area to unguided skiing result in opening the areas ownership to a huge liability issue? Is the guided skiing only a result of legal/insurance problems?

**horse** · 08-05-2005, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by truth

Nice try, try re-reading to see what you really said. JONG.

Oh, you mean the part where I showed that you're running a couple quarts low?
I got a chuckle when I re-read that too.

**horse** · 08-05-2005, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Plakespear

Just wondering, how much would opening the area to unguided skiing result in opening the areas ownership to a huge liability issue? Is the guided skiing only a result of legal/insurance problems?

Not anymore than Snowbird's, Alta's or Jackson's.

**truth** · 08-05-2005, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by horse

Oh, you mean the part where I showed that you're running a couple quarts low?
I got a chuckle when I re-read that too.

Only thing low here is your intelligence. Don't be so bitter just because you're priced out of Silverton. Perhaps you're next big career move from the frier to the drive thru window will offer more oppoutunity.

**horse** · 08-05-2005, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by truth

Only thing low here is your intelligence. Don't be so bitter just because you're priced out of Silverton. Perhaps you're next big career move from the frier to the drive thru window will offer more oppoutunity.

What's your problem? Just because you have money doesn't mean you have to be a dick.

You're stupid, which unfortunately there's not much you can do about.
But the being a dick part, you can work on. You should start there.

**truth** · 08-05-2005, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by horse

What's your problem? Just because you have money doesn't mean you have to be a dick.

You're stupid, which unfortunately there's not much you can do about.
But the being a dick part, you can work on. You should start there.

The palce to start is back with what you infered from my post. If you need a cliff notes version I think you're out of luck. You're knowledge of my finances however is startling. Tell me, how much money do I have? I'm too dumb to read the statements from my banks and I feel I should really have this vital information. Wait...have you been rumaging through my trash? I know I should shred those but those things are tricky to operate. You should really come by on thursdays, that's lasagna night and us rich folks always toss out the extra.

**horse** · 08-05-2005, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by truth

The palce to start is back with what you infered from my post. If you need a cliff notes version I think you're out of luck. You're knowledge of my finances however is startling. Tell me, how much money do I have? I'm too dumb to read the statements from my banks and I feel I should really have this vital information. Wait...have you been rumaging through my trash? I know I should shred those but those things are tricky to operate. You should really come by on thursdays, that's lasagna night and us rich folks always toss out the extra.

Sorry to hear about your pathetic life. Thanks for sharing.