RE: Alta's New Quad

[SLCFreshies]

I dunno how to feel about this lift. I think it'll more likely lead to stuff off the high-T getting skiied out even faster than it does now. With this new configuration, Baldy/Ballroom laps will be harder to do prolly. The mid-loading station will get jammed, and you'll either have to wait a while there or go all the way down.

What worries me more than the new lift though is the underlying desire of these changes to make Alta more available to the "masses." A new Watson's? More off-hill amenities? Raising the parking lot so people don't have to climb a few feet? (And if you can't climb that little hill, you really won't be getting the most out of Alta anyways since you prolly won't be hiking.) What's next, more grooming? People that'll carry your skis for you like Deer Valley? A pedestrian mall?

I think the Alta management has been seeing its skier-visits decline over the last decade, and it feels that the way out is to cater to the typical "vacation" skier. And in so doing, it may be on the way to snuffing out what makes Alta so special.

[UTdave]

Originally posted by SLCFreshies
I People that'll carry your skis for you like Deer Valley?

I think you figured it out. They really need some ski carriers on all of those hikes. Kind of like Sherpas for our skis

[Tippster]

Originally posted by SLCFreshies
...I think the Alta management has been seeing its skier-visits decline over the last decade, and it feels that the way out is to cater to the typical "vacation" skier. And in so doing, it may be on the way to snuffing out what makes Alta so special.

I see it as a necessary step to keep the mountain I love OPEN - i.e. not bankrupt. No mountain these days can afford to have its skier days decline too much.

This is what I find strange: (from the Forest Service News Release PDF)

Ski Lifts
...Remove the lower terminal of Wildcat lift, move it uphill approximately 125 feet...

So how does this climb compare, huh? Does this mean no more meeting at the Wildcat Lift for first chair?

[grrrr]

Originally posted by Dexter Rutecki
Leaving MRG as the undisputed home of 'soul' in skiing.

There are plenty of places out there with as much "soul" as MRG. MRG scores with old slow lifts and funky facilities, but loses points for having a web cam.

How about Hurricane Ridge? A poma and two rope tows, $10 tickets, owned by a coooperative, no advertising, no bumper stickers, and plenty of telemarkers with wool pants and rope tow duck tape gloves.

[Dexter Rutecki]

I forgot to include the [not being completely serious/] tags.

[13]

Moving Wildcat 125 ft. further up the hill?

Sounds good to me -- less traffic in a certain area, possibly.

I'm thinking this new lift is gonna be a double-edged sword.

Originally posted by Red Baron He encouraged the resort and the owners of Goldminers Daughter Lodge, which upgraded its facilities last summer, to cooperate on providing improved skier services.

"You want me to carry your skis 125 ft. up to Wildcat? Twenty dolla!"

[Ski Monkey]

Originally posted by SLCFreshies
With this new configuration, Baldy/Ballroom laps will be harder to do prolly. The mid-loading station will get jammed, and you'll either have to wait a while there or go all the way down.

Why will they be harder? It still drops you off at the same location it did before. The only difference is that you need to ski another 20 seconds down the hill to get on if you don't want to wait at the mid station.