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You know how much I love New Hampshire, as it ranks #1 on Your Survival Guy’s Super States list. But if you’re a skier at Attitash and Wildcat, you’re not happy about their acquisition by Vail. When Vail recently purchased the mountains the word on the slopes and chairlift were positive, that this would be an infusion of much-needed cash. One example being the possible replacement of the old triple chair to the summit of Attitash. That hasn’t happened, and apparently not much else has either. You can put Your Survival Guy down as someone looking for more investment from Vail in New Hampshire and not just a marketing move to get us to visit Colorado.
The Conway Daily Sun reports:
According to complaints seen on social media and heard in calls to the press, it’s been a rough start to the season for Vail Resorts, Inc., the Colorado-based ski area giant, which purchased Attitash Mountain Resort in Bartlett and Wildcat Mountain in Gorham as well as Crotched Mountain in southern New Hampshire from Peak Resorts in 2019 as part of a purchase of Peak’s 17 ski areas for $264 million.
Vail officials responded this week to allegations brought forth by some longtime skiers of both Attitash and Wildcat about inadequate snowmaking, lift problems, labor shortage issues and a lack of open skiable terrain so far this low-snowfall season (see related story).
“I’ve been skiing Wildcat since 1966. We want to see Attitash and Wildcat successful. But it’s come to a point where something needs to be said,” said Tony Simone, 76, a retired local educator who lives in Bartlett with his wife, Jenny. “These two mountains are mainstays to the valley — it’s why people come here.”
Along with other local longtime skiers Ed Poliquin, 76, of North Conway, former co-owner of Glen Builders of Bartlett, and retired executive Bill Ballou, 70, of Glen, Simone was interviewed by the Sun this week.
They cited little terrain at both mountains, lift problems with Attitash’s summit triple chair and that Wildcat’s Wildcat Express Summit Quad was not open some days during the busy vacation week.
“I know they had problems with the upper pump at Wildcat, and they only had one trail (off the summit) open for weeks. I don’t know how long they can go like this.” said Simone.
“It’s January now, and the next big weekend is Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend. If they don’t get (more of those summit) trails open, why would you go?” he asked.
He said as a longtime Wildcat skier, he and others are concerned.
“When Vail took over, we were all very euphoric as we thought and hoped they would come in and upgrade everything. Well, I have skied at Vail out west and this is like Attitash and Wildcat are the ‘poor sisters,’ Simone continued.
“There is no long-range game plan, unlike Loon and Sunday River and Cannon. Cranmore is doing a wonderful job. Bretton Woods and Cranmore during Christmas Week had more terrain open, and they’ve faced the same warm temperature and lack of natural snowfall problems. Pass holders are not happy,” he said.
“We want to see them successful — the only reason I am calling the paper is that it’s time for a wake-up call. They’re mismanaging the mountains,” said Simone.
Action Line: If you want to relax on the slopes, you need to know that everything is just right back home. The financial and personal security of your family needs to be strong. It takes action by you to prepare them. You need to be serious. You need to break through inertia and take the necessary steps, or the only thing you’ll be thinking about while you’re skiing (or fishing, or hunting, or sailing, or whatever) is everything that’s wrong back home. If you need help breaking inertia and taking control of your family’s security, click here to sign up for my free monthly Survive & Thrive newsletter. I’ll work hard to help you break through inertia and take control of your life so you can enjoy your time. But only if you’re serious.
Check out current conditions at Attitash with the live feed below.
E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy
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