Oftpiste's beating-a-dead-horse thread....

I heard - don't know if it's true - that xtal may reopen in May after elk calving but that us 07/08 passholders won't be able to use our passes to ski during that period. Without being disrespectful or rude in any way, does anyone else think that's kinda lame? But if you buy your 08/09 pass now you can ski free until next Sunday as well as the May opening?

Also, my ski bud who's a Summit passholder was told he couldn't get the offered discount on his ticket there today because he didn't have his pass with him. The ticket office apparently couldn't be bothered to look him up in the system. Oh yeah, it was his birthday too. Not that that has anything to do with it of course. C'mon guys. Please take care of your customers.

I know, everyone's tired of hearing about it, and I apologize, but it's gotta be said.

The skiing there was really good today.

Permit me to play devil's advocate....

I have a mid-week season pass... and I figure that  I have in fact got my money's worth from it (against paying at the window for each trip).  My pass has printed on the back... when it expires ( I believe that it says April 13).

Crystal can only keep the season open if they receive additional revenue.  I am sure their business plan incorporates only the regular season.  If they keep the season open and mostly pass holders show up... well, that would be throwing quite the appreciation party (of course we feel we deserve that).

I heard only a passing reference on TV about them staying open for weekends only.  If so, then for us weekday pass holders, the argument is moot.

I appreciate the Crystal is a nice place to visit after ski season and that they leave the rest rooms open... very decent.

From:
www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects..._mdp_app_d.pdf

During the elk calving season (May 15-June 30), the base area at Crystal
Mountain will be fenced off to prevent guests from disturbing and impacting elk calving. 

When elk presence is noted in the SUP area, spring skiers will be required to ride the chairlifts (Alternatives 1 and 4)
and/or tram down to the base area; no spring skiing (May 15-June 30) will be allowed outside
of the Green Valley/Snorting Elk area in order to prevent impacts to elk calving. 

..... now let me take off my Crystal hat....

Wow! what a season!  and it is still going ... so keep it going.  And show appreciation to your pass holders!

Maybe the elk will also delay their schedule of calve in lower meadows...

If the FS particularly cared about the elk, perhaps FS would do something more effective about sno mos marauding after the area is closed. I have seen this on two separate occasions when spring touring in Silver Basin. Makes a stink and a hell of a noise (and would sure annoy me if I were in the process of attempting to drop a 100lb+ offspring in a nearby meadow). And of course for skiing purposes, messes up the snow as well as underlying vegetation pretty bad. I have half a suspicion that on one such occasion these were xtal employees joyriding the company machines that were lined up near the base area, which BTW was NOT fenced off at the time.

I have been a fairly vocal critic of Xstal at times this season but to be fair to Xstal, I agree with Larry. Sorry Oftpiste, please forgive me. :-[

When I bought my season pass it was clear it was for a specific time period. That contract I agreed and paid for, ends April 13th.

If they open in May, they have to pay for the lifts, avy control, insurances and the stark reality is that many of the people dedicated enough to ski regularly in May will be season pass holders so if they didn't start the clock running there would be little income. It is a business and we are quick to criticise them( I am a culprit) when we find their service sub-standard but at times we want them to operate like a non-profit for our benefit.

If you buy a new season pass, and they open in May then your per cost skiing for the 08/09 season will be less than a normal year.

If they open , I will buy a new season pass early.
Our skiing now depends on the birthing ungulates. :'(

edited to add: Of course, in a bad year when they close early, they should refund season pass holders, fair's fair!

In case you are confused about how Crystal customer relations feels about your concerns:

Would anyone like some swiss cheese?  Stop whining and take a step back to reflect on all the things you enjoy in life, and how lucky we are to have such a great mountain like Crystal in our backyard.  ...  Now stop complaining and go ski! 

Maybe you could look at it like we are coming into the 08.5 season and not the 07/08 season that you bargained for.  That feels better doesn't it?  Besides, I am sure that if the season had ended before April 13th, Crystal would have felt compelled to compensate passholders for fewer days than anticipated.  It all works out in the end, right?

Or, if your lucky, perhaps management will recognize elk calving season as an interruption to potential profits and will put it on ice hold.

Scotsman, you need not ask forgiveness for it is not mine to give! I was unaware that there was a designated time frame for the season's pass. If so, then it is I who must ask forgiveness. Is that published somewhere?

I guess my feeling is that a season pass should be for a season. Am I wrong to suggest that season begins when the snow flies and ends when the lifts stop spinning for good? The 08/09 season will begin when the coverage is good enough and last until the lifts close for good and I will, through clenched teeth buy another nearly $3000 worth of seasons passes for my family for said season.


Snowbell, they've indeed made it clear the high regard in which they hold us.

LBNL, I have my doubts that there've been any serious revenue shortfalls there considering how this season turned out. I suspect Boyne is doing just fine. So again I suggest to them, take care of your customers!