Camelback!!! PA Skiing in May

[Ski2LiveLive2Ski]

Skied Sat, and it was pretty good. very fast laps with a kinda short trail, and a really fast lift. i think i did 10 laps, in probably a little over an hour. i was pretty beat. Hopefully next year they put some more down on Nile Mile to keep that going. it would be nice to alternate back and forth. no empty chairs on the lift in the morning, and no real line to speak of, but there was a good bit of traffic to negotiate on that trail. Some ding dong was there in snowblades, and was having a heck of a time negotiating even the "groomed, less bumped" side of it causing all sorts of problems. and there was an old dude there on a huge snowboard, basically with a cane, crushing it.

no problem them making this weekend.

For PA it really is not a short trail. You won’t find a trail in PA that has much (if any) more than 800’ of vertical drop almost all at a significant angle with no run out. Sure It’s not VT.

I was there Sunday - did 4 runs before I decided that the number of people of a wide range of abilities crowded onto that one bump filled trail created a risk of getting crashed into, which was not a risk I wanted to take a few days before I fly to Whistler.

Hiked to see some waterfalls later in the day

 

[Newpylong]

I recognize that this is highly variable, but what is the cost per hour to make snow?

I asked this week, Black is ~$600/hour. Two compressors, 3 pumps. Would go up if they were running 4 pumps (new this year) or the rental diesel compressor.

At Whaleback I used to figure $100/hour. They only had a single pump and one compressor. It would go up if we ran a rental compressor for burst capacity as well.

 

[jimmywilson69]

so its not as crazy expensive as I was thinking but still hard to think that if they ran at say $1000/hr for 8 hours that Camelback will break even. then again revenue is basically zero at this point normally because its pre-outside water park season and post ski season normally.

 

[kendo]

from the other night, pretty impressive. . .

 

[Ski2LiveLive2Ski]

so its not as crazy expensive as I was thinking but still hard to think that if they ran at say $1000/hr for 8 hours that Camelback will break even. then again revenue is basically zero at this point normally because its pre-outside water park season and post ski season normally.

I’m sure being first to open in region. this year - and by far last to close south of Killington sold them a lot of next year season passes at $399 not just mine

And when I have been there recent weekends I have talked to a fair number of people on lists who traveled good distances to get some more skiing in and some of them booked rooms at the hotel at the base of the open slope

Also it gets them a huge amount of press which will boost revenue indirectly

If everyone were doing it nobody would make much money but being unique is a selling point

 

[kendo]

so its not as crazy expensive as I was thinking but still hard to think that if they ran at say $1000/hr for 8 hours that Camelback will break even. then again revenue is basically zero at this point normally because its pre-outside water park season and post ski season normally.

also have to factor in the added expense to continually make snow at every opportunity this season to create a 30' deep glacier.

Someone had to run the numbers last fall and say 'yes it's going to be expensive, but f-it... let's do it'.

Will be very interesting to see if they do it again next year and maybe make few feet more on Nile Mile. In the meantime, they got me... I picked up a Value pass for next year for $259.

 

[Internet Ski Pro]

also have to factor in the added expense to continually make snow at every opportunity this season to create a 30' deep glacier.

Someone had to run the numbers last fall and say 'yes it's going to be expensive, but f-it... let's do it'.

Will be very interesting to see if they do it again next year and maybe make few feet more on Nile Mile. In the meantime, they got me... I picked up a Value pass for next year for $259.

They needed to put on a show this year. Even if its a loss or break even. they pissed off so many people last year, if they didnt do something over the top, they were going to have mediocre pass sales. They also threw out the season pass pretty cheap. im sure they sold a bunch. now they just need to get those passholders to release some more cash on cocoa and cool hats everytime they show up.

i totally agree. if they do a repeat next year, it will be noteworthy. and yeah, give nile mile the mile high treatment for next year too. it will be interesting to see what happens next year.

i dont know if Blue Mountain did this, it would have the same viewership in numbers. i kinda feel like there were more people at Camelback last Saturday, then there were for closing day at Blue.

 

[4aprice]

They needed to put on a show this year. Even if its a loss or break even. they pissed off so many people last year, if they didnt do something over the top, they were going to have mediocre pass sales. They also threw out the season pass pretty cheap. im sure they sold a bunch. now they just need to get those passholders to release some more cash on cocoa and cool hats everytime they show up.

i totally agree. if they do a repeat next year, it will be noteworthy. and yeah, give nile mile the mile high treatment for next year too. it will be interesting to see what happens next year.

i dont know if Blue Mountain did this, it would have the same viewership in numbers. i kinda feel like there were more people at Camelback last Saturday, then there were for closing day at Blue.

It's not just that they needed to improve over last year. What they got was a person who grew up on the mountain, knows the mountain, and most of all cares about the mountain. I have interacted with Jason over the years and when he worked in the Ski School with my daughter got to know him including discussing posts I made in the past here on AZ about Camelback that he read.

I'm extremely proud of Jason and the way he brought the place back to some of its former glory and beyond. From the parking to the Thirsty Camel to moguls on some trails Jason has hit the nail on the head and its really great to see what I still consider to be the "home mountain" (as long as we are in NNJ) thrive.

I always thought they could pull off the "Superstar" replication on Cliffhanger due to its due north exposure and have enjoyed watching them pull it off.

 

[jaytrem]

Well it was pouring rain while drove by today, so decided not to stop. I must be getting old.

Bit of Facebook sloppiness on their part. They announced a "Resort Wide Closure" from 1PM on Sunday to 2PM next Friday. That doesn't include skiing, but there was no mention of that. Skiing is still on for the regular Fri-Sun hours.

 

[Internet Ski Pro]

It's not just that they needed to improve over last year. What they got was a person who grew up on the mountain, knows the mountain, and most of all cares about the mountain. I have interacted with Jason over the years and when he worked in the Ski School with my daughter got to know him including discussing posts I made in the past here on AZ about Camelback that he read.

I'm extremely proud of Jason and the way he brought the place back to some of its former glory and beyond. From the parking to the Thirsty Camel to moguls on some trails Jason has hit the nail on the head and its really great to see what I still consider to be the "home mountain" (as long as we are in NNJ) thrive.

I always thought they could pull off the "Superstar" replication on Cliffhanger due to its due north exposure and have enjoyed watching them pull it off.

Since you break bread with him, are they doing it next year?

 

[Internet Ski Pro]

Was out Saturday for a few runs at opening. real nice conditions, a few quick laps on the groomed side, and then it was spring bump city. good times. Jason was there talking to a bunch of people. Nice to see a GM make some face time. I think everyone is paying attention to Camelback by now. i will say that trail holds up very well. the bottom is getting a little narrower each day, but still pretty deep. a few chocolate chip areas up top on the one side. Open today and tomorrow for cinco de mayo. Weekend? maybe. I have a new found respect for a mountain i could have cared less about 2 months ago. i bet their pass sales for next year are off the charts. Good for them. Is it superstar? not even close. But it is redic to be skiing in May, in PA.

 

[machski]

Looked pretty nice from 23000' today

 

[4aprice]

Since you break bread with him, are they doing it next year?

I haven't seen Jason since December. I would assume as long as he stays there, he will do all he can to make the place better. Unfortunately for me its not been a year for me to ski late but it looks like its been pretty successful.

The mountain is what it is. It's got a nice elevation (for the Poconos), a due north exposure which helps retain snow. Runs are short but its got some decent pitches and when fully open a good variety runs. And a great snow making system.

While I don;t ski there as much as I used to, I would love to see them replace the Cleo and Marc lifts (neither run anymore) with something up the middle, from Sun Bowl Lodge to the top of the old Marc lift. A little redesign of the bottom of Cleopatra, Marc Antony and Turkey Trot runs and re establish a connection down that direction from Big Pocono and open up the middle section which is the least used part of the mountain. There has also been talk of expansion to the east into the old Big Pocono ski area (pre cursor) to Camelback.

Another thing I will add is I enjoy the partnership with Blue. Having both places available makes the local skiing scene that much better. Wish that had existed when we had a place in the Pocono's.

How much say Jason has in those things I have no idea. I will say however that I was pretty confident that he was the right guy for the job and he did not let me down.

 

[John9]

Camelback has been great all season. If can make it work with your schedule, the weekday value pass is amazing for 299! It is like a private mountain weekdays. The vertical adds up quick with fast laps.

 

[4aprice]

Kind of getting a kick re reading this thread. Many betting Camelback would not be able to pull it off but it not only seems they did but the reviews are pretty good as well.

 

[jimmywilson69]

Yeah this has been interesting to watch!

 

[Internet Ski Pro]

Camelback is officially done for the season. the melt this week has been pretty interesting to watch. seems like once it gets down to the dirt it just starts to melt, like you can just watch it disappear. They stayed open monday and Tuesday for cinco de mayo. Good on them. it was always well attended the days i was there, and they were always doing something, DJ, giving out Ritas, what have you. Like they appreciated that people would come out, and everyone was stoked on them doing it. 2 weeks ago i had the AC on in my home, so they managed through some pretty warm temps, as well as got a little bit of a milder week last week. I have now skied in May twice in PA, and thats pretty cool for PA. Last time was a really long time ago, when Peak owned BB, and im sure they closed in early April, and then just opened for one day in May. Is it Superstar? no. its not nearly as wide, and its not as long. Would i drive 6 hrs to K to ski Superstar in May? No. But the Camelback option was super close, and it was just great to be skiing in some nice spring weather, outside. That indoors skiing isnt my bag.

 

[kendo]

... from Jason's closing letter on FB:

And yes… for everyone already asking:
We absolutely plan to make another late-season push next year. Bigger. More snow. More events. More spring skiing.

 

[jimmywilson69]

That's refreshing to read! Spring didn't work out for me to make it out to Camelback, which was more on me being lazy than it was them giving me an opportunity to do so. Next year they will be on my radar.

Also Curious if blue Mountain makes any changes or wants to enter into a "race"

 

[Ski2LiveLive2Ski]

I doubt Blue would go for a race to May - to do the full vertical they have a looooong run out that is not in the shadow of the Mt and would take a lot more snow to preserve.

They could pull off the Vista chair and use the upper lodge - but I expect even their pass holders would drive to CBK and spend the $25 rather than being limited to such short runs

If anywhere else in NEPA were to give it a go I expect it would be Montage on their North Face