Alpental complaint

My letter to the Summit:

By my reckoning you have closed Alpental night skiing earlier than ever before. I am disappointed and much less likely to purchase a seasons pass next year because I feel ripped off. It used to be mid to late March and then mid March and now it's the first week in March. I know it's a business but this is really pushing it in terms of customer satisfaction. Plenty of snow. Unhappy long-time customer. Bad business move.

Were you that guy going 60 up Alpental road about 3:45 yesterday?

Nope. 😄

I speed on the interstate but I take it easy in the neighborhoods. I also check the operating hours before I head out. I complain to The Man but I keep it positive with snow sliding brothers and sisters. Peace.

Bruce

I've heard the Summit Nordic center's last day is March 20. Wonder if they're pulling the plug on the lifts there, too? There's been talk and evidence of management's desire to cut costs this season.

Reply from the Summit:

Hey Bruce,
Thanks so much for your feedback and for being our loyal guest.

I see that your pass has been used primarily in the evening, and we are stoked to be able to offer night skiing/riding as it makes it easy for folks to use their passes or come up for just a few runs under the lights after work. If you would have been here last week you would have noticed that there were probably only 10 people skiing Alpental after 5pm. The issue beyond business levels becomes safety with what we call the "freeze/thaw." During the day the temperature warms and the snow softens, but then when the sun goes down, the temps drop, snow gets hard and becomes dangerous. We have been closing nights at Alpy this same week for many of the last few years, basically all that had normal/average snow pack like this season.

Remember that your pass is good at all base areas including Central where we offer the most variety of terrain giving something for everyone and will be open night for a couple more weeks.

Thanks again for being our guest, and I hope to see you on the slopes very soon!

*** I appreciate a quick response, but I was there last week and had a good time skiing soft snow in the snow/rain until about 8. I looked up an old post of mine regarding the same complaint dated March 19 of that year. Two or three Wednesdays that I no longer get to ski Alpy with my buds. ***

Bruce

I was never a big fan of night skiing at Alpental to begin with. It really frustrated me to see all this epic terrain that only those without daytime obligations could enjoy. Then when I do get the chance to partake in the padded seats midweek, the lower mountain is frequently chopped-up from the night before

What I do miss are weeknights at West. We got like 6 weeks total of night ops there and I was fortunate enough to bag a couple of Wed nights with deep, fresh snow and low crowds. But I sure would've enjoyed more, had I been given the option. Hell, if they'd spin just Wildside at night that'd make me happy

The Pass. They always have some excuse. Have since 1988 when I was running my ski school there. That will NEVER change. Funniest thing about that in 2016 is both Crystal and the Pass are owned by the same company, yet operate light years apart. Whatever.

I personally love Alpy nights.  In my opinion the terrain is rowdy and always a good time.

Sad to see the closure this week.

EDIT: I do recall a series of complaints for early night skiing closure during the 2011/2012 Nina years....to which, Alpy extended their operations based on feedback.
Maybe the message here is democratic.

The Pass. They always have some excuse. Have since 1988 when I was running my ski school there. That will NEVER change. Funniest thing about that in 2016 is both Crystal and the Pass are owned by the same company, yet operate light years apart. Whatever.

Not true, they're operated by the same company, not owned by the same company.

Snoqualmie is owned by CNL Investment Properties and managed by Boyne
Crystal is owned and managed by Boyne.

I'm skiing on a pass I bought at an 80% discount to the already discounted price. Snoq offered passholders this discount even though last season's conditions did not require them to do ANYTHING. If the OP bought his pass at a similar discount and still sees fit to complain then I can only wish him luck in life.

As for pass renewals, Snoq will never shake me as a customer no matter how early they close, and I too have complained in the past about early closures. The fact is that Snoq has the flexibility to open as many chairs as it takes to service the customers but the customers are simply not showing up. IMO this is a far more worrisome trend for the future of lift-served skiing.

John, Your pont is well taken. I did not get the discount this year (even though I think that fact is immaterial to my argument). I have been out injured for two and half seasons over three surgeries and just want to get as much skiing in as possible. I do believe that raising one's voice to corporate entities may actually be useful, especially if others join in!

Ski on!

Bruce
(Damn lucky in my life, by the way)

Not true, they're operated by the same company, not owned by the same company.

Snoqualmie is owned by CNL Investment Properties and managed by Boyne
Crystal is owned and managed by Boyne.

To further clarify, Crystal is Boyne West, and Snoqualmie is Boyne East.

West is scheduled to close on Sunday, March 20th. I imagine, based on the coverage I observed last weekend, East will close no later than the 20th, possibly after this weekend depending on what happens next week.

Tomorrow night (Friday ???) is the last call for night ops @ Alpental. From there on out it's Central only after 4pm for a few more weeks.

The silver lining to all of this? I overheard recently that the Summit has done well enough financially this year that they'll be able to move forward with their plan to add lights to Silver Fir this summer and run it after dark next season. About time!

Again, in years past I've complained about the early closures. Since I didn't pay anywhere near full price this year I don't consider myself a "paying customer". I'm sorry to hear about the OP's injury and I am glad he's back at it, and he deserves more skiing!

Coverage at Central is magnificent--much better than the snow depth numbers would indicate. Shame in this is when Central does close for the year I expect they will still have plenty of snow--but no customers. Where does everybody go in April?

Thanks, John. Please see my companion piece in lift served trip reports. No whining there!

Cheers,

Bruce

Again, in years past I've complained about the early closures.  Since I didn't pay anywhere near full price this year I don't consider myself a "paying customer".  I'm sorry to hear about the OP's injury and I am glad he's back at it, and he deserves more skiing!

Coverage at Central is magnificent--much better than the snow depth numbers would indicate.  Shame in this is when Central does close for the year I expect they will still have plenty of snow--but no customers.  Where does everybody go in April? 

bachelor

bachelor

or Washington's the southern resort

I hear Hyak is going to stay open to Easter weekend (27th) now after this last dump of snow. Coverage is still pretty good except down by the lodge where the creeks run.

If you kooks show up, Mission has tentative scheduled weekends through the end of April. They just need customers. C'mon over!

I'd rather do that some weekends
if Alpental shuts weekends down before cinco.

Where does everybody go in April? 

slap on the skins bro! This is after all, turns-all-year.com

I don't go to Alpental for the skiing, I go for the fun chair lift rides.

slap on the skins bro!  This is after all, turns-all-year.com

Good point!

I recall my surprise in my first few years living out here how deserted resorts were in April despite the fantastic remaining snow cover. Back in New England, we'd be waiting on lift lines despite skiing on hay over dirt patches well into April. It seems that we are just too blessed with outdoor recreation options here. Where does everyone go this time of year? Kayaking, golfing, biking, hiking, etc. etc. It doesn't really suck to be us, eh? At least the closed ski areas tend to offer good firm spring conditions when the backcountry is in the manky period between winter powder and spring consolidation...

Alpental was still pretty OK yesterday, and after they closed Central's snow didn't stiffen up too quickly over the next hour or so.

I just wish on crowded weekends the lift ops would pay more attention to filling chairs than on scanning passes/tickets...

Must not have been there yesterday, huh.
No Complaints from anyone all day:-)