Park city ski patrol on strike

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am still getting daily emails from Vail about how much snow PC has gotten and how I should go. I feel like maybe they should lay off the advertising during the strike.

Vail clearly *should* do a lot of things…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never been skiing or to a ski resort. Grew up firmly middle class and we couldn’t afford it even in the 90s.

I grew up middle class. Skiing used to be in reach for middle class families. We skied on a shoestring all over NH and VT.

Maybe it used to be. But even Liberty/Whitetail/Massanutten are expensive these days. There is no rational way to argue otherwise.

You could say it’s criminal what Liberty and Whitetail charge for a lift ticket. In their defense, the last couple years have been so lean with snow, that they’ve barely had a ski season. Unless winter returns, I wouldn’t be surprised if the closer mountains end up closing. I don’t see how it’s sustainable for them to stay open. Thankfully, looks like January is going to start off cold. Maybe Liberty, Whitetail and others, will have a real ski season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My FIL took our family and DH’s siblings families to ski Breck for a week.

Accommodations was ski in/out but was average and nothing spectacular. All in with lift tickets (epic), accommodations, flights, transfers it was around 35k. We and DH siblings took care of the food costs for the week. Breck is also the less expensive mountain when it comes to accommodations in CO compared to Vail, Aspen, etc…

1 week =7 days = price of a car

35k as in $35,000 for a week of skiing!?!? I know skiing is pricey, but I have a hard time believing this. Were the “average accommodations” the basic room at the Four Seasons? I don’t think your FIL is interested in saving money, but I will plan the same trip for them next year for under 20k. My fee for putting the trip together is only 1k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My FIL took our family and DH’s siblings families to ski Breck for a week.

Accommodations was ski in/out but was average and nothing spectacular. All in with lift tickets (epic), accommodations, flights, transfers it was around 35k. We and DH siblings took care of the food costs for the week. Breck is also the less expensive mountain when it comes to accommodations in CO compared to Vail, Aspen, etc…

1 week =7 days = price of a car

35k as in $35,000 for a week of skiing!?!? I know skiing is pricey, but I have a hard time believing this. Were the “average accommodations” the basic room at the Four Seasons? I don’t think your FIL is interested in saving money, but I will plan the same trip for them next year for under 20k. My fee for putting the trip together is only 1k.

Depends on how many were in the party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My FIL took our family and DH’s siblings families to ski Breck for a week.

Accommodations was ski in/out but was average and nothing spectacular. All in with lift tickets (epic), accommodations, flights, transfers it was around 35k. We and DH siblings took care of the food costs for the week. Breck is also the less expensive mountain when it comes to accommodations in CO compared to Vail, Aspen, etc…

1 week =7 days = price of a car

Family of 4 (us) went to Breck for a week last year:

Flights - used miles
Car rental for week- $600
2 bedroom condo, short shuttle ride to lifts, walkable to town- $2000
Epic passes for 4 people- $2800
Season ski rental for kids- $200 (mom and dad own skis)
Total, not including food: about $5000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My FIL took our family and DH’s siblings families to ski Breck for a week.

Accommodations was ski in/out but was average and nothing spectacular. All in with lift tickets (epic), accommodations, flights, transfers it was around 35k. We and DH siblings took care of the food costs for the week. Breck is also the less expensive mountain when it comes to accommodations in CO compared to Vail, Aspen, etc…

1 week =7 days = price of a car

Family of 4 (us) went to Breck for a week last year:

Flights - used miles
Car rental for week- $600
2 bedroom condo, short shuttle ride to lifts, walkable to town- $2000
Epic passes for 4 people- $2800
Season ski rental for kids- $200 (mom and dad own skis)
Total, not including food: about $5000

Obviously, free flights helps, but 5k for a week at Breck is pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t look like the negotiations are going well.

https://www.kpcw.org/park-city/2025-01-01/park-city-ski-patrol-disappointed-in-vail-counteroffer-strike-stretches-to-day-six

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My FIL took our family and DH’s siblings families to ski Breck for a week.

Accommodations was ski in/out but was average and nothing spectacular. All in with lift tickets (epic), accommodations, flights, transfers it was around 35k. We and DH siblings took care of the food costs for the week. Breck is also the less expensive mountain when it comes to accommodations in CO compared to Vail, Aspen, etc…

1 week =7 days = price of a car

35k as in $35,000 for a week of skiing!?!? I know skiing is pricey, but I have a hard time believing this. Were the “average accommodations” the basic room at the Four Seasons? I don’t think your FIL is interested in saving money, but I will plan the same trip for them next year for under 20k. My fee for putting the trip together is only 1k.

There is no way you can put a trip together for 12 people for a ski in/out place at Breck for 20k. The flights and epic pass alone is going to cost you at least 14k. Now add ski in/out right at the mountain, transfers with shuttle service, etc….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My FIL took our family and DH’s siblings families to ski Breck for a week.

Accommodations was ski in/out but was average and nothing spectacular. All in with lift tickets (epic), accommodations, flights, transfers it was around 35k. We and DH siblings took care of the food costs for the week. Breck is also the less expensive mountain when it comes to accommodations in CO compared to Vail, Aspen, etc…

1 week =7 days = price of a car

Family of 4 (us) went to Breck for a week last year:

Flights - used miles
Car rental for week- $600
2 bedroom condo, short shuttle ride to lifts, walkable to town- $2000
Epic passes for 4 people- $2800
Season ski rental for kids- $200 (mom and dad own skis)
Total, not including food: about $5000

Obviously, free flights helps, but 5k for a week at Breck is pretty good.

But 5k is not the real cost. You have to add flights for 4 people and that’s about $1400 so you are at $6400. Condo is very cheap and basic I suspect and not at the mountain.

Add food costs and you are looking at 7k. That’s the real price to go the cheap way.

[Anonymous]

We’re in PC right now. We’ve come here every year for many years and this is the wirst it has been for lift closures. Last year was low snow totals and they still did not have as much closed. Many days, the most basic lifts that service a good portion of the skiing are closed (for people who know PC, Tombstone lift in Cantons has been completely closed the last 2 days). Vail claims it’s for snow safety but that’s complete BS. It’s the strike. Loft lines are very long - 40+ minutes for one lift and the runs that are open are over crowded. If you have plans to come here during the strike, I’d strongly reconsider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re in PC right now. We’ve come here every year for many years and this is the wirst it has been for lift closures. Last year was low snow totals and they still did not have as much closed. Many days, the most basic lifts that service a good portion of the skiing are closed (for people who know PC, Tombstone lift in Cantons has been completely closed the last 2 days). Vail claims it’s for snow safety but that’s complete BS. It’s the strike. Loft lines are very long - 40+ minutes for one lift and the runs that are open are over crowded. If you have plans to come here during the strike, I’d strongly reconsider.

Alta was fantastic today. Mostly all open. Great snow. Hardly waited in lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t look like the negotiations are going well.

https://www.kpcw.org/park-city/2025-01-01/park-city-ski-patrol-disappointed-in-vail-counteroffer-strike-stretches-to-day-six

Below is the gofundme page for the ski patrol to help them with mortgages, rent, food, etc.. since they are not working. I just donated. They need to stand strong and bargain hard.

It’s appalling how little they make, how little in increase they are asking, and how much profit Vail makes a year.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/strike-fund-park-city-professional-ski-patrol-association?utm_campaign=p_email%201137-update-supporters-v5b&utm_medium=email&utm_source=customer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t look like the negotiations are going well.

https://www.kpcw.org/park-city/2025-01-01/park-city-ski-patrol-disappointed-in-vail-counteroffer-strike-stretches-to-day-six

Below is the gofundme page for the ski patrol to help them with mortgages, rent, food, etc.. since they are not working. I just donated. They need to stand strong and bargain hard.

It’s appalling how little they make, how little in increase they are asking, and how much profit Vail makes a year.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/strike-fund-park-city-professional-ski-patrol-association?utm_campaign=p_email%201137-update-supporters-v5b&utm_medium=email&utm_source=customer

Donated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My FIL took our family and DH’s siblings families to ski Breck for a week.

Accommodations was ski in/out but was average and nothing spectacular. All in with lift tickets (epic), accommodations, flights, transfers it was around 35k. We and DH siblings took care of the food costs for the week. Breck is also the less expensive mountain when it comes to accommodations in CO compared to Vail, Aspen, etc…

1 week =7 days = price of a car

Family of 4 (us) went to Breck for a week last year:

Flights - used miles
Car rental for week- $600
2 bedroom condo, short shuttle ride to lifts, walkable to town- $2000
Epic passes for 4 people- $2800
Season ski rental for kids- $200 (mom and dad own skis)
Total, not including food: about $5000

Obviously, free flights helps, but 5k for a week at Breck is pretty good.

But 5k is not the real cost. You have to add flights for 4 people and that’s about $1400 so you are at $6400. Condo is very cheap and basic I suspect and not at the mountain.

Add food costs and you are looking at 7k. That’s the real price to go the cheap way.

Here’s the link to the condo: https://www.journeywestcolorado.com/vacation/condominium-breckenridge-ski-in-4-o-clock-run-in-historic-breck-hot-tub-460275.html

Ski in, not ski out. Easy 2 minute free shuttle steps from condo to the lifts. Walkable to town. Maybe basic for you but totally comfortable for a family of 4 who skis all day and crashes at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Starting wages were raised to $21 per hour in 2022, but rising costs equate to what should be a $23 starting wage today. Neighboring resort, Deer Valley, recently raised their starting wage to $23.50 and Powder Mountain-another Utah ski resort-starts ski patrollers at $26 an hour.

A one day lift ticket tomorrow is $328
Three years ago it was $219 for a one day lift ticket. So the ski patrol gets no raise but look how much lift tickets have increased!!

Ten years ago a one day ticket to Aspen was 120. And that felt expensive. Lift tickets have increased exponentially as private equity has taken over ski mountains. We are fairly affluent and skiing has become outrageously expensive for us

It’s like a round of golf. If you want cheap, go to a local par 3 city owned course for $50. If you want the best conditions, amazing views and a vacation experience, go to Pinehurst for $400.

All day experiences run about $300-400. No one is entitled to these. And if you want to do it, pay up.

That all being said, yes the ski patrol deserves more.

Far be it from me to defend golf, but there are not easily accessible municipal ski resorts like there are golf courses. There may be some literal trash hills in the Midwest where you can snag a midweek $60 lift ticket but unless you're in the lower Midwest you then still have to pay for lodging. It's certainly less expensive, and you can do off peak days at Snowshoe for $85, but it's definitely surged so that people who may previously have been able to save up for a Vail no longer can.

Again, you aren’t entitled to a cheap day on the slopes. If skiing was important to you, you’d move closer.

It’s like complaining they charge too much for private Caribbean sailboat charters. Or too much to climb mt Everest. Or helicopter skiing is now out of reach.

The world is full of exclusive activities. Skiing is now one of them if you want the best of the best. If you love to ski you’d move to a location with skiing and you’d get in state discounts. Or you’d buy the epic m/icon pass. There are many ways to make it economical. But you’re complaining about the elite version

Moving somewhere entirely new is not making anything economical. You're saying skiing is a luxury activity like heli skiing or chartering a private yacht but also that there are ways to do economically?

Lots of people grew up within a few hours of ski resorts learning during the winter and are now priced out of doing the same thing with their kids. Meanwhile the resorts have huge profit margins.

Skiing is a wealthy activity and people only going to Park City this week are almost certainly wealthy. The ski patrol aren't. Sucks to have a vacation ruined, sucks more not to make a living wage.