My understanding is that Vail Resorts have decided that lifts will not re-open this season no matter how much snow falls and FCRM will not groom the cross country trails for the rest of the season even when the restrictions are lifted. But FCRM are going to charge resort entry to any visitors who come for the spring snow up to October 4.. What are they trying to achieve. Why would people pay $60 per day when there are no lifts and no cross country trails? Are they determined to deter the few people who may think about coming? It is really hard to entice people to come to the snow in September no matter how deep the snow when the lifts are running & the trails groomed. It seems to demonstrate the folly of this entry fee business model. Victoria is the only place in the world which thinks this is a good business model. Most other places on the world they subsidise you to enter the snow resort. In Utah this year the ski bus from Salt Lake was $5 or free if you had a super pass or Ikon pass. At Jackson Hole the bus from the town to the resort was $1. Even at Vail last time I was there the bus from the outer free car park to the lift base was free. The idea to charge entry fee for the last few weeks of season if restrictions are lifted after mid September seems dumb to me.
They still have to cover snow clearing. FCRM do it. Not Vicroads, they do it at Hotham. Well, a contractor does, Stadelmann. I've done it at both resorts.
This is one of only a few ways the resort collects money to pay the bills. The other way is with rates, (rent and service charges), I'm sure those paying those fees would like to get a reduction too, only most the resort management costs will still need to be paid. The only way to change this, is for someone else to pick up the tab, the government ? Like they do with all other vic national parks.
Meh, just get used to it. Resorts in Vic can have pretty contemptible treatment of their patrons in general. On the flip side, I don't feel at all bad returning the favor by minimising costs through work arounds (eg. bus into Hotham), Epic/Ikon passes and minimising spending in the village.
I suspect that what/if to charge when lockdowns end has not been their top priority. It will no doubt be part of their multi-faceted discussion about this season, their stakeholders' predicament, their budget, recovery strategies ... At the moment there are far bigger issues than whether a handful of BC skiers should have to pay entry. I suspect that enforcement of fees for the tail of the system may cost more than they could raise and that sanity will prevail. In the period leading up to the closure they were offering full refunds of entry if people spent that much on lunch. hardly a money grab by fcrm resort mgt at vic resorts gets money from businesses (leases & service fees) and from the gate. that has to cover all their recurrent costs and much capex too. (the smaller resorts don't manage to do this.) AIUI there are one-off grants for various things but not for recurrent costs. Lots of on mountain businesses are in dire straits after loss of business due to bushfires and covid. Getting more money that way is not very likely. Gate fees are seen as a user pays revenue source. neither party is likely to change this in a hurry and be seen to be using tax payers' money to support an elite past time. it's not impossible that some recovery package might address the gate fees next year, but i won't be holding my breath
Hi ! I just read all these unbelievable news but I am not in a position to make any comments. In the 50's I was Bob Hymans' wife and we lived at Falls year long a family life with babies etc ..... ERIC Hymans was my son. I am now 89 yrs, live in Belgium, and thus have no idea about running Falls or any resort for that matter but what I can and will say is that these people (who ever they are) will surely kill skiing in Australia ! In the fifties people in Australia did not know about snow and Bob was set to create a resort just like in Europe, it was his dream, it was his life ..... so first he had to attract people to come to the snow and bring them to ski .... nothing existed at that time and it was a real hard work, like pulling a sled - very early in the day when snow was still hard - with the luggages but also with the food and all that was necessary to live in Falls ..... where nothing existed meaning, water, electricity ...... Bob had found a spring in which he pull a pipe, he had an engin- shed where he made electricity ...... etc and because of all this hard work you all can now come to ski not knowing the least bit of this ..... AND THOSE CRASY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DESTROY ALL THIS : they are killing, eradicating the winter sports and spirit ....... Thar's all I can say and want to say ! My nickname is MIROU ...... (excuse my bad english but here in Belgium I do not use it !).
The rather poor snow falls this season on The Bogong High Plains may not be sufficient to build a base that will last into spring as the sun warms and the day become longer. Even if one were to access the Back country ski terrain and huts via the many different routes that require trekking in with camping and ski gear strapped to a large pack in order to avoid the gate / toll booth at Howman's gap, the considerable effort expended may not be commensurate with the little snow left to ski on in the terrain in the Roper's hut area for example.
At the mo the resort is closed to the public and whether that will change depends on whether the virus spread is brought under control. This is a public health matter - not a FCRM decision. And in fact there has been some XC trail grooming - for the benefit of residents and to preserve what base was left, I'd say.
I remember one season everything was on wind hold, I had a day or two left.. I had a cold, I was feeling horrible but I was not going to take no for an answer. So I walked up the mountain and did two runs before I ran out of energy. Some will just pay just to see the snow and enjoy the surroundings.. Just to keep sane. Dam I would pay. I live in Adelaide, I need to touch snow at least once every 6 months or I struggle. I am struggling now looking at these photos.
I wonder if we will get up there for a ski before it disappears ?. Looks like 2020 will be a one fall wonder.
2006 was out last dreadful year, with only 1 snowfall. I was told that Bob said it was the worst he had seen.
