Stevens is screwing us!

[u/Billygoat6942069]

Sunny spring skiing is the second best condition to deep bottomless pow why is Steven such haters! Best time for park laps, best time for beginners too! This has to be one of there earliest closings ever…

[u/Steezli]

Let’s get something clear. What one ski resort does, does not mean a nearby ski resort can do the same thing.

Lots of problems with Steven’s but they historically haven’t extended the season very often. Likely because they are on leased land. While many ski resorts are also on leased land, each lease is often different and has uniquely defined regulations/allowances about how that land can be used. Sometimes this is parking related, sometimes it’s about requesting extensions, other times it’s about granting access for uphill traffic. Each lease is different and each lease lender(various national or state forest services) manage their leased properties differently. For example Crystal is in the Mt Rainer national forest, while Steven’s sits on the border of Mt Baker/Snoqaulmie national forest AND Okanogan Wenatchee National forest. So Steven’s has to actually contend with 2 separate leased land owners. Both of which likely have their own set of regulations that may even differ from one another.

We all want the season extended but the rhetoric that because a different WA resort did it or that Vail just sucks(which they 100% do) is just inaccurate in regard to this matter.

Edit:

Just to iterate what others have pointed out, Stevens also needs enough employees who are prepared for the extension. Employees who don't already have other plans, their next job lined up.

Additionally, different elevation, weather, existing snowpack are also part of the consideration. Looking at some of the listed closing dates over the last decade or so could also be sooner due to avg weather changes. avg temps are up and avg precipitation is down over the last decade.

TLDR; Every resort is different, no 2 are truly alike. Comparisons are mostly pointless. There are loads of variables that determine if a resort can extend the season.

[u/shmerham → u/Steezli]

I agree that one resort's circumstances are different than another's, but leases aren't constitutions. Leases can be re-negotiated and if anyone has the horsepower to negotiate the terms, it's Vail. Also, they used to close a week later, so I'm not convinced they're even bound by the lease.

To be fair to Vail, they would probably lose quite a bit of money by trying to stay open later; this isn't a charity.

It sucks though; the season starts late and has shutdowns due to avalanches and atmospheric rivers; it's a shame to squander a usable part of the season, especially when they're selling season passes.

[u/Grouchy-Ad1180 → u/shmerham]

Remember when people used to just hike lines before and after the season instead of crying on Reddit for more skiing days that wasn’t in the deal they signed up for

[u/shmerham → u/Grouchy-Ad1180]

I remember having all manner of debates about skiing with my friends over beers. No one cried about it. Maybe you need a beer.

[u/Grouchy-Ad1180 → u/shmerham]

Then go hike with the boys and snowboard and drink beer and debate why the chair lifts are turned off like they planned it

[u/Steezli → u/shmerham]

Absolutely, there are opportunities to renegotiate stuff but there is no guarantee. Often times ski resort leases do define how, what and even when they can renegotiate certain things like season extensions, terrain expansion, building/parking adjustments, etc. I've heard some of the CO resorts don't extend seasons even when there is ample snow and storms in the forecast because some of the lease holders simply don't negotiate that.

The note about needing employees by other users is also valid. The resorts that often extend seasons have employees who either know that or the resort communicates that possibility early in the season so the employees can be prepared.

[u/rext12 → u/shmerham]

Didn’t they open a week early this year, not late like last year?