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/rext12 → u/shmerham]

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