Bob’s BITS for July 2025

After my post last month calling out the ridiculous window pricing by conglomerate ski areas, I realized I could've been more tactful. But when The Storm King Journal highlighted Alterra's $329 day ticket at Deer Valley, and Mark Peruzzi's letter in SAM called the pricing "stupid" (just as I did), I felt vindicated. If you haven't read Mark's piece in SAM, do check it out - his writing in Skiing and SKI has always been top-notch.

Now, for my obligatory weather gripe: The Northeast heat is brutal. It's not just the temperature, but the oppressive humidity. At our summer place in Woods Hole on Cape Cod, the air feels thick enough to slice. Winter can't come soon enough!

On a positive note, kudos to Solitude for reaching a contract agreement with their ski patrol union. From what I've read, it's the most sensible deal made public and sets a great precedent. Well done to Amber Broadway, her team, and the Solitude Ski Patrol Union.

I came across a fascinating article about Vail Resorts from an investment advisory firm. It examines Vail's attempt to replace staff with technology, noting that "success hinges on the delicate balance between automation and human capital." As a tech provider for mountain operations, Steep firmly believes technology should enhance efficiency and provide better data for decision-making, not replace human staff. I've included a link to the article for your own interpretation.

This month's newsletter is brief, with just one blog post below. I'll be sending targeted emails to specific Mountain Ops groups. My second accountability survey for Ski Areas got more responses, but still not enough for meaningful results. I'm wondering if the question is too probing or if people are hesitant to face the truth. Still pondering this one.

Enjoy the summer sunshine, everyone!