The overcrowding at Colorado ski resorts has reached a breaking point. It’s not just the packed slopes; it’s the endless lines, the overburdened facilities, and the overall degradation of the skiing experience. We travel to these resorts for an escape to the mountains, but what we are met with is akin to the chaos of a bustling city street.

The very essence of skiing – the freedom, the space, the connection with nature – is being overshadowed by the sheer mass of people. Not only does this diminish the joy of the sport, but it also raises serious safety concerns. More skiers on a slope mean higher chances of accidents, and it seems like the resorts are turning a blind eye to this glaring issue.

What’s even more frustrating is the apparent greed driving this situation. It’s evident that the pursuit of profit is being prioritized over the quality of the skiing experience and the safety of the guests. The charm and allure of Colorado’s slopes are being sacrificed for the sake of higher ticket sales, and this is unacceptable.

As a reputed and influential voice in the skiing community, Unofficial Networks has a responsibility to address this issue. Your platform reaches a vast audience, many of whom share these frustrations. I implore you to bring this matter to the forefront, to initiate a dialogue that could lead to tangible solutions. It’s high time the resorts and relevant authorities are held accountable, and policies are put in place to manage the number of visitors more effectively.

We turn to you not just for information and entertainment but also for advocacy and change. Please, give this issue the coverage it needs. Help us bring back the true spirit of skiing in Colorado – the freedom, the adventure, and the peace that once defined this magnificent sport.

Deb Armstrong is a former alpine skier who achieved remarkable success in her career. She rose to fame after winning a gold medal in the giant slalom at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, becoming one of America’s most celebrated skiers. Armstrong, known for her exceptional skills and determination, competed in World Cup events, consistently demonstrating her prowess on the slopes. Her Olympic victory remains a highlight of her sporting career, inspiring many aspiring skiers.

But Deb has “beef” with the wide ski phenomenon. It’s not that she is against it, its just that she feel, correctly we might add, that a lot of skiers have been let astray by the wide ski trend and would be better off on narrower planks.

While North America’s ski industry is thriving, Japan’s ski industry is struggling. Due to an aging population, Japanese skier visits have drastically decreased over the past couple of decades. However, one person is trying to change the fortunes of one powder-filled ski region.

Nikkei Asia reports that real estate mogul Ken Chan plans to spend $1.36 billion to redevelop Myoko. The core portion of this plan is to build a village at the base of Mt. Myoko. Ken Chan is doing this through his sovereign wealth fund: Patience Capital Group (PCG). The first phase will include the construction of residential homes, a couple of hotels, and a commercial zone at the base of Myoko Suginohara ski resort (pictured below).

His goal is to create a ski village similar to Whistler. Myoko features numerous ski resorts and is less than a two-and-a-half-hour bullet train trip to Tokyo, making it easier to reach than other Japanese ski destinations like Niseko and Hokkaido.

The Patience Capital Group already owns over 350 hectares (over 865 acres) of land in the area. This includes the Madarao Kogen and Myoko Suginohara ski resorts. An affiliated company has acquired Lime Resort Myoko, which operates lodging properties in the area.

The goal is to invest 70-80 million yen by 2027, and the whole $1.36 billion within the next decade. According to the Japan Times, they hope to have the international hotels and worker housing ready to go in 2026.

Image/Video Credits: Myoko Tourism

In a heartening turn of events for the ski community, Indy Pass and Unofficial Networks have teamed up to breathe new life into Hickory Ski Center in Warrensburg, New York. This collaborative effort marks a significant milestone for the beloved ski center, set to operate its lifts again after an eight-year hiatus.

The Hickory Ski Center, with its rich history dating back to 1946 and founded by 10th Mountain Division veterans, had been a cornerstone for the local ski community. Its recent struggles with operational costs, especially soaring insurance prices, had cast a shadow over its future. However, the center’s relentless spirit and the support from Tim Konrad, the publisher of Unofficial Networks, and Erik Mogensen, CEO of Entabeni Systems and Indy Pass, have sparked a glimmer of hope.

Konrad’s personal connection and passion for Hickory, coupled with his awareness of the center’s struggles, propelled him to reach out to Mogensen. This call ignited a chain reaction of support, leading to Indy Pass and Unofficial Networks stepping in to offer a much-needed lifeline. Mogensen’s vision to involve more organizations in supporting independent ski areas aligns perfectly with this initiative, offering a sustainable future for these cherished local gems.

The partnership has resulted in Hickory Ski Center reopening as well as joining the Indy Pass for the 2023/24 season.

Sue Catana, Hickory’s manager and the daughter of its founders, expresses deep gratitude for this intervention. The collaboration between Unofficial Networks, Indy Pass, and Entabeni Systems not only ensures the operation of lifts for the season but also brings hope for many more seasons to come. Furthermore, the team from Indy Pass and Entabeni will offer their expertise in streamlining operations at Hickory, reinforcing the center’s journey toward sustainability.

The collaboration of Indy Pass and Unofficial Networks in the revival of Hickory Ski Center reaffirms the two entities’ dedication to safeguarding the unique culture and legacy of independent skiing.

In commemorating this remarkable achievement, we are reminded of the immense strength of community cooperation and joint efforts. It is our hope that the rejuvenation of Hickory Ski Center extends beyond a local victory; it serves as a shining example and source of inspiration for small, independent ski areas across the globe.

About Hickory:

Hickory Ski Center, nestled above the Hudson River in Warrensburg, NY, stands as a hidden gem in the world of skiing. This quaint center, reminiscent of the 1950s, charms visitors with its vintage lodge, complete with a unique, handmade fireplace, and a welcoming front porch that offers panoramic views of its main slope, “The Hunny Run”. Ideal for relaxed lunches or après-ski socializing, this porch epitomizes the center’s community spirit.

Hickory boasts 1,200 vertical feet and 19 trails, providing a variety of terrains accessible via three vintage surface lifts. These trails, maintained by a dedicated community of members and volunteers, preserve the authenticity of old-school skiing, untouched by modern machinery. The tree skiing and steep runs off the summit are highlights of the terrain, especially on a snowy day. The ski area relies entirely on natural snowfall for an authentic experience.

Hickory’s The atmosphere is distinctly family-friendly, welcoming skiers of all ages. Practicality is key in dress code, with skiers opting for comfort and utility over modern ski fashion.

For those interested in more stories and details about this charming ski haven, the Hickory Ski Center Blog offers an in-depth look at the experiences and memories created at this unique skiing destination.

Image Credit: NYSkiBlog

Official Press Release:

INDY PASS AND UNOFFICIAL NETWORKS TEAM UP TO KEEP NEW YORK’S HICKORY SKI CENTER OPEN

 23/24 INDY PASS WAITLIST TO CLOSE ON DECEMBER 10th 

GRANBY, COLORADO – Indy Pass and Unofficial Networks announced today that they have combined efforts to provide financial assistance to Hickory Ski Center in Warrensburg, New York, so the resort may run its lifts for the first time in eight years.

The ski center will join the Indy Pass for the 2023/24 season, and season passes go on sale today at skihickory.com. Hickory pass holders will be eligible to purchase Indy AddOn Passes at a 30% discount. The Indy Pass will close the 2023/2024 waitlist on Sunday, December 10th.  

Hickory Ski Center was founded in 1946 by veterans of the 10th Mountain Division and has served the surrounding community and offered uphill traffic only since 2016. With rising costs, specifically insurance, the ski area faced an uncertain future until their plight caught the attention of Tim Konrad, publisher of Unofficial Networks.

“My family spends much of the winter in the Adirondacks, and I have been ski touring at Hickory since 2015. Over the years, I’ve been keeping close tabs on their struggle to reopen lifts, and when I learned how far they had come and how close they were to achieving their goal, I knew we had to do something. So I called Erik at Indy Pass to discuss how we could offer our support,” said Konrad. 

“After Tim called, we did a quick assessment and decided that Entabeni would step in on this one. It is important to recognize the collaboration between Entabeni, Indy Pass and Unofficial Networks. The more organizations we can get involved to stabilize these small, independent areas, the better our chances of scaling this movement,” said Erik Mogensen, CEO of Entabeni and Indy Pass.

“We have been working with our Hickory skiing community to help overcome the financial obstacles that could prevent the opening of the lifts at Hickory. The emergence of Tim and Erik with their lifeline has put us in a position to operate this season with lift certification, and hopefully for many more to come,” said Sue Catana, Hickory manager and daughter of founders Fran and Hans Winbauer.

The Indy Pass and Entabeni team will also consult with Hickory management on how to streamline operations and become more sustainable.  

Indy Pass and parent company, Entabeni Systems support independent resorts from Europe to Japan, but primarily in the US and Canada. On October 18, 2023, Black Mountain, New Hampshire, announced that support from Indy Pass would enable it to remain open for the coming season and has since hired a new GM and retained ski resort turn-around expert Andy Shephard to help secure a buyer.

About the Indy Pass –

The Indy Pass is the fastest-growing multi-mountain pass in the world. It offers 180+ Alpine and Nordic resorts across the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan, each providing two days of skiing or riding. Indy resorts are independent of any major corporate ownership, and many are owned and operated by multi-generational families providing a uniquely authentic and affordable skiing experience.

About Unofficial Networks –

Established in 2006, Unofficial Networks stands as a leading online destination for mountain adventure, with a strong emphasis on skiing and snowboarding. The website boasts a passionate team of contributors who diligently craft, curate, and highlight a broad spectrum of content. This includes in-depth features on global skiing culture, up-to-date news, and diverse entertainment aspects related to mountain sports. Serving as a comprehensive resource, it appeals to a global audience of mountain sports aficionados, from beginners to experts, providing them with insightful, engaging, and informative content that celebrates and promotes the captivating world of skiing and snowboarding.

Follow Indy Pass on Facebook and Instagram @Indyskipass, #indyrevolution

Follow Unofficial Networks on Facebook and Instagram @UnofficialNetworks

This winter, Hoedown Hill will become Colorado’s newest ski area. Located near Fort Collins, this new ski area aims to become a place where beginners can learn to shred and skiers/riders who live in this metropolitan area can get some turns without having to drive hours on the roads. In addition, they’ll have a steep tubing hill.

The Storm Skiing Journal & Podcast reported last week that Hoedown Hill released its first official trail map. The map details the locations of the seven trails and four lifts at the upside-down ski area.

It’s cool to distinguish this from the draft trail map pictured below, which was made in May of 2022. Most of the locations remain the same, but this new trail map gives a general grasp of the hill. The only location changes I see are to the terrain park on the skier’s left.

Over the past couple of weeks, Hoedown Hill has been making snow, but it hasn’t announced its official grand opening day yet. They do aim to open at some point this month.

Image Credits: Hoedown Hill

Explore art & adventure as nature’s canvas & Chris Benchetler’s creativity collide in “The Spark” presented by Mammoth Mtn.

Camille Larmoyeux, the Instagram influencer who handles luxurytravelmedia, went on a tear as to why a ski trip to Europe is better than a ski trip to Colorado for East Coast skiers particularly those living in New York City.

This video is obviously geared towards East Coast skiers but the points are valid and the skiing in Europe is truly incredible.

$2400+ Ultimate Ski & Snowboard Giveaway

Attention all snow enthusiasts! Don’t miss your chance to win over $2400 in the Ultimate Ski & Snowboard Giveaway. Gear up for the season with everything from Meier’s all-mountain skis to ZiplineSki’s World Cup equipment. This giveaway supports Clean Trails – a nonprofit that’s passionately tackling waste on public trails.

• Meier Skis | All Mountain Skis | $849
• Out and Back Outdoor | Gift Card | $200
• Saola | Waneka Waterproof Warm Shoes | $140
• Dunsel’s Sailbags | Pinhook Tote | $85
• Chill Boys | Gift Card | $100
• ZipLine Ski | World Cup Ski Bag, Rucksack, Klik Goggles, Ski Poles | $704
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• Mill & Mountain | You Got More Shirt | $79

Link To Give Away

In order for a unique New York ski area to operate its lifts this season, they need help from the ski community. For the past couple of years, the folks over at the Hickory Ski Center have aimed to spin the lifts for the first time since 2015. However, in order to spin the lifts again, they need to pass state inspection and pay for a large insurance premium payment of $38,000.

This high insurance payment is due to the lapse in coverage that the ski area has faced since its lifts stopped spinning in 2015. While new activities have been added to support the mountain during the offseason, they do not have the money to pay for the $38,000 insurance payment.

The ski area is now asking for donations and for people to purchase season passes when they go on sale, likely later this week. If you purchase a season pass and they don’t reach that threshold, they will refund the buyers.

You can read their full press release below. If you’re interested in helping them out, click here. They will have season passes for this winter available on the website, likely starting on December 1st. In the meantime, Hickory has set up a GoFundMe. You can also make donations to their operations fund or purchase gear. If you have ever wanted to help out a small ski area, here’s your chance.

Hickory’s 2023-24 Ski Season  (77 years from inaugural season)

We are at a crossroads.  We have our lift inspections scheduled, sticks are on, the lodge is ready, the slopes are (almost) ready.   What we are missing is liability insurance required for state certification of our lifts for operation.

Historically we have raised funds to cover insurance and other operating costs through the sale of season passes.  We have been hesitant to do that given the challenges we faced with lift certification.  We no longer have a choice.  Our timeline is short.   We have until December 15^th to raise sufficient funds to cover our full insurance premium payment of $38,000. Yes, it is outrageous, and we have explored all options over the last 2 years to lower this amount, with no success.   We anticipate that this premium will be reduced in subsequent years because the cost reflects our lapse in insurance coverage, placing us in a high-risk category, and that we would be offered quarterly or monthly premium payment options. 

We have been able to cover off-season operational expenses with events, the café, and access fees for hiking and skinning, and with financing from Bill Van Pelt and the Hickory Legacy Foundation.  In addition, the Foundation has installed lighting for night skiing and the new disc golf course which will open in the spring.  We appreciate all the support that has come from our extended Hickory Family, local businesses, and those organizations that have provided grant funding.

The Foundation continues to seek grant funding opportunities, events are being planned, we are collaborating with new partners, and without season pass sales now, we do not have the funds to pay the insurance premium. 

We are now asking our Hickory skiing family to do their part in supporting our efforts to re-open the mountain for skiing with lifts operating by purchasing season passes.

We are finishing up the purchasing platform on our website skihickory.com. We will have individual passes for upper and lower mountain skiing, couples discount, family packages, and bundled as well as single day tickets available.  We will publish pass prices when we go live for pass purchases, anticipated on December 1^st.

If the lifts don’t spin, we will refund season pass payments in full. 

Email: hickorysc2@gmail for questions.  

SKI THE LEGEND, The Hickory Team.

Anticipated Operating Schedule (Weather Dependent) 

• Wednesday, Thursday, Friday:   2PM -8 PM
• Saturday: 9 AM – 8 PM 
• Sunday: 9 AM – 4 PM

Sample PRICING Until December 15th

• Upper / All Mountain Season Passes – Adult  $500 
• Lower Mountain Season Passes – Adult          $300
• Lower Mountain Season Passes – Under 18    $100

Image Credits: Visit Lake George (Featured Image), Hickory Ski Center

“Everybody knows Brodie Mountain. We’ve got big plans for it. … Brodie’s going to be back.”-Todd Oifer, an investor of Brodie Mountain Development LLC.

Is Brodie Mountain in Massachusetts going to come back from the dead?

The Berkshire Eagle reports that the famous lost Massachusetts ski area was purchased for $975,000 at an auction. The new ownership group, which is made up of four investors from Florida, will announce their official plans in the Spring of 2024. While they are adamant about bringing Brodie Mountain back, there’s one thing that they probably can’t do: The deed that was a part of the purchase bars the owners from reopening it as a public downhill ski resort.

Todd Oifer, who’s one of the four investors, described what their mindset is regarding the mountain’s future:

“We’re very interested in the Berkshire area and New Ashford, and the history of Brodie Mountain, [we’re] working very closely with the town and the state to bring as much economic impact to the town and to everyone.”

Brodie Mountain was very beloved among guests and is specifically remembered for its St. Patrick’s Day festivities. In 1999, the original owners sold it to the Fairbank family, which owns the nearby Jiminy Peak. Based on visitation numbers and the need for significant investments to keep it competitive, the Fairbanks couldn’t justify investing in the place further, and thus shut it down in the early 2000s.

For more information, you can support local journalism by picking up an affordable Berkshire Eagle subscription to check out its various articles about the place. Another great resource on Brodie Mountain is New England Ski History.

In terms of what it looks like today, check out this abandoned exploration video by Lindsey D.

Image/Video Credits: Muroff Hospitality Group, Skimap.org, Lindsey D.