Conference bgsdev::skiing

        While I was there over the weekend, I checked the prices for Turn
    Back The Clock day (tomorrow) - lift tickets will be $10.  If you bring
    some 1948 era ski memorabilia, it's $3.50.
    
        They have a good base now, although it was rock solid yesterday
    after the temperatures dropped again Saturday night.  They expect 4-8
    inches of snow tonight, so conditions ought to be good tomorrow.
    
    MDL

        Friday, February 14, Mad River Glen will have a Valentine's Day
    special, where couples ski 2-for-1.  The normal weekday price at Mad
    River Glen is $28, so it's a pretty good deal.
    
        I believe the term "couples" is not very firmly enforced, although
    I haven't skied there on Valentine's Day to confirm it.
    
        Conditions are good there as of yesterday.
    
    MDL

    P.P.S. The daily snow condition report is referring to the Valentine's
    Day special as being for "kissing couples", so be prepared!

        Tomorrow, April 1 is a 2-fer-1 day at Mad River Glen.  The
    stipulation is that you must be prepared to "act foolish" at the ticket
    window.
    
        ...they expect 5-10 inches from this current storm...
    
    MDL

    
    >stipulation is that you must be prepared to "act foolish" at the
    >ticket window.
    
	Doesn't everybody do that anyhow? ;-)

    This last weekend the Mad River Glen Cooperative held its annual meeting.

    Some news tidbits from the meeting;

    Mad River Glen will be profitable again this winter, due mainly to the
great snow conditions during March.  Last year, the big money making period was
early in the season (Christmas), but this year it was March.

    About 500 shares remain to be sold to meet next years deadline for the
final payment to Betsy Pratt.

    Due to slow sales of shares, some alternative funding mechanisms are being
investigated, in order to raise the cash to pay off Mrs. Pratt by the deadline.

    The one with the most support at the annual meeting was "Preservation
Certificates", which would allow people (and businesses) to put money into Mad
River Glen without incurring the annual per-share commitment to spend
$200/share at Mad River Glen.  These "Preservation Certificates" would sell for
$500 each, and three of them could be converted into a regular share at the
holders option.  They would be non-voting.

    Another option is sale of interest bearing bonds.

    There was a great deal of discussion about the $200/share commitment, and
there is a great deal of sentiment related to limiting it to $200 per
shareholder, reducing the amount, or eliminating it entirely.  The perception
is that the $200/share annual requirement is the major problem limiting sales
of shares.

    MDL

        ...almost forgot - operations are suspended this week - Mad River
    Glen will reopen Friday, April 11, and close for the season on Sunday,
    April 13.
    
    MDL

    
    re - mad river profits
    
    Does this mean high speed quad, snowmaking and a disco??? ;-)
    
    If so, I hope MRG isn't profitable next year!!!!!

        ...bite your tongue!  Non profitability would mean a chance (albeit
    unlikely) that it might go under, possibly allowing the evil empire a
    chance at taking it over.  Don't even joke about it.  Sugarbush is
    already making plans to expand in the direction of MRG.
    
        The purpose of the $200/share annual commitment was to help the
    coop endure the inevitable bad snow years.  We have been lucky so far.
    
        No, it just means the bills can be paid, and the necessary
    maintenance can be done over the summer.  (...although in all
    seriousness, the coop did buy a snow gun , as well as obtaining a third
    snowcat via a leasing arrangement).  ...being flush with cash the last
    two years has obviously gone to their heads - the ski area even owns a
    snowmobile now too...

        Right now the coop is about $350,000 in the black for this season,
    and the anticipated summertime expenses are $275,000.

        Improvements have been made over the last two years, and more will
    follow.  Consensus amongst the regulars is that the new "bands" which 
    have been cut in the woods are a great success.  There have been a few
    improvements in the lodge as well.  The environmental programs have
    been very popular and successful.
    
        The first *major* change is probably going to be the current
    double, which is currently expensive to run and balky.  Nothing is
    happening to the single anytime soon, barring mechanical disasters.
    
        ... a plug - consider adding your support to Mad River Glen - a
    skier owned cooperative.  If you haven't skied Mad River Glen, give it
    a try next season.  Plan now on skiing Turn Back the Clock day next
    year - $10 for a lift ticket is a bargain!!
    
        It is *not* an experts only ski area! 
    
    
    MDL
    
    P.S. July 26 is the annual Mad River Glen Bluegrass Festival