Daily Trail Pass Fee Increase

[polarice]

Boulder and Frisby are both being groomed 7 nights a wk. now.
I wouldn`t be surprised to see it go up to $20 next season when the H.S.T. goes through in July.
Trail pass fees just don`t randomly go up, an application to Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts has to be o.k., the increase has to be justified to recover the cost of running the programs.
The $5 bounty thing sounds real good to me.

dumb question but what is a trail pass worth up there

 

[GasCan]

Beginning post states it being $15 right now and needing to raise it.

I am all good at rounding it up to $20 for a day pass, and maybe you can offer a discount for weekend passes as many of us from out of province come there for 2, 3 & 4 days. Just an idea?

As for those who complain about a rough ride out and wanting it groomed on days end so they can have a smooth ride...tell them if they want it smooth in and smooth out;

Ride in at 8:00 AM and Ride out at 8:30 AM

 

[raceu4it]

i still can't fiqure what people are complaining about rough trail out, sure groomed is smooth and fast. but i had the impression, that all the newer sleds had cushy suspensions. :d

 

[Sledderglen]

Last weekend in Revy it was perfect both up and out. What is nice is you have options of what trail to use.We rode a different trail every time. As smooth going out as when we came up. That trail option isnt avaiable anywhere else that I know of.

Revy you Guys and Gals are doing a great job.

 

[polarice]

Beginning post states it being $15 right now and needing to raise it.

I am all good at rounding it up to $20 for a day pass, and maybe you can offer a discount for weekend passes as many of us from out of province come there for 2, 3 & 4 days. Just an idea?

As for those who complain about a rough ride out and wanting it groomed on days end so they can have a smooth ride...tell them if they want it smooth in and smooth out;

Ride in at 8:00 AM and Ride out at 8:30 AM

ok maybe have to make it a little clearer how much for a trail pass (yearly) not a daily pass

 

[ferniesnow]

Grooming 101; the only thing you learn in this course is that "everyone knows how to groom better than you!" Finished, passed okay to go on to Grooming 102!

The dude that wants it groomed on the way out....and when is the snow going to set up? We groom at night so that the snow science has a chance to work otherwise the trail would always be the sh*ts. Also, put 200+ machines up any trail and it will be hooped. Give those groomer operators a break, they doo the best they can with what they have.

Also, besides the trails to maintain, there are cabins to maintain, land issues to fight, signage, etc. Don't know if you pay trail pass vendors and operators or not but if you do then that is added cost. It is not cheap to operate in the service industry these days.....

 

[Powder Puff]

View attachment 2 Groomer Pie.pdf

View attachment 3 Groomer Pie.pdf

The SRS has made an application to groom additional areas, that is why there is the 3 groomer pie.
Nine yrs. ago it became too much for the club to continue grooming on a volunteer basis. That is when the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society came into effect. The SRS is responsible for grooming trails(purchasing/maintaining/insuring the machines), parking areas, signage and promoting snowmbiling in Revelstoke. This season they have 12 employees. :d
The SRS is funded by corporate supporters, the sale of daily trail passes, a grant from the Columbia Basin Trust and a portion of a RSC membership. In turn the RSC receives back 5% of the daily trail pass fees.
The Revelstoke Snowmobile Club is responsible for trail maintenance (slashing, bridges, culverts, trail development). The club maintains/insures the cabins on Boulder and Frisby and our clubhouse. We also maintain the cabin on Keystone as we have a management agreement with gov. The club also funds our snow patrol program, We work with gov. to educate the public and patrol/sign the mtns. in Revy with Mtn. Caribou Habitat closures.
When a large development project is approved the SRS/RSC work together and split the costs (such as Streeter St., the Boulder/Frisby connector).
At this time the SRS is working to expand the Boulder parking lot and build a greeting centre (storefront space, washrooms, office, meeting room) and shop for the machines. The RSC is working to build a new cabin on Boulder. These projects hopefully will be funded in part through grants.
Together the SRS and RSC work closely with the BCSF to keep areas open to snowmbile in the Revelstoke area. A portion of a RSC membership and daily trail pass helps fund the BCSF.

Revelstoke Snowmobile Club memberships this yr. are $100, this includes your trail pass for the season. I would expect they would go up for next season because of the daily trail pass fee increase and the proposal to groom additonal areas.

Thanks for the comments, it`s hard to make people understand the additonal costs involved, hope the pie charts help. The amount of riders, the way they use the trails and the weather has a huge impact on the shape they are in at the end of the day. Last I heard it is $150/hr to run the groomers.
The SRS has on occasion been know to do an afternoon courtesy groom on very busy days when funds and staff permit.

 

[carguy]

Had to happen with a 3rd groomer. Worth the increase for the job (well done) by SRS & RSC.

I like the bumps at the end of the day, a little extra exercise on the way down and I'm ready for a great meal at Zala's that evening.

 

[boydo]

the roughness at the end of the day doesnt bother me.......the F'ing highway home pisses me off more!! you can always tell when you come into Alberta!!

 

[Pro-Am Chris]

that is ridiculous i know its only 3$, but it be nice if the tail was groomed on the way down at the end of the day as well, not really worth the money payin for a one way ticket.. if ur beating the kidneys out of your self or beating the suspension out of ur sled if the trial is $hity......

Go ride into Keystone in March and then bitch about having to pay $18 for grooming! Wow some people are unreal!

 

[IFSM8]

If the trail is groomed everyday that we are being charged I am okay with that. What I have a Problem with is when the booth is open and you pay to ride three day beat trail. I am glad they got a third groomer to keep up with the areas. Congrats!

 

[Evil Revo]

Everyone doesn't mind losing thousands of dollars in depreciation on there sleds, do they? But paying a few bucks for a trail pass is tough.
I think everyone should buy a membership! This would look good to all anti sledders that are out there. It would show the commitment of the sledders and the love for this sport.
Kudos to Revy and there volunteers for all the hard (free) work they do! Also to the people who get paid for working with the clubs.
$100 membership is 6.66 days of riding. One post earlier stated he wanted a discount when they come ride for 2,3 or 4days. My gawd, 2 more days and the rest are free. What else do you want?
Remember we also get discounts in Golden, Sicamous to name a couple. But of course nobody talks about that.
Heck to me $100 is way under value for what you are getting. I didn't ride for a year so I could travel but I still bought a membership. And no I'm not rich. Just a sled junky!
Memberships should be at least $150 and daily passes $25.
I could keep ranting but my post would be to long to read.
Thanks to all who pitch in to make Revy and other sled areas what they are. Because my life wouldn't be the same without them. I think I speak for alot of people.

 

[Mikew5j]

Groomers are worth every penny. I rode Blue Lake in November before grooming operations started. Up on the hill my buddy and I were wondering why we where so tired, then it dawned on us. We got so beat up on the ride up we had no energy to ride. I would have paid $100 for a groomed trail back to the truck. I was contemplating spending the night in the cabin to avoid getting back on that trail again. I’m always glad to pay, even if the grooming job is a day old. ….and maybe lay out some cash for upgraded shocks.

 

[Slamnek]

that is ridiculous i know its only 3$, but it be nice if the tail was groomed on the way down at the end of the day as well, not really worth the money payin for a one way ticket.. if ur beating the kidneys out of your self or beating the suspension out of ur sled if the trial is $hity......

WAAAAA its too bumpy WAAAAAA. Come on man!!!

 

[acesup800]

If you want to do it fair, there shouldn't be a yearly membership, period. Charge a daily fee for a usage fee. Otherwise all that is happening is those that travel, subsidize those that live close. You want smooth trails and want to ride every weekend, your gonna pay $50 every weekend. You ride 5 days a week, you pay $125/week. Simple and fair. As many of those that have stated, its cheap....right?

 

[Bogger]

If you want to do it fair, there shouldn't be a yearly membership, period. Charge a daily fee for a usage fee. Otherwise all that is happening is those that travel, subsidize those that live close. You want smooth trails and want to ride every weekend, your gonna pay $50 every weekend. You ride 5 days a week, you pay $125/week. Simple and fair. As many of those that have stated, its cheap....right?

And ski hills should get rid of seasons passes? Gyms should scrap monthy memberships? Edmonton Transit should do away with bus passes?......

Volume discounts are everywhere.... Seasons pass to Rabbit hill for a family of 5 is $650.... we went 8 times paid for itself after 6.... had we not had the seasons pass we probably would have gone twice.... volume discounts bennifit the organization as well as the user..............

 

[acesup800]

I guess I was making a point. But to some extent, the truth. A theme parks and gyms have a fixed cost and realistically no more extra "wear" cost to put more people through. Now a groomed sled trail on the other hand, is quite the different example. Groom it on Monday, nobody rides, it is still groomed on Friday. No additional cost.

Yes you see "volume discounts" everywhere, but realistically, this group is not paying the true cost for actual use. Remember, "you gotta pay to play!"

 

[Modman]

I guess I was making a point. But to some extent, the truth. A theme parks and gyms have a fixed cost and realistically no more extra "wear" cost to put more people through. Now a groomed sled trail on the other hand, is quite the different example. Groom it on Monday, nobody rides, it is still groomed on Friday. No additional cost.

Yes you see "volume discounts" everywhere, but realistically, this group is not paying the true cost for actual use. Remember, "you gotta pay to play!"

Problem with this idea is that you need to know how many people are going to be riding to justify the cost of grooming in advance. Otherwise, you can groom on Friday to be ready for Sat, only to have 5 people show up, which won't even cover the cost of fuel to start the groomer. If you don't groom until Sunday morning after "user pays" on Saturday, well.....you won't ever have repeat customers for Sunday.

Sledders will take a half day off work (lost wages), put $100 worth of fuel in the truck, $100 worth of gas into the sled, $50 per night into a hotel room, $30 into food for a weekend (if you eat cheap), $30 into bevies...all for just 2 days of riding ($310 - which is cheap for a weekend). They will do this 10 times a year (~ $3000) plus untold amounts into gear and accessories over the course of the season... and we can't cough up $100/yr for annual membership? $100-$150 seems petty to me when we look at the big picture. If you've never ridden in areas without grooming operations then you should. You'll pay $500 a season to be able to get off the hill at the end of the day without breaking your back. I spend $100 on a jug of race gas to ride for a day. $100 for all season ain't a big deal. People seem to factor in food and bevies into the budget but then forget about the trail pass. Factor it into the budget just like some people do and accept it as a fact of sledding.

So what if someone local uses it more than you? For $100 a year is it that big of a deal if someone rides a groomed trail on a Wed? Next thing they'll be countering your argument with "Your taxes should be higher because you drive on the highway more to come to the riding areas, I'm not subsidizing your travel on the highway. If you drive more, you should pay more." Sounds silly but exact same principle.

Volume discounts work for sledding and so lets leave it that way. I don't think we should start "nickel and diming" the sled clubs, if they close down we will not have any places to ride in 10 years. Don't forget your trail pass pays for more than just the grooming, it pays to keep the areas open at the end of the trail too.

 

[acesup800]

I guess your not really getting it. I'm not bitching about yearly memberships. I don't live local anymore, but yes I've purchased the yearly membership when I lived in Calgary and I purchased daily passes when I lived a little further away, as we usually rode Blue Mountain, Eagles Nest, Area 51 etc, all week, so it didn't make sense to purchase the full year at times.

Back to the topic at hand. My point of what I am truly trying to get across is $100/year is waayyyyyy to cheap for a membership. Every time you head up the hill on a groomed trail, is one rider closer to needing to be groomed. There is a cost, why not make the actual users pay? If you did it this way, there would be plenty more money to pay for fuel, etc. Who said anything about nickel and diming the local clubs? I say, pay more and give them more. I have no problem paying a daily pass every time I ride. Part of the cost. Do you?

P.S. Yes, my taxes are already higher if I drive further. Ever heard of gasoline tax? It's 50% of the cost of fuel by the way.

 

[Nytroman]

I rode in Valemount this past weekend, fee is $15, gave a twenty and told the lady to keep the $5 as a tip each day. Both times the ladies said they would give the $5 to the lions for some kids benifit thing or something. Thought that was honourable of them. Maybe $18 for the fee and a $2 donation for a revelstoke cause. Groomer gets paid, the needy are helped, and sledders don't weigh down the high priced light weighted sleds packing around change, everybody wins! Then if the rate goes to $20 next year everyone is already putting out $20