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I have sat down to write this email about the what's happening on the hill a few times in the last days. I said I would give an update and I really did try. First time was last Monday 9:30 at night, dogs settled down, grand kids left after splashing all the water out of the pool. Glass of wine and time to write. Tom Hayward calls and the next thing I know we are spending until this Monday selling stuff. Stuff. Heavy stuff. Stuff no one wants but people steal anyway. Hotel stuff like lamps, tables, desks and beds. We sold a ton, $5 at a time and made enough to replace the tractor thing Sky needs. Big thanks to Tom Hayward. It was interesting way to spend a week for Sky Tavern. Feel free to ask Colin, the cashier, how he feels about people now. Pretty funny attitude for a kid that is going to be a teacher. And one Sky Tavern race kid was employee of the week. Jacob, you rock.
Try deux, Tuesday at 2 PM. Fire trucks, airplanes, helicopters and bull dozers interrupted that attempt. The fire started about three miles away and headed north away from us. We still are staring and sniffing for smoke but the combined efforts of every fire department in Northern Nevada seems to have worked. Thanks. Fire is not the way to get more ski able terrain and no, the fire system in the lodge is still not hooked to the water tank.
Find the third attempt here. I turned off the phone and TV.
This summer has been repair time and we are far from done.
America lift: Back running. The smoke escaped from a few key parts. Cap't Ray came up with the fix which was a lot less than the $80K I was told it was going to be. Why I don't sleep well.
Rocco: Both motors are off the towers and down being looked at. 400 lb motors, 40 feet in the air. How did Ben do that?
Sky Ridge: Normal stuff for this year and looking good. We are not going to have to shorten the cable. Had Northstar come look and they said nope.
Need to dive into the engine of one snowcat but it is amazing how much better everything looks when you use them on snow as opposed to rocks.
Containers replaced and moved away from the Lodge, ya! Still need to cut a door in one and move it to the top of Sky Ridge for Ski Patrol.
Rental equipment tested, tuned and stacked by a collage student, mine, Colin. ( Still missing some and Cheryl has an itchy credit card finger. Fair warning)
Parking lot swept and resurfaced. Who wants to paint parking lines?
Construction site replanted, broken water lines fixed.
Bought a brand new real french fry fryer.
Here is a big one. New website with a purchasing system in place. The engineers swear that by Labor Day sale we will be able to sign someone up, upload a picture and make a badge without spending 20 minutes per person inputting data. It is working for the golf tournament sales right now. We can land a rocket on a bouncing barge but finding software to make a badge with a picture and keep track of allergies was more than impossible. Maybe we have it finally. All in SkierBob's corner now!
Sky Tavern has another new lease with the City. The place is as close to ours as can be. We even get to change the sign out on the road and I have to say that the City of Reno Council was great to work with. They really do not want to see this thing we have kept going disappear or be the ones that sold off the place. A big part of us getting Sky was doing improvements. We are talking to some big foundations about major improvements like snow making. It is a long courtship to get this done. Other ideas?
Snow making and lights: $1.5 million
Carpet lift to replace Rocco: $160,00
SkyKids Building: $25,000 if the fire department signs on after the water tank is hooked up. May need a back-up plan.
Shop building $?( There is a Dad here that builds metal buildings full time. I need to talk to you please)
Plus lots of little projects like power to the Snack Shack and a food location in the parking lot.
I am going to admit summer got away from us. By the time the water stopped flooding, summer was almost over and then fire season started. We had kids, well parents, bag on camps because of smoke. I did not blame them. Kids that can't breath is very bad. Santa Cruz fog rolled down the 4 hill day after day. I hate smoke, all smoke except some-'ores and now kids are almost back in school. What is going on in this state?
Well if we can't make summer memorable, best do something really special this winter. 2018 is our 70th anniversary of a kid's program. That calls for a celebration. Suggestions?
Thanks, enough babbling from me.
Bill
bill.henderson@skytavern.com
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