UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER, LAWSUITS like snow business IF Grouse Mountain had not taken the $10 million gamble of installing its Super Skyride, which’ was completed in December 1976, it might not be as deeply in financial troubles as it is today. But neither would Grouse ever have been able to compete with the developments which turned Cypress Bowl, together with Whistler and Blackcomb, into major ski resorts, ac- cording to General Manager Gary Keifer. Prior to the Super Skyride, two and three-hour lineups of skiers waiting to get back down the mountain on the smaller tramway were regular occurrences. “Customers wouldn't accept that now. They did then as they had no choice,” says Keifer, adding that Whistler and Blackcomb had not even started their master plan in those days. Today Grouse is in receivership, with lawyers taking action against a Calgary firm which had agreed to buy the mountain for $10 million but which never came through with the deal. Completion of the sale was set for December 1 and Craig Bushell. of receivers Coopers and Lybrand Ltd says of the situation: “It's similar to a person buying a house and on the appointed date the individual not showing up to complete the sale.” By CHRIS LLOYD Ironically, Grouse is currently enjoying its best season since the Super Skyride was installed. Snow conditions have remained excellent since before Christmas and skiers have flocked there except at times when fog or cloud have ruined visibility. But cash flow and profit are two different things, says Keifer, who adds that at the time the tramway was in- stalled Grouse’ was projecting for three good seasons out of every four. “But we've had one out of five,” he says, with the current season being “the only good year we've had Since the tramway was completed.” He blames the weather for the ski resort’s demise, since successive warm winters have followed the in- stallation of the tramway. RETROSPECT “In retrospect, if we had known the weather was going to be as sour as within the past five years, we may have been able to operate reasonably comfortably with the small tramways. You could conclude we would not be in as bad shape as we are today.” At the same time. though, Keifer says that without the tramway the mountain would yust not be able to cater for the solume of crowds at poak periods such Seawest Seafcods Ltd. “Good Things From The Sea’’ Fresh Sole ..... Fresh Cod..... Fresh Trout. .... Fresh Shrimp Mea Fresh Oysters. Fresh BBQ Salmon. Fresh Coho 8 oz.. | re Sunday Bonus Sale 10% off OPEN 10 AM-SPM EXTRA VALUE GROCERY SPECIALS Heinz Catsup 20 02 1Oe BOTTLE Christies Chocolate Chip ( vohios 450 qQ: Splendor Macaron! 2 kg Hoinzs Polak! Dills 1 litre Fleishmans Margarine Soft! Ib Heinz Baby Food Asst d 4° v4 tong Gratin Rice bulk O00 PAC KAGE VOPAC MACE 59 JAR HSIPAC KAGE 2UEA agit BUY YOUR GROCERIES AT WHOLESALE PRICES Seawest Seafoods 832 W 15th St North Van 985-5156 MARINE DA oa SEAWES! All - Wednesday, January 20, 1982 - North Shore News as in the recent weeks it has been enjoying, adding that it is difficult to project whether Grouse would have been better in the long run with the tramways or without them. Meanwhile, staff are working with enthusiasm and optimism, he says. “We are operating basically as normal, although we are in receivership. I have a working relationship with the receiver you would normally have with a board of directors,” says Keifer. r MOUNTAIN OF PROBLEMS looms over Grouse Manager Gary Keifer, pictured at the base terminal of the Super Sky Ride. Keifer is hesitant to speculate whether Grouse would have been better or worse off in the long run if it had not clocked ap the $10 million expense of installing the Sky Ride. (Elswroth Dickson photo) Decor Dividers Make the most of your decor and save 20% on smart accessories! (Custom Divider Screens ::: A a Ce Poth tp ts bot Poy tery bout ‘ . oe ‘ . oan + , ‘ hee sy oe a nee ft uae ») 1 . : | | Phebe | (Ans vu vu The Store That Has It All!