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Topic: Crystal 3/14 upper Mt. closed (Read 1424 times)
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powcarvin
5Member
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Posts: 24
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In the past I have been extremely impressed with Crystals ability and effort to open the Mt. Not so today.This seems to be a growing trend. Decisions appear to be made by forecasts rather than actual Mt. observations.
It became very obvious that the powers to be at Crystal decided not to open the upper mountain last night. The ski patrol arrived at the Chinook express at 8:50. No effort was made even after winds died significantly mid morning. I had a conversation with a REX lift operator who commented that if it was a Saturday the lift would have run.
I know I paid as much for my pass as weekend skiers. The Constitution of America guarantees that all skiers shall be treated equal. Clearly this is unconstitutional and therefore UnAmerican.
Let the bombing begin!!!
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ddk
Member
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Posts: 497
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Gotta agree...My version of today - Yee Haa…The Crystal accounting department looks to be in control for the last month of the regular winter season, who ever pulled the plug on any chance of running REX must be a pretty big guy in the decision process…I just checked the telemetry for today – it was windy early, but the trends showed decreasing gusts and that was what I noticed as the day progressed (I’ve skied in a lot nastier winds earlier this season), but since today was only a late season week day and who ever was in charge today – there was no afternoon bonus of a upper mountain opening, which is really sad based on expected conditions for the next 24 hours…oh well, skied even more lines that I don’t get the chance to anymore, the snow quality was great and getting deeper all day, the number one spouse had a lot of fun, the other hard cores that expected more today were also disappointed like me, but still appeared to make the best, the crowd was fairly big considering the limited options, but the lift lines were non-existent. Did hear patrol bombing the Queen during the afternoon, so if anything is open tomorrow at least it will be prepped already. BP’s was the early day high point, but the ice sheet on the traverse in is a killer from FQex. Managed a lot more skiing and a longer day than expected. The soup of the day (the only soup) was Potato, the pay lot was unexpectedly big and not unexpectedly empty when we drove away, some cars in B and C had a fair number. Think I’ve paid a lot of dues recently for a lot of ….
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ddk
Member
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Posts: 497
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I'm sure that all is true and usually the mt does make lots of effort to get the top open, just a little dispointed based on sadly for me late decisions this week by Crystal...even the posted condition reports this morning in the lodge indicated the very positive prospects for the day (and yes I've heard the disclaimers - kinda like if I get stuck on a lift for and hour and dont deserve any comps)...but Northway would be open today? I always appreciate all the crews efforts to dig and blow and keep me safe in bounds and always make sure they all know it. But guess I cant see the telemetry that you mention...and yes I'll go back, just wish I'd gone with my gut and headed to one of the passe's.
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paramagic
5Member
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Posts: 35
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I'm also gradually becoming more disappointed in these trends, and the fact that mid-week powder days seem to be more like your typical Saturday make me glad to own skins. Makes me wonder if I'll continue purchasing a mid-week pass...
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CascadeSkier
5Member
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Posts: 54
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...today was one of those days where you needed to invent your own lower mountain fun...with respect to wind speeds...where is tower 15?...does tower 15 house the upper mountain (non-GV) sensors that feed various web sites?...and are there internal telemetry sensors (data) that the mountain does not share?...
...extracted from nwac is the data for last night and today...note that in order to generate an "average wind speed", there must be multiple measurements per hour -- is it the average of measurements taken each minute for 60 minutes, eg?...
Hour Wind Wind Wind Wind
Min Avg Max Dir
6830' 6830' 6830' 6830'
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3 14 1900 8 23 40 205
3 14 1800 10 21 37 223
3 14 1700 13 26 44 229
3 14 1600 11 27 45 213
3 14 1500 9 20 41 237
3 14 1400 5 19 42 219
3 14 1300 15 27 46 219
3 14 1200 13 27 44 178
3 14 1100 18 34 54 175
3 14 1000 23 40 60 213
3 14 900 22 46 71 173
3 14 800 17 39 68 208
3 14 700 15 33 53 181
3 14 600 16 33 59 165
3 14 500 10 28 46 205
-------------------------------------------
3 14 400 8 23 43 224
3 14 300 10 23 36 199
3 14 200 4 17 31 185
3 14 100 7 16 28 192
3 14 0 10 22 32 207
3 13 2300 6 18 27 248
3 13 2200 3 13 23 219
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bc_skier
5Member
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Posts: 92
WWW
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I agree, it is a drag when the upper mountain does not open, however, as team walley points out with the sustained winds and increasing temperatures the avalanche danger sometimes increases so much that the hazard is just to high to open the upper mountain. Within a couple of hours of control work winds can transport more snow to where areas that were safe can be hazardous again.
Have you ever had a friend or someone you know die from an avalanche? Perhaps not, but if you ski long enough you will.
Avalanche control work on a mountain like Crystal is not an easy job, the judgement call to close the mountain is more for safety than economic reasons?
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DB_Cooper
5Member
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Posts: 16
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So, is it also asking too much to open the remaining lower lifts on days like this?
I still think midweek gets shorter shrift as the season progresses.
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steepdeeply
5Member
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Posts: 33
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It was a marketing decision, did you see the web sight in the morning? It said " It was epic yesterday, today Northway and High Camble will be closed" They made the decision to close the upper mountain the night before. Hold it for a day then market it for a big day the next day, it is a trend this season. If Rex can run Northway can run, it is the most wind protected chair on the upper mountain. Let the ski patrol run the mountain and leave the bean counters out of it.
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Griff
Member
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Posts: 165
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I agree with the above.......it is a marketing and economic decision usually, not a safety decision. Boyne Mountain is about making money, not making us powder freaks happy. And the "day before" decisions are dubious at best. It always takes the day of to truly know what it it is like.
An in case you think I am talking out my a**, I worked their full time.
That being said, I too AGREE that Crystal does a good job of getting the mountain open as best they can........and on time. Alpental suffers greatly in this respect.
I have been skiing the BC since 1983, and can fortunately say that I have never lost a friend or climbing partner. Certainly I have found myself in dangerous situations and have made questionable decisions, but I do not believe that the mountains should be "dumbed down" to the general public.
We do that all day long in all areas of our society, seems like the mountains are an obvious place to keep risk a part of the equation. It is because people feel they are safe since the patrol did control work that they can go huck that cliff or cross that rope line.
Sorry to sound a bit cold considering the events of the last few months. Of course my heart goes out to the dead and their families (I lost my mom this past year).
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Bandit
Member
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Posts: 338
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Sorry guys, I must support the mountain on the call today. Tower 15 winds ran a sustained 50 all morning,with several 70 gusts, somewhat mitigating after 1pm. Considering that Rex and 6 needed to be dug out, PB AC'd, the entire Exterminator/Bull area AC'd there simply wasn't enough time. Yesterdays AC produced a 5' crown on E proper and last nights winds and temps were perfect for a repeat. I saw the owner on the hill accessing the conditions with Patrols lead throughout the day. I am confident the decision was not based on economics, rather safety of guests and staff. Ski cutting and bomb throwing let alone hiking and climbing in today's conditions simply were not prudent.
Stop the hateful coral reef building
Wally pretty much sums up the truth. High winds = chair shut down. It's strictly a safety concern . Nothing else. You get a 50 mph gust against a chair with people in it, slamming against a support tower, the chair will possibly detach from the cable, which equals possible dead skiiers. No mountain will take that chance.
FYI, Ch 6 has an automatic shutoff switch when winds hit 35 mph
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« Last Edit: 03/15/12, 06:01 PM by Bandit »
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The world is a dangerous place to live - not because of the people who are evil but because of the people who don't do anything about it.
- Albert Einstein
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blitz
Member
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Posts: 314
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We had a super fun day lapping dead cat gulch.
The snow was great AND the lift lines were pretty short.
Plus, the lift tickets were DISCOUNTED. My friend who paid on line got a refund of the difference at the ticket window.
The avi control was going on all afternoon once the winds died down.
Your liftie friend is right, they would have opened the top on a weekend when there are volunteer patrolers to back up the pros doing avi control.
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alisa
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