- Posts: 12
- Thank you received: 0
Crystal - 1/27/2018
- BigMountainSkier
- [BigMountainSkier]
- Topic Author
- Offline
- New Member
Less
More
27 Jan 2018 18:13 #230930
by BigMountainSkier
Crystal - 1/27/2018 was created by BigMountainSkier
Big day!
Big traffic getting to the resort, big crowds on the slopes, big bumps on the slope.
Was surprised about the traffic. A few miles away from the state park northern boundary, the traffic slowed to a near-stop and crawled from there to Greenwater. Then it cleared a bit, but slowed down to about 4mph the entire length of Crystal Mountain Boulevard. No accidents, slideouts, or stuck vehicles to account for it - simply a lot of folks excited to go skiing.
By the time I made it up there (9:30 or so), the parking lot attendents motioned me to an overflow lot that I'd never used before. It was a big hike (no shuttle service) to the base.
It was 10:35 by the time I loaded the chair! I left at 7:15 from Maple Valley. Should have been an on-chair time right around 9am, but the crowds slowed things way down today.
Chairlift crowds were the worst I've seen in a long time. After making two runs and standing in lift lines, I decided to bail for lunch. Went to Campbell Basin Lodge but couldn't find a place to sit. Did see they sectioned off a lot of area for the ski school kids. Then went down to the base lodge, enjoyed a meal, and resumed skiing.
After lunch (12:00 pm) the crowds thinned out and it was back to normal skiing.
Snow conditions made for tough skiing. They probably groomed last night but all of the new snow appeared to come after grooming. By 10:30 (when I arrived) it was skier tracked powder. Made for awesome mogul skiing. The snow was pretty heavy too - not wet but not light and fluffy. Legs are sore.
No crowds by 3pm, started to enjoy some chairs to myself. Legs gave out at that point and back home we went.
Big traffic getting to the resort, big crowds on the slopes, big bumps on the slope.
Was surprised about the traffic. A few miles away from the state park northern boundary, the traffic slowed to a near-stop and crawled from there to Greenwater. Then it cleared a bit, but slowed down to about 4mph the entire length of Crystal Mountain Boulevard. No accidents, slideouts, or stuck vehicles to account for it - simply a lot of folks excited to go skiing.
By the time I made it up there (9:30 or so), the parking lot attendents motioned me to an overflow lot that I'd never used before. It was a big hike (no shuttle service) to the base.
It was 10:35 by the time I loaded the chair! I left at 7:15 from Maple Valley. Should have been an on-chair time right around 9am, but the crowds slowed things way down today.
Chairlift crowds were the worst I've seen in a long time. After making two runs and standing in lift lines, I decided to bail for lunch. Went to Campbell Basin Lodge but couldn't find a place to sit. Did see they sectioned off a lot of area for the ski school kids. Then went down to the base lodge, enjoyed a meal, and resumed skiing.
After lunch (12:00 pm) the crowds thinned out and it was back to normal skiing.
Snow conditions made for tough skiing. They probably groomed last night but all of the new snow appeared to come after grooming. By 10:30 (when I arrived) it was skier tracked powder. Made for awesome mogul skiing. The snow was pretty heavy too - not wet but not light and fluffy. Legs are sore.
No crowds by 3pm, started to enjoy some chairs to myself. Legs gave out at that point and back home we went.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Binx
- [BINX]
- Offline
- Junior Member
Less
More
- Posts: 53
- Thank you received: 0
27 Jan 2018 19:46 - 27 Jan 2018 20:11 #230934
by Binx
Replied by Binx on topic Re: Crystal - 1/27/2018
Big Day, crowds that is!!
Arrived in A lot at 6:30 where they had two rows of common folk parking, the rest all paid.
Loaded CHex on the third chair and hit Rex, made the first 2 day the frontside where it was super smooth, wind affected,
Fairly heavy and what was termed hooky. Flew over to chair 6 for 1 in campbell basin was was wind affected
big time then down Powder bowl which skiied well. Headed to gate 4 and waited till patrol showed and we hit Paridise bowl for a couple, and by that time it was history. Polked around for a bit more and pulled the plug about 12:00.(Good Move). Amazing how many people were coming up at that time?
Lets hope the warm rains stay to the north.
PS: This whole plan came from the mind of Eskinmo!
Arrived in A lot at 6:30 where they had two rows of common folk parking, the rest all paid.
Loaded CHex on the third chair and hit Rex, made the first 2 day the frontside where it was super smooth, wind affected,
Fairly heavy and what was termed hooky. Flew over to chair 6 for 1 in campbell basin was was wind affected
big time then down Powder bowl which skiied well. Headed to gate 4 and waited till patrol showed and we hit Paridise bowl for a couple, and by that time it was history. Polked around for a bit more and pulled the plug about 12:00.(Good Move). Amazing how many people were coming up at that time?
Lets hope the warm rains stay to the north.
PS: This whole plan came from the mind of Eskinmo!
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- eskinmo
- [eskinmo]
- Offline
- Junior Member
Less
More
- Posts: 239
- Thank you received: 0
27 Jan 2018 20:05 #230935
by eskinmo
Replied by eskinmo on topic Re: Crystal - 1/27/2018
powder bowl was great , Paradise same ,Northway peak really good .The line at Northway chair was to the corner so we bailed and skied lower northway....it skied pretty good I was the second skier down so more pow, no wind affect down here.We walked out the road to hitch a ride up only to find the Blvd was a parking lot with everyone being turned back.Never seen it that bad for that long. no lift lines at all after lunch time......I hate to say it but Crystal probably needs that Kellys Gap lift,because the moring lines are getting kinda messy
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- BigMountainSkier
- [BigMountainSkier]
- Topic Author
- Offline
- New Member
Less
More
- Posts: 12
- Thank you received: 0
27 Jan 2018 20:50 #230936
by BigMountainSkier
I agree that they seem to be way over capacity on good days. More lifts, more parking, more lodge space is sorely needed.
Skiing at Crystal today reminded me of my childhood mountain (Big Mountain in Whitefish, Montana, now Whitefish Mountain) was in the 80's. Long lines and short on capacity.
Replied by BigMountainSkier on topic Re: Crystal - 1/27/2018
I hate to say it but Crystal probably needs that Kellys Gap lift,because the moring lines are getting kinda messy
I agree that they seem to be way over capacity on good days. More lifts, more parking, more lodge space is sorely needed.
Skiing at Crystal today reminded me of my childhood mountain (Big Mountain in Whitefish, Montana, now Whitefish Mountain) was in the 80's. Long lines and short on capacity.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Eric Lindahl
- [ejlindahl]
- Offline
- Junior Member
Less
More
- Posts: 125
- Thank you received: 0
28 Jan 2018 08:56 #230938
by Eric Lindahl
Replied by Eric Lindahl on topic Re: Crystal - 1/27/2018
"in the 80's. Long lines and short on capacity." Same in the 60's & 70's for all the local areas.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Trolleyman
- [Inspector]
- Offline
- New Member
Less
More
- Posts: 48
- Thank you received: 1
28 Jan 2018 10:50 #230940
by Trolleyman
Replied by Trolleyman on topic Re: Crystal - 1/27/2018
Your description of long waits brings back memories of Mt. Baker in the late 70's. Only one small lodge and average 45 minute wait time in lift lines on weekends. We were lucky to get 10 runs in a full day. Thank goodness for detachable chairs to help thin the crowds out after lunch.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- avajane
- [avajane]
- Offline
- Premium Member
Less
More
- Posts: 638
- Thank you received: 1
28 Jan 2018 23:35 #230943
by avajane
Replied by avajane on topic Re: Crystal - 1/27/2018
Squaw Valley in the 70's...Would hop on early and ski the highest, farthest back lift, Shirley Lake, until it hit 45 min or longer (crazy Euro line - no lines for control). KT 22 was the savior as there was no easy way down - didn't groom up there back then.
Time for some new resorts eh? You can only put in so many high capacity lifts before the trails get too crowded. I know...in Europe now, and when 6 pacs and Gondolas end up in the same spots, you have massive scrums!
Time for some new resorts eh? You can only put in so many high capacity lifts before the trails get too crowded. I know...in Europe now, and when 6 pacs and Gondolas end up in the same spots, you have massive scrums!
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.