December 29, 2005 Crystal Mt.

Now I know why I only ski week days on non-holiday weeks. Got a late start. Left Tacoma at 8 am. Got to within 2 miles of the upper parking lot, when the traffic came to a stand still, 2 mph crawl. I thought there was an accident. When I saw that the parking lots were packed full, I mean all the way down the hill, I promptly turned around and came home. It was a nice drive. Clear roads and a nice view of Rainier. <br><br>I don't like crowds. Maybe I'll start doing more backcountry routes during busy holiday skiing days.

lol thanks for the trip report was thinking about heading up there tomorrow, but scratch that. Crowds suck!..

I usually leave really early, just to beat the traffic in Tacoma. Around 5 am. If one were to leave early , maybe ski until noon or so, and then drive home while the weekend warriors are still driving up, it may be worth while. <br><br>But , a Friday before New Years Eve? I'm going to wait until next week.<br><br>Happy New Year everyone!!

For comparison, I was at Crystal on Tuesday (Dec 27). I was concerned there woud be crowds but found lots of new snow and no lift lines. Go figure.

Bandit, the lines on the mountain weren't all that bad, even for me (and I REALLY hate lift lines, I'm one of those people that always tries to yo-yo 50-60K of vertical if I'm paying for a lift ticket). I got there at 8:45, parked in the closest part of the lower lot (the RV lot), managed to buy a lift ticket within 10 minutes, and was on the lift just after 9AM.<br><br>Great conditions, partly sunny, 5" of powder atop 12+" of heavy consolidated powder atop last weekend's solidly frozen rain crust. Skied mostly Rex and Green Valley, lift lines were not too bad except a bit crowded from 10AM-1PM, but then were under 1 minute after 2PM on the upper mountain.<br><br>The big exception was the one time I tried to head up to Powder Bowl around noon, the Forest Queen lift was broken (or whatever) and I waited in line for 10 minutes before bailing out and skiing down. Don't know how long it took them to restart that lift, but the line had built to epic proportions by the time I bailed. A brief glance back at the Forest Queen around 2:30 showed it was still very crowded over there.<br><br>

I have to agree with Amar.  Today at Crystal was really quite good.  No lines on the Campbell basin lift.  They opened the Southback around 10:30 after being closed the past several days.  Almost no tracks and fantastic conditions in Silver basin, with about 12" of powder and very consistent top to bottom.  Forest Queen lines got backed up some, but I love lift skiing and don't really mind being around other people who love to ski    I think of it as a social opportunity.<br><br>Even on the last runs of the day, we found some nice hidden stashes off of the top of the Queen, and the groomers were really good down to the main lodge.  Visability was good for most of the day with views of Rainier.  Clouds moved in with some winds in the later afternoon.  Really a great day on the mountain.<br><br>Amar, sorry I missed seeing you. I think we did about 20K which was fine with alot of time spent hiking/traversing the Sback.

If you like waiting in line, I guess it's ok. I'm spoiled from skiing midweek. Ski right onto the chair. More skiing, just as much interaction with people. I like people, not lines and crowds and traffic jams. <br><br>I suppose if you are used to sitting on I-5, 405 or any other clogged road, then the holiday/weekend lift lines are right up your alley. Not mine. I'll stick to the solitude of midweek and "hardcore" skiiers who get in plenty of vertical.

my comment on lift lines was meant to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek, although I'm not adverse to waiting sometimes when there's good snow.  Some of us don't have the luxury of mid-week skiing.  Isn't it a bit arrogant to suggest that only mid-week skiers are "hardcore", can find solitude and get plenty of vertical?

It was so good south back had the super highway no posthole trail, but queens chair looked pretty festive, I think there were plenty of for everyone

Paul, It's pretty hard to be hardcore when you're waiting in lift lines and sitting on a chair. Just telling it like it is. Mid week is the only way to go. It's not a "luxury" to ski midweek. It's a sacrifice to work weekends to have days off during the week. A sacrifice well worth it. <br><br>Try it, you'll like it. <br><br>And yes, the midweek skiiers are the hardcore. There is a group of about six guys and one gal in their mid 60's who rip every day, midweek. That's "HARDCORE" baby. They don't mess with weekends. Can't get the vertical. I'm just repeatiing what they have said. But, I do agree.

We were there for my son's first ever Crystal day. I personally found the lift lines way over my annoyance threshhold, probably because the snow was so good.<br><br>More annoying was the theft of my backpack from the rack'o'pegs (provided for the purpose of hanging backpacks) at the base of Rainier Express. No I did not have a luggage lock on it but still. I hope the person who presumably paid for a lift ticket, and shares in some way our love of the mountains, enjoys my thermos, lunch remnants and assorted ski gloves. Should have used a crappy old duffel bag.<br><br>We also got the word that brown-bagging is not appreciated at the otherwise beautiful new lodge at the top of Forest Queen: be discreet and buy a little something.

Another factor to consider on busy, crowded weekend/holiday skiing days. More thieves come out. It's harder for them to be caught. Unfortunately, you have to lock up everything. Midweek isn't as bad. But, you still have some theft going on.<br><br>Glad to hear you got your son out there for the first time. <br><br>Just buy a cup of coffee and munch on your own food.

Bandit you should have stuck it out.  Actually Crystal did a good job in keeping the lift lines moving.  Despite what could easily have been a 10-15 minute or more wait was reduced to few minutes.  Assuming you ride solo or with a partner and hit up the singles line.  Inbounds and trees were especially kine if you were down with short hikes.  However by the 2nd or 3rd lap people had figured it out.  They opened South and that's where I finished my day.  Lots of untracked and pow flying all over.<br><br>You just gotta love all the drama during the cattle crossings. (Chinook to Queens lifts) ;D

I wish folks that post doing 50-60 vertical at Crystal could actually do that. That's a huge day for Crystal in a day even if someone were an expert skier.

I've done 46K @ Crystal on a nice sunny day. I don't think it's tough for some one to do a 50-60K day. I'm not the fastest skiier , so 50-60K seems reasonable. <br><br>It's more about quality than quantity. I've done 17K at Solitude on an epic powder day. That was one of the best skis days. Spent more time lounging and bullshitting with the troops than actually skiing. <br><br>To each his own.

 I wish folks that post doing 50-60 vertical at Crystal could actually do that. That's a huge day for Crystal in a day even if someone were an expert skier.

<br><br>Are you implying that some people might falsely claim to ski 50-60K in a day at Crystal?<br><br>It's actually quite easy (and enjoyable!) to ski over 60K vertical feet in a day at Crystal, as long as you go midweek when there are no crowds and during nice weather. I've skied over 70K there on several occasions, with a maximum of 80K (50 runs on Rex + 1 ride on Midway Shuttle [aka Chinook Express], 50 x 1584 + 1 x 850 = 80,050 total). That was 11 years ago, back when they had the Club Vertical which counted your skiing vertical for you and then gave you free stuff as you skied more and more vertical (free goggles, poles, and fleece vest for me, all of which I still use). And lift tickets were only $20 midweek! What a deal, no wonder they got rid of that program the next year.<br><br>On a big powder day, the most I've ever managed to ski at Crystal is 41K (on a day with 11" new officially reported, and drifts of 1-3 ft). The most I've ever heard of someone skiing in a day at Crystal is over 92K (58 runs on Rex). Maybe somebody has done even more than that.<br><br>