Crystal - Arm twist on 07-08 Season Passes

Thanks for the comments (and the pics!).  I guess it's all just a value judgement. 

I am a Crystal fan and can imagine how difficult it is to run that place.  They do some odd things and the way they handle weekend crowds is insane. 

I am glad that I got my bc gear in case I decide to spend my winter hiking.  I have heard at least two folks tell me they don't ski Crystal anymore because they have skied it all over many years.  I am not even half way there yet.  So, I'll be there. 

In a way I don't understand why they want to put in more chairs and a tram - they can't squeeze anymore people in there if parking doesn't increase.  Maybe they think they can get a bigger midweek crowd?  There have been times when I swear that I got the last parking spot and some people had actually turned around, heading back down the road.  So, how can they increase revenue (except by raising pass prices)?

I believe that my effective lift cost was about $25 per trip this year, so I can't complain too much.  I guess it's cheaper than owning a boat.

 

I will buy several passes at xtal for next year and it's gonna hurt. Been buying midweek at the pass for years, but all the kids will likely be in CMAC. That's gonna hurt too, but it sure made the one who did it this year a good skier.

I wonder how frequently the new Northway chair will be open midweek? Often 6 is closed midweek, so how will they handle another chair (requiring more lifties, groom staff etc.) if the crowds are midweek sized? Could be a real downer if they save the Northway goods for weekenders, but it wouldn't be a big surprise.

Good point !!!! It wouldn't be hard to believe that management intentionally delayed openings so full price skiers could get the goods instead of us brown baggin granola crunching mid weekers. South was frequently closed after a midweek dump this year. Many times it opened very late in the day 2pm or later, same with North. I hitched out of Northway several times, might have to leave a bike there next year. I was very pleased that Crystal got the bus running with all of the oil spill cleanup going on. The spin on lifties was that there wern't enough ops to run Chairs 4&7 most days. I was very disappointed to see the snowboard ditch in the middle of Quicksilver again this year. What a waste of a good run for a feature that no one used. I'd love to see the some of the park monkeys come OB for some real terrain features...

The thing that really got me last year was the amount of time Chair 6, North and South backcountrys were closed mid week. Ski patrol started reducing staffing in mid March, during a banner year, because they were not selling enough lift tickets daily, looks like they care about season pass holders. I just want to know that I am getting all that Crystal has for my $800. The cynic in me believes that the new northway lift will not run much midweek. Patrol will need to hire how many more people (8 maybe more) to handle this new inbounds area? Honestly I don't care if the chair runs as long as they let us ski it.

reading about these passes discourages me....anyone have a recommendation for the best deal on a pass for skiing this year for someone living in Portland? I know the skiing in Washington is great (Baker, CM, Alpental...etc) but a little far to make buying a pass worthwhile, especially since I will only have weekends to get out mainly. I have looked into Bachelor and the Mt Hood areas and I have to say the prices around here are crazy, being used to the Colorado 5 mountain season Pass at $450 for multiple mountains. anyways, I didn't expect a deal like this, but didn't think I would have to pay close to a grand for a season pass.....any ideas for a deal would help! Thanks! Right now I am thinking about not getting a pass and hitting the backcountry most of the time.

Mt.Hood Meadows has a deal where season passes are $400 if you arrange your own group purchase of 4 passes at the same time.

check portland craigslist or www.mthoodlist.com if you're looking for others to do a group season pass purchase...probably plenty of folks out there wanting to pool their $$.