Why Crystal sux

Keith,

OK, so I was on a tangent. I guess I got caught up in the negative flow of conversation and wanted to suggest ways to enjoy crowded crystal. I went back and read your original post and agree that you have a graet idea regarding theline at chinook! I know some management at crystal and will talk to them regarding your suggestion. I do not work for them, I just have been around a while.

By the way everyone, check out the bikini tree on snorting elk, hilarious!

By the way everyone, check out the bikini tree on snorting elk, hilarious!

Just spotted it monday. My kids thought it was pretty funny. Now there's the bra tree on Lucky Shot and the panty tree on SN!

After reading this entire thread I have just a few thoughts.
Moving the singles line at Chinook may help and it is unfortunate that there hasn't been a response to this suggestion.
I tend to think that the lifties could help this situation but the responsibility doesn't fall solely on the shoulders of the mountain staff. We, as fellow skiers could kindly find a way to group up to fill chairs and encourage those around us to do the same. Remind people that we are all trying to get up the hill. Maybe even strike up conversation with those around us. You certainly don't see empty chairs on 6 when there is a line. I actually think that many of the NW skiers are cordial in comparison to other parts of the country. I was just at Snowbird on a powder day and I witnessed some of the most aggressive line antics I have ever seen. It was mayhem and it reminded me that I wasn't at home.

I also want to give a shoutout to the lifties on the new Northway chair. I have often thought that the lifties at Crystal were slackers. Especially on 6 where the chair needs to be slowed down or "bucked" so it doesn't hit you in the back of legs. 6 was the only place on the mountain where lifties could get practice in this lost art. Until now. Being a quick fixed double chair Northway needs even more attention to load skiers pain free. The lifties yesterday were doing a fabulous job. It was like setting myself into a feather pillow instead of getting clubbed each time I loaded.
My assumptions have been altered and I applaud those guys. Thanks.
I think that I was able to get one more round of face shots in the Northway chute thanks to there dilligence.

Yeah, the Northway lifties were on it yesterday. They saved the back of my calves on at least one ride and got a hand on every chair that was being loaded from what I saw. Nice work guys. Even the lifties on 6 were friendly and attentive - is it always like this on Wednesdays?

I haven't been to Crystal on weekends lately, but moving the end of the singles line up so it can be used to fill the holes, and putting a liftie on station at the final merge to match folks both seem like good moves. Also, just asking odd numbered parties if they 'have room for a single' usually gets a good response on a crowded day.

i feel the pain of those in the lift line watching chairs go up empty. it's not a matter of "we have worse things to worry about in our life" we all know this, and also know that we are the most fortunate people on the planet, us skiers. however, it is a waste. just a waste. when i want to ski as much as humanly possible in a day i HATE the sight of chairs going up empty ahead of me (when there's a line up) because - IT'S A WASTE. whew, i feel better already just saying that out loud.

SnowGirl is happy to report that she had a long talk with the manager of lift ops and the singles line at Chinook will be adjusted tomorrow. As long as the ticket checkers can still check the singles tickets along with the other merging lines it sould work. Tomorrow will be a test....

Also, props to skifish for your top 10 list!