February 13, 2011 Crystal Mountain

I was right there with you. It was painful and irritating to watch, but untill CM does something about it, it's only going to get worse.

There were kids all over the Southback yesterday, traversing across A basin and Silver basin. As I exited Toaster chute I nearly ran into a group of 6 little gapers. On a hike up the King one little kid went sliding by me and ended up going under the boundry line, losing his skis. Is Crystal going to wait until a major incedent or are they going to consider a transever and shovel rule before something happens. I also think they should close the access to A basin from Hamburger permanently to prevent people from traversing under the avalanch chutes off the king.

Noticed a similar situation at Blackcomb yestereay...instructor leading a pack of ankle biters - some good some not so - watchin some blow up all over the slope after droping off a little jump beside a groomer run...couldnt figure out what the leason was....also have noticed similar situations up at Crystal lately...hhhmmm...

I am feeling left out and all alone missing all the drama and joy, I continue to mull the differences between Crystal and many of the other resorts I ski, perhaps the term resort explains it all. 6 days in Utah was so easy on my crapped out knees, next I'm off to Boulder for a stem cell kneefix .

When I first heard about the first tracks program I to was not a fan.  I even ranted on the CM facebook page, but after a little thought I changed my view (expecting to get totally slammed for this, but that's ok). 

As someone who used to ski mid-week in college and is now relegated to weekends, a few untracked pow runs holds massive value to me (as I am sure it does to most of you).  I guess this is why I started touring in the first place.  Anyway, when I think about how much skiing costs from gas, to pass, to gear, shelling out an extra $20 a couple times during the year seems like a small price to pay.

Yes it's elitist, but I am pretty sure untracked snow means a lot more to me than most weekend warriors (TAYers not included ).

So what am I getting at...the program is financially discriminatory (just like everything else in the world), but since it exists and the economics make sense... I am totally going to take advantage on a pow day.     

Complaining about the first tracks thing will get you nothing. Taking your business elsewhere might if done in large enough numbers, but based on all the complaining about what a zoo Crystal is on weekends, you'll be in a tiny minority. Want first tracks without paying? Hike. Am I missing something? You pay more, you get more. That's kind of how it works.

Interesting.  On Friday i had a similar incident w/ a CM rep stopping her group of ~ 7 or 8 wide eyed gapers right smack in the middle of the traverse right where it is closest to the cornices dropping down in to A basin.  No verbal altercation but one of her skiers shrieked when i was snaking my way through them and she was a bit off balance and nearly tumbled over.  It really struck me as an irresponsible place to stop and corral a bunch of skiers especially when there is a wide open platform another 150ft down the traverse at the base of the king bootpack.  Seems like CM needs to dial in their policy/procedures of the mountain "ambASSadors"

Do you mind if I paraphrase your comment "So I almost knocked over a skier while cutting through a group that stopped in a bad spot on a narrow part of the trail because I could not wait until the flat spot 150ft down the trail......"  I know thats not quite what you said but that's the way it might look from the person behind you.