February 13, 2011 Crystal Mountain

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.

To whom might one send a note oif concern regarding the early ups?

Good question. I sent mine to Marketing, but never sure if that gets accidentally hit by the delete button before it is ever read. As politically as I try to balance my letters, I still never hear back from those.
I will discuss this with John when I see him, he might as well know how I feel.
I would think that if they got 1000 letters that were against it, that it may be considered.

On a positive note, on Chex the singles line ran right up to the electronic gate and there was a liftee then adding singles as needed. There was not one empty seat on any on the chairs! Though it was a zoo and there was a line, a line is much easier for me to take knowing that the resort is doing what it can to make sure the wait is as short as possible. So, way to go Crystal.

To whom might one send a note oif concern regarding the early ups?

Also, had a bizarre experience on the traverse from the Throne to the Throne/King saddle with some of the blueshirts. Upshot was they had a class and one of their less suave members was freaking out at people passing the class. I waited at the start of the traverse for the clog to clear at that first turn going around the  back of the throne when said member skied into me and then started bitching me out for stopping on the traverse. I pointed out that I was waiting for his class to clear the traverse, he got more verbally abusive with both me and others. Really bad form for a representative of CM as well as a "leader" for the kid class.

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"

Crystal sounds like a wonderful, laid back place to ski with family and it sounds like they care about all their customers.

Crystal sounds like a wonderful, laid back place to ski with family and it sounds like they care about all their customers.

LOL.
It is indeed a zoo at Crystal on a busy day and a behaviour scientists dream.
I'm not sure Crystal Management can be blamed for it all though as much of the daily drama is as a result of too many people all wanting to do THEIR thing .
Put too many rats in the cage together and they start eating each other.
It was cannibal time yesterday at about 10.30AM!
I love it personally.
Combat skiing!