Crystal - 02/18

Very nice day, early sun to filtered sun, to pretty grey conditions with very light snow flurries. Mostly light crowd no lift lines other than the Gondy and FQ. We did a lot of PB/BP runs today. Best places any semi north facing slopes. Ice in overly skied areas, but most of Crystal is cut up pow and packed pow. Saw the pay lot full for the first time this year, and B lot today was sort of full (big gaps between rows – probably really only ¾ full if there had been any parking lot workers) Fun day with a big core group. ddk

The best non-powder day in a long time.  Great packed powder on the shaded aspects.  Sun facing slopes varied from not so good to great.  Breakover into Sunnyside was great, but Memorial and Door 4 – not-so good.  As ddk said, Powder Bowl and Bear Pits won run-of-the-day.  Exterminator a close second.  Great day with a flock of friends swarming 'round the mountain.
Busiest friday this year, longest line (twice) 2 minutes.  Most were zero.  Except, Gondola.  Most people there I've seen this year.  Gondy will be shut down one day next week to add additional buckets, which will help.
More:
Might be some sun damage (was some from yesterday) but the weekend crowd should whip it into shape quicker than today.

Gondy will be shut down one day next week to add additional buckets, which will help.

Looks like it will only be closed for 2 hours on Wednesday: 
www.crystalmountainresort.com/Events/121...ola-gets-more-cabins

Mt. Rainier Gondola gets more cabins!
02/23/2011

Six more cabins are being added to the Mt. Rainier Gondola. The gondola will be closed in the morning for maintenance testing and will reopen at approximately 11 a.m.
These six cabins will decrease the wait between cabins from a minute to around forty seconds and increase the capacity to 650 people per hour.

Looks like it will only be closed for 2 hours on Wednesday

Got the word from an G-op. Given Crystal's track record on the Gondola schedule.......