Crystal - 12/13 Ouch

Line for gondy was big today ,already past ski patrol by 7:40 so I opted for Chinook. Wise choice. Got 5th chair out of base and arrived to top at same time as 2 gondy bucket. Some guy was whining that his skis were removed from the Chnk line. They were in the waiting area when I got there at 7:45 and he didn't come back til' 8:35 . By that time Chnk line was already stretching up the hill towards Exterminator. What is it with people who think they can just drop their skis in line and think they can come back an hour later and their spot is saved? I grew up skiing Baker and have been to quite a few resorts and this saving your spot crap would never fly.  When myself and every other person in line stands in line for an hour I'll be damned if their spot is saved, they can wait just like the rest of us. Standing in line is good way spread good cheer and to meet people that share our same interests.
   That said I dropped into Cache off west side after power outage and was well rewarded with 2 wonderful runs down into drainage. Snow was quite stable with about 12"-16" on top of a good base. No nasty chunks like in Paradise Bowl.

Easiest skiing conditions I've seen in a while. It seems last night the high winds buffed everything and then stopped before another 4-6 fell with falling temps. Made things fast, easy, with no sign of the rain crust. I suppose a backcountry tour could've been interesting, though with the wind-snow sequence there could have been hidden wind slab.

And oh yeah, God Bless the Sea Hawks! The lines this morning made a brief appearance early but by game time they vaporized. I hope they go all the way, that would make for 6 (7?) more weekend days with unimpeded skiing...

.......As I was booting up and relaxing over the AM coffee, Seth Waterfall came by to chat and it was good to meet his wife, they both are living the dream......., I sauntered out to the line up and wow, the first group of bucket getters were a who's who of mt. guides, I counted  at least 5 E sum-miters standing right there........I was standing a ways back with a group of guys that talked the whole 1.5 I was standing there, in their 40's and they dropped the Dude word, "LIKE" 5000 times only to be followed with DUUUUDE how about that BUD we had last night DUDE, I am still sOOOOOOOOOOOOOFUed.....

Seth and his wife are incredibly nice people that are hard core jazzed skiers - fast and hot and willing to enjoy standing around in line for way way to long...it has been a pleasure talking to them for the last week or so, with the life they lead its amazing to be standing in the bucket line at Crystal...I was even more lucky not to be in the Dude crowd area. On the skis spot saving...its is nasty when someone drops their equipment off and disappears for an hour or so...otherwise great posts all about a really nice day. And I'm all for GO HAWKS all the way it does make for great skiing.

I think that there is something protective in a person who worries about sun affect in December. (I dig).

What is it with people who think they can just drop their skis in line and think they can come back an hour later and their spot is saved? I grew up skiing Baker and have been to quite a few resorts and this saving your spot crap would never fly.  When myself and every other person in line stands in line for an hour I'll be damned if their spot is saved, they can wait just like the rest of us. Standing in line is good way spread good cheer and to meet people that share our same interests.
   T

The general consensus among the locals I ski with is that you can drop skis to save a place and go get a coffee or toilet break but you'd better be back at least 30 mins before opening or else you lose your spot. I personally agree with you and always stay with my gear.

Can't say I enjoy lift lines one bit though! Bugger good cheer and meeting people....we're talking powder here and all those other people are there to take MY powder! This isn't a team sport!

The empty skis on the snow in the lift line are really bull shit. Why should one respect them. Why should one get in line behind an empty pair of skis. I just move them over so I can get behind the person ahead of me. I got into some real shit storms at Alta last year for not respecting the empty skis. Fortunately no one tried to sucker punch me for such audacity and when I moved into an empty space without empty skis and the guy told me I couldn't be there because he was saving it for his friend, I really got the privileged aggression verbal onslaught. I survived unscathed, but maybe I am living in the past and need to get with the new modern way of things.