One thing we keep getting questions about is the new policy of keeping crowds in the breezeway until 8:45 instead of letting people line up at Summit or Roundhouse. We’ve heard three different explanations for this new “policy”:
• “It’s too dangerous to be out there if a large avalanche were to come down during control work.” This explanation makes sense when we have had some really big days. Today there was only 6 inches reported.
• “We can’t have the general public anywhere within X feet of explosive charges, which patrollers could be carrying as they return to base.” It seems like that has not been a problem before, was there some accident that was kept under wraps where a guest was exploded by a charge near the ski racks?
• “We’re punishing people for that snowball throwing incident in the Summit line a few weeks ago.” This is the only plausible explanation.
One thing that has always separated Alpine Meadows from other resorts is a sense of organization. A line forms, someone comes and helps that organization along, and people respect that. That meant that the people that wanted first tracks just needed to get up early, get to Alpine Meadows and be willing to wait in line. Apparently that’s not the way it works anymore.
Now you have to train all summer for the 75 yard slightly uphill sprint to first chair. Sure that’s fine if you’re 16 years old, but what if you’re a middle aged guy like me? We don’t stand a chance anymore. What if you’re 80 and have been skiing Alpine Meadows your entire life? Somebody is likely to get hurt if the policy doesn’t go back to “normal” soon.
Can you imagine what that stampede looks like over at the KT-22 chair over at Squaw on a powder day? What would happen if they held the crowds at the tram building entrance for safety, and made them do a mad dash? I imagine it would look something like this:
But they are not following that same policy over at Squaw Valley…not at all. Maybe that’s what Andy Wirth meant when he insisted that they would retain the individual flavors of each mountain? If the first two “safety reasons” given above meant anything, wouldn’t they apply equally to all mountains? We would love to hear your thoughts on that!
This post originally appeared as a part of yesterday’s “Get High” post. It was separated as it seems too important.
I’d be quite frustrated if I showed up at 8, and had to compete for a line spot with people that showed up 30 minutes later.
Yet another reason it’s just better over at Squaw. Everyone should go there, especially on a powder day. Did you hear they’re giving out Jager shots this weekend?
We hate KSL’s “not so new” policy of not opening ABC on a day like this. Just to give you an idea of how bad it was at the bottom, the parking lot was an ice rink, scary!
One of my most terrible days at KT-22 was a powder day and we had three kids with us (all good skiers, but short). The KT-22 line up crowd stomped over the kids skis and ran over our old folks skis too. That was the quintessential Squaw experience…
Sounds like our experience last year on a powder day riding up the Funi. No capacity control up the Funi, must have been over 100 people in each cart. My 6 year old was squeezed so hard he was crying. Never again.
How this is the quality of his ‘product’, Im positive he really listens….or cares…
The Avalanche hazard logic absolutely works on a big day at Alpine–and I have been held in the breeze way many times over the past 15 years while patrol finishes their rounds. In fact, we all may remember that the catastrophic avalanche in the 80s slid through the old patrol shack there. Considering the wide and unpredictable propagation that could occur on the buried weak layer, I can see why they might make the request. The snowpack is a little less typical this year and they were actively controlling this morning.
The solution? I’m not sure. Hopefully the avy activity settles down and patrol feels more comfortable. It seems unlikely patrol would retaliate for snowball throwing.
And the base of KT is not in a direct Avalanche path, clearly they are worried a slide could run all the way from Estelle or Bernies.
What the hell is going on this year? We have a normal year of snow, plenty of anxious skiers and now we hall monitors that need to take roll at the beginning of class to keep order? What happened to the freedom of getting up early, waiting for first chair and scoring the goods with a big smile on your face? Oh yeah, and then I woke up…
Yep I really dislike the “breezeway” policy as It creates a mess. I get there early and I don’t mind waiting. But this new “race to the lift” policy is just stupid.
I don’t understand how the open doors of the breezeway would protect us from that big Avalanche . If a slide was big enough to get to the bottom of the lifts, wouldn’t it continue right into the breezeway? I remember in the past, the breezeway doors would remain closed if we were not allowed to go to the lifts. The doors would be opened when it was deemed safe. The last few times the doors were wide open and the hosts were outside the doors and other employees were at the lifts working. In the past, even the employees were inside the closed doors and no one was working at the lifts. It all seems a bit inconsistent to say the least.
Holding folks in the breezeway and then dropping a rope at 8:45 so that everyone can bang one another with skis and boards while they sprint up the hill in their ski boots is akin to holding the same equipment at a Marathon running event… yeah people, as may Mom used to remind me on endless occasions… someone is going to get hurt… its all fun and games till someone gets poked in the eye…
KSL- Like Trump, Destined to Make Alpine (and Amerka) great again.
Sven
There treats in the breezeway
Most here are familiar with mobile technology
Its called flash mob….what would they b able to do, not open the lift? er, probably.
Id rather take my chances in KT line more entertaining and you might even get a glimpse of JT or Johnny…..
If you have kids,,, um you might think twice tho…jeebus dad who posted above…thats borderline child abuse…someone should mention your decision to CPS. Toughen up and quit whining..your kids r gonna grow up timid…
Thanks Obama
I think the snowball throwing and grumbling during that crazy day got under their skin!
Safety first but this is retarded!
Why not wait until the lifts are ready to load, fire the starters pistol and reward first chair riders with a free lift ticket. Make for some great “GoPro” video. Or, be a great way to start the Rahlves Banzai race. The first 100 people to get on the chair are in. Maybe start at the front of the breezeway.
So what’s the story about the snowballs?
yeah, I want to know about the snowballs too… however if everyone brought a snowball with them into the breezeway, that would help pass the time… I keep thinking about something I read once about asylums and who is running them.. but I guess we’ll continue to see just how nuts the Crazy Elitist One gets… however on a safety note, little kids and elders should stay at the back of the stampede…
Brilliant. This Saturday there should be a huge snowball fight *in* the breezeway.
Is this a weekend thing? If so, I’m ok with it. Should be status quo for bay area folk, they bring lines and and a general junkshow everywhere they go. Matter of fact, I’m shape and bigger than most of you – I’m ok with this policy any day of the week. Waking up early is for suckers anyway, I’ll be showing up at the crack of 9 and still getting my line. Someone make sure to post up some footy of the snowball fight, please.
On a related topic – last Monday, holiday crowds, beautiful day, and “Mountain hosts” in line to ski while mayhem ensues in the summit corral. Kate would have gotten things under control! Response from the Mountain Hostess when asked about their lack of effort: “at squaw they don’t need line control”…
The main thing I have heard is that guests aren’t supposed to be within 300ft of patrollers carrying explosives. I doubt this is a retaliation in any way for the snowball throwing. Since they’ve held people in the breezeway there hasn’t been any late openings due to mountain ops, just wind/lift maintenance issues, so it must be helping.
It is frustrating waiting in the breezeway, but I dont really know of a better solution for the mad sprint up to the lifts. Any suggestions?
Anyone over 40 gets a one minute head start in the sprint?
can over 50’s get 3 ??
All of this because of a few jackasses who couldn’t wait patiently! KT might be a shit show but you’d never see the snowball incident. Impatient, disrespectful pricks!! The 3 main culprits should have been singled out and dealt with! Dickheads!!