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Crotched 02/07/10

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hammer Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Aug 11, 2004 Posts: 202 Location:Massachusetts	Posted: Feb 08, 2010 - 3:42 PM GMT Was there yesterday with the family...conditions on the groomed trails were, for the most part, great. Managed to get several nice runs in down Pluto's Plunge and UFO/Equinox in the AM. Worst spot was the center of Moon Walk which was scraped/windblown...I normally don't go down the summit that way and one time was enough. The very top of Pluto's Plunge was a much better route. Went through Solstice glade once and, while it was a bit bony in spots, I was able to get through at least part of it without issues. Hit Final Frontier a few times once the sun was on it. There were a few spots where grass was showing but the trail is so open that those spots are easily avoided. The snow in the area was hardpack but was completely edgeable. Biggest downers were the cold/wind and the crowds from the races. Having the east quad shut down for a while around lunch didn't help either. Given my aversion to crowds, I think I will stay away from Crotched on these types of race days in the future.

joshua segal Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Jul 12, 2004 Posts: 4271 Location:NH	Posted: Feb 08, 2010 - 11:09 PM GMT Wow! You really are crowd-sensitive. The line was maybe 3-minutes for the half-hour or so that the Valley Chair was down! What you experienced on Moon Walk, IMHO was a screw up by the groomer. It was repaired today. __________ Joshua Segal

rstuthill Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 1632 Location:Bolton, CT	Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 12:37 AM GMT Quote: Given my aversion to crowds, I think I will stay away from Crotched on these types of race days in the future. Come on over to Berkshire East. No crowds, mellow regulars, old fashioned vibe, and the mountain is in great shape.

hammer Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Aug 11, 2004 Posts: 202 Location:Massachusetts	Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 3:28 AM GMT Edited: Feb 09, 2010 - 12:02 PM GMT Quote: Wow! You really are crowd-sensitive. The line was maybe 3-minutes for the half-hour or so that the Valley Chair was down! What you experienced on Moon Walk, IMHO was a screw up by the groomer. It was repaired today. A 3 minute wait by Crotched standards is an eternity. I could have handled the lines for the summit lift but I didn't want to deal with a bunch of racer kids from the summit. No matter, the double was ski-on and there was plenty of space on the trails over on the west side. The crowds were worse in the lodge...normally my family never has to share a table but we did yesterday. With the crowds came the problems with gear under the tables (which I thought that Crotched didn't allow). I realize that the crowds were tame in comparison to larger places, but I guess I can be picky that way...

joshua segal Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Jul 12, 2004 Posts: 4271 Location:NH	Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 12:42 PM GMT Quote: ... The crowds were worse in the lodge... I realize that the crowds were tame in comparison to larger places, but I guess I can be picky that way... I heard the lodge was problematic - but since I was on the hill all day, I din't notice that. But I am curious: Are you saying that you just wouldn't ski any more on a Sunday - or that you would be going elsewhere? And if the answer is "elsewhere", I wonder what the place might be. __________ Joshua Segal

lotsoskiing Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Aug 17, 2009 Posts: 344 Location:	Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 1:21 PM GMT Race crowds are hard to deal with, especially in the lodge, at any area. And, resorts are asking for more races to be held on Sundays, as they are usually lighter 'public' days. So, they won't go away, and chances are you will find a race at most areas on Sundays. However, I know the racing community battles with itself to get parents and racers alike to treat the lodge and the other guests better. Some race organizers designate a volunteer to patrol the lodge to ask people to take care of bags, clean up, and keep from hogging the tables (the moms who take over the joint with coolers, laptops, etc...) throughout the day. The races generate a lot of money for many ski areas and provide a great athletic opportunity for kids. Hopefully they can reform from within to make the experience less of a hassle for those not there for the race.

aricracer Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 212 Location:Sunset Lake	Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 3:06 PM GMT Edited: Feb 09, 2010 - 3:16 PM GMT Being a masters racer, I can relate to these pros and cons about the crowded lodge. The best answer to the problem, is to have a seprate building for the racers to gather and put their stuff. I arrived at Crotched around 2:30 that day, just as they were pulling the course. I didn't go upstairs, so I can't comment about that. But it did seem busy, lots were full. There wasn't any lift line at that point, but I was a bit surprised to see how "skied off" the trails were. By another area's standard, the snow was still in good shape for a Sunday afternoon, but I'm used to getting there during the week, and still seeing patches of groomed snow. lol Though I will say UFO was in bad shape overall, but what's one short trail... But "busy" weekends are important for the cash flow.

hammer Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Aug 11, 2004 Posts: 202 Location:Massachusetts	Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 3:51 PM GMT I'd definitely go back on a Sunday...on just about any Sunday I've gone, the lifts are practically ski-on and there's plenty of room in the lodge. I'd just avoid going if I know there will be a big race event. BTW, UFO was fine in the morning but I only went down it a few times.

tedede Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Nov 15, 2004 Posts: 420 Location:Amherst, NH	Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 4:22 PM GMT Quote: Being a masters racer, I can relate to these pros and cons about the crowded lodge. The best answer to the problem, is to have a seprate building for the racers to gather and put their stuff. Unfortunately, building a new lodge just for the occasional race day would not be practical for most areas. If you want to know where most of the racers will be in NH, check out the NHARA Website for the various calendars. For a consolidated list of races, check the TD Assignments page on the site.

aricracer Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 212 Location:Sunset Lake	Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 4:36 PM GMT No, I agree it wouldn't make sense for Crotched to build something for an occasional race day. But a lot of the areas where I've raced at in the North East do have separate buildings for the racers. Or have sections of the lodge than can be reserved. But some do not, and you have to make the best of sharing common space. And I'm not experienced with youth racing scene, I can imagine they bring a bit of "energy" to the situation that us geezers don't. lol I worked at Crotched the second season they were open, and there was almost no racing happening at that point, so it's good to see that changing. Racing is a very important for a small/medium sized area IMO.

JR Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Apr 27, 2002 Posts: 71 Location:	Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 6:45 PM GMT I believe I was there last year on the Buddy W. Race Day. I remember getting there early -815 and finding all the parking spots along the slopes filled with very large SUVs, all with very large ski coffins on the top. Actually a pretty impressive site. I skied on Saturday this week for a couple of reasons, knowing the event is early and large played a small part in that decision.

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