Catamount 2/12/2004

severine · Feb 14, 2004, 7:47 AM

I'll start off by saying I can now sympathize with that other thread about non-posted races occuring. I had checked their events calendar ahead of time, but found upon arrival that some huge kids' race was going on even though it was Thursday during the day. Parts of the mountain were shut down for the race (although it didn't directly affect me because I can't ski black diamonds yet) and, of course, the lodge was packed full in spite of our wishful expectations that it would be pretty uncrowded on a weekday. On the plus side, full day lift tickets are only $15 on Wed and Thur, so that helped make up for the inconvenience.
Snow conditions varied drastically throughout the mountain. In some areas, it was a rough machine groomed packed/sometimes hard packed powder. In other areas, it was soft with a thick layer of powder, and just about everything in between, including death cookies on a few of the trails. Lift lines on the easier side of the mountain were mostly nonexistant due to the race on the right side. Trails were fairly uncrowded until around noon and after. By 3:30, busloads of kids started arriving, just in time for us to leave and avoid the largest crowds of the day.
Overall, it was nice having the trails mostly to ourselves. But the lodge was way too crowded with parents hanging around while their children raced, to the point of blocking our bags in when I needed to get my neck gaiter out at lunch time and having to sit outside to eat our lunch because every table was full. If I skied black diamonds, I probably would have been more upset about the race, but it didn't affect me on the greens and blues that I skied. Can't beat the value, unless you go to Butternut on Mon or Tues.

I'm definitely looking forward to going back there again.

Joshua B · Feb 14, 2004, 11:01 AM

Nice report. For a while it seemed I was the only one who cared about unexpected races! Everyone else seemed to think it was nothing even worth mentioning.

severine · Feb 16, 2004, 6:26 PM

I can totally sympathize with you now. As I mentioned, if I had been of a higher ability level, it would have affected me more, but it was still irritating to find the mountain overrun with racing children on a school day and the lodge packed full with parents who were reluctant to make room for anyone else. At least it was cheap...
Ironically, when we went to Mohawk on Saturday, we hit Arrowhead just as they were cleaning up a practice race course. The course covered some of my favorite intermediate terrain there--had I hit that side of the mountain earlier, it most certainly would have affected me and potentially ruined the good day I was having. Once again, it was an unposted event. I feel for you! At least luck was on my side with that one and I happened to hit that trail at the right time (they were literally cleaning up that course as I got there)...lack of liftlines and fairly uncrowded trails also helped with that one. But I'm still a bit peeved...

threecy · Feb 18, 2004, 6:45 PM

One positive thing about races - generally only one trail is closed and also, though there may be a few hundred racers, they'll only use the lift 3 or 4 times.

uphillklimber · Feb 18, 2004, 8:39 PM

Most of the mountains we ski at have racing, but it occupies only a single trail or two. Out of upwards of 120 trails, that ain't so bad. And mostly, there are crowds of racers and their friends and family packed around the event. Shucks, we have even watched some of the events. They don't crowd the lodge for most of the time the events are occuring. It, to us, is basically a non issue. In fact we like watching them as we ride the lift. Now when we go to a smaller mountain, 30 trails or less, you would think it would have more impact on us, but it's only one trail again. And the mountain gets some kind of revenue out of it, which can't be all bad.

severine · Feb 18, 2004, 9:16 PM

Catamount technically has 29 trails.... but you know how resorts like to name little 10ft sections as separate trails. It's more like 20-25 trails, and then you have to take away the 5 or so of them that are considered "learning areas", so it doesn't leave much--especially if you can't ski black diamonds yet like me.
During the week, about half of the lifts at Catamount aren't operated. On the day we went, only one lift to the summit was being utilized (the same the racers were using). There is another lift that goes to the top of the left section of the mountain, but you can access only about 1/3 of the mountain from that lift. So you see, since Catamount is a smaller mountain, it is a greater inconvenience. Unfortunately with the lack of larger ski areas close by, the small ones around here get crowded quickly and often. It's not the same as you'd find further north. I imagine this wouldn't be as much of an issue at a larger ski area, but it is around here.

Joshua B · Feb 18, 2004, 9:31 PM

I think it's obvious that some people have never been inconvenienced by races. But those of us who have can understand each other's frustration.

Yes, of course races bring in lots of money to the ski area, and we all want to see our favorite ski areas do well.

threecy · Feb 18, 2004, 11:55 PM

Yes, races can be an inconvenience, but I think if it weren't for the attitudes some racers had, people wouldn't mind as much.

In a year like this, racers pay the bills at many ski areas.

uphillklimber · Feb 19, 2004, 7:19 AM

I can see where the mountain layout can really tie up the trails and not cater to the recreational skiier. I guess we just drew the long straw as far as the moutains we ski at. Kind of reminds me of trying to go bowling. The lanes are always full of leagues and you can never bowl there. I'd write a calm, well written letter to management about the situation and ask them if they can make some allowances for the recreational skier.

There is a good point about the skiers who are racing. Seems they have to race from the top of the lift to the top of the race trail, cutting off everyone in the process. This has happened on occasion to us. Generally, these kids are late teens with just about zero respect fro anyone else. I haven't complained to management yet about that, but the next time, I think I will.

Respect and courtesy seems to be on the way out sometimes. How many have seen a group of kids stopped and chatting, then as you go to ski around them, they just start to go, without looking over their shoulders.....

Once at Attitash, when we arrived, the mountain ambassadors opened doors for us and greeted us warmly. They truly are a friendly bunch there. That is in stark contrast to the younger generation that skiis there. They think nothing of entirely blocking a trail, and standing there glaring at you. I did write management about their ambassadors friendliness, and lamented the lack of respoect shown by the younger skiiers. This year, the skiiers have been better mannered. I only wonder if they are emphsizing courtesy at the ski school there on account of what I and hopefully others had written....

skijay · Feb 19, 2004, 9:57 AM

Try Catamount's neighbor, Butternut. It is about 10-15 minutes away on rt 23 (eastbound). They have the summit quad running daily which accesses all type of terrain. I have been there during the week on "bus load" days and never had a problem.

I also like the fact that during races they fire up the poma lift for them.

Feb 14, 2004, 7:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
severine My skis! Dynastar Marie Martinod Pro & Line Celebrity Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: CT Posts: 5,115	Catamount 2/12/2004 I'll start off by saying I can now sympathize with that other thread about non-posted races occuring. I had checked their events calendar ahead of time, but found upon arrival that some huge kids' race was going on even though it was Thursday during the day. Parts of the mountain were shut down for the race (although it didn't directly affect me because I can't ski black diamonds yet) and, of course, the lodge was packed full in spite of our wishful expectations that it would be pretty uncrowded on a weekday. On the plus side, full day lift tickets are only $15 on Wed and Thur, so that helped make up for the inconvenience. Snow conditions varied drastically throughout the mountain. In some areas, it was a rough machine groomed packed/sometimes hard packed powder. In other areas, it was soft with a thick layer of powder, and just about everything in between, including death cookies on a few of the trails. Lift lines on the easier side of the mountain were mostly nonexistant due to the race on the right side. Trails were fairly uncrowded until around noon and after. By 3:30, busloads of kids started arriving, just in time for us to leave and avoid the largest crowds of the day. Overall, it was nice having the trails mostly to ourselves. But the lodge was way too crowded with parents hanging around while their children raced, to the point of blocking our bags in when I needed to get my neck gaiter out at lunch time and having to sit outside to eat our lunch because every table was full. If I skied black diamonds, I probably would have been more upset about the race, but it didn't affect me on the greens and blues that I skied. Can't beat the value, unless you go to Butternut on Mon or Tues. I'm definitely looking forward to going back there again.

Feb 18, 2004, 8:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
uphillklimber Pico Mountain, Vermont Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Barrington, New Hampshire Posts: 1,163	Most of the mountains we ski at have racing, but it occupies only a single trail or two. Out of upwards of 120 trails, that ain't so bad. And mostly, there are crowds of racers and their friends and family packed around the event. Shucks, we have even watched some of the events. They don't crowd the lodge for most of the time the events are occuring. It, to us, is basically a non issue. In fact we like watching them as we ride the lift. Now when we go to a smaller mountain, 30 trails or less, you would think it would have more impact on us, but it's only one trail again. And the mountain gets some kind of revenue out of it, which can't be all bad. __________________ lovin life, Bob "My helmet is my LAST line of defense, not my first."

Feb 19, 2004, 7:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
uphillklimber Pico Mountain, Vermont Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Barrington, New Hampshire Posts: 1,163	I can see where the mountain layout can really tie up the trails and not cater to the recreational skiier. I guess we just drew the long straw as far as the moutains we ski at. Kind of reminds me of trying to go bowling. The lanes are always full of leagues and you can never bowl there. I'd write a calm, well written letter to management about the situation and ask them if they can make some allowances for the recreational skier. There is a good point about the skiers who are racing. Seems they have to race from the top of the lift to the top of the race trail, cutting off everyone in the process. This has happened on occasion to us. Generally, these kids are late teens with just about zero respect fro anyone else. I haven't complained to management yet about that, but the next time, I think I will. Respect and courtesy seems to be on the way out sometimes. How many have seen a group of kids stopped and chatting, then as you go to ski around them, they just start to go, without looking over their shoulders..... Once at Attitash, when we arrived, the mountain ambassadors opened doors for us and greeted us warmly. They truly are a friendly bunch there. That is in stark contrast to the younger generation that skiis there. They think nothing of entirely blocking a trail, and standing there glaring at you. I did write management about their ambassadors friendliness, and lamented the lack of respoect shown by the younger skiiers. This year, the skiiers have been better mannered. I only wonder if they are emphsizing courtesy at the ski school there on account of what I and hopefully others had written.... __________________ lovin life, Bob "My helmet is my LAST line of defense, not my first."

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Feb 14, 2004, 11:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
Joshua B Mad River Glen Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hudson, MA Posts: 918	Nice report. For a while it seemed I was the only one who cared about unexpected races! Everyone else seemed to think it was nothing even worth mentioning.

Feb 16, 2004, 6:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
severine My skis! Dynastar Marie Martinod Pro & Line Celebrity Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: CT Posts: 5,115	I can totally sympathize with you now. As I mentioned, if I had been of a higher ability level, it would have affected me more, but it was still irritating to find the mountain overrun with racing children on a school day and the lodge packed full with parents who were reluctant to make room for anyone else. At least it was cheap... Ironically, when we went to Mohawk on Saturday, we hit Arrowhead just as they were cleaning up a practice race course. The course covered some of my favorite intermediate terrain there--had I hit that side of the mountain earlier, it most certainly would have affected me and potentially ruined the good day I was having. Once again, it was an unposted event. I feel for you! At least luck was on my side with that one and I happened to hit that trail at the right time (they were literally cleaning up that course as I got there)...lack of liftlines and fairly uncrowded trails also helped with that one. But I'm still a bit peeved...

Feb 18, 2004, 6:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
threecy Mt. Monadnock, NH Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tamworth, NH Posts: 892	One positive thing about races - generally only one trail is closed and also, though there may be a few hundred racers, they'll only use the lift 3 or 4 times.

Feb 18, 2004, 9:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
severine My skis! Dynastar Marie Martinod Pro & Line Celebrity Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: CT Posts: 5,115	Catamount technically has 29 trails.... but you know how resorts like to name little 10ft sections as separate trails. It's more like 20-25 trails, and then you have to take away the 5 or so of them that are considered "learning areas", so it doesn't leave much--especially if you can't ski black diamonds yet like me. During the week, about half of the lifts at Catamount aren't operated. On the day we went, only one lift to the summit was being utilized (the same the racers were using). There is another lift that goes to the top of the left section of the mountain, but you can access only about 1/3 of the mountain from that lift. So you see, since Catamount is a smaller mountain, it is a greater inconvenience. Unfortunately with the lack of larger ski areas close by, the small ones around here get crowded quickly and often. It's not the same as you'd find further north. I imagine this wouldn't be as much of an issue at a larger ski area, but it is around here.

Feb 18, 2004, 9:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Joshua B Mad River Glen Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hudson, MA Posts: 918	I think it's obvious that some people have never been inconvenienced by races. But those of us who have can understand each other's frustration. Yes, of course races bring in lots of money to the ski area, and we all want to see our favorite ski areas do well.

Feb 18, 2004, 11:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
threecy Mt. Monadnock, NH Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tamworth, NH Posts: 892	Yes, races can be an inconvenience, but I think if it weren't for the attitudes some racers had, people wouldn't mind as much. In a year like this, racers pay the bills at many ski areas.

Feb 19, 2004, 9:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
skijay Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: CT Avatar: T-bar @ Mont Shefford Posts: 689	Try Catamount's neighbor, Butternut. It is about 10-15 minutes away on rt 23 (eastbound). They have the summit quad running daily which accesses all type of terrain. I have been there during the week on "bus load" days and never had a problem. I also like the fact that during races they fire up the poma lift for them.