Are moguls a waste of trail space?

[Phildozer]

Given the number of people that ski moguls, are they a waste of trail space?

Wachusett in-particular. Only three main trails from the summit and the bumps on 10th really choke-off the trail, pushing the noobs to the right.

 

[Greg]

Given the number of people that ski moguls, are they a waste of trail space?

Wachusett in-particular. Only three main trails from the summit and the bumps on 10th really choke-off the trail, pushing the noobs to the right.

I have no data to back this up, but I would guess there are far more folks that would love some more of the terrain variety that moguls offer than you might think. Waste of trail space? There are thousands of boring groomed flat as a pancake trails in the Northeast. Bump skiers are the ones getting shafted, not groomer lovers. Believe it.

I can't speak for Wachusett specifically because I've never been there, but it's my understanding that 10th is pretty short and they groom half of it. A half trail of a couple hundred vertical feet doesn't seem like a lot of real estate to me.

 

[Phildozer]

A half trail of a couple hundred vertical feet doesn't seem like a lot of real estate to me.

Well, there's a shocking reply.

At Wachusett, the bumps are usually rock-solid and empty. If I've seen five people in there on any given night, I'd be shocked.

 

[Greg]

the bumps on 10th really choke-off the trail, pushing the noobs to the right.

BTW, isn't 10th rated a black diamond? That's for advanced skiers, not noobs.

 

[Phildozer]

BTW, isn't 10th rated a black diamond? That's for advanced skiers, not noobs.

Yeah, I guess it technically is but they're up there.

 

[4aprice]

Given the number of people that ski moguls, are they a waste of trail space?

Do you have stats on how many people ski moguls or are you judging from this forum? At my home mountain they give us 2 or 3 mogul trails out of 34. (and 1 of those trails is only 1/2 width). They seem to be busy. But as a mogul skier I think we get short changed because they took about 5 trails for terrain parks and opened them early while making us wait. No one seems to complain about that.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I have no data to back this up, but I would guess there are far more folks that would love some more of the terrain variety that moguls offer than you might think. Waste of trail space? There are thousands of boring groomed flat as a pancake trails in the Northeast. Bump skiers are the ones getting shafted, not groomer lovers. Believe it.

I can't speak for Wachusett specifically because I've never been there, but it's my understanding that 10th is pretty short and they groom half of it. A half trail of a couple hundred vertical feet doesn't seem like a lot of real estate to me.

I ski bumps, so I don't think they're a waste of space. However; like Greg I have no data to back it up, but I think the vast majority of skiers don't seek them out.

 

[Greg]

Yeah, I guess it technically is but they're up there.

Well, then urge the mountain to offer some lower angle seeded bumps as well so the newbs can learn to ski bumps.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I think there should be more steep runs that are half bumps and half groomed..

 

[Phildozer]

Do you have stats on how many people ski moguls or are you judging from this forum?

I'm basing it on the observations I've made at Wachusett over the course of six years or so. Don't have enough time (sadly) at other places to widen the generalization.

 

[andyzee]

Yes

 

[Phildozer]

Well, then urge the mountain to offer some lower angle seeded bumps as well so the newbs can learn to ski bumps.

Then there's another trail with unused bumps.

My question really is:

Given the proliferation of parks and other terrain features, do less-used mogul runs make sense at mountains with limited trail choices?

 

[Warp Daddy]

I'm basing it on the observations I've made at Wachusett over the course of six years or so. Don't have enough time (sadly) at other places to widen the generalization.

Having skied Wawa for teh past 6 yrs during visits on Prez Week to see my children who live in the area

IT is A PROBLEM for certain most don't ski those bumps you mention and. when skier density is high

That particular week the overwhelming majority of folks skiing THAT particular trail are forced into a narrow bottleneck on the steepest part of THAT trail . I've witnessed some carnage-- Just sayin

 

[Warp Daddy]

I'm basing it on the observations I've made at Wachusett over the course of six years or so. Don't have enough time (sadly) at other places to widen the generalization.

Having skied Wawa for the past 6 yrs during visits on Prez Week to see my children who live in the area IT is A PROBLEM for certain.

Most don't ski those bumps you mention and. when skier density is high, That particular week the overwhelming majority of folks skiing THAT particular trail are forced into a narrow bottleneck on the steepest part of THAT trail . I've witnessed some carnage-- Just sayin

 

[deadheadskier]

I hardly ski bumps as often as some of the other members, but do love bumps and terrain variety in general. If I'd have to hazard a guess, maybe 5% of the terrain around New England is allocated for bumps. Most mountains devote far more of their terrain to terrain parks than mogul runs.

So my answer to your question is an emphatic NO.

 

[rueler]

In the beginning, moguls were formed on steeper, narrower runs by skiers...runs that groomers wouldn't dare go on to plow them over for fear of sliding into the woods....Then, the winch cat was invented and a lot of those steep runs were blown wide open and sodomized by bulldozers (taking out all the rolls and dips) so that groomers could make some steeper ballroom dancing available (ie Liftline and National at Stowe)...THEN, the articulated blade on the groomer allowed operators to create "perfectly symmetrical" moguls (kind of takes some of the challenge out of it)....technology is nice and all, but I kind of like the way it used to be!! Ski the mountain how it lies. anyway, my point is that I don't think moguls are a waste of space....I enjoy them wherever they are...but, I feel that they are best enjoyed in places where machines can't and shouldn't go...on steep, twisty, gnarly, undulating terrain (like Goat or Rumble).

 

[hammer]

That particular week the overwhelming majority of folks skiing THAT particular trail are forced into a narrow bottleneck on the steepest part of THAT trail . I've witnessed some carnage-- Just sayin

Right under the HSQ...best place for carnage. ;-)

I skied down 10th when the mogul field was there last season...the groomed section has a nice double fall line but I didn't think it was that narrow at all.

The main complaint about the bumps on 10th is that they apparently aren't kept up that well, so no one skis them, so they get worse from neglect...

 

[bvibert]

No!

/thread

 

[campgottagopee]

No not a waste of trail space---i don't ski a lot of bumps but do get the uurge every now and then so it's nice to have that option. One thing that Greek does is split a trail in half--one side moguls one side groomed. That's nice for groups to be able to ski the same trail and have verying terrain.

 

[hardline]

.technology is nice and all, but I kind of like the way it used to be!! Ski the mountain how it lies. anyway, my point is that I don't think moguls are a waste of space....I enjoy them wherever they are...but, I feel that they are best enjoyed in places where machines can't and shouldn't go...on steep, twisty, gnarly, undulating terrain (like Goat or Rumble).

so true but the gondi side crusiers are such a guilty pleasure. they are one of the few places on the east coast in know i have been pushing the 70+ mark.