Do you avoid trails marked "Thin Cover"?

[Grassi21]

So it sounds like everyone heads for the thin cover trails. I was worried at Berkshire East on Monday but looking back I should have given that liftline trail a shot.

I'm guessing from your experience you guys can offer opinions on the following. What condition are your bases in when you decide its time for some PTex? I have two really nice gouges and some sweet scratches going on.

 

[Talisman]

Ski areas should use 'thin cover' signs more frequently as it would let skiers make the choice of what is too thin. I applaud ski areas that aggressively open trails verus wondering why a trail is roped because there is a tuft of grass or some pucker brush poking through. At some areas thin cover can mean barely skiable and require launching to clear muddy spots or flowing streams.

 

[snowmaker4191]

I head right for the thin cover signs also....I go so often I go through my boards very fast they're not worth saving to miss some nice natural turns. skis are meant to be skied

 

[Greg]

I'm guessing from your experience you guys can offer opinions on the following. What condition are your bases in when you decide its time for some PTex? I have two really nice gouges and some sweet scratches going on.

My bases are getting pretty beat. Several gouges and the entire bases are scratched up. My edges are about as sharp as a dull butter knife. 18 days since my last tune and several rough early season days. I need a tune badly...:smash:

 

[ski_industry_enthusiast]

My bases are an absolute mess. Half a dozen nasty gouges, and tons and tons of scratches. Edges are practically non-existent... they actually look rounded! Suppose it's time for a tune, since I ski everyday, and haven't had them done for over a month. The other part of my skis that's royally beat to $hit is the insides of the tips. I always have my skis so close together that I've just about scraped and worn the insides of the tips down to nothing!

But I simply don't expect a pair of bump skis to last me more than one year when I ski hard every day, so as long as they're good enough to ski on, who cares! Rocks? So what... I'll head straight for 'em!

 

[Grassi21]

I was looking at my boards again last night. I found a nice gouge in my top sheet too. I'm guessing I scored that one on my short trip in the trees on Sunday.

 

[Greg]

I was looking at my boards again last night. I found a nice gouge in my top sheet too. I'm guessing I scored that one on my short trip in the trees on Sunday.

I'm chipping up my top sheets near the tips quite a bit. Guess my stance is narrow enough. Ha!

 

[dmc]

just remember...

Grass don't grow on rock...

 

[Greg]

just remember...

Grass don't grow on rock...

Nice one! :lol:

Give me thin cover or give me death:

 

[JohnGD33]

Thin cover is fine, but early last year I went into the trees a few times at K and caused alot of damage. Good thing Ptex is cheap. I used alot of it last year.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

"thin cover" is a beacon signaling there are plenty of rocks and natural terrain features ahead...or patroller speak for "pssst, check this out!" I'm all for it.

 

[snowman]

It plain and simply depends on which pair of skis I have on my feet!

 

[dmc]

Just remember.... Grass don't grow on rock...

That is all...

 

[JimG.]

Never! Those thin cover signs are there for a reason. You might damage a ski or fall. Never ski in thin cover, ever. It's very dangerous and ski patrol might get mad. Then you might get yelled at. What are you crazy?

The only thing dumber than skiing in thin cover is ducking ropes on closed trails. I never do that either.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

If a trail is open I generally ski it, thin cover or not.

 

[dmc]

Also... "the best meat is next to the bone"

 

[mattchuck2]

snow conditions being equal (i.e. powder), i will save the thin cover trails for last. snow conditions being unequal (only natural snow on the thin cover trails), those signs are generally a warm invitation to sample the best snow on the most challenging terrain the mountain has to offer. considering how often i buy new skis and my thought that every ski is a rock ski from day one, thin cover really does not bother me much.

Agreed.

If by "thin cover" they mean "this is the only place on the mountain to find natural snow", then I'm all for it.

 

[essslsclsact]

We're With You On This One

Never! Those thin cover signs are there for a reason. You might damage a ski or fall. Never ski in thin cover, ever. It's very dangerous and ski patrol might get mad. Then you might get yelled at. What are you crazy?

The only thing dumber than skiing in thin cover is ducking ropes on closed trails. I never do that either.

I bet if you ask ski patrol about injuries on trails with thin cover they will tell you they usually turn out worse, especially on intermediate terrain. Ducking ropes is just plain stupid somehat like ignoring and driving past a "street closed" sign.:idea:

 

[riverc0il]

LOLz. I think JimG was being facetious! Equating ducking rope to driving down a street closed sign is not a good comparison as there are different reasons for the two warnings. A street closed sign usually indicates there is no way to pass the road whereas roped trails are often have the best snow on the mountain... but then again just as often not. Ropes are a judgment call of the ski patrol and weighs such issues as location on the mountain, type of skier typically skiing the run, type of terrain, extent of thin cover, dangerous aspects of the trail, and litigation and liability issues. Often times some ski areas are rather conservative with their rope closings while other ski areas are liberal in allowing skiers to ski everything that is skiable and passable top to bottom (even sometimes requiring walking during late season).

I have no problem with people saying they don't like to ski trails with thin cover or would never duck a rope but there are much better arguments than comparing a roped to a "street closed" sign. I certainly don't duck very often but have been greatly rewarded when my knowledge of the mountain and trail conditions has allowed safe passage down a "reserved" trail. But if that is stupid, I'll take my rare 1-2' untracked powder via ducked rope and consider myself not so bright.

 

[snoseek]

Also... "the best meat is next to the bone"

lol. so true.