Dropping rope on marginal trails

[millerm277]

I'm in favor of the Hunter method of deciding if trails are open. Stick closed/thin cover signs in the snow every few feet, and let me decide for myself.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Usually you can ski through the "glade" of an adjacent trail and miss the rope entirely. Rope, what rope?


In the east, it seems that the rope that prevents thin cover runs in January is replaced with a thin cover sign in March. Why the change in attitude towards the end of the season, I don't know.

On the other hand, thin cover powder runs don't last very long so perhaps patrol doesn't want to open a run for the first dozen skiers/boarders then close it an hour later.

I think a lot of it has to do with the consistency of the snow covering hidden obstacles. In January, the overlying snow tends to be powdery and a skier is more likely to be skiing through the snow rather than on top of it. Obstacles are hard to see. In March, the base is generally deeper and the snow is typically denser and packed into the worst spots (water-bars, rocky sections, etc). Anything poking through is usually much more obvious and easier to avoid.

This is a generalization of course. :smash:

 

[abc]

I think a lot of it has to do with the consistency of the snow covering hidden obstacles. In January, the overlying snow tends to be powdery and a skier is more likely to be skiing through the snow rather than on top of it. Obstacles are hard to see. In March, the base is generally deeper and the snow is typically denser and packed into the worst spots (water-bars, rocky sections, etc). Anything poking through is usually much more obvious and easier to avoid.

This is a generalization of course. :smash:

Good generalization!

March thin spot comes from melting. January thin cover comes from...thin cover!

Another factor, December/January skiers include families and novices. By late March, only the "seasoned" skiers are left skiing. Different experience, different expectation.

 

[bdfreetuna]

I would say that Sugarbush is one of the best at this. It seems they will open slopes on much thinner cover than other places I have seen. I am okay with that, as long as I am warned of the conditions.

Agreed and that's why I will hit up the Bush late into the spring because I know they'll still have trails open.

I don't mind rocks, grass, etc.. I mean as long as there's still enough snow to get around said obstacles.

Early season I understand ski areas may be trying build a base and all that.. but I've seen way too many trails that I would "totally ski" this season with ropes up. Especially at Killington.

Ski areas maybe underestimate the amount of skiiers who like skiing on thin cover, grass, sticks and stuff like that. I guess they don't want people to get injured, though.

 

[Cheese]

Thin cover is relative. There's a visible rock to my left but another hidden just 2 feet straight ahead. Double eject full flip on that one. Luckily the camera fired early enough to make this look like an awesome powder run instead of an epic fail.