First Chair

[JD]

How early will you need to show up for first chair when you expect over a foot fresh and at what Mtn.
At Stowe it's prolly an hour early. On Saturdays I've shown up at 6:45 and not been on the first chair.
C R A Z Y. But I will say it's great to be in the first wave of riders down, and it's a great time dismanteling the local hill with your crew. Sometimes it's amazing how many runs in a row you're within a chair or two of the people you rode up with first. All the locals ride top to bottom at about the same speed, working the hill to systematically desimate all virgin snow. Like a big orgy.
At J the lifts go later, What time would I need to be there to be in the first wave? Much of a line up?
A few days last year there were 80-100 ppl waiting to load the quad.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

At Blue mountain 7:10AM at the lower entrance but after getting scanned in..it's a mad dash to the 6-pack..

Stowe..6:30AM on a powder day..7:05AM non powder day

Jackson Hole..when there was a Tram..before 7:00AM for first Tram..before 8:10AM for first group of Gondolas..with a gondola..I love hustling to jump back in my skis..way faster than boarders..

I know that if I'm like 3rd or 4th chair with boarders in front of me..I'll blow by them at the flat unloading area...but then again..if I have a yardsale on the first run..all the boarders will fly by me..happened before..lol

I love the powder panic..I always get more powder than I expect..everywhere..for being the early bird..

Storm skiing late afternoon is also amazing because the last run is the best.

 

[kingdom-tele]

depends on the storm JD

if it was like the v day blizzard there was no competition as everyone seemed to stay at their home mountain - in line at 8:30 got you a spot on first tram

if its a local storm and everone comes north plan on 45 min prior to open

but to be honest thats a best guess - we will usually skin early to get a run back to 2cd tram

 

[andyzee]

You get there that early to get in line, you may as well hike up.

 

[Vortex]

I let the 1st wave go . 5 to 10 min later line is fine. I can find fresh snow 10 min after opening.

 

[dmc]

You get there that early to get in line, you may as well hike up.

We've done that at Hunter... Skinned up before the lifts start... Come ripping down Races Edge in untracked while all the people in line for the quad drool...

 

[castlerock]

Huntah?

... Come ripping down Races Edge in untracked ...

They get snow there?

 

[deadheadskier]

I'm more likely to show up second wave, half hour or so after the lift starts turning. While I agree, there's something pretty darn special about having a wide open untracked trail in front of you, I don't feel the need to wait around an hour or more to experience it. I still get my fill and find my fresh

I liken it to back in the day getting Grateful Dead or Phish tickets. I waited hours upon hours in line to get some of the better tickets when after a couple of times I realized, any seat in the house is a good one as long as I was in there. So, I stopped camping out the night before

 

[Vortex]

I'm more likely to show up second wave, half hour or so after the lift starts turning. While I agree, there's something pretty darn special about having a wide open untracked trail in front of you, I don't feel the need to wait around an hour or more to experience it. I still get my fill and find my fresh

I liken it to back in the day getting Grateful Dead or Phish tickets. I waited hours upon hours in line to get some of the better tickets when after a couple of times I realized, any seat in the house is a good one as long as I was in there. So, I stopped camping out the night before

Mail order:lol: I hate lines.

 

[deadheadskier]

Mail order:lol: I hate lines.

yeah, I was always the Homer Simpson


'doh' mail order deadline has passed

 

[dmc]

They get snow there?

Well... not really it's actually shredded styrofoam and rats from NYC... We tried trucking it in from that s-hole you ski... But the snow was so crappy they wouldn't let it into NY..

This year I'm headed back to your crappy mountain..
That day still ranks as a great(I mean crappy) day on the east coast...

 

[castlerock]

Officially back on topic

Well... not really it's actually shredded styrofoam and rats from NYC... We tried trucking it in from that s-hole you ski... But the snow was so crappy they wouldn't let it into NY..

This year I'm headed back to your crappy mountain..
That day still ranks as a great(I mean crappy) day on the east coast...

One of my favorites too. Last year was a learning experience, (4 feet of heavy at once changed the place) and assuming the snow is right you'll enjoy the benefits.

To get back on topic, (first chair) I found this trolling on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkj-vGx3pdA

Recognize the jacket?

 

[JD]

It's true about just hiking. I came to that realization. Skinning by 6:30 and I can still get up Nosedive before the quad does. Now first chair for me is the drivers seat of the T 100. Late this year I got a hold of a voucher and got several days out of it. I had forgotten how fun it can be gutting the hill all at once, but in the end, it wasn't worth all the tension. It amazes me that adults can't stand on line. I've seen 6 year olds do a better job. Some people show up late and decide that they are gonna push in up front when they drop the gate, screws the whole scene up. Last year I gave one older local guy some grief and he gives me the "there's plenty up there" line. So, if there's plenty, then why do you feel like you have to cut. At Stowe the lift scene is rediculous. It's way more fun to watch the cars roll in while ripping your skins off and sipping coffee outta the thermos. Then just as your tranquil Mtn. is about to get overrun with gapers you disappear into the BC. Like you were never there. Can't wait to ski in the woods again...
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JD

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I can't believe some people on here wouldn't wait an hour early AM for fresh tracks...but to each his own. Powder is such a rare commodity in the east that you have to get it while it's there.

 

[SkiDork]

While I agree, there's something pretty darn special about having a wide open untracked trail in front of you

thats what trees are for...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

thats what trees are for...

Yeah but early birds get untracked right under the lift and in the trees..

I love skiing untracked right under the lift..yelling woo-hoo..hidey hoe..skiing whatever line you want untracked..with the cheers from above..then by the time I'm riding up and watching the main runs turn to chowder..it's a mellow traverse into some woods. Sleeping in on a powder day is the worst thing ever and alot of skitown locals get so jaded that it doesn't bug them..haha..anyway more Poe for me..