How did Okemo handle crowd this past weekend?

[New Daddy]

How did Okemo handle crowd this past weekend, especially in terms of crowds on the slopes?
Okemo's day care and ski school take the cake for our kids, but their crowds on weekends make me a little hesitant to go there on weekends.

By way of comparison, I was at Ragged on Saturday and Gunstock on Sunday.
Both were busy. Liftlines were long, but not unbearable (3-5 min at most). Yet, the slopes were not that congested - especially at Ragged.

Can someone share there experience at Okemo this past weekend so that I can have a good sense of how Okemo would compare to other resorts on the same weekend?

 

[steve112112]

I was at Tenney on Sunday. Light crowd, no lift lines, conditions were pretty good.

I'm surprised to hear about all the crowds at Ragged this year. The thing I love about that place is the lack of crowds, now I'm reluctant to go there.

 

[New Daddy]

I was at Tenney on Sunday. Light crowd, no lift lines, conditions were pretty good.

I'm surprised to hear about all the crowds at Ragged this year. The thing I love about that place is the lack of crowds, now I'm reluctant to go there.

One measure that I use to gauge crowd is the number of kids at the day care. Yes, it's a crude measure, but does give you a rough estimate.

At Ragged, they said they had about as many kids (13) as during the MLK weekend. At Gunstock, I was told that they had half as many kids (about 70 = day care + ski school) as the weekend before (about 130 = day care + ski school).

 

[vonski]

I did not get to ski, but had a friend who went to Mount Snow, Carinthia lot was full to the back, and the main base had cars out to 100 according to him. He kept going and went to Magic. Still found some lines and from talking to folks it was one of the busiest days of the year. He had a good time but did have some lift lines. He complains that I make him go to Sugarbush, but after seeing Mt. Snow and Magic on a Saturday, he has a new appreciation for Lack of lines at the Bush. Particularly at North/Ellen. We were there for the MLK weekend and other than a five minute max for the Summit on Saturday no lines in particular at Ellen that weekend.

 

[deadheadskier]

I was at Tenney on Sunday. Light crowd, no lift lines, conditions were pretty good.

I'm surprised to hear about all the crowds at Ragged this year. The thing I love about that place is the lack of crowds, now I'm reluctant to go there.

I've been there on some of the busiest days this year. Never waited longer than 10 minutes in the singles line to catch the lift. Spear Mountain triple is ski right on pretty much always. The term 'crowded' is relative. Trails have never felt crowded on anyday except for at the intersection for middle chute and headwall.

 

[Talisman]

How did Okemo handle crowd this past weekend, especially in terms of crowds on the slopes?

Okemo was really busy on Saturday, which was a bit of a surprise as the weekend after MLK can be a bit of a lull. I ski at Okemo a few times a year and thought it was super crowded with really no where to escape.

 

[gmcunni]

Never waited longer than 10 minutes in the singles line to catch the lift.

10 minutes for the single? that sounds insane to me.

 

[tmcc71]

ragged is no longer a safe haven

It seems word of mouth, exposure from races and capital improvements has started to destroy ragged as well. Shame

 

[hammer]

10 minutes for the single? that sounds insane to me.

+1

Only place where I've waited close to 10 minutes in a singles line is for the HSQ at Sunapee...and when it's that bad it's time to find another lift.

 

[New Daddy]

+1

Only place where I've waited close to 10 minutes in a singles line is for the HSQ at Sunapee...and when it's that bad it's time to find another lift.

Mmm.
IIRC, the singles line moved really quick on Saturday the 23rd. Although I was with my wife, we stood in the singles life occasionally, and we never had to wait for more than 5 minutes (often less). The gate-keeping lady handled the crowd really efficiently, and sometimes let six people to move up at once from the singles line, making the singles line move even faster than at other resorts.

 

[gmcunni]

. The gate-keeping lady handled the crowd really efficiently, and sometimes let six people to move up at once from the singles line, making the singles line move even faster than at other resorts.

i won't select a mountain just for their lift line mgt style but i sure do appreciate a well run line. Okemo has always done a good job. i also found Pat's peak to be good (line guy had a map in his pocket for me when i asked if he had a spare). and the woman handling the 6pack @ ragged on a very crowded MLK weekend was courteous, friendly and efficient.

 

[jack97]

It seems word of mouth, exposure from races and capital improvements has started to destroy ragged as well. Shame

A couple of season's, around the time when rumors that the Endrouis (sp?) brothers were having fiscal problems they would leave whole sections ungroom. Couple that with after a snow dump you would have the glades to yourself... that was a blast.

 

[SkiBud]

I was surprised at how busy Sunday River was this weekend. Nice to see so many people enjoying a great ski day. It was one of the busiest days of the year, but Sunday River really hands a crowd well, so could always find a place or two with short lift lines.