How to work Hunter on the weekends

[trtaylor]

I've been reading the Belleayre thread and ed-drum's post gave me the idea to start this thread.

Anyone who says Hunter gets too crowded doesn't know how to ski the place. You have to get there early before the gomers fall out of bed, and hit the breakfast places. It takes a while before the bus people get on the slopes after renting their skis and eating breakfast. Then, there are the GPS people who try to take the Plattecove road shortcut and get mad because their high tech directions don't indicate that the road is CLOSED in the winter and arrive late. Then, the people eat buy their watches and complain that the lodge is too crowded at noon lunchtime. Good skiers do everything EARLIER. I've skied on VERY crowded weekends and know trails that are empty. Belleayre seems empty even with a crowded parking lot because most of the skiers are at the bunny hill.

I've only skied Hunter mid-week so far and really like the mountain. Crowds are not an issue anywhere. On weekends however, once the masses do show up, what is the best way for an advanced intermediate to ski Hunter? I know the west side is the best place to go, but depending on the conditions, the number of ways down for me could be limited. But on the main face, I wonder if East Side Drive and Minya down to F Lift would not be a bad plan?

Forget Belt, I don't like it anyway. And I assume that Hellgate would probably see heavy traffic between 10 & noon and for a few hours after 1. What about Cliff or Huega? Or should they be avoided since you would end up at the high speed quad anyway?

Now in anticipation of the answer "get better skills and stay on the west side", I agree. It is one of the reasons I have come to like Hunter. Between the terrain and some of the skilled skiers/boarders on this board who ski there, it is a great mountain to push ones self to improve.

Any ideas from the Hunter regulars?

 

[dmc]

Early morning take advantage of the quad.. Until it gets busy... You can top to bottom any route... Hellgate is pretty easy it's just a choke point... Jeuga is a sweet cruiser.. Cliff gets bumped... White Cloud is nice but it dumps you onto Belt...

If theres pow - get on the west when it opens....
Afternoon is a great time for the East side.. Gets tons of sun...

 

[Rambo]

My question about Hunter is: Why do they lately close early April with deep bases left on many trails? I realize the skier counts drop way off at the end of the season but Hunter in the past could always be counted on being open till MID-APRIL. Well if Belleayre is cut back, I would think Hunter would again stay open till Mid-April, but I have a feeling Hunter is now in a close beginning of April mode. Now Mount Snow operated daily last year untill the very end of April, then glady opened the first Friday, Saturday & Sunday in May with plenty of base left on about 12 trails.

 

[dmc]

My question about Hunter is: Why do they lately close early April with deep bases left on many trails? I realize the skier counts drop way off at the end of the season but Hunter in the past could always be counted on being open till MID-APRIL. Well if Belleayre is cut back, I would think Hunter would again stay open till Mid-April, but I have a feeling Hunter is now in a close beginning of April mode. Now Mount Snow operated daily last year untill the very end of April, then glady opened the first Friday, Saturday & Sunday in May with plenty of base left on about 12 trails.

Cant afford it... Not financially viable... Everyone's going to Belleayre for free tickets... and freshly blown April snow they make... How can you compete with that!?!

 

[180]

Question # 1.
I agree with Ed and DMC. Ski early, eat early and ski late. I have skied Hunter every weekend for over 20 years. It's not that crowded. Start at the Quad than move to F or D, then West side. All the rides at Hunter are 7 minutes except B lift which is 10. Avoid that lift at all costs. D lift takes you to all the same places and never has a line. Also, E lift on Hunter ! is woth the ride, if not the experiance.

You can find me every Saturday and Sunday at 10am at the D lift. You can meet up with me all my hot skiing ladies (ski patrol widows). We'll show you a great time and all the shortcuts.

#2. What killed spring skiing? Childrens sports. Baseball and soccer all start in late March. Hence mom and dad now coach or drive the carpool. My kids are not allowed to play spring sports. It has become financially not worth it.

 

[millerm277]

The majority of the crowds are on Hellgate and Belt, and skiing the Quad.

If it's open, the top of Hunter One is kind of interesting for a run or two.
F-Lift rarely ever has a line, and is great for lapping Minya, ESD, K-27 and Hellgate.
D-Lift is generally not worth taking over the Quad.
The West Side only has lines for about the first half-hour after the rope gets dropped.
Summit Lodge has some food, and is always empty. (Good for snacks, or if you carry your lunch with you.)

As for spring skiing, the place is pretty empty in the spring, if Belleayre operates on a more limited basis, you might see more of it, since there will be less competition for skiers....

 

[JimG.]

1) Stay off the quad at all costs. OK before 9:30 and after 3:00, but stupid crowded any other time.

2) Get there early, stay until closing. Goes without saying for getting there early, but some of my best runs of the day are between 3-4pm.

3) Use the singles line when possible. Even if you go in a group.

As for closing with good cover, I think golf has more to do with earlier closing than anything else. My kids play spring sports, in fact their sports go all year long and throughout winter. I just work out rides with other families and reciprocate in the summer when all I'm missing is yardwork. My kids don't ski as much, but it keeps everyone happy.

It works if you work it.

 

[ed-drum]

It seems like everyone is getting the idea. The Belt Parkway is my first run of the day no matter weekday or weekend. It gets me warmed up. I've told friends to ski the Belt and they say NO until I show them how. LOTS of good air hits on the right side. Then it's Hellgate. (usually) Then where it seems to be good. Everyone seems to have given the right tips as far as what lifts to take, etc.. After an early lunch it's usually the West side when the sun hits it to soften it up on cold days. When the pizza line in the lodge starts to fill up it's time to go out again. I NEVER do Claire's until I take Wayout then look at it from the chair. Hellgate is great in the afternoon on the right side for all of the snow has been scraped from the middle from the "bus people". Usually the Belt as a last run of the day. Also there are the "toke up" runs, but they're a secret! I don't think I'm giving away classified info, because only good skiers are crazy enough to do half of this anyway.

 

[trtaylor]

Thanks to all who replied. Looking forward to skiing with all of you there.

 

[faceplant]

dont like crowds- head on over to Anapurna- hands down best trail in the Cats

steep

narrow

bumped

lonely

long

awsome

Vt got nothin on this one

but shoot hardly ever open-whys that