Loon Crowd Avoidance hints and tips

[RISkier]

I think I committed us to skiing Loon on a Saturday. Never been. Always avoided it cause of the reputed crowds. Need strategies and tactics to avoid the masses.

 

[petergriffen]

its really not that bad, stay away from the gondola...singles line ain't that bad but the gondola line can get a bit long but really not that bad

 

[CosmicDownhill]

I just heard from someone who's been there the past two Saturdays, including MLK weekend, and he said he never waited more than 5 minutes for any lift.

He skis it often, and he says this is the slowest year he can remember. Crowds are non-existent.

 

[loafer89]

My son and I are planning to head up there for skiing on saturday to take advantage of the $28 Connecticut Ski Council days.

I have heard stories of mega crowds at this place and am a bit aprehensive about visiting this place.

 

[WJenness]

I was there last sunday... wasn't bad.

I'll PM you the best crowd avoidance secret I know of for Loon... but what was said is correct, stay away from the Gondola... the South Peak and North Peak HSQs usually move pretty quickly, and if they're both busy, hit the east basin double.

My general strategy at loon is to ski the blues early and the blacks late... A lot of the blues can get pretty scraped off by the end of the day, but the blacks (Double Dipper, Triple Trouble, Flume, Angel Street and Upper Walking Boss mainly) are usually still in pretty good shape.

Also, I generally stay away from the Governor's lodge as there is only 1 lift out of there (Kanc quad), and it gets pretty busy.

-w

 

[Greg]

I haven't skied Loon in some time, but I've found this to work:

• Get in line for the gondola about 10 minutes ahead of opening. If you're later, skip the gondi and take the 3 brothers triple up. Kinda slow, but it gets you above the base of the North Peak quad.
• Ski the North Peak Quad until it gets busy. On a Saturday, they might run the East Basin Double so don't overlook that. The EBD is actually my favorite lift there.
• Eat lunch early, like 10:45. Head back out when the lunch crowd comes in. Maybe check out the Kanc Quad during the lunch hour.
• After 2:30, the mountain empties out.

 

[davidhowland14]

I'll be there this weekend as well. I was there last MLK weekend and didn't have a problem with crowds. Even the gondi wasn't bad. I'm looking forward to ripsaw.

 

[billski]

I consider crowd avoidance strategies to be non-posting material just as stashes are non-posting material.

Once you get that stuff posted to 1500 of your closest friends, well, you know what happens.
I'd recommend that stuff be handled by PM.

 

[Smellytele]

Loon Crowd Avoidance hints and tips ...


... Go to Cannon

 

[billski]

Loon Crowd Avoidance hints and tips ...


... Go to Cannon

::smile::smile::smile: or just ride the train all day :beer:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I consider crowd avoidance strategies to be non-posting material just as stashes are non-posting material.

Once you get that stuff posted to 1500 of your closest friends, well, you know what happens.
I'd recommend that stuff be handled by PM.

I see nothing wrong with posting crowd avoidance strategies..

 

[Johnskiismore]

Yeah, pretty much what has been posted, no gondola unless you're first in the morning. Use the North/South Peak chairs and the East Basin Double as there are hardly ever any lines. Normally I never ski Loon on the weekends but I got a free pass for my girlfriend and we went on Monday, all day we never ropde a lift with anyone.

Last Saturday I drove through Loon and was amazed that the Kanc had no line!

Enjoy!

 

[billski]

I see nothing wrong with posting crowd avoidance strategies..

Go for it. Then I'll invoke my resort-avoidance strategy! :razz:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Go for it. Then I'll invoke my resort-avoidance strategy! :razz:

But 90% of all skiers and riders are big putzes and can't get to the mountain before 9AM..

 

[2knees]

I consider crowd avoidance strategies to be non-posting material just as stashes are non-posting material.

Once you get that stuff posted to 1500 of your closest friends, well, you know what happens.
I'd recommend that stuff be handled by PM.

cause there's a red under my bed
and there's a little yellow man in my head

 

[loafer89]

::smile::smile::smile: or just ride the train all day :beer:

The 1989-1990 season saw my first and only trip to Loon. Does the steam train shuttle still run?

 

[ctenidae]

Loon Crowd Avoidance hints and tips ...


... Go to Cannon

+1

 

[RISkier]

Thanks for the suggestions. We may go to Cannon on the following Sunday but we're going to need to stay at Loon that Saturday.

 

[Telemechanic]

I just heard from someone who's been there the past two Saturdays, including MLK weekend, and he said he never waited more than 5 minutes for any lift.

He skis it often, and he says this is the slowest year he can remember. Crowds are non-existent.

Business has actually been good. More people have been skiing South Peak so the crowds are better distributed and this this factor might help even more now that the third trail on South is open.

Lots of good advise here. The Gondola is busy except very early and very late.

I'd add to avoid Grand Junction when possible especially skiing down it. Across it can be done. Use Flying Fox, Crosscut and Basin St to move from the Gondola Summit Trails to The East Basin or North Peak Trails instead of Grand Junction.

 

[CosmicDownhill]

Definitely avoid the Gondola, but I was there Saturday the 24th and all other lifts had minimal waits, maybe 10 minutes max for one early ride on the Kanc quad. After 2 p.m., you practically skied right on the lift.