The longest you have ever waited to get on a ski lift

[xlr8r]

About 30-40 minutes at Vail when they shut down the back bowls and blue sky basin at once due to a power issue IIRC. So everyone had to take the Teacup Express to get out of Blue Sky Basin. As a single, I got out relatively fast compared to other people. The line was so big I took a picture



The other time I have waited that long was at Mount Snow when every chair on the main face was closed except Tumbleweed because of wind. I was on a college bus trip which dropped us off at Sundance Lodge, where someone stole my poles when I was getting my boots on. So I then had to walk up to the main lodge which was a ghost town to talk with guest services to get a replacement pair of poles out of lost and found (which I never returned as those were bent anyway). I then climbed up and skated all the way over to Carinthia from the main base lodge too avoid the massive line at Tumbleweed. I waited in the line for Nitro which was about 30-40 minutes long for singles. I then finally made it into the sunbrook area which thankfully was relatively deserted and open (most people cannot follow a map I guess) and lapped the sunbrook quad and beartrap until the wind died down for the other lifts to open at about 11am. Definitely the roughest morning I have had skiing.

 

[MadMadWorld]

A lot of times I rather ride the beginner lift than wait in a long line. I'm the type of person that would much rather ride the Lookout chair at Stowe than wait in the longer line for the quad.

 

[deadheadskier]

I'm the type of person that would much rather ride the Lookout chair at Stowe than wait in the longer line for the quad.

100%

On peak Saturdays, it's basically 25-30 minutes to get up Mansfield. I'd rather spend 5-10 minutes standing in the Lookout liftline and 15 minutes on that chair, than 20 minutes waiting in the Forerunner line and 8 minutes on the chair. The theater on the Lookout trail vs Liftline is always better to watch as well. Usually get to watch at least a few ripping skiers tearing down Lookout.

 

[skiNEwhere]

My mom loved Loon but I despised it, because like most people we went on the weekend.

Gondola? 30 minutes
Kangamangus (sp?) - 30 minutes
3 brothers? 20 minutes

The only lift that wasn't too bad was the east basin double. This was before the expansion, not sure if things have gotten better.

 

[MadMadWorld]

100%

On peak Saturdays, it's basically 25-30 minutes to get up Mansfield. I'd rather spend 5-10 minutes standing in the Lookout liftline and 15 minutes on that chair, than 20 minutes waiting in the Forerunner line and 8 minutes on the chair. The theater on the Lookout trail vs Liftline is always better to watch as well. Usually get to watch at least a few ripping skiers tearing down Lookout.

Yea Lookout is a very underrated trail I always find it funny when people boo someone for staying skiers left and cheers if they to right.

 

[KevinF]

I can't imagine standing in line for as long as some of you people have.

I think my record wait was getting to a chairlift base when the chair was broken down and there was no way out except to ride out or go for a long hike. I seem to remember that was at Loon... that chair all the way to looker's left maybe? They were sending snowcats over to ferry people out of there, although I went with the "they'll get the chair started eventually and probably before the alternative rides out get everybody out of here" theory. I couldn't really say how long I was stuck for... 30, 40 minutes maybe?

 

[KevinF]

100%

On peak Saturdays, it's basically 25-30 minutes to get up Mansfield. I'd rather spend 5-10 minutes standing in the Lookout liftline and 15 minutes on that chair, than 20 minutes waiting in the Forerunner line and 8 minutes on the chair. The theater on the Lookout trail vs Liftline is always better to watch as well. Usually get to watch at least a few ripping skiers tearing down Lookout.

The new Fourrunner quad seems to have made a substantial dent in the lines for the quad, or at least it doesn't seem like the lines get as long as they used to. Stowe's Gondola seems to get more consistently backed up than the quad does.

 

[deadheadskier]

The new Fourrunner quad seems to have made a substantial dent in the lines for the quad, or at least it doesn't seem like the lines get as long as they used to. Stowe's Gondola seems to get more consistently backed up than the quad does.

I hadn't noticed much of a difference with the new Quad, but I've only been there a couple of times since it's been installed. I'm pretty programmed in how I ski Stowe though, so I don't have issues with lines like most complain of. Get there first thing, lap the Four Runner a few times as it's the early lift, hop over to the Gondola for a couple, head over to Big Spruce late morning for 3 or 4 runs, lunch and beers at Spruce Base, back to Mansfield and ride the Lookout chair until the crowds clear out around 2, then alternate between the Quad and Gondola until the end of the day. Even on the busiest days of the year, if you can't crank out 15+ (usually 20+) runs at Stowe, you just don't know how to ski the mountain. That's a lot of skiing given it's vertical.

 

[SIKSKIER]

If I have to wait more than 10 mins I will not be there anymore. I ski midweek and almost always ski on or wait only a few chairs.
the only waiting I do, is waiting for first chair.

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Exactly how I feel except I pretty much only ski weekends.Love you Cannon.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

About 30-40 minutes at Vail when they shut down the back bowls and blue sky basin at once due to a power issue IIRC. So everyone had to take the Teacup Express to get out of Blue Sky Basin. As a single, I got out relatively fast compared to other people. The line was so big I took a picture

Same thing happened to me at Vail. Not fun.

The new Fourrunner quad seems to have made a substantial dent in the lines for the quad, or at least it doesn't seem like the lines get as long as they used to. Stowe's Gondola seems to get more consistently backed up than the quad does.

I think this is true. I have never waited more than 15 minutes in line at the new Quad even on Weekend Powder day.

 

[dirtbagking]

I got up early one powder day at Big Sky and stood in line at 8 am. They eventually opened that chair about 10am. Then we waited in the tram line until 2:30 that afternoon when patrol told us it wouldn't happen. We got up the next day and started all over again. We finally loaded the tram around noon.
And it was worth it.

 

[Domeskier]

I got up early one powder day at Big Sky and stood in line at 8 am. They eventually opened that chair about 10am. Then we waited in the tram line until 2:30 that afternoon when patrol told us it wouldn't happen. We got up the next day and started all over again. We finally loaded the tram around noon.
And it was worth it.

That is some impressive dedication!

 

[ceo]

Worst line I've waited in in recent years was something like 30 minutes for the Polar Express on a busy day at Wachusett. One of the main reasons I now avoid the place. But it did make me realize what a change this has been since I was first skiing, when half-hour waits were routine. Higher-capacity lifts (quads vs. doubles) and more of them makes a huge difference.

 

[tree_skier]

Back in the day the line at the Mount snow Gondolas routinely were at least 45 minutes. I do remember race days on ego and having to plan on an hour lift line for ego. Back in the seventies a 20-30 minute lift line was normal at some places

 

[catskills]

It was common to wait like 40 minutes for the Jackson Hole big Red Box (TRAM), which is 4139 feet vertical. Personally I think that is not that long. Reason being 4139 feet divided by 40 minutes equals 103 vertical feet per minute of wait time. Name it 103 VFPMWT.

Now if some of you waiting 30 minutes for a lift that had only 1000 vertical feet that would equate to only 33 VFPMWT. The lower the VFPMWT number to worst the wait time. The higher the VFPMWT the better wait time. Higher VFPMWT is better.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

It was common to wait like 40 minutes for the Jackson Hole big Red Box (TRAM), which is 4139 feet vertical. Personally I think that is not that long. Reason being 4139 feet divided by 40 minutes equals 103 vertical feet per minute of wait time. Name it 103 VFPMWT.

Now if some of you waiting 30 minutes for a lift that had only 1000 vertical feet that would equate to only 33 VFPMWT. The lower the VFPMWT number to worst the wait time. The higher the VFPMWT the better wait time. Higher VFPMWT is better.

Your point is valid but comparing the reward vs wait time for Jackson VS North East skiing isn't even the same ball park.

 

[Shewolfe]

Years ago when I was a flatlander and only went north to ski on weekends I know my wait was at least an hour. Now I only ski weekdays and nights, virtually no waiting...

 

[mriceyman]

Ill do anything to avoid lines.. Take slower lifts.. Stay on a secluded part of the mountain etc


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[Savemeasammy]

A lot of times I rather ride the beginner lift than wait in a long line.

I hope you don't suggest we ride the Snowshed Quad on Saturday!


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[MadMadWorld]

I hope you don't suggest we ride the Snowshed Quad on Saturday!


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Only if I'm brushing up on my ski ballet!