What Do You Do During a Wind Hold?

[highpeaksdrifter]

No one likes them, but they are a fact of life when you ski big mountains. I use to just hang out, grab something to eat, chit chat and bitch about the weather. Last season I started going to the rental shop, get a snowboard and hit a low elevation beginner lift. Now I don’t mind wind holds so much.

 

[Greg]

Wait it out if it looks promising that it will be lifted within an hour or two. If not, go somewhere else and ski my balls off until 4 pm.

 

[Grassi21]

I curse under my breath and seethe in my anger.

 

[Beetlenut]

I look for any other lift running, preferably one that gets me into the trees where the wind is hopefully less. Usually ALL lifts aren't on wind hold at the same time. If so, not sure what I would do as that has never happened to me.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

No one likes them, but they are a fact of life when you ski big mountains. I use to just hang out, grab something to eat, chit chat and bitch about the weather. Last season I started going to the rental shop, get a snowboard and hit a low elevation beginner lift. Now I don’t mind wind holds so much.

Usually during a windhold a few lower mountain fixed grip chairs are open...like the triple at Stowe..so I just ski there.

Last season at Jackson Hole..while I was taking my third lift ride of the day..a huge blizzard moved in with windgusts over 70mph..all the lifts were closed..I waited in a long line for a voucher..then had a beer and a bloody mary at the Mangy moose..then I went over to the AlpenHaus for lunch and more beer..then I boarded a bus to Snow King and bought a 2 hour ticket there..quite a day..

 

[djspookman]

I go to other open lifts, unless they're too busy. If not, I lap those lifts. If all are on windhold, either hit the lodge/bar, or skin/hike up for some fresh (conditions dependent!)

dave

 

[Vortex]

Usually to the bar. I'm lucky I can take the kids swimming to keep them active. If football is on I'll watch that till the lifts open back up.

 

[prisnah]

If something else is running, I'll usually just do a few laps in the park or hit the woods if theres anything viable...then I hit the bar.

If not, then I head to the bar immediately.

 

[Moe Ghoul]

I stand waving my fists and curse the wind god out loud. Then I sacrifice a PBR pounder. Eventually, the wind subsides, and I carry on with the skiing.

 

[campgottagopee]

Bar here too

 

[drjeff]

First thing in the AM, especially if I'm up at my place at Mount Snow, go across the street and take a few runs on what will likely either be wind-slab or dust on crust off of what ever lifts are spinning. Re-assesing my sanity often based on snow conditions

If it's later in the day, the chances of the hot-tub at my place winning out over a few extra windy verts is very high!

 

[JerseyJoey]

puff

 

[bvibert]

I've only ran into the wind hold issue once and it was first thing in the morning before we bought our tickets. Like Greg said, head elsewhere and ski where there is no wind holds. In our case a bunch of us abandoned a pseudo AZ gathering and headed a bit further north to Magic, where the lift is low to the ground and very protected from wind by the trees. One of my best days skiing that year due to that last minute decision.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

I ski.

 

[Greg]

I've only ran into the wind hold issue once and it was first thing in the morning before we bought our tickets. Like Greg said, head elsewhere and ski where there is no wind holds. In our case a bunch of us abandoned a pseudo AZ gathering and headed a bit further north to Magic, where the lift is low to the ground and very protected from wind by the trees. One of my best days skiing that year due to that last minute decision.

Yep. That worked out well despite the abbreviated ski day.

I get X number of days to ski. I'm not about to wait around or hit the bar after driving a couple hours to get somewhere up north, especially if it's just a day trip. I'd rather just drive another hour somewhere else.

 

[tjf67]

No one likes them, but they are a fact of life when you ski big mountains. I use to just hang out, grab something to eat, chit chat and bitch about the weather. Last season I started going to the rental shop, get a snowboard and hit a low elevation beginner lift. Now I don’t mind wind holds so much.

I stay at home. Drink coffee watch TV. Take the dog out.
Then i take the 8 mile ride over to the biggest vert hill in the east and rip it up in the afternoon. YEAHAAA it not to far out

 

[Grassi21]

puff

great idea. just be sure not to exhale, you might make the wind hold situation worse.

 

[cbcbd]

Don't really know... wait?
I guess if it's not opening I'd just get the skins out.

 

[billski]

What Do You Do During a Wind Hold?

Pass wind, of course!

:blink:

 

[JD]

I celebrate, then I ski.