What Do You Do During a Wind Hold?

[eastcoastpowderhound]

look for something open...lots of times in the east the wind kicks up after a storm, if that's the case I'll hike...if not, maybe hike the pipe.

 

[JPTracker]

If it is snowing then I hike

 

[Warp Daddy]

Move to an open lift ,

If nothing is open I become a Lodge LiZZard and ski "Mahoghany Ridge" where the barstools have seat belts and wait it out

 

[Geoff]

Move to an open lift ,

If nothing is open I become a Lodge LiZZard and ski "Mahoghany Ridge" where the barstools have seat belts and wait it out

That's my strategy. If nothing is running first thing in the morning, I'll hang at the condo until a lift comes online that is worth using.

At Killington, there are so many aspects to the mountain that there is almost always something open that is worth skiing. The more problematic time is after an ice storm where I'll hang out at home until they get at least one lift operational that is worth bothering with.

In Chile, I had one day where nothing ever ran but the lowest lift. I entertained myself skiing in the big fir trees on marginal conditions for a couple of hours.

 

[Edd]

Cry and drink heavily...damn you Sugarloaf! Damn you Jay Peak!

2 seasons ago Sunday River got about a foot of powder overnight. We wake up at the condo to find the whole mountain on wind hold. After a period of denial we pack up to head back to NH. On the way we stop at Mt Abram and find they're up and running; and it was a discount day so we skied deep powder for like $16 a person.

 

[billski]

You need a two-point strategy
- head to a smaller/lower area and have a ball
- watch the wind forecasts and head out the next day for first tracks, oftentimes, it's better in the woods....

 

[billski]

Cry and drink heavily...damn you Sugarloaf! Damn you Jay Peak!

2 seasons ago Sunday River got about a foot of powder overnight. We wake up at the condo to find the whole mountain on wind hold. After a period of denial we pack up to head back to NH. On the way we stop at Mt Abram and find they're up and running; and it was a discount day so we skied deep powder for like $16 a person.

The "problem" with 12" on a windy day is that it's all gone into the woods. Barkeaters unite and celebrate!

 

[hardline]

I celebrate, then I ski.

happened to me once when i was at stowe solo. so i had a few beers then skinned up chin clip. the the other time i had brought a yum yum honey so we just had lots of bubbleee and sex. drinking and sex hmmm fun. we also got a rub down at stoweflake then more drinks, dinner and you guessed it...... more sex. sometimes wind holds can be fun.

 

[mattchuck2]

Ski whatever is open . . .

Then when I get bored, I start hiking . . . This part doesn't usually last very long because I'm in such crappy shape.

If the lifts haven't opened by then, I go home

 

[dmc]

skin....

 

[hardline]

skin....

sex

 

[snowmonster]

If there's a lower mountain lift, I'll ski whatever terrain that gets me. I usually drive 3 hours to get to the resort and I'll be d@mned if I just sit around. This year I'll probably just skin up the mountain if there's a windhold. I need to practice backcountry skills somehow.

 

[snoseek]

If there's a lower mountain lift, I'll ski whatever terrain that gets me. I usually drive 3 hours to get to the resort and I'll be d@mned if I just sit around. This year I'll probably just skin up the mountain if there's a windhold. I need to practice backcountry skills somehow.

So you bought the BC setup too! How are those squads treating you? They must be pretty sweet on soft days. I elect you as possibly the biggest gear whore on this board!!!

 

[riverc0il]

I celebrate, then I ski.

+1

One of my better powder days of last season came as the result of a wind hold:
http://www.thesnowway.com/2008/03/21/major-earned-turn-power-day-during-jay-lift-hold

roark can attest to the quality of that fine afternoon.

 

[dmc]

But with wind comes bad avi conditions... So careful out west...

 

[snowmonster]

So you bought the BC setup too! How are those squads treating you? They must be pretty sweet on soft days. I elect you as possibly the biggest gear whore on this board!!!

Dude, I learned all about being a gear whore from you! When are you visiting Maine?

 

[deadheadskier]

....as I'm not married to any particular mountain, I'll go wherever there's a decent lift running.

 

[skibum9995]

I usually stay home if big winds are likely. If I am at the mountain I'll ski whatever is open for a few hours, then go home.

 

[MichaelJ]

2 seasons ago Sunday River got about a foot of powder overnight. We wake up at the condo to find the whole mountain on wind hold. After a period of denial we pack up to head back to NH. On the way we stop at Mt Abram and find they're up and running; and it was a discount day so we skied deep powder for like $16 a person.

I'll second that - last winter we got stuck with a wind hold at SR. Decided to bail and on the way home made a few calls, ended up having a terrific day at Bretton Woods on sweet snow.

Another time we were at SR and Saturday was a huge, beautiful dump (I spent the entire day in the trees). Sunday was a wind hold across everything except South Ridge. We decided to wait this one out, the snow was just too nice not to. We hiked and traversed all over the place hitting beautiful, untracked corduroy as the lifts slowly opened. I managed to time it just right to be the third non-employee off the Spruce Triple and made screaming (joy and fear) first tracks down Risky Business.

 

[Terry]

I'll usually ski what is open, maybe do a little hiking if it looks like things will get going later. If not,time to hit the bar or do other things. It all depends on where I am skiing that day. If local, will just call it a day and go do other things.