Lift Line Video in Colorado

3forks

WKR
Joined
Oct 4, 2014
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923
In case anyone is wondering what a lift line looks like on a holiday weekend in Colorado these days.

 
OP
3

3forks

WKR
Joined
Oct 4, 2014
Messages
923
The lift line sucks, but the drive up from Denver is about the same in terms of being miserable.

I grew up skiing and ski racing… I have mostly quit skiing just due to the drive and congestion at the ski areas.

I would also contend that anyone who is new to hunting OTC units in Colorado should look at this vid and all the complaints of overcrowding and straining the resource to understand why so many of us are saying that OTC hunting in CO needs to change.

There are just too many people with too much disposable income and time trying to recreate using finite resource. OTC units are like this lift line.
 
Joined
May 16, 2020
Messages
800
I left lift served skiing about 5 years ago when lines stretched out to more than a minute or two. I'm sure I can't ski moguls like I used to, but the solitude is worth it.
 

mxgsfmdpx

WKR
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
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Outside
Starting to sound like a “back in my day” guy, but…

This was already getting so bad at the major Tahoe resorts back in the early 2000’s that you could pay extra on your season pass to go in a separate line.

Sierra and North Star at Tahoe had a joint season pass and you could pay extra for their “vertical plus” program which tracked your vertical feet and got you into your own lift lines. You also got “rewards” for gaining certain amounts of vertical feet throughout the year. I remember this program as early as 2004.
 

Squirrels

WKR
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
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1,477
That's insane, I've made about a dozen trips to Breck and never seen that. That specific line is for the gondola that comes way down into town.
 

cnelk

WKR
Joined
Mar 1, 2012
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7,701
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Colorado
My son is a maintenance electrician at Keystone.

You wouldn’t believe the stories he has
 

BigDog00

WKR
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
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753
Location
Wyoming
Day pass pricing is also getting out of hand. I don't understand how people can afford $200+ per day especially with a family.
 

Phaseolus

WKR
Joined
Feb 25, 2018
Messages
1,413
This is what makes our local Grand Mesa ski area, Powderhorn, so nice. $375 for a season pass, 40 minute crowdless drive, and short liftlines.
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2021
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1,377
Location
Eastern Oregon
This is why I picked up a touring set up this year. I'd rather hit 2-3 runs a day that I work for and the snow is untouched than pay $150+ to pound groomers and rutted out trees and wait in 20 minute lift lines...

Also, all the more reason to support independent resorts. You'll notice the resorts with major lift line problems tend to be Vail (Epic pass) resorts. Maybe some Alterra (Ikon) resorts too. I did 50+ runs in two days at an independent resort in CO last week...F*** Vail!
 

CoHiCntry

WKR
Joined
Feb 15, 2013
Messages
1,025
Location
Colorado
To be fair, like someone mentioned above… that’s not a lift line but a line from the parking lot to the gondola that takes you to the lift line!

I don’t ski weekends & wouldn’t even think about skiing on a holiday or even a holiday week. It’s gotten so bad over the years I’m questioning if it’s worth it anymore? Not even mentioning the expense. The good ol days are long gone & this it what we’re left with. It’s sad.
 
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
337
Location
Colorado
When I first moved to the Denver area in the 90's you could hop in the car at about 7am on a saturday morning and drive to Breckenridge or Keystone and ride all day then drive home. Man those days are long gone aren't they? I only go a couple times a year any more and it sure as hell isn't on a holiday weekend. It's usually a random tuesday.
 
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