It’s Wednesday! Then there is Thursday and Friday, then we get to go skiing Saturday and Sunday.
Category Archives: Skier/Snowboarder Stories
Subscribe to Skier/Snowboarder Stories RSS FeedWithdrawals
Posted in PersonalWe are all ski bums. Instead of counting how many days we ski in a season we count those we miss. Withdrawals? Hmmm, we are looking forward to our fix over the next three days as Crystal continues to run five lifts and the Gondola.
It’s not an addiction, it’s a life style
Posted in Personal, Photo of the Day, UncategorizedThe winter season may have just ended and for many of us our life style has to adapt to the spring/summer season. We may not be able to ski seven days a week but we still have Friday through Sundays to enjoy.
Ross Gregg: “Vintage” Crystal Skier
Posted in News, Skier/Snowboarder StoriesRoss Gregg is a legend at Crystal Mountain. He’s been skiing here since the beginning, and he’s just as stylish today as he ever was. Ross is a retired Crystal ski patroller. His truck can be found in the parking lot on any given midweek day. He’s a constant presence here. Most recently I’ve seen… Continue Reading
Last Ride Up
Posted in PersonalPhoto by Andrew Longstreth Photo of the Week. At the end of a day, patrollers take the last ride up after sweep. Northway Chair
Photo of the week
Posted in Conditions, Personal, Photo of the DayPhoto by Andrew Longstreth Patrick ripping it up.
What drives a patroller?
Posted in Personal, Photo of the DayA bottomless lunch box.
Office with a view
Posted in PersonalWe will most likely not become wealthy as patrollers. We do, however, love our jobs, have our health, experience the daily wonders of what nature has to offer including its awesome views and of course we get to ski the goods. It is our pleasure in helping create the experience our customer come looking for. … Continue Reading
Serious Ski Patrol Business: Leg Wrestling
Posted in PersonalSki patrolling isn’t all just fun and games. Sometimes its serious business around here. While many of us had our money on Rhett, Jarred won this round. Bravo Jarred. Looks like Rhett will have to vacuum the patrol room this week.
Photo of the Week
Posted in Personal, Place NamesRest in Peace Paul Melby
Ski Patrol Tour Recap
Posted in Events and Activities, Place Names, Skier/Snowboarder StoriesThanks to everyone who came out for the “Ski with a Ski Patroller” Tour on February 18th. Even though it was a powder day, we still had a large group of skiers who came with questions and a genuine interest to learn more about Crystal in general and ski patrol in particular. Christina and I… Continue Reading
We’re so lucky
Posted in Events and Activities, PersonalPatrollers might be seen as a “clique” who consume a large table at the Elk on payday Friday but the truth is we’re just a very tight group. We work together, spend our days off skiing together, count on each other in risky situations, rely on one another for safety during avalanche routes, and some patrollers even end up engaged and married to… Continue Reading
New Clutch
Posted in Events and Activities, News, PersonalWhen my old Subaru stopped accelerating because it would take a mile for the clutch to engage I would wait to enter any main road til I couldn’t see any oncoming cars before easing my way out and waiting for engagement for a few minutes. When I got a new clutch I felt like I was driving a sport’s car… Continue Reading
Photo of the Week: When legends wear helmets
Posted in Conditions, Skier/Snowboarder StoriesI caught up with Crystal legends Gary Morrison and Ross Gregg this week trying out their shiny new helmets. Looking good guys!
Leaving Your Skis in Line Before the Lifts Open
Posted in Events and Activities, Skier/Snowboarder StoriesOkay. I’m just going to throw this question out there, because sometimes when I see a bee’s nest, I just have to poke a stick into it to see what happens. I’m like that. Is it okay to let your skis save your place in line before the lifts open? A few weeks ago I… Continue Reading
New Summit House Art Work
Posted in News, PersonalA little tooting of our own horn here; one of our outstanding patrollers is also an artist. You may have seen his work on the Crystal Mountain Facebook page, or hanging in the Summit House, or adorning the walls of Double Mountain Brewery in Hood River but you should defiantly check it out here; chrismorinphotography.com All… Continue Reading
Photo of the Week
Posted in Conditions, Skier/Snowboarder Stories, WeatherUp here at Crystal, it’s been a best-of-times/worst-of-times scenario, in which one day it’s bluebird powder and the next is, well, rain. With the launch of the Photo of the Week post, I’m focusing on the best of times from this past week. While retail stores enjoyed Black Friday, we pegged the awesome-o-meter with a… Continue Reading
Patrollers aren’t just pretty faces
Posted in Personal, Skier/Snowboarder StoriesIf you’ve skied at Crystal you know we have sick terrain; if you’ve skied at Crystal with kids you know we have dog cards. You give us a safety rule and we give you a color photo of your favorite Canine in their red and white attire ready to save the day. The dog cards… Continue Reading
What Anna Did on Her Summer Vacation
Posted in Skier/Snowboarder StoriesSeasonal Work I often get asked, “what do ski patrollers do in the off-season?” I respond with the usual answers. We patrollers fill our summers with other seasonal work. Some patrollers guide clients up mountains or down rivers, others fight wildland fires or build trails, still others put their EMT skills to work on a… Continue Reading
Never, Ever, Ever Eat Yellow Snow: Reprint Back By Popular Demand
Posted in Skier/Snowboarder StoriesYesterday I hiked the King and at risk of sounding incredibly pet peevish, I’ll just go ahead and say it. There were no less than ten patches of yellow snow. I mean come on people. Perhaps it is some kind of Kilgore Was Here mentality that comes over these guys when standing atop a spendid peak with a pristine view of Mt. Rainier (and yes I suspect that most of the culprits are, in fact, men).
Rock Climbing Shutterbug
Posted in Place Names, Skier/Snowboarder StoriesClimbing Rabbit Ears to get a good photo.
Hello, I’m a Crystal Mountain Traverser
Posted in Skier/Snowboarder StoriesMy name is Christina and sometimes I like to traverse. I start cursing when I’m skiing a waist deep line off the Throne in flat light and double eject onto a traverse track put in by people just skiing the lower field. But on the other hand, I thank our traversers, when I’m jonesing to… Continue Reading
Skiers vs Snowboarders: An Invitation
Posted in Skier/Snowboarder StoriesI’ve gotten a few questions and comments from people about the best ways to maneuver long traverse/ascent trails like we have going to Southback, up into Bullion Basin–even coming back into the area on the I-5 trail returning from Northway. Got any great ideas? Been to other places where they have unwritten norms for this kind of situation?
Gentlemen Ski Bums
Posted in Skier/Snowboarder StoriesThought I’d take a moment after my recent rant to give a shout out to all the gentlemen waiting at Northway Gate 2 last week.
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