Saturday, January 30th will be a day that lives in infamy. A day that skiers & snowboarders went skiing on the West coast, went snowboarding in the Midwest, and schussed down the slopes on the East coast. No mountain was left un-skied, creating what we’re calling “Ski Lift Lines Apocalypse.”
As you’ll see below, if you felt like the ski lift lines were especially long, you weren’t alone. Here’s just a glimpse of what people endured on Saturday, January 30th.
West Coast
Rockies
Midwest
East Coast
The Perfect Storm Literally
So, how did this happen? What caused this mass influx of people to every ski area across the country. It couldn’t be just one thing. We’re thinking there’s a multitude of reasons for these lengthy ski lift lines.
Scarcity Of Fresh Snow
This winter’s storm track has been pretty much locked up in the Pacific Northwest for most of the season. The week prior to January 30th though, fresh snow fell across most of the country.
Mountains Are Considered ‘Safe’ Over Beaches
By around mid-January, most people are over the cold and snow. They’re planning or about to head to a beach destination for some sun and fun. But not this year it seems.
Drive Markets Over Fly Markets
What do all these places have in common? They’re all ski resorts that you can drive to within a few hours. Many of these skiers and snowboarders would’ve skipped these spots and flown to somewhere remote like Canada for their powder fix (which is still closed to the US).
Where To Go Instead?
If you do want to get away from the crowds, skip the major resorts. Find a small one that’s a bit further away. Or another option for those with a higher risk tolerance, head to a resort that’s even further away. We’ve heard Telluride is SUPER empty this winter as well as many of the Idaho resorts such as the the two New Indy Pass Ski Resorts.
Being eternal optimists, we’re hoping this was a one-time situation that won’t happen again. Fingers, toes, and ski poles crossed.
