Per the SS FB page.

 Cupp Run opens tomorrow and you can expect 2 or 3 more black diamonds as well as several more blues in the next few days!

Is the Western Territory a safe place to escape the lines on holiday weekends?  I don't recall ever seeing a line for the lift there...

hoyadrew wrote:

Is the Western Territory a safe place to escape the lines on holiday weekends?  I don't recall ever seeing a line for the lift there...

It will be better than Ballhooter but with the delayed season, I'd plan for crowds and lines.  

If you read their post about more blacks and blues I'm going to assume that's the slopes over by Soaring Eagle.  If I were to guess, I'd saw Widomaker, Camp 99 and J Hook.  That would spread the crowds over the entire basin.

If cupp is open without its companion, then it will be a very crowded slope regardless of the lift line.   Thats ok, it's still better than the alternatives and it is MLK so that's what you expect.  Start the morning on widowmaker and then go to cupp in the afternoon.  J-hook is typically one of the last slopes to open which is a shame since it is one of their nicer little runs.  

I have seen a line at the Western Express a few times, usually during Spring Break.  I don't think I've ever waited much more than 5 minutes.

In general, Western Territory is your best bet when lines in the Basin are long.  That said, as Pagamony calls out, the actual slopes (both Cupp and Shay's) can get quite crowded, even if the lift line isn't bad.  You'll also likely run into (hopefully not literally) some people that really don't belong over there, which can impact the experience. 

Reisen wrote:

... You'll also likely run into (hopefully not literally) some people that really don't belong over there...

LOL Oh yes. You know the ones...want to go home saying "I skied a black diamond" (maybe a mid-Atlantic version...but still...). The big problem is that there is no way out. Once you start...you are committed!!! I've seen the Ski Patrol post signs on top warning people. They've tried different phrasing on the sign.

Reisen wrote:

In general, Western Territory is your best bet when lines in the Basin are long.  That said, as Pagamony calls out, the actual slopes (both Cupp and Shay's) can get quite crowded, even if the lift line isn't bad.  You'll also likely run into (hopefully not literally) some people that really don't belong over there, which can impact the experience. 

Unfortunately I have a friend who was absolutely crushed by an out of control skier at the bottom of Cupp. Broken bones, torn ligaments, it was terrible. 

I was on Cupp yesterday from rope drop til 1pm.  It was getting skied off starting around 11am and the ice was slaying many nooners coming from the basin side.  At one point on top I counted six people spread across in varying yard sale conditions.  That being said, the early runs were great.

eggraid wrote:

Unfortunately I have a friend who was absolutely crushed by an out of control skier at the bottom of Cupp. Broken bones, torn ligaments, it was terrible. 

That sucks.  My son and my buddy were there on Sunday.  They said Cupp was extremely crowded and icy.  They did a few runs, then went over to Silver Creek to avoid the crowds.  

The bottom of cupp can be legimately terrifying when it is crowded. Very sorry to hear about your friend. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Blue Don 1982 wrote:

eggraid wrote:

Unfortunately I have a friend who was absolutely crushed by an out of control skier at the bottom of Cupp. Broken bones, torn ligaments, it was terrible. 

That sucks.  My son and my buddy were there on Sunday.  They said Cupp was extremely crowded and icy.  They did a few runs, then went over to Silver Creek to avoid the crowds.  

The lift lines were not bad, I mostly skied to the chair and groups probably had a 5 min max wait.  For MLK weekend it was great.  The crowding was more on the slope...people dealing with the ice.  I did leave at 1pm so the post lunch crowd could have been nasty.

Bonzski wrote:

Blue Don 1982 wrote:

eggraid wrote:

Unfortunately I have a friend who was absolutely crushed by an out of control skier at the bottom of Cupp. Broken bones, torn ligaments, it was terrible. 

That sucks.  My son and my buddy were there on Sunday.  They said Cupp was extremely crowded and icy.  They did a few runs, then went over to Silver Creek to avoid the crowds.  

The lift lines were not bad, I mostly skied to the chair and groups probably had a 5 min max wait.  For MLK weekend it was great.  The crowding was more on the slope...people dealing with the ice.  I did leave at 1pm so the post lunch crowd could have been nasty.

The incident was two seasons ago, so she's recovered now, but it was pretty physically and emotionally traumatic for her. 

Silver Creek is def the way to go on a particularly crowded day.

Just got home from Snowshoe.  Beautiful sunny day today but holy cow was it COLD.  The car thermometer said -6 when we arrived around 1030 and -3 when left around 4pm.  Didn't make it over to the Western Territory..maybe next weekend?  Snowshoe posted the latest model on Facebook showing 44 inches in their area!