CUTTING THE LINE:
YOUR GUIDE TO THE POWDER LINE

Written By: Justin Clifton

This is the kind of day you begin to dream about in October. You know, that time when you start itching for the mountain to open so you can try out the new boots and skis you bought at the Blizzard Sale. This year you’re prepared. This year you’re ready to ski the deep with all of the style and grace of a dancer, but there is a hitch. Here are a few crucial tips on surviving the powder line and how to make the most of your waiting time.

HOW TO DRESS

The powder line is going to be cold so dress warmly. There is a catch, however. When you start skiing the powder your body temp is going to rise so you need to dress in layers. Bring a backpack to stuff your additional layers in when you’re skiing – this will provide easy access to them if you need to bundle up for the lift ride back up. Remember, sweating on a cold day will only make you colder as the moisture begins to freeze so control your body temperature as much as possible.

KNOW YOUR ROUTE

Getting to the powder first requires a good knowledge of your routes to the top and your routes back down. (Times are approximate and vary.)

• Intermediate Skiers: Chair 4 (Village Lift) – Six Minutes
  
  The lift ride is short and you can still find some incredible spots to call your own on a powder day. Try Peek-A-Boo because nobody else does or head over to Lift 5 (five-minute lift ride) to get a little higher on the mountain.
  
  
• Experts & Intermediate: Chair 7 (Coonskin Lift) – Twelve Minutes
  
  The lift ride is long but the terrain is unbelievable. Later in the season you are sure to find plenty of opportunities for fresh tracks off Lift 7 as long as you ski or board down town side (EXPERTS ONLY). Milk Run and Coonskin offer great conditions and if you’re feeling adventurous venture over to North Chute for the steep and narrow before finishing up on Lower Coonskin.
  
  
• Experts: Chair 8 (Oak Street Lift) – Five+ Minutes
  
  Lift 8 is your fastest way to get to Lift 9. Lift 9 will take you to an elevation of 11,890’ in just over 12, minutes opening you up to the entire mountain. (Locals love Lift 9).
  
  
• Experts & Intermediate: Gondola to San Sophia Station – Seven-and-a-half Minutes
  
  OK, here’s the powder day gamble. If timed right, you could be the very first person strapping on skis in the morning. If you miss your timing, however, you could be in for a 15–minute ride to the other side of the mountain. Here’s how you play the game:
  
  You know that the gondola operators won’t let you out at the top before 9 a.m. If a gondola car takes five minutes from the Village, and seven-and-a-half minutes from Telluride, then it’s safe to say that boarding the gondola at 8:52 a.m. in Telluride or 8:55 a.m. in Mountain Village will get you to the top around 9 a.m. This is not the safest bet on the mountain, but it does pay well when it works.
  

POWDER LINE CODE OF CONDUCT:

There are four simple rules to the powder line:

• Rule One – No cutting! Everyone in the powder line got up way too early, opted for a clammy bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and suffered the weather for way too long to have your friends cut in line with you.
  
  
• Rule Two – Saving your spot is OK. Leave your skis and go get a chai latté at The Window or a hot chocolate at Chair 8. WARNING: If you’re not there when they start filling the chairs you lose your spot – go to the back of the line.
  
  
• Rule Three – No singles to a chair. Share your seat so we can all get to the top faster.
  
  
• Rule Four – Respect the lift operators and the gondola attendants. If you think you have it bad because you’ve been waiting in line all this time, think about the people putting your butt in the chair. They don’t get the powder today.