The Official Michigan Winter Thread - Page 267 - Snowboarding Forum

david_z · 01-17-2013, 08:08 AM

Crystal was *empty* on 12/26 when I was there. All day long. I couldn't believe it.

trapper · 01-17-2013, 09:04 AM

I imagine this weekend at Caberfae is going to be a shitfest since they don't charge holiday rates like Crystal does. I'm sure a lot of people will be thinking like us and go there instead of Crystal because it's just plain ridiculous to pay 69 bucks a ticket. Don't get me wrong, I like Crystal a lot, but I'm not paying those kind of rates for it.

sabatoa · 01-17-2013, 09:07 AM

I've always thought that Crystal's prices were way too high. Apparently the market supports it though.

Your best bet with Crystal is to get their early bird pass when it goes on sale this spring.

Check a few pages back and you'll see David_Z giving some details about it.

david_z · 01-17-2013, 09:24 AM

You can buy Crystal's no-blackouts/season pass/unlimited or whatever they call it for $250 usually from March-June/July after which price increases a bit. I think right now it's $369 which still is a fair price if you ski or ride more than 5 or 6 days.

Included: 20% off lodging, I think there are pro-shop or tune-up discounts, 2 free lift tickets (to give to friends).

It's a no-brainer. I figure the 2 lift tickets I can give to my wife or a friend are worth $100+ which means my pass only cost me $125. Pays for itself in 3 days.

trapper · 01-17-2013, 09:32 AM

Yeah I almost bought a couple of those passes for me and the wife but we were shoring up a few debts at the time last spring and decided against it ultimately. This year I think I will just buck up and do it though.

I think the main reason Crystal gets away with the higher prices is because they cater to wealthier folks who come there for the resort atmosphere. Obviously Caberfae is a more local-friendly place and lacks many of those amenities, but it makes up for it in prices. That's my take on it anyways.

Given a choice between the two, I'd probably go to Crystal. However, I really like Caberfae for some reason aside from the lower prices.

sabatoa · 01-17-2013, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trapper

Yeah I almost bought a couple of those passes for me and the wife but we were shoring up a few debts at the time last spring and decided against it ultimately. This year I think I will just buck up and do it though.

I think the main reason Crystal gets away with the higher prices is because they cater to wealthier folks who come there for the resort atmosphere. Obviously Caberfae is a more local-friendly place and lacks many of those amenities, but it makes up for it in prices. That's my take on it anyways.

Given a choice between the two, I'd probably go to Crystal. However, I really like Caberfae for some reason aside from the lower prices.

It's a toss up for me. If I'm riding with friends then Crystal but if it's just me and my wife then I'd personally prefer Caberfae. I think the runs are longer and more fun. The North Peak is nice and steep and long.

Crystal is fun and the glades are cool but it's just so short.

trapper · 01-17-2013, 09:56 AM

I guess what I like about Crystal is the variety if you go during the day with the Ridge and North Face aside from the front runs. I agree though about the length of the rides and that's part of what I like about Caberfae. Plus when you get a nice fresh snow the place just feels awesome and quiet due to the lack of development (housing, etc) around the area. Smiling Irishman to Lower Canyon or down through the trees to Gum Drop are probably my favorite runs between the two ski areas combined.

And the view from the top of the North Peak is amazing.

sabatoa · 01-17-2013, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trapper

I guess what I like about Crystal is the variety if you go during the day with the Ridge and North Face aside from the front runs. I agree though about the length of the rides and that's part of what I like about Caberfae. Plus when you get a nice fresh snow the place just feels awesome and quiet due to the lack of development (housing, etc) around the area. Smiling Irishman to Lower Canyon or down through the trees to Gum Drop are probably my favorite runs between the two ski areas combined.

Yeah I think you pretty much nailed it.

Both places sure turn into a circus on busy days though. Holy man.

sabatoa · 01-17-2013, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trapper

And the view from the top of the North Peak is amazing.

Crystal can't compare when it comes to the view.

dammit I want to ride

Karpediem · 01-17-2013, 11:02 AM

Caberfae has so much opportunity to expand their terrain, but every year it seems like they just add more snow guns and widen a run. I choose it over Crystal, but I keep waiting for them to make some actual impressive improvements. They could at least add some more dirt to the end of run on the back side of South Peak, so it slopes back to the lift. I have no problem making it, but the majority of people can't cause you have to haul ass...just like you have to haul ass to make it back to North Peak from South. END RANT. Looking to make a trip somewhere during the week (taking a day off work) at some point in the next few weeks. Only been out once, and I am heading to Whistler at the end of Feb

so I need to get out a couple more times.

01-17-2013, 08:08 AM	#2661 (permalink)
david_z Official SBF Blogger Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Detroit suburbs Posts: 3,028 Blog Entries: 5	Crystal was empty on 12/26 when I was there. All day long. I couldn't believe it. __________________ Repping the world's smallest mountains... Mt. Holly - 12 Pine Knob - 9 Alpine Valley - 2 Vail - 4 Breckenridge - 3 Crystal Mountain (MI) - 3 Hawk Island Snow Park - 5 Caberfae Peaks - 1 Boyne Mountain - 1 aGNARchy: no rules, just gnar!

01-17-2013, 09:07 AM	#2663 (permalink)
sabatoa -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 1,505	I've always thought that Crystal's prices were way too high. Apparently the market supports it though. Your best bet with Crystal is to get their early bird pass when it goes on sale this spring. Check a few pages back and you'll see David_Z giving some details about it. __________________ '12 NS Legacy 163 Days on snow 2012/2013 season: Boyne Highlands: 5 Boyne Mtn: 1 Shanty Creek: 1 Crystal Mountain: 1 Pine Knob: 1 Mt Holly: 4 Hawk Island: 1 Cannonsburg: 0 End of Season: 01/12/2013

01-17-2013, 09:24 AM	#2664 (permalink)
david_z Official SBF Blogger Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Detroit suburbs Posts: 3,028 Blog Entries: 5	You can buy Crystal's no-blackouts/season pass/unlimited or whatever they call it for $250 usually from March-June/July after which price increases a bit. I think right now it's $369 which still is a fair price if you ski or ride more than 5 or 6 days. Included: 20% off lodging, I think there are pro-shop or tune-up discounts, 2 free lift tickets (to give to friends). It's a no-brainer. I figure the 2 lift tickets I can give to my wife or a friend are worth $100+ which means my pass only cost me $125. Pays for itself in 3 days. __________________ Repping the world's smallest mountains... Mt. Holly - 12 Pine Knob - 9 Alpine Valley - 2 Vail - 4 Breckenridge - 3 Crystal Mountain (MI) - 3 Hawk Island Snow Park - 5 Caberfae Peaks - 1 Boyne Mountain - 1 aGNARchy: no rules, just gnar!

01-17-2013, 09:56 AM	#2667 (permalink)
trapper Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Lansing Region Posts: 503	I guess what I like about Crystal is the variety if you go during the day with the Ridge and North Face aside from the front runs. I agree though about the length of the rides and that's part of what I like about Caberfae. Plus when you get a nice fresh snow the place just feels awesome and quiet due to the lack of development (housing, etc) around the area. Smiling Irishman to Lower Canyon or down through the trees to Gum Drop are probably my favorite runs between the two ski areas combined. And the view from the top of the North Peak is amazing. Last edited by trapper; 01-17-2013 at 09:59 AM.

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01-17-2013, 09:04 AM	#2662 (permalink)
trapper Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Lansing Region Posts: 503	I imagine this weekend at Caberfae is going to be a shitfest since they don't charge holiday rates like Crystal does. I'm sure a lot of people will be thinking like us and go there instead of Crystal because it's just plain ridiculous to pay 69 bucks a ticket. Don't get me wrong, I like Crystal a lot, but I'm not paying those kind of rates for it.

01-17-2013, 09:32 AM	#2665 (permalink)
trapper Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Lansing Region Posts: 503	Yeah I almost bought a couple of those passes for me and the wife but we were shoring up a few debts at the time last spring and decided against it ultimately. This year I think I will just buck up and do it though. I think the main reason Crystal gets away with the higher prices is because they cater to wealthier folks who come there for the resort atmosphere. Obviously Caberfae is a more local-friendly place and lacks many of those amenities, but it makes up for it in prices. That's my take on it anyways. Given a choice between the two, I'd probably go to Crystal. However, I really like Caberfae for some reason aside from the lower prices.

01-17-2013, 11:02 AM	#2670 (permalink)
Karpediem Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 238	Caberfae has so much opportunity to expand their terrain, but every year it seems like they just add more snow guns and widen a run. I choose it over Crystal, but I keep waiting for them to make some actual impressive improvements. They could at least add some more dirt to the end of run on the back side of South Peak, so it slopes back to the lift. I have no problem making it, but the majority of people can't cause you have to haul ass...just like you have to haul ass to make it back to North Peak from South. END RANT. Looking to make a trip somewhere during the week (taking a day off work) at some point in the next few weeks. Only been out once, and I am heading to Whistler at the end of Feb so I need to get out a couple more times.