Silverton Beta

**m4doyle** · 07-11-2014, 08:13 PM

Got some guys heading to silverton this season for some skiing. We are currently debating if we should do some heli drops or not. I've heard from a couple friends that you can actually get more skiing in just hiking normal versus doing a drop. Any truth to this statement?

Would love to hear some experiences of people who have done them and their thoughts.

**Buster Highmen** · 07-12-2014, 07:16 AM

Silverton is more about quality than quantity.
As for the quantity question, if it's a busy day one can spend some time waiting for your drops.
That said, I'd still recommend queuing up at least 2 drops one day because it's really about the quality of the experience. Thursdays and Sundays are generally less busy.

**m4doyle** · 07-12-2014, 09:39 PM

Does one get better quality from a heli drop?

**HVskier** · 07-12-2014, 10:18 PM

I think it was worth it for the experience to just do one drop. In my experience they start you out with mellow terrain and then try to sell you more. I'd also say you have a better chance of skiing a longer untracked and open run from the heli.

**raisingarizona13** · 07-13-2014, 12:24 AM

Heli drops are the shit. If it's fat don't miss the experience. I thought it was well worth the $, especially since there is no way that I could afford a full day of heli skiing.

**Shredhead** · 07-13-2014, 04:58 AM

I'd recommend renting the whole ship on a Wednesday.

**Meadow Skipper** · 07-13-2014, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by m4doyle

Does one get better quality from a heli drop?

That would depend on how one defines quality.

**kailas** · 07-13-2014, 09:06 AM

It depends on what you mean by quality. I don't ski at Silverton myself, I find their policies pathetic at best. First off their guides are mostly eastern transplants, a couple of losers from Texass, and I wouldn't let these idiots guide me to the bathroom. Second I don't find 1900 ft of vert that impressive. Plus this was billed as cheap skiing, well isn't $139 pretty expensive? Sure you get some douchey guide from Vermont or Texass, and they make you spoon your turns. And they'll arrest you if you duck a rope. And you ride a crappy lift, with a big morning lift line, with the sent of attitude all around you. It could be a cool place, if you had less than better owners. But then again I'm use to 2000 m vert.

**Buster Highmen** · 07-13-2014, 09:07 AM

It' right there in Zen and The Art of Powder Maintenance:

^^Pequenas: heli or bootpack only

**raisingarizona13** · 07-13-2014, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by kailas

It depends on what you mean by quality. I don't ski at Silverton myself, I find their policies pathetic at best. First off their guides are mostly eastern transplants, a couple of losers from Texass, and I wouldn't let these idiots guide me to the bathroom. Second I don't find 1900 ft of vert that impressive. Plus this was billed as cheap skiing, well isn't $139 pretty expensive? Sure you get some douchey guide from Vermont or Texass, and they make you spoon your turns. And they'll arrest you if you duck a rope. And you ride a crappy lift, with a big morning lift line, with the sent of attitude all around you. It could be a cool place, if you had less than pathetic owners.

I really like my guides. I skied over the head powder snow on 5 of 6 runs and the heli drop was sick. Isn't the vert more like 3 something with hiking?

Fuck, it's skiing and the sport is filled with douche-y people, I wouldn't let that ruin a good day of skiing.

**kailas** · 07-13-2014, 12:57 PM

Your right. Deep and steep is where it's at. I just want more! More vert and snorkel deep. The scenery ain't bad.

**Kinnikinnick** · 12-19-2014, 09:59 AM

Bump to ask:

Thinking about a weekend at Silverton in a couple weeks but I'd like to hold off on reservations to see if snow conditions are worthy of the $280 for 2 days. How often and how far in advance does it sell out?

**joetron** · 12-19-2014, 11:04 AM

I would recommend trying to hit it during unguided times. Sometimes you can get skunked on open terrain if it's a big storm cycle, but if it snowed during the week they'll try and open as much terrain as possible over the course of the weekend. I've heard lukewarm reviews of the guided experience there. Lots of turn farming.

**Foggy_Goggles** · 12-19-2014, 11:29 AM

Silverton - some people love it some people hate it. I've been there a bunch. I ski there with some of my best friends. I love it. It's one of the highlights of my winter. I'm sure I've said some of this shit before but I'll say it again.

a. turn farming yes - solar aspects first, shady north facing last. it is not just about you, its about everyone who pays before the next time it snows. So no, if you go on a Thursday and there is no snow in the forecast, you won't get to go where ever you want.

b. is it a test? yes - your guide needs to learn to trust you. when its the first run and your frothing and the guide says "stack your tracks directly to the left of mine" and someone in your group swings wide and throws a track 20 meters out, your group just got set back for the whole day

c. weakest link - bring or find your own group. one cowboy or one weak skier will throttle your day

c. bell to bell - the best opportunities often come towards the end of the day. terrain will often open later, don't blow your wad early

d. take a shit it town - seriously

e. be humble - attitude begets attitude. for better or worse, everyone is being judged. the loud mouth stinking of weed bitchin' about this and that will not have a good bad.

f. it's Aaron's ski area - it always happens his way. he's earned it. he's not just being a dick to you. he's a dick to everyone. just ask his employees. if you own a ski area, you can do it your way.

**Kinnikinnick** · 12-19-2014, 01:38 PM

...Yeah, thanks, but...

Does it frequently sell out on Guided weekends? How long in advance?

**eskido** · 12-19-2014, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

Silverton - some people love it some people hate it. I've been there a bunch. I ski there with some of my best friends. I love it. It's one of the highlights of my winter. I'm sure I've said some of this shit before but I'll say it again.

a. turn farming yes - solar aspects first, shady north facing last. it is not just about you, its about everyone who pays before the next time it snows. So no, if you go on a Thursday and there is no snow in the forecast, you won't get to go where ever you want.

b. is it a test? yes - your guide needs to learn to trust you. when its the first run and your frothing and the guide says "stack your tracks directly to the left of mine" and someone in your group swings wide and throws a track 20 meters out, your group just got set back for the whole day

c. weakest link - bring or find your own group. one cowboy or one weak skier will throttle your day

c. bell to bell - the best opportunities often come towards the end of the day. terrain will often open later, don't blow your wad early

d. take a shit it town - seriously

e. be humble - attitude begets attitude. for better or worse, everyone is being judged. the loud mouth stinking of weed bitchin' about this and that will not have a good bad.

f. it's Aaron's ski area - it always happens his way. he's earned it. he's not just being a dick to you. he's a dick to everyone. just ask his employees. if you own a ski area, you can do it your way.

Ditto.
For what's worth I have done a lot of guided and non guided but only paid the full 120 once, and it was totally worth it! Based on all my other exp there I probly wouldn't pay it again but it's a great place and if you don't have the opportunity to pick and chose I'd definitely recommend doing it at least once to anyone

**Patarero** · 12-19-2014, 02:11 PM

Guess I got lucky on my one day there as a single. Great guide (fun, competent, and no attitude), good group, 5 laps.

I would recommend AT boots, lots of hiking.

**Foggy_Goggles** · 12-19-2014, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Kinnikinnick

...Yeah, thanks, but...

Does it frequently sell out on Guided weekends? How long in advance?

Short answer - yes. If it looks like good conditions, powder starved cube monkey's press play and hit the road.
Long answer - Thursdays and Sundays sell out less. There are some idiosyncrasies to the reservation system that we are not privy to. Just like hotels, there is "sold out" and there is "I'm sorry sir, your money is no good here, honestly all the rooms are taken" which is another way of saying they have a "stand by" system.

So really, the questions you want to ask are "has anyone actually got shut out by just showing up" and "if the online system shows as sold out am I ballsy enough to make the drive without a reservation?"

See, this is why I don't get the hate for the "turn farming". I don't know you, where you are from and what your expectations are but another way to answer the questions is "don't worry about it, book now. As long as they have a decent base they'll farm the snow where they can about guarantee you'll have good skiing"

**Shredhead** · 12-19-2014, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Kinnikinnick

...Yeah, thanks, but...

Does it frequently sell out on Guided weekends? How long in advance?

It totally depends on conditions. Even if you show up as a standby, you'll probably get on.

f. I must be special.

**Meadow Skipper** · 12-19-2014, 09:18 PM

Foggy Goggles has it dialed. Wisdom.

**pfluffenmeister** · 12-19-2014, 10:56 PM

i've done a few days there as a lone wolf.
looked humble, said i didn't want to slow anyone down, and got paired with a fast group.
fun times.

6 laps max and i was juiced.

i wanted to hike to the billboard straighaway (which didn't happen); but can understand that the guides want a chance to judge their clients ability.