Moguls or trees?

[ski diva]

Which do you prefer (if you HAD to choose one) and why?

 

[altagirl]

Trees. Though really, some of the biggest bumps tend to be in the trees... but there sometimes is a better line though them.

I've gotten better at moguls in the past year, but I still avoid them like the plague whenever possible. Not good on the knees.

 

[Jilly]

I think I'll take the moguls. Trees are taller and don't move. Also not much experience as there are not too many places in the east. We have a few glade runs at Tremblant, but no snow making in there, so they are not open often. Bumps run have snow making and tend to open unless its too icy. Also "expo" at Tremblant usually has a groomed track, so you can opt out of the run if you get tired.

 

[altagirl]

That said, I'd definitely take bumps in decent condition over a groomer. If everything off-piste is horrid and I'm down to a crowded groomer, I go home.

This past winter when the snowpack was so bad, we only had a few lines off the groomed for a while where you could get across the traverses, through the trees and back down without tons of rocks and grass in the way. It was almost getting silly how we were weaving the same line through the trees every single run. It about turned it into a bobsled track.

 

[Pequenita]

Trees, for the same reasons as altagirl. I have a mental block when it comes to bumps out on an open slope -- I dunno maybe too many options paralyzes me. Plus, I just suck on bumps. Seeing the trees forces me to take particular lines.

 

[ISki]

Moguls. I love moguls. Unfortunately I've aged out of mogul skiing, but, wow, it was fun. Now I have to pass. :(

I don't ski trees. I like a clear shot to the bottom.

 

[abc]

Depends on how close the trees are! ;)

The trees in the east tend to be quite dense and mogully, with the top of the mogul being where the tree is. So, one of the easiest lines are closed. ;)

Widely spaced trees that hasn't been cut up by other skiers? That would be great. But I honestly don't know where I can find them.

In the mean time, I quite enjoy moguls.

 

[altagirl]

It is kindof a trick question, since there's a good chance any easily skiable trees are going to be bumped (inbounds anyway...).

 

[SnowHot]

I really like tree skiing. I want to be a decent mogul skier.
More than anything I'd like to change more of my "Oh Sht" moments into "Whoo Hoo" Moments

 

[Gloria]

bumps in the trees

I have to say it ...no offense.........this is one reason I hate resort skiing....I like tree skiing best, but try not to go where others do or have been, difficult to do at resort areas. People tend in these cases just to follow someone elses tracks through the trees and they get bumped out. We have a couple of tree runs that get like this, but they also have names.

 

[RachelV]

Widely spaced trees that hasn't been cut up by other skiers? That would be great. But I honestly don't know where I can find them.

You should try a weekend at Bretton Woods. I was there the weekend after the Feb 14th storm this past season and I have never had so much fun skiing easier trees. They have a ton.

 

[abc]

You should try a weekend at Bretton Woods. I was there the weekend after the Feb 14th storm this past season and I have never had so much fun skiing easier trees. They have a ton.

I was at Killington that weekend (actually, Friday) so the whole mountain was powder. Even the wide open slopes are full of soft snow. I guess I was too busy just skiing the regular runs.

That's one rare occasion I don't bother with trees or moguls. It's too rare to have soft (though heavy) powder on open slopes so I took full advantage of it.

I guess I would have try heading into the trees had I stayed. But I was further up north that weekend (backcountry!)

 

[Native Vail Gal]

Trees. It's pretty and peaceful!

 

[tradygirl]

Are you kidding me? Trees!

Maybe it's because I'm a powder monkey that never learned how to ski moguls, but I avoid them like the plague.

I daresay trees are my favorite of all types of skiing, only trumped by first tracks on a steep, 1000 ft bowl (ie Backside, Cardiac Bowl). The snow is always deeper from windloading, softer and lighter because the wind doesn't rake it, visibility is always better, and it's just damn fun to ski through trees. It kind of reminds me of riding a swoopy singletrack on my bike.

I prefer well-spaced pines, but I even love the tight trees. Deer Valley has tons of tight aspen skiing, made possible because they actually prune all the lower branches and twigs every fall before ski season (can you say PAMPERED?) Plus, not a lot of people ski the trees at DV, so there's usually lots of good stuff in there. :D

 

[Quiver Queen]

Trees, of course! They provide endless challenge and every run is different. But, Tradygirl, I must differ with your assessment of Deer Valley's trees--they ain't tight! (But, yes, DV does pamper very nicely) Tight is where you can't get a picture of your ski buddy because the trees are so close together you don't see them (her) until they're spraying you with snow and the camera never got aimed. Also, you may enter with your buddy but you never leave with your buddy--you just hope you both finish up in the same general vicinity in the same general time frame. Grins all around!:D

 

[abc]

Also, you may enter with your buddy but you never leave with your buddy--you just hope you both finish up in the same general vicinity in the same general time frame.

Or you hope both of you come out at all! ;)

 

[Quiver Queen]

Amen to that!

 

[num]

I don't have enough experience to give anything near a decent answer. I've encountered accidental moguls without incident, but thankfully I've never ended up in accidental trees :D

 

[Sheena]

I have learned to appreciate tree skiing more and more. I do tend to get a bit nervous when the trees are tight, and I don't have many options for lines. I am trying to learn to be more confidnet though.

Moguls are completely different story. I try to avoid them whenever I can. All my good technique goes completely away the minute I encounter a mogul field.

Ah, well I have plenty to practice this season!!!!

 

[abc]

I don't know. If the trees are not mogully, it's probably not that tight.

Well, unless you're the first to get there. Otherwise, if there's only one line around the trees, it's going to become mogul real fast. If there's more than one line, it's not "tight".