Least Favorite Ski Area(s)

[cps27]

1. Okemo. Hate it.

[RISkier]

WaWa - At least on weekends. I'm sure it's different on weekdays. Kind of like commuting to work on a busy freeway. Way too many p___ed off people on far too little real estate. The only saving grace is that it's a lot closer than anything else.

[ctenidae]

Anyplace without snow?

[Zand]

Well, since the favorite and least favorite topics have popped up, I'll post my least favorite to favorite in order.

9. Ski Ward (Least favorite)
8. Pine Ridge
7. Berkshire East
6. Wachusett
5. Killington
4. Sunapee
3. Jiminy
2. Sugarbush
1. Okemo (Favorite)

[andyzee]

Belleayre/Hunter

[freeheelwilly]

This is really a tough question because so much depends upon things over which the mountain has no control, such as conditions, weather, the group you're with, what you had for breakfast, etc.

Even assuming all other things are equal (and they never are) we still couldn't agree because we'll never all agree on the relative importance of the things over which the mountain does have control or which are intrinsic to the mountain, such as terrain, snowmaking/grooming, quality of ski school, slope side amenities or proximity to strip clubs.

with all of that being said, to me terrain is the most important thing when judging a mountain (well, that and the strip club thing). And of the BIG areas (I don't think it's fair or particularly useful to compare Maple Ridge to Killington) the two that are, to my mind, hands down the worst in that category are Stratton and Mt. Snow and of those Stratton takes the prize. And if anything interesting does begin to develop on the snow surface of Stratton's ridiculously unimaginative terrain, you can bet they'll have a 3 ton groomer out there in a flash to grind it back into homogenized mediocrity. Please don't go to Stratton; it's the willy vanilly of ski areas.

[TeleGrrrl]

Herman mtn. No interesting terraain, and the lodge is a mess.

[tirolerpeter]

Without naming names...my least favorite(s) are those areas that make getting your gear from the car to the lifts as tough as possible. Some areas put so much "resort" and commercial development between the unloading and the lift area that getting onto the mountain becomes an ordeal. Stratton is a prime example in the east (at least the last time I skied it) and The Canyons in the west. Some other eastern areas like Jiminy are starting to go this way too. I am basically "cheap." When I go skiing I want good snow, interesting terrain, a "friendly," reasonably comfortable base lodge, and economical lodging (clean rooms, plenty hot water, TV) nearby (for me that means not more than about a 30 minute drive). I don't care for "white glove" service (usually with a hand turned palm up in them waiting for a handout) that comes with exhorbitant prices. I get especially annoyed when mountains provide "valet parking" that blocks drop off access for the peons and worse, puts the "valet lot" all around the lodge forcing the rest of us to park far away and drag our stuff. Why not put the valet lot in some remote area; since they ferry the drivers back and forth anyway? Obviously, the more inconvenient the drop area the more likely people will use their service!

[dmc]

Originally Posted by andyzee

Belleayre/Hunter

Excellent... Tell your friends!!!
The less "starter jackets" the better...

[JimG.]

Originally Posted by dmc

Excellent... Tell your friends!!!
The less "starter jackets" the better...

Ya!

I liked ctenidae's answer...you're a quick lerner!