Best Intermediate Mountian

[theshaggydawg]

What mountian do you think has the best all all around intermediate terrain?

My vote goes to Wildcat for it's abundance of blues, but also a few trails that aren't super expert trails but a step in between..:smash::smash:

 

[deadheadskier]

I would say Okemo. Great grooming and snowmaking, nice rolling mellow trails. It's no longer my thing, but it's a cruisers paradise for sure. It's also one of the larger areas acreage wise, so there's a fair amount of variety.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

What mountian do you think has the best all all around intermediate terrain?

My vote goes to Wildcat for it's abundance of blues, but also a few trails that aren't super expert trails but a step in between..:smash::smash:

Okemo...because the blacks there are do-able for intermediates..and the Blues are mostly wide and groomed..Okemo is one of my early season Thanksgiving favorites because they get a decent amount of terrain open quick...and the first day or two of the season..I prefer non-hardcore cruising terrain to ease into the season..

 

[shwilly]

Wildcat is a great intermediate mountain.

The one time I went to Okemo I was an intermediate, but I didn't like it because of the crowds, weird lift layout, and monotonous, all-the-same terrain.

Sunday River, Pico, and Shawnee all have lots of good intermediate terrain. Add Tenney and Ragged when they're open and have natural snow. Bretton Woods is good for begintermediates.

edit: special demerit to my favorite mountain, the Loaf, for having too wide a range of "blue" trails. Plenty of low intermediates would be comfortable on Tote Road, Scoot, or Windrow or even "blacks" like Upper Double Bitter or Binder, but scared on Ramdown, Sluice, or the Kings Landing headwall. I've learned this from experience bringing intermediate friends. That's one place that could use a blue/black or double blue designation. It may seem silly to advanced riders, but it would help intermediates who are unfamiliar with the mountain.

 

[PA Ridge Racer]

I would say Stratton, there are many blues / greens and some real nice cruisers from the top. The diamonds aren't tough and the double diamonds (with the exception of World Cup and some of the glades possibly) won't scare most intermediates...Stratton's a great place to build confidence before taking that next step.

 

[theshaggydawg]

I would say Stratton, there are many blues / greens and some real nice cruisers from the top.

Stratton is nice nice but I think the terrain at Wildcat is a bit more interesting.:-D

 

[theshaggydawg]

Okemo..... uuuuuuuuuuuggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

 

[Newpylong]

Okemo and Stratton for tons of the same cruisers. Mount Snow if you want int. runs with some character.

 

[Rushski]

Agree w/Okemo and Stratton as even most of their blacks are fairly tame and they both groom very well. Along the same lines, Sunapee is good for blues.

Of course I only ski these three places during the midweek...

 

[mattchuck2]

VT - Bromley
NY - Gore
ME - Sugarloaf

 

[andyzee]

Mt Snow, the blue trails don't get any wider than the ones found there.

 

[KingM]

I don't think a blue skier just wants fat ol' groomers. Thinking back to my first couple of years what I liked was the same variety of terrain that an advanced skier can enjoy. That is, some moderate glades, woods, and some stuff that looks challenging, even if it isn't all that challenging at the end of the day.

I learned at Sugarbush and about the first thing I did when I graduated from the bunny slope was ski Sleeper, Jester, Birch Run, and those blues at the top of ME. Sure, it was easy by AZ standards, but it was real skiing, with variety.

 

[Greg]

Mt Snow, the blue trails don't get any wider than the ones found there.

Except for Snowdance, I don't think the average trail at Snow is exceptionally wider than most other intermediate terrain in the area. In fact there are some nice intermediate trails at Snow with a decent amount of character.

With that said, Mount Snow is an intermediate's paradise, with basically the whole front face being blue terrain.

 

[Newpylong]

I agree... I think most of their Int runs have great character (there are some boring one such as Snowdance and Standard). But those have purpose, and are great for the masses. Exhibition and Lodge are great... to name two.

 

[YardSaleDad]

I don't think a blue skier just wants fat ol' groomers. Thinking back to my first couple of years what I liked was the same variety of terrain that an advanced skier can enjoy. That is, some moderate glades, woods, and some stuff that looks challenging, even if it isn't all that challenging at the end of the day.

Plattekill fits the bill. Even the greens are fun & quirky.

 

[Puck it]

Mt Sunapee

 

[bobbutts]

I think these deserve a mention.

Stowe - I'd put this #1.. Spruce, the gondy, quad all have blues with personality and it feels like you are in the Mtns. S.VT is good for quantity and easy drive, but...

Loon and Waterville were my favorite places when I was an intermediate.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I think these deserve a mention.

Stowe - I'd put this #1.. Spruce, the gondy, quad all have blues with personality and it feels like you are in the Mtns. S.VT is good for quantity and easy drive, but...

Loon and Waterville were my favorite places when I was an intermediate.

Stowe has alot of good intermediate runs...some of their blues would be easy blacks in southern Vermont. Lots of great high speed cruising on North Slope, Lord, Ridgeview, Sunrise, Nosedive when groomed, Cliff Trail, Gondolies, Perry Merrill, Main Street, and Smugglers..

 

[theshaggydawg]

I think these deserve a mention.
Loon and Waterville were my favorite places when I was an intermediate.

I didn't like Waterville it seemed like all the trails were the same except for the trails off the triple [i think].
uke:uke:uke:

 

[hammer]

I don't think I've been around to enough areas to answer, but I thought I would list attributes of the "ideal" intermediate ski area for me:

• Low crowd factor
• Some wide open runs with moderate pitch...to work on skills
• At least one wide-open novice trail to play around with the family
• A few narrower but not too steep green/blue runs
• A steep but short run to bring the pucker factor up but not intimidate too much
• A low-angle mogul run so that I can try moguls out
• A well-spaced out tree run (may not even qualify as a "glade" run)
• Instructors who can help to deal with the inevitable "bad habits" that I would pick up