Best ski area no one has ever heard of?

[SkiBud]

What is the best ski area that no one, or very few people have heard of?

I will put on the list the Missoula Snowbowl. Its in MT. 2200 acres of skiing. Only two slow double lifts, really great long runs. Fabulous tree skiing. Lift tickets are $38 a day. On MT hotel room $50 a night. Very friendly lodge.

The day I was there we had 8 inch of fresh snow, and perhaps 200 skiers, had fresh tracks all day.

It's like skiing in the 60's.

Any one else skied there? Any other hidden ski areas? I don't want anyone to post Killington as a hidden treasure,


http://www.montanasnowbowl.com/

 

[Philpug]

There are sections of K-ton that are hidden treasures though

My favorite was Hickory ski Center up by Gore. 1500 ft of great skiing. Two T-Bars and a Poma, the lodge was an old cinderblock barn. We just happened to hit this place after a dump and it was fantastic. This place was so rustic, it made Mad River Glen feel like Stratton. Great bumps, great trees and some great skiers there. I am not sure it is still open.

Blue Knob, a bit better known is PA is an area that is not on most peoples radar, if you haven't been there you owe it to yourself. It can be hit in 3 hours from the western PA burbs, not much different than going to Elk. I find it very comparable to Elk terrain wise, so check the weather reports, which ever looks like it has better snow, go there.

 

[riverc0il]

In NH, Black Mountain for sure.

 

[SkiBud]

In NH, Black Mountain for sure.

Why, where is it?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Bridger Bowl Montana is definitely one of those little areas that rock...it was actually featured in a powder magazine article back in the 90s and where Doug Coombs skied when he was at Montana State University.

 

[Philpug]

Bridger Bowl Montana is definitely one of those little areas that rock...it was actually featured in a powder magazine article back in the 90s and where Doug Coombs skied when he was at Montana State University.

Bridger is great, it is where Scot Schmidt cut his teeth.

 

[deadheadskier]

In NH, Black Mountain for sure.

good choice


in Maine, Mt. Abram; which I like even better than Black. Doesn't have the cliffs, but it's 1100 vert is far more consistent and like Black no one goes there. Why anyone would travel past the A to ski Sunday River on a powder day is beyond me.

 

[riverc0il]

Now that is an endorsement. Black definitely has a problem with consistent pitch. At 1100 vert it sounds like Black and Abram are pretty close for vertical. When you think about it, 1100 vert is a typical trail pod at a good many mountains that are not T2B consistent vert and more pod oriented. How are the glades at Abram? I see they offer boundary to boundary but I always skeptical of that as the policy is only as good as the amount of brush that has been cleared. It is a half hour further from here than Black and $10 more expensive, but I may have to put Abram on the powder day radar. They get points for the Bullwinkle trail theme.

 

[deadheadskier]

What they have on the map for glades are decent and I saw a couple of ventures off trail here and there, but I don't think they have a 'core' group of folks maintaining the off the map stuff, simply not a popular enough place.. Then again, I didn't ski there last season, so maybe with the boundary to boundary policy they've cleared more brush. They do have at least two 8-10 foot drops, one right under the summit chair which I saw a six year old drop one of the times I was there, crazy. Looking at their website, I don't buy the 250 acres of terrain they advertise, it feels more like 150ish like Black.

It's definitely a place to be on a Powder day, no competition. Unlike Black, it faces North too, so skiing days after storms is still good.

You should get the rideandskinh CHAD card. When you order it, email the director for your Mt. Abram lift ticket preference as it comes with a free ticket. Normally they give you whatever, but you can email your preference, which I've done the past couple of years. It also comes with a midweek Black ticket. $29 for the card.

 

[bobbutts]

I also recommend the CHAD card. I've had it the last 3 years and used it well + it's a good cause. If you request a specific resort they'll usually send you vouchers for it too.

 

[riverc0il]

I have gotten the CHAD card before and it was a good deal. I guess the price pays for the free tickets by itself so I will probably have to pick one up just for that reason alone. That goes back to my current dilemma of whether or not to buy a season pass this season or not. Go for the discounts or go for the pass. But for two tickets, $29 is a no brainer regardless of a pass.

 

[millerm277]

My favorite was Hickory ski Center up by Gore. 1500 ft of great skiing. Two T-Bars and a Poma, the lodge was an old cinderblock barn. We just happened to hit this place after a dump and it was fantastic. This place was so rustic, it made Mad River Glen feel like Stratton. Great bumps, great trees and some great skiers there. I am not sure it is still open.

Reopening this fall. :smile:

 

[snoseek]

Yeah Mt Abram is a damn fun hill when the snow is good. There is actually a couple steep narrow trails and the food is actaully safe to eat and not too expensive. The balsams on a pow day is fun, although the drive is why there is so few people.

Out here I really like Sunlight. It is the local hill (2000 vert) for Glenwood springs that is tourist free. Monarch is also awesome with shorter runs but awesome tree skiing and a weird mix of die-hards, Texan, Midwest, freaky christian groups. Needless to say only the die hards track the goods. In New Mexico Pajarito is a great 1600 vert local hill for Los Alomos and completely off the radar considering how close to Santa Fe it is.

My local area is usually passed by for Breck, Vail, ect... I'm glad so many tourist assume the skiing will be better at Vail, Breck, Keystone ect.... they are probably the same people that think it sucks here and is crowded and hard packed LOL.

 

[ski220]

Sierra Snow Bowl in the Tahoe area. Not sure if it is still called that as it's been years since I've been out there. Great trees. Also Mt. Rose. The Reno local hill. With the highest base in the area it can remain *ain free while other areas are getting wet.

 

[bobbutts]

Sierra Snow Bowl in the Tahoe area. Not sure if it is still called that as it's been years since I've been out there. Great trees. Also Mt. Rose. The Reno local hill. With the highest base in the area it can remain *ain free while other areas are getting wet.

Sierra-At-Tahoe
http://www.sierraattahoe.com/
or maybe you mean Sugar Bowl? http://www.sugarbowl.com

Homewood is another overlooked mt in the Tahoe area

 

[dmc]

Sugar Bowl CA

 

[ta&idaho]

Sierra-At-Tahoe
http://www.sierraattahoe.com/
or maybe you mean Sugar Bowl? http://www.sugarbowl.com

Homewood is another overlooked mt in the Tahoe area

Sierra-At-Tahoe used to be called Sierra Snow Ranch. Sugar Bowl has always been called Sugar Bowl. I'd argue both resorts are pretty well known, at least in California (as is Mt. Rose, especially in Reno), but I second the Homewood nomination. That place has a great vibe and killer views.

I'll also nominate Brundage Mountain in McCall, Idaho. Incredible snow, trees remain untracked for days, nice little backcountry/cat-skiing operation, and the town of McCall's a great place to be year-round.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

There are sections of K-ton that are hidden treasures though

My favorite was Hickory ski Center up by Gore. 1500 ft of great skiing. Two T-Bars and a Poma, the lodge was an old cinderblock barn. We just happened to hit this place after a dump and it was fantastic. This place was so rustic, it made Mad River Glen feel like Stratton. Great bumps, great trees and some great skiers there. I am not sure it is still open.
.

It's suppose to reopen this season.

http://www.hickoryskicenter.com/

 

[ta&idaho]

It's suppose to reopen this season.

http://www.hickoryskicenter.com/

That place looks awesome. Plattekill with 1.5x the vert (and snow, I'm guessing). Plus good luck riding the poma with a snowboard...

 

[deadheadskier]

Reopening this fall. :smile:

very cool

I wonder if Hickory is the largest NELSAP resurrection.


I would love to see Mount Whittier near me re-open. I can imagine there are former pass holders who are super pumped to see Hickory reborn this winter.