Boston Globe: Skiing Showdown

[steamboat1]

Sugarbush is an interesting winner considering the American Skiing Company dumped it for next to nothing because it never generated enough skier visits to be profitable. Other than a new base lodge and a fortress resort hotel that's inaccessible to day skiers, it's still the same mountain with roughly the same number of skier visits.

And the problem with that is????????????

 

[Geoff]

And the problem with that is????????????

There's no problem. The point is that most of the people who voted for it in that Boston.com poll don't ski there on a regular basis. Ditto Jay Peak. People voted that way because the internet hype tells them to vote that way when, in reality, they're skiing Loon, Okemo, and Sunappee.

 

[Tooth]

For overall it's got to Sugarloaf even though i haven't skiied their since i was a kid so big, Stowe would be second with back country

Get your arse up here. Plan a March trip. :beer:

 

[dropKickMurphy]

There's no problem. The point is that most of the people who voted for it in that Boston.com poll don't ski there on a regular basis. Ditto Jay Peak. People voted that way because the internet hype tells them to vote that way when, in reality, they're skiing Loon, Okemo, and Sunappee.

People often ski the areas that are convenient more often than the areas that are best.
On average, I ski at Wachusett more often than Sugarloaf, Sugarbush, Stowe and Jay.
As I said before, I believe Sugarloaf, Sugarbush, Stowe and Jay are all legitimate candidates for #1.

Sugarbush may not be #1 in any particular category, but it is very strong in all of them.

Great variety of terrain. Interesting groomers. Long runs with plenty of vertical. Lots of ungroomed on Mt Ellen. Really good challenging terrain in Castle Rock. Then you have the whole side (or back?) country skiing in Slidebrook. On your own, guided, or cat.
I don't think they get quite as much snow as Jay or Stowe, but I don't think they're too far behind either. From my experience,they tend to have significantly better snow conditions (at least prior to spring) than Cannon or Sugarloaf.

Good lift system, pleasant, convenient base facilities They always have employees greeting you and offering help when you arrive (this doesn't hurt).

Some great views, particularly the view of the Adirondacks at the top of ME.

Also, the MRV location is a big plus; perhaps the quintessential picturesque valley in New England.

 

[dropKickMurphy]

Okemo really isn't the Boston market..

I can't agree with that. Pretty much everything in New England is in the Boston market, although the NH areas may get the most visits due to their proximity.

Okemo is one of the regular spots for the day bus trips from the Boston area.

To me, Okemo is pretty much the same experience as Sunapee or Bretton Woods, both of which are more convenient to Boston.

 

[dropKickMurphy]

And the real winner is... the Boston Globe.

Not a big fan of the Globe. But I think their skiing coverage is perhaps the best of any major paper in the country.

 

[gmcunni]

i don't ski sugarbush often but when i do i like it better than all the rest.