Crowded ski areas

[Boston Bulldog]

Its Saturday, 10:12 AM and the hordes of weekend warriors from Boston begin to decend the slopes. As this terrifying phenomenon occurs, which ski areas become a hellish mix of skiied off trails, massive lift lines, packed lodges or are just plain crowded?

My votes go to:

1. Loon
2. Sunapee
3. Waterville
4. Killington
5. Okemo
6. Wachusett
7. Mt. Snow

 

[WWF-VT]

Thankfully I have not been at any of those places at 10:12 AM on a Saturday in 10+ years

 

[ScottySkis]

Its Saturday, 10:12 AM and the hordes of weekend warriors from Boston begin to decend the slopes. As this terrifying phenomenon occurs, which ski areas become a hellish mix of skiied off trails, massive lift lines, packed lodges or are just plain crowded?

My votes go to:

1. Loon
2. Sunapee
3. Waterville
4. Killington
5. Okemo
6. Wachusett
7. Mt. Snow

MT. Snow and Killington are fully open I in the past always found ways to avoid crowds, also just an hour north is Sugarbush smaller crowds on even holiday weeks are light compared to South Vermont. I also recommend finding a place with maybe no high speed chairs and you will probably have less people on the hill.
I never been to those NH resorts that you listed but when both

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[drjeff]

Crowds are GREAT for the business of skiing. The more crowds, the less likely we all are to have talk of ski areas closing and/or ski areas slacking on infastructure areas, and that's a good thing.

Now if I could just find the proper balance between large, profitable crowds and lack of downhill skier/rider denisty, that would be perfect!

 

[riverc0il]

Now if I could just find the proper balance between large, profitable crowds and lack of downhill skier/rider denisty, that would be perfect!

You could find it... at a different mountain.

Crowds are not great for skiing. Many ski areas are sustainable without being completely packed to the gills. Crowds are great for business models that demand crowds. But there are a lot of different ski areas with a lot of different business models and larger areas rarely go under excepting poor management.

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

Speaking of crowds I wonder what Killington will be like this weekend...?

 

[AlbanyEd]

Avoid the crowds at the big mountains that are loading up with bus groups, overnight skiers
and giveaways. Instead try Bromley in VT, Catamount in MA or Plattekill in the Catskills.
Lots of good trails, good grooming and good snow.

 

[Smellytele]

Its Saturday, 10:12 AM and the hordes of weekend warriors from Boston begin to decend the slopes. As this terrifying phenomenon occurs, which ski areas become a hellish mix of skiied off trails, massive lift lines, packed lodges or are just plain crowded?

My votes go to:

1. Loon
2. Sunapee
3. Waterville
4. Killington
5. Okemo
6. Wachusett
7. Mt. Snow

Not that I am a big fan of Waterville. Back in the 90's the place was hell and I hadn't been back for 15 years until 2 or 3 years ago.The last few times I have gone on a weekend the lift lines were no more than a 3 or 4 minute wait with no lines ever at Northside double.

 

[4aprice]

Crowds at my home mountain, only exist between Christmas and Presidents Day. Even then I'm never sure till I get to the mountain what its going to be like. Some days that you think would be crowded nobody shows and the opposite as well. For the most part I just put up with them. While its the heart of the ski season its really not that long a period of time. I like to stay local any holiday period and fight the crowds here then hit them up north. The shoulder seasons (Pre Christmas, post Presidents) are when I get a majority of my good skiing in.

Alex

Lske Hopatcong, NJ

 

[Newpylong]

What you can't find at mountains that don't rely on this model are dependable ski conditions, which is really why the crowds go to the areas mentioned in the first place.

You could find it... at a different mountain.

Crowds are not great for skiing. Many ski areas are sustainable without being completely packed to the gills. Crowds are great for business models that demand crowds. But there are a lot of different ski areas with a lot of different business models and larger areas rarely go under excepting poor management.

 

[jrmagic]

What you can't find at mountains that don't rely on this model are dependable ski conditions, which is really why the crowds go to the areas mentioned in the first place.

So crowded skied off slopes are considered dependable ski conditions? To each there own I guess. When conditions suck like they did last year, the conditions at these other mountains were not much worse (if any worse at all) than the places mentioned above. It also depends no what you are looking for. I'm quite happy skiing less crowded trails that may have less grooming or thin cover with rocks etc. poking through here and there.

 

[Smellytele]

So crowded skied off slopes are considered dependable ski conditions? To each there own I guess. When conditions suck like they did last year, the conditions at these other mountains were not much worse (if any worse at all) than the places mentioned above. It also depends no what you are looking for. I'm quite happy skiing less crowded trails that may have less grooming or thin cover with rocks etc. poking through here and there.

+1

 

[hammer]

Not that it isn't crowded on Sundays but it is less crowded, even at the places for the masses that I go to (Loon and Sunapee). I've never liked going on Saturdays.

 

[bdfreetuna]

Longest lift waits = single chair at MRG

Jiminy Peak can get very crowded with long lift lines. Haven't been to Wachusett since I was a kid and I haven't had to wait in lift lines for long at Killington or Mt Snow any time I can remember.

Last time I was at Loon it was extremely crowded. Sunapee gets crowded but not as bad as Loon.

 

[Puck it]

Crowded anything sucks.

 

[drjeff]

Crowded anything sucks.

Crowded House isn't a bad band to catch in a small venue though

 

[Watatic Skier]

Wachusett get's very busy Thursday Night-Sunday. Almost not worth it a lot of the time. 15-30 minute lines quite often.

 

[AdironRider]

You could find it... at a different mountain.

Crowds are not great for skiing. Many ski areas are sustainable without being completely packed to the gills. Crowds are great for business models that demand crowds. But there are a lot of different ski areas with a lot of different business models and larger areas rarely go under excepting poor management.

Name one mountain where more customers goes against their business model.

 

[ScottySkis]

Avoid the crowds at the big mountains that are loading up with bus groups, overnight skiers
and giveaways. Instead try Bromley in VT, Catamount in MA or Plattekill in the Catskills.
Lots of good trails, good grooming and good snow.

+1 I think Sadddleback in Maine is to crowded
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[riverc0il]

What you can't find at mountains that don't rely on this model are dependable ski conditions, which is really why the crowds go to the areas mentioned in the first place.

I guess so, if you mean dependably awful conditions. At least on weekends (which is when those areas are crowded), conditions are deplorable. There are places that strike a decent balance.