EAST Top 5 Resort-Accessed Backcountry Stashes (per Skiing Magazine)

[RIDEr]

1. Big Jay, Jay Peak, Vermont
2. The Chin, Stowe, Vermont
3. SlideBrook, Sugarbush, Vermont
4. Mittersill, Cannon Mountain, NH
5. Thompson Brook, Wildcat, NH

I have had the pleasure of boarding Jay and all of STOWE for the past 5 years and certainly agree with the top 2, but can't say I have boarded anything else on the list. Now I know from the lucky people on this forum that live closer to these mountains they enjoy these mountains as often as I board the Catskills..... so let's here it. What was left out? What do you think would be 6 through 10?

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

1. Big Jay, Jay Peak, Vermont
2. The Chin, Stowe, Vermont
3. SlideBrook, Sugarbush, Vermont
4. Mittersill, Cannon Mountain, NH
5. Thompson Brook, Wildcat, NH

I have had the pleasure of boarding Jay and all of STOWE for the past 5 years and certainly agree with the top 2, but can't say I have boarded anything else on the list. Now I know from the lucky people on this forum that live closer to these mountains they enjoy these mountains as often as I board the Catskills..... so let's here it. What was left out? What do you think would be 6 through 10?

The Slides at Whiteface being left out is a joke.

 

[riverc0il]

the slides are on the map though, right? anything marked on the map shouldn't be considered "backcountry" even if you have to hike up a few vertical feet. that list does justice. there are of course more areas out there, but that seems like a respectable top five. they certainly didn't have a huge amount to pick from, so pretty easy to get that much right.

 

[AHM]

A new top 5 and the 6 - 10......................

Slidebrook is actually on the SB map, it mentions the tours etc right on the map. It is however, the largest piece of Resort Accessed Backcountry, simply because it is 2 miles wide and you can actually ski either side of the ridge. However, if you ski the opposite side, plan on a car stash or an extremely long hitch back. Due to the sheer magnitude of the brook, the mix of hard wood and soft wood, really provides an excellent lift accessed backcountry option. In fact, it can even just be skinned and all lifts avoided. The brook is some great terrain.

I would agree, the slides should be on there due to the type of terrain it is and is technically more challenging and dangerous than Mittersill. So, I put WF in the top 5, and bounced Mittersill to about 7 or 8, even though I have never skied it.

I will also bounce Thompson brook and replace with MRG. Arguably the whole place can be lift accessed BC and it simply belongs. Interesting shots like 19/20 hole and really when you go digging into Paradise and get in close to the gap, you can find some pretty serious terrain.

In many respects the chin is on the map, they show it right to you. Big Jay is not really part of the map, though.

So, the new top 5 in my order is:

1. Stowe: terrain features can be fall and die in the wrong conditions. Not only just off the chin, but into Hellbrook as well.

2. Slide Brook: Simply biggest pow potential, longest lines, 3000 verts on my Suunto, two sides of the ridge and great access. The elevator when deep is just a great big turn ripper and it really isn't a woods runs, but what an end of day burner, non stop and out to the bus stop.

3. MRG: Benchmark. Although many will disagree, I will take MRG in a 2' dump over Alta. The "action" at MRG with the terrain dropping and twisting is like steep creek whitewater boating.

4. Whiteface: slides have avi potential and deserve respect as eastern off piste.

5. Big Jay: it's got great snow, and you can definitely get lost, but the terrain is simply not as big or as gnarly as the others.

Now, 6 - 10. That is pretty interesting............

6. Has got to be Bolton Valley, lots of stuff in there is skied very regularly. Cliffs too, gonna be hiking it this weekend to get some new ideas.

7. Thompson Brook: have heard a great deal, probably better overall terrain than Mittersill.

8. Mittersill.

9. Hunta: stretch here really, but I bet DMC knows so many Catskill stashes and really the catskills are a resort in themselves. I bet there are so many sweet woods lines littering the cats that you gotta consider 'em.

10. Loaf: Although not far off the hill, and now on the map from what I know, Source of Denial is some pretty solid terrain. There are a nice set of 25 ' cliffs in there, with legit pillow drops etc. There are also some decent sized iced waterfalls (10 - 15') and a series of smaller water falls in one drainage I found. I had the luck of catching this during the big March dump of 2001 (on a Tues--the storm hit VT on Monday), so some pretty serious terrain was open and available for the taking.

Ok, go at it..............

 

[campgottagopee]

Is it just me, or have the Birthday Bowls at Smuggs been overlooked. It's good stuff !!!

 

[riverc0il]

I would agree, the slides should be on there due to the type of terrain it is and is technically more challenging and dangerous than Mittersill. So, I put WF in the top 5, and bounced Mittersill to about 7 or 8, even though I have never skied it.

:lol: you have no idea what you are bouncing back, man! when cannon has snow, i'll take that place over almost any other location in new england.

 

[pepperdawg]

Is it just me, or have the Birthday Bowls at Smuggs been overlooked. It's good stuff !!!

I hear ya...but not being overlooked by a gaper mag isnt a bad thing....

 

[mattchuck2]

the slides are on the map though, right? anything marked on the map shouldn't be considered "backcountry" even if you have to hike up a few vertical feet. that list does justice. there are of course more areas out there, but that seems like a respectable top five. they certainly didn't have a huge amount to pick from, so pretty easy to get that much right.

Agree . . . I think this is only stuff off the official map.

Mittersill is sick. Big Jay is sicker. The Chin is sickest.

Never skied Slide Brook before or Thompson Brook.

 

[JD]

Not to mention Beaver Meadow from Smuggs.

 

[campgottagopee]

I hear ya...but not being overlooked by a gaper mag isnt a bad thing....

Good point dawg, could they possibly not know???

 

[campgottagopee]

Not to mention Beaver Meadow from Smuggs.

JD-Beaver Meadow is a good stash it's just that BB is my favorite. Lot's of wicked lines in there.

 

[AHM]

I think I do know what I am bouncing back

:lol: you have no idea what you are bouncing back, man! when cannon has snow, i'll take that place over almost any other location in new england.

Riv: I've hiked it and bottom line, the terrain is not there. Pow is it for you, when it comes to skiing. For me, its the terrain and consequences of the terrain. The deal with Mittersill is "when ". "When" means it is all about the snow. 'When' is one of these deals that can mean never. My top 5 was not about the snow as much as the terrain. When I look at Resort Accessed BC (which is a total misnomer for the bulk of the east), I look at the terrain. Having hiked Mittersill, and having an understanding of where snow falls, the place is not a top 5 east. In fact, for most, if you could not lift access it, it would not be well known.

The WF slides will send many east coasters home in the most serious sense of the word, and that is not because they don't own a transceiver, its is because the terrain can and will go, and that is unlike the bulk of east "pseudo BC". Mittersill cannot and never will go. We each have our own definition, but for me, terrain counts, and the slides have the terrain advantage over much of the lift served east BC.

Here's the deal folks: I think I am on on my top 5. Enough so, that I'll tour ya through Stowe, MRG, and SB, and if you think Mittersill is better, then when we are done, we'll go to Mittersill. I think the east top five, in no order is Stowe, MRG, SB, WF, and Big Jay. However, Big Jay is simply not sick, nor will it ever be. The pitch is simply not there. What Jay gets is snow, but the thread is about BC. Big Jay is BC, but it is not sick terrain. Sick terrain equals fall and die in the real world. Let's be careful with the word sick.

As always, I'll stick to my guns. If you think I am wrong, it is a simple PM and we'll hook to ski and compare notes. By the way, snow on the western ridge of the greens was such that Castle Rock will probably have some posted ski lines in the next couple days.......................and really Riv: Let's compare notes--> The comps on me for Stowe and SB, let's see if Mittersill can hang.............

 

[JD]

The BBs are really fun. Dropping off the other side doesn't really make it easy to get back to the resort either. Alot of Gnar on that side of the notch.....when it fills in. Tusk is prolly one of my best moments in 00-01.

What's really amazing is all the terrain in the Norther Greens that dosen't get skiied much. Powder for days as long as it stays cold. I imagine the Dacks offer in orders of magnitude, more sick lines. Seems that the Greens are a good mix of terrain for all snow conditions, including deep powder and rowdy lines, which it get more then most spots in the East. And it's easily accessable, which I see as a bonus when I have to work at 10.

 

[riverc0il]

Riv: I've hiked it and bottom line, the terrain is not there. Pow is it for you, when it comes to skiing. For me, its the terrain and consequences of the terrain. The deal with Mittersill is "when ". "When" means it is all about the snow. 'When' is one of these deals that can mean never. My top 5 was not about the snow as much as the terrain. .

ummm... dude... i wasn't saying it was about the snow... i was saying the terrain is rock solid when the snow is there to support it. it IS all about the terrain, but the snow has to be there in order to access the terrain. also, pow is NOT IT for me when it comes to skiing. i like it and search it out but i need the terrain too.

saying you hiked up the area so you know all about it is about like me saying that i know all about the OB at mansfield because i hiked up under the gondi. i am not trying to be insulting, but damn man, the comparison is legit. i never said it was the chin or anything, but there is legit terrain there. where ever you hiked, you obviously have not hiked the lines that i have skied, hiked, and maintained these last few years.

but hey, i should take a lesson from JD. nothing to see here! you are right, not even top ten worthy, not even worth discussing.

 

[riverc0il]

already PM'd, but just to put this out in the open as well... i ain't suggesting mitty is extreme or has the 'nar factor. if your definition of great backcountry is 'nar lines on exposed aspects that have never been cut, you are right, it can't hang. that isn't to say it isn't some fantastic skiing. i never said your top five was wrong, i didn't comment on your top five. you just bounced something way down the list that you have never skied, that was my main point....

if you need sick, and sick is defined by fall and die, i am not a sick skier. and i am cool with that and will take you up on your offer pending no "sick" lines by your definition.

 

[BLESS]

is Mittersill the trail I took my skis off & hoofed for a couple hundred yards uphill, way in the back(kinda) of Cannon?


Man, I was in Jr high @ the time & had no business being on that trail if so..Ha!


Made it out ok, but was a litlle nervous....

 

[dmc]

i sure am glad none of my BC/SC shots are listed...

 

[RIDEr]

i sure am glad none of my BC/SC shots are listed...

The list mainly states public "hidden" stashes. There is another magazine publication that posts the real "hidden" stashes and everybody trashes them for it... AND NO I WILL NOT STATE THE MAGAZINE.