Ideal ski towns for the future factoring in all issues?

[raisingarizona]

I have no interest in moving to Salt Lake City. Reminds me of Plano with (crowded) mountains in the background.

There’s a lot more to a place to me than just its access to outdoor activities. I’d love living in Santa Fe, NM as a result. Great food and culture, good skiing and hiking, access to Texas where I still have lots of friends/family, and less of the “fleeing the cities” vibe/more of a sense of place.

Santa Fe is rad. Taos is my most favorite ski mountain anywhere now. The terrain is right there with Jackson or Snowbird but without the hype and crowds. Hopefully it stays that way.

New Mexico is a bit strange though. I actually appreciate its weirdness and grit but some folks would probably be turned off by it. There’s a lot of crime there. It’s still kind of like the wild, Wild West. It’s quite the contrast from Utah where the Norman thing keeps most folks honest and super kind.

 

[raisingarizona]

I have lived in nh my entire life and really don't ever see leaving. Always figured I would retire in the MWV but not sure I want to be that isolated from an airport and medical specialists. Spent some time in Plymouth last summer and enjoyed that side. I would like to spend some more time in littleton, hear good things. NH does not tax retirement income and there are ways around the high property taxes. You can also access DHMC if needed from littleton and Logan is a reasonable drive for a few west/europe trips per year. Also doesn't hurt that NH seniors ski cannon midweek for free. Jay and Burke are also within day trip range.

Also small hospitals in both littleton and Plymouth, wife works in medicine and is the type to never retire. I could see her working a few days a week, well past retirement age. Opposite of me, closing in on 100 days this year; friends joke that I am already retired at 42.

Really liked the vibe of Moab but not sure how close skiing is to there.

Theres good back country right there in the LaSals.

Moab gets crazy at peak season. The riding is a lot better over in the Cedar City region imho and it’s not nearly as crowded.

 

[raisingarizona]

Ely, Nevada.

Santa Fe or Taos NM.

Any of the small towns on the north/east side of Wolf Creek Pass, CO.

Terrace BC.

McCall, ID.

Salida, CO.

Parowan, UT.

Cedar City, UT.

Beaver, UT.

Woss, BC.

Smithers BC.

 

[raisingarizona]

Unpopular opinion......SLC and I-70 skiing is dead, done and over. If you want a taste of the good old days you better start thinking out of the box. See my list above.

sure, skiing at some of those areas may not be Snowbird but it’s a small sacrifice to not have the headaches and stress that comes with the most popular and crowded places.

I moved out west from New Jersey 26 years ago, mainly for the skiing but quickly realized it was much more about escaping the rat race lifestyle. I don’t think that a lot of people that live in it actually realize how much affect it has on their overall quality of life. Those “conveniences” aren’t, really. Skiing in Jackson when I lived there 20 years ago started to mirror the rat race lifestyle and once I saw that I left. I had created a stressful environment, early trams, finding parking, scaring the crap out of myself to impress sponsors.....it was dumb and it wore me the f out. Now all I want is quiet, listen to the birds and be around as few people as possible.

 

[ss20]

I think the key thing that SS20 said is that he's in UPPER Fairfield County. And there are communities in Upper Fairfield County, as opposed to down along the Coast where the cost of living isn't the crazy high numbers that many of the lower Fairfield County towns are famous for

Yes. Danbury, Bethel, Brookfield, New Fairfield are all not-too-bad-priced upper middle-class neighborhoods. But that is rapidly changing. There is very little development for the "common" man happening, residential or commercial... it's all focused on upscale. 15 years ago the Danbury Mall had a Sears, CVS, pet shop, arcade, an Uno and a Ruby Tuesday's. Now it's literally all upscale stores, and the only sit-down restaurant is a Cheesecake Factory. Nearly every new restaurant/bar is high-end. Toll Brothers has taken over Bethel and all they build is luxury townhouses on crappy tracts of land. $500k for new construction 2-3bd townhouse where your "yard" is a 15ft strip of grass to a fence, another home, a retaining wall, or a sheer cliff... absolutely insane.

What kills me is that people still pay that kind of $$$ and a good chunk commute down to NYC. Which either by road or train (both of which haven't been upgraded since the population was a fraction of what is is now) is roughly 2 hours into Manhattan. Even if you're going down to Stamford it's sheer hell getting down there without an actual highway.

 

[jaytrem]

Santa Fe is rad. Taos is my most favorite ski mountain anywhere now. The terrain is right there with Jackson or Snowbird but without the hype and crowds. Hopefully it stays that way.

Shhhhh, my wife sister and family just moved back to NM, don't need it crowded when we visit. Taos is a blast! I mean it sucks, don't go there.

From your other list I'd go with McCall for combo of best/least crowded skiing. Can't say I've been to Woss though.

 

[ss20]

I moved out west from New Jersey 26 years ago, mainly for the skiing but quickly realized it was much more about escaping the rat race lifestyle. I don’t think that a lot of people that live in it actually realize how much affect it has on their overall quality of life. Those “conveniences” aren’t, really. Skiing in Jackson when I lived there 20 years ago started to mirror the rat race lifestyle and once I saw that I left. I had created a stressful environment, early trams, finding parking, scaring the crap out of myself to impress sponsors.....it was dumb and it wore me the f out. Now all I want is quiet, listen to the birds and be around as few people as possible.

Unless there's an "AARP Retirement Freeride Tour" I don't think that last bit will be an issue for much of AZ!!!

 

[Hawk]

A very wise and wealthy friend once told me, why own when you can rent. Owning is one big pain in the ass. I agree with that statement.
Nope I will be keeping my house in Coastal MA 1/2 mile from my beach and mountain biking right out my door. I will probably sell my place at Sugarbush and rent for a month at a time, wherever I want. We are definitely doing several months in Europe probably based in Cham and taking trips around. I also think we will take time to visit the 100's of ski friends out west that have moved on to greener pastures. BC and Alberta are also on the docket for extended stays.

I don't like SLC, Denver, Reno for a place to settle down. They lack something, not sure but it is kind of unexplainable to me. It is just my impression from multiple visits. Other places have to little to offer for cultural experiences. I need great food, music, art and entertainment to keep me occupied for the remainder of the year. I get all of that and more where I live.

 

[HowieT2]

I've had a place in southern VT for coming up on 25 years now. I plan on moving on once the kids are grown up and the length of the car ride for a weekend trip is no longer the primary consideration. It just doesn't snow as much there anymore. Or maybe I should say it seems to rain more.

I don't know if another place further north might be the ticket. Sugarbush? Maybe Saddleback? I like the stowe area but Vail ownership makes it unappealing.


I also always think about getting a place in the interior of BC. At one of the lesser known areas. Someplace with great mountain biking too. there are a bunch.

Idaho seems like it has a few options as well.

I agree it just seems like its too late for places like SLC or Jackson.

I've also been toying with the idea of just AirBNBing retirement skiing. 2 weeks here, 2 weeks there, etc. More trips to Europe, etc.

nelson, BC

 

[ss20]

Shhhhh, my wife sister and family just moved back to NM, don't need it crowded when we visit. Taos is a blast! I mean it sucks, don't go there.

From your other list I'd go with McCall for combo of best/least crowded skiing. Can't say I've been to Woss though.

Taos I'd be concerned about length of season and the tendency for it to get slow starts and dry years. And then if you're out there and it is a poor season you've got Colorado as the only "easy" drivable option in search of snow.

What always appealed to me about Utah is you're dead center of the American west ski universe....be in Vail in 6 hours...Jackson in 5 hours...Lake Tahoe in 8 hours... Aspen in 6 hours... Sun Valley in 5 hours... Big Sky in 6 hours.

 

[raisingarizona]

Shhhhh, my wife sister and family just moved back to NM, don't need it crowded when we visit. Taos is a blast! I mean it sucks, don't go there.

From your other list I'd go with McCall for combo of best/least crowded skiing. Can't say I've been to Woss though.

I know I know. I’ve been keeping quiet about my list for a little while now.

I really want to check out Ely. It doesn’t have a ski area but there’s 12 thousand foot peaks nearby and they are on the cusp of a major trail building project. I hear the mountain biking is really good already.

 

[raisingarizona]

Taos I'd be concerned about length of season and the tendency for it to get slow starts and dry years. And then if you're out there and it is a poor season you've got Colorado as the only "easy" drivable option in search of no snow.

What always appealed to me about Utah is you're dead center of the American west ski universe....be in Vail in 6 hours...Jackson in 5 hours...Lake Tahoe in 8 hours... Aspen in 6 hours... Sun Valley in 5 hours... Big Sky in 6 hours.

That concern and sometimes iffy conditions is exactly what keeps folks away though. The Four Corners region teaches you a thing about patience but the rewards are very sweet. This may be another unpopular opinion but I prefer less consistent snowfall to not have crowds and lift lines. Packed powder and steep bump skiing is my new powder day and man I love those rocky, mogul filled, technical thin steeps at Taos!

I definitely get the location attractiveness though, especially if you haven’t spent a ton of time skiing out here. I guess I’ve skied my butt off out west and have become a little jaded with how things have changed and that’s why I look for something different.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

That concern and sometimes iffy conditions is exactly what keeps folks away though. The Four Corners region teaches you a thing about patience but the rewards are very sweet. This may be another unpopular opinion but I prefer less consistent snowfall to not have crowds and lift lines. Packed powder and steep bump skiing is my new powder day and man I love those rocky, mogul filled, technical thin steeps at Taos!

thats definitely something i love about that sort of terrain. stuff that's so steep that it doesn't really hold pow anyway. the technical stuff like all the chutes at kicking horse. doesn't need to be fresh to be so so fun. i love gliding thru a wide open slope of powder, but i also really love the almost problem solving nature of thin technical adventure skiing.

 

[raisingarizona]

thats definitely something i love about that sort of terrain. stuff that's so steep that it doesn't really hold pow anyway. the technical stuff like all the chutes at kicking horse. doesn't need to be fresh to be so so fun. i love gliding thru a wide open slope of powder, but i also really love the almost problem solving nature of thin technical adventure skiing.

Hells yeah! I love me some chalky wind buffed steep skiing and throw some teeth in there to keep me honest!

we had a beautiful powder morning here two days ago but ya know what? I had more fun smashing zipper lines through tight trees later in the day once things packed out a little! My 15 years ago self would think the now me is crazy

 

[raisingarizona]

nelson, BC

Everyone I know that has spent time there says that it’s their dream town.

 

[Smellytele]

Shhhhh, my wife sister and family just moved back to NM, don't need it crowded when we visit. Taos is a blast! I mean it sucks, don't go there.

From your other list I'd go with McCall for combo of best/least crowded skiing. Can't say I've been to Woss though.

You mean sister wife? Oh wait that is Utah.

 

[jimk]

Ely, Nevada.

Santa Fe or Taos NM.

Any of the small towns on the north/east side of Wolf Creek Pass, CO.

Terrace BC.

McCall, ID.

Salida, CO.

Parowan, UT.

Cedar City, UT.

Beaver, UT.

Woss, BC.

Smithers BC.

Unpopular opinion......SLC and I-70 skiing is dead, done and over. If you want a taste of the good old days you better start thinking out of the box. See my list above.

sure, skiing at some of those areas may not be Snowbird but it’s a small sacrifice to not have the headaches and stress that comes with the most popular and crowded places.

I moved out west from New Jersey 26 years ago, mainly for the skiing but quickly realized it was much more about escaping the rat race lifestyle. I don’t think that a lot of people that live in it actually realize how much affect it has on their overall quality of life. Those “conveniences” aren’t, really. Skiing in Jackson when I lived there 20 years ago started to mirror the rat race lifestyle and once I saw that I left. I had created a stressful environment, early trams, finding parking, scaring the crap out of myself to impress sponsors.....it was dumb and it wore me the f out. Now all I want is quiet, listen to the birds and be around as few people as possible.

Good posts. Good list of small towns. This is the kind of input I value from RaisingAZ, thoughtful, constructive and based on real experience.
As I said in another post, every place has its pros and cons. Much of UT and CO have become too popular for their own good. But on a good day both are amazing. A lot of the skiing at quieter locations features less variety, or less snowfall, or colder temps, or whatever. Life involves compromises.

I've passed through Moab a couple times. There is a lot of great scenery there, but at times I have mixed feelings picturing the pristine, amazing geography swarming with various types of motorized vehicles.

About the rat race: I drove from UT to Wash DC last week. I returned to the DC metro area during a Friday evening rush hour. Since covid, the rush hours around the Capital Beltway have not been the same horrible things they were in the past, but last Friday seemed closer to the pre-covid norm. Traffic was heavy with multiple wrecks radiating in all directions 50 miles out from the city core. In SLC there is only one main artery that sees any significant rush hour traffic. It is Interstate 15 running north-south through the city. They consider it a bad rush hour if you have a 10 minute delay during a 25 mile commute. To slow down below 60mph on this road is unusual. That is child's play compared to rush hour in most metro areas on the East and West coasts of America.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

the traffic in denver and slc is more about getting out than commuting within in my perception at least. cottonwood canyons and i70 on a Saturday morning is a sisyphusian hell

can say anecdotally that traffic is re-emerging in nyc as well. but its not what it once was. our office buildings are still basically empty of commuters.

 

[jaytrem]

nelson, BC

People do show up early on powder days. Was surprised how many were there LONG before the lifts opened on a weekday. That being said, there were a hell of a lot of them than anywhere near SLC. The town itself feels more like a "real" town than a ski town (if that makes sense).

I think my #1 would be something near Discovery MT. A weekday powder day there is sooooooo quiet. Most runs on the backside we didn't see anybody else. The local towns are very "sleepy" though, so probably not for everyone.

 

[abc]

nelson, BC

There's this little detail of it located in Canada!

If you had owned a place there, you wouldn't have been able to get to it for the past year. I would think long and hard owning property in a different country. But if I do, it'll probably in Portugal