If snow was not an issue...

[awf170]

What would be your favorite ski areas in New England. Lets just say everywhere got Jay Peak like snow.

For me it would be:

1. Burke
2. Cannon
3. Sugarloaf

I have never skied MRG or Magic, but I would guess both of those would be up there.

 

[Greg]

1. MRG
2. Sugarloaf
3. Sugarbush

For closer day trippable options, Magic, Hunter, or Mount Snow.

 

[ajl50]

If snow were not an issue i don't see how anybody could argue a mountain is better than whiteface. The only knock people have against the place is that it gets icy and has a lack of snow. Nobody complains about the terrain, vert, lifts, variety of runs, terrain park, crowds, gapers, lack of lodging, LP as a ski town, or the mountain's vibe. So if it got as much snow as anywhere else how could it not be #1?

 

[Greg]

If snow were not an issue i don't see how anybody could argue a mountain is better than whiteface. The only knock people have against the place is that it gets icy and has a lack of snow. Nobody complains about the terrain, vert, lifts, variety of runs, terrain park, crowds, gapers, lack of lodging, LP as a ski town, or the mountain's vibe. So if it got as much snow as anywhere else how could it not be #1?

Because it's still located up in the high peaks region, and to many people that still seems too far away. Now give Whiteface Jay Peak snow and relocate it within a 90 minute drive, and I'd be all over it. Looking forward to skiing the 'Face this season.

 

[ajl50]

Fair enough.
I understand that the vt and nh resorts are closer to many of you. It's just not something that I think about because I'm driving 6 hours regardless (unless I ski the catskills which is only a 1 bathroom stop 3 hours away)

 

[awf170]

If snow were not an issue i don't see how anybody could argue a mountain is better than whiteface. The only knock people have against the place is that it gets icy and has a lack of snow. Nobody complains about the terrain, vert, lifts, variety of runs, terrain park, crowds, gapers, lack of lodging, LP as a ski town, or the mountain's vibe. So if it got as much snow as anywhere else how could it not be #1?

Because a lot places have better glade skiing. (Just a guess, since I have never been to Whiteface)

Also, what does Whiteface have besides Empire and the Slides for technical and narrow ski trails?

 

[BushMogulMaster]

If snow were not an issue i don't see how anybody could argue a mountain is better than whiteface. The only knock people have against the place is that it gets icy and has a lack of snow. Nobody complains about the terrain, vert, lifts, variety of runs, terrain park, crowds, gapers, lack of lodging, LP as a ski town, or the mountain's vibe. So if it got as much snow as anywhere else how could it not be #1?

I've never skied the face, but I'd be hesitant to even take the trip for two reasons: #1... because (from what I read... so correct me if I'm wrong) there's a serious dramatic lack of bump skiing, and the bumps that are left generally aren't worth skiing. And #2... because without good bumps, it's not worth the several hour drive. Throw in the points that Austin had about a lack of narrow winding trails, and glade skiing, and I'm not really interested anymore.


For me, if snow wasn't an issue, it'd be:

1. Sugarbush
2. MRG
3. Magic

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

If snow were not an issue i don't see how anybody could argue a mountain is better than whiteface. The only knock people have against the place is that it gets icy and has a lack of snow. Nobody complains about the terrain, vert, lifts, variety of runs, terrain park, crowds, gapers, lack of lodging, LP as a ski town, or the mountain's vibe. So if it got as much snow as anywhere else how could it not be #1?

You are very wise.

 

[big_vert]

Concur -

1. Sugarbush
2. MRG
3. Magic

Whiteface - too far, too cold. Good steeps though.

 

[wa-loaf]

1. MRG
2. Sugarloaf
3. Sugarbush/Stowe tie

Never been to Whiteface. If I ever ski it, maybe I'll have to amend the list. I bet the slides would be a blast in deep powder.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I've never skied the face, but I'd be hesitant to even take the trip for two reasons: #1... because (from what I read... so correct me if I'm wrong) there's a serious dramatic lack of bump skiing, and the bumps that are left generally aren't worth skiing. And #2... because without good bumps, it's not worth the several hour drive. Throw in the points that Austin had about a lack of narrow winding trails, and glade skiing, and I'm not really interested anymore.

Actually they let quite a few trails stay bumped up last season. If I named them all it wouldn't mean anything to you since you've never been there.

Here's a pic of a friend skiing upper MacKenzie, one of my favorites.

The glades we have that are on the map are very good. When the Lookout mountain expansion is finished in 2008 we'll have 50 additional acres.

 

[tjf67]

Actually they let quite a few trails stay bumped up last season. If I named them all it wouldn't mean anything to you since you've never been there.

Here's a pic of a friend skiing upper MacKenzie, one of my favorites.

The glades we have that are on the map are very good. When the Lookout mountain expansion is finished in 2008 we'll have 50 additional acres.

Porn star bill is looking good in that pic.

Whiteface for me. Anyonefrom NY or NJ has less of a drive to LP than anything kmart or north.
I bet the hills in N.H. Would be killer with a lot of snow.

 

[ajl50]

A note about whiteface's bumps. They were so deep on lower cloudspin that when I lost a ski in the valley between the bumps I couldn't see over the next one.
As for the drive...totally agree with TJ.. from NYC area the drive to LP is much faster and easier...you are on major highway for all but the last 30 minutes.

 

[St. Jerry]

agree on Ice-Face. If the place got more than 100" of snow (ok 150" for you stat people) per year, it would be fantastic. I would even brave the bone numbing wind and cold for that.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

agree on Ice-Face. If the place got more than 100" of snow (ok 150" for you stat people) per year, it would be fantastic. I would even brave the bone numbing wind and cold for that.

Just for the hell of it how about we use some actual facts instead of assumption.

Winter 06-07 Whiteface recorded 263” of snow. Winter 05-06 Whiteface recorded 193” at the base of the mountain.

Here’s a comparison of temps for Stowe Vt. And Wilmington, NY (where Whiteface is).
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxcl...mington, NY (12997)&clocid1=&clocid2=USNY1606


Now Waitsfield, Vt. (Sugarbush) and Wilmington, NY
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxcl...mington, NY (12997)&clocid1=&clocid2=USNY1606

 

[kingslug]

Well I for one really liked Whiteface. So much so that I drove the almost 6 hours just to ski 1/2 a trail when they first opened. And it was a lot better than the usual top to bottom run (Hellgate) that I do at Hunter when they open. No knock against Hunter, big fan of the place. Whiteface is huge with a vertical that equals Snowbird. I plan on hitting it again for the open of the season.

 

[kcyanks1]

If snow were not an issue i don't see how anybody could argue a mountain is better than whiteface. The only knock people have against the place is that it gets icy and has a lack of snow. Nobody complains about the terrain, vert, lifts, variety of runs, terrain park, crowds, gapers, lack of lodging, LP as a ski town, or the mountain's vibe. So if it got as much snow as anywhere else how could it not be #1?

I will argue against it.

I think Whiteface is fantastic with snow, but I don't think the trails are all that interesting overall. Empire is a great trail, and the stuff off the summit is good because of the vertical and lengthy headwalls, but at the same time, Cloudspin and Skyward are too plain for my liking. Mountain Run, Wilderness, and Mackenzie blend together for me. They are rather similar and I don't find much character in them. I'll admit that might change if they were all natural snow and ungroomed; I haven't experienced them under these hypothetical circumstances though, making it tough to say what I'd think then.

My limited experience with Whiteface's glades has been positive. I know they don't have much on the map that compares with places in northern VT, but I won't say what I don't know and say that Whiteface doesn't have enough when you consider off-the-map glades. The Slides of course are unique for the east and give it a big boost.

Right now I probably stick Whiteface at about 6th in the east, with MRG, Sugarbush, Jay, Stowe (only putting it 4th because I haven't skied enough there to rank it higher), and Killington above it. I'd suspect that with better snow Whiteface would knock Killington out of my top 5. Perhaps with more experience in the glades and Slides (been there once) they might get higher. But I can at least argue against Whiteface being #1.

 

[snoseek]

the whites would be some pretty steep skiing with deeper snow. lots and lots of big (by eastern standards) mountains with steep rocky faces.

 

[tjf67]

Just for the hell of it how about we use some actual facts instead of assumption.

Winter 06-07 Whiteface recorded 263” of snow. Winter 05-06 Whiteface recorded 193” at the base of the mountain.

Here’s a comparison of temps for Stowe Vt. And Wilmington, NY (where Whiteface is).
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxcl...mington, NY (12997)&clocid1=&clocid2=USNY1606


Now Waitsfield, Vt. (Sugarbush) and Wilmington, NY
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxcl...mington, NY (12997)&clocid1=&clocid2=USNY1606

I was waiting for the smack down. Nice job drifter. We who call whiteface our home don't take kindly to being called iceface. Its like our sister, we can pick on her but as soon as someone from the outside does, let the beating begin. HAHA

 

[Geoff]

If everybody got 350" of natural snow, I'd consider Sunday River.