Least Favorite Ski Area(s)

[oneotwoandcounting]

Ouch cps27. WF is my home mountain and I love the place. I can understand where you are coming from because I have been on Whiteface when things got pretty rough but sever weather can happen on any good sized mountain. I think that is part of a mountain’s beauty.

As does FHW I like Gore also but WF has that huge vertical that I love. I do wish we had more natural snow but that is probably a wish most skiers have for their home mountain. Unfortunately even though WF has such a big vertical the noreasters mostly miss us, the Canadian Clippers also usually miss us, and the lake effect snow doesn't reach us. Yet last year without a lot of mid winter natural snow the cold weather permitted the mountain to make plenty of snow and it lasted due to the cold. Ski WF often and you learn to dress for the cold and you get used to it. I would rather ski a cold day than a warm one anyway. Warm days leave me dripping with sweat. The wind can be a problem but if the lifts are running it can be handled again by dressing properly and using your head.

A few years ago WF had over two hundred inches of natural snow. The slides were open for quite a while and a skiing friend of mine from down state came up to WF and had such a great week he skipped skiing out west. Now I am not recommending that. My friend is a bump/tree-skiing fanatic and WF had bumps on quite a few trails that year. In addition the Ski Patrol was letting people ski just about everywhere. Whiteface can be a really great mountain to ski.

 

[Greg]

Wow. Do I detect some RSN Adirondack forum exiles suddenly posting here?

 

[oneotwoandcounting]

Believe it or not I never posted on the RSN Forum. However a friend of mine does and he turned me on to the forum last winter. I started checking it daily before it went down because I thought the Adirondack Skiing Forum was a riot. They flame one another all the time but I think that was done mostly in the spirit of humor, at least I hope so. I’ll go back to reading it when it comes back up next year.

 

[freeheelwilly]

Believe it or not I never posted on the RSN Forum. However a friend of mine does and he turned me on to the forum last winter. I started checking it daily before it went down because I thought the Adirondack Skiing Forum was a riot. They flame one another all the time but I think that was done mostly in the spirit of humor, at least I hope so. I’ll go back to reading it when it comes back up next year.

I know who your friend is. why isn't he in here? and you're right, the flaming was done in a humorous spirit. A lot of people never "got" that. They tended not to last. We had fun. Nuff said.

& boy I remember that winter: '00-'01. "Iceface": Yeah, right! Let somebody drop off chair six into the snowfields and then scream through the trees onto Cloudspin after a major dump, and then tell me they "hate" it. Hahahaha! O My!

 

[Zand]

9. Ski Ward (Least favorite)

Oh, c'mon Zand - you gotta go easy on poor little Ward. They have so little to work with. My kids both learned to ski there, and it's great for little ones.....

Well, it's a nice place, but I just like it the least out of the above mentioned areas. I like them all for different reasons, but Ward is just my least favorite No offense to them.

 

[Big Game]

Figured I'd talk smack about Bromley. Fun mountain and great vibe, but worst food. Be sure to pack your own.

Disagree about Stratton...the terrain is not boring...it undulates very nicely...some great glade runs and all different types. I do agree that they have an tendancy to overgroom. And yep, there isn't such a great vibe from many other visitors there, but I have run into some very cool people who, like me, put up with the 'tude because the terrain justifies the sacrifice. You kind of have to tune it out. Lots of cigarrette smoking near the supertrail. Never go on a weekend. Never go on the the gondola without a friend, as you're are sure to hear some self-absorbed Joisy talk to to his phony wife about how they next are going to spoil their equally pompous pre-teen.

I haven't hit Okemo glades on truly stellar days, it seems like they need some more cut. Which they did at Jackson Gore. One of the new ones is really long..can't wait to sample. Lack of steeps ins't such a bad thing on a snowboard, but long traverses are, which fortunately there aren't too many of at Okemo. The man-made bumps are little close for me on a board, I like when they form naturally and us snowboarders and dudes on old school skis seem to spread them out a bit more. Okemo has a pretty good vibe going on. I could see why a some skiers wouldn't be such a fan of Okemo, there really isn't any sick stretches of steeps, but on a snowboard, as long as the pitch moves around, its all good.

Killington is a little tough for me. I have hit it on days with good conditions and it seems I'm always on some traverse trying to get somewhere else. And then the guns are always blowing, killing a blue bird day. I don't know it that well, and I never had some one show me around, so what else can I say. The vibe at Killington is mixed, but it's very cool at Pico.

Mad River Glen probably is the pits though. Me and my board aren't welcome there. I know many skiers get off on the fact we're not allowed, but if they only knew what I know, they'd be filled with so much shame that they would abandon their petty hatred and smug self-righteousness. Perhaps they would then stagger into some very important emotional development and learn that God's bounty shouldn't be hoarded like a 2 dollar bill, but rather, should be shared with those with an different idea on how to best enjoy quiet, twisting mountain terrain that bursts with a flood of snow.

 

[oneotwoandcounting]

Believe it or not I never posted on the RSN Forum. However a friend of mine does and he turned me on to the forum last winter. I started checking it daily before it went down because I thought the Adirondack Skiing Forum was a riot. They flame one another all the time but I think that was done mostly in the spirit of humor, at least I hope so. I’ll go back to reading it when it comes back up next year.

I know who your friend is. why isn't he in here? and you're right, the flaming was done in a humorous spirit. A lot of people never "got" that. They tended not to last. We had fun. Nuff said.

& boy I remember that winter: '00-'01. "Iceface": Yeah, right! Let somebody drop off chair six into the snowfields and then scream through the trees onto Cloudspin after a major dump, and then tell me they "hate" it. Hahahaha! O My!

I think he is waiting for the mountain to open. I sure hope he doesn't miss opening day but his emails don't sound like he will be here.

 

[yam]

Zand: do you dislike Killington because of all the people there (as ChileMass mentioned)? Or was there a different reason? I'm heading there for the first time in January, and was wondering what to expect.
:-?

Thanks!

 

[JimG.]

Mad River Glen probably is the pits though. Me and my board aren't welcome there. I know many skiers get off on the fact we're not allowed, but if they only knew what I know, they'd be filled with so much shame that they would abandon their petty hatred and smug self-righteousness. Perhaps they would then stagger into some very important emotional development and learn that God's bounty shouldn't be hoarded like a 2 dollar bill, but rather, should be shared with those with an different idea on how to best enjoy quiet, twisting mountain terrain that bursts with a flood of snow.

First off, I'm a skier who could care less what my buddies have on their feet, as long as they're out there having fun. I don't like when areas ban snowboards from certain terrain or the entire area, but there are usually reasons beyond the easy "those guys are intolerant and hate snowboarders". In the case of Mad River, the single chairlift which is the centerpiece of the old school vibe there just can't handle when snowboarders unload from the lift. Becuase of its' age and design, the cable on the single lift comes off the track of the bullwheel at the top when snowboarders push off too hard when they unload. This isn't a problem for skiers who use poles.

I'm not saying that Mad River welcomes snowboarders or even likes them, but this is one of the reasons snowboarders are banned and if you think about it, that is a decent reason.

None of which even matters because it would still be your least favortie area since you can't snowboard there. Just don't hang the "we hate snowboarders" tag on all skiers or an entire area.

 

[dmc]

In the case of Mad River, the single chairlift which is the centerpiece of the old school vibe there just can't handle when snowboarders unload from the lift.

I don't buy that whole single chair thing... Most snowboarders skate off of lifts... I was there last year on teles and I really think thats a myth...

That chair HAS to go... Someday - god forbid - someones gona get killed on that thing.. It's just too old... Needs to be updated...
JMHO

 

[trailbiscuit]

Anyplace with an excessive "Joey Factor". Loon would top that list.

 

[JimG.]

In the case of Mad River, the single chairlift which is the centerpiece of the old school vibe there just can't handle when snowboarders unload from the lift.

I don't buy that whole single chair thing... Most snowboarders skate off of lifts... I was there last year on teles and I really think thats a myth...

That chair HAS to go... Someday - god forbid - someones gona get killed on that thing.. It's just too old... Needs to be updated...
JMHO

Many would disagree with you...I suggested that a few years ago on the PH site and Teledave went nuts. You would have to admit that if they changed that lift to say a triple that the entire way the area was run would have to change. Without snowmaking, how could MRG handle the increased skier traffic?

That place is locked in a time capsule and I think it best it stays there.

 

[dmc]

In the case of Mad River, the single chairlift which is the centerpiece of the old school vibe there just can't handle when snowboarders unload from the lift.

I don't buy that whole single chair thing... Most snowboarders skate off of lifts... I was there last year on teles and I really think thats a myth...

That chair HAS to go... Someday - god forbid - someones gona get killed on that thing.. It's just too old... Needs to be updated...
JMHO

Many would disagree with you...I suggested that a few years ago on the PH site and Teledave went nuts. You would have to admit that if they changed that lift to say a triple that the entire way the area was run would have to change. Without snowmaking, how could MRG handle the increased skier traffic?

That place is locked in a time capsule and I think it best it stays there.

Whatever... I know a few guys that have the shares up there... They are anti-snowboard and just won't admit it... Which makes me mad...

As far as the single chair goes - It becomes a question of safety at some point...
And I take Teledave with a grain of salt... He complains about half the stuff I say

 

[Greg]

Regarding the MRG Single Chair and safety concerns, take a look at Eric's response to Question #10 here.

 

[dmc]

Regarding the MRG Single Chair and safety concerns, take a look at Eric's response to Question #10 here.

Interesting...
When I went to the NATO fest last year... The chair broke down constantly... I was told a bull wheel slipped...
So thats one thing thats blame on snowboarders that obviously happens with skiers as well..
The other things that I observed that are usually blamed on snowboarders but happened there are as follows..
Scraped snow - by 1 PM the place was scraped out....
Stopping and blocking chairs - I had to wade through people hangin out by the chair runouts all day.. Good thing my heel was free..
Collisions - I saw MORE then a few...
Stopping on trails - again - I saw this happening alll day...

I just don't buy into this whole thing... Sorry... I believe that they will continue to make up reasons to keep us off the hill...
and it is their right... And I respect that - It just saddens me...

 

[JimG.]

Regarding the MRG Single Chair and safety concerns, take a look at Eric's response to Question #10 here.

Eric gave excellent answers to all of these questions, especially compared to the answers I've read from other resorts. But I'm especially impressed with the MRG bumper sticker in space 8) .

 

[JimG.]

Whatever... I know a few guys that have the shares up there... They are anti-snowboard and just won't admit it... Which makes me mad...

And you know how I feel about the whole "anti-snowboard" thing...it's ridiculous! Skiers, boarders, pinheads and whatever else, everyone should have equal access to get out there and enjoy.

These people who promote that tribal "skiers versus snowboarders" crap need to get a life.

 

[RossiSkier]

This potentially explosive thread is back. My least favorite ski hill is Killington during the weekends. The KMART can be crazy. The originator of this thread didn't like Okemo. How do you not like Okemo?

 

[ftrain]

Any place that has long lift lines that day. I skiied Wachusett so much as a kid that I no longer enjoy it. I can actually bomb the entire trail top to bottom without one turn. I now try to only ski backwards at small mountains like this. That is the only way I find a challange.

 

[Vortex]

Anyplace with an excessive "Joey Factor". Loon would top that list.

I'm suprised it took so long to see Loon Bashed. I would invert it Sr my favorite Loon my 2nd favorite. I prefer the positive side. I understand why Loon gets disliked I 'm just not one of them. I always enjoy only driving 1 1/2 hours home on Sunday. Only negitive I would have is with Tenney .I bought that early season pass last year and got quite a surpise 1000 foot lift serviced trail. No 300 foot mini park. I got my money back horrified of the falsehoods presented.