Least Favorite Ski Areas

[Greg]

Just ask Greg - JimG took him around Hunter(which gets more negative stuff said about it then any other area in the US), but Greg had a great day.. Cause JimG knows that mountain better then anybody..

I did. JimG. was a great guide and I carried some of his technique suggestions with me throughout the rest of the season. Despite all the bad vibes surrounding Hunter, it still is a kick-ass hill - challenging steep terrain and reliable early season skiing. I think it's great that we have more of a NY representation here with you and Jim, as well as ALLSKIING and loafer89 out on the Island. A Hunter gathering should be fun.

 

[JimG.]

Local knowledge will help for sure...
Just ask Greg - JimG took him around Hunter(which gets more negative stuff said about it then any other area in the US), but Greg had a great day.. Cause JimG knows that mountain better then anybody..

Not every place is for everyone... You just have to be in tune with the soul of the area..

Karl and I made sure Greg skiied hard that day; heck, we skiied hard that day! I've found that if folks stick to skiing as much as they can that alot of the peripheral stuff they like to complain about doesn't matter. It's difficult to complain when you're always catching your breath.

Like dmc said before, these threads don't do much to help ski areas already in trouble. I go to a ski area to ski and care very little about things like the food, the lodge, how cold it is, how icy it is, the lift layout, the parking, how polite or rude the people are, and all the other peripheral stuff. As for terrain, I definitely have my favorite areas but flatter places are fun if you get creative :wink: .

 

[loafer89]

Personally, I enjoyed my ski day at Attitash/Bear Peak. It was one of the best days of this year in late March powder. I like Bear Peak better than Attitash, as the trails have a funky angle to them on Attitash. The place is nothing steep, but it's not bad either.

Besides Yagoo Valley and Alpine which I refuse to ski again, I cannot think of any other of the more than 100 areas that I have skied that I can say I hate.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I guess the ski area I like least within driving distance of me is Stratton. Mostly because I don't love the way the terrain is laid out and it isn't as 'rustic' as I like my ski areas to look.

But a week skiing there, even in a perpetual ice-storm with 7000 "Muffys and Buffys" from Greenwich, CT, would still beat going to work every day!
:wink:
Sprite

Stratton certainly is on the "bland" side, but this seems to point to a recurring theam here: Some places lack redeeming qualities, yet still be able to provide a day of enjoyment.

Though I'd rather be about 12 miles Northeast at Magic, I've had many enjoyable days at Stratton. Most of it has to do with the fact that I have some great friends that work at Flatton. Yes, it's a lot of the "Silver Spoon" crowd and Milquetoast terrain, but I've had some great days skiing there.

Just because I'd rather ski somewhere else, doesn't mean I can't have a good day at an area I'm not so crazy about. Much as I dislike K-Mart, I've had some great days there. I used to just hate the place. (I refused to ski there for about 17 years.) Now I hate to admit that I actually can enjoy skiing there.

 

[Vortex]

This thread has had a great turn around. Good points by many. thankx for piping in. Much happier know.

 

[dmc]

Stratton certainly is on the "bland" side, but this seems to point to a recurring theam here: Some places lack redeeming qualities, yet still be able to provide a day of enjoyment.

What's bland to one person - terrifies another...

I'm even getting bored with some routes at Tuckerman Ravine now..

 

[Greg]

Any ski area can suck on a bad ski day (thaw-freeze) or be awesome on a great ski day (powder)...

 

[snowsprite]

Regarding Yawgoo Valley, RI...let me chime in some words of support for this poor little shrimp of a ski area. I went there last season and got what has to be the best snowboard lesson (and I have taken a few...with limited success!) ever. The instructor was patient, helpful, and cute to boot! :wink:

Then because it was so incredibly small, flat and unintimidating...I proceeded to learn how to successfully get on and off the chairlift on a snowboard and by the end of the evening (yes, they have night skiing...another plus!) I was actually able to loop a few turns together as opposed to just doing the dreaded "falling leaf."

So every area has its purpose and as far as Little Yawgoo, that purpose is to get true beginners started. Or to work on techniques you might be too chicken to try at a "real" area (they have a few terrain features to play on).

Plus there is this kick-ass seafood place nearby. We had an incredible dinner there--in our ski garb--and then returned to the slopes. Got a few funny looks but we didn't care. Wish I could recall the name of the restaurant!

Sprite

 

[loafer89]

The same day That I skied Yagoo Valley with my friend, we also skied at Powder Ridge. The skiing was so god awfull boring, that we left for another place.

Choice B was only slightly better, but at least I have been back again to Powder Ridge.

 

[snowsprite]

Hey Loafer...if you ever need to ski in CT again (which I hope you don't!) I think Ski Sundown is the least of all evils. It's actually rather fun. They have some decent terrain features too. Have you been there lately, or ever?

Sprite

 

[dmc]

There was one place I got a free ticket to and actually left after a few runs...

It was Diamond Peak on the eastern shore of Tahoe...
Here I was in the extreme skiing capital on the US and I was in a family area.. The place is great for families but it just couldn't hold my attention.. I could see the mountains across the lake and envision dropping cornices at Alpine or Squaw...

I got so bored - I just sat down next to the lift and waited for my friend to come down so we could boogie out and go to Mount Rose for and afternoon ticket..

Mount Rose is a cool mountain...

 

[Sky]

Regarding Yawgoo Valley, RI...let me chime in some words of support for this poor little shrimp of a ski area.

Never been...but support the support for the small local places. You should cut and paste that testimony and send it to the resort. I'm sure they'd appreciate the kind words.

I've been watching this thread waiting for my local hill to get flamed (Wachusett). I'm a fan...drank the KoolAid and all.

Like some of the other posters have stated...something can be identified about nearly every resort if you look hard enough....and you can overlook any flaw if you're skiing hard enough to stay too busy to notice.

Ticket Prices....and the Toll for he access road (that was funny), flat run-outs...crowds...etc. Poor Burke is getting some attention because they are (apparently) looking to make improvements that appear geared to the bulk of the market. Obviously a tough choice with happy and sad folks on both sides of the fence.

Mid Week seems to be the answer to most issues. Okemo mid-week last March was *drool* awesome. Wildcat on SUnday of President's weekend was *drool* Awesome (OK the lift line was a little long, but it moved quickly and was nothing compared to anything else I've seen elsewhere on a holoday weekend!).

Again, nice comments Sprite.

 

[Vortex]

Hey Loafer...if you ever need to ski in CT again (which I hope you don't!) I think Ski Sundown is the least of all evils. It's actually rather fun. They have some decent terrain features too. Have you been there lately, or ever?

Sprite

That is two postitive back to back posts. I like you. :wink:

 

[skibum1321]

This post was just meant to express personal preferences about ski resorts. I'm obviously not implying that because I don't like to ski at a resort that it serves no purpose for anyone. There are clearly different target markets for different ski areas.

On that note, what do you value most in a ski resort?

Personally, I would say my top 4 are:
1) Good backcountry options
2) Challenging on-piste trails
3) Good snow
4) Small (or avoidable) crowds

That being said, I think that these traits are best personified by the hills that I enjoy skiing most - Sugarbush, Mad River, Smuggs, Stowe (except the crowd thing sometimes), and Jay.

 

[RISkier]

I'd like to defend Yawgoo a bit too. Yes it's very small and offers no challenge to anyone beyond lower intermediate. But, they do a pretty good job with what they have. Given it's location it's surprising it exists. Actually, it's surprising it ever existed. They seem to do a pretty good job with their ski school, and it offers local kids a chance to learn to ski and board. I'd expect that anyone who participates on this board would indeed be bored silly and I certainly wouldn't suggest taking a road trip to ski mighty Yawgoo.

 

[dmc]

It's ALL about the terrain to me.. I'll put up with a lot if the mountain keeps me interested...

Good "slack country" access is a good thing...

 

[Vortex]

This post was just meant to express personal preferences about ski resorts. I'm obviously not implying that because I don't like to ski at a resort that it serves no purpose for anyone. There are clearly different target markets for different ski areas.

On that note, what do you value most in a ski resort?

Personally, I would say my top 4 are:
1) Good backcountry options
2) Challenging on-piste trails
3) Good snow
4) Small (or avoidable) crowds

That being said, I think that these traits are best personified by the hills that I enjoy skiing most - Sugarbush, Mad River, Smuggs, Stowe (except the crowd thing sometimes), and Jay.

Thankx for coming back in. I was rough on the thread. Glad to see your direction.

 

[JimG.]

On that note, what do you value most in a ski resort?

Personally, I would say my top 4 are:
1) Good backcountry options
2) Challenging on-piste trails
3) Good snow
4) Small (or avoidable) crowds

#1-#3 are where it's at for me; #4 never seems to be a problem for me, I rarely see crowds where I ski.

 

[snosharkrider]

hands down i cannot stand mt snow. i'd rather ski (the now defunct) kings ridge then ski at mt snow. if by ski at mt snpow one means stand in lift-lines, go uphill on downhill trails, and watch all the jack-a-ninnies queue up for that lame bar.

i drive up from NJ (5 1/2hrs each way)every w/end from Dec-April so Southern Vt is the only practical destination for me. i have gone to stratton and okemo and magic exclusively for the last 7yrs.

i think stratton gets unfairly slammed here vis-a-vis the crowds. i skied there 20 w/end days this yr and barely waited for a lift, excepting of course the US Open Snowboard Championship. granted the 'silver spoon' set is well...they are what they are but they amuse me more than anything else: how else would a avg joe like me know - (eavesdropping on a chair) that one can tell the difference btw cheap and good champagne by the bubbles?

w/ the exception of mt snow...anywhere is fun and kudos to however pointed that out in an earlier post.

 

[loafer89]

I usually get in at least one day a year in Connecticut, this year I skied at Powder Ridge on January 1st, and Ski Sundown on February 17th.

Both times were with my son, and he had fun at both areas.

I have skied at alot of small areas similar to Yagoo, such as Nashoba, Ski Bradford, Otis Ridge, Sterling Forest, Mount Peter, Campgaw, Woodbury and Mount Southington.