Most Challenging Ski Resort

[skiNEwhere]

In North America, in general. Go

Squaw Valley, CA
Random cliffs, very rocky in general, if you're not paying attention you'll end up on those "Extreme Terrain" trails

 

[Hawkshot99]

Sundown!

 

[jaja111]

I hate to sound like a cliche, but Jackson Hole has really kicked my ass and devolved from skiing into mountaineering at times. Its such a brutal mistress that you'll return for more, and pay for it.

 

[drjeff]

Gotta put Snowbird into the debate

 

[witch hobble]

Hickory!

 

[kcyanks1]

Jackson Hole.

I've been to:
Whistler (early season so not much was open)
Snowbird (early season though more was open than my trip to Whistler; skied only limited hike-to terrain)
Alta (no hike-to terrain; same trip as Snowbird)
Aspen
Aspen Highlands (only part of Highlands Bowl was open at the time - skied Y-Zones, they were probably the steepest thing I had skied at the time; so long ago, hard to really compare)
Snowmass (skied only a small piece of Headwall, did not ski Cirque)
Steamboat (long time ago)
Various places in east

 

[Cornhead]

Taos

I've only skied New Mexico out West, but it has some pretty gnarly terrain. Locals I've talked to while there have said they have known people to show up there, take one look, turn around and leave. My first visit there I did not ski, just visiting the town, walked into the lodge, looked out the window, all you can see is Al's run staring you in the face, steep, and bumpy. On later visits I noticed a sign next to the lift which states, "Don't worry, we have easier ways down the mountain", the cross trail is not very visible from the base.

 

[snowmonster]

Mad River Glen.

Completely subjective, of course, but this mountain has a way of consistently kicking me in the butt everytime I'm there. Just when you're feeling good about your skiing skill set, you visit this place and it will show you a way to undo your confidence. It can ski effortlessly in powder but it's a beast when hardpacked. The combination of steeps, tight trees, icy moguls, cliffs and hardpack is a great ski teacher. I feel humbled everytime I visit this place.

 

[vdk03]

Big sky or Jackson hole. Been to both this season and they had some pretty tough terrain.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

 

[4aprice]

Gotta put Snowbird into the debate

To me it is the most impressive place to stand at the bottom and look up that I've been to, truely a big mountain. Too many places I haven't been to to make a definitive choice of most challanging. I can find challanges all over the place from Northern New England through the Rockies and love and appreciate them all.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[snoseek]

I don't think there's any one place. Places that I personally find challenging. Taos, Snowbird, parts of Crested Butte, Snowbird, Squaw, Kirkwood, J-Hole, parts of Alta, parts of Telluride. There's plenty of stuff at each of these places (and many others to a lesser extent) that makes my stomach drop. Taos might overall be the gnarliest in my book, hard to say.

 

[Masskier]

I don't think there's any one place. Places that I personally find challenging. Taos, Snowbird, parts of Crested Butte, Snowbird, Squaw, Kirkwood, J-Hole, parts of Alta, parts of Telluride. There's plenty of stuff at each of these places (and many others to a lesser extent) that makes my stomach drop. Taos might overall be the gnarliest in my book, hard to say.

I have heard that Crested Butte has the most lift accessed extreme terrain in the country.

 

[skiNEwhere]

Big sky or Jackson hole. Been to both this season and they had some pretty tough terrain.

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IMO Big Sky, with the exception of skiing off of lone peak, is at best an intermediate mountain

 

[deadheadskier]

East - MRG

West (that I've been to) - Abasin or Aspen Highlands (tie)

 

[AdironRider]

Any EC hill on a holiday weekend?

Im pretty sure every hill has something thats challenging for any skier or rider, some just have more than others.

But Id challenge anyone to do a Corbets, Experts, Toilet Bowl, Dicks lap at Jackson and find a harder way down anywhere.

 

[David Metsky]

I have heard that Crested Butte has the most lift accessed extreme terrain in the country.

If not the top, it certainly has enough. There are runs like Rambo, which isn't even a backcountry run, that's essentially a cliff with a trail sign. The backcountry extreme terrain is pretty amazing in both variety and size.

 

[elks]

Most challenging is hard to define. I think Snowbird has some great expert terrain, but it's also a resort designed for intermediate or beginner skiers. It's one thing I love about Snowbird if you are skiing with people of different abilities. You can ride the chairs together and go down separately.

Conversely, Jackson Hole has very little beginner or intermediate terrain. If you go there with a less advances skier, you're less likely to see a lot of them. In that sense I think Jackson Hole is a more challenging resort overall.

 

[Puck it]

In bounds is JHMR by far.

 

[Newpylong]

Jackson Hole.