Most Exciting and Most Boring Drives to Mountains

[Frers 33]

Most exciting was Purgatory-DMR to Ouray, CO. Red Mountain Pass, Million Dollar Highway.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Most exciting was Purgatory-DMR to Ouray, CO. Red Mountain Pass, Million Dollar Highway.

That is a an awesome stretch........Starting out in Durango and heading up through Silverton, Red Mountain Pass, and eventually hit up Gunnison (had my first Sonic there).

A quick tidbit, I actually worked at a mom and pop store in Maine growing up owned by a Red Mountain, so I had the corny pic taken in front of the Red Mountain Pass sign.

 

[SIKSKIER]

IMO, your money could not be better spent on a powder day than at Cannon even if you have a season pass. I skip on my Jay pass all the time when Cannon has a good dump. On the flip side, I generally would drive past Loon even if I could ski there for free so you can take my commentary for what it is worth.

I'll disagree a little with you on that Steve.The trails get tracked out so fast but if I know you by your past posts,you'll be in the woods on Mittersill and Tuckerbrook and there's plenty of hidden goods in them thar woods!

 

[riverc0il]

I'll disagree a little with you on that Steve.The trails get tracked out so fast but if I know you by your past posts,you'll be in the woods on Mittersill and Tuckerbrook and there's plenty of hidden goods in them thar woods!

I meant compared to being at Loon.... Indeed, without local knowledge, Cannon does get tracked out pretty quickly and they brutally groom more than they should on powder days.

 

[bvibert]

I meant compared to being at Loon.... Indeed, without local knowledge, Cannon does get tracked out pretty quickly and they brutally groom more than they should on powder days.

I'll never understand why anyone would want to groom anything more than beginner trails on a powder day... :???:

 

[riverc0il]

I'll never understand why anyone would want to groom anything more than beginner trails on a powder day... :???:

I understand it completely. Before I learned how to ski powder, I hated powder. It was more work for my legs and I couldn't turn to save my life because I was applying groomer/race turn tech to a completely different snow condition. Whereas powder that gets groomed (real packed powder) has a much nicer consistency than normal so called "packed powder" that has been groomed three dozen times since the last snow storm. So people who love groomers also enjoy groomers after a snow storm more than normal conditions.

So I can understand grooming most intermediate terrain. Maybe, just maybe, one steeper trail. But the "where to go on a powder day" is often dictated by who I think will groom the least. Because most mountains will mow most of the entire mountain flat to keep their groomer customers happy and try to preserve the snow and build base. That is one thing I love about places like Jay is they hardly groom anything after a storm except for the main routes from each lift.

 

[bvibert]

I understand it completely. Before I learned how to ski powder, I hated powder. It was more work for my legs and I couldn't turn to save my life because I was applying groomer/race turn tech to a completely different snow condition. Whereas powder that gets groomed (real packed powder) has a much nicer consistency than normal so called "packed powder" that has been groomed three dozen times since the last snow storm. So people who love groomers also enjoy groomers after a snow storm more than normal conditions.

So I can understand grooming most intermediate terrain. Maybe, just maybe, one steeper trail. But the "where to go on a powder day" is often dictated by who I think will groom the least. Because most mountains will mow most of the entire mountain flat to keep their groomer customers happy and try to preserve the snow and build base. That is one thing I love about places like Jay is they hardly groom anything after a storm except for the main routes from each lift.

I guess I see your point. However, I still can't ski powder, but I enjoy trying when I get the chance. Then again I prefer trails that the groomer doesn't visit often (if at all) in general so I guess my opinion might be a little skewed.

Wait, what was this thread about again??

 

[frozencorn]

most exciting: final approach to Sugarloaf. They don't call it Oh My Gosh corner for nothing

most boring: getting to VT from NH on 89. I don't know what it is, but that 60 miles of road bores the heck out of me.

most annoying: Wildcat - worth it, but even with the short cuts, getting around N. Conway is a pain. It's also very disappointing as it's turned from somewhat quaint 25 years ago, to chain restaurant, home depot, walmart USA.

West Side Road. Classic as always. Bypass it all.

 

[frozencorn]

The Cannon view at 93 reminds me of Copper in Co. Dramatic, right on the road. Awesome.

Sugarloaf has to be up there. If only because it's like a beacon after driving for hours. I like the Jay Peak out of nowhere for that matter too.