Most Over/Under Rated Ski Resorts

[deadheadskier]

We have different definitions of Cruisers if you consider the terrain off of Gate House cruising terrain. I find the pitch there to be rather flat and boring. Super Bravo trails all result in the bad run out back to the base of the lift. Best cruising terrain at Sugarbush is off the North Ridge lift IMO. Inverness offers great consistent pitch as well. The run out at Mt. Ellen is pretty much avoidable because there's little point in skiing to the base other than heading over to Inverness if you don't want to use the upper traverse. I disagree that the other options other than Downspout don't see much traffic. They're not as bad, but they all can get skied off pretty quickly on the weekends.

This all said, I don't dislike South. Far from it. I just think people overfluff how good it is compared to North. I guess it works out in my favor. I probably spend 60% of my time at North vs. South due to the lesser traffic and resultant better snow surfaces.

 

[abc]

It's easy to identify underrated, but overrated? It really depends on your perspective. In reality, few places are overrated to ALL groups.

Example:

Overrated

JAY PEAK, yes I said it. The trees are fantastic, but the trails usually suck. The groomers are too narrow for the amount of traffic they get, leading them to always being scraped off. The place is so windy that all the snow just gets blown off the trails, and a lot of the time the place is only half accessible because lifts are on windhold.

The trees alone, defines Jay Peak and is more than enough for many of us!!!

Underrated

BRETTON WOODS They might not have any steeps, but they do get a lot of snow so their glades typically ski very well. The trails, while low angle do have a lot of character, unlike the trails at places like Okemo where every trail skis exactly the same.

For much less quantity and variety of trees, Bretton Woods is underrated while Jay is overrated?


I believe the under or over rated image, has more to do with the marketing than with the physical aspect of the mountain.

Jay market its trees and amount of snow. So it's overrated because the snow got blown clear off the trails (into the trees)! Bretton Woods ONLY market to the family about their ego boosting low angle trails but doesn't advertise it's glades AT ALL. So those who found the glades love it. And even though it's not quite as good as Jay, it's nonetheless underrated.

 

[Conrad]

Both - Killington. Those who love the place WAY overrate it at an irrational level. I understand why those who call it home want it to be successful, but I don't know of any mountain in the east that has such vocal fans cheering for their home mountain to be considered the best by all and want it to be the most popular ski area with a million people skiing there a season like the "old days". The fandome for the place is more similar to a city sports team than a ski area. Those who dislike it, WAY underrate it an irrational level. It really does have some kick ass terrain, well above NE average natural snowfall, obviously great snowmaking, bumps and it is Massive. That size really is a big advantage on low crowd powder days. Midweek or early/late season, I bet Killington tracks out slower than just about anywhere.

The place really is awesome, but it's not that awesome.

Exactly! I don't know many actual fans so I can't say whether the average Killington skier overrates it, but the people on AZ definitely hype it up way more than it should be.

 

[Conrad]

Overrated
SUNDAY RIVER Over reliance on their fantastic snowmaking, outdated lodges and lifts. Gets compared to Killington a lot, but IMO is not nearly as good. They seem to have won the Boston market, as everyone I know seems to vacation at Sunday River instead of places in Vermont, I don't quite get it

I am a big Sunday River fan, but you definitely make a great case. For a classic ski vacation mountain, there are better places.

 

[steamboat1]

Killington is over rated because Pico is under rated...

 

[phin]

Overrated: Sunday River - I get extremely bored on these hills. However, Jordan Bowl and Oz have a few great runs but it just falls short if the hype for me.

Underrated: Eaton Mountain - Ha!

 

[steamboat1]

We have different definitions of Cruisers if you consider the terrain off of Gate House cruising terrain. I find the pitch there to be rather flat and boring. Super Bravo trails all result in the bad run out back to the base of the lift.
Best cruising terrain at Sugarbush is off the North Ridge lift IMO. Inverness offers great consistent pitch as well. The run out at Mt. Ellen is pretty much avoidable because there's little point in skiing to the base other than heading over to Inverness if you don't want to use the upper traverse.

I guess we have to agree to disagree. Gate House is cruising terrain, don't know what else you'd call it. Besides that's only one of many cruisers I mentioned at Lincoln. You complain about the short run out at the bottom of Super Bravo then go on to suggest that the way to avoid the long run out under the lower chair at Ellen is to take the long upper traverse over to Inverness, doesn't make much sense to me. North Ridge chair at Ellen basicly has two cruisers off the top then opens up more down lower off one of them, the other goes to the base of the summit chair not offering much vertical. Two cruisers don't make it a top cruising mountain. Inverness is nice but I'd argue Valley House alone offers more cruising terrain. Mt. Ellen is nice & is under rated but to suggest Lincoln is over rated because of that is wrong in my opinion.

edit: lower FIS is a great cruising trail but the traverse back to the ski area at the bottom is a killer. I'd love to see a lift & more trails cut in that area.

 

[Cannonball]

Gonna go out on a limb with this one....
Underrated:
Bretton Woods and Cranmore. Both places have a major negative image because of their easy terrain, family focus, and lack of 'cool' factor. But they really, really excel at what they do. AND they actually offer more fun than you might think for advanced skiers. The clientele they bring almost guarantees good snow preservation, untouched tree lines, etc. I'm not sure I'd head directly to Cranmore with a serious group of skiers, but if kids or beginners are in the mix I'd be happy to go there and find plenty of fun for myself while they feel comfortable. And I actually do choose to go to Bretton Woods to find stashes when everyplace else is tracked out.

Overrated?
I don't know, hard to knock anyone's fun spot. If I had to pick one I'd say Attitash. Not that too many people are overrating. But I have a hard time finding any reason to like it at all. The fact that a single person would buy a ticket there seems like overrating it.

MRG. Has a mystique that outstrips the reality. And like Forest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that"

Both:
Loon. For all the same reasons DHS gave for Killington. The sheer number of people that go to Loon automatically makes it overrated. On the other hand, hating it just because it's popular is pretty lame. It does have fun terrain.

 

[deadheadskier]

I guess we have to agree to disagree. Gate House is cruising terrain, don't know what else you'd call it.[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]

Low intermediate and Beginner terrain. The classification of Waterfall as a Black is bordering on Okemo trail ratings. Most of Hot Shot is "green" pitched.

Mt. Ellen is nice & is under rated but to suggest Lincoln is over rated because of that is wrong in my opinion.

This is simple comparison logic. I'm not sure what's so difficult to understand. When comparing two things, if A is underrated compared to B, then B is overrated compared to A. They go hand in hand. When comparing two things, you can't have one without the other.

 

[Edd]

Gonna go out on a limb with this one....
Underrated:
Bretton Woods and Cranmore. Both places have a major negative image because of their easy terrain, family focus, and lack of 'cool' factor. But they really, really excel at what they do. AND they actually offer more fun than you might think for advanced skiers. The clientele they bring almost guarantees good snow preservation, untouched tree lines, etc. I'm not sure I'd head directly to Cranmore with a serious group of skiers, but if kids or beginners are in the mix I'd be happy to go there and find plenty of fun for myself while they feel comfortable. And I actually do choose to go to Bretton Woods to find stashes when everyplace else is tracked out.

Overrated?
I don't know, hard to knock anyone's fun spot. If I had to pick one I'd say Attitash. Not that too many people are overrating. But I have a hard time finding any reason to like it at all. The fact that a single person would buy a ticket there seems like overrating it.

Agree very much about Cranmore and BW. I've had many sweet powder days between the two.

I used to solidly dislike Attitash while ASC owned it but my attitude has changed during the Peak years. I don't love it but I keep going back. Not sure if I've changed or the mountain has but it's probably me. I've found something to like about every place I ski.

 

[steamboat1]

This is simple comparison logic. I'm not sure what's so difficult to understand. When comparing two things, if A is underrated compared to B, then B is overrated compared to A. They go hand in hand. When comparing two things, you can't have one without the other.

I think Sugarloaf is over rated compared to Plattekill. What does one have to do with the other?

 

[steamboat1]

Low intermediate and Beginner terrain. The classification of Waterfall as a Black is bordering on Okemo trail ratings. Most of Hot Shot is "green" pitched.

This makes even less sense. I think everyone would agree Okemo is known as being a great cruising mountain. Sleeper & Sleeper Woods off Gate House are certainly not low intermediate/ beginner trails.

 

[deadheadskier]

I think Sugarloaf is over rated compared to Plattekill. What does one have to do with the other?

Then by default, you also believe Plattekill to be underrated compared to Sugarloaf.

My suggestion of Lincoln Peak being overrated was only in comparison with Mt. Ellen. It was not that I found the mountain overrated in general.

 

[deadheadskier]

Jesus Christ steamboat1 are you getting paid to argue with me? Looking for some sort of trophy that your opinion is better than mine?

I've stated my opinion. You disagree. It doesn't make my opinion wrong. Is your job today to try and discredit my opinion?

 

[steamboat1]

Then by default, you also believe Plattekill to be underrated compared to Sugarloaf.

My suggestion of Lincoln Peak being overrated was only in comparison with Mt. Ellen. It was not that I found the mountain overrated in general.

So why did you say Lincoln was over rated if you don't find it over rated in general. That is how this whole conversation started isn't it?

 

[steamboat1]

Okay

well, what's your point of contention. what do you disagree with me on?

I thought you asked for my opinion.

 

[deadheadskier]

Note to self, don't ask the opinion of those whose opinion you could care less about.

 

[steamboat1]

Note to self, don't ask the opinion of those whose opinion you could care less about.

And hurl insults when losing a conversation.

 

[deadheadskier]

Losing a conversation? :lol:

You really are going for the trophy aren't you? :lol:

Get a grip steamboat1. Our opinions differ. There is no winner. But, seeing how it's so important to you, I'll concede the win to you. Feel better?

 

[Cannonball]

...losing a conversation.

I love this concept! Competitive conversationalsim. How are conversations scored?