Mountains that "ski bigger" than they look...

[AdironRider]

I agree with how Gore only has 800-900 foot sections that you can really ski and no real top to bottom runs. Maybe thats why I felt it feels bigger, just in a different sense, as your constantly riding lifts back and forth to get to different areas.

 

[kcyanks1]

And this brings up a good point about the question posed in this thread. Is this about mountains that ski bigger than they look from the base? In this case, that would certainly apply to Gore.
...
I interpreted the question to mean "Does this ski area ski bigger than you would expect by looking at its stats?" Gore is again a perfect example, though in the opposite direction. Given it's impressive vertical, you'd be surprised to discover that

That's how I interpreted it as well, which is why I would've cited Gore if anything as one that skis smaller than it seems, or perhaps on par with how it seems as it's not the only ski area that you ski far less than it's complete vertical per run. One additional problem with the Gore vertical though is that when you take runs on the SB chair, for instance, the fun part of the run often isn't even the entire vertical. After you ski Hawkeye or Rumor you have Headwaters. Before and after you ski Lies you have Cloud and Headwaters, respectively. So while I am completely guessing now, at Gore the real part of a run might not be much different than 600'. That doesn't apply if you do take some of the glades or the lower portion of the SB liftline, though, and those are some of the more fun trails IMO when they have the snow.

Yet MRG's two main lifts deliver 1400' and 2000' of vertical respectively. Moreover, since the trail system is narrow, twisting, and often challenging, you tend to take many stops along the way to rest and assess your options. In that manner, I'd say that MRG inarguably skis bigger than it's stats would indicate.

MRG is one of the primary examples in my mind too. Those runs can be exhausting.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

And this brings up a good point about the question posed in this thread. Is this about mountains that ski bigger than they look from the base? In this case, that would certainly apply to Gore. However, this just gives the edge to topographic set-ups where the summit or upper mountain(s) are out of sight from the base.

I interpreted the question to mean "Does this ski area ski bigger than you would expect by looking at its stats?" Gore is again a perfect example, though in the opposite direction. Given it's impressive vertical, you'd be surprised to discover that the best skiing is delivered only in 800-900' vertical packages.

Yep..that's a good summary of Gore. I've said it before here, but when they have been dumped on there liftline and glad package ranks right up there with the best in the Northeast.

 

[Zand]

Mount Snow... even though it's pretty bad, it's bigger than any mountain at K besides Pico.

 

[kingslug]

In the east I would go with Plattekill. If you're adventurous you can get lost on the backside mountain bike trails...like my wife did. bad idea to do it alone..like she did.

Out west, Squaw was a mindblower. Didn't look like much when I got there, but goes forever, like Vail.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

I agree with how Gore only has 800-900 foot sections that you can really ski and no real top to bottom runs. Maybe thats why I felt it feels bigger, just in a different sense, as your constantly riding lifts back and forth to get to different areas.

It might feel bigger, but does it "ski" bigger? That is the real question this thread poses. I would argue both from my experience and your own words that it doesn't meet that criteria. Regardless, the fact that you need to ride lifts here and there to make your way around Gore is nothing you wouldn't be able to tell from a cursory glance at the trail map. I think people here are talking more about places like Plattekill or MRG that sort of sneak up on you if you haven't been there before.

 

[skiadikt]

i'll jump on the plattekill bandwagon. kind of like a mad river south. mostly natural snow. very serious skiing for a 1000 vertical ft. a t-bar and the old highmount lift. gotta love it.

also stowe. definitely a wow when you pull in the lot, but discounting spruce, what's it maybe 30 trails. that's the most skiing you're gonna do on 30 trails.

and my home mtn, killington ... someone mentioned how it skis small. totally agree. despite it's 3100 ft. vertical, you spend most of of your time skiing it 1100-1200 ft increments with more intersections and traffic than midtown manhattan.

 

[andyzee]

my home mtn, killington ... someone mentioned how it skis small. totally agree. despite it's 3100 ft. vertical, you spend most of of your time skiing it 1100-1200 ft increments with more intersections and traffic than midtown manhattan.

Yeah, but like midtown manhattan, there's loads of entertainment

 

[ALLSKIING]

Lincoln Peak at the Bush. You can't see much of that 2,600 vert from the parking lot.

 

[kingslug]

i'll jump on the plattekill bandwagon. kind of like a mad river south. mostly natural snow. very serious skiing for a 1000 vertical ft. a t-bar and the old highmount lift. gotta love it.

also stowe. definitely a wow when you pull in the lot, but discounting spruce, what's it maybe 30 trails. that's the most skiing you're gonna do on 30 trails.

and my home mtn, killington ... someone mentioned how it skis small. totally agree. despite it's 3100 ft. vertical, you spend most of of your time skiing it 1100-1200 ft increments with more intersections and traffic than midtown manhattan.

Thankfully that T bar is history.

 

[2knees]

i have to throw magic into this mix. for 1600 feet, it feels a whole lot bigger. For me, and i'll probably get killed for this, but bromley. The east side on a sunny day with 4 or 5 different bump runs to choose from keep me more entertained then a 900 vert foot area normally would. Overall, the main face is around 1300 feet and feels just like that.

As far as skiing smaller, okemo would jump into my head, along with butternut in mass and stratton also.

 

[thetrailboss]

I thought that Stratton skied a lot bigger than it looks. The lifts are fast. That is deceiving. It is a looonnnnnngggggg way from the Sunbowl to the Snowbowl.

I will say that Stowe is huge. The trail count is deceiving as well--it only has "48 trails," but they are 48 real trails. Easily 96 or 100 at another place. Like the vert and the set up, but Forerunner is getting old. I'm also wonder how long they will keep the Lookout Double going.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Lincoln Peak at the Bush. You can't see much of that 2,600 vert from the parking lot.

Probably cause the 2600 vert is over at Mt Ellen, LP is 2400. Sorry...we are an anal picky bunch here. :lol:

 

[thetrailboss]

I was impressed by the main quad at Gunstock. Some nice loonnnggg runs from the top. The bottom areas were not really exciting though.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Lincoln Peak at the Bush. You can't see much of that 2,600 vert from the parking lot.

The Bush is interesting in this regard. I'd say Mt. Ellen skis smaller than you'd think b/c it's so vertically stacked and there isn't much room to roam east/west. I ski 7-8 runs there and it feels like I've pretty much hit the whole mountain. Perhaps that's part of the reason why I love Semi-tough and the old Brambles, b/c they are such a departure from what I view as a relative sameness in the FIS/Exterminator/Looking Good/Cruiser/Which Way area.

LP, on the other hand, can be skied all day in entirely different trail pods with different aspects. For the most part, each of those trail pods (Gate House and North Lynx excepted) offer 1400' - 1700' of vertical and they can easily be combined into runs of 2000'-2400' of real skiing. Even at GH and NL, you can combine the runs into 1800' of fun top to bottom, though it will take a while to get up there. So, even though with its stats you'd expect LP to "ski big" I think it somewhat over delivers on that promise, and this doesn't even take into account the possibilities between trails/lifts and then Slidebrook. ME, OTOH, doesn't quite measure up, IMHO. This is one of the reasons why I obsess about the never-to-be-completed trail pod above Inverness. It would instantly change the game at ME and really help spread traffic out while giving you real choices and diversity at any time of the day.

 

[Zand]

If they do go though with that new pod at Inverness (which I hear is dead), I hope it's all natural, so it's another Castlerock at ME. I found ME to be pretty bland with many straight-down0the-mountain-boulevards. South is my favorite area in NE.

 

[YardSaleDad]

and Belleayre, while I'm still just getting to know her, is difficult to navigate, at best.

That's part of the charm to me. I am still finding new stuff each trip there. Next season should be sweet with the HS quad, and the opening of trails down to pine hill. Just hope we get a real winter.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

If they do go though with that new pod at Inverness (which I hear is dead), I hope it's all natural, so it's another Castlerock at ME. I found ME to be pretty bland with many straight-down0the-mountain-boulevards. South is my favorite area in NE.

I'm sure it's deader than a doornail, but a man can dream, can't he?

Just not enough skier visits to justify the expansion, not to mention the environmental headaches and potential clashes with self-styled protectors of the Long Trail.

 

[NYDrew]

Jay ski's just as big as it looks. You see stateside first and your like WHOAH!

 

[dmc]

That's part of the charm to me. I am still finding new stuff each trip there. Next season should be sweet with the HS quad, and the opening of trails down to pine hill. Just hope we get a real winter.

You guys gotta show me this Bellayre... I've been there a bunch and I just work my way back and fourth across the ridge and staying off any of the bottom trails until I get to feelin like I want a beer...
I like the drops at the beginning of the runs but after that it's just ridge skiing - which is cool.. But not really something I can do over and over and over again..

this is not a blast - cause I do enjoy the place.. On a lot of levels... Also holds fond memories of skiing with my Dad back in the 80's..