ski-bumming east coast style

[skibum]

<---*Notice this is an old thread! updated 4 years later below, then 11 years later at the end*


O.K. so I've been ski-bumming in Colorado (2yrs crested butte, 2 summit county, 4 steamboat) for 8 years and I'm always thinking of moving back east.I'm looking for advice from those that have done this. Am I gonna be pissed about the snow conditions and small areas and COLD? Will other things (ocean, fall foliage, lack of texans, etc.) make up for it? Which areas can support the ski-bum lifestyle? I was thinking North Conway or Stowe. The cost of living is much lower in New England but how do the jobs pay? Are they as plentiful as CO ski towns? Thanks for any insight

 

[Gravity]

Hey Skibum,

I've worked on my skis full time out West and out East. Here are thoughts:

Snow - if you've skied frozen spring snow in the mornings out west, you've skied ice like you'll actually not find too often out East. The snowmaking out East is extremely good (by necessity) and though of course in the trees and such where they don't blow it can be inconsistant . . . in general you'll find there is actually less of a *variety* of snow conditions out East and so once you've got it nailed . . .you've got it nailed.

Cold?: Its way colder at 12,000 feet than it ever is at 4,000 feet. Its true that its more humid out east, and so it can feel colder . . . except that once its below freezing the moisture freezes out of the air anyways. So it feels colder until it gets below 32F and then it doesn't make much difference. And you don't see the weeks of negative 20-30F out East that you often see at places like Crested Butte out West.

The cost of living is lower, and the pay is generally a bit lower but not too much.

You'll find a bit of a culture shock in that Easterners, due to much higher population density out here, tend to be a little less relaxed than westerners. Your first big exposure to a group of NYC/NJ/CT/MA city types will take some adjustment.

You would like the terrain at Stowe better than many mountains out east. You can make a living at any of them if you are creative, just like out west.

The areas are much smaller in terrain, and with so many massive citys within driving distance -- on weekends and holidays you may find you don't want to deal with the resulting crowds. But midweek its fine.

Cheers,
Todd M. (Gravity)

 

[wintercat88]

Most ski area web sites post employment opportunities. That might be that place to check out the jobs before you decide to move. I personally would pick North Conway. You are close to several ski areas and don't get the NYC crowd like say Killington does.

 

[skibum]

edit-> Here's the 4 year later update-still in the "honeymoon phase" and kinda sugar coated- housing was very tough-the quality of rental housing in NH is pretty bad compared to CO, and the welcome from the local people was less than welcoming.

Finally I reply...over 4 years later. I searched "east coast snowboarding" and came up with my own post 4th on the list. What an incredibly trippy flashback moment.
Thanks for the advice, people. After another 4 years in Steamboat I did finally move just this last July to *drumroll*...Campton, NH. So far, so good. My pay has dropped, but low cost of living,lack of taxes and more varied opportunities have made up for it.
Also, I really am enjoying getting back to my New England roots.. fried clams, dunkin' d., ice cream, moxie, aggressive driving, unpretensious and straightfoward people, fall colors, the ocean, lightning bugs, spring peepers, classic rock, maple syrup, wooly bears, trees, frogs, toads, moose, black flies, humidity, warm nights, brick buildings and sidewalks, antiques and old things in general, history, american chop suey, saying "retarded" "wicked" or "you guys" without being scolded, papa gino's, d'angelo's, beer at the gas station/cumby's, arts, culture and different landscapes within driving distance, real lakes, big rivers, water everywhere...hmmm, I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff, but you get the picture. I missed New England, A LOT. I even got a little choked up when I first saw the lightning bugs. My girl did the same listening to spring peepers.
Colorado was nice and all, especially the riding, but it just never felt like home.
Funniest thing is how when I left for CO, all the NH people said "That sounds like fun, I'm sure you'll enjoy it." But when I left CO for NH they all said "Why do you wanna go there? All that traffic and crowds? It sucks, you'll be back." They seemed to feel insulted, like I had rejected them or their lifestyle. Most people got very defensive. Oh well, they can keep their sand and sagebrush. See you on the slopes.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Deadheadskier's second entry to this thread : http://forums.alpinezone.com/viewtopic.php?t=5747&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 was a memorable one about skibumming: You may want to send him a PM.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

When I moved back to Vermont in 1996 after 17 years at Jackson Hole everyone said the same thing. I thought I would really miss it but one of the reasons I returned was that the cost of real estate was way too high out west and I bought a place in Waitsfield for about 25% what it would have cost in Jackson Hole.

To be honest I don't miss the west that much. I love all the green foliage, the freshwater lakes, the fall colors in New England, the list goes on and on.

 

[riverc0il]

wow, nice follow up! a true blast from the past, welcome back east. campton is a nice home base for skiing. WV in your backyard if you're into that sorta thing, and just a shot down the road from cannon and loon. within an hour or so of the presis and burke or jay not too far either.

are you ski bumming this winter or settling back in to other jobs?

 

[salida]

This is sick... 4 years later, and he moved back...

Having been born in Colorado, and moving out east when I was younger, I have to say that I'm not sure I could call anywhere else home. Sound like someone who is living a good life!!!

 

[bvibert]

Wowsers, welcome back! Be sure to stop back more often to let us know how your move is working out for you. Its not too often that you hear about a skier/boarder moving back East. As riverc0il said Campton seems like a good central point.

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

How does that saying go....home is where the heart is...

 

[ctenidae]

Texans finally got to be too much to handle, huh?
Upside to Texans is they're not from Oklahoma.

 

[Greg]

Wicked! Talk about a blast from the past! Welcome back.

 

[Lostone]

This is really funny, that you moved back and found your post asking about it... from 4 years ago!

Add me to the others welcoming you back.

Reading the first part, I hadn't noticed the date.

I was going to suggest that (as Stowe was mentioned) you check out Sugarbush and the Mad River valley. Check out the Sugarbush thread and you'll see a lot of frienly people and that is one of the main selling points of this area. It is just the way people are. And when you look around...

And I know Sugarbush is looking for seasonal help, right now. Housing is tight in the valley, but I'm pretty sure there is some employee housing available at the mountain.

But if you're happy in NH, enjoy! Welcome back to the east. Check us out in the west... of New England, :lol: when you get a chance.

 

[blacknblue]

Okay, I'm tearing up just a bit here. So much of that post rings true with me. After growing up in New England and living/working in the ski industry here in Colorado for 4 years, I am getting pretty darn close to the point of moving back East. I think seeing all my new nieces and nephews at Christmas might finally break me.

Colorado was nice and all, especially the riding, but it just never felt like home.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

After I moved back to New England from all those years out west, I wished I had done it 10 years earlier! People in "real" Wyoming used to refer to Jackson Hole as "WyoDisney". New England is "real world" places like Jackson Hole, Aspen, Vail, Telluride etc. are not.

 

[illmatic]

hmmm...60 degrees in new england or puking snow in colorado. tough choice. :roll:

COZ004-010-013-141945-
/O.EXT.KGJT.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-051115T0700Z/
ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS-
GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-FLATTOPS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COLUMBINE...TOPONAS...ASPEN...VAIL...
SNOWMASS...BUFORD...TRAPPERS LAKE
437 AM MST MON NOV 14 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST
TONIGHT...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST
TONIGHT.

PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT. THE SNOW WILL BE
HEAVY AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. TOTAL
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20 INCHES WILL OCCUR...WITH LOCALLY
HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG NORTHWEST FACING SLOPES. SNOWFALL IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEYS...INCLUDING ASPEN AND SNOWMASS...WILL GENERALLY BE
IN THE 5 TO 10 INCH RANGE.

IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...STRONG WEST WINDS FROM 20 TO 40 MPH
WILL CREATE WIDESPREAD BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...ESPECIALLY
ABOVE TREE LINE AND OVER THE HIGHER EXPOSED AREAS. THE WIND WILL
BECOME NORTHWEST THIS EVENING.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW AND
STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. VISIBILITIES WILL BE
GREATLY REDUCED IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

 

[skibum1321]

hmmm...60 degrees in new england or puking snow in colorado. tough choice. :roll:

COZ004-010-013-141945-
/O.EXT.KGJT.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-051115T0700Z/
ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS-
GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-FLATTOPS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COLUMBINE...TOPONAS...ASPEN...VAIL...
SNOWMASS...BUFORD...TRAPPERS LAKE
437 AM MST MON NOV 14 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST
TONIGHT...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST
TONIGHT.

PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT. THE SNOW WILL BE
HEAVY AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. TOTAL
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20 INCHES WILL OCCUR...WITH LOCALLY
HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG NORTHWEST FACING SLOPES. SNOWFALL IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEYS...INCLUDING ASPEN AND SNOWMASS...WILL GENERALLY BE
IN THE 5 TO 10 INCH RANGE.

IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...STRONG WEST WINDS FROM 20 TO 40 MPH
WILL CREATE WIDESPREAD BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...ESPECIALLY
ABOVE TREE LINE AND OVER THE HIGHER EXPOSED AREAS. THE WIND WILL
BECOME NORTHWEST THIS EVENING.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW AND
STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. VISIBILITIES WILL BE
GREATLY REDUCED IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

You are sooo bitter. In all seriousness, what is keeping you in New England if you hate it so much?

 

[illmatic]

After I moved back to New England from all those years out west, I wished I had done it 10 years earlier! People in "real" Wyoming used to refer to Jackson Hole as "WyoDisney". New England is "real world" places like Jackson Hole, Aspen, Vail, Telluride etc. are not.

just wanna be clear on this.

are people who live in salt lake, denver, portland, bend and reno fake too? :roll:

 

[ski_resort_observer]

After I moved back to New England from all those years out west, I wished I had done it 10 years earlier! People in "real" Wyoming used to refer to Jackson Hole as "WyoDisney". New England is "real world" places like Jackson Hole, Aspen, Vail, Telluride etc. are not.

just wanna be clear on this.

are people who live in salt lake, denver, portland, bend and reno fake too? :roll:

I was comparing places not people. Not real vs real. for example, a small house in Aspen, 2 million...not real. Small house is Waitsfield, Vt, 200,000...real. Get it?

On your weather report you posted those 20-40 mph winds mentioned sound lovely. :lol:

 

[thetrailboss]

hmmm...60 degrees in new england or puking snow in colorado. tough choice. :roll:

COZ004-010-013-141945-
/O.EXT.KGJT.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-051115T0700Z/
ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS-
GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-FLATTOPS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COLUMBINE...TOPONAS...ASPEN...VAIL...
SNOWMASS...BUFORD...TRAPPERS LAKE
437 AM MST MON NOV 14 2005

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST
TONIGHT...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MST
TONIGHT.

PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE TODAY AND EARLY TONIGHT. THE SNOW WILL BE
HEAVY AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. TOTAL
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20 INCHES WILL OCCUR...WITH LOCALLY
HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG NORTHWEST FACING SLOPES. SNOWFALL IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEYS...INCLUDING ASPEN AND SNOWMASS...WILL GENERALLY BE
IN THE 5 TO 10 INCH RANGE.

IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...STRONG WEST WINDS FROM 20 TO 40 MPH
WILL CREATE WIDESPREAD BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...ESPECIALLY
ABOVE TREE LINE AND OVER THE HIGHER EXPOSED AREAS. THE WIND WILL
BECOME NORTHWEST THIS EVENING.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW AND
STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. VISIBILITIES WILL BE
GREATLY REDUCED IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

just wanna be clear on this.

are people who live in salt lake, denver, portland, bend and reno fake too?

Once again I find myself in a position to remind someone that we do not tolerate trolling or bashing of others. This thread is about western and eastern skiing, which are two different animals with different pros and cons. Please be considerate of others and add to the conversation in a meaningful way.

Offender(s) have been PMed. My thanks to Salida and others who contacted me with regards to this thread.

[Edit]