SKI Magazine: Ten Best East Coast Resorts

[EPB]

I can't really say the list is all that bad this year. There are four true "skier's" mountains in Stowe, Sugarloaf, Sugarbush, and Smuggs, which is a pretty substantial total given Ski's bias toward the resort skier over the years. Holliday Valley was the only place that really ever irked me for being on the top ten list. The 750 feet of vertical drop really got to me because the east coast has so much better to offer- even at mediocre ski areas/resorts.

Any chance in the next decade that Tremblant gets knocked off its throne at number one? It certainly doesn't have the best snow or terrain in the east, but as a complete package, no other resorts really seem to compare. I was there back in 08 when they claimed 236 inches of snow. The glades were pretty deep, all their former lift lines were open. The place had pretty good options for the life long skier (assuming they enjoy cruising from time to time). I'm not saying this place could hold its own terrain wise against Northern Vermont and Sugarloaf, but relative to SR, Bretton Woods, Okemo, Stratton, Mount Snow and resorts of the like, there's really no comparison.

 

[billski]

Any chance in the next decade that Tremblant gets knocked off its throne at number one?

Probably not, based on my anecdotal evidence. Everyone I've met comes back talking about what a good time they had, and they hardly talk about the skiing! :???:

 

[4aprice]

Don't get me wrong, I think Whiteface is a great mountain overall. I just feel the second place ranking is much too high. I like the new improvements that have been made to the mountain including the expansion. I still think it generally lacks terrain variety which the rest of the mountains on the list tend to have much more of. Even if the other ski resorts are more cookie cutter, they offer an abundance of terrain. Generally, the mountain needs more terrain with a more consistent vertical to warrant being second in Ski Magazine. Compared to Sugarbush which ranked further down, there is a big difference in the amount of acres, continuous pitch, and trail variety which is why I feel mountains like Sugarbush would be better placed further up the list.

I think Whiteface's biggest downfall is no fault of thier own and that is that for whatever scientific reason it (and the Adirondacks in general) just don't get the snowfall that the spine of the Green Mountain range gets. It certainly is a most impressive mountain looking up from the base and I'm sure the Slides are an incredible ski. I've only been there once and unfortunately it lived up to its nickname. I would love to go back on a nice spring day, the wife on the other hand will not be returning.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[deadheadskier]

Young man, you are free to have any opinion you want, but I have to address this one. Off the Summit Quad you get 3,200 feet of vertical and never once, anywhere on the mountain, do you have to take a single skate step to move you along.

I've never skied Whiteface. Only went their once in the off season. Looking up, the Vert is far and away the most impressive on the East Coast. Real head scratcher to me to hear someone complain about the lack of long continous pitch. Sure didn't look that way to me. I guess I could see someone not liking to take two lifts to get to the top. Even more surprising is to see praise for Sugarbush in the same statement regarding continous Vert. Sugarbush requires multiple lifts and has fairly substantial runouts at both Mountains if you are trying to access the full vert.

My favorite area in the East is Stowe because of it's base to summit lifts. I love Wildcat for the same reason.

Lake Placid is an awesome town. My only complaint? They've banned Phish and moe. from there.

 

[Geoff]

Clean sweep for the northeast Boyne resorts. No doubt that list will find it's way into their marketing.

As I wrote in this thread in that "other" place that didn't make the list, Boyne has the dominant multi-resort season pass in the Northeast. People vote where they ski unless there's a compelling reason not to vote. Little surprise all three of the resorts made the list.

In a Magazine geared towards intermediates and families.... the bulk of the skiing population.... The resorts with lots of non-skiing alternatives are always going to do well. Tremblant offers the only true destination resort experience in the east. It's Whistler but without the good skiing. Lake Placid has all the Olympic activities. Stowe has the classic New England village.

 

[tjf67]

Don't get me wrong, I think Whiteface is a great mountain overall. I just feel the second place ranking is much too high. I like the new improvements that have been made to the mountain including the expansion. I still think it generally lacks terrain variety which the rest of the mountains on the list tend to have much more of. Even if the other ski resorts are more cookie cutter, they offer an abundance of terrain. Generally, the mountain needs more terrain with a more consistent vertical to warrant being second in Ski Magazine. Compared to Sugarbush which ranked further down, there is a big difference in the amount of acres, continuous pitch, and trail variety which is why I feel mountains like Sugarbush would be better placed further up the list.

Consistent vertical, really? May be you are confusing hills.

 

[campgottagopee]

Consistent vertical, really? May be you are confusing hills.

Wait until he's a College Grad (not College Kid), obviously uneducated :wink:

 

[x10003q]

Whiteface vertical
Cloudsplitter Gondola base area to top of "Little WF" 2432 vertical feet

Facelift HSQ base to connect with Summit Quad 1316 vertical feet
Summit Quad to top station Big WF 1830 vertical feet
Total continuous vertical feet on these 2 lifts 3146 vf

Facelift HSQ base to connect with Lookout Triple 1316 vf
Lookout Triple to top station Lookout Mtn 1560 vf
Total continuous vert on these 2 lifts 2876 vf

Whiteface lacks many things, but vertical is not one of them. IMO the new Lookout Mountain terrain improves WF by about 100%. I think the Summit Quad 1830 vf serves some of the most consistent grade black diamond skiing in the east. It is not the steepest but it is unrelenting.

Alex - choose wisely in the spring at WF. I was there last Mar 26 and it was 8F at the top.
The day before it was in the 50s and overnight WF turned into a tribute to USA hockey. It was so slick Cloudspin and Skyward remained closed all day despite the March sun. It never got above 20F.

 

[cannonist]

Ive never been there, but is it possible Gore could make the top ten in future years?

 

[2knees]

Consistent vertical, really? May be you are confusing hills.

maybe. it's one word. really not that hard.

like maybe you should stop being such a freaking p%%sy about people ragging on your precious hill. trust me, nobody gives a shit.

 

[Frank101]

maybe. it's one word. really not that hard.

like maybe you should stop being such a freaking p%%sy about people ragging on your precious hill. trust me, nobody gives a shit.

whoa.... cool off

 

[2knees]

whoa.... cool off

there's a backstory i dont care to explain.

 

[campgottagopee]

maybe. it's one word. really not that hard.

like maybe you should stop being such a freaking p%%sy about people ragging on your precious hill. trust me, nobody gives a shit.

Drinking again are we??

 

[tjf67]

Drinking again are we??

Twiggy does get a little fired up when he drinks doesn't he.

 

[campgottagopee]

Twiggy does get a little fired up when he drinks doesn't he.

He does, some people just aren't good at it.

 

[tjf67]

maybe. it's one word. really not that hard.

like maybe you should stop being such a freaking p%%sy about people ragging on your precious hill. trust me, nobody gives a shit.

Dear Twiggy,
Language: Please try to keep your posts free of offensive or vulgar language.

 

[AdironRider]

Lake Placid is a cool town as well. Id argue its the closest thing to a true ski village anywhere in the US.

Upper and Lower Skyward, with maybe a duck into the new drop trail they put in a few years back and you have one hell of a black diamond run.

 

[freeskier423]

Ski magazine is more family oriented so unfortunately jay is not on there. Maybe next year. Whiteface is my favorite mountain on the east coast. I have skied them all and have skied 100 or more days a year for the past 12 years. I love the Face and Jay.

 

[Geoff]

Lake Placid is a cool town as well. Id argue its the closest thing to a true ski village anywhere in the US.

Have you ever been to Aspen?

 

[campgottagopee]

Ski magazine is more family oriented so unfortunately jay is not on there. Maybe next year. Whiteface is my favorite mountain on the east coast. I have skied them all and have skied 100 or more days a year for the past 12 years. I love the Face and Jay.

I like this kid