SKI Magazine: Ten Best East Coast Resorts

[WWF-VT]

so i'm looking at my new issue of SKI magazine's annual Top 50 Resorts for 2011.... to prove, yet again, these reports are stupid:

Overall -
#1 - Deer Valley
# 28 - Alta

I've never been to DV, i have skied Alta... at the end of the report they give you different categories and the rankings.

Alta was #1 for SNOW + OVERALL SATISFACTION

Deer Valley was #1 for GROOMING, SERVICE, ACCESS, ON-MOUNTAIN FOOD, LODGING + DINING

Come on, how does Alta, scoring #1 in snow and overall satisfaction fall to 28? better yet, how does Deer Valley score top honor? did i mention the 3 page fold out ad for deer valley at the end of the article?

Because real skiers want their resort experience to include courdoroy trails with valet parking, minutes away from the interstate, dining in 4-star restaurants, and going home to big screen TV's in their slopeside condos with comfy beds and fluffy pillows. Who cares about snow, terrain variety and challenge ?

 

[gmcunni]

Because real skiers want their resort experience to include courdoroy trails with valet parking, minutes away from the interstate, dining in 4-star restaurants, and going home to big screen TV's in their slopeside condos with comfy beds and fluffy pillows. Who cares about snow, terrain variety and challenge ?

LOL.. i discussed the reviews with my non-skiing wife who said "There is more to a ski vacation than skiing" to which i replied "yes dear" and walked away... cuz she agreed to go to CO again this year and we're staying @ #8 Breckenridge, which has a "charming town" that she'll spend a lot of time in.

 

[AdironRider]

I've never been to lake placid so i can't really comment on that but T-Ride, Aspen, Park City, Jackson....Really? I usually end up in crappy non resort towns like ogden or Montrose but still like to hang out in a town like those every once in a while. They are all pretty classic if you ask me

I never said they sucked, I just think Lake Placid fits the bill as the overall best.

Aspen is great, good terrain, we all know the awesomeness. Same with Telluride, and I still currently live in Jackson. So dont get me wrong here, they all still provide the goods. While Im young and not tied to a mortgage, kids school activities, and can stand living in a one room cabin with a loft, theyre great. Wanting to raise a family, own a decent place, be able to afford all the activities and restaurants around on top of these obligations, not so much. Its 4-500k just to get into a house in Jackson, probably closer to a mill in Aspen. Not in my lifetime. These are the compromises you make to live in a ski town year round I suppose, but some fit the bill better than others.

So for my specific wants and needs, I guess Lake Placid fits the bill. I could realistically live comfortably there. Maybe not right on Mirror Lake, but I could have a decent house, go out to eat regularly, ski everyday, thats possible in Lake Placid.

Thats not possible in Aspen, unless you score a sweet old caboose rental on the cheap just outside of town.

The real town argument is true.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I never said they sucked, I just think Lake Placid fits the bill as the overall best.

Aspen is great, good terrain, we all know the awesomeness. Same with Telluride, and I still currently live in Jackson. So dont get me wrong here, they all still provide the goods. While Im young and not tied to a mortgage, kids school activities, and can stand living in a one room cabin with a loft, theyre great. Wanting to raise a family, own a decent place, be able to afford all the activities and restaurants around on top of these obligations, not so much. Its 4-500k just to get into a house in Jackson, probably closer to a mill in Aspen. Not in my lifetime. These are the compromises you make to live in a ski town year round I suppose, but some fit the bill better than others.

So for my specific wants and needs, I guess Lake Placid fits the bill. I could realistically live comfortably there. Maybe not right on Mirror Lake, but I could have a decent house, go out to eat regularly, ski everyday, thats possible in Lake Placid.

Thats not possible in Aspen, unless you score a sweet old caboose rental on the cheap just outside of town.

The real town argument is true.

Well said. Now that you explained it in more detail people will understand where you're coming from.

 

[billski]

Because real skiers want their resort experience to include courdoroy trails with valet parking, minutes away from the interstate, dining in 4-star restaurants, and going home to big screen TV's in their slopeside condos with comfy beds and fluffy pillows. Who cares about snow, terrain variety and challenge ?

You've got it right except for the name "real skiers" should rightfully be called mainstream skiers (or, where the money is.)

I talked with an acquaintance this past weekend who skis religiously at Stratton. For him, it's all about relaxation and low-stress. So for him, he values predictability above all else - the whole experience must be easy. We spoke at some length about my meager skiing woods and he viewed that as an absolute fringe element, that he was not even interested in. He wants the skiing to be accessible, predictable and safe, which all translate into low stress.
Most of the most vocal AZ participants would fall into his "fringe" classification. That's OK with me. As long as you are out of doors in the winter and having fun, that's all that matters to me.

 

[deadheadskier]

I never said they sucked, I just think Lake Placid fits the bill as the overall best.

Aspen is great, good terrain, we all know the awesomeness. Same with Telluride, and I still currently live in Jackson. So dont get me wrong here, they all still provide the goods. While Im young and not tied to a mortgage, kids school activities, and can stand living in a one room cabin with a loft, theyre great. Wanting to raise a family, own a decent place, be able to afford all the activities and restaurants around on top of these obligations, not so much. Its 4-500k just to get into a house in Jackson, probably closer to a mill in Aspen. Not in my lifetime. These are the compromises you make to live in a ski town year round I suppose, but some fit the bill better than others.

So for my specific wants and needs, I guess Lake Placid fits the bill. I could realistically live comfortably there. Maybe not right on Mirror Lake, but I could have a decent house, go out to eat regularly, ski everyday, thats possible in Lake Placid.

Thats not possible in Aspen, unless you score a sweet old caboose rental on the cheap just outside of town.

The real town argument is true.

Well said. Now that you explained it in more detail people will understand where you're coming from.

From the perspective of working and raising a family in a ski town, now I understand the vote for Lake Placid.

I think most people were discussing ski towns in terms of visiting though..........

which LP could still be 'the best' to some.

 

[4aprice]

Come on, how does Alta, scoring #1 in snow and overall satisfaction fall to 28? better yet, how does Deer Valley score top honor? did i mention the 3 page fold out ad for deer valley at the end of the article?

In my opinion and I ski both almost every year its comparing Apples to Oranges. Deer Valley gets top marks because the facilities there are A1. The lodges are nice, the food is excellent (and $$$$$) and the service is great. Oh yea the skiing is quite good too. (great trees). Alta on the other hand has older (but not run down) facilities and is a completely different mountain (mostly open). At a higher elevation Alta benefits from more snow. I'm also sure marketing has its role in the rankings. But my point is they both have thier place and are both worth visiting. There are days when I would select Deer Valley over Alta and days when I would take Alta over Deer Valley. The really nice thing is that they are close enough to each other that the decision on which one to ski (as well as other great mountains) can be made over breakfast.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[AdironRider]

My girlfriend hates Alta for all the traversing, but does agree that once you schlep out to wherever you are trying to get to, it usually delivers.

Meanwhile my snowboarding ass to get to pretty much everything at Jackson except some of the furthest Expert Chutes. Alta is great and all, but unless you like bootpacks, sidestepping, and in general much more work, its not the place for you.

Deer Valleys got high speeds, grooming, five star facilities, and it doesnt really take all that much effort to ski there. Thats pretty nice sometimes.