SKI Magazine Top 10 Eastern Resorts 2011-2012

[Tooth]

Stowe is awesome. Sugarloaf is too. Skiing and riding just about anywhere can be great. Hell, the Camden Snow Bowl is fun. I loved the shout out to Saddleback. I think we should save the BS for the nonskiers/nonriders. Who cares?

 

[lmgrnjeep]

I have skied stowe one weekend 2 days saturday sunday last febuary and i liked it but the Vibe just wasnt for me.... to many people for my liking. Im a mainer i like less crowds so i can pick and choose where i want to go. Maybe thats why i like sugarloaf and saddleback so much... less people more powder

 

[wa-loaf]

ill take all the glades and "slackcountry" of the it. just the pure size of sugarloaf... skiing the snowfields front and back. bubblecuffer fron the top. winters way from the top then dropping into max headroon then to wedge. the steep terrain open snowfields on the backside then dropping into ripsaw one of the classic under rated bump runs on the east... i havent skied in vermont very much to be honest but how and any other mountain size up to sugarloaf.... yes i am a born and raised sugarloafer so i have my bias.

the only reason why stowe or any of the VT ski areas have better lift is becuase american ski company dumped all their money in VT skiing. sugarloaf and sunday river got nothing until boyne took over...

Im all for skiing VT but if i had to pick a place to ski in VT it would be Jay, more snow more glades.

I'm as much of a Sugarloaf homer as anyone, but Stowe has got everything the Loaf does except the lift served summit. And I'd say (at least until Bracket Basin) had the Loaf fully beat in slack country tree skiing. But Stowe just costs too friggen much.

 

[deadheadskier]

I have skied stowe one weekend 2 days saturday sunday last febuary and i liked it but the Vibe just wasnt for me.... to many people for my liking. Im a mainer i like less crowds so i can pick and choose where i want to go. Maybe thats why i like sugarloaf and saddleback so much... less people more powder

You haven't waited in a 30 minute lift line for the SuperQuad? I know I have each of the past two seasons I've been at Sugarloaf on a weekend. Basing one's impression of an area based on one weekend visit during a busy weekend doesn't paint the full picture. The weekend I was at Sugarloaf last winter, the Superquad, Double Runners and T-Bar were the only lifts running due to wind. If I were to base my experience based off that one weekend, the Loaf certainly wouldn't be on my list of places to return to. Longest lift lines I've waited in years.

Go to Stowe during the middle of the week. And if you don't like crowds, hike the Chin. Takes 45 minutes and you get this: ...and sometimes all to yourself which was the case for me that day. I was the only one up there.

 

[skiersleft]

You haven't waited in a 30 minute lift line for the SuperQuad? I know I have each of the past two seasons I've been at Sugarloaf on a weekend. Basing one's impression of an area based on one weekend visit during a busy weekend doesn't paint the full picture. The weekend I was at Sugarloaf last winter, the Superquad, Double Runners and T-Bar were the only lifts running due to wind. If I were to base my experience based off that one weekend, the Loaf certainly wouldn't be on my list of places to return to. Longest lift lines I've waited in years.

Go to Stowe during the middle of the week. And if you don't like crowds, hike the Chin. Takes 45 minutes and you get this: ...and sometimes all to yourself which was the case for me that day. I was the only one up there.

That's just phenomenal. I want to do this this season. How do I get there and how do I get back to the resort? Should I do it with a local first or can I go at it alone the first time?

 

[Smasandian]

I do not like Mont Tremblant. The problem I have with Tremblant is that the village is extremely fake. The terrain is crap and it's extremely icy most of the time.

As well, it's pretty expensive to comparable areas around Montreal.

The only other place is Jay I've been too. A thousand times better than Tremblant. It's real, it has an identity that's not corporate and terrain/snow is like comparing a PS3 to the Atari Jaguar. But then again, I'm extremely biased towards Jay.

I know it's a readers poll but it goes to show you how much of an uphill climb Jay Peak has when promoting their brand and why they should be making an effort to promote the resort to Quebecers and visitors from Ontario.

 

[lmgrnjeep]

i have only waited at the superquad for 30 minutes a handfull of times because i never go to the bottom. I would rather go to bucksaw and sit on that old chair then wait in the line. I have skied all over that mountain east side west side. I will take short runs to a crappy lift instead of waiting in line..... Yes teh weekend that you came up for the summit I was there too was a long day of waiting in lines but they got people up the mountain as fast as they could... once skyline is ready to go hopefully there wont be an issue

 

[deadheadskier]

I would go with a local. The terrain between 3300 and 4000 feet is dense pine forest. Until you know where you are going up there, you can find yourself in bushwacking hell. I know it pretty well, but have made the mistake several times of getting disoriented and chasing a dead end line because the snow looked good.

There are several options of where you can go. You can just ski the top and traverse back to Chin Clip or you can take Hell Brook or other lines down to the valley floor where you'll end up on 108 where it's an easy skate back to the Gondola.

 

[snowmonster]

^ Thanks, DHS. Let me know if you plan a return to Stowe this season and need the company.

 

[4aprice]

I'm a Ski subscriber and filled out the form last season. IIRC they had 6 or 8 slots to fill out and and list to go by. I ended getting Magic in there with a write in vote which was an available option. I know I had Smugglers and Stowe (and high up too) in there and probably Sugarbush and Killington as well. Reviewed Camelback, Blue Mt and Elk Mountain as well as one of the criteria was you had had to have visted the area within the past 2 seasons. Never been to Tremblant so I wouldn't have reviewed it. Not particularly scientific but fun to fill out and see the results.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[x10003q]

No Holiday Valley!? First thing I noticed! This list is total f****n BS!! The fix is in people!

When they break out the categories HV is #1 in lifts. This is quite funny as they have 3 HSQ and 8 FGQ and I do not think any of their lifts has more than 600 vertical feet.
2. Tremblant
3. Okemo
4. Sunday River
5. Stratton
6. Killington
7. Jiminy ????
8. Sunapee????
9. Bretton Woods
10. Hunter ????
Some of the missing - Stowe, Sugarbush, Le Massif, Gore
Silly

 

[jaja111]

When they break out the categories HV is #1 in lifts. This is quite funny as they have 3 HSQ and 8 FGQ and I do not think any of their lifts has mor than 600 vertical feet.
2. Tremblant
3. Okemo
4. Sunday River
5. Stratton
6. Killington
7. Jiminy ????
8. Sunapee????
9. Bretton Woods
10. Hunter ????
Some of the missing - Stowe, Sugarbush, Le Massif, Gore
Silly

Well, its first for lifts because that is mostly what you do there.... sit on lifts.

 

[AdironRider]

I find it funny that everyone claims its a popularity contest.

But that doesnt explain Whiteface straight killing it EVERY YEAR with what, maybe 200k skier visits.

ORDA and Lake Placid surely are doing something right if they consistently rank high up despite the comparitive lack of overall popularity in terms of total vists.

These threads never fail to bring out the gapers. Noones knocking Sugarloaf but they had a lift FAIL on them this year with a crapton of people on it. Sorry bro, but I don't think theyre getting a solid ranking on that fact alone.

 

[4aprice]

I thought I remembered posting when I filled it out. This explains what the form asked. http://forums.alpinezone.com/showthread.php?t=97049

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[Smellytele]

I find it funny that everyone claims its a popularity contest.

But that doesnt explain Whiteface straight killing it EVERY YEAR with what, maybe 200k skier visits.

ORDA and Lake Placid surely are doing something right if they consistently rank high up despite the comparitive lack of overall popularity in terms of total vists.

These threads never fail to bring out the gapers. Noones knocking Sugarloaf but they had a lift FAIL on them this year with a crapton of people on it. Sorry bro, but I don't think theyre getting a solid ranking on that fact alone.

NY wantabees get Ski mag as they sit in their concrete jungle

 

[Smellytele]

Speaking of marketing - Cannon just sent out this email:


Cannon Mountain Gets High Marks in SKI Magazine's Reader Resort Survey


Franconia, NH - October 18, 2011 - SKI Magazine's 24th Annual Reader Resort Survey and 2012 Resort Guide is on the shelves and Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire has received high marks in a number of categories.


Cannon Mountain garnered the coveted Editor's Pick for "Best Value" in the East and scored high when compared to all other eastern resorts. The caption under Cannon's Best Value Award reads, "There's keeping it real, and then there's Cannon, the state-run ski area with bottomless soul...it offers a huge mountain, great views across the notch and beyond, cheap tickets and real people who love to ski."

Cannon placed third in the East in the categories of Overall Satisfaction and Value. Other notable rankings include third in the East for Terrain Challenge, third for Character, and fourth for Scenery. When compared with other New Hampshire resorts, Cannon ranked number one for Overall Satisfaction, Value, Character, Variety, and Challenge.

The survey is sent to thousands of SKI Magazine readers and asks skiers and riders to rate ski resorts that they have visited in a number of different categories from value to overall satisfaction.
Cannon's general manager, John (JD) DeVivo was thrilled with the survey results. "One of our core missions is to provide an exceptional experience while keeping great value a top priority, so to have SKI readers confirm that we are hitting the mark is a great honor."

SKI also conducted a Facebook survey that asked families what matters most when selecting a resort - the top answers were Terrain Variety (52%) and Location (18%) and in the resort survey, Cannon ranked second and third in the East in those same categories, respectively.

"We're coming off of one of the best winters in Cannon history as far as skier visits, season passes and record revenue go, so it's fitting that as more people discover Cannon's unique character, value and variety, their opinions are reflected in SKI's survey. We have tremendous momentum from all of the positive changes that have taken place at Cannon over the past four years and we're getting geared up for another great winter in Franconia Notch," added DeVivo.

 

[AJB]

ill take all the glades and "slackcountry" of the it. just the pure size of sugarloaf... skiing the snowfields front and back. bubblecuffer fron the top. winters way from the top then dropping into max headroon then to wedge. the steep terrain open snowfields on the backside then dropping into ripsaw one of the classic under rated bump runs on the east... i havent skied in vermont very much to be honest but how and any other mountain size up to sugarloaf.... yes i am a born and raised sugarloafer so i have my bias.

the only reason why stowe or any of the VT ski areas have better lift is becuase american ski company dumped all their money in VT skiing. sugarloaf and sunday river got nothing until boyne took over...

Im all for skiing VT but if i had to pick a place to ski in VT it would be Jay, more snow more glades.

no offense but i skied sugarloaf almost exclusively last year and skied all the stuff you're talking about (i think? never skied the mountain before last year so don't know it too well) and it was a breeze compared to what i've skied at sugarbush/MRG. i could name plenty of bump runs at either mountain that i would consider more difficult than those you named. maybe it was an odd year but i wasn't very impressed by the difficulty of the mountain, especially after what i'd heard about it.

(disclaimer its very possible i have no idea what i'm talking about and am thinking about completely different trails from the ones you mean)

 

[steamboat1]

American ski company owned Stowe?

No we actually own it (the U.S. taxpayer).

AIG owned Stowe for years. They still do but it was spun off to a different derivative of the company.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Terrain wise, no. But the village is fun and beautiful. The terrain is fine, but not fantastic. Sugarloaf, Stowe, Kton, etc. have more interesting terrain. But the village and European atmosphere makes it special if you're into that.

Or if you're into Disney World.:grin:

 

[tarponhead]

thanks for that. will be up in candada with non-skiing wife so a nice village is actually something for us to consider.

Then go to Whiteface instead if options allow. Non-skiing spouses flock there like flys on ....