The 2,500'+ vert poll

[YardSaleDad]

Didn't get to get a top to bottom run though because my dad is pathetic, out of shape old man.

 

[awf170]

Yeah, I was just kidding. For being almost 50 years old he is in very good shape. This is actually probably the first year I have ever been in better shape then him, but thats because I play basketball for like two hours a day. My next goal is to pass him in climbing/bouldering. I'm nowhere close though, the hardest thing I have done is a V3(5.11+) and his is a V7(5.13-).

 

[Greg]

Interesting to see how Sugarbush is killing all other poll options in this thread!

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Interesting to see how Sugarbush is killing all other poll options in this thread!

Interesting, but perdictable. Lots of Bush lovers in here. It's a great 2 mountains, but it isn't the begin all and end all of Eastern skiing as one who had never skied in the East and had only AZ for info would be led to believe. IMO.

Example: I can't see how Smuggs could get 1 vote and SB got 20 votes. From a bang for your buck vert stand point Madonna has it over any peak at SB, again IMO.

 

[riverc0il]

Example: I can't see how Smuggs could get 1 vote and SB got 20 votes. From a bang for your buck vert stand point Madonna has it over any peak at SB, again IMO.

i have never skied smuggs, but from what i have seen of pics and heard stories of, i suspect i will like smuggs more than the bush. i also suspect most people voting for the bush haven't been to smuggs. but hey, it's all fun :smile:

 

[tirolerpeter]

Vert. Vote

i have never skied smuggs, but from what i have seen of pics and heard stories of, i suspect i will like smuggs more than the bush. i also suspect most people voting for the bush haven't been to smuggs. but hey, it's all fun :smile:

Besides not really understanding what this poll is asking (at least initially) I haven't been to "Smuggs" and the one time I was at the "Bush" they had an unbelievable Christmas thaw and rainstorm, followed the next day by pure ice. We bailed! So, no vote from me.

 

[Newpylong]

I would go against that and say most people that have voted for the Bush HAVE gone to Smuggs. Smuggs is awesome... can it hold a candle to Sugarbush all around? Nope.

 

[skibum1321]

I would go against that and say most people that have voted for the Bush HAVE gone to Smuggs. Smuggs is awesome... can it hold a candle to Sugarbush all around? Nope.

I agree with you there. I am a regular skier at Smuggs but I still have to agree that the Bush is much better. Smuggs has the goods if there is a ton of snow. Liftline, Robin's Run, Black Hole and Freefall just aren't open enough for Smuggs to win the vote. It is those 4 trails, along with Doc Dempsey's and the glades and backcountry that are the only things that are fun to ski for me. All of the other terrain is just kind of blah. Especially in a winter like the past one, there just isn't a lot of fun terrain consistently open. Sugarbush usually has more good terrain open with a lot more variety.

Having said all that, I love Smuggs, but it is my third choice behind Sugarbush and MRG any day.

 

[Greg]

Interesting, but perdictable. Lots of Bush lovers in here. It's a great 2 mountains, but it isn't the begin all and end all of Eastern skiing as one who had never skied in the East and had only AZ for info would be led to believe. IMO.

Interesting post. Are you saying Sugarbush doesn't deserve the top spot?

 

[billski]

Lemmings, arrogance and skiers

Clearly there are different strokes for different folks in each choice. If not, we'd just have one big monolithic ski corporation a-la ASC and all skiers would be a bunch of lemmings.
I've skied all of them more than once. My take is to rank each of them and provide some adjectives to describe my ranking

1. Sugarbush - A skier's mountain; unencumbered; friendly staff
2. Sugarloaf - up there with Jay for snow quality; a long drive; great staff
3. Whiteface - demanding; lots to do apres-ski; State-run(explains a lot)
4. Smugglers - not interested in day-trippers; open terrain is too predictable, ho-hum
5. Killington - Arrogant NY/NJ clientele; convenient;

 

[billski]

rocker

Yeah, I was just kidding. For being almost 50 years old he is in very good shape. This is actually probably the first year I have ever been in better shape then him, but thats because I play basketball for like two hours a day. My next goal is to pass him in climbing/bouldering. I'm nowhere close though, the hardest thing I have done is a V3(5.11+) and his is a V7(5.13-).

hey, hey, easy there sonny! Don't forget who paid for all your lift tickets
Billski, 50-YO Geezer, 2006 Nastar Nationals......

 

[skibum1321]

1. Smugglers - not interested in day-trippers; open terrain is too predictable, ho-hum

Have you skied any of the double diamonds or backcountry? Definitely not ho-hum. If all of that is closed then I completely agree with you.

 

[billski]

Have you skied any of the double diamonds or backcountry? Definitely not ho-hum. If all of that is closed then I completely agree with you.

Nope always seems to be unaccessible when I get there.

 

[awf170]

Have you skied any of the double diamonds or backcountry? Definitely not ho-hum. If all of that is closed then I completely agree with you.

I don't get it if they get just as much snow as Stowe then why is everything unskiable so much. I can understand the trails being windblown but if you know where to look the glades but must be awesome most of the season just like Jay and Stowe.

 

[skibum1321]

I don't get it if they get just as much snow as Stowe then why is everything unskiable so much. I can understand the trails being windblown but if you know where to look the glades but must be awesome most of the season just like Jay and Stowe.

The glades are awesome and are usually in pretty good shape. This past winter was obviously a bad one where there was good base (for the most part) but some sketchy spots around streambeds where the snow didn't stick because the water was still running. Early and late season they are lacking because of this reliance on glades though. They just don't have the bump runs or interesting trails that other resorts have. In terms of the 4 double diamonds - you are right Austin - they are usually just too windblown.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Interesting post. Are you saying Sugarbush doesn't deserve the top spot?

No, they are worthy. What I'm trying to say is here in AZ Sugarbush is what everyone is always talking about as if it is far and away the best ski mountain in the Northeast. I think it's in the conversation, but not head and shoulders above the rest.

 

[freeheelwilly]

No, they are worthy. What I'm trying to say is here in AZ Sugarbush is what everyone is always talking about as if it is far and away the best ski mountain in the Northeast. I think it's in the conversation, but not head and shoulders above the rest.

Agreed. On a powder day I'd rather be at Whiteface than anywhere else in the East. I've never skied at the Loaf so I have to allow for the possibility that I'd prefer it but frankly I don't think that's likely. My vote for the Bush was based upon consistently good snow and great terrain plus the cool vibe of the MRV.

 

[deadheadskier]

In terms of which mountains I like the best

1. Sugarbush
2. Sugarloaf
3. Whiteface
4. Smuggs
5. Killington

In terms of skiing true to the advertised verticle

1. Whiteface
2. Sugarbush
3. Sugarloaf

Killington and Smuggs do not ski 2500+ verticle. Technically they do, but no skier truly ever uses that verticle. It's like someone suggesting they ski 2300 verticle at SR

 

[awf170]

No one wants to hear my opinion of which mountain in the east has the most true, consistent and easily skiable in one run vertical. You already know my answer. It begans with a "W" and is not Whiteface. :razz: Sugarloaf would be number one if they had some actual way to ski all of its vertical without going out to that flippin' timberline lift, gosh I hate that thing.

 

[salida]

Interesting post. Are you saying Sugarbush doesn't deserve the top spot?

I would say, no they don't deserve it. The majority of my friends who ski at Sugarloaf, ski there for one thing and one thing only. The 50 or so chairs that haul them up castlerock. It is no where near 2500 feet.

Sorry, I know you guys all have a hot spot for da bush this year... seemed like last year it was the loaf. Whatever, yeah its a good place I don't disagree. It just so happens that its not the best on the list or in new england.

The slides would surely beat it for vertical expert terrain in NE(ast). As would a summit ski from sugarloaf all the way down to the flats.

And if you really wanted to make this list complete. YOu would attach some mountains with some real gusto. How about a 4,000 ft decent from Mt. Wash. Or a 3000 decent down lincolns throat on Lincoln...

Sorry guys, just don't think the 1000 or 1500 feet on castle rock are the best continuous long vertical skiing in the east. And really the 2500 doesnt come from anything but mt. ellen, and well, we all know the goods arent at ellen they are at lincoln. Backcountry is a different story.

porter

PS maybe this poll should have been about continuous vertical in an expert only ski decent...