What's the Coolest "Little" Ski Area That You've Been To?

[NHpowderhound]

If Ragged is too big then I'll say Black. If black is too big I'll say King Ridge. That place was just kind of strange. Drive to the top and ski down to the lift. They also had an Alice in Wonderland theme in thier trail signs. Not alot of challenge but a good place to bring a youngstah.
((*
*))NHPH

 

[Brettski]

If Ragged is too big then I'll say Black. If black is too big I'll say King Ridge. That place was just kind of strange. Drive to the top and ski down to the lift. They also had an Alice in Wonderland theme in thier trail signs. Not alot of challenge but a good place to bring a youngstah.
((*
*))NHPH

King Ridge it is!

Feels like your skiing in someone's backyard

 

[ChileMass]

Today - night skiing at Nashoba Valley in Westford, MA. Only 250' of vertical, but lots of modern lifts and trails spread out across a pretty wide ridge. And, the lodge is great. The Overlook restaurant upstairs has terrific food and drinks, and every single person I have met there has a friendly attitude. Very different from night skiing at Wawa.

Back in the day - I grew up skiing at Titcomb Hill in Farmington, ME (300' vert) and drove in the parking lot about 7 years ago when I was in the area on business. Like a lot of western Maine, very little has changed since the 1960s, and it's still a great little family-learning hill with an outstanding racing tradition. They have night skiing and if you're in the area, it's worth a few bucks to get some turns at a real old-fashioned New England hill.

 

[DEVO]

Used to like Mt. Tom in Holyoke, MA (Lost)

Good, I was hoping someone would mention Mt. Tom. I was a ski instructor there back in the early 90's.

We also like Black, nice pplace and the Jackson area is beautiful. (I WILL own a house there someday!!!)

 

[skibum]

http://www.ci.steamboat.co.us/recreation/howelsen_rodeo/howlesen.htm

Howelsen Hill, Steamboat Springs CO
in the middle of downtown, night skiing, ski jumps, and a sulfur spring cave at the top of the halfpipe. Fun place. "nooner ticket" (12-2) for $5 was such a deal.

 

[blacknblue]

EC: Magic or Middlebury SNow bowl
WC: Eldora or Mt Rose

Agreed, Mt. Rose is an excellent spot just outside Reno. 2-for-1 specvial sometime midweek and newest Skiing mag said that they opened up some out of bounds chutes.

I see that - they are actually shown on the trail map now...last time I went there (2000-2001) that whole area to the left of the 6-pak was off limits....I remember someone saying that they came down extra hard if you got caught poaching too....super big fines etc....

Yup. They have 1500'-vertical chutes that are up to 50-degrees steep. Tahoe has a number of great 'little' ski resorts--Rose, Incline, Homewood, Alpine, Sugar Bowl...
Has anybody mentioned Quechee yet? We had some fun runs where I grew up in White River - 'backcountry' or just tromping around in the woods and trying not to hit trees.

 

[Paul]

Used to like Mt. Tom in Holyoke, MA (Lost)

Good, I was hoping someone would mention Mt. Tom. I was a ski instructor there back in the early 90's.

We also like Black, nice pplace and the Jackson area is beautiful. (I WILL own a house there someday!!!)

Looks like we may someday be neighbors (Plannin' the retirement chalet already)

 

[Powdr]

Powder Mt., UT. Although at 5,000 acres, I'm not sure anyone could call it "little".

Powdr

 

[camp]

White Grass Ski Touring Center in Canaan Valley, WV.
It's still small, but no longer has a lift. Skins, scales, and snowshoes are the ways up now.
http://www.whitegrass.com/report.html

 

[SkiDork]

Bald Hill, Farmingville LI NY. I used to go there for night skiing in the 70s and it cost $1.25

 

[andyzee]

Bald Hill, Farmingville LI NY. I used to go there for night skiing in the 70s and it cost $1.25

Damn, I didn't even think LI would have ever had a ski area!

 

[Buckeye Skier 1330]

Laurel Mountain PA is one of the coolest places I've been to, 900 vert., a double black, some easy but interesting cruisers,a few natural snow only trails, and lots of character. It's one of those places that just has a certain "feel" to it. Too bad it's not going to open this year. Keeping the fingers crossed for next year though.
I also have to mention Wing Hollow NY not far from Holiday Valley. It's been closed since the early 80's and was just a mom and pop type of a hill. 800 vert., one chair, one t-bar and very little snowmaking. It was a good change of pace from Holiday.
We also had a place here in OH for about 5 years called Spicy Run Mountain. It was my dream come true, 600 vert., some good steep runs. You could go there and feel like you had a real day of skiing, without the long drive to out of state resorts.

 

[thetrailboss]

Wow! Lots of cool places I never had heard of and lots of new members posting in here. Welcome to both!!! :beer:

Maybe we should have an 'AZ Small Hills' Day. Any nominations?

 

[andyzee]

Wow! Lots of cool places I never had heard of and lots of new members posting in here. Welcome to both!!! :beer:

Maybe we should have an 'AZ Small Hills' Day. Any nominations?

Define "Small Hills" day.

 

[eatskisleep]

Wow! Lots of cool places I never had heard of and lots of new members posting in here. Welcome to both!!! :beer:

Maybe we should have an 'AZ Small Hills' Day. Any nominations?

Black Mountain in NH. What better place in History than a place operating as a ski area since 1935 and they have the first over-head cable-lift which is still operating on certain days and times. Great skiing from beginners to experts alike. No high-speed quads.

 

[camp]

Too bad it's not going to open this year.

Can it still be skinned and skied? Or is that considered trespassing?

 

[Npage148]

some closed mountain snowshoesing and riding would be a good time. it could be a AZ small mountain skin/shoe and ski

 

[thetrailboss]

Wow! Lots of cool places I never had heard of and lots of new members posting in here. Welcome to both!!! :beer:

Maybe we should have an 'AZ Small Hills' Day. Any nominations?

Define "Small Hills" day.

How about a place that is about 1,000 vert or less? Not a destination resort. Local place. Maybe Black Mountain, NH, Pats Peak, etc, etc

 

[Buckeye Skier 1330]

Too bad it's not going to open this year.

Can it still be skinned and skied? Or is that considered trespassing?

Laurel Mountain is in a PA state park, but I'm not sure what there policy is on accessing the slopes. I get on DCSki a lot and have never seen anyone posting about skinning there.

 

[Tyrolean_skier]

I don't think you would call it a small hill but my favorite little ski area right now is Plattekill.