Who is homeless?

[highpeaksdrifter]

How many of you don't really have a home mountain and why? Is it because you enjoy the variety of always going to different mountains or is it something else?

 

[Vortex]

Wow never thought of that. Looking forward to reading this. Good thread.

 

[kcyanks1]

I'm homeless. From the time I started skiing at about 3 1/2 years old until a few years ago I would often vacation with family in upstate NY and Gore was my home. Then as I was in college and then law school I went away with family less often, and now we sold the vacation place, so I no longer go up there at all.

Since I only ski 10-15 days a year, don't have a car to make a home mountain within driving distance of NYC, and don't have a specific, convenient place to stay at near a mountain, I have not found a new home mountain. If I were to choose a home at some point it might be a combined SB/MRG home. But it would just mean that I try to make my weekend trips there over other places, and maybe I end up having about half of my ski days there.

This year, for instance, I skied 4 days at SB, 4 at Killington, 2 at Jay, and 1 at Mountain Creek (please refrain from laughing). The SB and Killington trips were 4 different weekend trips, and the Jay trip was a 2-day weekday trip. For the second Killington trip I voted for going to SB/MRG, but the friend I was going with had a couple other friends who were going to be at Killington that weekend, and we decided it'd be more fun to have the bigger group, and while SB would've had better conditions, it wasn't close to the best weekend of the season at either place. Had I made it to SB then my ski days would've been about 1/2 at SB, which would've made it home mountain-esque.

But at least for the foreseeable future I don't see myself as having an official home. Especially since for the next few years I suspect most of my skiing opportunities might not be in my complete control. I might try to go on some organized bus trips, or join friends if invited.

 

[riverc0il]

How many of you don't really have a home mountain and why? Is it because you enjoy the variety of always going to different mountains or is it something else?

i used to consider cannon my home mountain though i never logged more than 50% of my days there in one season. now i don't really consider myself to have a home mountain. this season, before i broke my arm, i had the burke pass (which they thankfully refunded), but still would not have considered burke my home. i doubt i am going to buy a season pass next year. i like to follow the powder and i like to try new areas. having a home mountain seems to lock you in, especially when you have a season pass. i really appreciate the diversity i get from hitting up so many different areas in one season. this season, i had 16 lift serviced days from 9 unique areas and i may hit a 10th this weekend. i also hit two new areas. with an average lift ticket cost of $26.13, i hit up a lot of deals and earned a lot of turns on the side. i enjoy the variety. i also enjoy not being locked down and going to where the powder is. considering i had a bigger to do list and was side lined for three months, i likely would have gotten to at least 4 more different areas had i not been injured. i have spent a lot of time thinking about next season and whether or not to jump on a season pass. i would rather pay a little more overall and do a lot of deal hunting rather than be locked into one area. viva la difference!!!

 

[kingslug]

I would ahve to say that Hunter is my home even though I am 3 hours away. It's been the only place I go to in the east lately except for a few days at Belleayre. Utah is my home away from home.

 

[ann in ma]

We don't have a "home mountain". We live about 1:15 from Wachusett, but the in-laws have a house about 20 mins. from Shawnee Peak and 40 mins. from Sunday River. Because some weekends we stay home and other weekends we go up there, buying a season pass for any of those places doesn't really make sense for us. And as a family of 4, we like to take advantages of discounts where possible, so we will travel up to 1 1/2 hours to get a good deal. And we like going to different mountains.

Now, if that AllForOnePass included a mountain in Massachusetts -- almost *any* mountain in Massachusetts (well, within 2 hours of us, I'd say), we'd surely shell out the $ for that.

 

[deadheadskier]

I'm going to use the cliche that home is where the heart is and for me that will always be Stowe. Its simply the mountain that my soul and passion for skiing feels the most connected to.

The mountain I've skied the most in my lifetime is Okemo. I probably got in 600 days on that mountian between the ages of 8 and 18.

Between 19 and 30, I've probably skied Stowe 350 times with roughly 225 of those days occuring during the 95-96 and 00-01 seasons, which were absolutely incredible years.

Now I live in Maine and with my All for One Pass in tow, I'll hoping to get in 14 or so days at Sunday River and 4 at Sugarloaf for the 06-07 season. I enjoy Sugarloaf much more than Sunday River, but with my work schedule, SR being an hour and fifteen minutes closer makes a big difference, so I know I'll ski there more. I'll probably only get in two or three days at Stowe.

This all said, Stowe will always be my 'home' mountain. There are so many great mountains out there in the world - in the east, out west, overseas etc. My heart is simply the most fond of Stowe. Ask me where I'd chose to ski with two feet of fresh and out of anywhere I've been, which includes many places out west, my answer will be Stowe. That's where my heart is.

 

[John84]

The mountain I've skied the most in my lifetime is Okemo. I probably got in 600 days on that mountian between the ages of 8 and 18.

You must have had some awesome parents.

 

[2knees]

none for me. Sundown is local for me, but i wouldnt call it home. I used to go to killington almost exclusively but that got old after a while. Now, i like variety. Last year i got about 10 or 11 days in, but it was at k, snow, magic, stowe, sugarbush, bromley, okemo and sundown. Not bad for only a handful of days. this year i got only 11 days also but managed magic, snow, k, hunter and sundown.

 

[loafer89]

I do not have a home mountain living on central Long Island, but I hope to make Berkshire East my home mountain next season. Alternatives would be Ski Sundown or Mohawk Mtn which should be 30-45 minutes away from work/home after we move :smile:

Previously I would say that the mountains that I have visited most often are:

Killington: around 100 lifetime days

Sugarloaf: 53 lifetime days.

Hunter: around 50 lifetime days.

I like variety and tend not to ski the same resort for more than 3-5 days a season. I am also trying to ski every mountain in New England and want to complete Massachusetts and Vermont next season.

 

[Greg]

I used to consider Jiminy a home mountain as I usually ski there a half dozen times a season. I skied Sundown 9 times this year and will likely get into double digits there next year as my daughter wil be in ski school/camp so I guess it's now my home mountain. If they do a good seeded bump run again next year, I'm happy...

 

[2knees]

If they do a good seeded bump run again next year, I'm happy...

X 10. i'll be right there with ya.

 

[shwilly]

I live just outside Boston. Sugarloaf is my favorite mountain and the one we visit the most, but it's far enough away that it's less than 50% of our days. The "Hub" is pretty convenient to everywhere in New England, so we don't have a single home base like we would if we lived in VT or ME.

We pretty much visit K in the early season and Sunday River and the Loaf in high season (we followed this pattern even before we had passes). We spend a lot of weekends in the Portland area, so SR is convenient for day trips.

Variety is the spice of life, and I'd hate to let a winter go by without hitting at least a few of Sugarbush, Jay, Wildcat, Cannon, Saddleback, and Shawnee. Throw in a midweek "sick" day at Loon and a trip out West if we're lucky, and it's a pretty fragmented picture.

Meanwhile I have a friend who does 80% of his days night skiing at Wachusett, doing laps on their two black diamonds. To each their own.

 

[Greg]

X 10. i'll be right there with ya.

Looking forward to it!
:beer:

 

[Grassi21]

Looks like the wife and I will be at Sundown a lot next season too. Right now we are about 1 hr. from Sundown. If we make the move to Litchfield County as planned we will be 15 - 20 minutes away. We will also be spending a a bunch of days at Mohawk. I was considering a season pass at Butternut, but I figure I can get more days in CT since Sundown is so close.

 

[Greg]

Looks like the wife and I will be at Sundown a lot next season too. Right now we are about 1 hr. from Sundown. If we make the move to Litchfield County as planned we will be 15 - 20 minutes away. We will also be spending a a bunch of days at Mohawk. I was considering a season pass at Butternut, but I figure I can get more days in CT since Sundown is so close.

Consider Catamount too. It's about the same distance as Butternut from NW CT and offers more challenging terrain (although the number of trails is less). Their season pass is $199 until May 31. Otherwise, let's be sure to hook up at Sundown this season. Where in Litchfield County are you moving to?

 

[dmc]

For the first time ever - I pretty much ONLY skied my home mountain this season - over 50 days..
Due to job changes and home purchases and other stuff - but living less then a mile away - going skiing is like going jogging...

Looking at the hill now... Hoping to get some turns in tonight..

 

[hammer]

Although there are 4 ski areas within an hour of home, I normally don't get out enough to have a home mountain, but I would like that to change next season...

What criteria do people have for a "home mountain"? Is it mainly distance? Do you usually get a season's pass there?

 

[Grassi21]

Consider Catamount too. It's about the same distance as Butternut from NW CT and offers more challenging terrain (although the number of trails is less). Their season pass is $199 until May 31. Otherwise, let's be sure to hook up at Sundown this season. Where in Litchfield County are you moving to?

We have been eying a 4.2 acre home in Litchfield and a bunch of new constructions in Torrington. We are taking a drive this weekend to check out a few towns. Looking forward to meeting up with some AZers at Sundown next season.

 

[Greg]

We have been eying a 4.2 acre home in Litchfield and a bunch of new constructions in Torrington. We are taking a drive this weekend to check out a few towns. Looking forward to meeting up with some AZers at Sundown next season.

There are some nice homes in my development getting built. PM me if interested.