Windiest ski area?

[Nick]

i guess a perception of wind on a mountain probably has a lot to do with the lift locations. If your lifts are out in the open and slow(er) then you probably are feeling the wind a lot more than a shorter HSQ run with a subsequent ski down in some sheltered areas.

 

[KevinF]

The two mountains where I've spent the majority of my time are Cannon and Stowe. Stowe lowered the new Fourrunner quad to reduce its susceptibility to wind holds, but you can still feel the wind for a lot of that ride. Basically seems like from the top of the 13 Pitch to the top can be a cold, windy ride.

Cannon is at the entrance (or exit) of a natural wind tunnel (aka, Franconia Notch. It's the only place where I've been knocked over by the wind while skiing.

I've been at Sugarloaf maybe a dozen times over the years. There's only once that they've been on wind hold. I'm sure they can get blasted by the wind... I guess I've just timed it well there.

 

[Edd]

Not that I consider Sugarbush to be one of the windiest mountains but they sure do have a lot of wind holds.

So does SR but it's not always apparent when you're at the base in terms of how windy it feels. I recall several instances at Wildcat where my breath gets taken away by the blast of wind just getting out of the car and it's immediately obvious you're screwed.

 

[Smellytele]

Petition for more surface lift. Replace the Cannoball quad with 2 t-bars. Put a surface lift in where the old upper chair used to be at Wildcat or near it. Jay used to have an upper poma lift that they could put back in but not sure what that would get us. Sugarloaf used to have some as well.

 

[Smellytele]

Back when Wildcat had the jellybeans I came out of the building at the top and get lifted off my feet and slammed into the wall at the top of the stairs.

 

[yeggous]

As a passholder as both Wildcat and Jay I can ensure everyone that Wildcat is much worse for wind. It's Wildcat's proximity to Mt Washington that makes it so bad. You've basically got a 50/50 shot of wind holds in January. I've got lots of experience being disappointed upon arrival. It's gotten to the point where I can wake up in my room in North Conway and reliably predict whether Wildcat will run the summit quad.

With that said, I would not want it any other way. That lift is fast and dumps you directly to the summit. It is a much more efficient layout than other places where you have to take multiple lifts to the top.

 

[Smellytele]

With that said, I would not want it any other way. That lift is fast and dumps you directly to the summit. It is a much more efficient layout than other places where you have to take multiple lifts to the top.

I would like more than 1 option to the top. The fast way and a multi-lift way. I liked when they had the old chair at the top but like I said I would be happy with a surface lift - Poma- T

 

[x10003q]

Whiteface. Wind hold central. There were wind holds last Sunday.

 

[Cornhead]

Whiteface. Wind hold central. There were wind holds last Sunday.

±1 I've been burned more than once, cleaned two feet of snow off my car in Wilmington only to end up skiing limited terrain at Gore because nothing was spinning at WF. The next day at WF did not suck, but what a tease. I'd like to invest in AT gear for such days, and a little local BC.

 

[canobie#1]

Why Killington isn't on this list yet is beyond me.

So, Killington. Especially in the canyon quad and south ridge areas. I have some cold, windy memories on the funky lift. (RIP)

 

[canobie#1]

If I recall correctly, the Wildcat express is the most powerful in NH and NE. That things hauls ass!

 

[skiNEwhere]

Poll added.

For a west coast nominee, the terrain off of the T-Bar at breck always tends to be windy, maybe that's why there is a t-bar there rather than a chairlift

 

[dlague]

Wildcat:
With that said, I would not want it any other way. That lift is fast and dumps you directly to the summit. It is a much more efficient layout than other places where you have to take multiple lifts to the top.

Absolutely love that lift, they run it full speed and the wind normally goes straight up the hill, so the chairs don't swing into the poles.

The windiest ones I have been to are Waterville Valley and Canon. Never mind the snow getting scraped off by skiers and riders, it's the wind exposing all the boilerplate.

+1 about Wildcat

 

[canobie#1]

Poll added.

For a west coast nominee, the terrain off of the T-Bar at breck always tends to be windy, maybe that's why there is a t-bar there rather than a chairlift

Where's Killington?

 

[ss20]

Skied Smuggler's Notch last year over MLK weekend. Wind was so strong the Madonna II chair derailed, and I watched a tree limb in the woods fall while skiing back to my condo.

Someone else mentioned Mount Snow, and I'd say it's the most underrated for wind. Sunbrook rivals the South Ridge triple for the sheer coldness. The old Summit Local was horrible coming up the last few hundred feet. The Grand Summit Express is high up and exposed 80% of the ride.

 

[steamboat1]

I love when the wind gusts are so strong that they grab your ski tips on the chair & push them down hard. You know it's cranking then.

 

[abc]

Where's Killington?

Someone else mentioned Mount Snow, and I'd say it's the most underrated for wind. Sunbrook rivals the South Ridge triple for the sheer coldness. The old Summit Local was horrible coming up the last few hundred feet. The Grand Summit Express is high up and exposed 80% of the ride.

Killington, Mount Snow... They don't qualify because they have multiple aspects so you can duck the wind by staying in the leeward part of the mountain.

Jay, cat, there's no escaping the wind no matter where you go. At best, you "improve" from not able to stay on your feet, to barely able to stand upright.

 

[xwhaler]

Skied Smuggler's Notch last year over MLK weekend. Wind was so strong.

Another vote for Smuggs. Was incredibly windy last March when I was there they were running M1 at about 1/2 speed. Made a slow ride to the top even slower. Surprise 6" powder day though made it worth it!



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[bigbog]

Yeah..."exposed" is the word. Many of the mountains of Maine are pretty exposed to the wind, especially Sugarloaf with its frontface to the north. Except for the bunch of smaller mountains here & there...Maine's topography is a real mixture of lower elevation water systems, wetlands, rolling hills/smaller mountains and exposed mountains and bluffs that the last several glaciers forgot to grind down....

 

[Savemeasammy]

I've only skied wildcat once - last April - and it felt more like January. No surprise, it was windy! Wildcat faces northwest, which is the predominant wind direction in the winter.


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