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October, 2024

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Regional opinions

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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
Where are you from, what do you think about other regions you’ve never visited, where would you ski first if you can go anywhere. How does what you’ve heard or seen impact what you think without personal experience. As someone from the east it intrigues me to see where people would want to go having never been here and the same for anyone from any region with the reason behind it.

I’d love to get to trollhaugen and I think the Midwest vibe is similar to my experience in southern New England 200-500ft very. Seems like spring out there would not be that great. I also believe east has the best spring skiing but I’d like to try Abasin in spring and Brighton as well. Also Woodward pc looks fun.
Oct 27 2022 4:13PM
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Goretex_Vidal
Posts: 766 - Karma: 10,626
ASSholebomber22Europe i just imagine dudes skiing groomers and dudes with ice axes and shit and nothing in between.


There’s also people hanging in the lodge all day wearing baked potato onesies that cost more than my car.
Oct 28 2022 10:29AM
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Schoess
Posts: 2080 - Karma: 24,897
PsychicMigrationI’d love to get to trollhaugen and I think the Midwest vibe is similar to my experience in southern New England 200-500ft very. Seems like spring out there would not be that great.

Spring is by far the best time to be at Trollhaugen. It's actually sunny a lot of days in the spring, the snow is nice and soft and vibes are all time. This video (snowboarding) is iconic and captures the spring vibe to me pretty well. Well worth a watch.


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/709278/Terror-at-Troll-2
Oct 28 2022 10:42AM
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Schoess
Posts: 2080 - Karma: 24,897
WoFlowzI would sell everything i own to ski brighton for a year


Well with pass and housing prices around here, you're gunna have to.
Oct 28 2022 10:42AM
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BingPow
Posts: 568 - Karma: 5,494
Take away from this thread: Skiers need to leave their comfort zone while off the snow
Oct 28 2022 10:57AM
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WoFlowz
Posts: 7907 - Karma: 64,003
SchoessWell with pass and housing prices around here, you're gunna have to.


currently pay nothing for a pass and get my dad a free pass so idk if i’ll be outta by anytime soon
Oct 28 2022 11:05AM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
SchoessSpring is by far the best time to be at Trollhaugen. It's actually sunny a lot of days in the spring, the snow is nice and soft and vibes are all time. This video (snowboarding) is iconic and captures the spring vibe to me pretty well. Well worth a watch.


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/709278/Terror-at-Troll-2


Guess I've always pictured midwest spring to be short and cold with a miserable melt out that still turns to ice every night not actual spring vibes. I'll have to go test it out for myself.
Oct 28 2022 11:25AM
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Schoess
Posts: 2080 - Karma: 24,897
MN/WI weather can be crazy for sure. There's been winters where we went from 0 and whipping wind to 80+ in a week and there's almost no spring. Other winters it's 1-3 months of sunshine and warmish temps. March/early April is a great time to go though
PsychicMigrationGuess I've always pictured midwest spring to be short and cold with a miserable melt out that still turns to ice every night not actual spring vibes. I'll have to go test it out for myself.
Oct 28 2022 12:39PM
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Schoess
Posts: 2080 - Karma: 24,897
Haha yeah I just meant theoretically
WoFlowzcurrently pay nothing for a pass and get my dad a free pass so idk if i’ll be outta by anytime soon
Oct 28 2022 12:40PM
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BrandoComando
Posts: 1486 - Karma: 18,757
I've skied most of the mountains around Tahoe at this point. I've also ridden the big ones in SLC (LCC, BCC, Park City), and a handful of CO mountains (Copper, A-Basin). Taken a few trips up to Bachelor too.

I feel like there are two kinds of awesome ski hill. You have the classic huge rowdy resorts. Think Mammoth, Kirkwood, Palisades, Snowbird, A-Basin, etc. Mountains like that have built a reputation on awesome terrain and they deliver on it. You can ski awesome lines for days.

The second kind I love are the local hills with tons of culture. These hills don't have the terrain, so they lean on their charm. This winter, my buddies and I are planning a road trip to hit a handful of small local mountains in our area. I'm so stoked to check out Coppervale, Cedar Pass, Warner Canyon, Elko Snowbowl, and a few others.

There are a few mountains that have both charm and rowdiness out there. Those are the all-time great resorts. With the rapid conglomeration of skiing, they're disappearing fast.

I'd love to take a trip to the northeast or midwest to soak up that charm that's so tough to find out West. Rope tows open until midnight? That's unheard of here and it would be a blast to experience. I've heard awesome things about east coast trees and I've always wanted to test my mettle on some New England ice. Like everything in life, having diverse experiences is what makes life interesting and fun. Same goes for skiing. I want to experience the different ways that people ski. Maybe one day I'll extend that to Europe, Japan, South America, or New Zealand.
Oct 28 2022 1:37PM
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Kundera
Posts: 323 - Karma: 3,605
I grew up in Tignes, a resort in the French Alps. Big mountains, mythical couloirs, numerous alpine routes. I thought the parks were great, and most foreigners I met told me I lived in the best place in the world to ski.

Then I went to university in Vancouver. Whistler was a reference in my imagination, but I discovered that it was a bit smaller than Tignes in terms of slopes, lifts and terrain. However, the parks were of a whole different dimension, the diversity of features and the perfection of shape blew me away. The revelation was riding Grouse Mountain, I realized that having a tiny resort with lots of rails, 20 minutes away from home, open until late at night was my paradise.

I had too many dead friends in mountaineering and freeriding in the Alps. Nowadays all I like to do is jib, do endless runs, safety slide, sw tails, zero spin, sw3 shifty, over and over.

I'm now working in Boulder, CO, I'll give anything to keep Eldora open until 10pm.

I want to go to Mount Hood in the spring, to fulfill that childhood fantasy of skiing during the day and kitesurfing in the afternoon (Mt Hood and Hood river offer this rare opportunity).

Summary: my passion for skiing is more rewarded when I can access well-shaped parks until late at night to ski every day of the week if I want, than living in a large alpine resort ideal for big mountains. And it took some traveling to realize that.
Oct 28 2022 1:40PM
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hoodratz47
Posts: 12020 - Karma: 9,475
Grew up at Mt hood. Skied almost all the ski areas in Oregon. (Just need to hit up Ashland, Willamette pass and warner canyon). Skied a few times at Suger bush and MTG ( full disclosure I thought it was awesome. Would go back east to ski in a heartbeat) did a season in Colorado. And found it a bit overrated.
And now I live in eastern Oregon and ski Anthony Lakes and it's by far the best powder I have ever skied .
I love little mom and pop ski areas just so chill


But I would love to go to Europe. For some reason Scotland. Japan. Southern hemisphere anywhere.
I'd really love to ski Iran but I don't think that's ever gonna happen now.

**This post was edited on Oct 28th 2022 at 5:34:13pm
Oct 28 2022 5:30PM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
hoodratz47Grew up at Mt hood. Skied almost all the ski areas in Oregon. (Just need to hit up Ashland, Willamette pass and warner canyon). Skied a few times at Suger bush and MTG ( full disclosure I thought it was awesome. Would go back east to ski in a heartbeat) did a season in Colorado. And found it a bit overrated.
And now I live in eastern Oregon and ski Anthony Lakes and it's by far the best powder I have ever skied .
I love little mom and pop ski areas just so chill


But I would love to go to Europe. For some reason Scotland. Japan. Southern hemisphere anywhere.
I'd really love to ski Iran but I don't think that's ever gonna happen now.

**This post was edited on Oct 28th 2022 at 5:34:13pm


Mom and pop areas with good Cory but slow small lifts are where it’s at. In it for the vibes/community and terrain at this point. Bush I need to get to mrrg is what I think you meant since they are right next to each other but thats my spot for dead of winter when it’s powder season. I’ll have to look at the places in Oregon never heard of where you ski now.
Oct 28 2022 6:39PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 6419 - Karma: 74,059
hoodratz47I'd really love to ski Iran but I don't think that's ever gonna happen now.

**This post was edited on Oct 28th 2022 at 5:34:13pm


Go over with these skis and I think they’d welcome you to the ski hill with open arms

Oct 28 2022 6:58PM
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Pakanaka
Posts: 316 - Karma: 1,954
Grew up in auckland new Zealand closest mountain 5 hrs away and only mountain in north island was ruapehu. Worked 2 seasons at cardrona in the south island and the skiing is so unreal there compared to ruapehu. Really want to go to sun peaks in Canada.
Oct 28 2022 11:59PM
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MastePoleWhacker
Posts: 605 - Karma: 5,453
CaseyI feel kind of blessed to have grown up skiing in the Washington cascades. It’s kind of like in the dark knight rises where Batman learns how to climb out of that pit and after that it’s like literally nothing is hard for me I have been trained to thrive in what most people consider terrible.


The cascades are good wtf
Oct 29 2022 1:29AM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 6998 - Karma: 61,199
PNW kids need to go ski where @Thegenericskier and I skied growing up lmao
MastePoleWhackerThe cascades are good wtf
Oct 29 2022 10:46AM
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Stolpskott
Posts: 38 - Karma: 195
I'm from Sweden (kinda middle of the country on the border with Norway) and unfortunately I haven't really gotten to travel much to ski, went to the alps a couple times on pre-season fall break but that's basically it except for immediate surrondings. I would like to explore the north of the country and also Norway more, the alps when it's actually winter, NZ, and Russia (like that's ever gonna happen, post revolution 2.0 maybe?).

Dream trip would definitely be somewhere in western north america though, like Utah, Montana, California, Alaska or the PNW. You guys have a lot of really sick places over there, it's hard to pick just one

**This post was edited on Oct 29th 2022 at 11:15:04am
Oct 29 2022 11:11AM
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powpatrol
Posts: 1683 - Karma: 10,919
PakanakaGrew up in auckland new Zealand closest mountain 5 hrs away and only mountain in north island was ruapehu. Worked 2 seasons at cardrona in the south island and the skiing is so unreal there compared to ruapehu. Really want to go to sun peaks in Canada.

Sun Peaks is pretty sweet, terrible employee housing situation though. very beginner/family oriented but if your a good skier it’s like being a big kid in a playground
Oct 29 2022 11:12AM
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hoodratz47
Posts: 12020 - Karma: 9,475
Dude Anthony lakes is a one triple chair ski area with just under 1000feet of very. Sits at 7000 foot base and gets the best powder I have ever skied. A day ticket is 45 bucks and a beer is under 5. The side country terrain is unreal and it's beautiful. The park is kinda janky but it's better than nothing. But I love the laid back vibe of it. I do miss the big long runs of larger resorts. But I don't miss the fuckery that comes with it
PsychicMigrationMom and pop areas with good Cory but slow small lifts are where it’s at. In it for the vibes/community and terrain at this point. Bush I need to get to mrrg is what I think you meant since they are right next to each other but thats my spot for dead of winter when it’s powder season. I’ll have to look at the places in Oregon never heard of where you ski now.
Oct 29 2022 11:58AM
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Thegenericskier
Posts: 2589 - Karma: 29,209
BradFiAusNzCoCaPNW kids need to go ski where @Thegenericskier and I skied growing up lmao


Dude for real, nothings like southeast skiing
Oct 29 2022 12:04PM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
hoodratz47Dude Anthony lakes is a one triple chair ski area with just under 1000feet of very. Sits at 7000 foot base and gets the best powder I have ever skied. A day ticket is 45 bucks and a beer is under 5. The side country terrain is unreal and it's beautiful. The park is kinda janky but it's better than nothing. But I love the laid back vibe of it. I do miss the big long runs of larger resorts. But I don't miss the fuckery that comes with it


1250-1500 vert would be ideal but the place sounds like Black Mountain NH just with way more snow and they only have 1000vert but a cult following since its owned and operated by a family I believe. People claim Middlebury Snow Bowl VT as well. Either way I'll be checking that place out whenever time allows me too especially 45 is dirt cheap.
Oct 29 2022 12:14PM
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SteezyYeeter
Posts: 3623 - Karma: -12,139
PsychicMigration1250-1500 vert would be ideal but the place sounds like Black Mountain NH just with way more snow and they only have 1000vert but a cult following since its owned and operated by a family I believe. People claim Middlebury Snow Bowl VT as well. Either way I'll be checking that place out whenever time allows me too especially 45 is dirt cheap.


IMO Black Mtn. has the best old school vibe in NE, better than Mad River Glen. I love that place.
Oct 29 2022 1:07PM
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Koshermilk
Posts: 503 - Karma: 1,879
Colorado spring skiing is the best I’ve done so far, although summer mount hood looks crazy fun
Oct 29 2022 1:45PM
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RIP_leos_shack
Posts: 712 - Karma: 3,205
I grew up in Denver and lived in CO for most of my life and have watched it transform as the population has doubled. While mega passes have helped to access places that would otherwise be unattainable like Aspen or Telluride, most front range skiing now just seems sterile. I would go ski Mt Bohemia in a heartbeat. The vibes there look unmatched.

And for those idealizing about Japan or planning to go, just realize Niseko (and probably Hakuba) is played. Reminded me of Vail on a pow day. If you're not first chair then no pow for you and enjoy standing in line. BC access is okay but you won't ride lift serviced pow open to close. There are tons of places you can still do that but only if you go off the beaten path. And trust me, that's totally worth it.
Oct 29 2022 2:26PM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
SteezyYeeterIMO Black Mtn. has the best old school vibe in NE, better than Mad River Glen. I love that place.


The horse pen next to the lodge….
Oct 29 2022 2:34PM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
RIP_leos_shackI grew up in Denver and lived in CO for most of my life and have watched it transform as the population has doubled. While mega passes have helped to access places that would otherwise be unattainable like Aspen or Telluride, most front range skiing now just seems sterile. I would go ski Mt Bohemia in a heartbeat. The vibes there look unmatched.

And for those idealizing about Japan or planning to go, just realize Niseko (and probably Hakuba) is played. Reminded me of Vail on a pow day. If you're not first chair then no pow for you and enjoy standing in line. BC access is okay but you won't ride lift serviced pow open to close. There are tons of places you can still do that but only if you go off the beaten path. And trust me, that's totally worth it.


Where in Japan would that be? I know nothing but would like to go eventually.
Oct 29 2022 2:36PM
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hoodratz47
Posts: 12020 - Karma: 9,475
March April and may at hood is wild fun times
KoshermilkColorado spring skiing is the best I’ve done so far, although summer mount hood looks crazy fun
Oct 29 2022 4:06PM
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piss.boy
Posts: 1491 - Karma: 10,618
Mission ridges rope park looks fun. I wanna go there
Oct 29 2022 4:20PM
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RIP_leos_shack
Posts: 712 - Karma: 3,205
PsychicMigrationWhere in Japan would that be? I know nothing but would like to go eventually.

Tohoku region (northern Honshu) is mostly undiscovered. Most of the areas are smaller and not as easy to get to but pay off in powder. Lift tickets are $30-40. Central Hokkaido is a good bet too.
Oct 29 2022 4:25PM
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SteezyYeeter
Posts: 3623 - Karma: -12,139
PsychicMigrationThe horse pen next to the lodge….


good or bad? never noticed it tbh, although i do remember a horse being on the back of their trial maps... i just ski there i don't really hang around the lodge.
Oct 29 2022 4:28PM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
SteezyYeetergood or bad? never noticed it tbh, although i do remember a horse being on the back of their trial maps... i just ski there i don't really hang around the lodge.


Good man gives a family owned vibe
Oct 29 2022 5:17PM
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 769 - Karma: 6,693
MastePoleWhackerThe cascades are good wtf


I feel like the PNW, Washington especially, is misunderstood. Sure, the snow is thick, the ski areas small, and vert generally nothing impressive. If you're a groomer boomer, I bet its not that good. But with ski areas getting between 400 and 650 inches of snow a year, plenty of very steep, very interesting terrain, and amazing backcountry opportunities with a relatively stable and deep snowpack, for the right type of person the Cascades can be really incredible.
Oct 29 2022 8:48PM
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Gourd
Posts: 468 - Karma: 5,050
I think my old local alpine valley ohio is one of the worst resorts in North America. 3 lifts, 5 trails, and a very small park. There were weeks in a row of just the 2 same flat rails
Oct 29 2022 8:56PM
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MastePoleWhacker
Posts: 605 - Karma: 5,453
IsaacNW82I feel like the PNW, Washington especially, is misunderstood. Sure, the snow is thick, the ski areas small, and vert generally nothing impressive. If you're a groomer boomer, I bet its not that good. But with ski areas getting between 400 and 650 inches of snow a year, plenty of very steep, very interesting terrain, and amazing backcountry opportunities with a relatively stable and deep snowpack, for the right type of person the Cascades can be really incredible.

I grew up in the Cascades, at Crystal for the most part. I’m living in salt lake now, going to the u of u, and people are so shocked when I tell them the skiing was comparable back home. I guess people out here tend to look down on other places a lot. It’s likely that I’ll be moving back there in the next couple years, which isn’t much of a loss at all imo
Oct 29 2022 9:52PM
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MastePoleWhacker
Posts: 605 - Karma: 5,453
piss_boyMission ridges rope park looks fun. I wanna go there


I need to get back there and try out the new lift they’ve opened up, looks like fun
Oct 29 2022 9:53PM
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Farmville420
Posts: 4708 - Karma: 60,516
CaseyI feel kind of blessed to have grown up skiing in the Washington cascades. It’s kind of like in the dark knight rises where Batman learns how to climb out of that pit and after that it’s like literally nothing is hard for me I have been trained to thrive in what most people consider terrible.


You’re delusional if you think PNW is considered “terrible” lol
Oct 29 2022 10:31PM
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Casey
Posts: 7849 - Karma: 24,324
Farmville420You’re delusional if you think PNW is considered “terrible” lol


I guess my comment didn’t quite land how I meant it🤷‍♂️
Oct 30 2022 3:01PM
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MMairose
Posts: 94 - Karma: 354
Grew up in PA and mostly focused on skiing park after learning to ski. Made some occasional trips up to killington and jay and quite enjoy the east coast parks and tree skiing. Last year i spent the winter in Big Sky and really started to like big mountain skiing more than park, i got a lot better at skiing in general and got to experience pretty much every condition possible. I’m thankful for growing up east coast though because a lot of the skiers out there complained conditions were anything close to variable even though it was still way better than an average PA ski day. Got to ski A basin at the end of the season but it didn’t seem as technical as everything i’ve read about it when compared to a full season of skiing the headwaters and the other tech areas of big sky that I got to ski everyday since was a lifty on the Headwaters/challenger at bs. I much prefer Montana terrain to Colorado based off my experiences. I’d really like to get out to California/PNW and Utah in the future to ski some of the more challenging places out there
Oct 30 2022 3:42PM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
MMairoseGrew up in PA and mostly focused on skiing park after learning to ski. Made some occasional trips up to killington and jay and quite enjoy the east coast parks and tree skiing. Last year i spent the winter in Big Sky and really started to like big mountain skiing more than park, i got a lot better at skiing in general and got to experience pretty much every condition possible. I’m thankful for growing up east coast though because a lot of the skiers out there complained conditions were anything close to variable even though it was still way better than an average PA ski day. Got to ski A basin at the end of the season but it didn’t seem as technical as everything i’ve read about it when compared to a full season of skiing the headwaters and the other tech areas of big sky that I got to ski everyday since was a lifty on the Headwaters/challenger at bs. I much prefer Montana terrain to Colorado based off my experiences. I’d really like to get out to California/PNW and Utah in the future to ski some of the more challenging places out there


Skied 5 days at mammoth this spring….. bit over rated. The stuff that was open off 23 were steep but not anything crazy honestly. Would like to try mid winter so I get the full picture. The salted the fuck out of the trails so it was a sheet of Ice even if it was warm.
Oct 30 2022 3:58PM
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Whackson
Posts: 466 - Karma: 4,030
The park scene in the Pocono Mountains used to go crazy but is so dry current day
Oct 30 2022 5:27PM
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Jacobthesadskier
Posts: 491 - Karma: 4,840
Learnt to ski in abetone in the northern appenines in Italy, the resorts there aren't brilliant, but fun if you get to know them. Not a lot of snow usually, or good parks, but on the rare day when the conditions are good it's honestly one of the most fun places I've ever skied at. Very weird weather though, last year it was 10 degrees and slushy in December, and -10 and dumping snow in late March.
Oct 30 2022 5:38PM
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Koshermilk
Posts: 503 - Karma: 1,879
WhacksonThe park scene in the Pocono Mountains used to go crazy but is so dry current day


They fucked up the park I heard
Oct 30 2022 6:51PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 6419 - Karma: 74,059
WhacksonThe park scene in the Pocono Mountains used to go crazy but is so dry current day


Thanks vail
Oct 30 2022 7:13PM
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Quinny
Posts: 3477 - Karma: 163
Grew up in Colorado and have skied basically everywhere in-state and changed home mountains a few times depending on where I lived. Over +30 years I've seen the Colorado ski culture evolve a lot. The mountains along the I-70 corridor (with only a few of exceptions) have become very corporate and homogenized thanks to the Epic and Ikon. The massive crowds have really killed the old vibe in places like Summit County, and I pretty much always avoid the big resorts on weekends unless I have a place to crash. The terrain at the big resorts is still great, but these days I've found myself enjoying the smaller local mountains a lot more (Loveland, Sunlight, Monarch, etc.) because there are fewer people and old vibe still lives on.

The only places I've skied outside the state are Whistler and the Monashees (heli skiing). Both were great experiences.

Really, there a lot of places I'd love to visit. Big mountain is my jam these days more than park (I'm old). Alaska (Alyeska and Eaglecrest) are at the top of my list. There are a lot of places out west I want to visit just to experience the terrain; Jackson Hole, Alta/Snowbird, Revelstoke, etc. Wouldn't mind also visiting Vermont/Maine or the upper peninsula just to say I've done them. Outside of North America the Alps and South America are obviously places that'd be great to experience.

Somebody try and sell me on California. I've never had much interest in visiting places like Tahoe and Mammoth because I feel like the crowds and vibe are gonna have a lot in common with the things I dislike about the I-70 corridor.
Oct 31 2022 1:39PM
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Goretex_Vidal
Posts: 766 - Karma: 10,626
SteezyYeetergood or bad? never noticed it tbh, although i do remember a horse being on the back of their trial maps... i just ski there i don't really hang around the lodge.

I think the horse pen is one of the best things about Black Mtn, they let them loose in the off-season to graze up the hill for trail maintenance.
Oct 31 2022 2:09PM
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 769 - Karma: 6,693
QuinnyGrew up in Colorado and have skied basically everywhere in-state and changed home mountains a few times depending on where I lived. Over +30 years I've seen the Colorado ski culture evolve a lot. The mountains along the I-70 corridor (with only a few of exceptions) have become very corporate and homogenized thanks to the Epic and Ikon. The massive crowds have really killed the old vibe in places like Summit County, and I pretty much always avoid the big resorts on weekends unless I have a place to crash. The terrain at the big resorts is still great, but these days I've found myself enjoying the smaller local mountains a lot more (Loveland, Sunlight, Monarch, etc.) because there are fewer people and old vibe still lives on.

The only places I've skied outside the state are Whistler and the Monashees (heli skiing). Both were great experiences.

Really, there a lot of places I'd love to visit. Big mountain is my jam these days more than park (I'm old). Alaska (Alyeska and Eaglecrest) are at the top of my list. There are a lot of places out west I want to visit just to experience the terrain; Jackson Hole, Alta/Snowbird, Revelstoke, etc. Wouldn't mind also visiting Vermont/Maine or the upper peninsula just to say I've done them. Outside of North America the Alps and South America are obviously places that'd be great to experience.

Somebody try and sell me on California. I've never had much interest in visiting places like Tahoe and Mammoth because I feel like the crowds and vibe are gonna have a lot in common with the things I dislike about the I-70 corridor.


Go to Tahoe in the spring of a big snow year. I've been a few times and seems like mid-winter is pretty hit or miss, but the time I went out in April after a big snow year was amazing, better than spring skiing at Copper or A Basin IMO. Tons of awesome terrain, especially at Palisades, and not many people ski in April so I didn't have many issues with crowds.
Oct 31 2022 2:29PM
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ajbski
Posts: 1309 - Karma: 5,328
Oct 31 2022 3:43PM
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powpatrol
Posts: 1683 - Karma: 10,919
ajbski


i love it
Oct 31 2022 3:47PM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 6998 - Karma: 61,199
I used to live in Tahoe. I live here in Colorado now. Homie is right about California in spring of a big year. Honestly some of the most fun and best vibes I’ve ever had. There’s a very stale corporate taste at a lot of these mega resorts that just rubs me the wrong way. I, also, ski the smaller resorts for the reasons you listed.

Granted you will also see some of that in California but it’s just a different scene overall. The views and weather are pretty killer over there too. View of the lake + spring snow + sunshine + grilling out on the beach after = paradise
QuinnyGrew up in Colorado and have skied basically everywhere in-state and changed home mountains a few times depending on where I lived. Over +30 years I've seen the Colorado ski culture evolve a lot. The mountains along the I-70 corridor (with only a few of exceptions) have become very corporate and homogenized thanks to the Epic and Ikon. The massive crowds have really killed the old vibe in places like Summit County, and I pretty much always avoid the big resorts on weekends unless I have a place to crash. The terrain at the big resorts is still great, but these days I've found myself enjoying the smaller local mountains a lot more (Loveland, Sunlight, Monarch, etc.) because there are fewer people and old vibe still lives on.

The only places I've skied outside the state are Whistler and the Monashees (heli skiing). Both were great experiences.

Really, there a lot of places I'd love to visit. Big mountain is my jam these days more than park (I'm old). Alaska (Alyeska and Eaglecrest) are at the top of my list. There are a lot of places out west I want to visit just to experience the terrain; Jackson Hole, Alta/Snowbird, Revelstoke, etc. Wouldn't mind also visiting Vermont/Maine or the upper peninsula just to say I've done them. Outside of North America the Alps and South America are obviously places that'd be great to experience.

Somebody try and sell me on California. I've never had much interest in visiting places like Tahoe and Mammoth because I feel like the crowds and vibe are gonna have a lot in common with the things I dislike about the I-70 corridor.


IsaacNW82Go to Tahoe in the spring of a big snow year. I've been a few times and seems like mid-winter is pretty hit or miss, but the time I went out in April after a big snow year was amazing, better than spring skiing at Copper or A Basin IMO. Tons of awesome terrain, especially at Palisades, and not many people ski in April so I didn't have many issues with crowds.
Oct 31 2022 4:39PM
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mattytru
Posts: 2788 - Karma: 5,618
From MA, grew up skiing VT and MA heavily, also NH, and ME. Now live in Summit County, CO. Have skied CO for 7 or 8 seasons. Otherwise have skied NM, UT, OR, and Japan.


1) From as objective a perspective as it is possible to have, I really do think the average New England skier is more technically skilled than the average skier from anywhere else in the US. MAYBE you could say northern New England instead. There are fantastic skiers from everywhere, and big mountains breed great skiers, but it's only those who take full advantage of those mountains that get notably skilled. In New England, people go out and regularly ride conditions that folks in other parts of the country regularly avoid (because they will have better conditions in a day or two).

It may be changing, but the East in general absolutely has produced the best/most park skiers in the US due to lack of other terrain options.

New England also has the oldest ski culture in the country and a unique tie to European skiing.


2) All of that said, the skiing is obviously so much better in the West. I will not move back unless life circumstances dictate to do so. This season I hope to ride Montana, Idaho, and BC. Goals are to keep finding my own lines, avoiding tourists, connecting with tru shredders, and continuing to be grateful that I live in the middle of the Rockies.

**This post was edited on Oct 31st 2022 at 5:50:04pm
Oct 31 2022 5:49PM
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