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Never Skied the East - Am I Missing Out? - Page 3

post #61 of 141
3/18/05 at 5:33am
If you fancy 30-minute long liftlines versus 30 seconds.....
If you wish to substitute fluffy snow for fake snow....
If you don't mind paying more money for 1/3 the mountain.....

By all means, come ski the east.
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post #62 of 141
3/18/05 at 5:34am
Well said Denya!

Capt. Strato, I'm 48, 195lbs. I can do just about ten turns at a time. Come east and ski Tuckerman's ravine with me. I never did it, but I think this is the year for me. I only skied 7 days (2 on bunny hill) this year and need to make an epic trip to salvage the season. I'm a total BC rookie but we should be able to figure it out. We can ski bumps at Kmart to complete your eastern experience.
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post #63 of 141
3/18/05 at 6:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Pugliese
Go take a shower will all of your ski clothes on, then immediately go stand in a walk in freezer. While in there, get a wad of $20.00's and start ripping them up.
Ha-ha!! Best I've read so far.

But I would also recommend you do it in a big freezer with a bunch of other guys (some with snowboards of course) so you get the true feeling of a crowded slope ...
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post #64 of 141
3/18/05 at 7:01am
Thread Starter 
Telerod: I ready about the Mighty Tuck for years - apparently quite a social ritual in your neck of the woods. If circumstances permit, I'll be there. It's another one of those "rites of passage", like the "east", and Corbet's at JH, that one must undertake in order to complete one's history.

We're close enough in age and condition that we shouldn't kill each other on the hike.

Henceforth, I'm committed to at least on AVI course per season, plus mentoring by Guest1 and some of the other local, PNW, off-the-grid types. Therefore, whenever I do make it, I shouldn't be totally hopeless (at least, that's the theory).
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post #65 of 141
3/18/05 at 7:31am

worth a trip

I grew up skiing in NE but went to college out west(U. of Wyoming) and stayed for 22 years. I returned to Vermont 9 years ago so I am familiar with both.


I encourage you to take a trip to New England just to check it out. It's a diferent ski experience, more real than the fake villages out west. It's where American skiing was started. Lots of good beer, good food and good vibe in ski towns like Stowe, Waitsfield/Warren, Wilmington and Ludlow.
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post #66 of 141
3/18/05 at 7:38am

Pics

Here are some pics from Mad River,

Me and my daughter....



Single Chair

Snow snow snow
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post #67 of 141
3/18/05 at 7:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain_Strato
To ski a lifetime without tasting that flavor would leave a lack.


I never gargled with Draino.
Am I missing out?

That's my answer to your original question of the thread.





I grew up skiing the northeast from ages 7 to 30. As I said in the other thread, I only go back east for weddings and funerals.
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post #68 of 141
3/18/05 at 8:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by denyadog
New England is a beautiful treasure-- you can have a whole life here (job and recreation and livable economy, ocean--)a very nice cozy place.
What state are you in again? Denial?
Liveable economy? HA! You've got to be kidding! Compared to what?

I take it you've never been outside of New England.:
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post #69 of 141
3/18/05 at 8:34am
For all the east-coast trashing that has been going on, I have personally found a few redeeming qualities. One is skiing on ice--while most people would find this to be less than appealing, carving on a fast surface like hardpack or ice at high speed is far more exhilirating than a more mundane surface such as packed powder.

The second quality is the trees. New England tree skiing often involves taking a very narrow path (shoulder length) in the woods. There is something uniquely adventurous and peaceful about stopping to find yourself completely surrounded by trees.

Additionally, dodging people while screaming down the hill is a uniquely east-coast phenomenon and I find that it makes skiing a lot more interesting and fun when you have obstacles to avoid while screaming down the hill at breakneck speeds.

Finally, I have found that the lifts on the east coast tend to be of a higher quality (stratton has 4 high speed sixes).
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post #70 of 141
3/18/05 at 9:23am
[quote=JHrefugee]....It's where American skiing was started...QUOTE]

I'm not so sure. Threre is a rich history of early skiing in the Sierra Nevada's, some of which clocks in before the gold rush years (mid 1800's).

Powdr
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post #71 of 141
3/18/05 at 9:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonni
What state are you in again? Denial?
Liveable economy? HA! You've got to be kidding! Compared to what?

I take it you've never been outside of New England.:
Housing for one is much cheaper in New England. I bought my little place less than 5 minutes from Sugarbush/MRG for a fraction of what it would have cost to buy a place in Jackson Hole, Aspen, Ketchem, Telluride, Big Sky, Vail valley, Dillon, Durango, the list goes on and on, etc.

In additon, in New England, you can be close to both good jobs and good skiing. In the western ski towns most work service jobs, in Jackson Hole most of the workers live in Idaho and travel the many times treacherous Teton Pass every day or come from Star Valley thru the Snake River Canyon 60 miles away every day cause living expenses are so expensive where they work.


Fact is living expenses are much more livable in NE...I take it you have never lived in a western ski town. :
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post #72 of 141
3/18/05 at 9:31am
I too have never been out west, so I cannot compare the two experiences.

But, I can tell you that the sking experience in NE is fun, exciting and challenging. We head up north 3 weekends out of each month, we dont have a house or condo up there, we just day trip to different mountains. We have our favorites but we love the variety and the abitly to explore new gems. Sometimes the challenge is difficult, but more often than not it is an experience I want to last well past the last chair. So each weekend we do it again.

Captain, come on over....dont let the New England self flagellating posts steer you away. I know you would be pleasantly suprised.
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post #73 of 141
3/18/05 at 10:50am
[quote=Powdr]
Quote:
Originally Posted by JHrefugee
....It's where American skiing was started...QUOTE]

I'm not so sure. Threre is a rich history of early skiing in the Sierra Nevada's, some of which clocks in before the gold rush years (mid 1800's).

Powdr
I guess I should clarify...first lift served ski area in the US.


"Skiing history was made in Woodstock, Vt in 1934 when local residents rigged up a Model T Ford engine at the base of Gilbert’s Hill to power America’s first ski tow. Two years later, Bunny Bertram opened a commercial ski area just north of Gilbert’s Hill which soon became known as Suicide Six."
- article in NY Times

Suicide Six still operates today and is owned by Vail Resorts.
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post #74 of 141
3/18/05 at 11:07am
Suicide Six does not make a dime and would not be open if it was not for Rockefeller $$$
Its kind of like the quechee ski hill, tons of money is lost on it but people with lots of cash need to have their own little private hill.

Alfonse
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post #75 of 141
3/18/05 at 11:12am
People who think the East is better than the West are in denial.
That is fact.
I live in the East and would never boast about it to someone that lived on the other side of the US.
The altitude is higher.
The snow is lighter.
The mountains are bigger.
There's BC in the West....don't think the East even has any OB terrain. :
If it does, I'm sure it doesn't warrant having to be fully certified in avalanche rescue and the lot.

Again, the ONLY thing the East provides is excellent training ground for downhill racers....that's it. You subject someone long enough to FAR less than ideal conditions, and of course they'll be a MUCH better skier than someone that has been more fortunate.

And speaking of ski towns, the West destroys the East as far as personability and friendliness is concerend, along with any other category you wanna throw in there. I've been to just about every resort out West and have nothing but great things to speak of the people, the staff, the locals, etc...in fact, I can't even think of a single complaint. On the other had, the opposite at times can be said for a decent amount of resorts in the East.
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post #76 of 141
3/18/05 at 11:21am
Not a single person said it was better. Only that it has its own unique flavor worth checking out. I have skied out west quite a bit and of my best days only one took place out west versus a bunch in the east. Sure I live near the mountains so if it dumps I am up there, but the fact that it can be as good or almost as good on a single day says it all. That being said I am not naive, Jackson hole for example would be far better than anything in the east with lots of powder. We did not get snow at Jackson Hole though. So was JH better than the 30 inch dump I skied at MRG this year? Absolutely not.

Alfonse
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post #77 of 141
3/18/05 at 11:30am
Perhaps we are not reading the same thread...I don't think anyone, at least not myself, have said eastern skiing is better than the west. Overall, most know, in general, skiing out west is bigger, more snow, friendlier people.

There is nothing wrong with pointing out some of the positives about eastern skiing. All I am saying, along with several others, it's worth checking out.

Here in New England, not only is there great spring skiing, the maple sap has started to flow and it's Vermont Maple Weekend. The smell of hardwoods in the woodstove...yup...there are some positives to skiing and living in NE.

BTW...Suicide Six is owned by the Woodstock Inn which is owned by Rock Resorts which is owned by Vail Resorts....the Rockefeller family sold Rock Resorts many years ago. Vail acquired Rock Resorts a few years ago. Vail also owns most of the major summer resorts in Jackson Hole(the valley) as well as one the new fancy hotels in Teton Village.
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post #78 of 141
3/18/05 at 11:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jersey Tom
People who think the East is better than the West are in denial.
I'm convinced. Gotta get jiggy with those mad chill peeps out west.
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post #79 of 141
3/18/05 at 11:34am
I wouldn't even say that the East is unique.
If someone died without ever skiing out here, they wouldn't be missing much at all.

Alright, fine. If they never experience the Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge weekend at Killington, they would certainly be missing an awesome time. Think Woodstock + Mogul Comp + spring conditions + Wobbly Barn.

Maybe the tree skiing is unique, but that's about it.
Treking down a mountain in less than 5 minutes is not my idea of unique.
Skiing terrain that is 70% fake snow is not my idea of unique.
Accompanying an overbearing city rat on the lift is not my idea of unique.
Oh yeah...can't forget the people that are more concerned with how they look versus how their skiing looks.
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post #80 of 141
3/18/05 at 11:40am
You have obviously never skied at Mad River.
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post #81 of 141
3/18/05 at 11:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jersey Tom
spew
Tom, ever get the impression that you're having a conversation with yourself?
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post #82 of 141
3/18/05 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfonse
You have obviously never skied at Mad River.
Is that where a Black Diamond would be considered an easy Blue at west. :
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post #83 of 141
3/18/05 at 11:56am
Hey Alphonse, when did you take those pics at Mad River?

We're heading up to Stowe in about 2 hours and I am campaigning to hit MRG tomorrow then Bush on Sunday. Of course we're staying 3 minutes from Mansfield so most likely we'll end up on the Quad at Stowe.

Your pics could help me make my case FOR MRG!
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post #84 of 141
3/18/05 at 12:13pm
Mad is pretty crowded on the weekend. if you hit it do it sunday on your way home In the afternoon the crowds start to let up. Allthough I am hoping this weekend is not as busy, I plan to hit it sunday but I have a nasty cold. I will probably ski anyhow, colds are no fun at home right?

Alfonse
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post #85 of 141
3/18/05 at 12:17pm
How many Westerner's have exclusively taken a trip to ski in the East? How many vice versa? Enough said.
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post #86 of 141
3/18/05 at 12:19pm
All of the things you said Jersey Tom, the 5 minute runs, the image people try to have the city lift rats, the man made snow, do not exist in any form at Mad River Glen. That mountain is steep and mean and has a consistently steep and wild 2000 vertical feet.I have gone in the woods there and have runs take a half an hour easy and get down to the bottom dripping with sweat. Image is irelevant looking at the mishmash of folks at the area. They have two snow cannons that they only blow on the connector trails on the bottom. The lifties, well if you want to see the lifties you have to go there, they are interesting to say the least.....

Alfonse
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post #87 of 141
3/18/05 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jersey Tom
Treking down a mountain in less than 5 minutes is not my idea of unique.
.
Well Tom may know what he is talking about, after all his profile says he hits the slopes 10 to 12 times a year. Getting out that often surely he has those mad skills honed well enough to ski Rumble at SB in under 5 miniutes (that should be easy ...its not even 1/3 the way down the mountain...so Tom should be able to do it in 1.67 minutes). Or maybe he can zipper line Paradise at MRG in 4 mins, after all it is only a black.
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post #88 of 141
3/18/05 at 12:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by spork
Well Tom may know what he is talking about, after all his profile says he hits the slopes 10 to 12 times a year. Getting out that often surely he has those mad skills honed well enough to ski Rumble at SB in under 5 miniutes (that should be easy ...its not even 1/3 the way down the mountain...so Tom should be able to do it in 1.67 minutes). Or maybe he can zipper line Paradise at MRG in 4 mins, after all it is only a black.
yep could ski steins in 5 minutes for sure or less....2.5 minutes sliding sideways....on his back at 40 mph
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post #89 of 141
3/18/05 at 12:30pm
I cannot even believe they do the no-fall no stop contest where the gold medal is Paradise to Ferret to Upper glade to lower glade. If I did that without stopping I think a visit to the hospital would be in order
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post #90 of 141
3/18/05 at 12:40pm
Since this is drifting into a MRG thread I thought I'd add a story. I used to live in Jakarta Indonesia and would mountain bike back into the mountains on old colonial tea plantation roads whenever I could. Some people out there never saw a westerner before.

At the end of one gnarly trail there was a jeep. The bumper sticker? Mad River Glen, Ski it if you can.

It's hard to find trails in the west a mogul and half wide. I'd recommend an eastern trip to anyone who wants to see all aspects of the sport.
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