Eastern Skiing Top Ten

[deadheadskier]

No particular order, top ten list of favorite aspects of the Eastern Skiing experience - not just the thrills on the slopes, but the life!


1. Oh My Gosh Corner at Sugarloaf - perhaps the most excited I ever get for skiing while in a car is around that bend.

2. The Sun Deck at Bear Mountain in Springtime - I'll take relaxin there in the sun between runs down Outer Limits over any beach in the world

3. The Slides at Whiteface - if only the snow gods were more kind to this awesome and wild terrain in the adirondacks

4. 7:30 am lift openings at Stowe - on a powder day, plan on getting there at 6:30 if you want to be on one of the first 100 chairs.

5. MRG - ski it if you can. Mad River = Venerable Living Skiing History

6. Tuckerman's - either the skiing for the brave or the view from Wildcat for the gapers, be grateful you have it.

7. Wayne Pierce - inventor of snowmaking - need I say more?

8. Jose Cuervo Weekend - for those who have ventured south to Snowshoe, WV (elev 4848), it is the biggest party in the ski biz.

9. Ward, WaWa, Nashoba (feeder areas) - many of us would not be where we are today had it not been for after school skiing programs at the small metropolitan ski areas

10. NSP - this is true for all of skiing and something we all take for granted. Next time you're on the slopes and see a man or woman in a red parka with a white cross on the back, smile and say thanks. If its at the lodge at the end of the day, buy em'a beer

 

[awf170]

you forgot the giant sheets of blue ice at cannon and wildcat, thats the best part of eastern skiing :wink: :wink:

 

[teachski]

10. NSP - this is true for all of skiing and something we all take for granted. Next time you're on the slopes and see a man or woman in a red parka with a white cross on the back, smile and say thanks. If its at the lodge at the end of the day, buy em'a beer

Thank you!
I am curently enrolled in the NSO course to become a member (again) and will ge (re)joining the ranks soon! Ski Patrol often dosw not get the respect that they should, particularly since most of them are volunteers and there to promote safety in addition to helping those in need.

 

[thetrailboss]

9. Ward, WaWa, Nashoba (feeder areas) - many of us would not be where we are today had it not been for after school skiing programs at the small metropolitan ski areas

Hmmm....not sure if I'd consider Wa-wa a feeder area. :-?

Great topic though.

 

[JD]

1) The Notch
2) The Crondola
3) Early season storms before the lifts open
4) The chic chocs...blew my mind, I will be back when I have a new ACL.
5) New England Back Country, Skiing's best kept secret...BTW, there is no East Coast Back Country outside of the Whites.
6) unforcast, lake intesified powder days.
7) Hell Brook
8) Line up on a powder day, yes, at Stowe it happens early, another bene. of living on the Mtn. Road.
9) Taking your boots off at the end of a long day of Hiking for turns.
10) Spring.

 

[ozskier]

9. Ward, WaWa, Nashoba (feeder areas) - many of us would not be where we are today had it not been for after school skiing programs at the small metropolitan ski areas

Hmmm....not sure if I'd consider Wa-wa a feeder area. :-?

Great topic though.

Wachusett doesn't consider itself a feeder area. They consider places like Ski Ward, Nashoba and Blue Hills to be a "feeder" area. Ask one of the Crowleys, they'll go into some insane detail as to why they aren't a feeder.

Don't have time to post anything too lengthy right now, if you guys want info about Wa let me know and I'll take the time to do a huge post.

-dave

 

[GadgetRick]

10. NSP - this is true for all of skiing and something we all take for granted. Next time you're on the slopes and see a man or woman in a red parka with a white cross on the back, smile and say thanks. If its at the lodge at the end of the day, buy em'a beer

Being a patroller (volunteer) thanks for that. And we always like thank yous but beer is always better!

Here's my top ten:

1. Being a patroller and getting first tracks...every day!
2. Sunday River--just a great place with an, "out West," skiing kind of feel.
3. Whiteface when they've got good snow.
4. All of the smaller local ski areas in NY state. Great place to take the youngsters.
5. Being so close to so many good places to ski in the Northeast.
6. The excitement on the mountain the day before a big storm.
7. Patrolling after President's Day Weekend. The mountain starts to empty out so we get to ski more!
8. Skiing on a nice sunny day and and stopping to enjoy the sites.
9. Watching the little ones learn to ski. Sorry, they're just the cutest.
10. Taking the boots off at the end of the day. (Yes, I second that.)

 

[deadheadskier]

9. Ward, WaWa, Nashoba (feeder areas) - many of us would not be where we are today had it not been for after school skiing programs at the small metropolitan ski areas

Hmmm....not sure if I'd consider Wa-wa a feeder area. :-?

Great topic though.

I guess WaWa is kind of a tweener'. My first winter in 2nd grade was at Ward which is much more of a feeder than WaWa I guess my definition of a feeder area (on the east coast) is a ski area that attracts very few destination travelers looking to ski multiple days at a particular destination.

That being said, WaWa does offer a somewhat big mountian experience.

 

[ChileMass]

1 - Skiing so fast your eyes water
2 - The sound of nothing under your feet when the snow is perfect
3 - Blue sky
4 - Big smiles
5 - Sighting the hill at 8:00AM after a 2-hour + ride
6 - Throwing your head over your tips on something insanely steep
7 - Sharing the experience with family/friends
8 - Going "home" to your favorite hill or checking out a new hill for the 1st time
9 - Taking off your boots at 4:00PM
10 - First sip of beer at 4:05PM

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

1. Slides & Empire at Whiteface
2. Smuggs backcountry
3. Stowe front 4
4. Castlerock at da Bush
5. Tree skiing
6. Month of March
7. Nite skiing mid-week fix for us working stiffs
8. I don’t relish frozen granular, but Eastern skiers can do it and are more skilled for it
9. Beerthirty
10. Hard working under appreciated NSP

 

[teqeeler]

1. the snowfields on the loaf, when they are open
2. man-made snow
3. spring skiing
4. windless days.
5. classic new england ski trails
6. raggaefest
7. twisty dark country roads
8. driving on 302 to reach cannon, wildcat, northern vermont, and the kangamangus to reach loon.
9. birthplace of snowboarding
10, state super troopers

 

[TeleGrrrl]

I have to second "Oh my gawsh" corner on the the way to the Loaf. I ski there frequently, and it's just as exciting to be driving around that corner and see the beauty of the Loaf each time I go.

Real powder, I just can't get enough
Someone mentioned the Chic Chocs, one of my fav's too.

Too much to mention.

 

[evil]

1. Knowing I'm not "powder spoiled"
2. Feeling spoiled in powder.
3. Gettting smoked by a kid you taught how to ride.
4. No friends on a powder day, but everyone still keeping up.
5 "Seeing" a tree line that most west coasters would be blind to.
6. Being able to ski ice well.
7. Muscle soreness the next day..
8. Overhead cheers for a poached lift line.
9. Knowing that Ski Patrol would be there for an injury just as quick as they will catch me for # 8. (Thanks)
10. The sense of community from those who truely love the mountains. :beer:

 

[andyzee]

2. The Sun Deck at Bear Mountain in Springtime - I'll take relaxin there in the sun between runs down Outer Limits over any beach in the world

Experienced that for the first time this year after having a burger of the bbq. That is dangerously relaxing, almost didn't get back to skiing! :lol:

 

[trackbiker]

1 - Skiing so fast your eyes water
2 - The sound of nothing under your feet when the snow is perfect
3 - Blue sky
4 - Big smiles
5 - Sighting the hill at 8:00AM after a 2-hour + ride
6 - Throwing your head over your tips on something insanely steep
7 - Sharing the experience with family/friends
8 - Going "home" to your favorite hill or checking out a new hill for the 1st time
9 - Taking off your boots at 4:00PM
10 - First sip of beer at 4:05PM

Agree with everything except that I would swap #9 & # 10 and make the following changes:
#9 - First sip of beer at 4:05 (I ski till the end.)
#10 - Take off your boots whenever. (Hey, I have the most comfortable boots that I ever owned. Don't even unbuckle the top buckles for lunch. I'm not getting rid of them until something dry rots on them! Regardless, I would have the beer first, then take off the boots.)

 

[awf170]

1 - Skiing so fast your eyes water
2 - The sound of nothing under your feet when the snow is perfect
3 - Blue sky
4 - Big smiles
5 - Sighting the hill at 8:00AM after a 2-hour + ride
6 - Throwing your head over your tips on something insanely steep
7 - Sharing the experience with family/friends
8 - Going "home" to your favorite hill or checking out a new hill for the 1st time
9 - Taking off your boots at 4:00PM
10 - First sip of beer at 4:05PM

thats what they do at whistler, i saw someone with boots on at 10:00
Agree with everything except that I would swap #9 & # 10 and make the following changes:
#9 - First sip of beer at 4:05 (I ski till the end.)
#10 - Take off your boots whenever. (Hey, I have the most comfortable boots that I ever owned. Don't even unbuckle the top buckles for lunch. I'm not getting rid of them until something dry rots on them! Regardless, I would have the beer first, then take off the boots.)

 

[whitestuff]

1)The serenity and challenge of skiing in the trees.
2)OMG corner.
3)The sound of my skis on the hard stuff.(it's almost comforting!)
4)Looking down something so steep, it's like dropping off the edge of the world.
5)Gazing back up it once you've skied it.(brings the biggest of smiles)
6)Bringing over friends who have only skied in Europe.... they never want to go back!
7)Knowing that who ever you end up next to on the lift - they will be friendly.
8)Knowing that if you crash, people will stop to help.(in europe, they'd ski over you, especially if it meant a better slot in the lift line!)
9)The lack of lift lines and crowding.
10)Unpretentious banter over an unpretentious beer at the end of a totally unpretentious day. :beer: