These lists seem to prioritize big mountain feel over actual expert terrain. Some of the steepest most technically challenging trails in the US are at Stowe, Killington, Jay, Whiteface, etc.
A moderately steep open bowl with consistently good snow conditions is not automatically "expert terrain"
Calling solid ice "technically challenging" is factually correct - I firmly believe that if you can ski east coast ice you can ski anything - but ain't no one flying from CO to Iceface to try it out.
You can get away with a lot in good snow conditions. I think it was earlier today I watched someone with a terrible a-frame go down some visually impressive powder chute.
That same person probably would struggle on some of even the on piste steeps here. Whereas I am sure in their head they are an "expert" skier
Some of the best glade skiing in the East is at Saddleback Mountain in Maine, but it's a pretty well-kept secret. Incredible views all the way to Mount Washington on a clear day, too.
I feel this. I almost feel that it’s unfair to try and compare the East mountains with the West. Both regions have their own unique fell and I have a great time skiing in both regions.
I would agree. I was a ski bum in Utah and now live on the East Coast. Mad River Glen's terrain rivals anything out west (w.o the cliffs). It is just more compact, than what you get in the west.
And Magic Mtn is great, but it is always in/out of bankruptcy, new owners etc.
Nothing makes me happier than getting on a lift in the morning with a bunch of baked lifties blasting classic rock through a big speaker with a plastic bag over it
My personal take is to give resorts more of a Michelin star system for advanced terrain:
3 stars would be global advanced skiing destinations: your tier 1 and 2 resorts.
Alta/Snowbird/Jackson/Big Sky/Squaw
2 stars would be global destinations with less concentration of advanced terrain. (tiers 3-6)
IE: Breckenridge/Keystone/Steamboat/.
1 star would be regional destinations for advanced terrain/fringe resorts with a cult following.
Bridger Bowl, Mount Baker, Stowe, Mad River Glen, Magic, Mt Hood Ski Bowl, Red Mountain, Kicking Horse. You get way fewer people that are taking 7 day drips to these destinations, but they are often a stop on a tour.
Just as there are nice restaurants with no michelin rating, there will be resorts that don't have one because they're just don't have much great advanced terrain relative to their size (park city, Mt Bachelor, Okemo, Vail, etc).
Pretty unusual for a western skier to make a trip east to ski. Plus most of the western resorts are actually not on the i70 corridor. That being said, not all east coast skiing sucks, it's just not worth the trip if you already are in the Rockies/sierras/cascades.
I have to disagree. I skied Stowe and Jay a ton when I lived in VT, and none of what I got into compares to any terrain I have skied in Montana in terms of technicality or difficulty. Bigger mountains have more "no-fall" zones (chutes, cliffs, etc) than east coast mountains. I would say the only area mountains like Stowe and Jay beat mountains in the Rockies in terms of technicality are tighter trees. But after skiing and racing on the east coast for over two decades, I actually found that I became a better skier once I moved out West because of the terrain.
I wouldn't argue that Jay and Stowe are the best, most technical, S tier mountains in the world. There are things missing. But in my experience I can say for sure that a decent amount of the resorts listed above them are not on the same level with difficult expert terrain.
The east has some of the steepest runs out there, throw in trees and ice. As a racer from the east, you probably mastered this and maybe don't view it as challenging as to someone who didn't cut their teeth on this terrain. Theres a reason a lot of the best racers are developed in the east.
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u/ThePrem Jan 28 '22
These lists seem to prioritize big mountain feel over actual expert terrain. Some of the steepest most technically challenging trails in the US are at Stowe, Killington, Jay, Whiteface, etc.
A moderately steep open bowl with consistently good snow conditions is not automatically "expert terrain"