10 replies to this topic

[CAski]

Looking through the likes of Ski Magazine, I was always surprized by the appearent size of the mountains in the east. I mean, there would always be photographs of, say, Stowe, and the hill would always look about the same size as, say Northstar, or something out west. I could never understand how the stats (other than snow) could be so different between the two or why the east got such low rankings (other than the snow). I would take a glance at the picture and I would think to myself that it was at least as big as Northstar judging by the number of runs going down. I figured for a while that, because of the low snowfall, they only counted the terrain that was actually on the runs, as opposed to including the trees.

I just now realized that the runs in the east are far more narrow than those in the west. Perhaps, in my mindset, I was taking those long white trails in the background to be equivalent to western standards. That would skew my perspective entirely. The narrow run, thought to be wide, would appear to be longer than it truely is. Likewise, the trees inbetween runs would appear larger than they actually are. Thus, the entire mountain would appear larger in my perspective than it truely is. Is my assessment anywhere near accurate? Are the pictures tricking my mind into thinking that eastern resorts are larger than they are?

[floridaskier]

I have heard that the runs in the east are much narrower than out west. I think they have less of a vertical, and the mountains are fatter and not as tall. Much lower elevation too

[liftmech]

MUCH lower, figuring the summit of, say, Killington is at 4000' or less. But the vertical is there since the base elevations are only 1000'- 2000'. I can't add much more to CAski's assessment since I haven't been out east either. You tend to base things off where you normally ski, though- I haven't found much in Colorado that I consider true expert skiing, but many resorts and areas here list double diamond trails. I'm used to Northwest standards.

[floridaskier]

The double black diamond is overrated, at least in Utah, none of them are much harder than one diamonds. It's usually when you have to hike to get there that they give it a double black, both of which keep people off it and keep the snow great, so maybe it is good

[TomK]

Eastern runs are also a lot more crowded in addition to being narrow and short without a lot of vertical. We've got it good in the West.
There's a reason you never hear about western born skiers moving to the East coast.

[spunkyskier01]

have skiing in the east for ten years, and goingto the west, i dont realy think one is bettter than the other. although their is much more vertical in the west, the trails add an interesting element to the mix. at a place such as mammoth, you can see were you are going do to the lack of trees, were asin the east, you dont know whats behind every corner, its like being in a race course. some times it can be fun ripping past trees. so i have skied mammoth, do i think its a better ski area than the ones out here in the east? no. are the ones in the east better than the west? no. they are two compleatly different environments which can evoke diferent emotions. i love the west, but i also love the east, and most trails are not crowded.

[iceberg210]

Oh I would say Double black dimonds aren't really that overrated they tell people that this is absolutely experts only. In Utah they will sometimes use them instead of gates at the entrances of runs.

[CAski]

I finally had the chance to see eastern mountains firsthand. I at least got a glance at Whaleback driving along the freeway, and I rode the Summit Express at Mount Sunapee and hiked around. I walked up and down a double black diamond, "Hawe's Hideout," and I laughed. This "double black" would be considered a blue anywhere out west. I can truly understand why no western skiers travel east for their winter destinations. At least the fall foliage was spectacular. The hiking trails were like nothing I have ever seen out west, as the trees were so dense that you could not see more than 20-50 feet in any direction (barring the odd vista, of course). Certainly, there are sections like that in the west, where the woods surround you and you have little idea as to your bearings, but they do not go on for miles like they do in the east (at least none of the ones that I have been on have been so thick for so long).

[SkiBachelor]

So your not in school like the rest of us huh, lucky?

My parents are planning about going ot the New England area next fall, but I'm trying to decide if I want to go.

[Bill]

Stay home, Have a party, and get well... you know... :)

[CAski]

Actually, I have been in school since the last day of August, but we had a four day weekend for Columbus Day. I missed about 2.5 days of school though for a College visiting trip. We happened to have some extra time one day to do an activity.