Top 20 resorts in the east

Big Bob · Post by **Big Bob** » Oct 23rd, '23, 21:01

https://www.skimag.com/ski-resort-life/ ... e-facebook

Killington is #5

Post by **spanky** » Oct 23rd, '23, 21:37

Big Bob wrote:https://www.skimag.com/ski-resort-life/ ... east-2024/

Killington is #5

FIFY (Minus all the tracking links)

MRG at #1?!?!? Great skiing. But #1 “resort”?

skiadikt · Post by **skiadikt** » Oct 23rd, '23, 22:14

so the #1 & 2 resorts in the east are the most archaic in terms of lifts and snowmaking. don't believe either has a hi-speed lift. guess none of that matters ...

looks like a bit of comeback for the vail resorts.

DES · Post by **DES** » Oct 24th, '23, 07:08

Big Bob wrote: ↑Oct 23rd, '23, 21:01 Killington is #5

After #4 Bretton Woods. These lists are always funny/surprising, but I’ve never met a skier that said Bretton Woods was in their top 4 ski resorts (and I guess I missed last years ranking when it was #2, that’s even more silly).

Post by **spanky** » Oct 24th, '23, 16:26

I have an idea. What are your “top 5” ski resorts in the East? For me*:

1. Sugarbush (Castlerock and Slide Brook!)
2. Stowe
3. MRG
4. Killington
5. Magic (would be higher, but just too inconsistent)

* I’ve never skied in NH or ME

rogman · Post by **rogman** » Oct 24th, '23, 16:54

spanky wrote: ↑Oct 24th, '23, 16:26 I have an idea. What are your “top 5” ski resorts in the East? For me*:

1. Sugarbush (Castlerock and Slide Brook!)
2. Stowe
3. MRG
4. Killington
5. Magic (would be higher, but just too inconsistent)

* I’ve never skied in NH or ME

Spanky, are you talking about going for one day, and the conditions are great, or are we talking about skiing 50+ days a season at the same resort? If it's the latter, MRG doesn't even make the list. Too small, and it can suck. A lot. But nobody goes there when it does. So for spending 50+ days a year at:
1. Killington
2. Sunday River
3. Stowe
4. Sugarbush
5. Sugarloaf
6. Jay
After that, IDK. I get bored easy. Jay and the 'loaf would rank higher, but, Jesus, 50+ days in the freakin' wilderness with only some lost wandering moose for company?

heiusa · Post by **heiusa** » Oct 24th, '23, 18:49

1. Killington
2. Jay
3. Sugarbush
4. Sugarloaf
5. Pico

Post by **spanky** » Oct 24th, '23, 22:53

rogman wrote: ↑Oct 24th, '23, 16:54
spanky wrote: ↑Oct 24th, '23, 16:26 I have an idea. What are your “top 5” ski resorts in the East? For me*:

1. Sugarbush (Castlerock and Slide Brook!)
2. Stowe
3. MRG
4. Killington
5. Magic (would be higher, but just too inconsistent)

* I’ve never skied in NH or ME
Spanky, are you talking about going for one day, and the conditions are great, or are we talking about skiing 50+ days a season at the same resort? If it's the latter, MRG doesn't even make the list. Too small, and it can suck. A lot. But nobody goes there when it does. So for spending 50+ days a year at:
1. Killington
2. Sunday River
3. Stowe
4. Sugarbush
5. Sugarloaf
6. Jay
After that, IDK. I get bored easy. Jay and the 'loaf would rank higher, but, Jesus, 50+ days in the freakin' wilderness with only some lost wandering moose for company?

It's all subjective. My favorite places to ski are Alta (and Snowbird) and Whistler. Both "areas" for different reasons. Alta/Bird for the pure skiing/pow. But Whistler has both the big mountain skiing (arguably "bigger" than Alta/Bird) AND the village/restaurants/off-hill activities that, when combined, make it our annual family destination choice.

Now, bringing it back east, there's a reason why MRG is not my #1 (for the same reason why Magic isn't higher). Now, Sugarbush has a nice combination of all factors... Good terrain (both on map and off), reliable conditions, nice atmosphere (fewer fellow Joisy-joeys), not "too far" from home (that knocks Stowe down a notch for me), good for the family.

At least we can agree on Jay at #6.

Here's another thought, what's your top 5 in VT? Where does MRG fit in that (if it does)?

Big Bob · Post by **Big Bob** » Oct 25th, '23, 04:59

rogman wrote: ↑Oct 24th, '23, 16:54
spanky wrote: ↑Oct 24th, '23, 16:26 I have an idea. What are your “top 5” ski resorts in the East? For me*:

1. Sugarbush (Castlerock and Slide Brook!)
2. Stowe
3. MRG
4. Killington
5. Magic (would be higher, but just too inconsistent)

* I’ve never skied in NH or ME
Spanky, are you talking about going for one day, and the conditions are great, or are we talking about skiing 50+ days a season at the same resort? If it's the latter, MRG doesn't even make the list. Too small, and it can suck. A lot. But nobody goes there when it does. So for spending 50+ days a year at:
1. Killington
2. Sunday River
3. Stowe
4. Sugarbush
5. Sugarloaf
6. Jay
After that, IDK. I get bored easy. Jay and the 'loaf would rank higher, but, Jesus, 50+ days in the freakin' wilderness with only some lost wandering moose for company?

Some years I bet MRG isn't even open 50 days a year unless you want to ski on the practice slope where they have some snowmaking. Place needs a better source of water to expand snowmaking, that will be a challange.

Big Bob · Post by **Big Bob** » Oct 25th, '23, 05:01

Big Bob wrote: ↑Oct 25th, '23, 04:59
rogman wrote: ↑Oct 24th, '23, 16:54
spanky wrote: ↑Oct 24th, '23, 16:26 I have an idea. What are your “top 5” ski resorts in the East? For me*:

1. Sugarbush (Castlerock and Slide Brook!)
2. Stowe
3. MRG
4. Killington
5. Magic (would be higher, but just too inconsistent)

* I’ve never skied in NH or ME
Spanky, are you talking about going for one day, and the conditions are great, or are we talking about skiing 50+ days a season at the same resort? If it's the latter, MRG doesn't even make the list. Too small, and it can suck. A lot. But nobody goes there when it does. So for spending 50+ days a year at:
1. Killington
2. Sunday River
3. Stowe
4. Sugarbush
5. Sugarloaf
6. Jay
After that, IDK. I get bored easy. Jay and the 'loaf would rank higher, but, Jesus, 50+ days in the freakin' wilderness with only some lost wandering moose for company?
Some years I bet MRG isn't even open 50 days a year unless you want to ski on the practice slope where they have some snowmaking. Place needs a better source of water to expand snowmaking, that will be a challange. You should also mention Saddleback in Maine, the comeback kid.

newpylong1 · Post by **newpylong1** » Oct 25th, '23, 07:23

Sugarbush would be #1 on any of my lists for sure.

G-smashed · Post by **G-smashed** » Oct 25th, '23, 07:45

My list:

Sugarloaf
Jay Peak
Stowe
Sugarbush
Killington
Sunday River
Gore
Smuggs
Huntah (before Vail)
Stratton
Mt Snow

I've never been to Whiteface so I can't rank it.
All my other top resorts are in the west.

XtremeJibber2001 · Post by **XtremeJibber2001** » Oct 25th, '23, 08:12

Not surprised my local hill, Holiday Valley, made the list. They run a great operation. Sure the terrain isn't very exciting, but they have a great lift network and do a great job managing snow conditions on the hill. Town is great, too. Programs for my kids are also top notch.

Mister Moose · Post by **Mister Moose** » Oct 25th, '23, 09:53

Apparently some people don't know that when it says "Top resorts in the East" it means VT, NH & ME.

brownman · Post by **brownman** » Oct 25th, '23, 10:20

the Wachusset mention renders this survey as laughable.

Our ranking criteria are based on overall fun factor ..
Bush
MRG
Bolton
Cannon
Loaf

Think Snow ***

KillingtonZone.com