What ski area/resort still has its "soul" though it's now a part of Vail or Alterra?

IBRAKEFORTBARS

In these days of astronomical daily lift tickets, high-capacity detatchable people scoops for lifts, paid parking spots, etc. do any of the splashy resorts still maintain that "soul" we all know and love? Of course, this certainly exists at places like Magic, Saddleback, Black Mt of NH, MRG, and others that fly more under the radar. It's been years since I've skied Killington and Mt. Snow and I'm very familiar with Park City and, personally, I think that "soul" is still somewhat there at these three, just buried somewhat under all those crowds. :D What do you all think?

IBRAKE

lotsoskiing

Weekdays, most still have that vibe. Weekends and holidays, not so much

JimK

In the last five to ten years I've skied a lot of the places out West that are considered soulless and I would agree that on weekdays or shoulder season some places are still "quaint". On busy, prime winter days you have to work at it, but you can usually find a lift or two that are far from the madding crowds.

Snowbird is the place I ski the most these days (about 40 ski days from late Jan to late May in 2023). In April it's usually great. Good snow, no crowds or traffic, friendly weather, sunshine, plenty of free slopeside parking with BBQ grilling and tailgate parties. Same for Solitude and Brighton. Mostly locals in friendly mood. And I've had some very good powder days in Utah in April.

In Jan of 2020 I stayed in a hostel in Breckenridge. Low crowds, didn't need my car. Mountain not too busy. Of the big "soulless" places in CO Breck is one of my favorites. Generally easy to escape mid-winter hoards by going high or wide on the trail layout. Great place to go from late March onward. Breck has some very good upper mtn terrain and snow is quite good due to very high elevation. The town is less hoity toity than Vail or Aspen.

I guess Arapahoe Basin is on Ikon, correct? It was on Epic pass in the past. Lots of soul still at Arapahoe Basin. It's more fun to ski than ever due some great expansions in the last 20 years. Exceptional advanced terrain, good management, great spring ski place.

Only been to Telluride once, in April 2019. It was empty and scenically gorgeous, which kind of equates to soulful :-)

NM: Taos still very soulful.
CA: I'd nominate Kirkwood and Alpine Meadows as soulful.
NH: It's been a dozen years since my last visits, but I always thought Wildcat was very soulful. Shudder to ask what's become of it these days.
VT: Haven't been to Sugarbush North in a while either, but suspect it will remain forever soulful :-)

skelley19

Wildcat used to be my favorite NE mountain before I discovered Jay. I went during a Saturday in early February of '22 and if that visit was any indication it has lost at least 8 of its 9 lives. Huge crowds, few trails open and the entire upstairs bar in the lodge was closed for a private event. Luckily we came prepared and grilled in the parking lot but overall it was very far from the mountain that I used to love. I should note that the last time I visited prior to that was in the late 90s when the gondola was still spinning....

IBRAKEFORTBARS

I've skied Wildcat and absolutely love the Polecat trail with those gorgeous views of Mt. Washington. This was back in 2019 before the Vail purchase. Would have loved to have been there when the old Easter Egg Carlevario Savio gondy was still spinning!

IBRAKEFORTBARS

I should add: New Hampshire has something that is just so special. The skiing there is so solid and the resorts just drip of charm, can-do spirit, history, and sheave grease.

DrJeff

I think for me, what helps make up the "soul" of a ski area, is far more than just terrain or lifts, or "quaintness", etc, but also as a regular, the actual PEOPLE who are there week in and week out that help make part of the experience what is so appealing for many.

As a going on 2 decades Mount Snow regular, while I have been through now 3 different ownership groups, and things certainly have changed (one can argue for better or worse, depending on how you view particular things) the "soul" of the mountain via the people who have been and still are there week in and week out and have created for me atleast essentially a big extended family, is still alive and thriving arguably more than it ever has. The terrain and infrastructure are one thing, but without the people, the mountain is just an entirely different, and less vibrant a total experience for me atleast

ceo

For me, Sugarloaf has never lost its soul despite multiple ownership changes.

tedede

I think it's hard to judge soul unless you're a regular skier at an area, and in that case you have the relationships which give a location soul.

lotsoskiing

ceo;c-61613 wroteFor me, Sugarloaf has never lost its soul despite multiple ownership changes.

Agreed- still cold, windy, and with gnarly terrrain.

And The Bag...

z1000307470

Sugarbush - with special shoutouts to Mt Ellen and Castlerock. Sugarbush is loaded with some of the best variety of terrain in the East. If you are really lucky, ski Mt Ellen midweek and share the slopes with about 30 people.

NewEnglandSkier13

lotsoskiing;c-61620 wrote
ceo;c-61613 wroteFor me, Sugarloaf has never lost its soul despite multiple ownership changes.
Agreed- still cold, windy, and with gnarly terrrain.

And The Bag...

I disagree. Among people who live around here, it is generally known as the mountain in this area without much soul, even by many of the people who frequent it. It's a big mountain, but it's also very expensive, commercialized, and absorbed into the Boyne Resorts machine. And it's generally only tourists who will pay $20+ for a standard burger at The Bag.

Even Saddleback, and arguably Sunday River, have more soul than Sugarloaf.

lotsoskiing

z1000307470;c-61621 wroteSugarbush - with special shoutouts to Mt Ellen and Castlerock. Sugarbush is loaded with some of the best variety of terrain in the East. If you are really lucky, ski Mt Ellen midweek and share the slopes with about 30 people.

And you can ride a t-bar if you know whom to ask... B)

slatham

Mt Ellen.

FYI comment above mentioning Taos. It’s on Ikon, but not an Alterra Mountian. Privately owned. But yes, lots of soul and great advanced to extreme terrain.

joshua_segal

The Crotched Mountain vibe certainly hasn't changed much since the Vail takeover, unless you consider handling deferred maintenance issues as a negative!

I'm surprised that one of the CM regulars hadn't mentioned CM already.

NewEnglandSkier13

joshua_segal;c-61645 wroteThe Crotched Mountain vibe certainly hasn't changed much since the Vail takeover, unless you consider handling deferred maintenance issues as a negative!

I'm surprised that one of the CM regulars hadn't mentioned CM already.

I mean absolutely no offense by this but I think there are very few people who would consider the modern iteration of Crotched as having a "soul." It may be a fun place to ski, and there may be numerous passionate people who are important parts of the mountain, but it's been a corporate operation since its reopening without much quirkiness or longstanding significant culture/community surrounding it.

DrJeff

NewEnglandSkier13;c-61646 wrote
joshua_segal;c-61645 wroteThe Crotched Mountain vibe certainly hasn't changed much since the Vail takeover, unless you consider handling deferred maintenance issues as a negative!

I'm surprised that one of the CM regulars hadn't mentioned CM already.
I mean absolutely no offense by this but I think there are very few people who would consider the modern iteration of Crotched as having a "soul." It may be a fun place to ski, and there may be numerous passionate people who are important parts of the mountain, but it's been a corporate operation since its reopening without much quirkiness or longstanding significant culture/community surrounding it.

I think this goes exactly to the point that I was trying to make a few posts ago.

If you have someone who skis/rides at their home hill plenty throughout the season, and has for years, and knows plenty of people of there, who also have the same level of affinity for the mountain as you do, regardless of who the owner is, and what ammenities/terrain it does/doesn't have, the mountain will certainly feel full of "soul" to that person, and if it didn't they likely would of found a different mountain to call their home mountain.

What defines the "soul" of skiing/riding will certainly mean different, and often very different, things to different people

riverc0il

Maybe the OP should have specified you cannot suggest your home mountain... otherwise, every Vail and Alterra mountain will be suggested. :)

If you need to be a regular at a mountain in order to know whether it has soul or not, it is probably not a very soulful place.

Or perhaps there are going to be so many interpretations of what soul means that it is a bit too wide of a question to get a consensus.

rickbolger

Well Crotched was the absolute first that came to my mind of all the Vail properties, knowing the passion that people have for it. I haven't been there since it was assimilated by the Broomfield Borg so I didn't want to say so. But I can't imagine it's changed all that much. It may not look like a place that has soul but it definitely does.

joshua_segal

NewEnglandSkier13;c-61646 wrote
joshua_segal;c-61645 wroteThe Crotched Mountain vibe certainly hasn't changed much since the Vail takeover, unless you consider handling deferred maintenance issues as a negative!

I'm surprised that one of the CM regulars hadn't mentioned CM already.
I mean absolutely no offense by this but I think there are very few people who would consider the modern iteration of Crotched as having a "soul." It may be a fun place to ski, and there may be numerous passionate people who are important parts of the mountain, but it's been a corporate operation since its reopening without much quirkiness or longstanding significant culture/community surrounding it.

Sam: You skied it once in your lifetime. I've skied there over 1500 days starting in 1973. Your opinion is noted, but your credibility is limited.