What do you need from a resort?

I guess all I really need is more then 1k vertical (obviously 2-3 would be better) a lift (Doesn’t matter what kind really) another lift in case the first one breaks and a bathroom.... can’t really think of anything else. A base lodge with a bar can be nice but I don’t think lacking one would be a deal breaker.

Am I missing something?

600 vert is enough. Good snow. Trees. Hall lifts. Or a surface lift. I also like the Poma HS Quads. Friendly locals.

McCauley or better. Snow Ridge counts because of the pow and trees. So less than 600 in the right circumstances.

Note I changed resort to ski area.

Hmmm what do I need.  Ideally 30 km+ of trails with good grooming.  Enough terrain variation that I can get 1500 feet of elevation gain by day's end.  A lodge with a decent space for waxing.  Gore xc is a notable exception.

Harvey wrote

600 vert is enough. Good snow. Trees. Hall lifts. Or a surface lift. I also like the Poma HS Quads. Friendly locals.

McCauley or better. Snow Ridge counts because of the pow and trees. So less than 600 in the right circumstances.

Note I changed resort to ski area.

This

I'll add I like ski area's that aren't afraid to open terrain in marginal snow --- thin and bare signs rule!

I have skied 450 vert areas and skied 5000 vert areas..

sorry guys 5000 ft is better...

JasonWx wrote

I have skied 450 vert areas and skied 5000 vert areas..

sorry guys 5000 ft is better...

Of course. It's like the pizza and sex thing. When it's good it's great and when it's bad it's still pretty good.

campgottagopee wrote

I'll add I like ski area's that aren't afraid to open terrain in marginal snow --- thin and bare signs rule!

Totally agree.

Adk Jeff's son came out with a gem a few years ago:

"Daddy thin cover is secret code for good snow!"

JasonWx wrote

I have skied 450 vert areas and skied 5000 vert areas..

sorry guys 5000 ft is better...

The way I understood Brownski's post...

"What are your minimum requirements?"

not

"Is awesome better than ok?"

Harvey wrote

campgottagopee wrote

I'll add I like ski area's that aren't afraid to open terrain in marginal snow --- thin and bare signs rule!

Totally agree.

Adk Jeff's son came out with a gem a few years ago:

"Daddy thin cover is secret code for good snow!"

Junior still quotes that saying all the time... but I thought it was “thin cover is code for fun”

Harvey wrote

The way I understood Brownski's post...

"What are your minimum requirements?"

Yes exactly. The other day I saw the view expressed somewhere that when the baby boomers are gone so is the ski industry as we know it. So I started thinking, I can live with a greatly pared down experience if the skiing is good. Restaurants, lodging, demo skis etc... you can chuck it as far as I’m concerned. I think I could live with just surface lifts even

Harvey wrote

JasonWx wrote

I have skied 450 vert areas and skied 5000 vert areas..

sorry guys 5000 ft is better...

The way I understood Brownski's post...

"What are your minimum requirements?"

not

"Is awesome better than ok?"

Harv you are correct..
anything over 1k

Harvey wrote

"What are your minimum requirements?"

What are my minimum requirements for a day trip in good snow conditions?

Or what are my minimum requirements for a place that I want to plan a week long vacation to?

Or what are my minimum requirements for a season of only skiing at that place?

Or what are my minimum requirements for a place I'd like to settle down and have a life at?

1. Hickory? Some defunct ski area that I have to hike? Surface lifts are fine, but no lifts are fine, too. Maybe 5-7 unique ways down a 600 vert slope, 1-2 unique ways if I'm hiking. It's just a day. Mainly, it'd be about the adventure, so it'd have to be non-boring (i.e. one rope tow serving one groomed trail with no other options would not be enough)
2. 2,000 Vertical Feet, a history of good snow, great terrain, good bar(s), other stuff in the area to explore, travel to the place isn't  overly complicated (but okay if the place is awesome)
3. 2,000 Vertical Feet, great terrain (variety of terrain is very important - I don't want to feel like I'm skiing the same trail over and over), either good snow history or a great snowmaking system
4. 2,000 vertical feet, LOTS of snow, super fun terrain, Airport close by, good events in summer & winter, great mountain biking, some decent body of water nearby, good scene (good beer - no 3.2% bullshit, good food options), really great adventure opportunities within an hour radius (with even more opportunity further out), maybe decent job opportunities in the area (depending on timing).

Decent snow and when it can't be fresh powder a quality man made snow with good grooming,  On a busy day have good crowd control at the lift and make sure that the all the chairs are full to keep the line moving.As far as vertical I would love to have something over 525' but that just isn't a reasonable option 99% of the time, so what helps make up for lack of vertical is to have the right company to ski with. In the end I take what I can get and enjoy it to the fullest potential

Brownski wrote

Harvey wrote

The way I understood Brownski's post...

"What are your minimum requirements?"

Yes exactly. The other day I saw the view expressed somewhere that when the baby boomers are gone so is the ski industry as we know it. So I started thinking, I can live with a greatly pared down experience if the skiing is good. Restaurants, lodging, demo skis etc... you can chuck it as far as I’m concerned. I think I could live with just surface lifts even

Minimalist wins. All I really need is snow.

Stay tuned I guess huh.

1000 vert or more and no people would make me happy

I thought you wanted more advertising for Gore?

Is that because you ski Stratton now?  

Harvey wrote

I thought you wanted more advertising for Gore?

Is that because you ski Stratton now?  

Magic works

You guys switching next year?

Maybe we can ski at Plattekill too.

Parking lot, lift, squiggly trails, trees, friendly people, and proximity.

witch hobble wrote

Parking lot, lift, squiggly trails, trees, friendly people, and proximity.

Well said. Better then how I stated it but what I was going for