How many of these "old school" ski areas have you skied?

[marzNC]

Traveling today. I'll collect together the places mentioned into a list later this weekend.

May split the list we come up with into two categories. I agree that Alta and Brighton in the Boston Globe list in Post #1 are quite different from the small places (<300 acres). Loveland is another ski area that is old school but with 1000 acres fits in the "large ski area" category. What I liked about the sampling of old school ski areas in the Globe list is that it included places from a few regions, even though being a Boston-based newspaper it's natural that there is a northeast slant.

 

[SkiBam]

Only Alta. But I can name a few in Canada....

Can't think of many (any?) old-school areas still left in the Laurentians. Maybe Mont Olympia? Mont Blanc?

 

[santacruz skier]

Badger Pass was a new one for me. Looked it up and found that it's been officially renamed to the Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area. It's one of just a few ski areas inside a U.S. National Park. First lift in 1935!

Apparently there were updates done at Badger for the 2009-10 season, including two new lifts. In an LA Times article in Feb 2010, the GM said "It is safe, easy and relaxing. The area is not intimidating like the larger ski areas. All the lifts leave from the one base area, and all the ski runs end back in the base area. Mom and Dad can watch their children from the lodge desk." That's how I felt comparing Massanutten with the main area of Snowshoe. Who wouldn't want to spend a few days in Yosemite National Park? Could stay in Curry Village, the Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Lodge and the Wawona Hotel and get free bus transportation.

With a vertical of 800 ft and about 90 acres, sounds very similar to a lot of ski areas in the southeast. The season is about the same too, from mid-December to late March. I can easily understand why it would be a great place for an annual ski vacation for a few years for families with young kids and/or adults learning to ski.

Think my sister learned to ski at Badger Pass. I've never been there as was not high on my list of places to ski, but lately we have been saying how fun it would be to go to Yosemite in winter and ski or cross country ski there. Also, there's another small (western standards) ski area near that area that may be called China Peak (used to be Sierra Summit).
Also in the Tahoe area, the first place I ever skied was Soda Springs. Tiny with a few runs and is located right off highway 80 near Boreal Ridge.

 

[VickiK]

I went to Yosemite/Badger Pass last winter, but at the time they didn't have enough snow for x-country, and the downhill wasn't open until the very last day of the trip and we couldn't make it. Yosemite Valley is stunning in any season, and quite crowded during the Christmas break. It's worth another trip.

I hate the new names, by the way, it's just wrong that they were forced to change them.

 

[marzNC]

I went to Yosemite/Badger Pass last winter, but at the time they didn't have enough snow for x-country, and the downhill wasn't open until the very last day of the trip and we couldn't make it. Yosemite Valley is stunning in any season, and quite crowded during the Christmas break. It's worth another trip.

I hate the new names, by the way, it's just wrong that they were forced to change them.

Very odd that the previous company operating those facilities was allowed to trademark the historical names. Obviously that company never expected to ever lose the contract.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com...ames-ahwahnee-hotel-wawona-curry-badger-pass/

 

[marzNC]

I'd love to check out the older areas out west. Last years epic snow year taught me about a so. Cal old school place called Mt. Waterman:
3 chair lifts
Vertical 1,030 ft
Top Elevation 8.030 ft
Base Elevation 7,000 ft
Skiable area 150 acres
https://www.mtwaterman.org/

The history of Mt. Waterman is fascinating! Sounds like it came very close to closing forever in 2006. It's very obvious that the summer mountain biking, disc golf, hiking, and scenic chair lift rides are crucial to bringing in enough revenue so that the ski operations can continue. Can't say I've heard of a ski hill with no rental gear and warnings about making sure there is enough gas in the car before driving up. Sounds like a great place for a family outing. Compared to ski areas in the southeast that 25-90 acres, 150 acres sounds big. Hope it's another snowy season.

https://www.mtwaterman.org/WHO-WE-ARE.html

Winter Runs
Total 27
20% Beginner
20% Intermediate
60% Advanced

No Snowmaking
Natural Snow Only
NO RENTALS ON THE HILL

 

[marzNC]

I split the list somewhat arbitrarily at 500 acres. Didn't look up all of the places in the northeast, so let me know if I miss a big one. Needless to say, this isn't a comprehensive list. It's simply the places that have been mentioned in the thread so far. While I've heard of most of them, it's been fun learning about the ones I'd never heard of before. Any more to add?

I added Bridger Bowl since quite a few of the old school ski areas mentioned that are out west are actually pretty big in terms of skiable acres. While Alta gets more skiers who are tourist types than the other >500 ski areas listed, I think it is somewhat old school. At least feels that way to me midweek when it's not a powder day. Especially in comparison to Snowbird next door.

I hope Divas who live close to the places that are less well known will go check them out some time and post a trip report.

MORE THAN 500 ACRES
Alta Ski Area, UT
Brian Head, UT
Brighton Resort, UT
Powder Mountain, UT
Loveland, CO
Sunlight Mountain, CO
Bridger Bowl (non-profit), MT
Turner Mountain, MT
Lost Trail Pass, MT
Lookout Pass, ID/MT
Pomerelle (500 acres), ID
Soldier Mountain (cat skiing), ID
Mt. Spokane, WA
White Pass, WA
Anthony Lakes (cat skiing), OR
Dodge Ridge, CA

LESS THAN 500 ACRES
Mount Abram, ME
Cochran's Ski Area, VT
Mad River Glen (coop ownership), VT
Magic Mountain, VT
Suicide Six, VT
Cannon, NH
Tenney, NH
Wildcat Mountain, NH
Berkshire East, MA
Ski Butternut, MA
Plattekill, NY
Pine Creek, WY
Bluewood, WA
Summit East at Snoqualmie Pass, WA
Loup Loup Ski Bowl (non-profit), WA
Mount Ashland (non-profit), OR
Homewood Mountain Resort, CA
Mt. Waterman (weekends only), CA
Yosemite Ski&Board formerly Badger Pass, CA

 

[santacruz skier]

Homewood, Moutain Resort, CA is 1,260 acres. Many years ago it merged with Tahoe Ski Bowl.

 

[marzNC]

Homewood, Moutain Resort, CA is 1,260 acres. Many years ago it merged with Tahoe Ski Bowl.

Ah, didn't look that up. Didn't feel quite that big. I'll update in a day or two.

 

[santacruz skier]

Ah, didn't look that up. Didn't feel quite that big. I'll update in a day or two.

Last time I skied Homewood was about 10 years ago. It was dumping Sierra style!

Soda Springs could be <500 acres.... I'll have to check!

 

[marzNC]

Last time I skied Homewood was about 10 years ago. It was dumping Sierra style!

I skied Homewood on a Saturday in 2010 before the Diva Week West in North Tahoe. It was a day after a powder storm but it warmed up so the snow got heavy by 10am. First time I tried skiing on skis that were 100 underfoot. Could hardly turn them on the hard packed groomers in the afternoon. My ski buddy, JC, was skiing on regular rental skis. Kept popping a binding when turning in one direction with skis under the snow. Great views though.

 

[SallyCat]

I scored a $26 Liftopia ticket to Plattekill for a Saturday in January and I'm really looking forward to checking it out.
I am also hoping to get to Magic this year.

EDIT: Just for sheer, tiny improbability and also its family-owned vibe, I would add Yawgoo Valley in Rhode Island. It's not worth a visit unless you're already in the area with small kids, but it's definitely old school.

 

[santacruz skier]

Homewood has great views and is a little gem.. Fresh Sierra cement is difficult. Period. No matter where you ski! In another thread I mentioned demoing the Santa Ana in both a 161 and 153 in 4 ft heavy heavy overnight Sierra cement.. Just plain difficult!!

 

[marzNC]

I scored a $26 Liftopia ticket to Plattekill for a Saturday in January and I'm really looking forward to checking it out.
I am also hoping to get to Magic this year.

EDIT: Just for sheer, tiny improbability and also its family-owned vibe, I would add Yawgoo Valley in Rhode Island. It's not worth a visit unless you're already in the area with small kids, but it's definitely old school.

Guess Powder Ridge in CT belongs on the list too. That's the place that installed a plastic slope this summer. I stopped by to take a look. Had a brief chat with the Ski School Director. Then got to see him carve a couple of quick runs. Definitely a family friendly vibe. The little girl on the board was keeping her parents busy. Not quite steep enough just walking up from the bottom. Her older brother was riding the magic carpet to the top. One of the adults introduced him to a few of the slightly older boys so that he could join them instead of boarding on his own.

 

[alison wong]

Definitely worth a day! It's got 2000' vertical and fun trails to explore. Great views from the top and an old timey lodge. If you get a powder day - go to Sunlight! The Aspen 4 will be quickly skied out but you can make powder turns at Sunlight well into the afternoon. Plus you can't beat the price.

@Skisailor: Thanks for the info.

Thanks @marzNC for sharing the article. I would not have known Sunlight Mtn. in Glenwood Springs if it were not for the article.

I am going to Aspen / Snowmass for 1 wk. next March. Originally, I was only going to ski the Aspen 4. After reading the article, I decided to spend the 1st day (or even 2nd day) in Sunlight Mtn.

So I modified my lodging reservation to accommodate the 1st two nights in Glenwood Springs. I can share a trip report (as an intermediate) about the place after my visit.

 

[VickiK]

Mt Waterman! I've been a couple of times; my BF could tell you many stories about the place. This place is beloved and inspires big loyalty from the locals, but I'm not sure it'll survive.

I was hiking there last month, and G. was riding up on a different trail. He stopped to talk to the Mt Waterman caretaker who lived on the premises, who said he was going to move on because the owners stopped paying him.

Related story, the previous caretaker passed away a few years back. Here's a video of his memorial service on the mountain. Unique, to say the least.

 

[marzNC]

Anyone ever skied at Pebble Creek near Pocatello, ID? Or Powderhorn near Grand Junction, CO? Both have just over 1000 acres, so not exactly small. But definitely not talked about much.

 

[CarverJill]

I feel like there are so many other little areas you are missing. I'm not quite sure what makes them old school. I can think of a few more but know there are so many out there. Its hard to know what places are still open or have gotten super commercialized if you haven't been recently. If you are looking to compile a list here are some of my suggestions of places to check out:
Big Birch/Thunder Ridge in NY (https://thunderridgeski.com/) - this is where I learned to ski as a kid
Snow Valley in Running Springs CA near LA (https://www.snow-valley.com/)
Greek Peak in upstate NY (https://greekpeak.net/)
Bolton Valley, VT (https://www.boltonvalley.com/the-mountain/snow-report-and-maps/maps)
Big Tupper, NY
Holimont, in upstate NY (https://www.holimont.com/)
Swain in upstate NY(https://swain.com/) - where I skiied in college

 

[Abbi]

I seem to be just getting to the 'where have you ....' part of this list. Much fun! I've only skied Alta from that list. Somehow I've missed Wildcat all the times I've been to Jackson/N. Conway.

I second/third/whatever adding Cannon and Powder Mountain. I used to ski Cannon and Sunapee when they were both still run by the state of NH. There could be some cold days with sketchy conditions but never a shortage of adrenaline at Cannon! And when I got to Powder Mountain however many years ago, I was with a collection of brothers from NH. We all agreed it felt like landing in Cannon circa 199?, with knee deep powder instead of ice!

 

[Jilly]

I feel like there are so many other little areas you are missing. I'm not quite sure what makes them old school. I can think of a few more but know there are so many out there. Its hard to know what places are still open or have gotten super commercialized if you haven't been recently. If you are looking to compile a list here are some of my suggestions of places to check out:
Big Birch/Thunder Ridge in NY (https://thunderridgeski.com/) - this is where I learned to ski as a kid
Snow Valley in Running Springs CA near LA (https://www.snow-valley.com/)
Greek Peak in upstate NY (https://greekpeak.net/)
Bolton Valley, VT (https://www.boltonvalley.com/the-mountain/snow-report-and-maps/maps)
Big Tupper, NY
Holimont, in upstate NY (https://www.holimont.com/)
Swain in upstate NY(https://swain.com/) - where I skiied in college

Is Tupper still there? DH broke a set of poles there. Old thumb breakers grip one.