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by mp05 867 days ago
> One of the things I have trouble understanding is why "rural mountain towns near large population centers" are exploding in the West, but not the East.

The skiing sucks? Never skied out east, but I understand it's basically ice skating. But that's hearsay.

4 comments

There's a reason it's called the /r/icecoast. These mountains are all terrible, all the time, especially after a snowstorm and especially Jay Peak. Never go there and tell your friends to stay away.
There can be a lot of ice and hard-pack; sure it's not getting any better.

Don't know how true the generalization is but, while some people have condos for the weekend in New England, you tend to live nearer a major metro center and go up for 2 or 3 day weekends.

Out West, I imagine it's more common for people to just move to one of the larger ski towns--or at least to get a second home there for their recreational season of choice. At least, that's the very anecdotal impression I get. If I wanted a season pass and had a lot of free winter time to spend downhill skiing, I'd probably do it out West. New England is more accessible for multi-season activities but the locations are probably also more accessible for weekends and long weekends.

the skiing is fine.

not great, but most of the people going out to utah for a ski weekend are on manmade snow on blue groomers, and the blue groomers out east are just as good as the blue groomers in the west.

> the blue groomers out east are just as good as the blue groomers in the west

The blue groomers out west are about twice as long and usually a lot less icy.

I don't disagree with the latter part, but if I planned a weekend in the Rockies and skied groomers the whole time, something went wrong.
On a good day it is great to ski out east (particularly spring conditions) but it is not always a good day. An alumni club I am in is thinking about scheduling a ski trip to the local ski area in the next few weekends, it is 30 min away or so and only $65 but conditions might be terrible.