Perspective

My bathroom is spotless right now. Using a god damn toothbrush at times. I'm eyeing that damn kitchen for next week. I just looked at the Hunter webcam, and it looks like my countertops will be sparkling soon.

I'm going insane.
 
There is a lot to this topic. It could go in a lot of different directions, bringing in snowmaking, ski lift technology, politics.... It’s a lot more complicated then it seems at first glance. I think the state’s ownership of the ORDA resorts used to cause a sort of benign neglect that allowed them to be simpler places that appeal to the Typical NYSB type. At some point they noticed that ski resorts some times make money and somebody decided that if the ORDA hills could be more like Hunter, Windham and Stratton they could make more money. So here we are. Imagine if they spent the same amount of money they’ve thrown into capital projects the last few years on just replacing the infrastructure with new versions of what was there before and used the rest to refurbish some of the defunct ski areas all over the state.
On the other hand, there is still hope. A lot of people have no idea what skiing at a place like Plattekill on an uncrowded day is like. They think that the chaos at Hunter or Stratton is the norm and they still learn to love the sport and keep coming back. So there’s that.
 
I guess it's time for me to find my new Whiteface. I believe the phrase is "Go West young old man".
Choose wisely, I first moved to Montana in 1996 to ski Big Sky because no one was around. The mountain skis the same but the amount of development around it is insane. Bozeman is all big box stores and you can barely drive through Yellowstone because of the traffic jams.
Luckily (like Platty) there still are other great little low key places like Lost Trail that haven’t changed at all.
 
i would argue gore is better now then ever. i do question the guy who laid it out. never had a problem walking or poling for good snow but when your reward is cloud i have to scratch my head. back in the day if Hawkeye and chati were sheets of boiler plate we had to illegally hunt and pec for something decent to ski. today the mountain is covered in glades. you can spend the entire day in there. some question whether the government belongs in the ski business. probably not, but if straton bought ice face the changes would make you cry.
 
Me too. This thread needs an "agree" button, I can't like all those early posts.

Skiing is the only winter social life I have, so I'm not gonna quit, but I'm trying to spend more time out West with my son and his family. I even bought an ABasin season pass this year, although Rona is ruining everything.

I think we are all suffering from virus fear and social distance, and ORDA has made itself an easy target for our anxieties. On a positive note, the board certified registered nurse/dominatrix that I live with was vaccinated this week, so maybe things are starting to get better.

mm
 
As for perspective on homogenization and such I had the same thoughts in the Uphill thread when it comes to places like Mad, or Magic, or Platty. Yes, ski areas must do what is best for their business....but some areas don’t forgo what’s good for skiers and the sport just to squeeze another quarter percent margin.

Whiteface used to have more of a “skiers mountain” feel. Yeah, I guess nicer food in the Cloudspin was a slippery slope I didn’t particularly mind, but then amenities start to come before things that affect the actual skiing experience, higher capacity lifts and intermediate boulevards infringe on terrain that had character and was fun to ski....and that’s not all that cool.

People do have valid points in that there are lots of other things to do in the Daks. However, I don’t think Face is looking to reignite a love for the Adirondacks....he’s looking for something to reignite his love of skiing.

On the ‘go west’ thing, more valid points were made that western resorts aren’t immune to the homogenization we see on the east coast. But all is not lost....

Face, you know I support the ‘go west’ thing. I’ll also second the ‘get into touring’ thing. Combine the two and you’ll fall in love with skiing again, I did!
 
I haven't skied at Whiteface for a long time. I'm guessing that the single chair to the summit, with the frayed yellow rope for a passenger safety device, is not there any more. :cool:
 
Thanks to all for the responses to my post. It definitely sounds like I'm not alone, in terms of my current attitude.

Starting with SBR's suggestions ... a few years ago, I was REALLY interested in looking into back-country skiing. I never did pull the trigger, but it's still something I've been considering ... maybe one of these days.

JTG really nailed it ... A few years ago, I'd be as giddy as a school-girl when I arrived at the mountain in the morning. I couldn't wait to get booted up, and get on the hill. That's the part that seems to be missing now.

Hoping to find it again!
 
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