Featured Image: Arapahoe Basin Beach Party. Courtesy: Colorado Ski Country USA
^A classic Mount Bohemia hot tub party from Mount Bohemia TV
‘Vibe’ can be measured in various ways when it comes to a ski resort.
Everybody has their own criteria, but the average ski bum uses some combination of the following to judge a ski area’s vibe: parking lot tailgates, number of tele skiers, chairlift fanfare, number of ungroomed trails, general attitude of ski patrol, type of music played at the lodge, cost of beer, and some gauge of the types of skiers and riders you see in the lift line.
You can tell a lot about a ski area based on it’s vibe.
Here are some of your answers to the question:
Thomas F: “Whitewater in BC, Canada had the friendliest vibe of anywhere I’ve personally skied! Locals were unbelievably friendly and made us feel like we were at home. Such a relaxed place that flies under the radar a little with seriously underrated skiing”
Katie F: “Alpine Meadows (pre-Squaw acquisition) is my favorite in CA. Snowbird, and Powder Mountain are my go-to’s in UT. But take me back to Courcheval, France any day!”
Fred L: “Brundage mountain. Northern idaho. Family atmosphere nice people prices right. Excellent skiing. 320″ annually and no snooty crowds. Try the shiver pale ale. Excellent!!”
^Brundage Mountain
Connor M: “Mount Bohemia The best I’ve skied so far. Everyone is super laid back and just having a blast. Expert only tree runs and base-side pools, hot tubs, and a eucalyptus steam room. What more could you want!”
Alexander B: “Lost Trail Powder Mountain. Middle of nowhere on the ID/MT border but gets good snow and has a nice variety of terrain. Lifties are known to make elaborate snow sculptures, burn a lot of incense, and give a 🤘 to everyone that they see on the lifts…”
John T: “The crew and vibe at Targhee are phenomenal.”
^Courtesy: Powder Day Photography, Grand Targhee Resort
Michael D: “Taos, no other ski area vibe compares. The fusion of cultures, the snow, the landscape, the steeps,the food, etc. Land of Enchantment.”
Charles R: “A Basin. Worked there the winter of ’83-’84. Have skied many other places in the decades since, including living in Utah for the last 30 years, and there’s no place like it.”
Patrick W: “Camden Snow Bowl, Camden Maine. Only ski hill in the lower 48 with a view of the ocean.”
^Camden Snowbowl
Kyle S: “Alyeska, & the entire town of Girdwood.”
Dave S: “The one where you are!”
Joseph B: “Clarifying question: Is “vibe” code word for narcotics?”
Mark H: “Mad River Glen!!!”
Adrien G: “Red River, New Mexico”
Todd T: “If we told you then it wouldn’t keep the same vibe. Same thing when a tourist ask my favorite run…”
^Red River Ski Area