“What’s a ski resort you’ve never been to but have always wanted to ski?”
Yesterday, we posted the simple question to our Unofficial Networks Facebook page: “What’s a ski resort you’ve never been to but have always wanted to ski?” The post exploded with responses, ranging from hardcore backcountry enthusiasts to casual skiers and even a few non-skiers throwing in humorous curveballs. Drawing from hundreds of comments, We’ve compiled the highlights, including top mentions, standout quotes, and some intriguing observations about what these responses reveal about skier dream trips.
The Most Dreamed-About Resorts: A Breakdown
To make sense of the flood of suggestions, I tallied the mentions of specific resorts (accounting for variations in spelling and abbreviations). Whistler topped the list by a wide margin, likely due to its massive terrain, reliable snow, and reputation as a world-class destination. Close behind were iconic U.S. spots like Telluride and Jackson Hole, known for their challenging runs and stunning scenery.
Here’s a quick table of the top 20 resorts by mention count:
| Rank | Resort | Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whistler | 35 |
| 2 | Telluride | 25 |
| 3 | Jackson Hole | 23 |
| 4 | Taos | 18 |
| 5 | Big Sky | 16 |
| 6 | Revelstoke | 15 |
| 7 | Chamonix | 12 |
| 8 | Zermatt | 11 |
| 9 | Kicking Horse | 10 |
| 10 | Sun Valley | 8 |
| 11 | Fernie | 7 |
| 12 | Mt. Baker | 6 |
| 13 | Grand Targhee | 6 |
| 14 | Silverton | 6 |
| 15 | Alyeska | 5 |
| 16 | Portillo | 5 |
| 17 | Banff | 5 |
| 18 | Mammoth | 5 |
| 19 | Aspen | 5 |
| 20 | Vail | 5 |
For a visual representation, here’s a simple bar graph showing the top 10 (scaled for readability, where each * represents roughly one mention):
This graph highlights the dominance of Whistler, but also shows a strong preference for North American resorts overall, with European heavy-hitters like Chamonix and Zermatt rounding out the international appeal.
Standout Quotes from the Community
The responses weren’t just lists—they were packed with passion, regret, humor, and advice. Here are some of the most memorable:
- On the Powder Highway (a popular Canadian route): “Lots of people picking off one or two from Powder Highway. It’s one good trip. I did it 3 times. So easy to hit Fernie, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke and Red, with many other possibilities along the way (Kimberly, Panorama, Whitewater to name a few). Easily done in 10 days to 2 weeks. Do it!” — Chris McKeever. This comment shows how many dreamers are eyeing British Columbia’s interconnected gems.
- A lifetime of skiing: “I’ve skied all of them in the USA and 5 different countries! I was a guide on the Para Olympic team!” — William Heikkinen. A humblebrag that reminds us some folks have already lived the dream.
- Regrets of aging: “Big Sky. There are some chutes there I always wanted to ski, but never got there. Now I am too old.” — Leonard Wolff. A poignant reminder that time waits for no skier.
- Humor in the mix: “My own backyard because I ain’t taking no chances.” — Sojourna Jacobs. Not everyone is chasing adrenaline; some prefer safety over slopes.
- A strong opinion on Whistler: “Lots of Whistler listed but Blackcomb is the better mountain! Darksider for LIFE!” — Chris McKeever (again, clearly a passionate contributor).
- Exotic aspirations: “Portillo, Bariloche, Alyeska, Gulmarg, Niseko, Hakuba, Mad River Glen.” — Sigrid Rieschel. This bucket list spans continents, showing the global allure of skiing.
- A rant on resort realities: “One where they actually enforce lift line rules. One where the absolute trash food isn’t more expensive than a Michelin star restaurant… Get it? Most are trash and are getting worse.” — Brandon J. Lacy. A cynical take amid the enthusiasm, highlighting frustrations with modern resort experiences.
- Out-there ideas: “Mons Huygens, shred all 17,380 vertical nonstop.” — Joe Manning (referring to a lunar mountain—talk about aiming high!).
These quotes capture the diversity: from practical trip advice to whimsical wishes.
Interesting Observations from the Responses
Diving deeper, a few patterns emerge that say a lot about the skiing community’s mindset:
- North American Dominance, with Canada Leading the Charge: Over half the mentions were for U.S. or Canadian resorts. Whistler was the runaway favorite, often paired with nearby spots like Blackcomb or the Powder Highway collective (Fernie, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke, Red Mountain). This suggests accessibility plays a big role—many respondents seem based in the U.S., making a road trip to B.C. more feasible than flying overseas. Interestingly, several commenters like Chris McKeever emphasized how “easy” it is to knock off multiple in one go.
- Iconic U.S. Spots for Challenge and Scenery: Taos, Jackson Hole, Telluride, and Big Sky racked up votes for their steep terrain and vibe. Taos, in particular, was frequently cited for its expert runs, while Big Sky appealed to those craving vast, uncrowded spaces. A subset of responses focused on smaller, indie resorts like Mt. Bohemia or Mad River Glen, hinting at a desire for authentic, no-frills experiences amid growing corporatization.
- International Dreams for Adventure: Europe (Chamonix, Zermatt, St. Moritz) and beyond (Japan’s Niseko/Hokkaido, South America’s Portillo/Bariloche) made up about 30% of mentions. These often came from seasoned skiers who’ve “done” North America and crave cultural novelty or extreme conditions. Gulmarg in India/Pakistan stood out as an under-the-radar pick for its high-altitude heli-skiing potential.
- Humor, Reluctance, and Reality Checks: Not everyone was enthusiastic. About 10% of responses were from non-skiers (“Don’t ski,” “Give me a beach!”), while others joked about impossible spots like Death Valley or Everest. A few lamented crowds (e.g., Norbert Ördög on Whistler’s lift lines) or physical limitations. This adds a relatable layer—skiing dreams aren’t universal, and practical barriers like cost, age, or location often intrude.
- Bucket List Trends: Many listed multiples, suggesting “resort hopping” fantasies. Passes like Epic, Ikon, and Mountain Collective were name-dropped, indicating how multi-resort passes influence wish lists. Also notable: Southern Hemisphere spots (Chile, Argentina) for off-season skiing, and a few nods to climate-resilient areas like high-altitude European resorts.
Overall, this Facebook thread shows the siers wanderlust. Whether it’s the allure of Whistler’s massive ski area or the European ski centers with views of the Matterhorn, these responses show that skiing is as much about the dream as the descent. If you’re planning your next trip, consider the Powder Highway—it might just check off several boxes at once. What’s on your ski bucket list?
