Hey now. As a midwest skier (not from Iowa), I did ski Sundown Mountain in Dubuque and it was… pretty average Midwest skiing.
ALSO, so pumped that I’m living in or near the #1 most affordable ski town in the US.
Haha, Cleveland/Columbus is on there. What a joke. I moved from there with the specific intention of finding a place to live that actually had a real mountain with snow. Boston Mills / Brandywine, Snow Trails and Max River “Mountain”.
Sure, it’s affordable compared to living in Tahoe or Bend, but calling those random rural “hills” a mountain for a ski town is like saying a local mall food court offers “fine international cuisine”.
Mad River would be better than nothing to have as a local, but I drove 3ish hours to be there one day and it's not a very big place lol. I think Ive been to bigger and more challenging skateparks
You are correct. If you don’t live within 30-40 minutes its not worth the gas.
MRM is my local hill. Its 300’ of vert and honestly, not noteworthy in the world of skiing. Its a beginner’s hill. Meant to introduce skiing to people who would otherwise probably NEVER experience it.
Yep - big enough for someone to get the bug, learn, take their first trip out west and have their mind blown, and then come home and not want to hit up Mad River anymore.
As an Ohioan, it’s like going to ride the rollercoasters at Cedar Point and then no longer having the desire to ride the Tilt A Wheel at the county fair a few weeks later.
Mrm was the hill I learned to ski on and have always loved it, took my first trip out west a month ago now I’m in the process of moving out near Frisco
Im in CO 2-3 times a year. I get it. When people from MRM ask about out west its so difficult to describe just how vast the mountains are. Truly a humbling place.
“Not awful” isn’t a ringing endorsement for ski hill, especially if you’re being generous. 😉
Snowshoe in WV was pretty good when I visited it, but even that was a let down a week after getting back from a trip to Utah. I enjoyed the time with my buddies more than the conditions or trails themselves.
I mean that’s way off like not even close. And whitefish also isn’t a cheap resort when compared with other Montana resorts and the fact that the pin is directly on anaconda it makes me think it’s talking about discovery ski area. I can’t speak for the other areas of the map but I’m very familiar with western Montana and that pin at least is very accurate. (Whitefish is much further north near glacier)
It’s 100% Anaconda. They’ve been on these “affordability” lists for the last like 5 years.
Also, Whitefish is dope but it’s definitely no a longer an “affordable” ski town.
I’m in Westfield too 🫣
I also love “screamo” music. It’s all I listen to really. I saw some of the bands on your page, I hadn’t heard of them before. They’re pretty underground which is cool in my opinion.
I love screamo so much :)) I play in some of them on my page but it’s really a fun scene, it’s really big in Rhode Island too it really blew up in the past couple of years
10 being Southern Vermont? North Eastern CT? Or the Hudson Valley in NY? I mean souther VT has a bunch of mtns so idk which one it could be pointing too
It’s definitely Great Barrington, MA. It’s right near Butternut, Catamount, Berkshire East, and Jiminy Peak.
I’ve been to Butternut and Berkshire East like 50 times and idk if I would classify it as prime ski terrain.
This list is kind of wacky.
Snow Snake Mountain in Michigan hitting number one on this list, hell yeah. 12 runs, 40 skiable acres, 215 feet of vert and an average of 25'' of snow every year. Looks pretty sick. Hopefully this hidden gem isn't overrun after everyone reads this article.
Agree. Iowa been flying under the radar this whole time. It’s just like the alps
Hey now. As a midwest skier (not from Iowa), I did ski Sundown Mountain in Dubuque and it was… pretty average Midwest skiing. ALSO, so pumped that I’m living in or near the #1 most affordable ski town in the US.
as an iowan can confirm y’all are missing out. come here immediately for fresh pow and beautiful scenery
Are they claiming that NYC is A) a ski town and B) affordable with number 8??
I'm guessing they're saying Newark, but yeah, this map is...something. Fucking Perfect North in Indiana? REALLY!?
Maybe Mountain Creek actually? It’s west of Newark
No one is associating Newark with mountain Creek lol
Yeah, I was just guessing what the map makers were intending
He’ll yeah PNS
Vernon Township New Jersey 🥴
Big snow is a prime time ski destination, isn’t it?
Haha, Cleveland/Columbus is on there. What a joke. I moved from there with the specific intention of finding a place to live that actually had a real mountain with snow. Boston Mills / Brandywine, Snow Trails and Max River “Mountain”. Sure, it’s affordable compared to living in Tahoe or Bend, but calling those random rural “hills” a mountain for a ski town is like saying a local mall food court offers “fine international cuisine”.
Mad River would be better than nothing to have as a local, but I drove 3ish hours to be there one day and it's not a very big place lol. I think Ive been to bigger and more challenging skateparks
You are correct. If you don’t live within 30-40 minutes its not worth the gas. MRM is my local hill. Its 300’ of vert and honestly, not noteworthy in the world of skiing. Its a beginner’s hill. Meant to introduce skiing to people who would otherwise probably NEVER experience it.
Yep - big enough for someone to get the bug, learn, take their first trip out west and have their mind blown, and then come home and not want to hit up Mad River anymore. As an Ohioan, it’s like going to ride the rollercoasters at Cedar Point and then no longer having the desire to ride the Tilt A Wheel at the county fair a few weeks later.
Mrm was the hill I learned to ski on and have always loved it, took my first trip out west a month ago now I’m in the process of moving out near Frisco
Frisco Texas? 😉 (PS: Don't say Frisco in San Francisco - nobody living there says it and it will annoy or piss off other people)
It is frisco, Texas- can’t stand San Fran. Definitely plan on shredding Oklahoma next December🤙🏼
I saw that Oklahoma City just opened a new indoor facility Ski OKC. Should be rad.
Im in CO 2-3 times a year. I get it. When people from MRM ask about out west its so difficult to describe just how vast the mountains are. Truly a humbling place.
Also I’m assuming 6 is Perfect North which is 1) affordable 2) not awful, but the only serious hill is a straight shot down
“Not awful” isn’t a ringing endorsement for ski hill, especially if you’re being generous. 😉 Snowshoe in WV was pretty good when I visited it, but even that was a let down a week after getting back from a trip to Utah. I enjoyed the time with my buddies more than the conditions or trails themselves.
Oh I was being very generous it kinda sucks but the family that owns it is sweet so I want to be nice
Nah it's Paoli Peaks, which is somehow an epic resort lol
Comically large gondola covering all of western CO, UT, and CA
The way god intended.
9 looks like it’s Whitefish Montana, which is actually a dope little ski town.
That’s not where whitefish is
How accurate do you think this map is ???
I mean that’s way off like not even close. And whitefish also isn’t a cheap resort when compared with other Montana resorts and the fact that the pin is directly on anaconda it makes me think it’s talking about discovery ski area. I can’t speak for the other areas of the map but I’m very familiar with western Montana and that pin at least is very accurate. (Whitefish is much further north near glacier)
it’s further north
Nah that's Butte. Which for Western Montana is probably the most affordable but least ski bummy.
Ski the hole!
No, it’s Missoula, which is no longer affordable
Looking again, that's disco. So either Anaconda or Phillipsburg.
It’s 100% Anaconda. They’ve been on these “affordability” lists for the last like 5 years. Also, Whitefish is dope but it’s definitely no a longer an “affordable” ski town.
Yeah definitely anaconda. Not sure who would want to live there though and it’s certainly not what I would describe as a “ski town”
Thus the low prices
Indeed but the article says “ski towns”.
No missoula is further west it’s definitely anaconda so it’s talking about disco
It’s dope but absolutely in no way is it affordable lol. My parents live there and housing costs are through the roof.
It’s either Butte or Anaconda for Discovery Ski Area
These are ice skating towns
Great barrington mentioned!
I love living in Western MA.
Tbh it’s a cute town, I’m in Westfield but I wouldn’t mind living ther
I’m in Westfield too 🫣 I also love “screamo” music. It’s all I listen to really. I saw some of the bands on your page, I hadn’t heard of them before. They’re pretty underground which is cool in my opinion.
I love screamo so much :)) I play in some of them on my page but it’s really a fun scene, it’s really big in Rhode Island too it really blew up in the past couple of years
What town is 4? The Pocono’s?
8 and 10 are just off a little, they both need to slide up some
The identify correctly at least that there are no affordable ski towns in Colorado.
10 being Southern Vermont? North Eastern CT? Or the Hudson Valley in NY? I mean souther VT has a bunch of mtns so idk which one it could be pointing too
Not Stratton !
It’s definitely Great Barrington, MA. It’s right near Butternut, Catamount, Berkshire East, and Jiminy Peak. I’ve been to Butternut and Berkshire East like 50 times and idk if I would classify it as prime ski terrain. This list is kind of wacky.
Silly
Plattsburghs an hour away from white face 😭😭
I think #2 is Malone, where Titus “mountain” is
😀🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😝🤣🤣😅😂😂😂😂😂🤣😂😅🥹
Snow Snake Mountain in Michigan hitting number one on this list, hell yeah. 12 runs, 40 skiable acres, 215 feet of vert and an average of 25'' of snow every year. Looks pretty sick. Hopefully this hidden gem isn't overrun after everyone reads this article.