Mx G.
Yelp
This is a great mountain. And could not have been better. Let me count the ways.
Pros:
1. No rangers or ski patrol to slow you down.
In a day of skiing I only saw two ski patrol guys. These two were helping a guy who ran into a tree, coming off a minor lift. How cool is that? Someone else thought he broke his pelvis, but I could not see.
2. Lots of Ice to help you learn how to ski on 'variable conditions'
People who say that the snow conditions are up to Mother Nature are correct. The resort has no control of how often they groom (I ran across some corduroy at 3 pm from what must have been a groomer running up the mountain, made a world of difference), when they run their snow guns, where and how often to stash snow, when to close a run, when to open a run, how many to let onto the mountain, etc. Allll up to Mother Nature my boy. All up to nature.
also the icy patches help you exercise your core, where you go "Whoops!". (or, whoop, whoop, or crash, see three examples in this review.)
I've skied in the east and did not understand quite why it was known as being icy. I was completely humbled and reeducated by this experience.
And, somehow, my knees hit the ice too, and they remember.
3. beginner lift that really separates the nubs from the beginners, or at least the beginners from their skis.
At the top of the beginner lift there is a let off ramp that as you get off feels like it puts your skis nearly against your chest and then drops at a great pitch down. What a thrill, even for me. This does lead to great conversations at the bottom while you wonder why the lift stops so often. When you get there, you know.
4. Marketing guy does not waste time.
I saw a marketing guy filming a marketing video ("Great day here at Gunstock on Smith run. Great snow conditions....yadda yadda"). I asked if he could chat and he just skied away. Must have wanted to get it posted. Contrast this with Zander at Ragged who will talk your ear off helping you with tips and answering the phone when you call for help. I also thought it might be worth correcting the marketing guy about the conditions, but maybe "well groomed" means "variable with patches of ice" at Gunstock. Remember, runs are rated only with respect to other runs at this resort, and presumably grooming status as well.
By the way, we are always representing. I had a great conversation with a race official, and with a ski team coach, and in both cases, I liked them and their organisations. I also met a principal that sounded like a principal, and middle school teacher who sounded like a teacher.
5. They want to know who you are and hold personal information like birthday, cell phone and email. This gives you a chance to think more about how they will protect that information. All they really need is not year of birth, not age even, but "are you eligible for that ticket at that day". But noooo, they are more helpful. perhaps to a fault. This is what started the tone for the day, the night before.
6. Food truck closes early so you are encouraged to eat where you really want, which is Beefside!
7. The maps are slightly off. There is a run that exists, obscured by another run's name, and there is a lift that does not quite drop off where it is shown. This gives you a chance to learn!
8. You can't waste time asking questions on their phone, because they do not pick up. Leave a message and we will call you back.
9. This mountain responds well to those with well tuned skis. If you ever thought you wasted money getting your skis tuned, this mountain rewards those with edges.
10. Runs were closed on the ground that were open on the web site. I had to check with a lift operator if they were runs open enough to get down. He was able to check (why should he know, he's at the bottom of the runs!).
Cons
1. Some of the folks on the lifts will talk with you, and distract you with great conversations.
2. Lift ticket pick up was too easy. Where to pick up, now, that is another question. I also got to meet a lot of busy and very important people while parking and getting my ticket, and to learn to relax while sitting in my car boxed in, while in the 5 min. zone.
3. the high speed lift moves too fast.
4. Support for Insane Clown Posse (ICP) and Juggalos. A different marketing person asked in an online video for a Whoop Whoop. Whoop Whoop to you to. Who doesn't shred to ICP?
5. the map folds in a way that you can see the trail map fairly clearly without having to open the whole map. This seems like a happy accident, but may be on purpose. I actually like this.
6. They give younger seniors discounts. the card readers work fairly well.