Score Changes: Multiple Resorts Struggle to Handle Increased Crowds
In the wake of unprecedented resort traffic, we are dropping the Crowd Flow scores for several mountains, including seven owned by Vail Resorts.
Score Change: Snowbasin’s New Middle Bowl Express is the Year’s Most Useful Lift Redundancy
The upgrade has eliminated a painfully long lift ride, redistributed crowds in a more practical manner, and democratized access to some of the resort’s best terrain.
Big Sky Score Change: Extra-Cost Tram Access Outweighs An Effective Swift Current Lift Upgrade
Major lift upgrades are not enough to outweigh the loss of Lone Peak Tram access for those who only purchase regular ticket and pass products.
Mountain Review: Big Sky (With Tram Add-on)
Purchasing the extra-cost Lone Peak Tram add-on gets visitors lift-serviced access to Big Sky’s most extreme terrain, highest elevation, and best views. However, competing mountains offer similarly unique terrain for a far lower cost of entry.
Arapahoe Basin 2nd Notch: An Extremely Scary Experience
Our ranker-in-chief Sam loses his footing as he attempts one of the most dangerous in-bounds entrances in all of North America.
Video Review: Mount Hood Meadows
An in-depth video review of Mount Hood Meadows, a ski area located on the southeastern flank of Mount Hood, Oregon.
Park City Requiring Paid Parking Reservations on All Park City-Side Lots for 2022-23
The resort will require paid reservations for all the Park City-side lots, including Main, First Time, and Silver King, seven days a week until 1pm. Most Canyons-side lots will remain free at all times next season.
Stowe Implementing New Paid Parking Policy Covering Most Lots for 2022-23
The Vermont resort has made the decision to implement paid parking on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays at popular lots. The decision has implications for traffic and crowd flow during peak times.
A Journey Up Big Sky’s Newly-Upgraded Lewis and Clark Bubble Lift
Big Sky’s Lewis and Clark lift quietly received bubbles on 100% of its chairs for the 2021-22 season. Our rankers Sam and George take a ride up and discuss the implications.
Master Plan Deep Dive: Timberline Lodge
We hone in on the Oregon resort’s recently-unveiled 2022 Master Plan, which proposes a gondola connecting the lower-elevation Summit Pass area to the main area of the resort, a new beginner area, and parking enhancements, among other investments.