Val Thorens with Snowheads, April 14th to 19th 2024.

I also have an issue with ski areas connected by a horizontal ski lift - identifying as a single resort. To me, the connection seems a bit artificial. And others that are just marketed as one area despite not being connected.

In North America:
  • Whistle (It's really Whister + Blackcomb
  • Palisades Tahoe (Squaw/Olympic Valley + Alpine Meadows)
  • Snoqualmie (No chairlift, but would consider Alpental independent)
  • Park City (Park City + The Canyons/ParkWest)
  • Loveland (Basin + Valley)
  • Sugarbush (functions as North + South or Glen Ellen + Sugarbush)
  • Stowe? (Mansfield + Spruce)
  • Loon? (Loon Mountain + South Peak)
  • Snowshoe (Snowshoe + Silver Creek + Western Territory/Cupp Run)
  • Mountain Creek (it's well-connected between Vernon + Great Gorge North + Great Gorge South)
In Europe: (likely missing a lot)
  • Brevent + Flegere
  • Les Arcs + La Plagne
  • Obergurgl (Obergurgl + Hochgurgl)
  • Kitzbuhel (Kitzbuheler Horn + Kitzbuhel + Pass Thurn)
Some of these I divide into 2 resorts; some seem to truly function as a single unit lacking independent identities/histories.
 
I think we've discovered that the ski area count thing is open to interpretation.
Can't agree that Alta and Snowbird are one ski area. Even to a first timer there they feel completely different - for some reason. And there is the stark difference of snowboards.
 
ChrisC said:
  • Whistler (It's really Whistler + Blackcomb Separate, also skied them before merger
  • Palisades Tahoe (Squaw/Olympic Valley + Alpine Meadows) Separate, also skied them before merger
  • Park City (Park City + The Canyons/ParkWest) Separate, also skied them before merger
  • Loveland (Basin + Valley) Even if I had skied Valley I would not call it separate, subjectively too small.
  • Sugarbush (functions as North + South or Glen Ellen + Sugarbush) I've only skied Sugarbush, but would be inclined to classify as separate. They used to be separately owned. Mt. High is a direct analogy, where I skied both areas before they merged.
  • Stowe? (Mansfield + Spruce) One Area IMHO.
  • Brevent + Flegere One Area IMHO.
  • Les Arcs + La Plagne Separate
  • Obergurgl (Obergurgl + Hochgurgl) One Area IMHO.
  • Kitzbuhel (Kitzbuheler Horn + Kitzbuhel + Pass Thurn) Separate
Click to expand...
Above, how I've classified them.

Though I've come around to the view Les Menuires is separate I'm going to leave that one aside in my records for now as I skied exactly one run on Pointe de la Masse during my week in Val Thorens in 2022 and none on the even more beat up opposite side. Maybe I'll get a shot at more thorough exploration in some future season as I did with Couchevel this past season.
 
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