Where is Mecca?

[Patrick]

Where is Mecca?
Is there more than one Mecca?
Meccas aren't necessarily rational, more emotional. Place with mystic.

The Alta discussion mentioned the word Mecca and it got me thinking. Many places could be seen as Mecca.

Here is what I wrote:

I was refering to Jackson Hole. As a kid, teenager, young adults, Jackson Hole was always viewed as being Mecca. Meccas aren't nessarily rational and sometimes bigger than in real life.

Jackson Hole

Other considerations:

Alta - mecca of powderhounds
Tuckerman Ravine - mecca of the East
Chamonix - mecca of danger
Whistler - mecca of Parties

Some of these aren't rational, but they're reputation and mystic makes them major draws for skibums around the World.

 

[q]

Mecca is within 2 miles of my house :lol:

I'd say that everyone has their own Mecca. For every admin there is someone else who sees Snowbird as their Mecca, or those that swear by Solitude or Vail.

Having not been for around 4 or so seasons now Big Mountain up in Montana is where my Mecca is sitting right now.

 

[jasoncapecod]

Mecca

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I've mentioned these points before, but here goes again.

Whenever I go somewhere that everyone else considers "mecca" (Jackson Hole, Alta, Snowbird, Whistler), as much as I can appreciate the obvious reasons it's attained that label, I often feel like just another dope on the industrial tourism treadmill.

This January, while sitting in the bus that takes you from the parking lot to the lifts at Teton Village, I got really depressed when I noticed that everyone there looked the same: same 105+ waist skis, same clothes, same attitude, same expressions, etc. Some people get off on this kind of communal thing. I don't.

So while snow, terrain, and extent are most people's measuring sticks, equally important to me is the fact that:

a) I'm not one of a gazillion people there for the same reason
b) It has a unique, place-specific feel
c) It isn't extensively developed or if it is, the development isn't a distraction.

The Arlberg (St. Anton, Lech, Zurs) hits most of those criteria and loses points with me only because many other people feel the same way.

 

[salida]

Portillo, I think should be added to the list.

 

[Harvey]

Probably not what Patrick is looking for...and not lift serviced ...but I feel most religious here...and also fits Jamesdeluxe's criteria. The summit ridge of Bullhead may be the altar:

http://docs.unh.edu/NY/thrl54nw.jpg

 

[Patrick]

There isn't any wrong answers.

My definition of Mecca is a place that was on the top of my list. A place that I needed to go, see and ski. For me, it was the only place that I cared about seeing in the US West for so many years. I had to go on a pilgrimage on the last year of the Tram.

Mecca are totally irrationals, there is often better places elsewhere.

So for me it was Jackson Hole.

I didn't want to add all the places on the list, but Portillo could certainly fit on my definition of Meccas. I'm sure some would agree about Las Lenas or La Grave.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I guess the connotation of Mecca implies that it's on people's wish lists, thus by definition famous. So AltaBird, Jackson, Whistler, Chamonix, La Grave fit, due to unique characteristics that put them at the top of the heap in some aspect of skiing.

I do get jamesdeluxe's point though. You may get a more special feeling in a place such as he describes, because you "discovered how good it was," rather than reading/hearing about it half your life from friends, magazines, movies etc. before finally getting there.

By jamesdeluxe's 3 points, Castle Mt. is Mecca for me.

I do think it helped a lot for Patrick that Jackson totally lived up to its hype when he was there.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Castle Mt. is Mecca for me.

I'm disappointed that I didn't have time to make it to Castle when I was out there a year ago. It sounds like a great place.

 

[riverc0il]

Mecca are totally irrationals, there is often better places elsewhere.

That sounds about right. Mecca's are also time specific, not just place specific. Tuckerman Ravine got tossed out there as a Mecca of the Eastern US, which it is on some days and other days it can be fairly miserable and not worth the trip. Any place in the world can be a great location but not worth the trip. So I say that Mecca's are not just location specific but also time specific or else you don't get the whole "religious experience" going on (in keeping with the meme). I do not have one specific Mecca, personally. Jay could be it on a really deep mid-week powder day. Tuckerman could be it on a banner corn day in the spring. I will always have a huge spot in my heart for Cannon for numerous reasons, but most people would suggest that is irrational. How about a place like Mad River Glen? Any one that enjoys groomed terrain, snow making, and high speed lifts would not consider such a place a Mecca but those that enjoy those things would consider such disrespect as blasphemy before scoffing "more powder and shorter lines for me".

Mecca is the time and place that feels the most transient and fulfilling. It can be completely irrational and it can be completely time dependent as a trip to a supposed Mecca in poor conditions is not going to feel very special regardless of location... especially if you made a long pilgrimage and took time off to visit a Mecca during a particularly bad time.

 

[Harvey]

How about a place like Mad River Glen? Any one that enjoys groomed terrain, snow making, and high speed lifts would not consider such a place a Mecca...

When I think about it...if Mecca is in your mind... a place you haven't been to yet... it may be Mad River for me. Because I haven't been there, everything I know about MRG is second hand.

I'm not a fan of high speed lifts...and I'll trade less complete coverage for the opportunity to ski all-natural snow. I love the idea of long continuous tree runs. The photos I've seen show terrain drops, rocks and ledges that really appeal to me. The base area (I have been there) has an incredibly real feel to it...like it really is part of New England. Driving in from the west, I was awestruck by the road that goes through that notch on Stark Mountain. That spot on the spine is really special...almost intimate.

Oh yea one other thing I like...no parking. :lol:

Oddly the only thing that doesn't appeal to me is the whole "mecca for telemarkers." I guess I'd rather be in the minority.

 

[Patrick]

I do think it helped a lot for Patrick that Jackson totally lived up to its hype when he was there.

Yes, it did, but I could easily see how this place could be a total disappointment. Remember the first day was far from ideal conditions. However Mecca can be built on some preconceived notions and be a major disappointment. It wasn't for me. It's also about the vibe.

Jackson Hole was my mecca, but mainly because it was on the top (or near) of my to-do list for over 20 years.