Best small ski areas debate

discovery sounds interesting, indeed.  have heard something about Buffalo NY, recently..   dg

Can't wait to check out discovery,

If we are talking east and small it's holiday valley, ny south of buffalo

650' vertical has some steeps and trees, but the best part is 500" of snow a year

Holiday was my home mountain growing up.  I'll never forget the first time I successfully conquered the Wall and it's 40 degree slope.  I felt like I just skied Everest.  Ellicottville is a great little ski town.  Killer Octoberfest!

Small? You wanna talk small? My local hill here in the east is Brantling. 250 vert. Two Handle tows and a T bar. Big news this year is that the old diesel motor for the T bar is being replaced with an electric motor!! Last year the lake dumped 18" of PNW like "powder" overnight and the groomer was down (or maybe out of gas?). Mid week is $20 and I had the T bar all to myself for the day with fresh pow on every run. Yoyo Yahoo!! Actually, it was the hill where Diann Roffe got her start. 1985 world champion and a gold and silver in two Olympics.

That said, I'm really looking forward to a week at Summit/Alpental next month. Yoyo-ing 250' all day on a T bar gets you a total of about 5000' and a real leg workout.

The wall, an epic run 400' and 40 degrees

I'm partial to Willamette Pass in Oregon. Steep trees, no lines, 1500 vert, and home to RTS which is 52 degrees.

How about a glance into our own backyard, at Hurricane Ridge, one of only 3 lift areas in the national parks. Truly dinky, 1-1/2 rope tows and a Poma, 700' vert I think.
But the back/sidecountry is cool, the Olympics are gorgeous, and you can ski steep lines while looking at the ocean! Where else in a day trip?