Seven Springs or Hidden Valley? (house, nightlife, design)

[Independentthinking83]

Which do people prefer and why?

[jea6321]

Seven springs is a much better hill. Way more acres and overall much better terrain. Better facilities, better lifts, better terrain parks, better trees. Great nightlife where a lot of people come to just party even if they don't ski or snowboard. Way more things to do other than the ski area. Way more food/drink options. Same ownership so management decisions are one in the same.

Hidden valley is better for taking beginners to learn. Less crowded and a couple good mellow runs that start and end right at the main base. The snowmaking equipment at HV is better in warmer temps. TechnoAlpin fan guns combined with snowmax mix in the water can actually produce snow slightly above freezing. However the total snowmaking capacity per acre is much lower at HV compared to springs.

the HKD ( Herrman Dupre, the inventor of modern snowmaking and former part owner of springs design) system at springs can produce an absurd amount of snow in the correct conditions. Ideally about 10-15 degrees and low humidity, each HKD tower gun can produce a mound of snow about the size of a 2k sq ft house in 24 hours. SS has appoximately 1100 of these guns throughout the resort.

I prefer the HV golf course compared to SS. Way more terrain where SS is pretty flat and boring.

The sporting clays facility at SS is top notch and definitely worth checking out.

I could talk in way more detail about either place. Been a pass holder for 25 years and worked there for a decade.

[gg]

Originally Posted by jea6321

I could talk in way more detail about either place. Been a pass holder for 25 years and worked there for a decade.

A fellow skier. I really only ski Seven Springs and hang around Gunner/Northface speed lift area. The rest is kind of tiny. They make the most of that small mountain for sure.

I am not really interested in HV. The largest mountain is Blue Knob, but it is further and pretty out of date with slow lifts, so I don't think it is worth it.

I enjoy Seven Springs quite a bit, but to be honest a little bored with it. I do like the vibe out there though.

[Independentthinking83]

Have you guys ever gone to Wisp (deep creek) or snowshoe in WV?

[jea6321]

Originally Posted by Independentthinking83

Have you guys ever gone to Wisp (deep creek) or snowshoe in WV?

many times. Wisp isn't anything special in my opinion. Snowshoe would be great if it wasn't a 4 hour drive in the middle of nowhere. Snowshoe will be open for thanksgiving weekend and in the past if they were opening before SS id typically make the drive down. Now I just don't care all too much. SS is a good home base and then just try to take a trip or 2 to bigger mountains each season.

[Independentthinking83]

Originally Posted by jea6321

many times. Wisp isn't anything special in my opinion. Snowshoe would be great if it wasn't a 4 hour drive in the middle of nowhere. Snowshoe will be open for thanksgiving weekend and in the past if they were opening before SS id typically make the drive down. Now I just don't care all too much. SS is a good home base and then just try to take a trip or 2 to bigger mountains each season.

Thanks for the feedback!

[villageidiot1]

Originally Posted by Independentthinking83

Which do people prefer and why?

jea6321's advice is very good. I grew up near there and started skiing at 7 Springs in 1967. I would only go to Hidden Valley if I was taking a beginner who had never skied before.

[Independentthinking83]

Originally Posted by villageidiot1

jea6321's advice is very good. I grew up near there and started skiing at 7 Springs in 1967. I would only go to Hidden Valley if I was taking a beginner who had never skied before.

Thanks!