Part 1: The Winners
>	Part 2: Your Thoughts on DCSki and Random Resort Comments
	Part 3: The Raw Statistics

What You Like Most About DCSki

It turns out, you like a lot! Here are some of the things readers listed as their favorites about DCSki:

What You Like Least About DCSki

There are some things readers don't like about DCSki, although we were pleased to see so many readers list "nothing" or "what's not to like?" But pay attention, readers, because some of this criticism is directed to you and occasional behavior witnessed in the forums. A silent majority of readers has made it abundantly clear to DCSki's Editor that certain topics (you know which ones) and attitudes drive them away from the message forums.

How You Would Improve DCSki

So we know what you like and dislike; what about specific suggestions for improvements? (We have already acted on some of the suggestions, such as adding a direct link to the Forums from DCSki's home page.)

What You Think of Ads on DCSki

We were curious what readers thought about the ads that show up throughout DCSki. (DCSki, after all, is only made possible by the support of local advertisers.) So in the survey, we asked whether you thought the ads were obtrusive, and whether you patronized DCSki's advertisers. On most web sites, users do not care for ads, so we were quite surprised by the response.

The vast majority of readers did not find the ads obtrusive, and quite a few even described the ads as "great" and providing additional avenues to learn about Mid-Atlantic winter sports. Some readers were honest and said that they "hardly noticed the ads," but quite a few indicated that they patronize advertisers whenever they can. For now, DCSki seems to have reached a nice balance that keeps readers and advertisers happy.

Additional Random Comments from You

Greg writes:

"I grew up in the Pittsburgh area, so Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, and Laurel Mountain are my emotional favorites, but Wisp has climbed the rankings rapidly with the western expansion. Even though I now live in West Virginia, I have found Snowshoe, Canaan Valley, and Timberline to be overhyped, mostly by those who have invested in the valley."

Kate writes:

"We are looking forward to visiting Hidden Valley after reading recent articles [on DCSki]."

Tom writes:

"I think Snowshoe would be more successful if they would offer more reasonably priced tickets through various promotions. You can ski most weekdays at Wisp for about $20, Seven Springs charges prices based on open terrain, and Liberty/Whitetail offer the excellent 'flex ticket' options. Snowshoe, while pretty good (and I love the WV moutains) is simply priced too high for the typical family."

A reader writes:

"I always checked DCSki hoping to see a good announcement about Laurel Mountain. That is the resort that needs to reopen."

Rudi writes:

"All of the resorts here need to be judged against their peers, and not against the juggernauts of New England, the Rockies, the Sierras, or the Cascades, as none of the locals really measure up in terms of total experience offered (snow, terrain, amenities). That said, there's a great amount of high-quality skiing available in the Mid-Atlantic area. It's a great incubator for young and new skiers to learn in a non-hostile environment, and it sets up these new skiers and boarders to ski the bigger mountains elsewhere in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and the South Pacific. As a former FIS-level racer who grew up in Utah, I'm happy with the local skiing: it's good for a quick fix, and fun in its own right. Any and all skiable snow is a blessing, and I tip my hat to local operators who have to fight an increasingly inhospitable climate in order to operate."

Denis writes:

"I ski at Whitegrass more than anyplace else. I often buy a single ride at Canaan to cut down on the climb into the backcountry. Whitegrass was not in the list of resorts in the survey but I would rate it as my favorite, also best food, best ambiance/atmosphere, most friendly, best for families. Not having a lift, Whitegrass doesn't fit the profile and I don't know how you would account for that in a survey of this type. I go to Timberline a lot but prefer Blue Knob when they have enough natural snow. Timberline has the advantages of making a lot of snow and being next door to Whitegrass. Blue Knob's higher end terrain is unique in the Mid-Atlantic. I grew up and learned to ski in the Boston area in the 1950s. For perspective I am a shareholder at Mad River Glen and I like powder in the trees above all else. I am especially fond of the gnarly tree skiing in northern Vermont."

Paul writes:

"You need to add other areas like Whitegrass (great price and super food) and Boyce Park in Pittsburgh because it's super cheap!"

Doug writes:

"The hills in the area cater too much to 14 year-old snowboarders. The terrain parks will be the first thing to open each year, but unless it's a real good start to the season, it will be weeks before they open anything more than one or two blues. You can forget about getting any diamonds open for a long time. They keep the snow guns going on the parks and a few easy trails, but take too long to fire them up on other parts of the mountain. Although I'm dying to hit the slopes, I'm not going to waste my time and money on any of these places until they give me a few challening options. I know it's the Mid-Atlantic and we're not going to get Vail-like options, but I'd like to see them at least use what they have."

Robert writes:

"I still find Seven Springs unparalleled commitment to opening terrain unsurpassed in the Mid-Atlantic. This is the primary reason I invest in a season pass there. I will continue to visit Wisp and plan on patronizing Hidden Valley. Blue Knob has disappointed me in recent years but if conditions are just right, it can be amazing. This experience has been very rare in recent years though and the area needs to make opening Extrovert a priority as this is their signature slope. Otherwise you might as well be someplace closer, with better lifts and accommodations."

The Colonel writes:

"Sometimes I think we get too personal when describing why we like or do not favor a specific resort. Too often the word or meaning 'HATE' creeps into the posts. However, I find it reasonable for folks to praise and criticize resorts that are either being non customer friendly, or simply skating by with a less than full effort product."

A reader writes:

"If Timberline had better snowmaking capabilities I probably might have rated it as my favorite resort, as the area is beautiful and I could see the potential of great skiing. However, I just came back from a family ski trip in which only 2 trails were open. That left me with a negative view of the resort. Wisp, on the otherhand, was able to have 20 trails open and we had a great time skiing there."

Woody writes:

"More ski areas (especially Snowshoe and Blue Knob) should follow Wintergreen's example by actively promoting a natural history association (i.e., The Wintergreen Nature Foundation) that educates the public about the mountains' natural features. The Wintergreen Nature Foundation manages more than half of Wintergreen's total acreage. It's a shame to ignore the beauty and ecological services that these places provide, using them as simply gravity-providers for skiers and boarders. Ski areas also need to more actively promote and celebrate their history, and their region's history, with display panels, memorabilia exhibits and the like. The Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge and Alleghenies are not all the same... so don't treat them that way!"

Craig writes:

" I wish more local resorts sent out daily snow report e-mails, and did it in a timely manner. I get a snow report e-mail from Sugarbush, Vermont every day at 7:30 a.m. or so. Would be nice to get something similar from local resorts. I can't believe they are missing this opportunity to communicate with customers. In addition, Sugarbush is brutally honest about conditions, something I rarely see in this area. It helps to know the real dope about conditions when planning what clothing/skis to take on my trip, especially day trips. Bad conditions don't deter me from skiing, they just make me plan differently. Snowshoe's online reservation system never has 'hot deal' information available for booking, even when their website links to hot deals. That seems like an oversight. I shouldn't have to call in and wait on hold to take advantage of a hot deal listed on their website, or sent to me in an e-mail. Wintergreen should be a little more vocal about their excellent snowmaking system. In my experience, they consistently recover the quickest from warm weather, and sometimes pull off a miracle overnight. I know of no other resort in the region that can do it so well, and on so much terrain. They clearly have the best snowmaking in the region in terms of quality (Snowshoe probably wins for quantity/capacity, but still depends on natural snow for good surface quality)."

A reader writes:

"Bryce is a great resort, that is not as busy as the others. What it lacks in sophisticated slopes, it more than makes up with its charm and beautiful views. The passion of the employees is second to none, and they have a ski school that is patient and understand for new skiiers. It is family friendly, and the fireplace is a great place to warm up after a day of skiing."

A reader writes:

"Ughh... where do I start. To put it simply: I personally love Snowshoe's Cupp Run/Shays - I could ski it every day all season. Silver Creek is nice, but the bus ride is a hassle. Also the village scene and nightlife are so much fun. However, with my family I hate the basin-side cross-cuts and general slope layout. It is actually frustrating to ski there. The Boathouse has so much potential, but is the epitome of how Showshoe fails in customer service. Would it kill them to have snack and sode machines around? They have so much potential to make this a much more enjoyable skiing experience. For these reasons, along with the drive, I have switched over to Wintergreen for my family's one week once-a-year ski vacations. Great kid areas, nice enough runs, and very worth the effort."