What the heck is “local flavor?” We ask about it on our annual Reader Resort Survey, and refer to it as a distinctly desirable characteristic that many ski resorts lack. But really, what are those two words actually getting at?

The local flavor ranking, otherwise known as “character,” measures a ski area’s authenticity … its soul, if you will. Of course, different people have their own ideas of what makes one resort more authentic than another: Maybe one resort has an old mining town, or has ties to the 10th Mountain Division. Or maybe the ski culture is so pervasive that you can feel it in every nook and cranny.

Indeed, authenticity is in the eye of the beholder—and in this case, the beholder is you, SKI’s readers. When you weighed in on the Top 10 Ski Resorts in the East and the West with the most local flavor, you also left behind some amazing commentary that rang so very true. About one resort in the West, a reader commented: “Old-school feel. Like being back in the '70s/'80s.” Any guess where they’re talking about? Click here to find out.

One thing that’s not under contention is our collective love for independently owned ski areas. For whatever reason—though often correctly—we associate a lack of corporate ownership with an abundance of authenticity. Mom-and-pop ski areas like Montana’s tiny Maverick Mountain and Lost Trail Powder Mountain offer a community-oriented experience that harkens back to skiing’s heyday. SKI contributor Aaron Theisen road tripped to three tiny independent hills last winter and confirmed that these special places are gems worth preserving, now more than ever. Read his story here.

Finally, everyone knows the Indy Pass, the ever-growing pass partnership making it chic—and easier than ever—to ski independent resorts. But do you know the man behind the scenes? Erik Mogensen has made it his life goal to help small, mom-and-pop ski areas thrive and survive. He’s so invested in the mission, he bought Black Mountain, Maine, last season, and is helping remake it into a community hub. SKI’s Evie Carrick gets to know the man behind the Indy Pass.