Holiday Week Skiing Plans?

Dec 23, 2003, 9:36 PM

My 17 year old step daughter is flying up from Florida on New Years eve!

We will spend the Jan. 2-4 at Sunday River. She rides horses, so she picked up skiing pretty easily. Snowboarding was a whole different story!

Joshua B · Dec 23, 2003, 9:43 PM

Since I virtually eliminated liftlines from my ski experience few couple years ago, I avoid all major resorts and popular day trip destinations during school vacations. However, Berkshire East is my safe spot for weekends or even vacation days.

I guess I should answer the original question. No plans for me.

skijay · Dec 24, 2003, 8:57 AM

I usually pass on skiing during this upcoming vacation week or any vaction week. If I do go anywhere it will be On January 1st or the 3rd to Butternut and I will start at 8:15am and be gone by 11:30am. From past experience opening to about 11 - 11:30 sees the least amount of liftlines. No up north trips until mid January. Thankfully Butternut is a little over an hour from my house.

I have found that the past 2 New Year's days the skiing at Suicide Six is great, there are no crowds.

**Greg** · Dec 24, 2003, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrthest

User feedback/2cents for okemo vs catamount vs hunter for a 2nd CT-proximal skiday this holiday weekend?

Okemo and Hunter will likely be very crowded (Okemo - VT vacationers, Hunter - NYC daytrippers). Catamount is okay. It has a bit more pitch than Butternut (same distance from Southington, CT) but the snowmaking, grooming, and facilities at Butternut are much better.

Hunter is a challenging mountain but for the two hour drive, Berkshire East, Jiminy Peak, or even Haystack may be better options. Mount Snow will be a zoo. Okemo is more of a vacation destination, but has some decent terrain and great snowmaking/grooming. I haven't been there in a number of years, but one thing I hated about it is the ride on the beginners quad to get to the real lifts. Easily adds 15-20 minutes of downtime first thing in the AM.

So, my vote would be Butternut, Jiminy, or the B-East. They're all gonna take a hit with all this rain though...

Dec 24, 2003, 11:22 AM

Okemo never used to be so ridiculously crowded. Then 2 things happened:
1. The "secret" about their great snowmaking abilities got out.
2. I thought that the opening of Jackson Gore would help with crowd control. Instead, there's a "Mcdonald's serves salads" factor. In the past, if a family had one advanced skier, they might talk other family members out of going to Okemo. Sort of like in the office, where on vegetarian does not want to eat at Mcdonalds. So the family would go to other mountains. Now that Gore is opened, the entire family might go to Okemo. Word of advice: Never ski Okemo on President's day weekend!

Dec 24, 2003, 9:12 PM

I think I'm going to make an early start for Burke on Saturday morning. I've got to get my act together around this, but I might even turn it into an overnighter and ski Sunday too.

Thinking we're going to be pretty rained out in the southern VT/NH and Mass. I just checked weatherunderground.com and they say it is raining up at Burke too.

But.. that far north you'd think might have a better chance of "snow on the mountain".

If anyone hears anything from upnorth, let us southerners know.

nrthest · Dec 28, 2003, 1:04 PM

Thanks for the feedback on other places to go -- catamount vs butternunt vs hunter vs okemo etc.

I did end up going to Okemo yesterday, with the rain xmas eve, I wanted to hit a place w/a good snowmaking rep., and the mountain was in pretty good shape. It was crowded, but not too crowded. Overall enjoyable but w/o runs that were steep enough for my liking.

I'll post a report with more details over in the reports section.

Going to JiminyPeak tomorrow with fam/friend, total of 8 of us should be there.

**Greg** · Dec 28, 2003, 8:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrthest

Going to JiminyPeak tomorrow with fam/friend, total of 8 of us should be there.

Great! Please post a trip report tomorrow night. I may head up there on Tuesday if the NCP holds off. I'm gonna take a few quick turns at Butternut late tomorrow morning. I need to picked up my skis (tune) and the shop doesn't open until 10 AM...

skiguide · Dec 28, 2003, 11:30 PM

Don't over look next weekend at Sunday River- the Nor AM returns, with some of the US Ski team's top developing racers in Slalom and GS - should be a great event - more info here:

http://skiing.about.com/b/a/053515.htm

I'll probably be up there the 2-4th at least to watch.

**Greg** · Dec 29, 2003, 8:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

I'm gonna take a few quick turns at Butternut late tomorrow morning.

I posted some pics in the Skiing Image Gallery. I'll post a TR tomorrow.

Dec 23, 2003, 9:36 PM	#21 (permalink)
Lisamarie Guest Posts: n/a	Sunday River My 17 year old step daughter is flying up from Florida on New Years eve! We will spend the Jan. 2-4 at Sunday River. She rides horses, so she picked up skiing pretty easily. Snowboarding was a whole different story!

Dec 24, 2003, 11:22 AM	#25 (permalink)
Lisamarie Guest Posts: n/a	Okemo Okemo never used to be so ridiculously crowded. Then 2 things happened: 1. The "secret" about their great snowmaking abilities got out. 2. I thought that the opening of Jackson Gore would help with crowd control. Instead, there's a "Mcdonald's serves salads" factor. In the past, if a family had one advanced skier, they might talk other family members out of going to Okemo. Sort of like in the office, where on vegetarian does not want to eat at Mcdonalds. So the family would go to other mountains. Now that Gore is opened, the entire family might go to Okemo. Word of advice: Never ski Okemo on President's day weekend!

Dec 24, 2003, 9:12 PM	#26 (permalink)
oldhippie Guest Posts: n/a	12/27 I think I'm going to make an early start for Burke on Saturday morning. I've got to get my act together around this, but I might even turn it into an overnighter and ski Sunday too. Thinking we're going to be pretty rained out in the southern VT/NH and Mass. I just checked weatherunderground.com and they say it is raining up at Burke too. But.. that far north you'd think might have a better chance of "snow on the mountain". If anyone hears anything from upnorth, let us southerners know.

Dec 28, 2003, 11:30 PM	#29 (permalink)
skiguide Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: outside PC, Utah Posts: 101	Don't over look next weekend at Sunday River- the Nor AM returns, with some of the US Ski team's top developing racers in Slalom and GS - should be a great event - more info here: http://skiing.about.com/b/a/053515.htm I'll probably be up there the 2-4th at least to watch. __________________ BRO Model Skis & other goodies from PM Gear

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Dec 23, 2003, 9:43 PM	#22 (permalink)
Joshua B Mad River Glen Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hudson, MA Posts: 918	Since I virtually eliminated liftlines from my ski experience few couple years ago, I avoid all major resorts and popular day trip destinations during school vacations. However, Berkshire East is my safe spot for weekends or even vacation days. I guess I should answer the original question. No plans for me.

Dec 24, 2003, 8:57 AM	#23 (permalink)
skijay Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: CT Avatar: T-bar @ Mont Shefford Posts: 691	I usually pass on skiing during this upcoming vacation week or any vaction week. If I do go anywhere it will be On January 1st or the 3rd to Butternut and I will start at 8:15am and be gone by 11:30am. From past experience opening to about 11 - 11:30 sees the least amount of liftlines. No up north trips until mid January. Thankfully Butternut is a little over an hour from my house. I have found that the past 2 New Year's days the skiing at Suicide Six is great, there are no crowds.

Dec 28, 2003, 1:04 PM	#27 (permalink)
nrthest jiminy peak Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ~northcentral CT Posts: 26	Thanks for the feedback on other places to go -- catamount vs butternunt vs hunter vs okemo etc. I did end up going to Okemo yesterday, with the rain xmas eve, I wanted to hit a place w/a good snowmaking rep., and the mountain was in pretty good shape. It was crowded, but not too crowded. Overall enjoyable but w/o runs that were steep enough for my liking. I'll post a report with more details over in the reports section. Going to JiminyPeak tomorrow with fam/friend, total of 8 of us should be there.

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