Windham Mountain 1600 feet of vertical (more like 1500) in the Catskills has some great night skiing. Windham is only 2.5 hours north of NYC. Get off at NY State Thruway Exit 21 mile marker 112? and take Route 23 to Windham. Very easy to get to.
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Best Night Skiing in the East?
- Thread starter ccohen322
- Start date
riverc0il
New member
Guys, I know he said he was willing to drive up to 10 hours for night skiing, but I don't see how you could recommend Shawnee Peak for someone coming from NYC when there are good options far closer. Night skiing couldn't possibly be that much better at Shawnee to justify hours more time driving.
I would think Windham and Jiminy would be amongst the closest options. Not sure how Wachusett compares to Jiminy, but again, that might be getting too far away for what it is worth. And let's not forget about the mighty Sundown.
"Best" is not really much of a relative term when it comes to night skiing. I would imagine vertical, acres, pitch, and perhaps a bump run all contribute to a good night skiing experience but for the most part you are skiing moderate pitched groomers under the lights and a single bump run if you are lucky. Personally, I would go with what ever is closest as I think evan a full hour is too long to drive to night ski... but that is just my opinion.
I would think Windham and Jiminy would be amongst the closest options. Not sure how Wachusett compares to Jiminy, but again, that might be getting too far away for what it is worth. And let's not forget about the mighty Sundown.
"Best" is not really much of a relative term when it comes to night skiing. I would imagine vertical, acres, pitch, and perhaps a bump run all contribute to a good night skiing experience but for the most part you are skiing moderate pitched groomers under the lights and a single bump run if you are lucky. Personally, I would go with what ever is closest as I think evan a full hour is too long to drive to night ski... but that is just my opinion.
Vortex
Member
Been many years, but in college we race trained at night at Jiminy and I was impressed with the open terrain.
WWF-VT
Well-known member
I hope your kidding about driving 10 hours for night skiing and really mean you would like to have night skiing as an option.
Guys, I know he said he was willing to drive up to 10 hours for night skiing, but I don't see how you could recommend Shawnee Peak for someone coming from NYC when there are good options far closer. Night skiing couldn't possibly be that much better at Shawnee to justify hours more time driving.
I would think Windham and Jiminy would be amongst the closest options. Not sure how Wachusett compares to Jiminy, but again, that might be getting too far away for what it is worth. And let's not forget about the mighty Sundown.
"Best" is not really much of a relative term when it comes to night skiing. I would imagine vertical, acres, pitch, and perhaps a bump run all contribute to a good night skiing experience but for the most part you are skiing moderate pitched groomers under the lights and a single bump run if you are lucky. Personally, I would go with what ever is closest as I think evan a full hour is too long to drive to night ski... but that is just my opinion.
Seeing how he didn't post a qualifier other than within 10 hours, that's why I backed Terry up on Shawnee.
I agree with you on travel time for night skiing. Pat's Peak, King Pine, Gunstock, Crotched; they're all about an hour and fifteen door to door from me. I didn't bother last year, I won't be this year either. Even when I lived in Portland and Shawnee was 50 minutes away, I only went about once a year and one time only because it was dumping.
While I'm jealous of the Connecticut folk and their proximity to a place that provides a decent bump pitch under the lights, it would have to be within 40 minutes tops for me to hit regularly if I was living down there or had something similar nearby.
i'm w/ rivah. doesn't make sense to drive long distances for night skiing. not like you're gonna find any tree skiing. it's gonna be mostly groomers that hopefully have been resurfaced and a bump run or two.
being from nyc, i've done mtn creek. you can do it in about 75 min but if you're leaving late afternoon/early evening, rush hour traffic could get it to the 10+hr you're talking about. shawnee and the pa areas are a little longer.
from nyc, that mecca of eastern bump skiing, ski sundown, is about 2 1/2 hrs plus you get the added bonus of possibly running into some of the biggest names in eastern bump skiing. ;-) never been there myself but someday i hope to make the trek to the high holy land ...
being from nyc, i've done mtn creek. you can do it in about 75 min but if you're leaving late afternoon/early evening, rush hour traffic could get it to the 10+hr you're talking about. shawnee and the pa areas are a little longer.
from nyc, that mecca of eastern bump skiing, ski sundown, is about 2 1/2 hrs plus you get the added bonus of possibly running into some of the biggest names in eastern bump skiing. ;-) never been there myself but someday i hope to make the trek to the high holy land ...
Philpug
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I think it was 80 or 81, I never skied during the day, everyone of my 40+ times on the slopes were are night. At the time, I actually preferred night skiing, the light and shadows were actually more consistent than during the day.
Riverskier
Active member
Guys, I know he said he was willing to drive up to 10 hours for night skiing, but I don't see how you could recommend Shawnee Peak for someone coming from NYC when there are good options far closer. Night skiing couldn't possibly be that much better at Shawnee to justify hours more time driving.
I would think Windham and Jiminy would be amongst the closest options. Not sure how Wachusett compares to Jiminy, but again, that might be getting too far away for what it is worth. And let's not forget about the mighty Sundown.
"Best" is not really much of a relative term when it comes to night skiing. I would imagine vertical, acres, pitch, and perhaps a bump run all contribute to a good night skiing experience but for the most part you are skiing moderate pitched groomers under the lights and a single bump run if you are lucky. Personally, I would go with what ever is closest as I think evan a full hour is too long to drive to night ski... but that is just my opinion.
While I agree with your assessment in general, clearly there is some information missing from his post. Nobody actually drives 10 hours each way for a single day, or night of skiing, do they? I can't imagine. Perhaps he enjoys night skiing over day skiing and is considering planning a vacation around it. Seems odd, but in that case driving the 5 or 6 hours to Shawnee Peak seems reasonable. Either way, the poster gave the 10 hour criteria and Shawnee Peak falls well within that.
Well, have not read this entire thread, but my votes for best night skiing would have to go to Pats Peak (100% of their terrain, pay one price promo on Saturday nights, good vibe) and the former night skiing at Stowe (great vert, nice long run, gondola). I've skied at many other places, but these are two real standouts in my mind. I like night skiing...it is great.
Bolton would get good marks, but their price is now out of line IMHO and their terrain is limited.
Bolton would get good marks, but their price is now out of line IMHO and their terrain is limited.
GrilledSteezeSandwich
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I don't see you night skiing at Blue..you should go this year and ski with the Blue crue..a great way to keep you skills sharp between ski trips..
Geoff
Well-known member
I skied the mighty Wa-wa-wachusett at night once a long time ago. They had a little bumped up area under the lift. The lighting wasn't great and I kept walking out. You really couldn't read the bumps very well and you had to muscle everything. Same thing happens to me skiing bumps above the tree line when it's whiteout conditions. Every other place I've night skied, everything under the lights was groomed into submission. I'm not sure I'd want to ski natural bumps under the lights. A manmade course where you know the rythm might be different... more like a terrain park.
2:45? Umm really? Route? Radar detector?
mondeo
New member
Yeah, I think we need more information on why you're looking at night skiing.
Bump skiing under the lights is, uh, different. Flatter light, so to do decently you need to be used to it somewhat. But once you get used to it there are aspects of it that are actually easier than during daylight; mainly, the light is constant, so you can see the same stuff run after run.
Also the reason I have tinted goggles for night. My eyes can handle the lower overall light levels, but they need the increased contrast.
GrilledSteezeSandwich
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After much thought...I'm going to have to go with Blue mountain..
Johnskiismore
New member
Another for Shawnee Peak, Maine
POTD.
i got a nice laugh out of this one.
but really, you should make the journey in the spring when vermont is frozen and gunny is a huge pile of mashed up bumps. you won't go home disappointed.
I wouldnt drive much over an hour to ski temptor at night, as much as i enjoy and appreciate having it available.
ta&idaho
New member
Straight up the Taconic, never speeding more than 9 over. It helps that I live a few blocks from the westside highway, but that is not an unreasonable time.
Newpylong
Well-known member
Closest, most terrain at night closest to NYC? Jiminy Peak... place is as boring as watching paint dry - but at night it can be fun. Lots of lit terrain...
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