Sundown Vs. Mohawk

[thorski]

Giving the fact that they are equal in driving distance, which mountain would be the better to get a season pass to? What are the pros and cons?

 

[gmcunni]

Giving the fact that they are equal in driving distance, which mountain would be the better to get a season pass to? What are the pros and cons?

depends on the skier/rider and what they like. what features are you looking for in a local ski area?

length of season/total days of operation - mohawk probably wins
quantity of trails - i think mohawk wins
bumps - sundown
parks - sundown
facilities - sundown
snow quality - don't know
price - mohawk
annual snowfall - i read recently (can't find it now) that mohawk gets 50% more natural snow.


where i spent my $$$ - sundown

 

[bvibert]

Sundown has moguls. [/End of Comparison]

 

[gmcunni]

found the snowfall reference (winchill's site)

sundown 60" / mohawk 90" which i find a shocking differential

http://www.snowforecast.com/ConnecticutSkiResorts

 

[Greg]

Mohawk: More terrain, more lifts. Slightly more vert. Most of the main trails ski very similarly to me though, but there are some really nice trails with a lot of character, far skier's left. Very aggressive snow making. Mountain is typically groomed flat with occasional bumps on Wildwood. No park. Retro lodge.

Sundown: Less terrain/lifts, but Gunbarrel has more consistent pitch than anything at Mohawk. Each trail is unique and skis much differently than the others. Very, VERY aggressive snow making. Good grooming on most of the mountain, seeded bump runs, and pretty damn impressive terrain park. More modern lodge with a bar.

For kids, both are good. Sundown can get crowded, but I haven't been to Mohawk on busy days so I can't compare. So....it really depends on what kind of terrain you like. I know you've been to Sundown. You've really never been to Mohawk enough to make a choice? I don't know how pass prices compare...I suspect Mohawk is cheaper.

 

[gmcunni]

i think mohawk is on state land, is that right? but is it privately run or is this another Belleayre?

 

[Greg]

found the snowfall reference (winchill's site)

sundown 60" / mohawk 90" which i find a shocking differential

http://www.snowforecast.com/ConnecticutSkiResorts

As silly as it might sound, Mohawk does have a slight elevation advantage and is 19 miles further west, in an area of the state that naturally gets more snow.

 

[thorski]

Sundown has moguls. [/End of Comparison]

I think you are right if mohawk doesn't put the same effort into bumps which i honestly don't think any mountain puts the same effort in as sundown appears to.
I have skied Mowhawk but it has been sometime. The fact that they have no bar has always been a problem for my crew as we like to drink.
I think i suck at bumps, and i definately suck at kickers in the bumps so i might need to hit sundown more this year midweek nights. Or just stop drinking so much.

 

[gmcunni]

As silly as it might sound, Mohawk does have a slight elevation advantage and is 19 miles further west, in an area of the state that naturally gets more snow.

yeah, i saw the elevation but still the 50% more seems strange to me. i drive so far to get to either i guess in my mind they are closer to each other than they really are.

 

[Greg]

yeah, i saw the elevation but still the 50% more seems strange to me. i drive so far to get to either i guess in my mind they are closer to each other than they really are.

It's a terrain thing really. Mohawk sits squarely in the middle of Litchfield county which is sort of an overall plateau while Sundown is on the edge of it. 400-500 vertical feet does make difference. Even in my town, there can be very little snow in town (400 feet) and accumulating snow at my house (860 feet) despite being only 1.25 miles away. The random lake effect and storm tracks also favor that area of the state.

 

[severine]

Giving the fact that they are equal in driving distance, which mountain would be the better to get a season pass to? What are the pros and cons?

Mohawk is 2 miles closer than Sundown (12 miles-vs-14 miles), yet we are a Sundown family.

i think mohawk is on state land, is that right? but is it privately run or is this another Belleayre?

Pretty sure it's in the Mohawk State Forest but yes, it is privately run.

I think you are right if mohawk doesn't put the same effort into bumps which i honestly don't think any mountain puts the same effort in as sundown appears to.
I have skied Mowhawk but it has been sometime. The fact that they have no bar has always been a problem for my crew as we like to drink.
I think i suck at bumps, and i definately suck at kickers in the bumps so i might need to hit sundown more this year midweek nights. Or just stop drinking so much.

No bar and definitely a different philosophy. I like that the trails are more spread out instead of most emptying into the same area, like what happens at Sundown. There are also a few trails at Mohawk that I really like. And their night skiing prices are really cheap. Though I swear that they have a lot of wind on that mountain, making night skiing pretty cold--yet Gunbarrel at Sundown has the same problem.

There are things that drawn me to Sundown instead 99% of the time (the bar not really being one, but it's a nice addition). Sundown has become a sort of Cheers for me. I don't ski the bumps so that's not a consideration for me, but the people I ski with do, so... I really like how Sundown is run. The owner is very hands-on, management has been open to suggestions and involved... They know what they're doing. The improvements to snowmaking for this season will be hugely helpful in an area that isn't blessed with a lot of natural snow.

 

[severine]

yeah, i saw the elevation but still the 50% more seems strange to me. i drive so far to get to either i guess in my mind they are closer to each other than they really are.

They're 24-28 miles apart, depending on which route you take. Not *that* close--certainly far enough apart for big differences in snow, just like the difference between how much snow Torrington gets versus Naugatuck, CT.

 

[gmcunni]

They're 24-28 miles apart, depending on which route you take. Not *that* close--certainly far enough apart for big differences in snow, just like the difference between how much snow Torrington gets versus Naugatuck, CT.

i think in very simple terms.. i get off same exit and make a left or a right to get to either mountain so in my simple mind they are next to each other :dunce:

added bonus on Sundown - when you leave the hill you can immediately get a dunkin donuts coffee for the ride home

 

[deadheadskier]

It's a terrain thing really. Mohawk sits squarely in the middle of Litchfield county which is sort of an overall plateau while Sundown is on the edge of it. 400-500 vertical feet does make difference. Even in my town, there can be very little snow in town (400 feet) and accumulating snow at my house (860 feet) despite being only 1.25 miles away. The random lake effect and storm tracks also favor that area of the state.

elevation makes a big difference down there. My folks lived on Johnny Cake Mountain in Burlington. The difference in snow they got compared with Farmington just a few miles away was staggering.

 

[severine]

i think in very simple terms.. i get off same exit and make a left or a right to get to either mountain so in my simple mind they are next to each other :dunce:

added bonus on Sundown - when you leave the hill you can immediately get a dunkin donuts coffee for the ride home

Versus many miles of dark rural roads til you get to Torrington...where the Dunkin' Donuts at the gas station is probably already closed.

 

[powhunter]

Sundown....When I started to become interested in skiing bumps around 5 years ago....wildwood was an awesome trail bumped from the headwall top to bottom..Now like a lot of areas its groomer city...The park at SD is way better as well

 

[gmcunni]

The park at SD is way better as well

do they even have a park @ Mohawk?

 

[St. Bear]

Pro for Sundown: A bunch of guys from this forum ski at Sundown

Pro for Mohawk: A bunch of guys from this forum ski at Sundown

 

[mondeo]

Pro for Sundown: A bunch of guys from this forum ski at Sundown

Pro for Mohawk: A bunch of guys from this forum ski at Sundown

 

[WoodCore]

My folks lived on Johnny Cake Mountain in Burlington.

Ahh.......the centerpiece of my beloved mountain biking trail network.