BEast vs Crotched this saturday

[The Sneak]

Where do you think conditions will be better and which will be less crowded. Distance and price are a wash.

BEast has the worst snow reporting on their time-machine-set-for-1996 website. Anyone been lately?

Who stands to get more snow thursday-saturday?

 

[billski]

Each area is strong in one of the two criterion you list: crowds and snow.

- Beast will not be crowded, Crotched will be mobbed, and largely by young families.
- Crotched has a snowmaking machine second to none. They do not exaggerate when they say "powerhouse".
- BE snowmaking is about average. They got about 6" on Monday. The difference is because the trails are not heavily used, what is there will continue to be in good shape. I have never had bad snow there. They manage conservatively, and that means they don't operate in marginal conditions either.

This is MLK weekend after all. Choose your poison. I'd vote for BE and go to Crotch another time.

p.s., no lift lines does not mean not crowded. I think you'll find a lot of company on the slopes and in the lodge at Crotch.

 

[tcharron]

Where do you think conditions will be better and which will be less crowded. Distance and price are a wash.

BEast has the worst snow reporting on their time-machine-set-for-1996 website. Anyone been lately?

Who stands to get more snow thursday-saturday?

Looks like Crotched will get more snow. Less crowded is hard to judge, however, Crotched IS running midnight madness, *AND* this Sat Playboy bunnies will be there at night. :-D But it'll be darned cold. Long runs, long breaks between runs = killington. Shorter runs, but many more and quick up the mountain = Crotched.

 

[tcharron]

Each area is strong in one of the two criterion you list: crowds and snow.

- Crotched has a snowmaking machine second to none. They do not exaggerate when they say "powerhouse".

In the past I love their capabilities, but I have to say, I haven't seen it blasting full steam like they did last year. Example: last year, 2' easily in purely blown snow in like 2 days. This year, base is currently 1-3'. :-( Granted that is AFTER the warmup.

 

[threecy]

BEast has the worst snow reporting on their time-machine-set-for-1996 website. Anyone been lately?

You can set your time machine for about 2001 at http://www.skiberkshireeast.com. There aren't any trip reports from this week there, but there is some info.

 

[tcharron]

It may be due to the water level in the pond at times. I really don't see a need for them to put down a deep base. They close at the beginning of April anyways. I think in years past they blew snow just for the PR value and to get their name out there. I think they have become established in the market place now with a growing loyal base of customers.

Could be the cost of pumping water from the watershed into the pond. There are really 'two' ponds, the big pond itself, and the wetlands next to it. They pump water from the wetlands into that pond, but haven't been as of late.

My honest guess? It's time to Crotched to start living within it's own budget, now that Peak has Mt Snow and Attitash. :-D And pumps cost moola to operate.

 

[The Sneak]

I'm thinking BEast or bust. Might even skip this weekend. How is their grooming (assuming they got some frzn nair on top of 2-3" fresh snow)? I used to really like the place but have not been there since about 1995.

Is it worth driving 2+ hrs for a half day?