Berkshire East & Catamount: 3 New Lifts, Terrain Expansions

[Ski2LiveLive2Ski]

Would not recommend Cat tomorrow. On their last legs today. Was pretty much our private ski area. BEast tomorrow

 

[Newpylong]

The snowpack is going to be steamrolled in the coming week. I don't think there will be many if any encores down there.

 

[skef]

Returned to B. East for the first time since 2021 today, for their last day of the season. The trails made it through the rain pretty well, firm but not really icy in the morning, and things really softened up in the afternoon. Some friends-of-Ski-Patrol dropped the rope on Liftline around 2:20 for some kids to ski the ribbons between the patches — I did not partake.

Not crowded at all, as you can see if you look at the parking lot on this view from Flying Cloud.



This was my fourth time there. It took me all day to remember the existence of the little Chute / Roy’s Way area, which I really like. Last three runs: Chute/Chute/Chute (Roy’s is closed).

 

[skef]

 

[Ski2LiveLive2Ski]

Returned to B. East for the first time since 2021 today, for their last day of the season. The trails made it through the rain pretty well, firm but not really icy in the morning, and things really softened up in the afternoon. Some friends-of-Ski-Patrol dropped the rope on Liftline around 2:20 for some kids to ski the ribbons between the patches — I did not partake.

Not crowded at all, as you can see if you look at the parking lot on this view from Flying Cloud.

View attachment 57896

This was my fourth time there. It took me all day to remember the existence of the little Chute / Roy’s Way area, which I really like. Last three runs: Chute/Chute/Chute (Roy’s is closed).

Was nuts seeing folks like skiing dirt on Liftline

 

[RH29]

Returned to B. East for the first time since 2021 today, for their last day of the season. The trails made it through the rain pretty well, firm but not really icy in the morning, and things really softened up in the afternoon. Some friends-of-Ski-Patrol dropped the rope on Liftline around 2:20 for some kids to ski the ribbons between the patches — I did not partake.

Not crowded at all, as you can see if you look at the parking lot on this view from Flying Cloud.

View attachment 57896

This was my fourth time there. It took me all day to remember the existence of the little Chute / Roy’s Way area, which I really like. Last three runs: Chute/Chute/Chute (Roy’s is closed).

Roy's had some sort of washout at the bottom and has been closed all season, but it's been totally skiable if you jump the gap at the bottom. It's been really fun this season.

 

[urungus]

Roy's had some sort of washout at the bottom and has been closed all season, but it's been totally skiable if you jump the gap at the bottom. It's been really fun this season.

Roy’s Way is rarely open, but I did ski it more than once this season without having to duck rope. My favorite trail at Berkshire East, just for its weirdness. This season there was often a little wooden footbridge set up over the water bar at the very bottom, for those of us who aren’t up for jumping the gap. Keep an eye open for uphillers.

I’ve been trying to find the remnants of the old Hayfield trail connecting Roy’s Way to the bottom of Chute. I’ve looked along skiers left of Roy’s Way several times, and also skiers right at the bottom of Chute, but the path is not obvious. Has anyone here ever skied it ? Where does it start, near the crest of the first hill on Roy’s Way where the trail is still wide ? Hayfield is trail #39 on the 2000-2001 map. Also note trail #40 “Avalanche” (cliff above Upper Comp), and how the future Hemlock trail is depicted as going all the way to the summit of Wilderness Peak.

.
Yesterday was nice, sad to see the season come to an end

 

[SkiNewEngland.net]

I’ve been trying to find the remnants of the old Hayfield trail connecting Roy’s Way to the bottom of Chute. I’ve looked along skiers left of Roy’s Way several times, and also skiers right at the bottom of Chute, but the path is not obvious. Has anyone here ever skied it ? Where does it start, near the crest of the first hill on Roy’s Way where the trail is still wide ? Hayfield is trail #39 on the 2000-2001 map. Also note trail #40 “Avalanche” (cliff above Upper Comp), and how the future Hemlock trail is depicted as going all the way to the summit of Wilderness Peak.

View attachment 57899

Hayfield was proposed (to get the trail count to 40) but never actually re-cut; growth was already a decade old by then. It's an original iteration of Mohawk.

Wilderness Peak was initially cut mostly as depicted on that map, plus one partially cut trail to the west not depicted. Hemlock was later significantly widened.

 

[RH29]

Are there any maps of the new expansion yet? Id imagine that'd push the trail count into the 40s.

 

[skimagic]

Hayfield was proposed (to get the trail count to 40) but never actually re-cut; growth was already a decade old by then. It's an original iteration of Mohawk.

Wilderness Peak was initially cut mostly as depicted on that map, plus one partially cut trail to the west not depicted. Hemlock was later significantly widened.

Thunder Mountain in the 1960s. the area by grizzly was reconfigured. The roys way side looks similar to today.

 

[urungus]

Thunder Mountain in the 1960s. the area by grizzly was reconfigured. The toys way side looks similar to today. View attachment 57908

Great photo ! Couple things stand out:
- Upper Comp is solid trees, was known as “West Glades”
- War Dance starts near summit and twists through current Beast glade before joining its current route.

 

[Abominable]

Upper Comp is solid trees, was known as “West Glades”

Perhaps a stupid question - was it skiable and did people ski it?

My ski experience starts in the early 80s, and generally speaking tree skiing wasn't a thing until 15 - 20 years later. But I was at much smaller mountains, unless it was a special trip, and in the latter case I would've been a "ski area locust" and not in tune with the local's stashes.

 

[urungus]

Perhaps a stupid question - was it skiable and did people ski it?

My ski experience starts in the early 80s, and generally speaking tree skiing wasn't a thing until 15 - 20 years later. But I was at much smaller mountains, unless it was a special trip, and in the latter case I would've been a "ski area locust" and not in tune with the local's stashes.

West Glades was listed as a trail on the old maps (number 11 below), so I would say yes people skied it.

 

[chuckstah]

Beast will open Saturday from 10-3 for a final day, per social media.

 

[skimagic]

Beast will open Saturday from 10-3 for a final day, per social media.

Tickets are $20. The trails are getting thin on the webcam, the melt is on today. the cold air on Friday night should set up a good day.

 

[Ski2LiveLive2Ski]

Could be one of the best calls in the region for Sat as it will warm up more nicely than places further North.

Considering charting out a last North East weekend trip that would consist of
Friday - Hunter
Saturday - B.East
Sunday - location in VT TBD based on Sat weather reports

 

[urungus]

Getting a bit thin…

 

[Ski2LiveLive2Ski]

Thinking of using Plattekill's $25 deal tomorrow instead - especially in light of those photos

 

[chuckstah]

Getting a bit thin…

View attachment 57959

View attachment 57958

It will look at least marginally better after grooming. I have an Indy day to burn, so I'll be there. Should soften up fairly fast I'd think.

 

[chuckstah]

Fun day. Thin for sure. Patrol opened most everything with (or without) snow on it once things softened. Mud, grass, ice, and snow skiing. Walking required. I love Spring adventure skiing.