Best of the East: Ski Superlatives

[UVSHTSTRM]

.......as found on Boston.com.

http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/specials/ski/gallery/Chill_take10_07/

 

[thetrailboss]

I agree with what they said (for a change ).

Also, *gaper alert* for those K-2 skis in the rack! :lol:

 

[Bostonian]

I agree with what they said (for a change ).

Also, *gaper alert* for those K-2 skis in the rack! :lol:

Now now ... I work for the T... what do you expect for the ski-train

 

[4aprice]

Love the pic of Lift Line at Mad River Glen. Saddleback and Sugarloaf look nice, just too far from NJ.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[thetrailboss]

Just kidding....I still have some K2 Fours!

 

[riverc0il]

The billing of the article is a bit dramatic, I was expecting something a little different but it is pretty much on point (except Stowe, I have never seen that mountain as a place to see and be seen. Love the pic of the ski train, I had no idea something like the even existed in this day and age!

 

[wa-loaf]

I agree with what they said (for a change ).

Also, *gaper alert* for those K-2 skis in the rack! :lol:

Just kidding....I still have some K2 Fours!

That's the K2 MSL (missle) and predates the 4.

Getting to Wachusett on the ski train takes twice as long as driving. Great I guess if you don't have a car.

 

[ceo]

Getting to Wachusett on the ski train takes twice as long as driving. Great I guess if you don't have a car.

That's because it's their regular scheduled run, with the ski-rack car in the consist. (Bet it's the same as the bike-rack car they run to Newburyport during the summer.) If they made it an express, stopping at Porter and maybe West Concord, it might be fast enough to be useful, but I doubt it would see enough ridership to be worth it. I've thought about taking my train-loving 5-year-old to Wachusett that way, but he'd have to be in an afternoon ski school class and I find morning classes work a lot better for us. Plus, I don't want to give him a reason to prefer WaWa over Cannon.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

i made a 4 shot ski out of my k2 Fours....its a now a party favorite

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

And I can confirm that the Cheeseburger Soup is delicious, but not something I would recommend as part of a balanced daily diet.

 

[billski]

The billing of the article is a bit dramatic, I was expecting something a little different but it is pretty much on point (except Stowe, I have never seen that mountain as a place to see and be seen. Love the pic of the ski train, I had no idea something like the even existed in this day and age!

I was expecting some sort of tease at jingo-ism, like "no stress skiing" or "beast of the east". Clearly targeted at the Boston mid-market, as it should be. As we've previously discussed, every stinking "list of best" is so divergent in it's values as to have very different rankings of each area.

I know quite a few people who won't or can't drive, live in the city and are perfectly happy to take mass transit to go skiing. Most of those folks don't have their own equipment. I think the Wawa ski train idea is brilliant.

Now, a train straight shot north from Boston, where I could sleep for 2 hours and Ski-93, with shuttle service to the flanking areas, Gunstock, Waterville, Loon, Cannon, would also be pretty cool. I'll bet the numbers would be decent.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

I was expecting some sort of tease at jingo-ism, like "no stress skiing" or "beast of the east". Clearly targeted at the Boston mid-market, as it should be. As we've previously discussed, every stinking "list of best" is so divergent in it's values as to have very different rankings of each area.

I know quite a few people who won't or can't drive, live in the city and are perfectly happy to take mass transit to go skiing. Most of those folks don't have their own equipment. I think the Wawa ski train idea is brilliant.

Now, a train straight shot north from Boston, where I could sleep for 2 hours and Ski-93, with shuttle service to the flanking areas, Gunstock, Waterville, Loon, Cannon, would also be pretty cool. I'll bet the numbers would be decent.

Havn't ski trains been tried before and fail? Didn't Sunday River have one for a while? I think in this day and age it could be successful with peoples attitudes changing (the enviromentalist in all of us). However the biggest problems with trains is the time wasted while waiting for it to make its many stops. I live in the UV of NH and have always thought about taking the train that stops in Claremont, but it takes so dang long to get places because of the stops.

 

[snowmonster]

^ You mean the Silver Bullet to SR? I think that was around for a year or two in the 90s.

The ski train to Wachusett has been around for at least 3 years. I considered taking it when I was still car-less in Boston. I think it's no skin off the MBTA's nose since all it has to do is add a car with ski racks to it regularly scheduled run. North Station to Fitchburg then take the shuttle to Wa. Around 16 bucks for the roundtrip train ticket and 46 for a halfday ticket.

Would you consider the Ethan Allen from NYC to Rutland a ski train too?

 

[x10003q]

I think in this day and age it could be successful with peoples attitudes changing (the enviromentalist in all of us).

I lived in NYC for many years. In the summer I used the train to get to the many beaches on Long Island and NJ. I wanted to try the Amtrack train to Rutland (The Ethan Allen) but it did not work for many reasons. It is expensive. If there are 2 or more people it can be cheaper to rent a car. If you already have a car it is way cheaper. The train takes almost twice as long door to door as with a car. Trying to get around NYC during rush hour with ski equipment is very difficult. If you have children it is almost impossible. Getting around Killington with out a car can be a hassle. Needless to say, I never did it.

It might work if you were a single skier and rented equipment. The train also is good for starting your weekend festivities the moment you get to Penn Station. I am sure with the right group of people the 6 hour ride could be quite fun.

 

[thetrailboss]

^ You mean the Silver Bullet to SR? I think that was around for a year or two in the 90s.

The Silver Bullet ran for two seasons...in 1994 and 1995 IIRC.

 

[AdironRider]

The boozing aspect of the train is top shelf. The Downeaster is the best way into Boston from the NH seacoast. Cafe car with Shipyards. Not terribly priced either. I think I was paying 3.50 or .75 a brew. Not bad.

Direct train to North Conway would be awesome. Cafe car. Direct train with no stops. Leave North Station at 5 or so on Friday, make it to North Conway by 9 or ten direct. Id do it.

 

[oakapple]

We took the ski train from NYC to Rutland last year. We don’t own a car, and it was cheaper than renting one. It is also a lot more relaxing. The drawback, however, is that you’re stuck taking taxis or buses once you’re there, and during peak season the taxis can be scarce, at times. The trip takes longer than driving, but not so long as to be unreasonable. There are various ongoing rail improvement projects over the next several years that should reduce travel time over that route significantly.

 

[Geoff]

We took the ski train from NYC to Rutland last year. We don’t own a car, and it was cheaper than renting one. It is also a lot more relaxing. The drawback, however, is that you’re stuck taking taxis or buses once you’re there, and during peak season the taxis can be scarce, at times. The trip takes longer than driving, but not so long as to be unreasonable. There are various ongoing rail improvement projects over the next several years that should reduce travel time over that route significantly.

I've looked at using the train to get to Philly on business trips and always ended up flying instead. It really doesn't work. If the Rutland/NYC trip could be done in 3 hours, I'd use it all the time.

 

[billski]

We took the ski train from NYC to Rutland last year. We don’t own a car, and it was cheaper than renting one. It is also a lot more relaxing. The drawback, however, is that you’re stuck taking taxis or buses once you’re there, and during peak season the taxis can be scarce, at times.

Resorts that are close enough should belly up to a scheduled shuttle bus services to/from train/bus stations. That might alone bring attract more customers and help the "green" message. Don't know unless you try it.

 

[deadheadskier]

The boozing aspect of the train is top shelf. The Downeaster is the best way into Boston from the NH seacoast. Cafe car with Shipyards. Not terribly priced either. I think I was paying 3.50 or .75 a brew. Not bad.

Direct train to North Conway would be awesome. Cafe car. Direct train with no stops. Leave North Station at 5 or so on Friday, make it to North Conway by 9 or ten direct. Id do it.

It's still not exactly reasonably priced going from the Seacoast to Boston via the train. My wife and I have lived on the Seacoast for 2 years. We spend probably 10 nights a year in Boston. We've only taken the train once from Exeter to Boston and that was when gas was $4/gallon. It was $55 round trip for the two of us. Leave from Dover and you're looking at $60 to $76 dollars depending on your travel times.

The Cheaper alternative is to head 15 minutes further south and grab the T in Newburyport. It's about half the price.

Its nice to sit back, relax and have a couple of beers, but I can make it too and from Boston for $45 including overnight parking. The cost difference with taking a train to the mountains would be substantially more as you the train ticket would double, but you don't have to pay for parking in ski country.

I think for trains to be competitive, they need to price tickets such that the cost of the tickets for two people is only slightly higher than what it would cost taking a car.