Butternut, what to expect?

[Buckeye Skier 1330]

We won the September lift ticket giveaway (thanks Greg) and chose Butternut. Every time we come East we've always hit fairly big resorts. We have always wanted to try some smaller places, which are still very big by Ohio standards, and I saw this as a good chance. It looks like we'll ski there on a Sunday before a week at Sugarbush/MRG, probably the first week of March. I've read a few things about Butternut being very crowded on the weekends and was wondering what kind of situation to expect. We thought about going on a weekday but we want the full 5 days in the Mad River Valley.

Thanks

 

[Greg]

I often ski Butternut on Sundays. It can get crowded, especially MLK weekend, but your average Sunday is not too bad. Get started early (they open at 8:15) and you should be able to do a few runs off the Top Flight Quad. Around 10:00 AM move over to the West side of the hill and ride the Overbrook Triple until lunch. The new quad on Main Street should off-load some of the Top Flight traffic as well.

Butternut is a nice hill. There is nothing overly steep, but they usually have excellent grooming and two parks with a number of hits if that's your thing. Be sure to try Applejack if it's open - a great intermediate run. Enjoy!

 

[snowsprite]

It does get a bit crowded on the weekend, but go early and lunch off-peak (try to bring snack bar w/ you to eat on lift and don't break for lunch until 1:45 pm or so) & you should do fine.

If you can ever go to Butternut mid-week, definitely do. It's a fun little mountain! Same for it's next-door-neighbor Catamount. Both are charming, scenic, and lots of fun. Under-rated for sure (esp mid-week). I think both have specials too where you can ski for like $15 on a Tuesday or something and they have ladies days, etc. Check their websites:

www.butternutbasin.com

http://www.catamountski.com/toc.htm

Sprite

 

[Talisman]

I have never skied at Butternut or any other MA ski area. My impression is that these areas are really small. This may be the year I change that and try Bershire East.

 

[Buckeye Skier 1330]

Thanks for the info. I'll keep those tips in mind. We're really looking forward to this trip!

 

[tirolerpeter]

Butternut

I skied Butternut when the kids were younger, but not since the tornado ripped up the area. It was really beautiful with wonderful forested terrain. While the trails were not challenging, it was a real "family" oriented sort of place. Catamount has some better (read that as "more challenging") terrain and is also a "friendly place." I haven't skied it either in a couple of years, but it lacked adequate lifts that were quite slow. Mid-week was fine, because you could just ski right on to the lifts.