Old Duderino
Member
I live in the NoVa/DC suburbs and a typical year consists of mostly daytrips to the local Snowtime resorts (Whitetail, Liberty, Roundtop) and a weeklong or longer if possible trip west. During the 12/13 and 13/14 seasons I managed to get in long weekend trips with the wife and kids to Killington/Pico and we had a great time both years.
I've been meaning to make it back to the NE since then but it just hasn't worked out the past couple of seasons but this year a western trip is out due to family health issues. Since I've done Killington/Pico I'd love to head further north and hit Sugarbush/Stowe/Jay but since I'd likely be going solo the drive would be about 9 hours from here (had a bad experience w/flights to the NE so I don't want to go that route).
It's about a 6 hour drive to the Catskills and I do have job flexibility to take weekdays off so I was thinking about driving up after a half day of work on a Wednesday and hitting Hunter on a Thursday, Windham on Friday and Plattekill on Saturday before driving home on Sunday. This would most likely be done on a last minute basis since I know better than to plan a NE trip more then two weeks out.
I figured Platty would be the best Saturday option since it has a reputation for being the least crowded of the three but don't know since I've never been there. I've heard Hunter is to be avoided at all costs on weekends and since Friday is the new Saturday I thought Windham might be a better option but I'm also kind of wondering if I'll find Windham too mellow and just as crowded as Hunter. Do any of these places have woods that might be in play if conditions are good?
I'll ski anywhere on or off piste (I would expect mostly on at these places) and might even mix it up by skiing Thurs and Sat but snowboarding cruisers on Friday. I like bumps but probably wouldn't spend all day on them unless the run/conditions for them are great. Any other resorts about the same distance from DC I should consider? Any and all input appreciated.
PS- forgot to mention what are good lodging recs? Doesn't have to be swanky but would prefer clean.
I've been meaning to make it back to the NE since then but it just hasn't worked out the past couple of seasons but this year a western trip is out due to family health issues. Since I've done Killington/Pico I'd love to head further north and hit Sugarbush/Stowe/Jay but since I'd likely be going solo the drive would be about 9 hours from here (had a bad experience w/flights to the NE so I don't want to go that route).
It's about a 6 hour drive to the Catskills and I do have job flexibility to take weekdays off so I was thinking about driving up after a half day of work on a Wednesday and hitting Hunter on a Thursday, Windham on Friday and Plattekill on Saturday before driving home on Sunday. This would most likely be done on a last minute basis since I know better than to plan a NE trip more then two weeks out.
I figured Platty would be the best Saturday option since it has a reputation for being the least crowded of the three but don't know since I've never been there. I've heard Hunter is to be avoided at all costs on weekends and since Friday is the new Saturday I thought Windham might be a better option but I'm also kind of wondering if I'll find Windham too mellow and just as crowded as Hunter. Do any of these places have woods that might be in play if conditions are good?
I'll ski anywhere on or off piste (I would expect mostly on at these places) and might even mix it up by skiing Thurs and Sat but snowboarding cruisers on Friday. I like bumps but probably wouldn't spend all day on them unless the run/conditions for them are great. Any other resorts about the same distance from DC I should consider? Any and all input appreciated.
PS- forgot to mention what are good lodging recs? Doesn't have to be swanky but would prefer clean.
