Dilemna: Gunstock or Crotched this saturday?

[The Sneak]

Some friends and I scored $7 lift tickets for gunstock this saturday...but after speaking with someone at the mountain it appears there will be only 1 run from the summit, plus 2 or 3 from the 2 lower chairs. Granted, it is opening weekend, but I thought the storm would have allowed them to open a little more terrain.

On the other hand, Crotched says to expect 85%+ of their terrain open for the weekend. I have never been to Crotched. We have Wa passes, but we've already been several times this season already..so somewhere else close by would be better. Will Crotched measure up? Does it really ski better than wachusett?

What do you think? Cheap as free gunstock but 1 summit run or mostly open crotched?

 

[hammer]

If you can't make it to both, I'd go to Crotched, even if you have to pay more...my experiences at Gunstock were much better when I went later in the season and more trails were open.

 

[jillybeans]

Some friends and I scored $7 lift tickets for gunstock this saturday...but after speaking with someone at the mountain it appears there will be only 1 run from the summit, plus 2 or 3 from the 2 lower chairs. Granted, it is opening weekend, but I thought the storm would have allowed them to open a little more terrain.

Hmmm I'm a little disappointed too. We have the $7 tickets too to Gunstock. Although shouldnt complain for $7, hopefully they will open a few more runs than that... we can only hope.

 

[orsonab]

Not sure about Saturday but their website tonight (Thursday) states that Trigger and Smith and their Learning terrain will be open on Friday. Trigger is blue with a steeper middle section and Smith is all blue. Trigger is from the summit. I suspect there will be many $7 ticket holders and us season pass holders vying for that one trail...

 

[snoseek]

Keep in mind gunstock has a pretty fast lift dumping lots of people onto that one trail.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Keep in mind gunstock has a pretty fast lift dumping lots of people onto that one trail.

Good point. Crotched had good coverage tonight and was working to fill in more terrain for tomorrow.

 

[riverc0il]

Gunstock has only gotten like, what, a foot of natural snow so far this season? Not a lot of natural, certainly not enough to open any terrain they have not made snow on. So probably standard operating procedure for them this time of year, one snow making trail at a time. Crotched has the best man made snow in the state of New Hampshire. What it lacks in terrain it makes up for in quality of man made snow. Always a really good bet for December.

 

[jillybeans]

I suspect there will be many $7 ticket holders and us season pass holders vying for that one trail...

Good news is they (at least they said they did) only sold 70 tickets at the $7 rate, and like the discussions here likely not all 70 of those people will show up. So we'll see... I'm still not sure what to do, although I am going with some friends that are beginners so we're prob just better off going and taking it easy with them.

 

[Angus]

My suggestion would be Crotched. I love the place and for this time of year, it is perfect. The snow is guaranteed to be perfect and it is never crowded - usually you wait 3 or 4 chairs at any lift max. I like Wa-Wa & think that marginally it skis bigger but the crowd thing is a real negative - I always go to Crotched and it's an extra 20-30 minute drive. For this time of year, with limited terrain, no bumps, glades, et cetera; the difference between say Sunapee and Crotched is pretty slim IMO.

 

[hammer]

Good news is they (at least they said they did) only sold 70 tickets at the $7 rate, and like the discussions here likely not all 70 of those people will show up. So we'll see... I'm still not sure what to do, although I am going with some friends that are beginners so we're prob just better off going and taking it easy with them.

I wouldn't take beginners to Gunstock with the terrain they currently have open...Smith may be OK if it wasn't crowded (which I wouldn't count on), and the run from the summit has a section that is too steep for beginners.

Have you considered going to Pats Peak? They have a lot of trails open, including some nice mellow green runs in the Valley area.

 

[jillybeans]

thanks for the advice yeah we may try crotched or pats that has more open terrain

 

[Joshua B]

I was thinking of Pat's too. Unfortunately they aren't offering early season discounts, so this weekend will cost $49 or $38 for a half day. Crotched seems to be priced similarly.

 

[hammer]

I was thinking of Pat's too. Unfortunately they aren't offering early season discounts, so this weekend will cost $49 or $38 for a half day. Crotched seems to be priced similarly.

I'd prefer not having to pay full rates, either, but Pats and Crotched have most of their trails open so I think regular rates are justified for them at this point.