Hunter Vs. Windham

[snowboarder05]

Great Mountains, Which tops who and why?

 

[dmc]

Hunter is more challenging - more advance terrain...
Windham is mellower... Less hectic...
Windham has a nicer lodge...

 

[mattchuck2]

Hunter . . .

Windham is boring

 

[MarkC]

Windham does have the nicer lodge but i get that sterile hospital feeling when I am there. I would much rather be at hunter on the trails or in the lodge.

 

[dmc]

Windham does have the nicer lodge but i get that sterile hospital feeling when I am there. I would much rather be at hunter on the trails or in the lodge.

So the lodge is clean... thats a good thing for some people...

 

[millerm277]

For experts: Hunter
For Intermediates: Windham
For beginners: Hunter

 

[rjc1976]

For experts: Hunter
For Intermediates: Windham
For beginners: Hunter

Bingo! I 100% agree this, however I'll elborate a little.

Beginners: I have brought several people to Hunter over the past few years to learn to ski/snowboard, and it really is a top notch learning facility and learning program for beginners. Last year, I had 3 friends take lessons at Hunter, and then the following week we went to Killington, where they also took lessons. All 3 said the learning experience was much better at Hunter by a long shot. It's not just the better facilities that make Hunter great for learning, but the better instruction methods as well. That said, Windham is pretty good for beginners too.

Intermediate: This isn't even a contest. Windham wins hands down. There are tons of blue and black cruisers for the intermediates. I consider Windham to be the Catskills version of Okemo. What little doublebacks they have are short and really should be rated single blacks. Hunter on the other hand has Belt Parkway. It's not that it's bad trail, but it gets very crowded because it's the only real blue trail off the top of the mountain. The trails from mid-station are nice in my opinion, but when I tell intermediates to take the triple up to mid-station, they always complain that the runs are so short.

Expert: The west side is longest collection of steep trails between northern VT and the rockies. I believe lower k27 is rated at 37 degrees at the top, and there are a good amount of mogul trails. Windham can't even come close.


So the answer to your question is -- It depends on the individual. My opinion is that Windham is the better mountain for the average person. For me, I like both, but on most days I'll choose to take Hunter over Windham.

 

[andyzee]

Plattekill.

 

[ta&idaho]

They're offering a pretty cheap way to see for yourself. $119 for two days at each mountain: http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/info/news/news.news4.detail.aspx.

 

[nycskier]

So far I agree with everything that's been said here.

And Andyzee is so right, Plattekill rocks!

 

[gladerider]

i like the bar at hunter better

 

[MarkC]

Plattekill.

Great answer. So when it the Plattekill AZ gathering?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Great Mountains, Which tops who and why?

Windham for intermediates, hunter for advanced skiers..

 

[JimG.]

Wow.

I have nothing to add.

 

[YardSaleDad]

i like the bar at hunter better

I like the bar at Plattekill.

 

[Eski]

looking forward to scoring a freebie ticket to Windham so I can judge for myself

 

[thinnmann]

Plattekill rocks!

...ya gotta ski around 'em...

 

[catskills]

Last year I talked 8 friends from work to go to Windham. Our groups use to go to both Windham and Hunter every year midweek and take a vacation day. The last few years we have just been going to Hunter. After all Windham has two high speed quads now. Our group consisted of mostly advanced intermediates and a few weaker intermediates that like to stay on groomers. The group mostly skis and boards single diamond groomed runs. Probably typical for friends from work group. After the first few runs at Windham, it was very obvious right away that Windham did not lower tiller on the grooming machine very deep, hence the midweek March trails got real slick and hard hard pack by about 11am. Mogul runs had not seen any snowmaking for a long time. I was at Hunter a number of times the week before and after and they lower their tillers on the groomers deeper than Windham. Both Hunter and Belleayre will dust the mogul runs with some man made snow that time of year. Windham had a water break that flooded the Cafeteria around 11am. The new high speed quad was extremely difficult to load on because four people had to make a quick 90 degree turn in the line right before loading. Everyone in our group was not impressed with the new ownership and management decisions at Windham. Sorry I don't like to be negative but hopefully someone from Windham will read this and step it up a notch this season. I do like the Windham ski area and will be back but it may be awhile before I can convince my coworkers to give Windham another try. That said the two high speed quads are very cool.

 

[JimG.]

looking forward to scoring a freebie ticket to Windham so I can judge for myself

Ed, are you planning on doing some skiing at Hunter tomorrow or Friday?

I'll be there both days, would enjoy skiing with you some.

 

[Eski]

Ed, are you planning on doing some skiing at Hunter tomorrow or Friday?

I'll be there both days, would enjoy skiing with you some.

yes ... yes ... cool, and I would also ... will see you out there