Is it worth a day trip from NYC area?

[gores95]

Just got back from Stowe/Jay last week and I will be posting the trip report and pictures this weekend. My daughter and I had an AWESOME time and I don't think I'm ready to hang up the skis just yet. Our home mountain (Mountain Creek, NJ) MAY open up for this weekend but I am not counting on it. I would love to ski one more good day sans kid...just me and the mountain!!! :lol:

Bottom line is it worth the 2 hour or so drive to Hunter, Belleayre or Wyndham in the Catskills? I would probably take a day off from work and just ski a weekday although I am concerned about how much would be open during the week. I was also considering Elk Mountain in the Northern PA region but not sure how the conditions are.

Any other suggestions? Am I INSANE to even consider going to Vermont for the day?

Thanks,

Marc

 

[dmc]

I cant speak for any other mountains in the Catskills..
But Hunter is 100% open and the rain didnt affect it that much... Only saw one brown spot on the bottom of The Cliff this AM..

I did hear Windham was gettign sketchy from someone...

Also Bellayre JUST made snow last week...

 

[Greg]

Jiminy is also holding on at 95% open currently.

Am I INSANE to even consider going to Vermont for the day?

Not at all. My rule of thumb is this: if I can get in as much time on the slopes as I spend in the car to/from the mountain, I'm happy. I always try to keep it a 1:1 ratio. For example, I'll drive 3 hours one way to a ski area if I can be skiing for at least six hours.

 

[thetrailboss]

Jiminy is also holding on at 95% open currently.

Am I INSANE to even consider going to Vermont for the day?

Not at all. My rule of thumb is this: if I can get in as much time on the slopes as I spend in the car to/from the mountain, I'm happy. I always try to keep it a 1:1 ratio. For example, I'll drive 3 hours one way to a ski area if I can be skiing for at least six hours.

Good rule of thumb :wink:

 

[pepperdawg]

Heading to Mt Snow (So VT) tomorrow - will let you know how conditions are. Magic rocked on Friday.

 

[Paul]

Heading to Mt Snow (So VT) tomorrow - will let you know how conditions are. Magic rocked on Friday.

I'm heading for Okemo tomorrow, I'll try to leave a report tomorrow night...

 

[Vortex]

You guys just need to move. :wink: Don't let your life get in the way fo your skiing. The lostone has figured it out. Pepperdawg how did we miss you last Friday?

 

[Brettski]

My day trips are ONLY to the skills...I gavce up on the pokes, except for Jack Frost...well there's also Blue...but I haven't been in a while...
But Blue and Jack are about 1 1/2...Hunta is 2...Belleayer is 2 1/2...never been to Plattekill...but they don't make snow....

your choice...

Hunta still doing bus trips up?

Whne are they scheduled to close?

 

[dmc]

My day trips are ONLY to the skills...I gavce up on the pokes, except for Jack Frost...well there's also Blue...but I haven't been in a while...
But Blue and Jack are about 1 1/2...Hunta is 2...Belleayer is 2 1/2...never been to Plattekill...but they don't make snow....

your choice...

Hunta still doing bus trips up?

Whne are they scheduled to close?

2nd weekend in April... With tons of snow...

 

[loafer89]

I am thinking about going up to Sundown on Sunday if they do decide to open up for the weekend, we want to go somewhere local after our long haul trip over Easter weekend. This weekends weather forecast does not look great with 0.50 - 1.0" of rain forecast for CT on saturday and into early sunday morning.

Anyone know if Killington has been stockpiling snow on Superstar, my son wants to keep on skiing into May. Apparently he has been bitten by some sort of ski bug??? :wink:

 

[catskills]

Yeah that rain melted all the snow in the Catskills. I would stay home.

See for your self. Picture taken after rain -->
http://www.huntermtn.com/images/daily/03-30-05.jpg

 

[pepperdawg]

You guys just need to move. :wink: Don't let your life get in the way fo your skiing. The lostone has figured it out. Pepperdawg how did we miss you last Friday?

I didnt make it up there till noon-sih, but ended riding right till 4:00. Great soft snow with stashes almost everywhere. Great hill - lots of great terrain, little rock bands etc....kinda dissapointed they closed already.

 

[dmc]

Yeah that rain melted all the snow in the Catskills. I would stay home.

See for your self. Picture taken after rain -->
http://www.huntermtn.com/images/daily/03-30-05.jpg

When I left town this AM - the only real brown showing was on the bottom face of the Cliff..
You can see it in the picture...

 

[Vortex]

Pepperdawg...next time maybe.

 

[Brettski]

Yeah that rain melted all the snow in the Catskills. I would stay home.

See for your self. Picture taken after rain -->
http://www.huntermtn.com/images/daily/03-30-05.jpg

That's a nice shot...that from the highway?

EDIT: Just made that my Background

 

[gores95]

My name is Marc and I am a skiaholic! Who else would drive four hours plus for one day of skiing in April?? You guys!!!!! :beer:

I am now officially adopting the 1:1 drive:ski ratio (Thanks Greg!) :wink: . Hunter would be 120 miles or roughly 4 1/2 hours roundtrip and I should be able to get at least six hours of skiing in!

Does Hunter normally close lifts/trails during the week? I would assume this is best bet of the three Catskills mtns for reliable runs, correct?

Thanks.

 

[dmc]

Does Hunter normally close lifts/trails during the week?

Hunter doesnt run the F and Y chair on most weekdays.. Sometimes they don't run the D as well..
But you can still access everything from the operational chairs...

Unless there's some reason(Ice, rocks, bears) - they keep all the trails open...

 

[Brettski]

Ya know..I never thouht of it that way...I never think 4 hours of driving...I'm thinking 8 hours on the snow...

Dude..ya gotta be booted up for when the lift opens...

 

[catskills]

My name is Marc and I am a skiaholic! Who else would drive four hours plus for one day of skiing in April?? You guys!!!!! :beer:

I am now officially adopting the 1:1 drive:ski ratio (Thanks Greg!) :wink: . Hunter would be 120 miles or roughly 4 1/2 hours roundtrip and I should be able to get at least six hours of skiing in!

Does Hunter normally close lifts/trails during the week? I would assume this is best bet of the three Catskills mtns for reliable runs, correct?

Thanks.

If you ski Hunter Mtn this weekend then make sure you check out Hunter Mtn Value Pass
http://www.huntermtn.com/valuepass.html

Note Belleayre will probably stay open later than Hunter this year.

Next year make sure you check out Plattekill after a deep powder day.

 

[billski]

Jiminy is also holding on at 95% open currently.

Am I INSANE to even consider going to Vermont for the day?

Not at all. My rule of thumb is this: if I can get in as much time on the slopes as I spend in the car to/from the mountain, I'm happy. I always try to keep it a 1:1 ratio. For example, I'll drive 3 hours one way to a ski area if I can be skiing for at least six hours.

How did you arrive at that benchmark? The ride home is ALWAYS longer than the ride UP. :wink: I just did the 3hrs each way to Burke solo. Exhausing, but if it's a bluebird day, you'll be in heaven. It's less crazy the more drivers you have. Besides, the
further north you go, the odds of good conditions are with you.