Is it worth a day trip from NYC area?

[ALLSKIING]

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.

Thats a hard ratio to meet from LI. :wink: I just take all the skiing I can no matter what the driving time is.

 

[Bumpsis]

Wrong ratio

1:1 ratio makes a lot of sense BUT, there is one element missing: fun quotient (or content).
If the fun quotient is high, it's worth the drive.

I can easily justify a 6h round trip with only 4 hours on the slope if I'm reasonably ceratain that I'll have a rockin' good time.

Living in Boston, I'm faced with a 2.5 - 3.5 hour drive to get to some of the better slopes and many times I do it just for half a day. Getting there by noon, skiing my ass off (ususally bumps 'till the legs quit) for 4 hours and my legs are cooked.

Upsides: wet noodles for legs, half day ticket price and didn't have to get up at 5am.
Downsides: Possibilty of getting skunked if conditions suck, but then, the same thing would hold if I came out for the whole day anyway.

In other words, forget the ratio. Have fun

 

[goldsbar]

Elk was excellent from mid-February to mid-March. I haven't been there since. Don't lump it in with the Poconos...

 

[jimme]

If you get a good weather day, even just 2 hours on the slopes may satisfy your "last run" needs.

If I can get a solid two hrs in, then the drive time is not an issue. March 5th I drove 45 min to Jiminy, skied 1-1/2 hrs in my street clothes and went home. 1:1 ratio, but I've skied Jiminy for an only an hour in the past and felt the trip was worth it. Early and late in the season I get goofy and will go to extremes to get those first/last days in.

 

[Brettski]

Elk was excellent from mid-February to mid-March. I haven't been there since. Don't lump it in with the Poconos...

Nope...it's only 1k vert, but skis much bigger and the trail system is great

The lodge, ski school, rentals...are all top notch

But it's right in the middle of but-f-nowhere

It's at least 2 1/2 hours from NoJersey...

So It's either that or Belleayre...not that hard of a choice...

It's probably an easier drive to Elk though

I HATE the thuway...wait...that's not fair...I hate the drivers on the thruway

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Why do u hate the drivers, i stay in the left lane and follow all the ski racks, i dont even think ive gone below 80 following all those nice suv's.. I just wish they would put in a stay in lane high speed ezpass system there like they got on the GSP near paramus. ive gone thru that thing at 100 ((was late for christmas dinner)) and it still picks up the ezpass its a pretty good system they got there, just expensive to put everywhere.

 

[Ig ODC]

I drive from North Jersey to Plattekill and Bobcat all the time in one day, it isn't a bad drive at all. The drive up the Thruway isn't bad, and then the drive through the Catskills is real pretty, so I don't mind it at all. Plus, you can listen to AM 660 pretty much the whole way. And, if you go to Bobcat, you can take a different way home. Hunter and Belleayre are a little bit closer, so that is a plus for those areas. This weekend, however, is calling for rain, and if the conditions are going to suck as bad as rain makes it, then the drive up and back isn't worth it. Hunter prob. is your best bet late season, but Belleayre prob. is in good shape too. Elk is probably closed, and if not, I would guess their conditions would not be very good (but that's just a guess, I haven't checked their conditions). I personally like Belleayre and Hunter better than Elk.

 

[Brettski]

Because you get one guy who doesn't clear the lane...I'd like to right lane as much as possible, and there is usually miles of open right, then a slow car...just pass him and clear....they could use 3 lanes...no need to hang in the left lane...

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

hey even if u lose 660, u can still listen to mike and the dog on 590 out of albany now. Ive been able to get nice reception at belleayre when the fan fades out.

 

[Ig ODC]

Frito,

Thanks for the info. I'd never of known that. Now I just gotta remember by the time next season comes around.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

ya they started syndicating the show a few months ago. Its weird when you can get them both though because they are on like a 15second delay on 590

 

[dmc]

ya they started syndicating the show a few months ago. Its weird when you can get them both though because they are on like a 15second delay on 590

I love that!!! Mike and the Maddog on the ride home...
But I'm pretty sure if you tune in at other times it's conservative psycho bable...

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

I actually see Dog out and about once and a while. He lives in the next town over, New Canaan.

 

[gores95]

Elk was excellent from mid-February to mid-March. I haven't been there since. Don't lump it in with the Poconos...

Nope...it's only 1k vert, but skis much bigger and the trail system is great

The lodge, ski school, rentals...are all top notch

But it's right in the middle of but-f-nowhere

It's at least 2 1/2 hours from NoJersey...

So It's either that or Belleayre...not that hard of a choice...

It's probably an easier drive to Elk though

I HATE the thuway...wait...that's not fair...I hate the drivers on the thruway

Elk slated to close this Saturday but with the rain maybe tomorrow.

I was planning on skiing this Monday for the last time. With the DELUGE slated for Saturday I wonder if Hunter/Belleayre will bounce back in time for a meaningful day of skiing. I am leaning towards Hunter and its grooming fleet. Can they get the mountain back to decent skiing by Monday? That is the $1,000,000 question!!

Thanks,

Marc