Jiminy or Berkshire East Wed. Afternoon.

[crank]

We are heading up for a half day tomorrow and Thursday as well. I have never skied Berkshire East, but am hesitant now because of the rain/freeze. I know Jiminy will be crowded but the 6-pack does eat up the lines and I like their 4-hour ticket option.

Any guess as to crowds and conditions at Berksihire East?

We will be sleeping in Saratoga and can easily hit southern/central VT or Gore on Thursday. What do you all think re. crowds and conditions?

 

[ski220]

Ahh. Memories of skiing w/Crank. I haven't skied B.E. in a good many years but I think that they don't have the snowmaking or grooming that Jiminy has. Go to Hunter and ski for Sig.

Anyway, I just wanted to camp on your thread for awhile. Have fun and let me know how conditions are.

 

[crank]

Ahh. Memories of skiing w/Crank. I haven't skied B.E. in a good many years but I think that they don't have the snowmaking or grooming that Jiminy has. Go to Hunter and ski for Sig.

Anyway, I just wanted to camp on your thread for awhile. Have fun and let me know how conditions are.

Hah. I should take the kid to Hunter. Maybe introduce him to Orville. I would make the drive, tomorrow, all the way north to Stowe or Jay but don't think it is worth it at this time.

 

[ski220]

And it's more on the way to Saratoga too!

 

[threecy]

From what I heard, the skiing at Berkshire East was still good despite the rain a few days back. Don't forget that B-East has purchased a new fleet of snowcats in the last few years and has nearly 100 Arecos and SMI Polecats and Wizzards. They might have a few trails less than Jiminy open, but the conditions should be as good and the crowds much less. Berkshire East does not have a high speed detachable lift, whereas Jiminy has the HS6. The 4 hour ticket at Jiminy is more expensive than the 8 hour ticket at Berkshire East.

 

[Newpylong]

Save for a few natural trails, all of Jiminy is open. I assume what the Beast has open has very good cover, but that may be limited.

 

[billski]

The downside to a busy area is that the surface will pack down/scrape off quickly on the most popular (typically blue) trails. Packed powder is one thing, packed FGR (which a busy area will have) is quite another, especially if you are skiing with folk who are more skidders than carvers. That FGR skidding sound tends to strike terror in the souls of lower intermediates, which seems to lessen the enjoyment. IF the resort gets a few inches of powder each day for 2-3 days, that could change the experience dramatically as the cats churn the PDR in with the FGR.

Crowds are simply not a problem at BE, even on a holiday week.

I don't know your skill level, but I'd be at Berkshire East if I was an intermediate on a holiday week.

 

[crank]

Thanks,

Plans changed. Going up this afternoon skiing Thursday and Friday. Probably hit Gore Thursday with snowboarding nephew along. May hook up with relatives at Stratton for Friday ( I know: flat, expensive, crowded.) but may try BEast. We can ski ok.