Midweek night skiing: Wachusett vs. Crotched

[podunk77]

Thinking of picking up a weekday season pass to use primarily for night skiing next year. I'm leaning toward Wachusett over Crotched because they're open an hour later (10:00 PM vs 9:00PM), and because I'll probably hit less rush hour traffic heading West on Route 2 than I will on 93 North to Manchester. My only concern is how crowded I hear Wachusett gets. Crowd-wise, does anyone know what these places are like at night? Thanks.

 

[Nick]

I go to Wachusett at night and it can certainly be a shit show. There are a LOT of after school programs running pretty much 5 days per week plus night race leagues and so forth. That said, normally I have had a decent line experience there at night.

If you ski until the later hours (8PM or later) it should be even better and by 9PM should be cake when all the school kids roll out of there.

Not sure how Crotched is. The high speed lifts at wachusett make the lift lines usually pretty bearable but at the expense of crowded slopes.

 

[wa-loaf]

At Wachusett most of the kids clear out between 7 and 8pm and the lifts become ski on mostly.

 

[snowmonster]

Coming from Boston, I assume?

I echo what Nick and wa-loaf said, Wa is pretty much ski on after 7. If you leave Boston at or around 5, battle Route 2 traffic to Concord then park and boot up, you're probably looking at first chair at 7 anyways.

 

[HD333]

I have done a weekday/night pass for the past few seasons and I echo what others have said. After 7:00 it clears out and is ski on for the most part, which is realistically when I get there.

I am glad I had it, it made me go when I never would have gone if I had to open my wallet.

Never been to Crotched so I can't comment.

 

[Angus]

I've skied both crotched and wawa and like crotched better. it's been a few years but crowds even on weekends are minimum at crotched. the other thing i've noticed is crotched's lighting is much better. I always think the trails at wawa are dark. i think snow quality at crotched is better too.

the flip side is getting to crotched is a pain. where would you be coming from?

 

[Quietman]

The only time that I've ever seen a line during a weekday evening at Crotched is for the beginner double(West Lift) on Friday's at 5-6pm for after school lessons. The only line at the quad that I've seen at night at all was during some weekend midnight madness specials from 10-midnight and even then it only was a couple minutes.

Crotched closes at nine Mon-Thurs for a reason, because the hill is empty!

I just checked the the night pass for Crotched is also good for 3pm-3am midnight madness Fri & Sat this year, for $279

 

[hammer]

Don't know about weekday evening crowds at Crotched but I'd go with whatever is closer. Crotched has more trail options and skis bigger, but Wachusett is fine for evenings. Agree what others have said about the crowds...I had a night pass there a few years ago and it worked out fine, most of the school groups clear out early.

 

[bobbutts]

I'd go with Crotched just because I've had it with those same 3 trails from the Wachusett Summit and the other lifts are too flat.

 

[jack97]

I'd go with Crotched just because I've had it with those same 3 trails from the Wachusett Summit and the other lifts are too flat.

Same here, those three trails gets old quick. The only thing that makes them fun is the bumps on 10th and hardpack conditions on smith walton.

Once crotched gets a good dump, they will open up the glades and have more bump trails.

 

[Newpylong]

Sh*tshow going out Route 2 from Boston at rush hour or 93 north, doesn't make a difference.

Crotched, less people, better terrain, better conditions, better lights. I would go there.

 

[The Sneak]

I have been a Wa Wa passholder since 2007. I live in southern RI and try to get to Wa 10-15 times per year, mostly early and late season weekend mornings and a handful of night skiing visits. I agree that the same three trails from the top get old, and Crotched certainly has more interesting terrain (more pitch for sure...the trail under the chair is great).

Yes, night skiing @ the Wa is a shitshow some nights, but as others have said the place empties out around 8 pm. From 8 to 10 most nights (aside from Fri/Sat) the summit chair is ski on. Singles line moves quickly anyway (usually).

Wachusett may not be the most exciting option, but for me it sure beats sitting at home playing with my iphone or watching TV. It is an easy drive too, whereas even from the Boston area there is quite a bit of backroads involved in getting to and from Crotched - could be tricky and slow going in bad weather.