Okemo anyone?

[billski]

I almost never see any Okemo trip reports. Anyone?

 

[Smellytele]

Nobody goes there anymore - it's too crowded.

 

[Euler]

Whenever anyone mentions Okemo the inevitable disparaging comments about the terrain quickly follow. Who would subject themselves to the public ridicule from the hardcore bros who are only satisfied with the gnarliest gnar?

 

[Big Game]

Exactly Euler. After these members of the 10th Mountain Division, who populate AZ, take a tactical elevation transport two clicks straight up to the unforgivable peak of K-1, and then rip down the hill on a death defying firefight with Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world, it is just insulting to them to hear ANYTHING about a mountain 20 minutes to the south that offers a consistent quality product and family-oriented facilities.

 

[Madroch]

Skied okemo for the first time in years this November- they had a great early season roll out- skied all day - even in the rain- very enjoyable. Will take the family there later this year- mtn knows it's target and provides for it.

Would I go there solo on a powder day where I have skipped work and driven through the wee hours on snow covered roads- nope- but I'm glad it's there for what it has...

Ps- won't be heading to K on said powder day either- magic, pico, mrg- etc.

I save k for spring- endless bumps in the sun!

 

[Edd]

Okemo is a list of stray mountains I haven't skied. Good chance I'll make it there this year.

 

[Boston Bulldog]

Skied there a lot as a kid. My Sunapee pass worked there and I skied Okemo 5 times a season, give or take. Haven't been since I started college.

 

[xlr8r]

For its size it is pretty amazing how bland the place is. Every trail is similarly pitched, the trails are all straight, very few curves or twists, and it all ends up looking the same. Stratton and Mount Snow to the south have more interesting terrain, and Killington blows it away with terrain. It also is rather inconvenient to get to form the Boston area as it is south of White River Junction. It does a good job attracting families that can afford to stay in their on mountain condos, but it just doesn't appeal much to day skiers IMO.

 

[St. Jerry]

You'll like Okemo if you like your ice cream vanilla with vanilla sprinkles and vanilla sauce. Washed down with vanilla flavored milk.

Did I mention it's about a boring mountain is they come?

 

[TheArchitect]

The vast majority of the trails at Mt Snow are just as straight as Okemos. Stratton isn't much better.

 

[steamboat1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmaMzDMKNOY

 

[reefer]

Too funny! I'm not afraid.

If you are going to go I suggest late spring. Usually works for me. Hope this link works.
And don't mind the sh&* stuff, it was in response to a negative review a couple weeks earlier.


http://forums.alpinezone.com/showth...quot-The-Holy-Shit-Show-quot-4-3-11?highlight=

 

[4aprice]

I posted an Okemo TR just 2 weekends ago. Yes Okemo, Stratton and Mt Snow are very similar but that doesn't mean that each and everyone shouldn't be skied. If you need more challenge head some place else. I had a fun day there on limited terrain and probably will go back when its completely open.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[xlr8r]

The vast majority of the trails at Mt Snow are just as straight as Okemos. Stratton isn't much better.

IMO Mount snow offers more diversity with the North Face, Okemo has nothing that compares to those trails difficulty wise. Mount Snow also tends to leave a lot of trails ungroomed.

Stratton's trails have a lot more character than Okemo's. If you look on google earth you can clearly see the trails at Stratton tend to be narrower, and have more twists and turns than Okemo. Almost every trail at Okemo has the same width by looking on google earth.

 

[TheArchitect]

IMO Mount snow offers more diversity with the North Face, Okemo has nothing that compares to those trails difficulty wise. Mount Snow also tends to leave a lot of trails ungroomed.

Stratton's trails have a lot more character than Okemo's. If you look on google earth you can clearly see the trails at Stratton tend to be narrower, and have more twists and turns than Okemo. Almost every trail at Okemo has the same width by looking on google earth.

I respectfully disagree. I like the north face but those trails are relatively straight shots as well and only the pitch is steeper. There are some more interesting glades at Okemo I'd rather ski. Note, I did not say difficult.

I'm not saying that Okemo is some great challenging mountain because it's not. I've said in another recent thread that I don't get the constant bashing it receives and if I was bashing it I wouldn't do so with Mt. Snow or Stratton as examples.

 

[xlr8r]

I respectfully disagree. I like the north face but those trails are relatively straight shots as well and only the pitch is steeper. There are some more interesting glades at Okemo I'd rather ski. Note, I did not say difficult.

I'm not saying that Okemo is some great challenging mountain because it's not. I've said in another recent thread that I don't get the constant bashing it receives and if I was bashing it I wouldn't do so with Mt. Snow or Stratton as examples.

I am not saying Okemo is terrible, I just think it is rather bland and repetitive. I have been to Okemo a few times, and will continue to go there when the opportunity presents itself and the price is right.

My point about the north face is not that it has twists and turns, but rather that it contains trails steeper than anything at Okemo, giving mount snow more variety of terrain IMO. I was just trying to compare Okemo to its nearest competitors, Mount Snow, Stratton, and Killington. I did't think it made sense to compare Okemo to other ski mountains located far away. I'm not saying that your opinion is wrong, just that IMO Okemo is my least liked area of those 4.

 

[KevinF]

I am not saying Okemo is terrible, I just think it is rather bland and repetitive. I have been to Okemo a few times, and will continue to go there when the opportunity presents itself and the price is right.

My point about the north face is not that it has twists and turns, but rather that it contains trails steeper than anything at Okemo, giving mount snow more variety of terrain IMO. I was just trying to compare Okemo to its nearest competitors, Mount Snow, Stratton, and Killington. I did't think it made sense to compare Okemo to other ski mountains located far away. I'm not saying that your opinion is wrong, just that IMO Okemo is my least liked area of those 4.

With the exception of Ripcord at Mt. Snow and whatever-the-trail-is that's under the Jackson Gore chair at Okemo, (at least the "headwall" portion of it), there's nothing at either mountain that I'd say even remotely approaches "steep".

That said, I still enjoy skiing both of them. Not every day has to be about finding something steep and crazy.

 

[spiderpig]

One of the best days ever after the foot of snow on December 15, but I have never posted a trip report. The number of people on their Facebook page complaining about how much was not groomed tells you all you need to know. They did groom the flat connectors late that day, so that was not a problem. I have a pass there and enjoy it and had fun falling in the pillowy powder early that day, but it needs natural snow to make a diverse group of trails due to the many glades added in recent years.

 

[bdfreetuna]

I've only been there once and it was too crowded, with a lot of skies and riders with bad skills making it seem like collisions were very difficult to avoid.

The terrain and overall skiing vibe did not impress me enough to reconsider going again on a day with a lighter crowd.

 

[mister moose]

I can think of several reasons to enjoy skiing at Okemo:

Seeded bumps. Haven't been to Stratton in years, but Okemo's seeded bump runs offer a constant rythmic well shaped bump run like no other in Vermont that is a different kind of fun. Far fewer bump skiers at Okemo as well so there's no crowds on those trails.

Better food at Jackson Gore.

Forget the exact trail, but there's a terain park type trail near Arrow and Saphire etc that is more like a skier cross course, a long toboggan run with high well banked turns. Lots of fun.

Lots and lots and lots of true ski on housing if you have the coin.

They have the strongest marketing program of all Vermont resorts in the Connecticut market.

Great place to bring an intermediate skier on a date.

Their shuttle buses are this really cool blue color.

That's all I've got.