Okemo

[kingslug]

So how is this place. Snowbird tours has a bus trip running this Sunday. I've read some reviews and people either love it or hate it. Also heard they groom EVERYTHING. Sketchy weather this weekend , wondering if it will be worth it to head north or just head up to Hunter.

 

[billski]

So how is this place. Snowbird tours has a bus trip running this Sunday. I've read some reviews and people either love it or hate it. Also heard they groom EVERYTHING. Sketchy weather this weekend , wondering if it will be worth it to head north or just head up to Hunter.

Well, you've already sized it up pretty well. You either love it, don't or are somewhere in the middle. I'd prognosticate that they will recover quite handily from the first part of this week. Their grooming operations are pretty impressive, and any events will be dispatched in short order. If you enjoy the groomers, with largely intermediate terrain, and a very family-friendly resort, it's the place for you.

 

[billski]

So how is this place. Snowbird tours has a bus trip running this Sunday. I've read some reviews and people either love it or hate it. Also heard they groom EVERYTHING. Sketchy weather this weekend , wondering if it will be worth it to head north or just head up to Hunter.

Well, you've already sized it up pretty well. You either love it, don't or are somewhere in the middle. I'd prognosticate that they will recover quite handily from the first part of this week. Their grooming operations are pretty impressive, and any events will be dispatched in short order. If you enjoy the groomers, with largely intermediate terrain, and a very family-friendly resort, it's the place for you. Kinda the Bretton Woods of VT, with more to do.

 

[Mark_151]

I went there for the first time after Thanksgiving. It's a great intermediate mountain. I thought it was more or less a giant Wachusett -- all the trails even look like either Conifer or Smith Walton from the lifts, LOL! And the ski patrol uniforms even match.

 

[kingslug]

HMMMM. I prefer the steeper stuff, not into groomed and flat. Have to see how the weather is at the end of the week. If it's snowing up there as opossed to raining here, then I guess flat is better than wet.

 

[RISkier]

My better half and i did a bus trip there a couple of years ago. Only been the one time and I believe it was a Saturday. It's mostly intermediate terrain. The comment about it being a big Wachusett has merit. I thought some of the greens would be pretty challenging for real novice skiers, most blues just a little steeper, and the blacks were basically just a darker shade of blue. Very crowded both on the slopes and in lodges. And we didn't know the mountain or lift system so perhaps there are some crowd avoidance strategies that escaped us. I think during the week it would be a terrific place for intermediates. It's not doable as a reasonable day trip for us and we've never been motivated to go out of our way to return. We didn't hate it and would consider going back. But we wouldn't go out of our way to go back on a busy weekend.

 

[Mark_151]

I'd like to piggyback and ask a question -- what makes the double blacks at Okemo double blacks? The time I went there, there was very limited terrain open, it was my second time out of the season, and I was on tele skis. As mentioned, the blacks I did were just steep for a little while, but nothing bad, and they were groomed. Just wondering what Okemo considers a double black.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

A double Black is the hardest terrain relatively to a ski areas other trails. Even though an Okemo double black might be a single black at Stowe..if that..or a Blue out west..it's still more challenging than their Blue and single black terrain. Okemo seems really far for a day trip from Long Island.

 

[kingslug]

If I had to drive it would be killer. Sundown, and Snowbird have bus trips for $85.00. I would spend more than that on gas if I drove, so it's a good deal. Just don't want to end up bored like at Stratton.

 

[bobbutts]

I'd like to piggyback and ask a question -- what makes the double blacks at Okemo double blacks? The time I went there, there was very limited terrain open, it was my second time out of the season, and I was on tele skis. As mentioned, the blacks I did were just steep for a little while, but nothing bad, and they were groomed. Just wondering what Okemo considers a double black.

All the double black runs at Okemo with the exception of 'Big Bang' are glade runs. Big Bang has a couple semi-steep sections and was ungrooomed when I have been there. Right now it's listed as groomed though.

 

[OppositeGeorge]

Just don't want to end up bored like at Stratton.

It's debatable whether there is such a thing as a bad ski area (as I get older, and better, I find something to like about every place I go it seems) but IMO if you were bored at Stratton then you probably won't like Okemo -- relatively mellow terrain groomed for intermediates, limited bump runs and even the "expert" area @ Jackson Gore really only has one or two runs deserving the qualification, and then only when they leave 'em ungroomed. I hear the trees are fun (Double Dipper?) when conditions are good but haven't tried 'em yet. And it gets crowded on the weekends around the main base, but that's probably the case anywhere in Vermont this time of year.

Okay, look -- Okemo isn't on my list of favorites. Still, this sounds like a great deal (and no driving) so why not try it and make the best of it? I know you prefer steep and ungroomed but maybe you could consider this an opportunity to broaden your abilities as a skier. Yeah, most runs are groomed to hell, so go there and work on technique, or parks, or trees. Or take a lesson -- a good instructor will find a way to kick your ass even on the bunny slope. And if anybody knows how to deal with this week's sketchiness, it's Okemo.

Even a so-so day skiing is better than a great day of sitting around the house. I figure any place is worth trying once, if only so you can say you did it

 

[kingslug]

Have to see how the weather turns out. If Hunter is in decent shape......the west side is anything but boring.
What I need to do is head west.....................soon.

 

[BeanoNYC]

I believe the only Double Blacks I ever skied on at Okemo was in the glades. I think that's all they got. I think you should give the mountain a try Slug. At least you would know for the future. It's a good mountain for a lazy day. I prefer Jackson Gore over the main mountain. I'm not sure of the coverage there this coming weekend. How much is the trip? Where are they picking up from?

 

[Mark_151]

All the double black runs at Okemo with the exception of 'Big Bang' are glade runs. Big Bang has a couple semi-steep sections and was ungrooomed when I have been there. Right now it's listed as groomed though.

Thanks!

 

[ckofer]

Even if it does seem like a series of 40 blue runs, I'll bet they'll have good snow conditions. Last year I did find one pretty good naturally bumped-up run that surprised me.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Even if it does seem like a series of 40 blue runs, I'll bet they'll have good snow conditions.

True...they're will certainly be something good to ski on there. The more I think about it, Slug, the more I think you should give it a try. I can't ever remember having a bad day out at Okemo.

 

[Newpylong]

Every trail skis the same, groomed and fairly flat. Great snowmaking and grooming though... never too bad of lines.

 

[Beetlenut]

Well I just skied it on Friday 12/21. Before the storm, it had mid-winter conditions. After the storm??? It's pretty tame as ski areas go. More mello than Stratton. The glade runs are nice, but short. I would say of all the big mountains, Okemo will recover faster. They had more bump runs than usual on Friday, with Sel's Choice being signature one. Jackson gore has the most potential for sustained vertical, but that's not even comparable to say Killington. The only real tip to getting around Okemo is to not go back to the main base lodge, if you don't have to, until the end of the day. Better is to ski out of Jackson Gore lodge and avoid the main base cluster f$%k completly!

Bill

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

If you're going as far as Okemo..midseason..suck it up and drive to Sugarbush or Stowe..you'll have 4 times more fun..

 

[BeanoNYC]

If you're going as far as Okemo..midseason..suck it up and drive to Sugarbush or Stowe..you'll have 4 times more fun..

Well he's got an opportunity to take a bus trip.