Okemo

[ccskier]

Going on a company trip to Okemo next Thur/Friday. I was there a few years ago, but it was so cold I did not last and did not explore anywhere. Any recommendations? Trails, etc... Will be staying at Jackson Gore.

 

[Sky]

That side of the resort is pretty good. Quantum Leap is a great long cruiser...a bit steep at the top...so it gets a black diamond, but after that, it's a nice long ride (albeit rather straight). Off that same lift way off to skier's right is a more round-about track to the bottom of that same lift.

Too lazy to cruise the rail map *sorry*, but the lift to skiers right from JG has a nice couple of trails under the lift line that don't get too crazy...good all day runners.

Enjoy! Hopefully this time the temps will more accommodating.

 

[twinplanx]

Avoid the main base area... a few recent threads have touched on this it is actually pretty key. Solitude is a great area to do some cruising and the south face is a nice short but sweet little area thats worth the catwalk to get to.

 

[deadheadskier]

affoid the middle of the mountain during the middle of the day

haven't skied Jackson Gore, have skied the Southridge side. Nothing there will challenge you, but that's not to say you can't have fun.

You'll find the BEST grooming anywhere in New England that I've ever seen. As a Jay skier, the place will bore you. Just chil and have fun on the groomers on the perimeters of the mountain.

Okemo si a great high speed cruising mountain. That's not what I'm into and I know it's not what you're into.....but you can still have a lot of fun if you take what the mountain gives you.

 

[ccskier]

Looking forward to it. The guys from work I will be skiing with are moderately intermediate so it will be fun to just cruise around. Haven't skied good groomers in a while, hopefully we will be up early enough. My wife may meet me afterwards on the way up to Jay, if I was to get a ride up with a guy from work, where would be a good place to meet up her coming from the Cape and him going back, West Leb?

Thanks.

 

[ckofer]

It's a place to work on your deep carving skills and I think they have some okay bump runs.

 

[Talisman]

My wife may meet me afterwards on the way up to Jay, if I was to get a ride up with a guy from work, where would be a good place to meet up her coming from the Cape and him going back, West Leb?

If you typically drive I-89 from the Cape to Okemo, West Lebanon would be a good meeting point. When coming from the Cape I would do 495, RT 2, Rt 140, Rt 12 & I-91 which would make either Exit 5 on I-91 or some place in Keene, NH a meeting point.

 

[deadheadskier]

West Leb would be a good spot or Quechee. Quechee is only a couple of miles from both 91 and 89 and there are a couple of great spots for dinner in town. Or if it's still daylight, hit my uncle for a hot air balloon ride. He's based out of Quechee :lol:

http://www.balloonsofvermont.com/

 

[crank]

I think you can disregard the advice to avoid the base and the middle of the mountain on Thursday and Friday. On a weekend or holiday, however, that is a must for getting around Okemo. It is a broad mountain. At Jackson Gore you are on the North end. It's fun to work your way all the way over to the South Peak area and then back. It's all blue cruisers with a couple of bumpers. I've heard they are doing less grooming in response to skier feedback re too many groomers. Great for high speed hero snow skiing. Should be fun.

 

[gladerider]

i am heading up there this friday evening.
my kids are switching to snowboarding for the first time.
which place is better for beginners? the main base around lift line or jackson gore?
i see that jackson gore area has a few magic carpets?

is there an area for lunch at jackson gore base?

thanks

 

[BLESS]

company trip? man, I work for the wrong company.

 

[gmcunni]

which place is better for beginners? the main base around lift line or jackson gore?
i see that jackson gore area has a few magic carpets?

is there an area for lunch at jackson gore base?

thanks

i think you'd do well at JG. It tends to be less crowded there but they have all the same services as the main lodge, including food service. There is a single lift from the bottom of JG which is packed early as people arrive and then move out to the main slopes. The only trails leading to the JG lodge are flat beginner slopes, which is what you probably want for learning. The main lodge also has beginner only slopes but the mass of people at the bottom makes for tricky navigation.

I haven't been to O yet this year but in the past they had a very tame terrrain park right next to the lodge and accessible via the magic carpet.

 

[crank]

I would say Jackson Gore for your 2 new boarders. The lift at the bottom serves a novice slope and is a feeder to the lift to the top. Everything will be less crowded at JG from parking to lifts. I always park there when skiing Okemo on a weekend.

If they get good enough fast enough to venture up the hill, the connector trail to the main mountain is basically a green cat track type road. Coming back to JG though, they will want to take the trail that goes there from the bottom of Solitude. The upper mountain connector trail is a bit steep for newbies and is very crowded and a bit bumped up by the afternoon.

 

[Talisman]

i am heading up there this friday evening.
my kids are switching to snowboarding for the first time.
which place is better for beginners? the main base around lift line or jackson gore?
i see that jackson gore area has a few magic carpets?

is there an area for lunch at jackson gore base?

thanks

which place is better for beginners? Bromley, less crowded good beginner terrain

the main base around lift line or jackson gore? Main base of Okemo is better thatn the 'gore for begginers as there rerally is only the magic carpet or a fairly long and challenging green back to the gore base.

i see that jackson gore area has a few magic carpets?


is there an area for lunch at jackson gore base? yes

 

[gladerider]

crank & gmcunni

thanks for the tip. jackson gore was good for the beginners. saturday was really crazy at the base and jackson gore choice definitely paid off.

 

[SkiDork]

Okemo == P-Okemo-N

Nuff said

 

[ccskier]

company trip? man, I work for the wrong company.

Yeah, being in sales, the companies you represent take care of you.

 

[tomski]

Be real careful getting back to JG with first time boarders. Even the trail below Solitude they mentioned (Southern Crossing) is steep for a first timer. You would be best off starting out at the main lodge until they know what they are doing or just stay on the lower JG quad (Coleman Brook Express).

The biginner route from Jackson Gore Summit back is Sunset Strip => Mountain Road => Village Run => Jack-a-lope => Southern Cross. This could take hours with a first time boarder.

There is also a hike up a small incline from the Solitude lodge to the connector trail to JG and then a hike on the trail itself below the tunnel (Jack-a-lope). Even with my kids who can ski, it can be a PIA.

Alternatively, if you do venture out to the main mountain from JG, consider the shuttle back to JG.

 

[Mark_151]

I'm ready for another Okemo trip real soon -- I won a pair of tickets last Friday on WZLX.

 

[St. Jerry]

Be sure to check out the groomed blue trails. I've heard they're not too difficult to find.