Smuggs on a Sunday

[Buckeye Skier 1330]

Almost every year on our vacation we miss out on a day of skiing due to the weather, usually rain. This year we are thinking of planning on 6 days of skiing in hopes of getting at least 5 in. We've never hit a major NE resort on the weekend and were just wondering what to expect. I know there we be a good crowd there but how bad does it usually get?

Thanks!

 

[billski]

Almost every year on our vacation we miss out on a day of skiing due to the weather, usually rain. This year we are thinking of planning on 6 days of skiing in hopes of getting at least 5 in. We've never hit a major NE resort on the weekend and were just wondering what to expect. I know there we be a good crowd there but how bad does it usually get?

Thanks!

I can only offer a generalization about major areas. Each specific area varies as do the trails. There are many exceptions.

There is really no problem midweek. It's the weekends that are the killer. Second to a weekend is Friday for popularity.

- Green trail access is usually not a big problem, But Blue trail access gets hit the hardest.
- Blue trails are heavily busy (forget about GS cruising) scrape down fast because of the former, so get out early.
- Blacks are moderately busy but get scraped off early.
- Major resorts have major lift capacity, lines can vary from 5 mins to 25 mins, leaning more towards the 15 minute average. You can cheat the hangman by using the singles line. Forget about gondola or tram if you don't like to wait an even longer wait - If you must, hit them first run or late in the day.
- Because of great uphill capacity, lots of people on the slopes at once.
- Sunday afternoon is relatively light on the hill
- The lodge is mobbed. Finding a seat is interesting.
- In my observation, the most equipment is stolen on a weekend.
- There are a lot more activities, and potentially more services like Sugarbush transfer lift, making getting around easier. Most waffle huts are open on the weekend

Not that you asked, but unless I'm with family, I usually avoid weekends.

All the above are generalizations. Your mileage will vary greatly depending on resorts.

Can you give us the "major resort" names you are considering?

 

[Buckeye Skier 1330]

Thanks for the info. We were thinking about hitting Smuggs on a Sunday morning. I know the lift capacity there is more limited than other resorts with high speed lifts. I read a thread somewhere about it being very crowded on a Saturday and was hoping a Sunday wouldn't be quite as bad.

 

[ta&idaho]

Out of curiosity, why do you drive East instead of driving (or flying) West? According to Google Maps, its almost 14 hours from Orient, Ohio to Franconia, New Hampshire (obviously Vermont is a little closer, but you have Cannon in your profile pic), compared with about 20 hours to Summit County, Colorado. Just a thought...

 

[Buckeye Skier 1330]

Out of curiosity, why do you drive East instead of driving (or flying) West? According to Google Maps, its almost 14 hours from Orient, Ohio to Franconia, New Hampshire (obviously Vermont is a little closer, but you have Cannon in your profile pic), compared with about 20 hours to Summit County, Colorado. Just a thought...

Haven't been able to talk my wife into flying, at least not yet.Now we drive about 10 hours in one day then get a room. Then finsh off the trip the next day. Two ten hour days in a row would be a little much. Also I've always found some very economical deals in the east. This year we have 2 for 1 deals for every day. $71 for the 2 of us will be the most expensive day. I'd like to get out west again some year but we really love Vermont and NH.