Vermont Skiing early december

[bhav2k1]

I will be coming up from NYC to go skiing in Vermont the 2nd weekend in December. I was originally planning on going to Okemo, but I was wondering if any of you suggest other places (Stowe etc) that could potentially have better snow by that time.

Going with a group of 8 guys, so any nightlife would be a plus. Also the closer to NYC the better but not a dealbreaker.

 

[Black Phantom]

Okemo is a great place. You fellas will enjoy it.

 

[gmcunni]

keep an eye on the weather and go to the place with best conditions.

 

[skiersleft]

If nightlife is a consideration, it's a no brainer. Killington. Best nightlife in the East. And the skiing is better than at Okemo and they likely will have more terrain open.

I think Stowe is a bad choice so early in the season. They depend much more on natural, so early December is a crapshoot. Also, it's considerably farther away from NYC than your other options.

 

[Smellytele]

Most likely areas will all have limited trails open, Okemo doesn't have much of a night life. Killington or Stowe have the night life.

 

[steamboat1]

Like others have said it depends on how much natural snow has fallen by then. There are years when early Dec. offers some of the best conditions of the season. Other years they're totally dependent on snow making ability.

As for drive times there really isn't all that much of a difference if you're diving up from NYC on the Interstate 91 (89) corridor if the roads are clear. Yes it's longer to get to Killington or Stowe but the difference in drive time is negligible & shouldn't even be a consideration.

If your group is made up of more advanced skiers I'd recommend Killington or Stowe for their terrain. If night life & dining options are also a consideration I'd make the same recommendation. Both Killington & Stowe also offer plenty of beginner & intermediate terrain but a place like Okemo won't offer your group more advanced terrain.

Whatever you decide I hope your group has a good time.

 

[HowieT2]

Like others have said it depends on how much natural snow has fallen by then. There are years when early Dec. offers some of the best conditions of the season. Other years they're totally dependent on snow making ability.

As for drive times there really isn't all that much of a difference if you're diving up from NYC on the Interstate 91 (89) corridor if the roads are clear. Yes it's longer to get to Killington or Stowe but the difference in drive time is negligible & shouldn't even be a consideration.

If your group is made up of more advanced skiers I'd recommend Killington or Stowe for their terrain. If night life & dining options are also a consideration I'd make the same recommendation. Both Killington & Stowe also offer plenty of beginner & intermediate terrain but a place like Okemo won't offer your group more advanced terrain.

Whatever you decide I hope your group has a good time.

how is there no difference in drive time between kton and stowe? is there a worm hole I am missing?

echo what the others have said. keep an eye on the conditions which can vary significantly especially early in the season.

 

[steamboat1]

how is there no difference in drive time between kton and stowe? is there a worm hole I am missing?.

Reading comprehension problems I see.

 

[Smellytele]

Reading comprehension problems I see.

+1 "the difference in drive time is negligible"

 

[skiersleft]

+1 "the difference in drive time is negligible"

There's a 1 hr drive time difference between Killington and Stowe from NYC no matter how you slice it. Perhaps it's negligible to some, but 1 hr is not negligible to me, especially after driving for 5 hrs.

 

[Smellytele]

There's a 1 hr drive time difference between Killington and Stowe from NYC no matter how you slice it. Perhaps it's negligible to some, but 1 hr is not negligible to me, especially after driving for 5 hrs.

Yes that would suck. One of many reasons I don't live in NYC.

 

[C-Rex]

IMO, Okemo = meh.

They do usually get decent snow and they do a good job grooming but I just think the mountain is boring. Jackson Gore is pretty fun and a good way to avoid the crowds if you go there though. I love bombing Tuckered Out. I'd say go to Killington instead. And if it's really busy, check out Pico. It gets overlooked a lot but I've had some great days there.

 

[steamboat1]

There's a 1 hr drive time difference between Killington and Stowe from NYC no matter how you slice it. Perhaps it's negligible to some, but 1 hr is not negligible to me, especially after driving for 5 hrs.

Sounds like your more suited to Mountain Creek. Think of all the drive time you could be saving, at least 3 hrs. each way.

 

[skiersleft]

Sounds like your more suited to Mountain Creek. Think of all the drive time you could be saving, at least 3 hrs. each way.

Yes, but I'll pass on Mountain Creek. I have a season pass at Killington and log in 40 to 50 days a year up there, so I'm cool with the drive. I'm just saying that if drive time is a consideration for the original poster, there's a 1 hr drive time difference and for many that would not be negligible.

 

[Smellytele]

Yes, but I'll pass on Mountain Creek. I have a season pass at Killington and log in 40 to 50 days a year up there, so I'm cool with the drive. I'm just saying that if drive time is a consideration for the original poster, there's a 1 hr drive time difference and for many that would not be negligible.

While skiing 40 to 50 times a year is cool. I would go batty skiing any one place that many times. I would lose interest and drink even more than I already do.

 

[steamboat1]

Yes, but I'll pass on Mountain Creek. I have a season pass at Killington and log in 40 to 50 days a year up there, so I'm cool with the drive. I'm just saying that if drive time is a consideration for the original poster, there's a 1 hr drive time difference and for many that would not be negligible.

Cool, I also have a season pass for K. Maybe I'll meet you on the mountain one day & we can discuss this on the lift. I have the pass for K but only spend roughly 1/2 my days there. Variety is the spice of life.

How long a drive is it from Okemo to Killington? I'd say at least a 1/2 hour if you drive up the access road to K, maybe more. A little less if you stop at Skyeship but there's not much night life there.

 

[skiersleft]

Cool, I also have a season pass for K. Maybe I'll meet you on the mountain one day & we can discuss this on the lift. I have the pass for K but only spend roughly 1/2 my days there. Variety is the spice of life.

How long a drive is it from Okemo to Killington? I'd say at least a 1/2 hour if you drive up the access road to K, maybe more. A little less if you stop at Skyeship but there's not much night life there.

I agree that variety is the spice of life. That's why I also spend about half of my days at K. Last season I also did Stowe, Tremblant, Gore, Whiteface, Plattekill, Belleayre, Hunter, Windham, Snowbird, Alta and a couple of crappy hills very close to home.

From Okemo to Kton it's a 30-40 minute drive.

Regarding skiing together, would love to. Will be up next week. Will you be there?

 

[skiersleft]

While skiing 40 to 50 times a year is cool. I would go batty skiing any one place that many times. I would lose interest and drink even more than I already do.

I'm with you. As I explained to Steamboat, I ski about half of my ski days at K and the other half at other hills.

 

[steamboat1]

Regarding skiing together, would love to. Will be up next week. Will you be there?

Nope, I don't start till the 1st weekend in Dec. with DAH BOYZ. I'll go up a day or 2 early so I get some skiing in. Getting to the slopes with DAH BOYZ is often questionable after drinking all night. There's a 50/50 shot we'll make it to the slopes by the crack of noon. It's always a good time though, we've been doing this for a dozen or so years. It's usually the only weekend I ski all season.

As for skiing together; sure. I'm up for 3-5 days every other week for the remainder of the season. Let me know if your up during the week & if I'm there we can hook up.

 

[skiersleft]

As for skiing together; sure. I'm up for 3-5 days every other week for the remainder of the season. Let me know if your up during the week & if I'm there we can hook up.

Will do. I also ski midweek, so I'm pretty sure we'll be able to work something out. Looking forward to it!