Wachusett this Saturday or......

[DEVO]

So the wife and I are probably going to take the kids to Wachusett this Saturday. I bet it will be a zoo. Anywhere else people recommend not much further than an hours drive from the north shore of MA?

 

[thetrailboss]

Crotched or Pat's Peak are fine choices. Pat's is an hour and a half north of Boston and it is all interstate/highway driving. www.patspeak.com

Crotched has been quiet all season long and they are relatively close by...a bit trickier to get to.

www.crotchedmountain.com

Both have decent vertical, night skiing, and are family oriented. Pat's has the Saturday night POP deal...ski/ride/tube from 3-10pm for only $23 per person. This includes tubing and ski/board rental as well as ticket. A bargain.

Both of these mountains are not nearly as crowded as Wa-wa, but with all of this snow, there will be people out at almost every hill.

Get out and enjoy it :wink:

Devo, feel free to PM me for more info...though I will not be online Friday-Sunday 'cause I am returning to my home state of Vermont for some skiing :wink:

 

[hammer]

Crotched or Pat's Peak are fine choices.

I'll echo what thetrailboss is saying. I've only been to Wachusett once but, after waiting in consistent 20 minute lift lines, unless I can go at a time when it's less crowded (and I don't know what those times are, but it's definitely not the weekends) I'd much rather go to Pat's or Crotched.

 

[thetrailboss]

Crotched or Pat's Peak are fine choices.

I'll echo what thetrailboss is saying. I've only been to Wachusett once but, after waiting in consistent 20 minute lift lines, unless I can go at a time when it's less crowded (and I don't know what those times are, but it's definitely not the weekends) I'd much rather go to Pat's or Crotched.

We'll have to meet up sometime at Pat's for a few runs. :wink: Hope you join us for the AZ day at Burke.

 

[DEVO]

Thanks. I think we will go to Pats instead. I was just checking out their website. Seems like it should be less crowded, looks as big as (if not bigger than) Wachusett and is around the same cost.

 

[thetrailboss]

Thanks. I think we will go to Pats instead. I was just checking out their website. Seems like it should be less crowded, looks as big as (if not bigger than) Wachusett and is around the same cost.

It is a nice place. I'm a passholder there and the area is clean and well-run. POP is a great deal.

It is about 250-300 vertical feet shorter, which is not too much.

I'll be there on Saturday afternoon and maybe I will see you and your family there. Enjoy it! :wink:

 

[Zand]

I think Crotched would be a better choice. Pats Peak has 300 less vertical, which isn't much, but that's like taking 1/3 of the hill off of Wachusett or Crotched. Plus, the bottom 200 feet or so of Pats is a flat runout, which neither the main trails of Wachusett or Crotched have.

I think Crotched, although more crowded than Pat's, is the better choice. Wachusett is a circus Saturdays. The only advantage Wa has is the terrain.

 

[thetrailboss]

I think Crotched would be a better choice. Pats Peak has 300 less vertical, which isn't much, but that's like taking 1/3 of the hill off of Wachusett or Crotched. Plus, the bottom 200 feet or so of Pats is a flat runout, which neither the main trails of Wachusett or Crotched have.

I think Crotched, although more crowded than Pat's, is the better choice. Wachusett is a circus Saturdays. The only advantage Wa has is the terrain.

Crotched's Vertical Drop is 875 feet.
Pat's Peak is 710 vertical feet.

The difference is 165 vertical feet, which is not too much to note.

I also wish that the run out disappeared as well, but it is not the bottom 200 vertical feet.

 

[Zand]

And Wachusett's is 971, which is over 250 more. OK, so it;s more like 3/4 the size, but I was more comparing Crotched to Pat's.

 

[hammer]

I think Crotched, although more crowded than Pat's, is the better choice. Wachusett is a circus Saturdays. The only advantage Wa has is the terrain.

When were you at Crotched? I've only been there a total of three times, but it was never anywhere near crowded.

 

[RISkier]

Certainly agree that the crowds at WaWa on weekends/holidays ruins the place. I've only been to Crotched once, but here's my take on Pats vs Crotched. Pats wins on atmosphere, just a very warm, welcoming, friendly place with an old timey feel. I also think Pats is set up very well for beginners and novices. The valley area has very gentle greens that are isolated from the traffic on the main mountain. Then novices can work their way across the main mountain adding just a little more challenge as they're ready. Pats probably offers a bit steeper terrain than anything at Crotched -- the top of hurrican and FIS have pretty good pitch. Though not an issue for real novices the run outs at Pats are tedious, even at my woefully mediocre level of skiing ability. Most of the pitch is at the top and then it really flattens out. Crotched probably has the best snowmaking capabilities (relative to size) of any ski area around. Crotched has a very functional lodge, though to say it lacks charm is a huge understatement. Crotched has more sustained pitch, I think it has better cruisers for intermediates than Pats. No run outs of any consequence. I don't think the layout at Crotched is well suited to real novices--there's basically one continuous green trail. There's a green on the far left (looking up the mountain) but it ends in a blue. No doubt it's in much better shape, but the day we skied Crotched that little blue was death cookie city. Crowds have never been uncomfortable when we've been to Pats, and they weren't at Crotched on the Sunday we visited.

 

[rotorite86]

I was also thinking of going to Wachusett this weekend, probably Saturday. I know there will be rather large crowds, especially since we are suppose to get MORE snow, and its going to be over 30. I guess I can deal, as I rather not have to drive more than an hour or so. I am coming from Smithfield RI, about 20 mins outside Providence.