When the lights come on ..Who is the Best

[Greg]

Not true at all... Big Chief, Flying Cloud, Competition, Exhibition, War Dance and Outback/Roundabout are lit. 6 trails real trails. I don't count intersections. You can go to the Jiminy site and get their night trail info, it is higher both mileage and acreage wise. Anyone who has done any amount of skiing at either area can attest to this. There are a good number of skiers at night that come over from Greenfield after school and on the weekends, but it doesn't exactly make the place famous for night skiing!

Ah. The Jiminy vs. Berkshire East debate. I enjoy both equally; for very different reasons. I think they compliment each other very well. I elaborate [POST="70256"]here[/POST].

 

[Newpylong]

They do compliment each other and are entirely different animals, but this reminds me of the debate I had with Rocket? on Snowjournal after he stated Berkshire East was a snowmaking powerhouse, lol. It is what it is, but it aint known for snowmaking or night skiing, ha.

 

[madskier6]

You where probably looking at Hickory Hill which is no longer in opporation. You can see West from 87, but it's in Glens Falls, Exit 18. Come to think of it Lake George exits start at 20 so maybe it was West you are referring to.

Yes, I saw the mountain right as I got onto I-87 at Exit 20 going south. I thought it was West after I did some checking on Google Maps. Is West any good? It looks like its a feeder hill type of place but I'm just curious.

 

[threecy]

Big Chief, Flying Cloud, Competition, Exhibition, War Dance and Outback/Roundabout are lit. 6 trails real trails. I don't count intersections. You can go to the Jiminy site and get their night trail info, it is higher both mileage and acreage wise. As much as I prefer the Beast over Jiminy on many accounts, anyone who has done any amount of skiing at either area can attest to this. There are a good number of skiers at night that come over from Greenfield after school and on the weekends, but it doesn't exactly make the place famous for night skiing!

Let's do a Jiminy count...

Left Bank, Whitetail, North Glade-Exhibition East, Lower Glade-360, Fox, Grand Slam, Coyote Ridge...7, being generous in calling the North and Lower Glade runs different. Factor in the length of Outback-Roundabout (2.5 miles) and the width of Competition and Exhibition, and you're talking about a lot more acreage than "6" trails would be.

It should also be noted that on any given night, a very small percentage of the skier base is from Greenfield. In fact, on a Friday night, I'd estimate 2% is from Greenfield, whereas the lion share is from northern Connecticut and Springfield.

 

[threecy]

They do compliment each other and are entirely different animals, but this reminds me of the debate I had with Rocket? on Snowjournal after he stated Berkshire East was a snowmaking powerhouse, lol. It is what it is, but it aint known for snowmaking or night skiing, ha.

It is what it is...which is an unadvertised gem. If the focus was on getting a bunch of trails open, it could be done - but since we're talking Massachusetts, there's a larger focus on pounding the open trails to ensure large base depths. In fact, Berkshire East has the largest arsenal of SMI fan guns in the state last I checked.

 

[Newpylong]

No argument from me on the un-advertised gem. What they make snow on, I consider some of the best quality around due to the fan guns. When the snow's falling, its the place to be as well. That said, if you somehow got figures on trail acreage of both mountains and what is covered with lights, I know you would be proven wrong. I guarantee you the combination of Left Bank, Whitetail, and Grand Slam/Coyote Ridge surpass night acreage for Berkshire East alone.

 

[Greg]

It is what it is...which is an unadvertised gem.

I absolutely agree here. The issue for me is my favorite trails at Berkshire East are both unlit and natural so, for me, the issue is that Beast needs natural snow for me to want ski there. I feel Jiminy is better in both snowmaking and grooming which is great when you want to cruise or log a lot of vertical off the six pack, neither of which are that important to me. Jiminy opens earlier and is closer for me too. However, Jiminy has nothing like East Glades, Jug, Grizzly, Upper Minnie Dole, Blizzard Island or Beast. All the blues far skier's right are great trails too. These trails are awesome and full of character, but you need natural to enjoy them, which is exactly why I like them.

 

[threecy]

That said, if you somehow got figures on trail acreage of both mountains and what is covered with lights, I know you would be proven wrong. I guarantee you the combination of Left Bank, Whitetail, and Grand Slam/Coyote Ridge surpass night acreage for Berkshire East alone.

My figures for B-East are down in Massachusetts and rather outdated (late 80s survey). That said, when you consider you're talking just about the same vertical drop and trail width (except for Exhibition, which is very wide), you'll see that they're actually quite similar. What would you like to place as a wager in this bet?

 

[threecy]

the issue is that Beast needs natural snow for me to want ski there.

I think this will change within a year or two for you...already to date this summer, a bunch of Polecats have been acquired, a new snowmaking line installed, and a new snowmaking loop...there's a good chance for an early snowmaking start up to get a jump start on early season terrain open (which has been an issue in the past).

I'm not at liberty to say much, but it's going to be an interesting few years at B-East.

 

[Newpylong]

My figures for B-East are down in Massachusetts and rather outdated (late 80s survey). That said, when you consider you're talking just about the same vertical drop and trail width (except for Exhibition, which is very wide), you'll see that they're actually quite similar. What would you like to place as a wager in this bet?

Passes to both places? lol j/k

I take it you haven't skied Jiminy in the last decade if we're even comparing acreage of anything between the two. Apples and Oranges.

 

[Greg]

I think this will change within a year or two for you...already to date this summer, a bunch of Polecats have been acquired, a new snowmaking line installed, and a new snowmaking loop...there's a good chance for an early snowmaking start up to get a jump start on early season terrain open (which has been an issue in the past).

I'm not at liberty to say much, but it's going to be an interesting few years at B-East.

Yeah, but that's the crux of it all. I would hate to see a trail like Jug with snowmaking and groomed out all the time.

 

[threecy]

Passes to both places? lol j/k

I take it you haven't skied Jiminy in the last decade if we're even comparing acreage of anything between the two. Apples and Oranges.

I've actually night skied Jiminy just as much as B-East the last few years. Apples and oranges, yes, but they're both just about the same size fruit in the night skiing bowl.

 

[Newpylong]

I think this will change within a year or two for you...already to date this summer, a bunch of Polecats have been acquired, a new snowmaking line installed, and a new snowmaking loop...there's a good chance for an early snowmaking start up to get a jump start on early season terrain open (which has been an issue in the past).

I'm not at liberty to say much, but it's going to be an interesting few years at B-East.

Any improvement is good but I don't think much is going to change as far as season length. Given their location and lack of crowds, I can't foresee much of an extension. Plus, the last I knew, they bought their power in chunks, which would mean if anything they will open more terrain faster and pile more snow, but not stretch the season either way. I hope I am wrong but I don't see it happening.

I was told they will be installing the guns on some runs that have had pipes but not guns... Mohawk comes to mind. I wouldn't mind finding out what exact runs they are going on. Good stuff anyhow.

 

[threecy]

Yeah, but that's the crux of it all. I would hate to see a trail like Jug with snowmaking and groomed out all the time.

Jug used to have frequent snowmaking and grooming on the upper and lower portions, but I have my doubts that you'll ever see regular snowmaking on the steeps on that trail - you'd ruin the tree canopy.

 

[Newpylong]

Jug used to have frequent snowmaking and grooming on the upper and lower portions, but I have my doubts that you'll ever see regular snowmaking on the steeps on that trail - you'd ruin the tree canopy.

My fav. run there.

 

[Greg]

My fav. run there.

One of mine too:

 

[threecy]

Any improvement is good but I don't think much is going to change as far as season length. Given their location and lack of crowds, I can't foresee much of an extension. Plus, the last I knew, they bought their power in chunks, which would mean if anything they will open more terrain faster and pile more snow, but not stretch the season either way. I hope I am wrong but I don't see it happening.

I was told they will be installing the guns on some runs that have had pipes but not guns... Mohawk comes to mind. I wouldn't mind finding out what exact runs they are going on. Good stuff anyhow.

I don't think you'll see a much longer season - Dec. 1 through March 31 is Berkshire East's target every year. The snowmaking season will be earlier than previous years, though. In MA, ski areas buy their power differently than consumers - B-East, Butternut, etc. all buy power in a similar fashion.

Gun placement still TBD. B-East doesn't mount all of its guns - if anything, one could say a tower mount Polecat is less useful than a Polecat on a carriage.

 

[threecy]

One of mine too

I wish you had been there when there was more snow - that trail is awesome after a few feet of natural! Maybe if Al Gore uninvents global warming, we'll get more snow again!

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Shawnee Peak (Bridgton, ME) has a pretty good night gig going, best in Maine anyway...two for one deals, $10 lift tix on other nights...Wed and Thu they have their corporate race league...Wed is typically more recreational, Thu nights tend to be more serious...~150 guys and 30 women, if you're not wearing a gs suit you probably won't make the top 20 never mind the top 10. Teams are from Portland, Conway and all around...Gritty's Brew Pub fields 2 teams along with corporate types from Portland, local plumbers and contractors...boarders, skiers, tele-whackers...good mix of people Usually have HS racing on Fri nights...terrain park and halfpipe are lit too. They're open at least 5 nights a week from Christmas to mid March...so many lights that I can use the mtn as a night light at my house...straight line view but ~ 4 miles away. The bar is pretty packed on Wed and Thu nights...beer, live music, and more beer.

 

[snowman]

Wow, who knew that the world "perhaps" really means "I know for a fact" :roll: But hey, welcome to AZ snowman, looking forward to more of your sarcasm in the future!

I was focusing in on the word "ONLY", said in reference to 2k with AUTHORITI (c, southpark 2002). Instead of just saying you're wrong, you're trying to dodge it like a politician. I thought politics weren't allowed here? Thanks for the welcome ;-)

I say Mont Ste. Anne rocks anything else in the east for night skiing. It's usually quiet (mostly an illusion due to the vastness of it's offerings) and you can ski a different freshly groomed run every run. They have so many trails lit you also need not ski the same run twice in a typical evening. In addition to Mont Ste. Anne, 45 mins away is Stoneham, which, in the absence of Mont. Ste Anne, would be a contender for the night skiing champion of the east. You can ski it on the same multi-day ticket that you ski Mont Ste. Anne. 8)