Come visit the Best L'il Ski Area South of Vermont! Berkshire East

[jim-ratliff]

In Utah=  Snow Basin and Powder Mountain.  About an hour from Park City, so not on many people's maps, but lots of terrain and a lot of off-piste skiing (especially Powder Mountain). 

Powder Mountain also has cat skiing and heli-skiing originating right on the mountain, some destinations are patrolled but not in lift served areas.
Especially Cobabe Canyon at Powder Mountain takes some hiking to get there, but (so I've heard) it is well worth the effort. (( I just checked the Trail Map and they are now showing that as another powder cat served area)).
Another section of trees you can ski to the base of the hill, but then you take the bus back to the top to the parking lot.

I'm still trying to get good enough to enjoy the terrain, the parts that are groomed are nothing to write home about.

And having those ski-patrol guys there to haul me out if necessary is pretty important and reassuring.

[Liam]

Been to powder mountain--and I liked it a lot.  However, it is pretty well known and even gets rated for snowfall in major ski mags. It ain't no secret any more, that is for sure.  I loved the 'Powder Country' experience, replete with the old bus that picks you up when you finally pop out of the woods.  I skied there on a 16 inch powder day so it is high in my memory. 

But I mean even lesser known areas-like here's one-a few years ago, I was in South Dakota (yep), and I had a chance to ski a place called Terry Peak...let me just say, it is a wonderful little ski area (about 450 acres, decent, impossibly dry snow, tops out at 7000 ft maybe 1200ft vert)  I had a great day skiing there.   I was impressed to find it out where I figured there couldn't possibly be good skiing.  Had a great local vibe filled with some really down to earth, dedicated skiers.  Good skiers, I might add.


The Other are the 'unknown areas of Idaho'.  A few years back I traveled around southern, central Idaho and skied Tamarack, Brundage and another place called Pebble Creek.  You want to talk about big and empty!  I'm not sure how these places stay in business, but they are large, beautiful, decent snow (btw 250-350 average) ski areas that top out in the high 7000's (which is perfect for us flat landers).  Wonderful ski areas that I highly recommend if you're passing through Idaho mid winter.  They are far from Sun Valley and further from Schweitzer--but they are real of the radar gems.

Are their any little places I ought to know better in the Northeast?  One day I'd like to check out Bristol Mountain in NY as I here it's similar to Berkshire East.  I've been meaning to get up to Saddleback in Maine as well.

[beastieboy]

Hi Liam,

I think you will enjoy Saddleback.  I skied there occasionally as a kid. I have to warn you - it is possibly the coldest place on earth.  Maybe it's just my bad luck to have been there in challenging weather, but I'm pretty sure I have never been that cold since (and that includes the experience of sleeping in the UMaine ski club at Sugarloaf (unheated) without a sleeping bag).  Of course, winter gear was not as good in the late '70's and '80's. 

I've tried to get back there in recent years and haven't been able to pull it off.

[meput]

Saddleback is a good mountain. I would not call it "little". It has 2000 ft vertical  . The current owners have put significant investment into the area that have really improved the skiing experience. They have kept the lift ticket cost down and are therefore creating lift lines on the weekends. Would rank Saddleback as #2 in Maine (Sugarloaf #1, Sunday River #3). When it is chilly, both Saddleback & Sugarloaf can be hard to justify the lift ticket price . March is the sweet month for both mountains. If anyone decides to cross either mountain off their bucket list, let me know, happy to be a local guide .

Jim 2

[Liam]

Thanks, Jim2.

Beastie boy, we ought to make a Maine trip this season...you know, I've never skied Sugarloaf Either...come to think of it, I have never skied in  Maine!

[beastieboy]

HI Meput,

Where do you live?

I get to Maine occasionally.  Come to think of it, I was there this week, and I'll be there again next week, so maybe it's not all that 'occasional'.  At some point if I'm there on business it might be fun to hook up for a day of skiing.

By way of background, I grew up in the megatropolis of West Peru.

[meput]

BeastieB,
I live in the Waterville/Disgusta area. Ski mostly at Sugarloaf, occ at Saddleback. It's been yrs since I have visited Sunday River to ski (the mid '60's to be exact). Where you grew up in W Peru, I suspect you spent more time at Sunday River.

Unfortunately, I have to hold down a real job to help me support my skiing habit  . That means I am skiing mostly on the weekends and some Fridays. If you do get to come up to Maine to ski and may correlate on weekend, Fridays, give me a PM. I could even be sweet talked over to Sunday River  .

meput

[bushwacka]

Been to powder mountain--and I liked it a lot.  However, it is pretty well known and even gets rated for snowfall in major ski mags. It ain't no secret any more, that is for sure.  I loved the 'Powder Country' experience, replete with the old bus that picks you up when you finally pop out of the woods.  I skied there on a 16 inch powder day so it is high in my memory. 

But I mean even lesser known areas-like here's one-a few years ago, I was in South Dakota (yep), and I had a chance to ski a place called Terry Peak...let me just say, it is a wonderful little ski area (about 450 acres, decent, impossibly dry snow, tops out at 7000 ft maybe 1200ft vert)  I had a great day skiing there.   I was impressed to find it out where I figured there couldn't possibly be good skiing.  Had a great local vibe filled with some really down to earth, dedicated skiers.  Good skiers, I might add.


The Other are the 'unknown areas of Idaho'.  A few years back I traveled around southern, central Idaho and skied Tamarack, Brundage and another place called Pebble Creek.  You want to talk about big and empty!  I'm not sure how these places stay in business, but they are large, beautiful, decent snow (btw 250-350 average) ski areas that top out in the high 7000's (which is perfect for us flat landers).  Wonderful ski areas that I highly recommend if you're passing through Idaho mid winter.  They are far from Sun Valley and further from Schweitzer--but they are real of the radar gems.

Are their any little places I ought to know better in the Northeast?  One day I'd like to check out Bristol Mountain in NY as I here it's similar to Berkshire East.  I've been meaning to get up to Saddleback in Maine as well.

Bristol doesnt get the snow that Bershire gets.

Sleeper in New York - Ski Hickory
Sleepers in vermont - Burke, Middlebury Snowbowl, Bolton
sleepers in Utah - Deer Valley because their clients do not ski what I like to ski.
sleepers in Pa - Blue Knob, steep enough to have an avalanche.

[Gary]

Liam...come on up and visit...got a place for you to stay too....

Bristol being my home mountain (training mountain) it  has 1200 vert....we have cold weather and have a natural snow fall between 95 and 105 inches annually.

But what they are exceptional at is making snow in our very cold weather...plus their waffle house...fantastic.

They really have done a great job expanding trails these past 2 years and put a big push on updating and expanding the main club house. A great park for the jibbers too!

A good day might be 15 runs and a great workout. Some of the newer trails with pitch were designed more like New England trails....very nice.

Let me know if you're in this neck of the woods....glad to give you the tour.

G