Looking to ski New England for the first time - resorts to consider???

A snowHead

Hi folks,

I’m relatively new here, and my wife and I are considering a New England ski trip early in 2024 (late Jan or February). I love snow skiing, but usually only get to enjoy it every couple of years, since I live in the Deep South (Birmingham, AL) and have very limited access to real snow, even in our coldest winters.

We have been to Winter Park CO a couple of times, and to Olympic (Squaw Valley) recently renamed “Palisades” 3X over the last 5 years. We love Tahoe, but it has just gotten so expensive, so we thought we’d try the Northeast this time around.

We’re looking for a resort that ticks several boxes, so let me know if there is one or two places in New England that might fit this profile:

* Easy access from a well-traveled airport (not looking to drive hours from airport to resort)
* Mainly blue-green to blue terrain (as compared to black and black diamond)
* Preferably slope-side accommodations, where you can walk from your condo to the slopes (we stayed in the village at Olympic Valley)
* Variety of dining within a few miles (Tahoe was great, WinterPark, not so good)
* My wife doesn’t ski much, so she would enjoy having access to some shopping opportunities, but not a deal breaker
*Scenic accommodations would be a plus, too...don’t mind paying for a nice view, but not a necessity

Thanks for any first hand testimonials. I can certainly do a web search, but would like to have a few first-hand accounts before we start narrowing the options.

A snowHead

wrong forum, this is Euro sides. Have you tried skitalk? It's a states forum with local info

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Did not know that! Thanks for setting me straight...I’ll probably never ski Europe...heading to skitalk now!

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@Mother hucker, there are plenty of Americans on here and many snowheads have skied in New England

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@holidayloverxx, not as many as over there though. I'm 100% sure OP will get more answers on pugski from locals to that area than folks from here

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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@Clay49, I've not stayed in slope-side accommodation, but have stayed at Parkers motel near the town of Lincoln, skiing at both Loon mountain and Cannon. Lincoln has plenty of dining options, and also some nice shops.

After all it is free

@Mother hucker, yebbut you basically chased him off

I liked Loon and Cannon was great ...for a day, but I did like Stowe which if you are going to sop in resort seems the biggest ...but I didnt ..I went with Eastern mountain sports on day trips so I can't really comment on the facilities other than the skiing....My main impressions of New England skiing was it was bloody COLD ....

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I think the problem with our (my) European perception of New England is that pleasant skiing is not as guaranteed for all the outlay and jet lag of a week or two transatlantic trip, as compared to the Rockies. Hence a more limited input is likely. Banff is stupid cold also but it doesn’t get hit by ice storms like NE.

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Make that 4

Jay Peak & Mad River Glen, Vermont; Sunday River, Maine

Can recommend all three

If the conditions were right this looks interesting

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-north-carolina-ski-resorts?utm_source=pocket_saves

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You know it makes sense.

why would anyone go to the states from the UK to ski the ice Coast?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

I'm not American but I do live here. Wouldn't travel to the east coast to ski though, except for maybe Quebec for the tiniest taste of Europe.

OP you might like to consider somewhere like Sun Peaks in Canada. USD will go a lot further there. 45 minutes from Kamloops airport, and there's a single stop route via Denver from Birmingham airport. Mostly groomed blue/green terrain, almost all accommodation is ski in/ski out, village has a few different restaurants. Dunno about the shopping.

Potentially quite cold in January but most slopes are south facing so you get less its-cold-and-I'm-also-in-the-shadow-of-a-mountain.

A snowHead

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Make that 5.
I grew up skiing southern VT and still love it but wouldn't really recommend the east over the west unless it was significantly closer. From Birmingham, flying to Denver is only 45 min longer than NY and then a much shorter drive to better skiing. To get a shorter drive from Boston, Albany, Burlington or Montreal you need to change planes and still drive, by which point you could be almost anywhere out west.

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@Clay49, forgive me, but I think this is a bad plan. Go somewhere in western North America and enjoy all the many things that you will never find on the East Coast. Things like elevation, natural snow, uncrowded slopes etc. You could select a ski area in western North America blindfolded and do better than anything you’ll find in the east. if you want it adventure, go to the Alps.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

If I were the OP I’d take advantage of the exchange rate and fly to Kamloops BC and ski Sun Peaks.

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Well, if you guys had not scared me off, I would have responded by now… Only joking!

I took the advice and went to skitalk, and I’ve gotten some good recommendations and most of them are, as you have said, “STAY AWAY from New England!” I think what I’m going to consider now is a trip to either Aspen, Vail/Beavercreek, or Park city/deer Valley. Most people seem to think that any of these will tick most of my boxes.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Do the northeast in early March.

Warmer, sunnier, softer, un-icier, plenty of snow.

Go for the trees.

1. Sugarloaf
2. Mad River Glen
3. Killington

After all it is free

CLAY.......

Do not be turned off by New England.

Several locations in New England, between New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. Vermont tends to get the largest nods. HOWEVER........!!!

Seriously consider New Hampshire and here are the pragmatic reasons:

Access-wise to much but not all of NE, you'd want to typically "launch" from Boston. Fly easily from Birmingham through ATL on Delta to Boston. Rent a car from there....... A salient point: New Hampshire does NOT have SALES TAX. That means none on hotel, restaurant, any retail, etc., etc., etc tab...... Think about THAT! In Vermont and New York you'll be tagged 6% and 9%, respectively.
New Hampshire possesses some of THE most attractive scenery and higher elevations in NE. No "best" resort, but the renowned/famous Bretton Woods, Mount Sunapee, Cannon Mountain, Waterville and Wildcat are, for NE, hands down some of the nicest locations. Do your homework on each.
Take your clothing, accessories and boots, but leave the skis and poles behind. That's a lot to lug......
You'll experience good service, great food (not as good as Birmingham, but still v. good - I have lifetime friends in Mountain Brook, so I know), nice accommodations, beautiful/memorable scenery and, trusting the weather (temperature) is right, since these facilities all make "snow", you should return home quite pleased. It's a path of least resistance and great reward I am promoting.
Take a drive around here and there. Much like the "South", there's a lot a visual and social history. Again, great scenery. New England is one of the nation's jewels..... IF you have the luxury of time, consider spending on the outbound a day in Boston. Historically, there's a lot to see there, too.

ps: If you think Tahoe is pricey, guess again regarding much of Colorady, Utah. EVERYONE ALWAYS keeps repeating Colorady and Utah. I've spent dozens of weeks there in my lifetime and it's very good. However.......... Your due diligence will shock you price wise alone.

LGB!

Another US here. You may well get a better UK traveller perspective right here on SH i would think. Personally been years since i skied New England but have numerous friends who do the shared ski house thing every winter in Vermont and seem quite happy, were i to get up there think i would try to take in the WC race events.

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@Mike Pow, ^ +1

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[quote="Mike Pow"]

Vermont is underrated and truly gorgeous. If you're out there in Feb to late March highly recommend sugarbush. Can ski mad river glen one of the days too, haven't been though.

You know it makes sense.

Vermont is underrated for those who haven’t heard of it. Overrated for those who never been but wish to go.

For everyone else, the entire northeastern US falls into the category of “can be good at the right time”. Only the “right time” is few and far between.

And for all the Euros who were lured cross the pond for uncrowned slopes, leave that vision at home. The number of “unguided human missile” can be just as numerous, only they bombard you from all directions: shooting out of the woods, dropping down cliffs!

As for the slopes themselves, don’t be too surprised to ski over rocks and grass. But if you’re brave enough to bring your own skis, have the edges sharpen and re-sharpen. You may need it to cut through the glare ice.

But at least the 20 minute long lift queues will be a neat and orderly snake line. No pushing and shoving allowed.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

I wouldn't say its overrated at all. Vermont as a whole has a unique colonial charm and genuineness the rest of American ski resorts don't. No billboards, few chains, no pretension besides Stowe. For instance sugarbush on a weekday feels like you're skiing around a rustic farm in the 1800s.

"As for the slopes themselves, don’t be too surprised to ski over rocks and grass. But if you’re brave enough to bring your own skis, have the edges sharpen and re-sharpen. You may need it to cut through the glare ice."

-this is completely wrong unless you're talking about the last week of the season or some cr@p mountain like mountain creek in new jersey.
I wouldn't recommend a euro come just for the skiing here obviously, but if they wanted to visit nyc and see some american skiing for a weekend going up to vermont woulnd't be a bad move at all.

A snowHead

I would agree with you on the colonial charm. On any day after a snow fall, the white field dotted with cap roof and red barn can be truly postcard worthy.

But that’s offset by brown hills with faint white ribbons when you look down from the top of the hill (the leafless hardwood trees in the northeast don’t hold snow well, so the forest is always brownish even after recent snowfall)

A snowHead

I appreciate all of these responses! I am leaning toward looking at a Colorado excursion, simply because you don’t have to wonder if “conditions are going to be right“. It’s worth spending the extra money, as opposed to getting somewhere in the Northeast in mid February (that you booked three months ago), and your week is “not ideal conditions.“

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

If you ever want to come visit the northeast for that picture perfect postcard view, the more reliable time to visit is late February till mid-March.

There’s a much higher probability of snow covered slopes (and fields, for that postcard view). And the longer day and higher sun angle will make the snow softer even if condition isn’t ideal. (Though slush can be an issue for some). Best part is the drink on the deck at the end of the day.

And if you get lucky, you may get a powder day. It snows as much in March as in any other month.

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I went to VT in 97 and 98 to ski Killington for 10 days then 14 days. We also spent a few days at Pico which is close to Killington and a day at Sugarbush.

In 97 the weather was kind with blue skies and sunshine, in 98 it was bl00dy freezing (I have never been so cold) and a heck of a lot of snow. It was more like skiing very big hills than mountains. The skiing was good with great runs, not always the longest but long enough.

To be honest the holidays weren't just about the skiing, it was also the "American" experience

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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I met my ex partner from RI on a trip to Tignes ...she said it was so much cheaper to come to Europe than to ski in Colarado....

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I’ve met Americans in Banff who were also there because it was cheaper.

After all it is free

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Looking to ski New England for the first time - resorts to consider???

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