Best Resorts/Mountains in The East?

[BadBrad]

To go along with the other thread discussing the best in North America, which resorts in the eastern U.S. are recommended? I live in the mid-Atlantic area and I'm looking for something that is within a day's drive for a long weekend trip.

I've been to Killington and always had fun there, but it seemed like more of a skier's mountain. I felt the same way about Seven Springs. I haven't been to any of the other Vermont resorts.

[newcarver]

Stranton, VT is pretty nice. It is where they have had the US snowboarding championships forever.

[drzrm]

If you like the size of Killington, but want fewer crowds, Sunday River is a nice mountain. Big for the east, I'd put both it and Killington over Stratton.

[bobdea]

my favorites are : stowe, sunday river, sugarbush, Okemo (But only because the groom is good) and sugarloaf. other than okemo the resorts I listed have a little bit of everything

smaller mountains that rock, wildcat and Jay peak the last two don't offer good carving per se but do offer incredible overall experience with small mountain charm. If you like classic new england trail layout wildcat owns it. for some of the best in bounds tree riding on the continent Jay is where it's at.

[BadBrad]

Sunday River is probably a little too far for me.

Please tell me more about Stowe and Sugarbush.

What don't you like about Okemo?

[bobdea]

Okemo has no terrain at all, it's a resort that is only good for groom.

Stowe has a little bit of everything, some great trees, killer groom and some real nice bumps too.

Sugarbush has a couple runs that are nice to carve but it's overall a great place to ski, often it's really dead during the week so you'll get good groom until the place closes. It's insane when it's snowing there one of my best powder days ever was at the 'bush.

[boostertwo]

My favorite Vt. areas and why:

1. Stowe as BobDea mentioned, great trees, groom, bumps and steeps. Best of all is the off-piste. Some of it is above treeline and when you go there, find a local for beta on hiking to the Chin, Hell Brook, Teardrop, Sunset Ridge, and Bruce trails (all on Mt.Mansfield). On the Spruce, check out the Birthday Bowls (which bring you into Smuggler's Notch).

2. Jay Peak some of the best, most reliable pow in the East, and great trees. A local can help guide you down the backside, off the tram, to Vt. Route 242. Also a good opportunity to practice speaking quebecois.

3. Sugarbush Like Stowe, a great variety of terrain and (at least when I was there) less crowded than areas south of Vt. Route 4.

4. Killington if you catch it right, there are some terrific groomed double-diamond steeps, plus good groomers and bumps. It can get crowded on long weekends--IMO a lot more than areas a bit further north (Sugarbush, Stowe, Smugg's, and Jay).

<img src="http://i7.tinypic.com/85vctgm.jpg" border="0" alt="Jeff Patterson, Secret Stash, Vail, CO.">

5. For non-resort riding, Mt. Washington offers some amazing Big Mountain descents, including Tuckerman Ravine, Gulf of Slides, Great Gulf, and the Ammonoosuc drainage. If you're not into winter camping or avy aware, best done in springtime.

Mi dos centavos,

B-2

[Jack M]

Come to the East Coast Expression Session! It's at Stowe this year. www.eces.us. Also see the thread near the top of this forum.