Hidden Gems

[Greg]

What are some lesser-known mountains that you would consider "hidden gems"? I rediscovered Berkshire East last season and am looking forward to going back this year. Share your favorite smaller or less popular ski areas here.

 

[thetrailboss]

As featured in this month's SKIING Magazine, my home Burke Mountain is a real gem (I know...you are all surprised). There is nothing less about it though...great glades, good steeps, fast terrain, narrow trails, great grooming, it is all good.

With the exception of a short season and not much snowmaking, the Middlebury Snowbowl (my alma mater) is also another good choice. Interesting terrain, a back area, friendly people, and about 1000 vertical feet.

Who can forget about the great night skiing at Bolton Valley? It also snows like he^& up there! Great views and close to Burlington. :beer:

And, for a real change of pace, after visiting Burke, drop by the volunteer run Lyndon Outing Club for some skiing the old fashioned way on a vintage rope tow or the summit T-bar. Nice night skiing. All natural conditions.

 

[ChileMass]

Have to second Bolton Valley as a hidden gem, especially since the expansion a few years back. A nice alternative to Stowe, Smuggs and Sugarbush.

Also Gunstock - their "noon groom" ensures great conditions, and it's less than 2 hrs from Boston.

 

[skijay]

Middlebury College Snowl and Mont Shefford (PQ, CA).

 

[St. Jerry]

East: Killington
West: Vail

 

[teachski]

Shhhhh! Don't tell people about Burke, it won't be a hidden gem anymore if you do!

I LOVE Burke!

Also, in MA....Bousquet is a decent area, on the smaller side but it has some great classic terrain and is historically relavant to skiing.

The Springfield Ski club's Blanford is also a neat little area. It skis larger than it is and has some nice narrow trails through the woods and a few narrow chutes too.

In VT, while not really a "hidden gem" Suicide 6 is also a neat and historic area, they have a neat 'mini museum' in the base lodge which has pictures of the rope at Gilbert's Hill, reported to be the first rope tow in the US. (FYI- the poma in my web site logo was at S6)

 

[thetrailboss]

East: Killington
West: Vail

Sarcasm I assume?

 

[pepperdawg]

East - (as mentioned above) Middlebury SB & Burke

West - Mt Rose, Eldora, Wolf Creek & Brighton(althougn not that much of a sleeper now)

 

[jamesdeluxe]

For me, a sleeper is a place that most people would drive right past, either because they aren't aware of it, don't think it's big or modern enough, or because they don't like slow lifts or t-bars.

East:
Bobcat, NY
Hickory, NY
Magic, VT
Mont Shefford, PQ
Massif du Sud, PQ

West:
Pajarito, NM
Sipapu, NM
Santa Fe, NM
Eldora, CO
Snow King, WY

 

[andyzee]

Plattekill NY, can't find much better on a good snow day

 

[Skier71787]

I'm not saying that no one knows about Wildcat, but i think it is definitly underrated. I have never waited more than 1 minute in a lift line there and i rarely run into traffic on the trails. It is such a great mountain, but people this it is either too far away or they think the weather is too bad.

 

[Masskier]

Burke no crowds, great terrain, Some of the best tree skiing in the NE., nice long steep trails, real friendly people and an easy drive (all highway). The Skiing Magazine article didn't do Burke justice.

 

[Greg]

Bump. I have to give hidden gem status to Sundown and Catamount. Not that Sundown is all that much of a sleeper mountain. As CT's best ski area, they surly do well, but I would bet that many CT folks don't know how good this little hill can be and probably bypass it to go further North or don't take advantage of it for night skiing. Catamount has always been a favorite local haunt of mine. I hope to get there more this year. The terrain is limited but it has decent pitch with some nice bump lines, and the new summit FGQ will really help. That was the right move, IMO.

 

[bvibert]

Bump. I have to give hidden gem status to Sundown and Catamount. Not that Sundown is all that much of a sleeper mountain. As CT's best ski area, they surly do well, but I would bet that many CT folks don't know how good this little hill can be and probably bypass it to go further North or don't take advantage of it for night skiing.

Shhhhhh! I don't want there to be any more people there at night!

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I kinda like Bromley. I don't know how hidden it is, but it's a fun little place.

 

[Grassi21]

Shhhhhh! I don't want there to be any more people there at night!

I second that. I don't want anyone around when you guys shove me down the mogul run for the first time.

 

[Greg]

I second that. I don't want anyone around when you guys shove me down the mogul run for the first time.

No shoving here. Dragging maybe, but definitely no shoving...

 

[Grassi21]

No shoving here. Dragging maybe, but definitely no shoving...

I want one of you guys to hook me up to one of those harnesses that the wee ones use when learning. That would be a riot! When I pulled my hammy in college, the trainers made me do all types of exercises while hooked up to a bungy cord. They would hold one end and I would run in place, backwards, sprint etc. Really embarrassing when my future wife was on the adjacent field playing rugby.

 

[Greg]

I want one of you guys to hook me up to one of those harnesses that the wee ones use when learning.

If you really want to learn them, you just gotta commit. Once you start to feel them, you'll be hooked. Wait for some bump lines to set up at Hunter and then go ski with JimG. for some really good pointers.

 

[Grassi21]

If you really want to learn them, you just gotta commit. Once you start to feel them, you'll be hooked. Wait for some bump lines to set up at Hunter and then go ski with JimG. for some really good pointers.

I honestly do want to commit to bumping. I just plan on giving it a try during the middle or end of the season. I have other techniques to improve on before I start to hit the bumps. I'm getting more and more pumped for this season!