I have good news! The 2009/2010 ski rankings have been released. Ski Magazine and its sister publication, Skiing Magazine, published readers’ perspectives on the best ski resorts in North America. I will not go over the Western ski resorts but, instead, will offer my humble opinion on the Eastern resorts’ rankings: they are very entertaining but fairly useless for the purpose of deciding where to go on the next ski vacation.

I do not have any intention of criticizing the readers whose opinions were used to calculate the ski rankings, nor do I want to dispute every result. However, almost any ski vacation comes with a package. I am not talking about a hotel-plus-car type of a deal; my definition of a ski package includes a ski resort, your skills, preferences, the resort’s services, and Mother Nature’s mood – these factors can dramatically skew our perspectives and influence opinions.

For example, an unseasonal thaw in the New England region – though there is nothing unusual about rains in mid-February – can spoil a ski vacation regardless of the resort’s terrain and annual snowfall. The famous Front Four at Stowe is a fantastic option to challenge yourself but when moguls are covered in thick and hard ice, it is doubtful many will appreciate the narrow and steep trails. Throw into the mix an instance of bad customer service and, all of sudden, we can read: “The worst experience ever. The next time I will choose…”

On the other hand, a foot of fresh powder makes an enormous difference. For most winter sports enthusiasts skiing in Vermont, waking up in the morning and seeing falling snow outside the window is priceless. Sometimes they spend weeks waiting for that day and, when Mother Nature dumps a foot of snow, it generally does not matter where you ski. Last season, I had great powder days at Magic Mountain, Bromley, and Stratton ski resorts in southern Vermont. I also caught snowstorms while skiing at Sugarbush, Jay Peak, and Wildcat, to name the few. At the end of day, my friends and I could care less that a resort’s cafeteria was closed, the coffee was cold, or a lift operator was unfriendly. What mattered most was the snow – it brought out positive feelings and pushed back the negatives. “We had a wonderful experience skiing at Mountain X! It is unquestionably a top-five ski resort in Vermont!” would be a typical review. (And of course it would unquestionably affect any ski rankings!)

And then, there is always a question about your skills, preferences, and athletic abilities. I have seen people progressing from a bunny slope to beginner trails in one day. I also know people who spent a couple of days struggling to master first turns. There is no hard rule about how to designate trails. What might be a double black diamond at one Vermont ski resort is designated an intermediate trail at another. In other words, you could spend days polishing ski slopes with your rear and have your miserable experience relayed in ski rankings. Or you could have a blast skiing trails that perfectly fit your style and skills, and rank a ski resort at the top of a list.

Of course, some ski resorts in Vermont are better than others. However, I think we should approach the rankings issue from a relative, and not absolute, perspective. For example, Jay Peak resort might be the best backcountry and glade experience in the East, but Smugglers’ Notch will be at the top of family programs. Stowe is a place where a convergence of luxury style, classic trails, and a picturesque ski village creates a well-rounded Vermont vacation experience. And Killington resort offers seven mountains, 145 trails, and the highest point in New England reached by an aerial lift. Which resort is better?

I think it is not the ski rankings that direct you toward the ultimate ski destination. It is a total package that includes your style, skills, needs, and — most importantly — fresh snow that makes a ski vacation truly memorable experience.

Have a snowy 2009/2010 ski season!

2010 Eastern ski resorts rankings by Ski Magazine. Overall Satisfaction.

1. Tremblant, Que
2. Smugglers’ Notch, VT
   
3. Sugarloaf, Maine
   
4. Cannon Mountain, N.H.
5. Jay Peak, VT
6. Sugarbush, VT
7. Wildcat, N.H.
   
8. Holiday Valley, N.Y.
9. Mt. Sunapee, N.H.
10. Whiteface, N.Y

P.s. If you would like to see all rankings, get a copy of Ski Magazine or visit their site. They have 18 categories ranking resorts based on terrain, apres-ski, snow terrain parks, lodging and such.

P.s.s. In the final rankings – Stowe was ranked third, Sugarbush was #13, Jay Peak was # 19.

Tags: 2009/2010 ski rankings, ski resort review, ski vacations, ski vermont, Vermont ski resorts, vermont skiing

Smugglers’ Notch resort is among top ski destinations in Vermont. Voted number one for family programs by a Ski Magazine’s reader survey, this resort offers great terrain, including the only triple black diamond in the East, unbeatable views, great deals on lift tickets, and a variety of programs so that everyone can have plenty of fun. The only disadvantage is the long drive, if you leave in the tri-state area.

I visited Smugglers Notch resort during the 2008/2009 ski season, and I admit – it is a viable alternative to some high-priced ski resorts in Vermont. Of course, Smuggs is proud to offer one of the best family-oriented resorts in northern Vermont; however, there are still many options for adrenaline-craving adults. Three big mountains and 1000 acres of terrain provide plenty of opportunities to introduce beginners to the sport, keep intermediates busy, and challenge advanced skiers.

Morse Mountain is an ideal launching pad for newbies. Unlike some resorts that mix beginner trails with intermediate and even advanced terrains, Smugglers’ Notch ski resort maintains a whole mountain for beginners only. Morse offers plenty of wide and gentle trails for practicing your first turns. The only drawback is the long lift lines on the weekends. Once you or your kids are ready to graduate and take on steeper slopes, you can take Midway from Morse towards Madonna and Sterling Mountains. (If you snowboard, take a pair of ski poles – the trail is picturesque, but awfully flat!)

Since I am not a beginner, my original goal was to explore the advanced terrain at Smugglers’ Notch ski resort. After spending a day skiing on Madonna and Sterling Mountains, I can state with confidence – and various parts of my body support it – that the ski trails can make you sweat.

If you are not in a mood to test your health insurance, then stick around “E,” a ski lift that serves intermediate terrain off Madonna mountain. An intermediate skier and snowboarder will have an enormous amount of fun trying out diverse and not overly challenging terrain. Short lines at the E ski lift are another advantage; you will not squander time waiting to get on the lift.

But you can only ski on the blue trails for so long; eventually, the laws of natural progression call for a bit more adrenaline. First, brace yourself because there might be extremely long lift lines serving the advanced trails. Second, don’t forget a helmet and a camera. You will want to photograph some of the best mountain views in the entire East, and you will need a helmet to prevent injuries associated with often icy slopes, moguls, and trees.

Lastly, the best part; you don’t have to break the bank to afford a winter vacation at Smugglers’ Notch resort. Besides multiple programs for kids, they have reasonable lift ticket prices, considering the huge range of terrain and the multiple options for all skill levels. For example, a one-day adult lift ticket costs $66 during a holiday season or $52 for a half day. That is a significant amount of money, but you would pay up to $90 at some other popular resorts. Alternatively, if you’re a beginner, you can buy the Morse-Mountain-only ticket for $44, thereby only paying for what you use.

At the end of the day, there are many restaurants at the resort—and, of course, a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop to replenish burnt calories. If you desire a greater range of cuisine, then hop in a car, start the engine, and visit nearby Montreal. Yes, it is that far from NY and that close to Canada.

Tags: family vacations, ski resort review, ski vermont, Smugglers' Notch, Smugglers' Notch VT, Smuggs, Vermont ski resorts, vermont skiing

Mount Snow resort got its name for a reason: The snowmaking crews there make a lot of snow. The Mount Snow resort has more than 250 snowmaking fans, the most fan guns in the entire North America. When the ski season starts in November, they start coating the mountain’s four faces, 87 trails, and 12 freestyle parks with white powder. Add 156 inches of average annual snowfall, and you will get a Vermont ski resort with huge snow base depths and varied terrain – all just four hours away from NYC.

Mount Snow prides itself on opening early in November and closing in late April. My first visit there came over Thanksgiving weekend a couple years ago, and I can personally attest to the fact that they do everything possible to have decent early season runs. The caprices of the weather in the northeast can make skiing conditions quite unpredictable, so make no mistake about it – icy crust is very common here. However, for a snow-starved skier in the northeast, icy corduroy is better than no frozen granular at all, and the management at Mount Snow  resort seems to understand it by having 10 to 15 trails open during the very early season.

On my consequent ski trips to Mount Snow  resort, I encountered various snow conditions but for the most part had quite positive experiences. There is plenty of terrain for all skills and levels; however, intermediate and advanced skiers should have a better choice. While the green trails are generally wide and gentle enough for beginners, icy conditions often make the trails quite challenging. Also, consider the length of certain trails. For example, Long John and Deer Run are very nice cruisers running from the summit; however, they are quite long and could be strenuous on total beginners armed only with the “pizza pie” stopping technique. Knowing how to control your skis and speed is extremely helpful in these situations and you should not overestimate your skills when it comes down to alpine skiing or snowboarding.

At the same time, there are plenty of trails for skiers and snowboarders comfortable in linking turns and taking on all levels of the beginner and intermediate terrain. The Main Face is a home for many signature trails including Snowdance, Standard, and above-mentioned Long John and Deer Run. However, if you are desperate to push the limits – and your luck – there is the whole North Face to do that. The majority of the trails are kept ungroomed for those who need extra adrenaline, steep pitches, and moguls. Aside from the famed Ripcord, an often icy and steep double black diamond trail, there are five glades for skiers and snowboarders preferring ripping through the wooded areas.

And, of course, freestylers will enjoy 12 parks, rails, boxes, and tree skiing areas at Mount Snow resort. On the top of it, there is a mini-pipe for those learning tricks, and a super-pipe build for big air stunts. Needless to say, Carinthia is a freestyle heaven for freestylers who want to learn first Tailgrab or master Frontside 360 Nosegrab. Finally, the Sunbrook area is the place where you can find the scenic cruisers and music blasting from chairlift towers along the Beartrap trail.

At the end of a day, there are many ways to relax. The Mount Snow Grand Summit Health Club is open until 9 p.m.; they have various spa services and a heated outdoor swimming pool that I was told “is an extremely relaxing and romantic thing to do on a quiet starry evening.” There are also dozens of restaurant and bars in the area, including the Snow Barn bar that has a reputation for the best pizza in the valley.

While the Grand Summit Hotel is a nice place to stay, it is also pretty expensive lodging option. If you are on a budget, consider the condos and townhomes. I stayed in a very nice one-bedroom condo at the Snow Trees complex and can say only positive things about it. It had everything that you might need on a ski vacation: a fireplace, deck, privacy, and access to all amenities offered through the ski resort. It was relatively cheap and a short drive to the main lodge. There was only one problem with that particular lodging option: the roads around Mt. Snow resort. On a day when it rained – welcome to the northeast – and Mother Nature was in a bad mood, slush and mud made certain local roads quite challenging for a regular car.

Yet, having rain, sleet, and snow – all in one weekend – is not unusual for Vermont. The caprices of the weather can make a ski vacation in Vermont akin to a gamble, but 250+ fan snow guns, 80+ trails and just a 4-hour drive from NYC is a risk worth taking.

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3) Check out 2010 adult season pass deal at Mount Snow.

Tags: Mount Snow, Mount snow condo, mount snow grand summit hotel, Mount Snow resort, Mount Snow VT, ski resort review, ski vermont, Vermont, vermont skiing