I know its a little early but spring break skiing?
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langleyskier
December 16, 2004
Member since 12/7/2004 🔗
824 posts
I am the president of the Langley Ski Club and am trying to decide what a good resort to go to during spring break that is not too far (driveable distance) but also has good conditions late season (late march). Also, one that is chalanging and has a wide veriety of terrain. Anyone know of a good resort?

Cant wait to hit the slopes!
JimK - DCSki Columnist
December 16, 2004
Member since 01/14/2004 🔗
2,998 posts
If you want to stay in the mid-Atlantic your best, perhaps only, bet in late March is Snowshoe, WV. If anywhere in New England will work then you have a number of choices. Killington, VT is always a good spring option because they make tons of snow and try to keep a lot of terrain open as long as possible. The other major VT players are often a good bet for the same reason, e.g. Sugarbush, Stowe, Mt. Snow, Okemo (although last two are further south and could take a bigger hit in a heatwave). You didn't tell us if your club is full of experts or slants towards intermediates. I've heard that Bretton Woods, NH has pushed hard to stay open late the last few seasons. It has a lot of intermediate terrain. Major areas well to the north where snow retention is better, like Sugarloaf and Sunday River ME, or Tremblant and Mte Ste Anne in Canada might also be good choices.
johnfmh - DCSki Columnist
December 16, 2004
Member since 07/18/2001 🔗
1,992 posts
Add Jay Peak, Bretton Woods/Cannon/Wildcat, and Smuggler's Notch to Jim's list.
shearer519
December 16, 2004
Member since 07/12/2004 🔗
149 posts
I was thinking about taking a trip up to whiteface over spring break (first week in March) Does any one know what I can expect for snow coverage that time of year. If I don't go there I am also thinking about going to Snowshoe that week since they have a spring break deal for us college students. I have never been there either so I was wondering what would be the better choice.
ski_guy_59
December 16, 2004
Member since 11/9/2001 🔗
221 posts
I'm going to be at Timberline the first week in March. At that time, snow cover and open trails should still be abundant. But March is always iffy. Depending on what Mother Nature throws our way, the West Virginia resorts are often open until late March. But if your spring break is the last week in March, head to VT. Smuggs looks like a great resort and they cater to groups.
lbotta - DCSki Supporter 
December 16, 2004
Member since 10/18/1999 🔗
1,535 posts
My choice on variety of terrain and ambiance

1. Snowshoe
2. Seven Springs/Hidden Valley/Laurel Mt area
3. Canaan/Timberline
4. Blue Knob

I said areas because most of these groupings are within a half an hour away from each other and some share the apres-ski infrastructure... Besides, you get tired of one and go somewhere else the next day. And most have Spring skiing.
langleyskier
December 16, 2004
Member since 12/7/2004 🔗
824 posts
Sorry, the club is mostly advansed/experts with some intermediats and beginers. Anyone know anythng about Hunter Mountain NY? It looks pretty good but i havent heard much about it.
JimK - DCSki Columnist
December 16, 2004
Member since 01/14/2004 🔗
2,998 posts
Hunter is a sizeable place, on the order of Snowshoe, but with a dozen runs with 1500' vert, rather than just two. I was at Hunter many years ago around March 8. It was very much spring skiing by that point, with 30% of the mtn closed, but at least the trails were nicely empty. As I think about it, the end of March is generally when conditions begin to really deteriorate, even in Vermont. So nowhere will likely be in the "all slopes open" mode, unless you're really lucky. If you're trying to minimize driving to 7-10 hrs, then I'd suggest Killington. It's only about 2 hrs further than Hunter (Hunter- 7hrs from DC, Killington-9or10) and offers a better chance for a variety of open trails to satisfy a group staying for several days. Some people don't like Killington, but that is mainly because of peak season crowding. The place is big, even if 30% of terrain is closed. In late March it should be mostly free of people except for the hardcores around Bear Mtn's bump runs. Killington may still offer a little night life action too along the access road. By late March, if it's still open for skiing, Hunter's night life will probably be dead. If it looks like this March will be exceptionally good for skiing another big area to consider is Mt. Snow, VT, located between Hunter and Killington. Mt. Snow is about twice as big as Hunter terrain-wise. Killington is about 4 times bigger than Hunter. Everything I've said above is a rough guesstimate.
PS: if your group doesn't mind a 13 hr drive here's a thread of interest on Mont Ste. Anne and Le Massif in Quebec. These two would make for a great 3 or 4 days of skiing with possibly the best late March ski conditions east of the Mississippi because they are so far north. I've never been, maybe tromano will post a trip report in January on this pair?
http://www.dcski.com/ubbthreads22/showfl...=true#Post10235
tromano
December 16, 2004
Member since 12/19/2002 🔗
998 posts
I will. The best time to ski far north is march so if you don't mind the long drive it should be a great option. Also Sugarload and Whiteface are suppoesed to have good march conditions I have heard.

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