A New England powder day. Photo courtesy Sugarloaf
While the West Coast is struggling with a warm and snowless winter, New England is fat with snow. Massachusetts has had its snowiest February ever, and the month isn’t over yet. This is the year to ski Vermont and New Hampshire, and even suburban Massachusetts. So where should you go?
Bode’s home hill
New Hampshire’s Cannon Mountain, one of the few state-owned ski hills in the country, is anything but fancy, but its steep and icy terrain breeds skiers like Olympic alpine racer Bode Miller, who is known for his no-holds-barred style. Take the old-school tram to the top, then practice your Bode-style GS turns down Zoomer. Just don’t blow up.
Vermont classics
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Vermont, aka the cutest state in the Union, is home to covered bridges, Ben & Jerry’s, and Mad River Glen, which has steep, technical skiing and one of the only single chairs left in existence. Being there is an experience in itself, but the Green Mountain State has a ton of other classic hills. If you want to sit with your friends on the chair, head to Stowe to test yourself on the notoriously steep front four runs, or to Jay Peak, which consistently gets the deepest snow in New England.
Park it
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If you want to ride park instead of powder, southern New Hampshire is the spot. A surprisingly high number of professional snowboarders, like Pat Moore and Scotty Lago, cut their teeth at Loon Mountain’s park and pipe. The homegrown New Hampshire hill has six parks, including a super pipe and a mini pipe, so there’s something for every level of rider.
Go north
Corduroy at the ’Loaf. Photo courtesy Sugarloaf
If you want steeper slopes and colder temperatures, head to Sugarloaf, Maine. It has some of the East’s only above-tree-line skiing in its upper snowfields and a newly opened zone for lift-accessed backcountry. But it’s not just craggy New England steeps: The ’Loaf also has a great park and pipe and wide, fast groomers like Tote Road. When you get hungry, head to D’Ellies, which makes some of the best sandwiches in all of ski country.
Thirsty?
Need something to drink after all that skiing? Of course you do. Glen, New Hampshire’s Red Parka Pub, close to Wildcat, Cranmore, and Attitash, is a classic New England go-to. Get their PBR martini, which is exactly as dirtbaggy as it sounds. Other than that, New England is full of small towns, each with its own local bar, so the options are plentiful. If you’re at Killington, Vermont, and want to party, head to the Wobbly Barn for late night music.
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