I just realized this forum might be able to help me out for a trip I have coming up next week.

I'm going to be visiting family in Rutland, Vermont for a few days. They're telling me ski conditions aren't too hot.

Wondering if any of you have any insider knowledge of what my best options would be for skiing toward the end of next week -- something I could drive to from Rutland, Vermont (close to the dead center of the state) within an hour.

To my knowledge the options around there are Pico (little resort that's usually uncrowded, no-frills and great but I imagine has terrible conditions right now) and Killington (no idea what that place is like right now).

If anyone knows the area and has input, please let me know. Thanks.

A belated welcome to the forums, plateau-reached! I discovered DCSki.com when I got back onto skis several years ago, after 30 years of not much skiing. Find myself logging in several times a day during ski season. There's a good group here, esp. for advice of the where-to-do-what variety. (And plenty of characters to enjoy.)

Anyway, Rutland. I'm likely to be in that area, too, for a day of skiing over Christmas Week. Everywhere you go there'll be crowds, so plan to hit the slopes when the ropes drop, eat lunch early or late, and be patient. We've plunged headlong into holiday crowds in southern and central Vermont and still had a great time.

The season is off to a slow start, even in Vermont. Open trail counts will be lower than usual, forcing larger crowds into less terrain. As I said, patience (and some planning) are the rules. The good news is that there should be a week's worth of decent snowmaking weather at night, starting Friday night. Daytime highs are expected to be in the upper 20s and low 30s. Since Christmas Week is so crucial, snow guns and groomers will be running full tilt. (Get out early to ride the corduroy, and bring your goggles in case the snow guns are still running.)

OK, now to the ski areas. Since I don't know what kinds of skiers are in your group, I'll be a bit general. Others will probably chime in.

Pico -- will probably have the fewest people, but also the smallest number of open runs. Most people forge on to Killington. Pico is a nice mountain (almost 2000' of vertical) when conditions are good, but watch online to see how much snowmaking they're doing.

Killington -- called K-Mart by many, you probably already know that they offer an incredible amount of terrain spread out over a large area. Killington is an experience, and I've always managed to have a good time there. Make sure everyone in the group has a trail map, and set up some rendezvous times before your gang hits the snow. It's easy to get separated.

Bromley -- in Manchester, maybe 30-45 minutes away from Rutland. Here's where I go when the weather is bitter. Bromley, The Sun Mountain, faces south. Its vertical (1400 feet) doesn't match the ~2000 of Killington, Pico or Stratton, but there's good variety here ... esp. later in the season when more of the area is open.

Stratton and Okemo -- in the Bromley area, but farther. Stratton and Okemo groom, groom and then groom again. When conditions are sketchy, I generally figure Stratton and Okemo will have the most runs open and the best grooming. The layouts are different. Stratton is a big mountain with runs to the left and right of the summit. Okemo is spread out along a mountain-ridge ... go a few lifts to the left, go a few lifts to the right, and you find plenty to explore. Both have a good number of fast lifts. Stratton is the more upscale, dressier resort, Okemo is more like a theme park.

Again, you might want to tell us what kind of skiing terrain you're looking for so we can offer more specific advice. Set your alarm clock early and have fun!

One last piece of advice about comparing ski areas in the U.S.: check out the information on skiernet.com It rules.

Woody

Hey Woody thanks for the detailed post!

I'll actually be skiing on my own. I'll be with family in Rutland but none of them are skiers (too old, working, or not interested). Hence the reason for wanting something within short driving distance to Rutland...it will be a daytime activity for me then I'll return back to the family in the evening.

I'm an intermediate skier (my screen name, "plateau-reached," refers to the skill level I landed on at age 14 or so and haven't been able to advance due to limited ski trips). I try most black diamonds but avoid moguls, and usually avoid double blacks.

Fortunately I haven't been too spoiled with ski trips (except for one to SLC that I try to never compare anything to) so the bar is fairly low. I was perfectly satisfied with Pico a couple years ago and would be happy to go there again, but yeah I just checked and looks like they only have three slopes open. :-(

I'm thinking I should just stick with Killington due to convenience. I'll also look into Bromley but anything that's farther away from Rutland than that probably isn't going to work for my needs. If you tell me Bromley would be a better choice than Killington next week, I'd probably go for that.

So if any of that helps you give more detailed advice, let me know.

Woody gave you good advice.

Went to college in VT, have family in CT, have done lot's of skiing in VT Xmas week.

I'd avoid K-Mart at all costs Xmas week, especially this year with limited terrain open. It will be as enjoyable as skiing the DC Beltway. And even more dangerous. Hordes of out of control obnoxious New Yawkers and Joisyites.

I'd recommend Pico, even with limited terrain.

Okemo is a pretty short drive down Route 103 from Rutland.

For future reference, Middlebury College Snow Bowl http://www.middlebury.edu/about/facilities/snow_bowl is a good place to avoid the Xmas week crowds (but looks like they barely have anything open right now.) While tiny by Vermont standards, the Snow Bowl blows away any place in the Mid Atlantic.

Checked via da google, Okemo is closer than Bromley from Rutland. (Though Bromley is closer than I thought.)

South-facing sun mountain (Bromley) is not the place to go during a warm December.

Anyway, enjoy whatever you choose.

Hmm. One of the main goals of my trip to Vermont is to get in some skiing but it seems like you all (and Mother Nature) are waving the red flag.

Pico has three slopes, Killington sounds like it might be a mess, Bromley not great for December. And Okemo may be OK?

This might be my only option for getting up Vermont this winter, unfortunately, but now I'm doubting whether it's worth the hassle. I'd be driving.

Go! I have never had a bad day on slopes as long as I could make a couple turns. The people I meet on the more challenging ski days are generally the best. Just have the right attitude and you will not be sorry.

PR, I agree with Bumps: take your shot and bring a good attitude. Starting tonight, each night presents another opportunity for snowmaking. Unlike this past week, conditions should only improve. Vermont ski areas won't want to disappoint, esp. after all the publicity following Hurricane Irene and the region's quick rebuilding efforts.

Okemo looks like about 25 miles from Rutland and ought to be a great choice.

Thinking snow,
Woody
(disclosure: I'm a native New Englander and rarely pass up a change to have a day back on the home turf)

It's ALWAYS worth the hassle. GO and tell us how it was.

Good luck, you should be able to get some runs in, but you will have a much much better chance of decent conditions if you drive NORTH... not SOUTH. Yes, even in VT a 2 hour drive (Okemo to Stowe) can make a big difference, especially with this goofy weather. In addition to Stowe check out Sugarbush. Best conditions will likely be at Jay Peak but that is a farther drive from Rutland.