I need plan a Plan B for the weekend before XMas (Dec 22 and 23 and maybe the part of Dec 24 if it's close to central CT.)

On my way up to Connecticut for the holidays, I'm considering hitting some areas that I normally don't visit. Main things I'm looking for are 1) good early season snowmaking 2) not too crowded 3) not too expensive - I'm not up for paying top prices for limited terrain.

Given that criteria, anyone with early season experience/advice on any of the following:

• PA: Elk Mtn
• NY: Belleayre, Windham, Hunter (may be too much of a zoo)
• MA: Jiminy, Catamount, Berkshire East, Bousquet
• VT: Mount Snow, Magic (enough snowmaking?), Bromley
• CT: Mohawk, Sundown

Or suggest other areas in the general region. (I doubt I want to drive much further north than Pico.)

Plattekill is right next to Belleayre and Hunter and is a fantastic ski hill. If they have the goods that is the place I would recommend in the Catskills.

I thought about it, but I doubt they'll have the goods right now given this crappy weather.

Vince is spending all next week at Killington for some training and when I get first hand scoop from him on how they are doing I will share.

A little further north from Mt. Snow is Okemo. They always seem to get the most terrain open. They have an excellent snow making system. I also believe that lift tickets for Okemo and Stratton are interchangable. You may want to check on that one. Bromley faces south so early in the year it may be tough for them to get the base going. Bromley is a close by to Stratton.

When we use to go to CT for inlaw Christmas week, always found Jiminy pretty good.
The Colonel

That's a busy week. How crowded did Jiminy get? (Fortunately for me, the weekend before Xmas should be a lot less crowded than the days after.)

Most of the uncrowded gems in the Northeast need some natural snow to make them shine, unfortunately. Plattekill and Magic are two incredibly special mountains, but they're not worth it if you have to rely primarily on their meager snowmaking. Fortunately, you could easily pick a region (Catskills or Southern Vermont), and then pick where to ski based on conditions. It only takes one good storm...

I've skied Elk early and they usually have a few runs open that are challenging even early season. If you hit Elk two hours directly north on 81 is Greek Peak. It is a nice little mountain that has good snow making and usually opens early. Not as big as Bellayre or Hunter but alot nicer atmosphere.

Or... bag your relatives for a day or so and head to Gore and Lake Placid.

Early season is always a crapshoot. If the conditions are ordinary any place will do. If there is a big dump the two places I would love to ski, but have not yet, are Plattekill and Hickory. I believe that both are open on weekends only unless there is a foot or more of new snow; then they will open on a weekday. Both are in NY, Plattekill in the Catskills near Hunter and Windham, Hickory near Lake George.

I'm also looking at Greek peak for a day stop in roughly that time period, either Saturday or the Wednesday after.

Greek Peak:


May also take me too far west for this trip.

I'd head to Mt. Snow. They have great snowmaking and some great terrain, especially on the backside of the mtn.

I would stay away from Jiminy Peak. Big crowds, plus you'll get your new skis stolen........

Ya, eh? I-87 is a bit too far east for us. Soz, m8.