Technically, there's a ski resort 10 min. from home. That's where I "occasionally" ski. It's really nice to get up late, have a leasurely breakfast and just cruise down the road to ski for a few hours and be home in mid-afternoon.
But, it's rare it gets much natural snow. And even the man-made one isn't all that reliable. It's just too warm around here. Global warming anyone? Not to mention, my "local hill" is tiny. So, not that many people ski there. Well, at least there's no queue whatsoever!
Yet, for the "real" skiing, I drive for "hours". How many hours...?
The Berkshire is about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2. That's where I do "some" of my skiing. The hills are a bit bigger, the snow a bit more reliable. The queue a bit longer, unfortunately. And, except for really good years, snow quantity and quality left a lot to be desired. So is terrain variety.
The Catskill is another option of less than 3 hours. I haven't gone as often though, because the snow isn't all that great the last season. But this may change if this season turns out better.
(see my Plattekill trip report)
Vermont is my most favorate "local" play ground! Depends on which resort I choose to go, the drive ranges from 4 (Mt. Snow) to 6 hours (Stowe). These are of course overnight trips. For the extra effort and drive time, I get REAL mountains and, often enough, REAL (natural) snow!
New York being home of 3 major airports, I fly away for ski trip more often than others. I go both to the west and east (Europe).
As you can see, I don't have a "home" mountain that I go in default. I'm a nomad when it comes to skiing.
Where I live there is never any traffic.
