Okemo vs Sunapee

[NewEnglandSkier]

So, I'm thinking of getting my first day of the season in tomorrow Fri 12/17. Okemo or Sunapee are what I'm thinking at this point . . .anyone been to either one recently (this week) to give the real scoop on conditions?? I've never skied this early in the season before . . . .so not sure what to expect conditions wise . . . . .

 

[ski diva]

Skied Okemo today and it was good. There's a lot more open at Okemo than Sunapee, so I'd choose the former.

If you want, I could meet you for a run or two..... No pressure.

 

[Lilgeorg]

I just finished 16 runs at Okemo. They have 50 open trails and expect to drop the ropes on more this weekend. Today the conditions were often like silk over hard pack. Very enjoyable. A few trails had some death cookies but you could avoid them by skiing the edge of the trail. I had a blast!

 

[Lilgeorg]

Oh, yeah, I'll be there 12/17 too. We will be starting at the Jackson Gore lodge.

 

[NewEnglandSkier]

Thanks you guys. I'm still debating which to do--it will depend on how motivated I am when the time comes I think-- either drive 2 hrs to Sunapee or 3 hrs to Okemo. But if I get up to Okemo and happen to spot you in the lodge or on a run or something I'll stop by!

 

[vickie]

I was at Sunapee on Tuesday. They claimed 23 trails open ... now the web site says 26 are open.

On Tuesday, you basically had 3 paths down from the peak -- Wingding (blue), which does not take you back to the base; and Skyway Ledges (blue) and Blast-Off (black) which do take you back to the base.

Tuesday, they were blowing snow like mad. Locals complained that visibility was bad. Ha! At some points on Skyway Ledges, I could not see even a shade of ANYthing farther than 10 feet away - including people in dark jackets. (They were blowing snow one or two trails over, not on Skyway itself.) I could do two turns and, at the end of the second one, would be so disoriented that I didn't know if I was standing or moving or anything. Problem was ... I was advised by Guest Services that Blast-Off was probably too steep, so Skyway was my only way back down the mountain. I ended up having to retreat to the one green trail that was open over in the beginner area.

We reported the situation to Guest Services but that did no good, so I will be sending Sunapee a letter.

Sunapee is blowing as much snow as they can, trying to open up a bunch of terrain this weekend.

In all fairness, the snow condition was really good. But if I were you, I'd go to Okemo.

 

[Swamp Dog]

Sunapee is reporting that Upper and Lower Ridge are now open too. I was thinking of heading there tomorrow. Depends on what time I get up I guess. My pass is good for Sunapee and Gunstock, but not Okemo.