[CLIK92]

My friends and I are coming up from Jersey and would love some feedback for ski resorts in Vermont. I've only been to Killington and Stratton, but how is Okemo and Jay Peak? Any other suggestions would be great too (thinking about heading to Smuggler's Notch too). My friends and I are intermediate/ almost expert snowboarder/ skiiers. Also do you guys have any suggestions on where to eat and what to do in the areas when we aren't skiing (We are probably staying in Rutland).

[vter]

Okemo is an intermediate paradise. Not a lot of difficult terrain there.
I would skip staying in Rutland-why are you thinking of that?
Sugarbush would be my mountain suggestion. Big mountain with lots of good terrain. If you stayed in Waterbury you could also hit up Stowe or Bolton Valley

[harry chickpea]

Agree with vter. Jay sits up like a sore thumb and can be windy when other areas are less so. If lift lines look like they are going to be long at Sugarbush or Stowe, you can get more slope time in at Bolton Valley. Also, Stowe isn't just the main slopes on Mansfield.

[CLIK92]

Just looked up Bolton Valley and it looks great (plus night skiing!). Also, quick question why do most VT and some upstate NY ski resorts close at 4? In NJ and PA, the mountains usually close around 10 PM. Any good hotels to stay at? I wanted to stay in Rutland because it was a 20 minute drive to Killington (it kinda is in the middle of everything) and I stayed there before. It's a nice town but really not much to do.

[vter]

Vermont resorts close at 4 because they are not lighted. Bolton Valley is an exception.
For Bolton you could stay in Burlington which is a fantastic small city with lots of great restaurants/bar/shops. About a 1/2 hour drive to the mountain.
OR you could stay in Waterbury which is a nice small VT town with a couple good bars & restaurants. There is a Best Western there. Puts you close to Bolton, Stowe or Sugarbush.

[joe moving]

I would say they are not lighted because usually it gets darn cold at night and they do most of their grooming during this time.

Tonight was an exception to it being cold

[MRVphotog]

Resorts or ski hills need a large population nearby for night skiing to be a vialble and profitable part of the business model. As Vter mentioned Bolton has night skiing as it close to Burlington, Stowe also has limited night skiing off the gondola.

For most of the destination resorts their skiers/riders come for the weekends/holidays get plenty of skiing during the day, it's the local community that makes night skiing work.

Cochrans also has night skiing, very close to Burlington.

[RunawayJim]

What's the terrain at Bolton like? I'm by no means an expert skier, but I enjoy interesting terrain. Cannon in New Hampshire is my current favorite mountain (partly because of the views and lack of crowds, but also because the terrain is fun and the grooming is minimal). Granted, I was just given the "ok" to try skiing after a back injury, so I'd be taking it easy no matter where I go (thinking about hitting up Blue Hills in MA one weekend soon). Almost ended up at Bolton at the end of last season, but decided to go to Hill Farmstead with friends instead.