Skiing the northeast (US)

I vote Sugarloaf,it is very large and offers challenging terrain.It's far enough north where usually there is plenty of snow.The village is self contained with several restaurants and shops.They have plenty of trailside condos just not sure if they hold 12-14.

Outside of the village there is not much else,except maybe some moose!

T

Sugarloaf, Maine is a very good area. Large, steep, self contained village as has been said above. Be aware that the drive is quite a bit longer to Sugarloaf than it would be to Stowe or Sugarbush. (I guess that depends on where you are in Quebec.)

Stowe and Sugarbush are also large areas with plenty of challeging terrain and plenty of places to rent nearby. Sunday River is a large area made up of several peaks spread out along along ridge. It has less sustained vertical than any of the others mentioned, including the ones you usually ski in Quebec. It is also the least challenging area save for 1 peak.

Personally, I would probably opt for Stowe. Lots of great terrain, tons of off piste tree skiing; generally pretty reliable snow conditions; quaint, New England town. Sugarbush, running a close second in all the above departments, is actually my favorite Vermont mountain, but that has a lot to do with the fact that it was the first big mountain that I spent significant time at when I was a teenager. Also, things may have changed, but I have always been able to find better deals on house/condo rentals at Sugarbush.

Do look into drive times because there ain't nothing wrong with Sugarloaf either.

I have skied at Tremblant and Mont Ste Anne. All of the areas above are more challenging and get more snow than Tremblant. All are at least equal to Ste Anne in challenge/terrain, with, perhaps, some trails that are more challenging than anything I have skied there. I hope to get to Le Massif either this season or next - I've heard great things about it.

Since its not often sugggested and it is a place that all who could should visit, how about Whiteface / Lake Placid? Big mountain, Olympic village, very interesting place even if you dont plan to ski all the time and its a mountain that is not crowded.

When are you looking to go? I'd suggest the Vermont resorts (Stowe or Sugarbush) for mid-winter - better odds of fresh snow there and Sugarloaf or possibly Lake Placid for late winter - since those times are the best to hit those places, in my opinion.

If "long weekend" means 3 days of skiing, Sugarbush and Sugarloaf are both excellent choices.

Both have a great variety of terrain; and both are enhanced by the presence of a nearby beautiful classic NE ski area.

2 days @ Sugarbush/1 day@ MRG.
2 days @ the Loaf/1 day @Saddleback.

Either would make a great long weekend trip.

I second that 2 days @The Loaf and a day at Saddleback.

I am a local to these 2 mountains and I would love spend a week at either of them.

f2f,

Sugarloaf is great, and they definitely have houses that can hold 12-14. I would recommend it if you plan on staying together and cooking in the house, as opposed to wanting to be able to go out. I also think that you can rent a house that is more convenient to the hill than at many of the other areas, where to rent a large house you might be paying more or you would be farther away. In my opinion, Sugarloaf is also a great choice if you are planning on spending the entire three days (I assume that is what is meant by a long weekend) at one place. If it were me, I would try Saddleback for a day, though, but that is partially because I have never skied there before.

Otherwise, I think Stowe is great and is one of the classics -- there is something to be said for skiing the front four. Another benefit of Stowe is reasonable access to other resorts. In this regard, you should consider the discussion about the choice between Stowe and Sugarbush in the thread at http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=62573. Doing both is certainly an option.

Good luck choosing. And, frankly, if all you are talking about is a long weekend, you cannot go wrong with the options discussed so far. If you weren't talking about such a large group, given that you are planning on driving I would also have suggested to wait and see where the snow is best.

Smiles

Ive gotta say Sugarbush.

As mentioned earlier, plenty of trails/terrain, and places to rent. Not to mention Mad River Glen is a couple miles away and they have some great skiing there.

I don't believe you mentioned what you'd like to ski. That information would help to narrow in a destination of choice.

SCHOOL VACATION SCHEDULE IN QUEBEC

Maybe you can help me.

My wife and I live in New Hampshire and want to ski at Massif / St.Anne ( speliing/sorry) this winter.
I was under the impression that Quebec school vacation was March 8-14.
However, I saw something on the Massif website that indicated that the dates are March 1-8.

Can you clarify what the correct dates for the March school vacation is?
Thanks

oldefarms,

We have skied in eastern Canada several times - most of them in March. Ontario's school break is usually the week after Quebec's. Have been to Tremblant during that week and it is quite busy. So what I'm saying is to check on Ontario's break time because that will fill the resorts just as much as Qeubec's.

quebec school vacation

Here is what I think are the school break schedules.

Quebec week March 2- March 6 ( Monday -Friday)
Ontario week March 16- March 20 ( Monday - Friday)

It does seem " odd" that there is a week between Quebec and Ontario.....I never saw that before.

Can I get any confirmations on those dates?

thanks

Whiteface is probably the best choice. Largest vertical in the east, the new Lookout Mountain expansion is here, Lake Placid is close so if not skiing go here but you should just go here anyways... so many reasons why I'd choose Whiteface. Stowe and Sugarloaf are probably the 2nd choice.

You've got the Ontario dates right, Can't speak for Quebec.