North East Skiing Thread!!

Anyone car camp the ski resorts? I had my setup pretty tight in the family Honda Odyssey but it gave up the game after only 263k. So with kids graduating from college, I finally got the vehicle I wanted, except I went dcsb instead of aclb because family, but that makes the sleeping situation iffy (these are solo missions). I have a softtopper. I put down some plywood to make a platform to sleep on diagonally under the topper (at Belleayre on a storm night). It worked but was too cramped and claustrophobic. Then I tried tailgate down and a portable insta-canopy over that (at Gore on a storm night). That was way more comfortable, and I was dry when it rained, but when it turned to snow, I was getting snowed on. I also tried tailgate down, tarp over the end (Hickory). Getting in and out wasn't as easy as it may sound, something I didn't consider or try when I did a test set up in the driveway. It rained that night but I was dry. Also, I couldn't have the bed set up and ready to go when I had the tailgate down, unlike on the platform, but I'm not going back to the platform.

I know ski season's over, even at Killington, but I am thinking about what my next investment will be for next season (and I plan to get the ORDA Ski3 pass). Ultimately, something like a GFC, would be ideal, but the cost would pay for a lot of hotel rooms. My current thinking is the softopper tent extension or something like a pop up ice fishing tent (not ideal for a stealth mission but probably fine at Gore and maybe Hunter). Either method requires setting up bed in the cold. I've seen some on here post about pulling out their passenger seat and building a platform, but I don't think I can make that work. Pulling out and putting in the middle row in the Odyssey was easy. The Taco passanger seat would be too much for each trip, often last second.

Anyway, wondering if there are any ideas out there and who else does it?

 

i have the alu cab canopy camper and no regrets. In terms of availability of overnight parking the east coast is nothing like the west coast. I literally just wing and ask security when I go to mountains and hope someone says yes. Otherwise its 2 monsters and drive back to Long Island hah. Only once I’ve had to force them to let me stay by showing them a pile of empty beers

 

Never drive back! There's always a trail head, Walmart, or a bar.

Alu cab is living the dream! Got heat? I just can't justify it knowing my wife is never going to do it with me (my son did Greek Peak and Gore with me), but she will get a room to come skiing or day trip it with me. She also tent camps with me in nice weather, and we would still use the tent over the truck camper. Back in the van days, I also camped Mt. Snow, Greek Peak, Snow Ridge, the Thunderbolt Trail, and Bolton Valley. Never asked. Most of the resorts don't allow or don't have a policy, but the van was pretty incognito. A flipped up wedge means someone is sleeping there. Not sure what people would make of a softtopper extension. A long bed under a topper would ansewer all my problems. Alas.

Camping at Belleayre is not technically allowed, but I've never had a problem in the upper most lot. Snow plow guys are cool. Hunter is said to allow it. As does Plattekill, Gore and Killington in certain lots. I believe Magic charges to overnight. I did Snow before their new pay to park policies. I know it wasn't allowed, but I also know I wasn't the only one camping in the back of the middle lot. If I get the Ski3 pass it will mostly be Gore and Belleayre storm days. I'm under 2 hours from Belleayre and the other Cat mountains, so I only camp when I want to be there 1st chair without waiting in the conga line of traffic trying to get through a storm. I know Whiteface does not allow it and patrols their lots, but I have my eye on some trailheads, or the Hungry Trout lot, or paid parking in town. And I do wonder how carefully they patrol the back corner of the Bear Den lot... I've never done 2 nights. Just drive night before after work, beer and movie, sleep, ride, drive back.

 

I’ve crashed in the Hunter parking lot, it was some years ago, and we found a dirt accessory lot out of the way. Woke up to 50” and counting.

I bet Platakill wouldn’t give you too much grief. I’ve found some forest service access lots in southern VT to winter camp while skiing Mt. Snow and surrounding areas. NH will have similar things I would bet.

When dirt bag camping in parking lots, especially resorts, I recommend getting all you cooking done early, while people are still hanging around tailgating. Security is way fonder of people just “sleeping it off” than “camping”.

 

50", score! Was it a weekday? If so, you might have had more than a couple of untracked pow runs. Platty allows it on their lower, pumphouse lot according to Ski The East Car Campers on FB, a good resource, and I think they've done an overnight meet there. And Hunter is said to allow it in their lower lot, which I believe is for busses.

I always do drive through dinner or at a nearby bar, and by the time I get there the lots are empty. Not looking for the camping experience. Just trying to avoid the extra cost of a room. Dirtbagging for sure. Just gotta figure out a setup I can live with with a short bed.

 

The one good thing about living in Sullivan County is that when I hit the Cat mountains, I come from the west... No traffic at all on pow days. I usually pull right up to the mountain's access road and make a right... There is usually a sea of cars turning left onto the access road(s).

 

Seems no one has posted this season! So I’ll start.
The wife and I have Platakill passes this year. Conditions havnt been the best, hoping March will deliver some snow…
Nothing else to report really just wanted to get the ball rolling.

 

My wife and I have Whiteface passes. There have been some really nice days and some bad days. Whiteface has updated their snowmaking over the past few years, and it's crazy how much better it is, but they're still obviously limited by the temperatures. My favorite for views and conditions is skinning up before they open.

We're going to Maine in a couple of weeks. I think we'll only ride lifts one day, so we're trying to choose between Sugarloaf and Saddleback.

 

I'd probably recommend sugarloaf for snow conditions. I know saddleback just opened back up, but I haven't heard any reports from anybody going up there. (Sugarloafer myself)

 

I have not been to the Loaf yet this year but Saddleback has been really good especially for the lousy winter we have been having. It has held up way better than anything in NH. I lived and worked at Sugarloaf for my ski bum years and still consider it my "home mountain". I really do love it! But personally, I like Saddleback better than Sugarloaf. It has a great Indy vibe to it with some amazing terrain that is very comparable to Sugarloaf without all the big resort nonsense, crowds and cost. They are fairly close to each other. Give them both a go! Saddleback will not disappoint.

 

This is very true!

 

I would recommend Saddleback and I'm a Boyne resort pass holder. Although I have not been to Saddleback back this year what Bruin8124 said about the vibe is spot on. Both resorts are close to each other and have great trails. Weekend crowds at any resort can be a real drag, especially Sugarloaf which is kind of shaped like a "V" so it funnels people to the same areas.
My home mountain is Sunday River, which gets crowed, but it's more spread out than SL so crowds dissipate to other lifts once the morning crush is over. Plus Bethel seems to have more going on in town than Kingfield or Rangeley. Although, I find SL more changeling.

I spent my ski bum days snowmaking at Big Tupper in the early 90's. I kind of miss the Adirondacks.

 

Who got a taste of that big storm last week…? I was lucky enough to hit platakill on Wednesday with untouched 36” of pow, as they were closed Tuesday.

 

My boss was up there as well for Wednesday.

I was off that day, but sat at home.

 

I'm late posting, but we had a good trip to Maine at the beginning of the month. We did a bunch of hiking/peak-bagging around the Carrabassett Valley, so skiing wasn't the main focus of this trip. We'll get back for more of a ski trip, and probably ski both Saddleback and Sugarloaf.


We did an uphill day at Saddleback


We ended up riding the lifts at Sunday River. That place is so big, I felt like I never knew where I was or where to go.


We had to ride the Jordan 8 chair with the bubble down. I think it messed with my vision for about 15 minutes.

 

Yesterday was my last day of the season. I'm a little surprised that Whiteface isn't trying to hold on longer, but I know they always have staffing issues this time of year. I'm headed out west with my mountain bike this week, so I wouldn't be able to ski again until the 29th, and who knows what conditions would look like at that point.


Snow cover was pretty rough down low. Lots of sun and temperatures in the 70s most of the week accelerated the snow loss.


There is still plenty of good snow on the upper part of the mountain

 

Reviving the stoke for this season! I'm planning to hit Bolton Valley for their opening day Nov 24. Anyone else getting some early season turns in?

 

I hit Bolton for the first time last season. I love that place and cant wait to get back! I plan to hit all the Vermont Indy's this year. And NH... And of course Maine...

I have my eyes on the Loaf for some early turns.

 

I wish Indy had more in QC though but yeah, great pass for new england

Rangely ME already has some decent snow action. Might go there early in the year if that trend continues

 

I live between Waterville and loon mountains. Went north today and with cold temps saw snowmaking running at cannon. Season is right around the corner.