East

Virginia’s First Ski Area Restores the Nation’s Oldest Spa

Virginia’s First Ski Area Restores the Nation’s Oldest Spa

The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, is not the biggest ski area in the South, but it’s the oldest. When snowmaking was installed on new slopes in 1959, the historic hotel appended the words “ski” and “spa” to its self-description. The hotel has been hosting guests “taking the waters” at local hot springs since 1766, a decade before the American[Read More…]

by February 8, 2023 1 comment Other News, East
Massanutten Resort

What’s New for the 2022-23 Season—Southeastern Edition 

Terrain expansions and technology upgrades are routine at the seventeen ski resorts south of the Mason-Dixon Line. This year, that trend continues. Here’s what’s new for the 2022/2023 season in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Virginia – Massanutten – 2022-23 marks the 50th year of skiing inside the “Kettle” bowl of Shenandoah Valley landmark Massanutten Mountain. In 1990, the[Read More…]

by November 9, 2022 5 comments Other News, East
Photo Credit: Stratton Mountain Resort

What’s New For the 2022/23 Season – Eastern Edition

It’s time to check your goggles and helmet for wear and tear, shake your packed-up down jackets back to life and try on your ski or snowboard pants to make sure they still fit well enough to let you bend down and fasten your boots. Here’s a short swing through what’s new at resorts in the Northeast. New York State[Read More…]

by October 15, 2022 20 comments Destinations, East
The historic Mount Washington Hotel makes a riveting backdrop from the resort's cross country ski trails.     Photo courtesy Omni Hotels and Resorts

History Awaits Your Next Ski Trip (Part 1)

As serious skiers gain years and experience, many become interested in the history of their sport. And a lot of us are also better positioned economically to savor that heritage by checking into some of the country’s more historic ski settings. A budget bunker motel beside the access road might be OK, but it’s surprisingly easy and affordable to set[Read More…]

by February 17, 2022 1 comment Destinations, East, Home Top Box 2
Anticipate turns when skiing the trees!   Illustration: Mike Roth

Branching Out: Skiing the Trees

For many of us, skiing through the aging process means no longer going places we once skied without thinking twice. Now, approaching my 80’s, my mantra is never to overstep my capabilities and always watch out for the other guy!   I’ve always loved skiing in the trees and still do on occasions when conditions are right, and I’m feeling up[Read More…]

Don Burch’s Fun Times (at Mount Snow, Okemo & Stratton)

Don Burch’s Fun Times (at Mount Snow, Okemo & Stratton)

It has been decades since I’ve skied the East. Once I discovered Western skiing, I traded the long flight for the long drive, eventually moving to Utah to shorten the time to the slopes. But Don Burch is giving me second thoughts. He’s developed an appealing alternative ski video genre (shot largely at Eastern areas). His most recent, “Fun Times[Read More…]

by January 20, 2022 2 comments Other News, East
Okemo Debuts New Express Lifts

Okemo Debuts New Express Lifts

Now in its 66th winter season, Okemo is one of the most technologically advanced ski areas in the East. This year’s installation of two express lifts maintains that tradition with the debut of an express replacement for the Green Ridge Triple and the new Quantum Six Express lift at Jackson Gore, providing greater and quicker access to upper Jackson Gore, home of[Read More…]

by January 6, 2022 6 comments Other News, Destinations, East
Source: Trapp Family Lodge

Four Bucket List New England Cross Country Ski Towns

XCSkiResorts.com recommends these classic New England towns and areas for a cross country  ski vacation: Stowe, VT, is quintessential New England with its white steepled church and main street lined with stores. It’s also the home of the Trapp Family Lodge of Sound of Music fame. Trapp Family Lodge has a 110 km trail network with 60 km of groomed[Read More…]

Henry David Thoreau in 1856. Source: Wikipedia

Around Walden Pond

There are two trips around Walden Pond near Concord, MA. The first is a ski tour through a picturesque New England landscape, with sharp and steeply wooded hillsides surrounding an ice-covered, lambchop-shaped lake. Around the same pond is a second trip, a pilgrimage that passes the cabin site of Henry David Thoreau, “self-appointed inspector of snowstorms”, conjuring the spirit of[Read More…]

by November 11, 2021 3 comments Home Top Box 2, Other News, East
Source: Don Burch

Enjoy Don Burch’s Newest Creation

Don Burch creates short, artistic ski videos that capture the small moments showing people of all ages and abilities having fun together on the mountain. “Skiing The East” features scenes from Stowe, Okemo, Otis Ridge, Sunday River, Killington, Sugarbush, Mount Snow, Stratton, Wildcat, Magic, Waterville Valley and Maple Valley (long closed). Enjoy this two-minute ride.

by October 27, 2021 5 comments Other News, East
Look Back: Sunday River

Look Back: Sunday River

For the record, early morning skiing was just the best at Sunday River, Maine. We skied this reliable, late-season spot over Easter weekend with two gorgeous sunny days, happy the travel restrictions into Maine had eased for us at last. Better late than never. Count SR’s season-long commitment to snowmaking (90 percent coverage) as the insurance that makes the late[Read More…]

by April 14, 2021 2 comments Destinations, East
Spring Skiing At Killington

Spring Skiing At Killington

Here’s Another Don Burch Video Capturing A Blue Bird Day At The Big K. Snapshot of perfect conditions on a beautiful day.

by April 5, 2021 4 comments East
Top To Bottom: Beech Mountain

Top To Bottom: Beech Mountain

North Carolina Has The Highest Ski Resort In Eastern North America. Have You Been? The next stop in our Vicarious Vacation series is a hop down to North Carolina’s Beech Mountain. Located in the western mountains of the state, Beech Mountain has a summit elevation of 5,506 feet, making it the highest ski resort on the East Coast. The mountain[Read More…]

by March 22, 2021 6 comments East
Spring Comes to Wildcat

Spring Comes to Wildcat

Long And Winding Runs. Great Views. It was serendipity to arrive at Wildcat in the northern Presidential Mountains of New Hampshire the first week in March and find spring skiing. Many of us missed that part of the ski season last year in the pandemic shut-downs. Due to its north facing slopes and deep snowpack, Wildcat usually is the last[Read More…]

by March 16, 2021 3 comments Destinations, East
The Big K’s Ambassador Program

The Big K’s Ambassador Program

Ambassadors Help Create A Congenial Climate At Killington. As a huge ski area with several base areas and mountain peaks, finding one’s way around Killington can be a challenge. That’s where the green-jacketed Ambassadors come in, often saving the day by showing guests how to get where they want to go—or in some cases—avoid a too difficult or too flat[Read More…]

by March 15, 2021 5 comments Features, East
Karl and June Acker took over from Janet and continued to expand the resort.

Women Played Integral Role at One of Nation’s Oldest Ski Areas

[Please consider supporting SeniorsSkiing.com with a donation. We appreciate your help. Click here.] Janet Davis Mead, June Aker, Verlene Belden All Kept Pico Going And Growing, Despite Obstacles and Challenges. Vermont’s Pico Mountain survived a war, two owners’ deaths, and a neighbor called Killington to become one of the 30 oldest continually operating ski areas in the country. It’s a feat[Read More…]

by February 15, 2021 12 comments East, Ski History, Ski Heroes
Sunny day at Tote Road Quad.

Loon Mountain Resort Update

Lodges Closed. Back To Basics. [Please consider supporting SeniorsSkiing.com with a donation. We appreciate your help. Click here.] Kudos to Loon Mountain Resort, N.H., for managing COVID restrictions so well. Our family bubble all agreed the best thing Loon had done was shut down all the lodges to indoor food service. That simplified one’s strategizing. Grab ‘n Go food windows[Read More…]

by February 9, 2021 1 comment East
My Ski Lodge. Credit: Pat McCloskey

Gratitude

Half-Way Through The Season, Pat McCloskey Takes Stock. [Please consider supporting SeniorsSkiing.com with a donation. We appreciate your help. Click here.] We are halfway through winter, and the groundhog has come out to let us know what he thinks about the rest of the winter. I wonder if he will be masked? In any event, this has been a different[Read More…]

by February 2, 2021 1 comment Features, East
Call Of The Mountains

Call Of The Mountains

A Lyrical Look At Classic Eastern Ski Trails. Killington, Okemo, Mt. Snow. See what you’re missing, Western Skiers? Thanks to SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent Don Burch for another great, feels-like-you’re-there video.

by January 3, 2021 5 comments East
Early Season Skiing: Okemo, VT

Early Season Skiing: Okemo, VT

Shaking Off Summer Dust: First Runs Of The Season Snow finally came to New England last week whether through machines or from the sky. It finally got consistently cold enough to make the stuff or for real snow to stick.  SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent Don Burch ventured out to see what was going on at Okemo, VT. Here’s his video report from[Read More…]

by December 7, 2020 4 comments East
SeniorsSkiing Guide: Holiday Valley

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Holiday Valley

Are there powder days in Western New York? Can Pete Widger yodel?   Yes, to both. In fact, septuagenarian Widger, the voice of Holiday Valley’s Snow Phone, will lace his conditions report with his trademark vocals every powder day of the season. Holiday Valley’s powder comes compliments of Lake Erie’s snow machine, the same lake-effect system that gives Buffalo its[Read More…]

by November 8, 2020 5 comments Resort Reviews, East
Sugarloaf is a big mountain with lots of choices for all levels.

SeniorsSkiingGuide: Seniors Love Sugarloaf

For Many Many Reasons. Located in Maine’s western mountains, Sugarloaf is farther away than other New England resorts, with underpopulated weekdays, giving you more room to roam. It is rugged and unpretentious which draws one of the most loyal following of skiers in New England. The setting is a lone behemoth, third highest peak in Maine at 4,249 feet. It[Read More…]

by March 26, 2020 5 comments East
Topnotch At Stowe: Ski, Relax, Recharge

Topnotch At Stowe: Ski, Relax, Recharge

A Great Spot Close To The Big Mountain. As one person said, Stowe, VT, takes its wellness seriously and nowhere is that more apparent than at Topnotch Resort. The 120-acre wooded getaway is a place to recharge and refuel in a calm and soothing environment. The attractive, minimalist hotel has just 68 rooms, plus two restaurants. From the minute you[Read More…]

by March 11, 2020 2 comments East
Backcountry skiing is different, requires planning and gear. Credit: Bolton Valley

Alpine Backcountry Touring Primer In Bolton Valley

Three Things to Do And Not To Do While Alpine Backcountry Touring. For those who have never tried Alpine Touring, Bolton Valley near Burlington, Vt., offers an intro to backcountry skiing every Saturday morning out of the spacious Sports Center near the main lifts. That is due to a recent change in Bolton Valley ownership. Three years ago former owner[Read More…]

by March 4, 2020 2 comments East
Corduroy in the morning. Dartmouth Skiway has a mix of twisty narrow and open groomers. Credit: TheSnowWay.com

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Historic Dartmouth SkiWay

Big Mountain Fun And Small Mountain Friendly With History All Around. Dartmouth Skiway in Lyme Center, NH was founded in 1956. After six decades the ski area has recently hired only the fourth director in its history. Mark Adamczyk who was the director of outdoor adventure at the Winter Park Resort in Colorado will replace Doug Holler, who is retiring[Read More…]

by March 4, 2020 1 comment East, Resort Reviews