By Henri Bauholz
The interior and northern sections of New England -- the home to most of the region's ski
resorts -- endure cold, snowy winters that often last well past the first day of spring. Since there are plenty of downhill skiing options in the upper tier of New England, it is helpful to break them down into geographic areas.
Maine
Though Maine's large coastline attracts many visitors, the Pine Tree State is home to excellent big mountain skiing.
Sugarloaf Mountain, which is located north of Farmington in the Carrabassett Valley, is noted for its excellent snowfields and glades at the summit and an impressive array of well-groomed trails that traverse the side of the 4,000 mountain. The overall vertical drop of the trails exceeds 2,000 feet.
Another good choice is Sunday River, which is located just outside of Bethel. It offers many ski trails that span several peaks and are serviced with different lifts. Skiers come from across the Northeast to sample the variety of well-groomed trails.
Either is worth a weekend visit.
New Hampshire
When in New Hampshire, head for the White Mountain National Forest region, where many ski areas of note are located. One of those is the system of downhill ski trails that comprise Wildcat Mountain Ski Area in Pinkham Notch. While the view of Mt. Washington from the top of Wildcat's slopes is fabulous, skiers will find a variety of intermediate and advanced trails that should challenge any skier.
Vermont
Befitting a state that thrives on its winter ski industry, Vermont's population center is located in the north near the Canadian border. While ski choices are varied, a good choice is to head for the town of Stowe.
Stowe Mountain offers a large selection of well-groomed trails that traverses several mountains. With your Stowe lift ticket properly displayed, you can ski a short distance on a level trail across the mountaintop and descend on the slopes of Smugglers' Notch, another classic Vermont resort. Stowe reciprocates for holders of Smugglers' Notch lift tickets. Both provide downhill skiers with plenty of trail options and an overall change in elevation that exceeds 2,000 feet.
Resources
About the Author:
Henri Bauholz is a professional writer covering a variety of topics, including hiking, camping, foreign travel and nature. He has written travel articles for several online publications and his travels have taken him all over the world, from Mexico to Latin America and across the Atlantic to Europe.
