January 14, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

More than OK at Okemo

by Tony Chamberlain/

A family heads down a trail by Jackson Gore. (photo: Okemo Mountain)

A family heads down a trail by Jackson Gore. (photo: Okemo Mountain)

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OK, I know what you’re thinking about Okemo. We all know that Sleeping Giant success story.

We know about the effervescent snowmaking, the manicured grooming and the “family-friendly” trails — which contains just a hint of predictable bordering on boring.

But wait. Take the Castle Rock out of Sugarbush, the Snowfields out of Sugarloaf, the Front Four out of Stowe, and it's the about the same thing, isn’t it?

Well, now take Okemo and add the Big Bang, the Vortex, Quantum Leap, a few other double blacks, and we’re talking about a different experience altogether.

Actually, it had been a few years since I last skied Okemo, in Ludlow, Vt., and went up for a day of fine cruising on the, well, fine cruisers there: Jolly Green Giant, North Star, Chief and Defiance.

All those trails really point out the relativity of the difficulty signs. Black diamonds like Upper Chief are like Sunday River’s Obsession: when groomed, really fast and raring to go. When they bump up, you have your work cut out.

But over at Jackson Gore, which was developed early in the decade, some of the best runs — Big Bang leading the way for bump fans — remain closed without adequate snow cover. So, too, the great glades Supernova and Black Hole become long, gnarly runs off the Jackson Gore summit.

But this season two other trails that Jackson Gore skiers have been watching for years — designated Trail 11 and Trail 12 — have completed the offerings this season. They were those yummy-looking trails off to the right of the Express Quad that were never opened (though, from the looks of it, poached often enough).

After a company naming contest, these trails came on line as Rolling Thunder and White Lightning. The latter is a 2,600-foot mixmaster that includes a rock outcropping (which the company chose not to blast away) and a mixed-up fall line that absolutely defies the notion of parking lot ski trails. Rolling Thunder is about half the length.

Okemo-savvy skiers and riders still gravitate to the South Face area, which is sunny and full of variety, especially for glade-seekers. Two glades (which can be expected from the chair), Outrage and Double Diamond, more or less tell their story in their names.

If you’re not sure of your skill level in the trees, start with Double Diamond, which starts as a rather bland slope that quickly narrows, but always presenting a choice of line — some easier than others.

After the double blacks, when the quads have had just about enough rough stuff, remember that Okemo will always be Okemo. The long sweeping cruisers, the ego-snow ...

While Sel’s Choice and Upper Chief get bumped up through the day, for the long, last run cruiser, try Mountain Road off the Northeast Express Quad.
It is a green choice, altogether a scenic, relaxed and civilized run that brings to mind visions of hot tubs and chardonnay.

For novices in your group, Okemo has a fine, separated area for lessons and practice — Galaxy Bowl — to get ready for a Mountain Road run, and a handful of green runs above.

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