Basecamp podcast: Berkshire East, Catamount are hidden gems in the Bay State

Berkshire East boasts a laid-back vibe. (Eric Wilbur)

Jon Schafer’s father purchased Berkshire East Ski Area in the mid-1970s for one dollar. 

It was the worst dollar he ever spent, Schafer said with a laugh. 

Today, Berkshire East, Catamount, and Bousquet are a trio of ski areas that define the sport in Western Mass. Despite flying under the radar in the Bay State, each ski area provides healthy elements of challenge for a selection of skiers, who might not realize the wealth of terrain that exists right across the Mass. Pike. 

Schafer, whose family still owns Berskhire East, in addition to Catamount, and Dave Kulis, assistant general manager at Catamount, joined Basecamp podcast hosts Eric Wilbur and Mike Specian to discuss what the ski areas have planned heading into the 2022-23 season. 

Listen:

Highlights from this edition of the Basecamp podcast

On Berkshire East’s commitment to its customers: 

Shaefer: We care deeply about providing a great product to our customers. We all have things we can work on. I could lose a couple pounds and our mountains could get a little bit better all the time. You can always groom better, you can always make better snow. You can always do things better. And I think we’ve committed to that as an ownership group. And the reason is, is because we’re skiers first. We really understand at least what we like, and that’s good conditions, good snow, and long seasons. So if we can provide that to our customers, then ideally they’re going to be happy as well. And if not, they tell us.

Kulis, on his favorite trails at Catamount: 

Kulis: As an advanced skier, I would say Catapult and Ripper are two double-black diamonds that are really not to miss if you’re looking for those steep runs. But intermediates, they’re going to be better off hitting runs like Upper and Lower Sidewinder, which is a really long, great cruising run on the New York side of the mountain.