Looking back over the past dozen years or so, I notice a definite pattern: I’ve started my personal ski season at Okemo Mountain Resort (1-800-786-5366) in Ludlow, Vermont more often than at any other area.

I think I can explain this phenomenon: First, though Okemo is never the first area to open (Sunday River and Killington usually duke it out for those honors with Sunday River winning the last three years in a row), when it does open it usually offers truly great early-season conditions And the Okemo opener is minus the hyped up crowds who pack limited terrain on the “I’m First!” hills. Second, Okemo is simply easier to get to for me than many other resorts, so that’s where I head. Third, Okemo’s terrain is generally pretty mellow—perfect for warming up early season legs and polishing the rust off your technique.

My sweetheart Marilyn and I headed up that way on Saturday, December 12, and found more open terrain than we thought possible—190 acres and 16 miles of terrain (I think she and I skied most of it!).

Some of the trails were covered edge-to-edge with soft snow, while others which were a little steeper or got more traffic were firmer in the middle, softer on the edges.  All in all it was about as good as you could hope for considering that a week ago they could barely open a couple of upper-mountain trails.

The weather was brisk–as it often is in December–snowguns were blasting (though generally not on the open trails), and you could see that conditions would be even better (50 trails!?!)  on Sunday.

Okemo 12-13-09

New EasternSlopes.com Correspondent Allison Kelleher was at Okemo the day after I visited. Here’s her report:

Any day of skiing before Christmas is a good day. This took weeks of planning, and lots of ski equipment purchasing. I’ll admit there was a little intimidation on the way to Vermont as we passed “the real skiers”.  They had properly fitted roof racks with pristine placed sets of skis on top of their vehicle.  Here we were our new skis,  poles, and boots shifting around in the back.

It was Cares and Shares Day at Okemo. Canned goods galore were being collected at a tent below the ticket counter. Is there anything more satisfying than a discounted ski day at one of the area’s finest mountains? Yes, the fact that the 3 canned goods per person that got you that day pass for $25.00 is going to someone who really needs it. What a great way to bring people to the mountain early in the season and  contribute to the less fortunate.

Since it was only my second time at Okemo ever (and third ski trip in 14
years), I was taken aback by the high school boy in the lodge questioning
me on the conditions of the slopes.  I tried to suavely say “Most trails are
decently groomed” and then realized I had only skied two of them. I
had no idea how many were even open . . .or what a decently groomed
trail even looked like.  I knowingly said “decently groomed”  though the first trail to we tried was  covered in ice, with  divots, and chunks of snow.  The other trail  was just a “magic carpet ride”  away and it was short,  well groomed and safely  roped off for beginners like me.

I bundled back up and hit the slopes solo this time.  After a long  trip down
Mountain Road (without falling!) both my feet were numb.  The staff at the Okemo ski shop was more than willing to help. They thoroughly checked the size of my boots, recommended a good ski sock, and told me to get my long johns out of the boot (duh).  That seemed to do the trick.

In the lift line, I joined a father and son and heard this conversation:
“Dad why don’t they open Jackson Gore early”?
Dad, “Well they have to wait for the bears to hibernate”.
Boy, “Why, what bears”?
Dad, “We are outside in wilderness, there are bears”.
Boy, “When do they hibernate”?
Dad “After December 1st”
Boy declaring, “Dad but it is after December first, where do they go”
Dad, “In caves under the snow”
Boy, really inquiring “Where, what caves, can they make more snow so
its really cold and the bears leave, How many caves, how many bears,
when will it open, will the ski patrol scare the bears away . . . .”

I had never had the opportunity to really try skiing alone. How relaxing!  I could  practice parallel turns without “helpful” friends. I tried to assess the conditions of the trails but in all honesty they all blended together and seemed perfect. The air, the view, but mostly the smell of Okemo winter air was captivating.

I hung out at the waffle cabin soaking up the sweet smell.  One mom (with kids cheering in the background) yelled “No, let them each have their own, they don’t have to share this time” .

The entire day had me smiling.  I even had one liftie say “keep smiling, you brightened my day!” Winter’s definitely here! Hooray!