Find Your Happy Place

On the East Coast, Vermont’s ski resorts are second to none. With 19 alpine areas to choose from, there’s always some powder to explore in this state. I should know. During the 2009–10 ski season, in an epic project called the 20/20 Challenge, I skied or rode every one of Vermont’s alpine resorts. That was 20 resorts in the 20 or so weeks of a Green Mountain winter.

I invented this little challenge for myself because, well, why not? The season is long and cold, and I can’t just sit around for five months watching episodes of Glee and 30 Rock on Hulu. What better way to stave off the winter blahs than by visiting every shimmering jewel in Vermont’s tourism tiara?

The 20/20 Challenge went a little something like this: once a week, I would throw my board, boots, goggles and helmet (safety first) in my sweet Pontiac Vibe and hit a new resort. Then I’d write about each place I went.

I went as far as Mount Snow in the south and Jay Peak in the north. In order to check a resort off my list, I had to do at least five runs. Here’s what I learned during the project: there’s something for everyone at Vermont ski resorts. You want 300 inches of snowfall a year? We’ve got that. How about pro-level terrain parks? We’ve got those, too. You say you want terrifyingly tight trees and hair-raising fall lines? Check and check. Untracked backcountry? We have it in spades.

Stay tuned over the coming weeks for the honest scoop on the skiing and riding across the Green Mountain State. 

Think snow!

-Lauren Ober