Snow Business: Learning and Cruising Over Two States at Catamount

HILLSDALE, NY/ SOUTH EGREMONT, MA — Skiing and riding in two states, a gentle ride to the mountain and a top-notch snow sports school make Catamount a top destination close to home.

Let's take a look.

The Ride

The trip to Catamount from Hartford is a meandering 71-mile trek along Route 44 to Route 7 and eventually through the Sheffield connector to Route 23. It's a nice break from the raceway that can be Interstate-91 to Vermont. From Greenwich, it's 96 miles beginning on Interstate-684.

The mountain sits on the New York — Massachusetts Line and offers the novelty of skiing in two states. A right off the summit lifts takes skiers and riders to the New York Side and hanging a left brings you to Massachusetts.

The Terrain

One thing is clear — there are no fancy high-speed lifts at Catamount. But no one really seems to care because the mountain has a wide range of runs from the steepest in the Berkshires to other black diamonds that provide a great workout to gentle cruisers to the skier cross course usually set up down the right side.

The Snow Sports School

Catamount's Mountain Cats program is among the best in East, hands-down. It doesn't get the publicity that many of those at the higher-profile mountains, but the kids learn quickly with a nice balance between time on the snow, refreshing breaks with a staff that always seems to be smiling.

A new magic carpet had added to the efficiency of the Mountain Cats program.

There is a quick, but thorough progression at Catamount from the initial footwork, up the carpet to the bunny hill over to the beginner bunny hill and eventually to the Catamount beginner chairlift. Everything is front-and-center for the parents to watch, but also tucked away from the more advanced terrain.

The Best Run

This has to be done first-thing in the morning. Take the ridge quad to the summit and hang a left onto Ridge Run. Drop into the double-black Catapult and hit the snow when it is perfect before finishing with On Stage, a blue trail.

Check out the trail map here.

The Best Amenity

Take the Meadows Triple chairlift and just before the mid-station, put both poles in the left hand. That's because if the cool liftie brings out the jellybean bowl, you have to be ready to grab some on the fly with the right hand.

For lift ticket information, click here.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

Chris Dehnel is a Patch editor and current executive secretary and past-president of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association East Division. His Snow Business Column runs during the season.