Snow Business: An Overdue Trip To Bousquet

PITTSFIELD, MA — OK, it's time for a confession. I've been writing about snow sports for more than two decades and had never gone to Bousquet Mountain.

Shame on me.

Well that changed earlier this season when I saddled up and headed over to the fifth-oldest snow sports area in the country. There was never any definitive answer as to why I hadn't gone, because there has always been an effort to support the 1,000 vertical and lower mountains in southern New England, especially with the way ticket and gas prices have recently affected travel.

A longtime figure in the Berkshires made the suggestion to go to Bousquet, not just because it's the third offering on the Summit Pass with Catamount and Berkshire East, but just because.

Well, just because was just enough because the trip was definitely worth it. It was one of the more pleasant surprises ever.

Let's break it all down.

The Trip

Well, it's short, especially with gas prices still beyond the $3-a-gallon mark. Pittsfield is just 80 miles from the Center of Connecticut and the trip entails mostly just three roads — Interstate 91, Interstate 90 and Route 20 in the Berkshires. There are plenty of eating options on the way and back and the ride has some nice scenery.

The First Impression

First of all , it's in a cool place, right in historic Pittsfield. It's a lot like the concept of the old Mount Tom ski area outside Springfield, though all grown up. It's a combination of old school no-frills tradition with a touch of modern amenities. But it did get a "wow" from a veteran of the industry when he exited the vehicle.

The Terrain

That was really the reason for the wow. It's that good. Bousquet has a little steepness and a little adventure for the experienced skiers and riders and some cruising for the novices and intermediates and two lifts at two levels to keep everyone happy. A new triple chair (OK, it was acquired from another mountain farther north) installed in 2021 gets the traffic moving a little faster And this is for certain, if there is enough snow, the glades and off-piste stuff would be stellar.

The Lodge

Kevin McMillan came over as general manager as part of the consulting contract with the Berkshire East and Catamount owners and immediately began putting his stamp on the amenities. Yes, the lift was key, he said, but he also wanted the base area to improve. Bousquet now has a small, but modern lodge that takes nothing away from the old school charm of the mountain, but adds to the experience with the food (yes ... get the fries), spaces to boot up and a bag check that is easy for the guest, yet keeps things uncluttered.

There is a picnic area on the deck with tables, comfy chairs and fire pits.

The rental area is spacious to accommodate groups.

The Future

As diverse as the terrain is, the summit area can be a bit tricky for the less-skilled. It's fun for the advanced skiers and riders, but McMillian really wants to open up the area with an easier option down. It would be lighter on the nerves of the novices and get everyone off the top and onto the trails in a smooth fashion. The would give Bousquet an edge for sure.

The consulting agreement with Berkshire east and catamount is winding down and McMillian hopes that Bousquet can stay on the triple pass.

I'd say the trip to Bousquet was worth the wait, but the wait was uncalled for. Apologies go to Bousquet. The mountain is that good and is permanently on the checklist for every season going forward. If we somehow get a good dumping, those glades are in sight — right away.

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Chris Dehnel is a Patch editor who has been writing about skiing and snowboarding since 1999. He has contributed to several books about snow sports and is a past-president of the Eastern Ski Writers Association and board member of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association. His columns appear periodically during the season.