Where to ski?
Check out the map to see where to ski, rollerski, and buy Nordic equipment
Weston Ski Track (18min drive)
NO CASH ACCEPTED!
Lessons Yes
Rentals Yes
Snowmaking Yes, but very little
Usually very bad snow and very little open trail
Main practice location for high schools in Eastern Massachusetts and Harvard's varsity (EISA) team
Conditions: https://www.skiboston.com/trail-conditions
Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@skiboston/streams
Buying Equipment From Weston
All used (ex-rental) equipment is SNS, there are some overstock NNN boots, but they're all brand new and more expensive
Here's what most of the used rentals they sell look like
Blue Hills Downhill Area???
Idk, maybe we could bargain to use their snow after hours. not really on the table yet
Great Brook Ski Touring Center (44min drive)
No clue. I doubt they have lessons, rentals, snowmaking. Their facebook snow updates were a month apart and said they were closing until they had better snow, so probably a pretty small place.
http://www.greatbrookski.com/
Conditions: Snow report (not often)
Dublin School Nordic Center (1hr 43min drive)
Free entry with suggested donations. I do not know if you can rent or buy equipment at Dublin.
Don't know about Lessons
Don't know about Rentals
Harvard's varsity (EISA) team hosts carnivals there, also Eastern Cup Venue
Conditions: https://www.dublinschool.org/athletics/nordic-center
Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVTY8oTS04Q
About the club(s) that own it
So there's a good ski club called Dublin XC (green and blue). There's also a private school called Dublin School, which has a high school team (dark blue). The Private school owns land that they converted to a Nordic center, where you can ski for free
Holderness Prep School (1hr 57min drive)
Don't know about entry fee, lessons, or rentals. Not even sure if its open to the public
They have snowmaking
Waterville Valley Nordic Center (2hr 19min drive)
Free No (say you're with the team and its a lot cheaper)
Rentals Yes, waiver
Lessons Yes
Snowmaking Yes
Other activites Yes
Downhill Area Yes
Kris Freeman somehow yes?!!
https://www.waterville.com/nordic-center
Conditions: Snow Report
Prices
Notchview (2hr 18min drive)
Free No
Rentals Yes, waiver
Lessons Yes
Snowmaking No
Other activites Snowshowing, eating samosas
Downhill Area No
Owned by the Trustees of Reservation (basically an independent department of conservation), you need to be a trustees member to get a season pass
Rural, non-professional venue, lots of backwoods, but no perfect grooming or fancy sprint course, doesn't host big races
Training grounds for all Western Massachusetts high school teams (very close to some of our houses)
Somehow always gets a lot of snow, only at 2000ft elevation
Conditions: Snow Report
Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzEr2rc8NFM
You should go to Pierce Shelter. It's a lookout called "The Notch" which is the namesake of the place and a very nice view
Buying equipment in the area
Notchview holds a very good ski swap in November, they may also sell some (but very few) used skis. If you're out there and want skis, go to Berkshire Outfitters about 45mins away
Prospect (2hr 44min drive)
Just over the border from Western Mass, a converted Alpine venue, less professional, but still hosts some big races
Common training ground for Vermont Olympians, Western Massachusetts, and most of Southern Vermont
Don't know about lessons
Offer rentals
Conditions: Snow Report
Livestream: https://www.ipcamlive.com/5c1b94e1c426d
Buying equipment in the area
Honestly, I'd still go to Berkshire outfitters. See above
Stratton (2hr 55min drive)
They have a really good skiing school and pro team
Stowe (3hr 18min drive)
Donwhill Yes
Rentals ??
Conditions: https://stowenordic.org/ski-conditions/
Livestream: https://www.stowe.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/mountain-cams.aspx (on the slopes)
Mt Van Hoevenberg (Lake Placid Olympic Center) (3hr 18min drive)
Donwhill go to Whiteface Mountain nearishby
Rentals Yes
Lessons Yes
Equipment and merch for sale, USCSA discounts apply
Bobsled, Luge, Skeleton, and biathlon at same lodge. Every other winter sport in downtown Lake placid (~15mins away). Also ski jumping
Conditions & Livestream: https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/webcam/ (if you click on position in the bottom right, you can tell the camera where to aim, its super cool)
There's a lot more, these are just the closest (I think)
Other places in VT https://www.okemo.com/blog/cross-country-ski-okemo.aspx