Skiing

The snow has fallen, is falling or will soon fall. That means only one thing...ski* season! One question on everyone's mind: where to go?

• That is, alpine or downhill skiing.

Ski Areas

Jiminy Peak

Chances are, you'll get here at least once during your time at Williams (particularly if you teach, take the Ski Patrol class or race). Web Site

Pros: ~1000 ft. vertical drop, a high speed quad, and good bunny hill. They sell really cheap passes for Winter Study (some including rentals), so if you ever want to learn, this is the place - you'll be paying 10 times as much anywhere else.

Cons: Two moderately challenging runs (Upper Lift Line and Jericho once the sun goes down). Can be cold/icy. Expensive if you don't get a Winter Study package.

Bosquet

THE old-school ski area. A tiny mountain outside of Pittsfield that has a ton of charm, from the ancient lodge to the wood-paneled lift chairs. Web Site

Catamount

About 1+ hours south of Williamstown (especially if you go via Hancock instead of Pittsfield). Web Site

Pros: Dirt cheap ($15 midweek). Will probably take you the better part of the day to ski every single run.

Cons: The daunting Catapult, with pitches in excess of 60 percent, may be the steepest run in the Berkshires, but it's a bit overrated.

Berkshire East

"Southern New England's largest and most varied ski mountain!" $25 night skiing and midweek. Web Site

Okemo

The nearest big mountain - but you pay for it - to the tune of $69 weekend lift tickets. Web Site

Killington

About 2 hours north of campus, not far from Middlebury, it's the biggest ski area in New England. Not surprisingly, perhaps, it's also one of the most expensive ski areas in New England. Web Site

Mad River Glen

Say what you will about having no snowmaking, not allowing snowboarders, and having a single chair lift that takes 15 minutes to get to the top, [I Alan_Cordova] think that with the crazy deals, random powder stashes, strange sense of humor, and cooperative (not corporate) ownership, MRG rocks.

Tuckerman Ravine

The ultimate extreme skiing destination in New England. Located in Tuckerman Ravine of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Ski season begins in March (when the avalanches begin to lighten up) and usually continues through May.

People to Ski With

• [Alan Cordova] will ski anywhere anytime with anyone as long as he doesn't have to pay $70 for a lift ticket.

Lift Passes

• All for One Pass
• Jiminy 5/7 Pass: The 5/7 Pass is valid midweek Monday through Friday

Non-Holiday 9 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. and everyday including weekends, holidays and holiday periods from 3 P.M. to 10:30 P.M.

• Jiminy Peak 6/7 Pass: The 6/7 Pass is valid Sunday through Friday Non-Holiday

9 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. everyday including weekends, holidays and holiday periods from 3 P.M. to 10:30 P.M.