Skiing Berkshire East (Day 5/Indy Pass Day 5)

Skiing Berkshire East

Sunday. December 28th, 2025

Runs: 11

Distance: 10.08 miles

Elevation: 10,171 feet

Max Speed: 33.9 mph

Avg. Speed: 16.6  mph

Moving Time: 36 minutes, 31 seconds

Total Time: 1 hour, 53 minutes, 55 seconds

And just like that, Christmas was over! I was up at 4:30am to get to Berkshire East, which was a bit further away than I had wanted, but I wanted to ski there more than I wanted to hit Catamount again or lap the few runs Bousquet had open, so I rallied! The drive was cold and dark, with temperatures dropping from the teens in New Jersey to the low single-digits in upstate New York and the Berkshires. The drive got very pretty once the sun was up and I was in Massachusetts, and before I knew it, I was there! The only rough part of the drive was along West Hawley Road (MA-8A), which was a bit slushy. I was in the parking lot just after 8:00am, and there were probably 30ish other cars already there. I booted up at the car (slowly), got my Indy, and headed into the lodge to use the bathroom and let the "first chair" line dissipate.

Mountain Conditions

Sunday, December 28th

Weather & Snowmaking:

Sunday: The 4-5 inches of powder we received Friday night combined with several days of aggressive snowmaking continues to deliver great conditions across open terrain - everything is freshly groomed!

Temperatures are expected to warm into the mid-30s today, which will help soften snow surfaces as the day goes on. Expect a mostly cloudy day with occassional peeks of sun.

Snowmaking efforts are ongoing on Roundabout this morning and will continue as conditions allow. It's shaping up to be a solid day at Berkshire East - come out and enjoy it!

Please note for the Christmas/New Year holiday week - The Wilderness Quad will open at 10am.

Runs 1-4

Run 1: T Bar Express Quad - Ralicki's Run - Competition

[0.76 mi; 2:53; 1,020 ft; 29.6 mph max; 15.7 mph avg]

Run 2: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Competition 

[0.75 mi; 2:49; 1,010 ft; 28.0 mph max; 15.9 mph avg]

Run 3: T Bar Express Quad - Outback - Deer Run - War Dance

[1.23 mi; 3:57; 1,014 ft; 26.3 mph max; 18.8 mph avg]

Run 4: T Bar Express Quad - Ralicki's Run - Riva Ridge - Outback - Deer Run - Lower Mohawk

[1.38 mi; 4:46; 1,007 ft; 32.6 mph max; 17.3 mph avg]

I always find myself loving the vibe of Berkshire East - it feels tucked away and nestled into the Berkshire hills and there's always a little buzz in the morning as folks are getting ready - it has a nice character! The T Bar Express Quad was the first chair running this morning, and I got on it just after 8:30am and did not have to share it, which was a win! My loose goal for the day was to ski everything that's open, sans some connector trails. I turned right off the chair for my first run, which brought down my Ralicki's Run onto Competition - the main downhill trail. I figured I'd get it over with early on before it gets skied off, and I made a good call! I did a mediocre job turning on the steeper portion uphill, but I was able to dig my edges in much better once it mellowed out. Run #2 was more of the same, but I turned left off the chair and hit the very top of the "headwall," which was pretty scrapey.

Run #3 brought me down Outback, which is a wonderful green run, to Deer Run (flat) and War Dance, which has consistently been my favorite run all three times I've skied here! It has just enough pitch to get some speed and it's fun and windy! The snow has been consistently decent all three times, too, which says something!

Run #4 went down Ralicki's Run and then followed the easiest way down - Outback to Deer Run to Lower Mohawk. Crossing Competition took a while due to the ski race team, but Lower Mohawk was super fun! Easy and windy - the dream!

Runs 5-8

Run 5: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Big Chief

[0.76 mi; 2:24; 1,007 ft; 30.7 mph max; 19.0 mph avg]

Run 6: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Big Chief - Lower Mohawk

[0.87 mi; 2:45; 945 ft; 33.9 mph max; 19.0 mph avg]

Run 7: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Flying Cloud - Big Chief

[0.76 mi; 4:38; 1,007 ft; 30.5 mph max; 9.9 mph avg]

Run 8: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Deer Run - War Dance

[1.19 mi; 3:50; 915 ft; 31.1 mph max; 18.6 mph avg]

My next pod of runs brought me down skier's right side of the mountain. Run #5 was Riva Ridge to Big Chief, which was steeper than I expected! Skied well though, but I wasn't really digging my edges in like I wanted to be. I entered Big Chief from the second entrance for the next run and finished out the lap on Lower Mohawk again, and Run #7 TESTED me. Flying Cloud was signed "experts only," and looked like bumps on whales - something that is 100% in my skillset. Only issue was that it wasn't soft bumps, it was an absolute glacier. Matted snow with 0 grip. I basically skidded form bump to bump and took two falls - it was NOT glamorous! I did have a little breakthrough, though. I was focusing so hard on putting weight onto my outside ski that I was heavily neglecting the inside one, which could have saved me from a fall. Also, while I was getting an edge angle on the snow, I was also leaning toward the hill (because I was spooked!), which caused me to slide, too. Always getting better!

After that fiasco, I rewarded myself with another lap down War Dance, which felt MUCH better!

Run 9-11

Run 9: T Bar Express Quad - Outback - Exhibition

[1.19 mi; 4:00; 994 ft; 26.3 mph max; 17.9 mph avg]

Run 10: Wilderness Quad - Exhibition

[0.54 mi; 2:06; 623 ft; 25.1 mph max; 15.6 mph avg]

Run 11: Wilderness Quad - Exhibition - Danny's Run

[0.65 mi; 2:23; 627 ft; 27.1 mph max; 16.2 mph avg]

Now it was in the 10 o'clock hour and the mountain was starting to fill up. They were running the other summit chair and the Wilderness Quad, so I figured I'd head over to the Wilderness side for a few more runs before driving back to Boston. I took the express quad up and followed Outback to Exhibition, wihch had really nice snow! It was FULL of people, but I made some good turns and was starting to feel like I was actually carving, which was nice!

The Wilderness Quad was slow, but in the sun and it was about 20 degrees warmer than I started, so no complaints! There was a lot of carnage with kids acting insane on Exhibition, but the snow was still good so I got another lap in!

Run #11 wasn't intended to be my last, but I had another great run down Exhibition and the line for both summit lifts were long (and not moving), so I decided to pack it up and head back to Boston! I feel like this was a good day for me in terms of skill-building and making mind-body connections, so I'm looking forward to the next ski day to see what I can apply!

Map of Berkshire East

Skiing Berkshire East

Skiing Berkshire East

Saturday, February 1st, 2025

Runs: 10

Distance: 9.50 miles

Elevation: 7,411 feet

Max Speed: 31.5 mph

Avg. Speed: 12.0 mph

Moving Time: 42 minutes, 16 seconds

Total Time: 2 hours, 41 minute, 48 seconds

After a long week of yet another health crisis (a shit ton of surprise tonsil stones that led to a tonsil infection maybe?? two urgent care visits, a couple oral steroids, and a z-pack, and I'm feeling MUCH better), it was time to meet Gen at Berkshire East for her first and my second visit! She was wrapping up a work-road-trip where she hit a few Indy mountains in New York, and I was thrilled to be able to join her. I was especially excited to explore Berkshire East with more runs open! We were both in the parking lot at 7:45am, got our tickets just before 8:00am, and then headed into the lodge to suit up. It was cloudy but clearing, trees were freshly crystalized, and it was in the low 20s. 

Conditions Outlook

Weather - Cloudy skies this morning will clear early and give way to a mostly sunny day with a high temperature of 29 degrees. Snow accumulation of 1-3" is in the forecast for Sunday evening. 

Surface Conditions - We received between 1-2" of wet snow overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing. Crusty snow with some icy spoots; grooming in progress.

Trail Status - 30 trails are expected to be open.

Night Skiing - Saturday from 4-9pm.

Runs 1-3

Run 1: Summit Quad - Outback - Roundabout

[1.59 mi; 6:49; 1,010 ft; 29.9 mph max; 14.0 mph avg]

Run 2: Top Notch Double - Danny's Run

[0.20 mi; 1:58; 85 ft; 17.8 mph max; 6.1 mph avg]

Run 3: Summit Quad - Thunder

[1.59 mi; 6:24; 1,020 ft; 31.2 mph max; 14.9 mph avg]

We were out the lodge just before 8:30 to learn that the T-Bar Express Quad "won't be open anytime soon." We think it was becasue of the ice - they had to smack the ice off of every chair - we felt bad for them. I just wish they would update that on the website! We got in the reasonable line for the Summit Quad, which opened around 8:40am. This lift had the fancy gate-conveyor belt situation, which was exciting!

Our first run was down the long Outback - Roundabout run, which was visually lovely but very shaky on the legs. The groomer tracks FROZE the second the cats passed over it seemed. It was fun to continue onto Roundabout, though, since it was closed last time I visited. Conditions were consistently frozen the whole time, which I guess is fine! Tragically, we bottomed out at Wilderness Quad, which was also not yet running. We skated over to the Top Notch Double for a surprise Run #2 down Danny's Run. 

Back in the Summit Quad line, which was much shorter now, we took the ride up and followed "Thunder" down, which would have been lovely, but due to the frozen cords my legs felt like they were sitting on that vibrating fitness board television infomercials used to sell. On the bright side, the run went under the mountain coaster, which was super fun!! After this run, Gen went inside to add a layer, and I sunbaithed on a lovely adirondack chair outside. 

Runs 4-5

Run 4: Summit Quad - Riva Ridge - Outback - Hemlock - Little Spruce - Roundabout

[1.30 mi; 5:32; 1,014 ft; 27.3 mph max; 14.1 mph avg]

Run 5: Top Notch Double - Danny's Run

[0.20 mi; 1:58; 85 ft; 17.8 mph max; 6.1 mph avg]

Gen was warm and we were back! The ride up the Summit Quad was actually beautiful - fully in the ice-covered trees with a lovely view behind. This time, we headed down Riva Ridge to get our classic pole-picture and then worked our way back to Outback, and then hit the upper half of Hemlock, which was simply a sheet of ice. I'm getting much better at skiing ice, but it does NOT make me feel comfortable! The bottom half of Hemlock still had whales on it and was closed, so we turned onto Little Spruce and followed Roundabout down to... the double! We bottomed out again as the Wilderness Quad was still closed. Tragic.

We followed Danny's Run back to the main area to find a ridiculously long line for the Summit Quad, so we decided to take a breakfast break.

Runs 6-8

Run 6: Summit Quad - Riva Ridge - Outback - Exhibition - Danny's Run

[1.25 mi; 5:24; 1,007 ft; 22.5 mph max; 13.9 mph avg]

Run 7: T Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - UMass - War Dance

[0.87 mi; 4:51; 1,020 ft; 27.7 mph max; 10.7 mph avg]

Run 8: Summit Quad - Ralicki's Run - Riva's Ridge - Deer Run - War Dance - Little Mohawk - Exhibition

[1.05 mi; 4:39; 994 ft; 24.5 mph max; 13.5 mph avg]

Now back at the main lifts, we went back up the Summit Quad and worked our way down to Exhibition - actively making sure we didn't bottom out and have to take that lovely double again. Exhibition was a nice, wide run that was an absolute sheet of ice. I think I did hit one 10-square-foot patch of snow, which was thrilling!

The most thrilling part was getting back to the main area to see the T Bar Express Quad was running! We hopped right in line and ZOOMED up the mountain - it really does make a difference. I keep saying I want to start timing lift times just to compare. We decided to hit our sole black run for the day, the appropriately named "UMass," after our alma mater. It was steep but not ungodly, but it was a SHEET of ice. I caught myself getting scared at one point as I flew/slid down, but I made it down unscathed. I pulled over after the run crossed Deer Run and I saw a cloud of dust flying down... it was Gen. One ski was off, one pole... no, two poles were now off... oh now the ski is running away... yikes! As a good friend, I tried to hard to get a video, but I wasn't fast enough. Thankfully, she came to stop at the Deer Run crossing and a bunch of skiers helped her get her stuff. She got back up, and immediately made a "well that sums up my time at UMass" joke, which was such a relief because 1) I was worried she could have torn something and 2) I had at least 30 UMass jokes on deck. The rest of the run was icy but fine, leading into War Dance - one of my favorites. I would really like to tackle this again on a day with better conditions, because I do think I'm good enough to ski steeps like this well, but I just haven't been blessed with decent conditions.

Back down low, there was now a line for the express quad so we went back to the Summit Quad. We wiggled our way down Ralicki's Run (a nice, steeper shortcut to Riva's Ridge - I was a big fan!) down to War Dance, following the route I did in December. Tragically, Gen hit a death cookie on War Dance and did a full 360, didn't fall, but then did fall. She was so close to nailing it! After that, I proposed we head down to the Wilderness Quad, which was now running, and hit Roundabout for a redemption run. It was a good idea!

Runs 9-10

Run 9: Wilderness Quad - Exhibition - Little Spruce - Roundabout

[0.83 mi; 3:52; 623 ft; 22.7 mph max; 12.8 mph avg]

Run 10: Wilderness Quad - Exhibition - Katie's Run - War Dance

[0.64 mi; 2:45; 636 ft; 26.5 mph max; 14.1 mph avg]

Our last two runs for the day were off of the Wilderness Quad, which was slow but had no lines, so no complaints! We watched the multiple levels of ski school running random drills around, over, and through poles and little feathers sticking out of the ground. For Run #9 we swooped around to Exhibition and then cut through Little Spruce to Roundabout, which was full of more death cookies that nearly got me. Oy. Back at the Wilderness Quad Gen decided she was on "three more skip the last," which I was on board with.

To get back to the main area, we followed Exhibition to Katie's Run and back down War Dance, which was skiing like UMass now. Down at the lift line, I gave Gen a look and asked how she was feeling. We both were done skiing down sheets of ice and very happy calling it there - we both said we had more in us, but we wouldn't have a good time. We headed inside to change our clothes and start an early trip home, which I was not mad about since tomorrow is Magic Mountian!

Map of Berkshire East

Skiing Berkshire East

Skiing Berkshire East

December 23rd, 2024

Runs: 7

Distance: 6.99 miles

Elevation: 6,243 feet

Max Speed: 29.6 mph

Avg. Speed: 15.0 mph

Moving Time: 27 minutes, 6 seconds

Total Time: 1 hour, 13 minutes, 49 seconds

I was feeling good after my sunrise hike and now it was time for some more cold skiing! Temps were not yet in double-digits, but the sun was up and the mountain was in a cloud of snowmaking. I easily got my lift ticket and brought my stuff up to the lodge, which was more bare-bones than I had ancitipated (I think I was expecting something more like Catamount's lodge since they're owned by the same people). Instead of booting up at the car or paying for lockers or having hooks, they just had a small bag room with some shelves, which truly was fine! I bet it would get hectic on a busy day, but it was fine on this day!

Mountain Conditions: "It is looking like another great weekend of skiing and we anticipate the following trails to be open: Green Circle (Easier) - Little Mohawk, Bobcat, Top Notch, Outback, Lower Mohawk, Riva Ridge; Blue Square (More Difficult) - War Dance, Chief, Lower Competition, Deer Run, Ralicki's Run; Black Diamond (Most Difficult) - Upper Competition. Berkshire East is now open 7 days a week and night skiing hours begin on Thursday December 26th! Please remember we are closed Christmas Day. The Crazy Horse Bar & Grill is open Saturday from 11am - 8pm and Sunday 11am - 6pm with a new winter menu. The West Lodge is open 9:00am - 4:30pm. Waffle Haus will be opne 10:00am - 4:00 pm.

Runs 1-4:

Run 1: T-Bar Express Quad - Outback - Deer Run - Competition

[1.31 mi; 6:00; 1,043 ft; 21.6 mph max; 13.1 mph avg]

Run 2: T-Bar Express Quad - Outback - Deer Run - War Dance

[1.22 mi; 4:01; 1,020 ft; 29.2 mph max; 18.1 mph avg]

Run 3: T-Bar Express Quad - Riva Ridge - Outback - Deer Run - War Dance - Little Mohawk - Exhibition - Danny's Run

[1.34 mi; 5:07; 1,024 ft; 26.2 mph max; 15.7 mph avg]

Run 4: T-Bar Express Quad - Mohawk - Big Chief - Lower Mohawk

[0.94 mi; 3:38; 1,037 ft; 29.6 mph max; 15.6 mph avg]

Once lifts started spinning I headed out to the only running lift, the T-Bar Express Quad. Similar to yesterday, only a handful of runs were open, so my plan was basically to ski them all and lap the ones I like! The lift ride was nice and I only had to share it once. My first run down was sighed as the easiest, and it was delightful! I ended the run on Competition, which actively had snowmaking operations going, which was surprising for my tired legs. I turned earlier only War Dance on my second run, which was a much more fun way to get down - I got some nice turns in and nobody was there!

I flirted with hitting the only open black on my third run, but I got to the headwall and decided "eh no thanks" and continued down a similar, lovely route. This time, I turned onto Little Mohawk off of War Dance and stumbled into some more snowmaking operations.

The four run before a warming break was down Mohawk - Big Chief - Lower Mohawk, which was more narrow and plenty fun. At this point, my nose was about to fall off and my toes were numb - time for a break!

Runs 5-7:

Run 5: T-Bar Express Quad - Mohawk - Big Chief

[0.77 mi; 3:05; 1,027 ft; 27.9 mph max; 14.9 mph avg]

Run 6: T-Bar Express Quad - Outback - Deer Run - War Dance - Little Mohawk - Exhibition

[1.27 mi; 4:24; 1,030 ft; 27.0 mph max; 17.3 mph avg]

Run 7: Top Notch Double - Danny's Run

[0.15 mi; 0:51; 62 ft; 20.0 mph max; 10.5 mph avg]

The next batch of runs were mostly repeats. Crowds were increasing and I was losing steam (emotional steam, my body shocking felt great minus the cold). I was skiing strong, but ready to continue my voyage home. That's something I really like about the Indy Pass and the concentration of mountains in New England - I could ski for just over an hour and not feel bad about wasting money! I did get a surprise seventh run when I bottomed out at the base of the Top Notch Double, where I could either walk back to the lodge or ridge what might be the world's oldest wooden chair and follow Danny's Run back (I went with option #2). 

Something I really enjoyed about the past couple of days was getting to sample the mountains in the early season. Now when I return later on, when hopefully much more terrain is open, I already have a slight lay of the land and hopefully won't feel as overwhelmed!

Map of Berkshire East (2024-2025)