Don’t forget the little guys.
Upon the encouragement of a close friend, I was present for this seasons opening day at Cochran’s Ski Area, in Richmond VT, yesterday. The man made snow was very hard, but the vibe was extremely warm and welcoming, and prompted me to write this post. For those not familiar, Cochran’s is a small, not for profit, local ski hill dedicated to getting children and families out on snow. It’s limited vertical is serviced by a quirky T-bar, and, when operating, what may be one of the fastest rope tow’s around. With a full price adult day pass running at only $20 and family season passes at $330, and ski lessons taught by a former Olympian, Cochran’s is providing what could very easily be the best value in New England skiing right now.
While they’re no destination resorts, and their apres-ski hot stone massages leave something to be desired, Cochran’s, and all the rest of the small, low cost, ski areas left in New England should not be overlooked. If you’re struggling to afford this sport in the economic downturn, or looking for a cheap way to try out the sport, these local ski areas need to be on your list. With your patronage, you might even help a local gem stay off the NELSAP list.
Here are the links to a few smaller local ski hills. This list is far from exhaustive, so if you know of another local hill the bears mentioning, please post it in the comments.
It’s not as small as the others, but it’s a great mountain that’s currently fighting to stay open, and the best value in Southern Vermont:
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