Ski Butternut Ski Area Profile

A fine small mountain in the heart of the Berkshires, Butternut specializes in families and intermediate terrain. Families with young children like it because it offers gentle and separate learning areas, the SKIwee program, and a children"s center, open daily from Christmas through season"s end. Intermediates like it because 60% of the terrain is devoted to them, and eight lifts mean little standing around waiting to enjoy the slopes. Add in thoroughly modern facilities, proximity to the classic New England town of Great Barrington, and an overwhelming variety of off-slope activities, and it"s not hard to see why Butternut considers itself a destination area.

A ride up the Top Flight Quad to the summit highlights Butternut"s intermediate strength while it provides a glimpse of its diversity. (After all, there"s another 40% of the terrain devoted to beginners or advanced skiers and riders.) Exit left off the lift and a short distance past the top of black diamond Lucifer Leap is Upper Applejack, which in combo with Lower Applejack is one of the Berkshire"s more memorable cruising trails. Or, take a right down green circle Pied Piper, which in combination with Crosstown and Cruiser provides beginners with a long and scenic ride back to the base. And of course, there"s the aforementioned Lucifer Leap, which maintains its pitch nearly to Crosstown halfway down, then mellows into the blue square Hob Nob.

Beginners, as noted, can start out at a separate area. Two doubles and a rope tow serve Paddy"s, Scooter, and SKIwee, safely apart from the main mountain. Upon "graduation," Uptown, Crosstown, Cruiser, and Pied Piper await higher up, as does the classic Nuthatch.

In addition to Lucifer Leap, Downspout, West Way, Whip, and the short Chute will keep more advanced skiers and riders busy. For even more challenge, two terrain parks are available to show off your best moves.

The facilities include the award-winning Upper Lodge, situated where West Way, Downspout, and Freewheeler converge. It features a full-service cafeteria, day lockers, an accessory shop, and a fine deck which overlooks the beginner area. The deck is a great place on a sunny day to watch your kids take their first turns or polish their new-found skills without being obtrusive. The Clubhouse offers a snack bar and more lockers, a full retail shop, and the ski school. There"s even a big deck - Cruiser Sun Deck - which offers barbecue and live music when the weather permits.