Tuesday’s ideal for quiet escapes
If The Cure wrote a song about skiing, I think it would go like this:
Saturday’s about the crowd/Sunday’s still a wee bit loud/Mondays when they spiff things up/Tuesdays I’m in love.
That’s right: Weekdays are magical when it comes to skiing and while each are a tamer, less busy option than weekends and holiday weeks, there’s just something about a Tuesday ski day that slaps.
Tuesdays are the prime day to toss aside your responsibilities, cash in on that personal day or whatever you need to do to get out for day of skiing.
Why? Let’s start with value. Not only are tickets cheaper weekdays, you’ll have the trails, base lodge and lifts practically to yourself, which means more runs to be had all day.
And then there’s the chill factor. Weekdays cut way back on the stress that may be part of a weekend ski day.
You won’t have to worry about finding parking. You’ll rarely – if ever – feel overcrowded on the hill, and most of the skiers and riders you do share them with will tend to be those dedicated to the sport, which means they know, understand and respect the rules of the slopes. No wincing with worry when a yahoo flies by you out of control, because weekdays tend to attract the long-time loyalists.
My husband and I eased our way into this, starting about a decade back when we became empty nesters. Rather than head up on Friday, we headed up on Thursdays, enjoying apres that day and then heading out to ski Friday. We found, just about every weekend, Friday was the best ski day of that visit.
Now, we’ve shifted to pretty much always skiing midweek. I’m not alone. Lift chatting on Tuesdays tends to be with likeminded folks closer to my age; those lucky enough to be retired or dedicated enough to space out their vacation days to use for midweek ski days, or those who plan their vacation days to work for weekday ski escapes.
Two weeks ago we headed to Stratton, Vermont midweek, where you can save as much as 50 percent on lodging and tickets by staying midweek, and where trails (and restaurants) were wide open for us.
Last week, I met a friend at Bretton Woods Resort for a Tuesday ski day. It had snowed the night before and was cloudy this day, so we knew at least a few runs would be chances to carve fresh tracks in the snow.
Surprise, surprise: with the small crowds and wide berth of trails open, we were still doing just that come day’s end. That’s what makes Tuesdays great.
We booted up in the base lodge, where there were plenty of tables to sit at, and countless cubbies to store our boot bags in. We stepped up to the gondola and, with only four people in front of us in line, made fast time of getting up top and diving into our ski day.
Here’s a thing about great ski areas: even when they know crowds will be thin, they tend to keep as much open as they can. At Bretton Woods that Tuesday, the mountain was nearly 100 percent open. True, they were making snow on a couple of trails (which tends to be the norm; weekdays are a good time for resorts to fine tune their base), signage warned us, in case we wanted to avoid it.
We carved and cruised to our heart’s content, basically gliding back onto whatever lift we chose each run – never waiting in any kind of line.
We popped into Bretton Wood’s beautiful Rosebrook Lodge for a hot cocoa break. This often busy spot (it sits mountaintop with an OMG view of the Presidential Range and of course, that beautiful red-roofed Mount Washington Hotel below) was wide open for us. We stepped up to the counter, ordered and then got perfect window side seats tucked into a cozy corner.
“I get this spot every weekday I come,” My friend told me.
The same went for lunch later in the base lodge. No line, immediate service, and a peaceful setting with plenty of tables to choose from.
Back out on the mountain, as the sun slanted lower on the horizon, we headed to a few trails we’d loved earlier in the day, thinking even if they were skied a bit, they’d be in good shape.
There we were, hours into a ski day, carving lines through still untouched snow. That’s what makes Tuesdays the day to fall in love.
There are a few caveats to Tuesday skiing. Every restaurant may not be open and some shops may be closed for the day. You may not have every option, but there will be enough open, so you won’t go hungry. Some bars may close earlier, and you may not find live music as easily as on a weekend.
But for getting out on the hill and cranking out vertical in a peaceful, near private vibe setting? Like the Cure should sing: Tuesdays I’m in love.