2. Witness “Oh my gosh’’corner Driving north on Maine’s Route 27, Sugarloaf will peek at you from time to time, offering a suggestion as to what’s to come. But when you come to that corner, and Sugarloaf is suddenly staring at you with snowfields glistening in the early morning sun, you’ll probably utter the same words that prompted locals to give this corner its nickname.
3. Swap the boards Experience how the other half glides. Ditch the skis or snowboard for a day, and become a knuckle dragger or a two-planker. Whether you take a lesson, or make a go of it on your own, you’re likely to come away with new appreciation for your alpine cousins.
4. Enter the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Race A New England classic, this annual event at Cranmore Mountain pays tribute to the grandfather of ski schools with a race in which all entrants are encouraged to don vintage skiwear. That even includes the neon CB Sports jacket you have lying around someplace. www.skimuseum.org/hsmcr.html
5. Ski the Front Four You may be able to handle the relatively tame Liftline, but once you tackle the remaining three trails of Stowe’s famous Front Four - National, Starr, and Goat - you’ll truly get a sense of why the mountain is a one-of-a-kind destination.
6. Master Castlerock The debate as to whether or not Sugarbush’s Castlerock area poses a greater challenge than the Front Four can rage forever. What cannot be debated, however, is that Castlerock contains some of the gnarliest lift-service terrain in New England, and on a powder day, it’s tough to imagine a more challenging set of trails.
7. SkiTuckerman Ravine On spring days at Wildcat, it stares at you across the way, beckoning you to make the hike in order to enjoy one of New England’s most famous backcountry pleasures. Eventually, you just have to take the plunge to experience the steep headwall, the party atmosphere at the lunch rocks, and the unparalleled Mount Washington corn snow that can last late into May and beyond.
