Experience the Catskill's only real Ski Resort at Windham
Written: Dec 13 '03 (Updated Feb 02 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Quality Snowmaking, Great Trails, Slopeside Lodging, Quaint Village, Wonderful Destination
Cons: Not many technically challenging trails, not for those who want hardcore nightlife with their skiing
The Bottom Line: Not terribly crowded, good snowmaking, good trail conditions and a relaxing atmosphere are all reasons that Ski Windham will keep me coming back
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| jps246's Full Review: Windham |
More interested in the quality of your ski resort experience than the degree of difficulty that the ski slopes present you? Ski Windham (formerly Windham) is a family and couple friendly ski resort in the northern Catskills of New York that is both close to NYC and major metropolitan areas but at the same time is fully removed from the hustle and bustle of that kind of life.
The Mountain
Ski Windham has 41 trails that are located on two different “mountains” (it’s really just two separate sections of the same mountain), 7 different lifts and offers skiers approximately 1,600 vertical feet of mountain to ski.
Most of the terrain on the mountain falls into the easier and moderate categories with some expert and double diamond trails. However, any technical skiers looking for challenging terrain will be disappointed at Ski Windham – there really isn’t any that will push any expert’s limits. Beginners and intermediate skiers though will appreciate the terrain and should have no problem navigating most trails and will likely, after skiing there a few times, be able to venture out onto the black diamond trails.
Snowmaking, while nowhere near as extensive as Hunter Mountain a few ranges over, is adequate and covers a majority of the trails all winter, guaranteeing a good skiing experience for anyone visiting the mountain throughout the winter.
If you are planning on spending the night at Windham, the mountain offers a mountain inn and condominium rentals. More lodging options, including hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts are available in the village of Windham, which is just down the street from the ski resort. The lodging options throughout the village of Windham run the gambit in price and information on the off-slope lodging is available through Windham’s website at www.skiwindham.com.
Lift ticket prices are what you expect at any ski area nowadays. A midweek adult ticket will cost you $40 and a weekend/holiday ticket will cost you $50. Ski Windham does offer a frequent skier card for one-time price of $12.50 that saves you 25% on weekend tickets and 50% on weekday tickets every time you are skiing.
Like any other mountain, Ski Windham offers various lesson programs that run from basic introductions to skiing, to advance training for more experienced skiers. These programs run from about $40 for basic introductions (without equipment rentals or tickets) to over $150 for the more intense programs that feature one-on-one lessons.
The Pluses
Ski Windham prides itself on being a ski resort. That is, in addition to just skiing, Windham offers lodging, nightlife, and in town an extensive selection of restaurants to dine in and shops to peruse and shop. This resort is not just Ski Windham itself, it is the mountain, ski area and surrounding village of Windham. All three work together and in tandem to provide a skiing “experience” for the visitor. Tired after a day of skiing, lounge at the après ski and have a quiet drink. Looking for some of the best dining in the Catskills, go down into the village and find just about any type of meal you want.
The pace of Ski Windham is also refreshing. Unlike Hunter Mountain, Ski Windham wants to be slower and more relaxed. Not as crowded and focusing on a more genteel and laid back clientele, Windham succeeds in capturing the essence of a relaxing and enjoyable ski resort tucked into the mountains with its surrounding quaint and interesting ski village.
The Minuses
There aren’t honestly all that many for me. Windham isn’t that far from my folks place and I have often skied there, both on weekends and on weekdays. Weekdays are less crowded, but weekends aren’t all that crowded either.
The biggest minus for Windham is the lack of more challenging terrain. For expert skiers, they will become bored very quickly at Windham unless they are not looking to push their skills and instead just bop down the mountain.
Ski Windham could also stand to expand a bit more onto the surrounding mountains, but as it is, it’s good for a day or two’s worth of skiing and if you only visit once or twice a year, it’s not that much of a problem.
Will I keep skiing there?
You bet your ski goggles!
I really enjoy Windham. Now that I live in Massachusetts, I’m not skiing there are frequently as I had in the past, so my visits to Windham are that much more enjoyable. Not terribly crowded, good snowmaking, good trail conditions and a relaxing atmosphere are all reasons that Ski Windham will keep me coming back.
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Recommended:
Yes
Level of Experience Needed: All
Best Time to Visit: February
Best Suited For: Families
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