Snow Business: 5 Reasons To Like Berkshire East

CHARLEMONT, MA — In the third and final journey through the Summit Pass in the Berkshire Mountains, we spend a day at Berkshire East.

Two weeks ago, it was Bousquet Mountain and last week we visited Catamount. Berkshire East is the parent in all of this and probably carries the highest profile. In May 2018, the Schaefer family of Charlemont, MA, longtime owners and managers of Berkshire East, purchased Catamount Ski Area. Integration of the two businesses began immediately. The similarities between the two ski areas and their proximity, while having completely different market bases, made for a logical partnership, the Schaffers like to say.

One of the first integrations was the Berkshire Summit Pass, which comes is various forms — unlimited, locals (6-day), mid-week, and night. The pass is completely reciprocal. Bousquet was added via a management agreement.

Before we continue, let's get one thing straight — there IS snow. Ignore what's been going on in Connecticut with the weather. Since a big early season snowmaking window, the mountain has hung on. Last week, natural snow after a three-day-plus snowmaking binge made the mountain surface ... dare we say ... good. There will be a March at Berkshire East.

So let's take a look at Berkshire East, particularly five things to like about it.

1. The Closeness

The ride is almost too easy — 90 minutes from Hartford. It's up Interstate 91 to Route 2 West in Greenfield and then a relatively short jaunt to the mountain. One warning though — it seems to be the only major state road from a highway to a resort in the Northeast that does not feature a Dunkin' Donuts stop. Have no fear, however, the egg sandwiches and home fries at the lodge are tasty and reasonably priced.

2. The Atmosphere

Let's progress from those home fries to the rest of the traditional two-level lodge that has character and plenty of nooks and crannies in which to get comfortable. An improved courtyard area features picnic tables and group clusters with Adirondack chairs and fire pits. Oh, some of those cabanas made popular when Covid kicked us all out of the lodge are still around. Two of them, however, have been made into a stage for outdoor entertainment.

3. Outback and Thunder

A couple of longish green trails are essential to the success of the 1,000-vertical-foot mountain market and Berkshire East certainly does not disappoint with Outback and Thunder. Take a chairlift up the middle and then flip a coin once at the summit. Thunder will be to the left and outback up the middle and then to the right. Both are wonderlands of terrain changes, cruising and very good ways to help the novices and intermediates improve while still keeping the skilled skiers and riders happy. And when there's enough snow, there's enough opportunity to sneak off-piste for some tree time from both trails.

4. The Fries

In a very scientific poll taken with the four skiers in one particular house and a frequent member of the team who lives down the road, they are the best in the industry. The fries are one menu highlight of the Crazy Horse Bar & Grill, open for inside and outside dining at Berkshire East. Another menu highlight is the stacked mac and cheese served with brisket and pulled pork. The burgers compliment the fries well.

Oh and the cafeteria in the main lodge is good too.

5. Flying Cloud

This is simple. Every once in a while, you just have to bomb down a fun black trail. Enough said.

For more information on pricing and the Summit Pass, click here.

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Chris Dehnel is a Patch editor who has been writing about skiing and snowboarding since 1999. He has contributed to several books about snow sports and is a past-president of the Eastern Ski Writers Association and board member of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association. His columns appear periodically during the season.