| Apen Ski Resort | | | | natural moguls. Narrow, wooded trails and 45 |
| Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort, in Colorado, offers | | | | advanced trails offer the ultimate in skiing challenge. |
| more than 5,200 acres across four mountains, two | | | | Five lifts provide adequate coverage to the 800 |
| of them dedicated to advanced skiers. Snowmass is | | | | acres of skiing. For Easterners, the Glen is 3 hours |
| 32-percent Double Black Diamond (steep and/or | | | | from Boston and slightly more than four hours from |
| dangerous terrain icons, to the uninformed). Aspen | | | | New York. |
| Mountain offers even more thrills, with 26-percent | | | | Winter Park Ski Resort |
| Black Diamond runs and another 26-percent Double | | | | Winter Park Ski Resort in Colorado has a variety of |
| Diamond runs. The mountain, nicknamed Ajax, is | | | | skill-level trails, but the most difficult ones comprise |
| renowned for its precipitous slopes and moguls (read | | | | more than half the terrain. One peak, the Mary Jane, |
| "big bumps", for the uninitiated) that can send the | | | | starts at 12,000 feet and runs four miles down the |
| unwary or reckless ski aficionado flying into white | | | | mountain with a 2,600-foot descent. More than half |
| space. | | | | the trails on Mary Jane are listed as difficult. The |
| Aspen has 76 trails and 8 lifts, with no beginner | | | | Pansenne Bowl starts at a similar elevation and drops |
| slopes and half the terrain given to intermediate runs. | | | | 1,700 feet in five miles. The truly expert trails are |
| The remainder is about equally divided between | | | | located on the Vasquez Cirque, with three-quarters |
| advanced skiers and experts. Experts will love the | | | | of these listed as advanced and the balance for |
| challenge of double-black slopes and woodland terrain. | | | | expert skiers only. |
| For a real rush, try the Go-Go-Gully or the Highland | | | | Breckenridge Ski Resort |
| Bowl, pitched at roughly 48 degrees (90 degrees is a | | | | Breckenridge Ski Resort is also located in Colorado. |
| right angle, for expert skiers who don't do math). | | | | Half its trails are rated advanced/expert, with |
| Killington Ski Resort | | | | approximately 23 trails in the Double Black Diamond |
| Killington Ski Resort, located in Vermont, is a superb | | | | class, featuring snow bowls, woodland terrain and |
| resort for the advanced skier. Almost half the terrain | | | | backcountry wilderness. Breckenridge also has a |
| is devoted to difficult trails, including a | | | | terrain park for advanced extreme skiers - the kind |
| Double-Black-Diamond rated area known as "The | | | | who have learned to fly on a pair of skis. With 152 |
| Outer Limits" with enough moguls to make even | | | | trails and 29 lifts, including the highest chairlift in N. |
| expert skiers achieve flight. Other terrain includes | | | | America, Breckenridge will delight skiers who have |
| woodland, or glade, skiing and steep terrain. In all | | | | mastered more than a parallel stop. Breckenridge also |
| Killington has 12 Double Black Diamond trails and half | | | | has a ski school, and its historic downtown offers the |
| again as many Black Diamond runs. In all, 200 trails | | | | non-skier and skier alike endless shopping, dining and |
| connect seven mountains via 33 chairlifts. Killington | | | | nightlife opportunities. |
| has the longest skiing season in the Northeast U.S. | | | | Other Resorts |
| (typically November through April), an average annual | | | | Other mature-rated ski resorts include Mammoth |
| snowfall of 250 inches, and 70-percent snowmaking | | | | Mountain in California, with 150 trails and one of the |
| capacity. Lessons are available without advance | | | | best back-country ski routes in N. America. Whiteface |
| reservation at the Perfect Turn Ski School. | | | | Ski Resort, in Lake Placid, New York, offers the |
| Mad River Glen Ski Resort | | | | highest vertical drop in the East (3,340 feet), and an |
| Mad River Glen, also located in Vermont, features a | | | | area known as "The Slides", which are Double Black |
| mountain open only to skiers; no snowboarding or | | | | Diamond runs without snowmaking or grooming that |
| tubing allowed. The Glen is not well known, but its | | | | form steep chutes, or gullies. If you are less than |
| motto, "Ski It If You Can" indicates the level of | | | | expert, think twice before attempting The Slides. |
| difficulty. Most of its snow is Nature-made, providing | | | | |