Suicide Six

The name may strike fear, but the skiing isn't scary. The ominous-sounding Suicide Six is a family-size mountain with plenty of enticing terrain.

The small mountain outside Woodstock, Vt., is steeped in history from when it was known as Hill No. 6 -- it would be suicide to ski down, locals said -- to the VARA (Vermont Alpine Racing Association) trophy in the base lodge etched with the names of skiing luminaries such as Pam Fletcher, Julie Parisien, and Doug Lewis.

The Face trail runs smack down the front of the mountain with about 650 feet of vertical. With rolling hill views of Pomfret, The Face is a wide, black diamond run where skiers choose their line whether hugging a groomed path down by the lift or making a beeline for the steeps.

About half of the 23 trails are hit with snow guns and there aren't any high-speed quads, just two doubles and a J-bar. Natural snow trails such as the pine-laden Perley's Peril and The Gully down the side can be boney between snowfalls. Bunny's Boulevard -- named after former Dartmouth ski coach Bunny Bertram, who opened the ski area in the 1930s -- and Skyline are corduroy cruisers that pack a punch.

Definitely low key, the mountain is a taste of rural skiing. And a place where hot chocolate only costs a dollar.

MARTY BASCH