Looking for a few inside tips? The Globe has surveyed the scene from top to bottom and taken notes:
Best cruising trail
Sugarloaf's Tote Road is a 3-mile, well-groomed blue run that sends a variety of terrain at intermediates: Long straightaways and tight hairpin cranks. This trail both invites one to stop and take in the stunning scenery of the Bigelow Range, while also try to take all 3 miles nonstop just to prove your quads are still in pretty fair shape. And when the quads do get a bit tired, you can take a cutoff to Bullwinkles, one of the best midmountain restaurants anywhere.-TONY CHAMBERLAIN
Best non-skiing/boarding mountain event
Camden Snow Bowl is home to Maine's only toboggan run ($5 per person per ride; bring your own or rentals available). The coastal mountain will host the 2008 US National Toboggan Championships Feb. 8-10. Novices may enter the championships, with registration open ($25-$100 depending on team size and age class).- T.D. THORNTON
Don't mind the drive? Best out-of-the-way road trip
For those who find great sport in road-tripping to extremes, Lonesome Pine Trails in Fort Kent is the northernmost ski area in the East. A mere 435-mile drive from Boston, the community hill's 20 skiable acres (500-foot vertical drop) overlook a broad, hilly swath of Canada. With an accent on free and low-cost programs for families, the season operates an abbreviated (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) day and evening schedule starting Dec. 15.- T.D. THORNTON
Best improvement for helping the beginners
Forget that intimidating first ride in a chairlift. Both Sunday River and Sugarloaf have installed "magic carpet" lifts, which is a conveyor belt aimed at reducing the fear factor for novices.- TONY CHAMBERLAIN
Most unique combination of New England scenery
Barely 5 miles outside a stunningly beautiful, rustic seacoast harbor, community-operated Camden Snow Bowl is the only mountain resort in North America that boasts a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean. Note to ski lodge soup enthusiasts: Its proximity to fresh Down East seafood also gives Camden a decided - some might even say lopsided - edge in the clam chowder department.- T.D. THORNTON
Best bang for your buck
Quick, name the Maine mountain that features 400 skiable acres, one of the largest glades in the East, and spectacular views of 800-foot cliffs rising up out of Moosehead Lake? Nope, not one of those mega-sized resorts. It's Big Squaw in Greenville, isolated on the edge of the Great North Woods. The kicker is that daily adult lift tickets are just $20 - including weekends and holidays.- T.D. THORNTON
Best for apres ski
The Matterhorn in Newry. The signature ski bar near Sunday River is loud, loaded with ski memorabilia and has live music. The huge 60-ounce Glacier Bowls make life interesting and there are $5 pizzas Tuesdays . . . Blizzard's Pub at Shawnee Peak. Slopeside, it's where out-from-the-woods Mainers mingle at the bar. The deck's a great place to watch the night action - on the slopes . . . The Bag and Kettle at Sugarloaf is a Maine staple. Load up on burgers, fries, and the sweetish Potato Ale. - MARTY BASCHAmong the best season pass deals for travelers
Sunday River and Sugarloaf offer steep discounts at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, Big Sky Montana, Brighton in Utah, Crystal and Snoqualmie in Washington, Cypress in British Columbia, and Boyne Mountain and Highlands in Michigan.- TONY CHAMBERLAIN
Highest base-lodge elevation
Saddleback, in Maine's far northwest Rangeley Lakes region, is tops in the state and second-highest in New England at 2,460 feet above sea level. Higher elevation is conducive to more natural snow and conditions that aid snowmaking. Families who prefer a gentler pace will appreciate the South Branch network that is separate from the more difficult trails.- T.D. THORNTON
Cheapest lift ticket
Unless you're adamantly frugal, you probably won't be going out of your way to ski or ride at Quoggy Jo for just its $6 lift ticket alone. But if you ever find yourself in Presque Isle up near the New Brunswick border on a winter afternoon, check out this timeless throwback, which offers free lessons Saturday mornings and youth races on Sundays.- T.D. THORNTON
Best out-of-the-way lift that skis like a mini-area
The Little White Cap quad at Sunday River is a great way to duck weekend crowds. Usually this lift has no lines, services green and blue trails, natural snow trails, and a boardercross course. Another outstanding feature is that the trails have easy access to the Shipyard Brew Haus.- TONY CHAMBERLAIN
Best restaurants for people who have a cave-man appetite for meat
The Rack in Sugarloaf, on the access road. This rib house is owned by Olympic gold medal snowboarder Seth Wescott and the décor of old snowboards hanging from the walls reflects its owner, who is also building a house at Da Loaf. Also great for meat-eaters: BBQ Bob's in Bethel - hometown of Sunday River and Mt. Abram. And what's a North Carolinian like Bob Ballou doing in all this ice and snow? Just spreading all that southern BBQ love, cornbread, and great blues music, that's what. Look for the orange trailer on Route 2, and when Ballou asks whether you want your takeout "wild or mild," take him seriously. - TONY CHAMBERLAINThe best small mountain that's operated by locals
Spruce Mountain in the town of Jay. Talk about a homey atmosphere - this ski area is all about friends and relatives of the Spruce Mountain Ski Club. And if you haven't tried a great rope tow for a while - or even if you were born after the JFK Administration - get some really tough mittens and head to Spruce.- TONY CHAMBERLAIN
Best variety on a season pass
Ski Maine Association (skimaine.com) offers a trio of flexible 2007-08 season-pass plans with variety in mind. The Ski Maine Quad Pack gets you four vouchers to each of Maine's larger resorts, plus two vouchers to each of the state's community areas - a maximum of 54 vouchers - for $550. The Double Pack (two vouchers to each Ski Maine area, maximum of 38) costs $300. The Solo Pack (one voucher to each area, maximum of 19) is $165.- T.D. THORNTON
Best for kids
Whoville at Sunday River - Those kids with balloons on their heads are hooting and hollering on the berms and rollers of Whoville at South Ridge . . . Mt. Abram - Under the radar, the other ski area near Sunday River has old-school cartoon character names for trails such as Bullwinkle, Natasha's Niche, Dudley-Do-Right, Upper Rocky's Run, and Snidley Whiplash . . . Actually, for the whole family Shawnee Peak has a couple of learn to ski or ride free days Dec. 22 and 23. - MARTY BASCHBest beginner terrain
Mt. Abram, where Professional Ski Instructors of America officials from around the region come to train and teach at Mt. Abram's Westside area. The area is serviced by both lift and magic carpet, offering a terrific lineup of green and blue cruisers that lead to a ski school meeting area. Mt. Abram also makes a serious bid to be the best school to bring old-time boomers who have not skied in years. For $50, returning skiers get ticket, rental, and lesson, coupons for return visits, and referrals.- TONY CHAMBERLAIN
Best for boarders
Rocking Horse at Sunday River, under the Barker lift, is the River's showcase terrain park with its staircase rail. Look for new giant wall ride and jibbable dog house. Really . . . Shawnee Peak's park and pipe are lit at night, and smack in front of the base lodge on The Main. The 12-foot high wall ride rocks. The season-long Super Hits Sunday series is laid back and down home.- MARTY BASCH
Best $25 lift ticket
Saddleback in Rangeley has midweek non-holiday specials: Monday, Ladies Day; Tuesday, Telemark Day, Wednesday, Men's Day, Thursday, Senior's Day (ages 60 to 69). - MARTY BASCHBest mountain to find a deal
Shawnee Peak. Among the deals are $12 Monday nights, non-holiday Tuesdays are two-for-one for $38 from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday nights are $12 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. - MARTY BASCHNow tell us what you think: visit boston.com/ski and share your Maine experiences
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
