LOCALadk Magazine

Winter 2017 LOCALadk Magazine 39 LOCALadk GORE MOUNTAIN Nor Creek If you like choices, Gore Mountain has them. This resort has a whopping 121 trails, more than any other resort on this list, spread across four mountains. There are 110 alpine trails, including 28 glades and nine freestyle areas, and 11 cross-country ski or snowshoe loops, all serviced by 14 lifts. That's a lot of numbers, so let's put it a different way. From the summit, you can speed down double and single black diamonds, and a couple of blue squares. Take the lift up Bear Mountain and follow Ruby Run to Sunway for a long green circle run that will deliver you back to the base lodge. But that's not all. The resort's original basecamp area, the North Creek Ski Bowl, opened more than eight decades ago and is lit for night skiing. And this winter, Gore is upping its numbers by adding two new lodges — one at mid-mountain and the other on the summit — for a grand total of five. OAK MOUNTAIN Speculator Quaint, affordable, and bursting with the amenities found at its bigger neighbors, Oak Mountain is a great choice for a laid back ski or snowboard vacation. The trails are a good mix, ranging from easy to difficult, all serviced by three lifts. At Oak, the summit isn't just for experts. Two green circles take a sweeping bend from the top, while a couple of blues and blacks are there for those who can hack it. Looking for a different experience? It's free to snowshoe at Oak Mountain, staff just asks that you sign in at the base lodge by 2 p.m. Follow a trail that meanders up to Snowshoe Pond, then continue to the summit if you have the stamina. An on-site pub that often hosts live music, a terrain park for testing your skills, and four lanes of snow tubing round out the offerings here.

• Cover