It took a bit of planning, preparation, and packing, but we had a great time skiing at the Okemo resort in Vermont. The 7.5 hour drive took about 8.5 hours with traffic and pit spots, but other than the rush hour traffic close to home, it was a pleasant trip.
Skiing At Okemo Resort Vermont
The Okemo ski resort is in Ludlow, Vermont, which is sort of in the middle of the state. It’s one of the many resorts in the Epic system, and the largest within driving distance of D.C.
We stayed at the Jackson Gore Inn, right at the base on the far right of this map. It was so nice to just head downstairs, pick up our skis at the ski check, and walk right over to the lift. Our two bedroom suite was HUGE, with two bedrooms on each side of a living room, a small, fully equipped kitchen and three full bathrooms. It was convenient enough to go back to the room for lunch, but I preferred to take a peanut butter sandwich in my pocket to maximize skiing time.
We had ALL the weather, starting with teens on Tuesday, 30s on Wednesday, and 40s on Thursday with morning wind that brought in afternoon rain.
With the right layers, we never felt cold for more than a moment.
My daughter-in-law skis at the “green” to “blue” level, while my son prefers “black” trails for snowboarding. There were multiple options at each lift, so we all found terrain we enjoyed. While the others went in for lunch I tried one double black diamond trail, and it was horrible, with unforgiving icy moguls. After that, I avoided the moguls, although they probably were less horrible after it warmed up and the snow softened.
On Thursday, we decided to ski until it started raining—the day started out with blue skies—but even after the rain came I didn’t want to quit. I kept telling myself I’d do “one more run,” and then the rain would let up so I’d go for “one more.”
With all my gear, only my butt felt wet after sitting on the chair lift, but even that dried pretty quickly once I started swishing down the slopes. By the time the rain became steady my legs were tired enough to call it a day.
Weekly Run Down
Obviously, most of my activity this week was skiing. I skied for about 6 hours Tuesday and Wednesday and about 4 hours on Thursday, with about equal time spent on the lifts versus on the slopes. (Only the heated chair lift had any wait time, and we only took it once or twice a day on our way to a different area.) I still started my days with Peloton, doing a warm-up, core workout from Emma’s Crush Your Core 2 program, and something else to get the kinks out.
Monday: Core + 3.5 Treadmill Miles
Hopped on the treadmill to get some movement in before our drive.
Tuesday-Friday: 20ish min of Peloton warm-up + core + bodyweight workouts
Someone in my MRTT group mentioned Andy Spear’s foot-focused stretch class from 6/25/19—it felt pretty good after a day in ski boots.
Saturday: 8.25 Scooby Miles
Back home for a long run with my canine boy! It felt good to move my legs after 9 hours in the car on Friday (including the trip to pick up Scooby from his Rover stay), but it also felt hard. At least I got out before the wind picked up.
Another Prisma background to hide my neighbor’s house.
Sunday: Core + 45 min Peloton Strength Workout
I wanted to make my one full strength workout of the week count, and knew Jess Sims would not disappoint. 
I really struggled with this 5 min core class, though—the side planks with a lower leg crunch were tough. I’ll have to try it again next week.
A huge thank you to Deborah and Kim for hosting the Weekly Run Down link up.
What’s your drive vs. fly cut-off?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
I skied there may many years ago. Don’t ski anymore. Actually I was never good at all and I hate the cold.
I wish I was still in nY so we could arrange a mid-trip meet-up.
Sounds like a fun time and great to be away from work, right?
I’d say 4 hours is my cut-off. It depends how long I am away for and if we share the driving.
Normally I fly or take the train for vacations… but I am alone.
Yes, I thought of you as we drove through the Albany area. I did all the driving. I really don’t mind it. Maybe I’ll do anything to stay away from work email. 😉
I agree. I didn’t touch my email for 6 days = heavenly.
Next time if you pass through Albany, maybe we can coordinate a Starbucks pit stop.
I’ve never skied or done any winter sports, but I’ve been loving the Winter Olympics so I have a new appreciation for it. You must have really been enjoying it if you didn’t want to stop in the rain. Sounds like you had a great week of skiing, bookended by two nice runs. I’m also doing the Crush Your Core 2 program! Funny how hard those five minute workouts can be.
Right?! Time never passes so slowly as when I’m doing mountain climbers!
What a wonderful week, Coco!
I had to learn skiing at school in Switzerland but I was never very good at it. I’d be skiing the green to blue level with your daughter-in-law.
Awesome that you spent 6 hours on the skis! What did you do on Wednesday? Hopefully not work!
Oops! I mixed up my days. We skied T-Th. 😉
Even better! 🙂
It was icy moguls on a well-below zero day when I got injured skiing. My bindings did not release and I damaged cartilage in my knee. Since then I haven’t been skiing much. Plus the Caveman is not a skier so there’s that. All that said, your ski trip looks so fun! I’ll bet that stretch class for feet felt amazing!
Oh, that sounds horrible! I basically just slid down sideways very slowly and avoided moguls after that!
I was a skier in my younger days! I’ve skied in just about everything but I don’t think I’ve ever skied in the rain. Looks like a great trip and i’m glad you had such a good time!
You don’t usually get rain on the mountain, but the weather has been so odd lately. It turned into snow overnight and was in the 20s in the morning.
Go you, conquering all that action on the slopes! I’ll live vicariously through you, LOL, because I have no desire to even attempt downhill skiing. I have enjoyed watching it on the Olympics, though. Are the green-blue hills comparable to “bunny hills?” Obviously, I don’t know the lingo…another reason I’d be much better in the lodge 😉 Sounds like you had a great time!
There was a nice fire pit at the bottom, and a hot tub …. 😉
Sounds like a fun ski trip! We haven’t been to Okemo in ages. My husband opted for the Ikon pass so he and my boys have been hitting Stratton.
Nice! I don’t think I could ever get away more than once, but those passes can be a great deal if you can.
Looks like you had such a great trip! I used to love skiing and kind of miss it. I am too afraid to try again since my accident. Will look for that Andy stretch class
He’s got a few 5 min ones I hadn’t seen.
My oldest sister did her residency at the University of Vermont, so Dustin and I went out there for a week awhile back- we snowboarded Stowe, Sugarbush, Jay’s Peak, but not Okemo! I hadn’t even heard of that one! Vermont is gorgeous. No way to icy moguls though particularly on a snowboard. How lovely that you got to spend that quality time with your son and daughter in law!
Stowe and Sugarbush are more well known. Okemo is a bit further south — about at the limit of what I’d drive to. It was a nice time.
You are such a beast, Coco! I can’t believe all that skiing. Of course I don’t ski, but I did just a little on a kid and it’s not all just gliding. Can’t believe you tried that double diamond run, either.
That’s what my BIL liked. Until he skied into a tree and broke his leg very badly. He was self employed as a chiropractor, too, so it was a definitely dark time for my sister. Glad you had fun and no mishaps!
Yikes! Luckily I’ve never been injured skiing. I think all my lower body strength workouts really helped — lunges and squats in particular. 😉
So glad that you had a great time skiing last week. It’s such a fun way to get in a workout and spend time with friends and family. I haven’t gone skiing in a while so I would probably stick to the bunny slopes next time I go, LOL.
That Prisma background is so cool!
Love those feet active recovery ones, there’s calf one too I like. Glad you had a great/active week!
Given your driventures this summer, 8.5 for a 7.5 hour trip isn’t bad. My flight / drive cutoff used to be about 5 but now it’s a little longer. Maybe about that 7/8 marker as well. It honestly depends on the destination. Niagara Falls will always make more sense to drive, but Montreal is shorter mileage wise but the border can be a mess, so flying would be easier.
I have some friends who fly to DC and I’d never even consider that when the train just makes it easier on both ends and is just as fast with airport transit/wait times.
What an adventurous time away! Those slopes look amazing Coco and so glad you got to do this with your family.
Oh! So fun! I haven’t been skiing in a minute – it was so fun and you look like you are having the best time!