It's All Downhill: Flying under the radar

[View web version]( [It's All Downhill. The latest from the slopes of New England and beyone by Matt Pepin] Tuesday, February 12 | [Follow Matt Pepin on Twitter]( The trails less skied It’s always amusing to see rooftop cargo boxes covered in stickers from the places they’ve apparently been hauled to and from, especially when the stickers are mostly from ski areas. The most common ones I see are the giants of New England skiing. I see Sugarloaf and its distinctive triangle logo filled with a mountain image more than any other. I see Sunday River, Loon, Wildcat, Mad River Glen, Stowe, and Jay Peak a lot as well, with Mount Snow, Cannon, and Killington in the next tier. So I was surprised when I recently saw a Pico sticker amid all the familiar logos on a cargo box while I was driving on the Pike. It’s a place that is not even open all the time, but I spent many a day there as a youth when we would roll past Killington’s packed parking lots in search of smaller crowds and more skiing. Pico flies way under the radar, which is surprising for such a big mountain, but it sure is a great ski area. That got me thinking about the other underrated New England ski areas I really like. Although it’s always a blast to spend a day or multiple days at the major resorts, I have a particular fondness for some of the road-less-traveled places. Here’s the short list: Pico: In fact-checking something for this newsletter, I searched for Pico and discovered [Jim Shay's ski column for the Connecticut Post]( and within his look at improvements at Killington was a really good description of some of the things that make Pico special. His observations are spot-on. Ski Sundown: This Connecticut hill also has a certain charm while also punching above its weight because the slopes and trails have real character and beauty. The famous Gunbarrel black diamond slope is a challenge for all, and I could hit Tom’s Treat to Canyon Run to Exhibition like 100 times in a row and not be bored. Bromley: It’s been a while since I’ve visited southern Vermont’s “Sun Mountain” (go on a bluebird day and you’ll know why that’s the nickname) but I recall Havoc as one of the best expert runs around, and Pushover is a really fun blue square trail perfect for a friendly race. It can be popular because of its location, but it isn't always top of mind when thinking about where to go. Berkshire East: Probably my favorite underrated ski area, the Charlemont, Mass., area is among the places I’ve skied the most. I like that it’s nestled away in the woods of the Berkshires where the cell service isn’t very good, and I like its variety of trails. It’s a great escape, and an easy drive from Boston. Magic: They purposely cultivate the “road less traveled” vibe here and it is obvious. Get over the fact that the lifts are old and slow (the plus is they ride low and protected by trees) and you’re going to have a blast. One time, by last chair, it felt like my son and I had the place to ourselves. What are your favorite underrated New England ski areas and why? [Let me know via e-mail](mailto:matt.pepin@globe.com?subject=Underrated%20ski%20areas). I’ll share some of the best responses in a future newsletter. A view at Magic Mountain in Vermont in 2018. CLICKING IN A FINE FINISH: The great American ski racer Lindsey Vonn finished her career in style this weekend with a bronze medal in the World Championships downhill in Sweden, and was greeted in the finish area by the all-time great ski racer Ingemar Stenmark. Vonn ends a wonderful career four victories short of Stenmark's record for World Cup victories but No. 1 in the hearts of many American fans. John Meyer of the Denver Post [details a historic day in his report]( which includes a gallery of photos from Vonn's final race. FOR THE READING LIST: The headline from The New York Times was such clickbait for a skier: ["Why can't rich people save winter?" Click](. It paints a bleak picture, especially a graphic showing projections from a University of Ottawa study of which Northeast ski areas will be economically viable in the time span ending in 2039. There are more "not economically viable" dots on the map than "viable" dots, including all of Massachusetts and Connecticut, and a big swath of New Hampshire and Maine. But when it comes to fighting the onslaught of global warming and climate change, there are not a lot of allies on the front lines. The Times story does an excellent job of laying out the situation, what is being done, and what's next. It's filled with excellent visualizations that really illustrate the issues well. It's long, but well worth your time. UP AND RUNNING: Killington, which is in the midst of making $25 million worth of improvements, has opened its South Ridge Quad chairlift. It's actually the former Snowdon quad, which many locals often called the "Slowdon" quad, but it's better than nothing at South Ridge, which has been without a lift since 2011, [according to The Mountain Times](. South Ridge, previously accessible via the K-1 Gondola, is one of my favorite parts of Killington, especially the blue square slope called Pipe Dream. GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE: The Outdoor Retailer Snow Show was held in Denver recently, and [Freeskier has a roundup]( of the best new products unveiled at the event. This endless scroll-style article features a ton of new skis and boots in particular, but also some pretty cool gear like goggles and gizmos. FEELING BLUE: In her [ski column in the Boston Herald]( Moira McCarthy sings the praises of intermediate trails in New England, and provides a solid "bucket list of blue runs." One I'd add: Freewheeler at Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, Mass. [Like It's All Downhill? 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