It's All Downhill: You guys are the best

[View web version]( [It's All Downhill] Friday, April 7 [Follow Matt Pepin]( [My New England ski food bucket list](#) Back in October, [I revealed my New England skiing bucket list]( - basically all the New England areas I had not yet skied. I checked two off the list this season - Gunstock and Bretton Woods. I'm already thinking about how to check a few more off next season, but following the incredible response to [last week's callout for ski food suggestions]( I'm revising my strategy. Now, I'm going to try and double up visits to the ski areas with stops at some of the great places It's All Downhill's readers have suggested. For example, I can hit Best Subs Known to Mankind in Claremont, N.H. (suggested by Andrew Snow) on any trip that takes me up/down I-91. Snow's story of this discovery is a good one: "F or years drove past Best Subs Known to Mankind in Claremont, NH (about 5 min from I-91, exit 8). Given the absurdity and impossibility that the home of the best sub known to mankind could be found in this little hole in the wall, I always gave them a good laugh as I drove past. I finally gave in to curiosity 3-4 years ago and gave them a chance. Now, every time I drive past - whether I'm coming or going, if they're open, I stop," he wrote. The Mad River Valley in Vermont is really high on my list as well, and many of you mentioned The Mad Taco as a must-stop, as well as several other places in that region. And while the beloved Burger Chef of my youth is no more, two readers gave me good alternatives in Greenfield: Pete's Seafood ("This is a very popular locals place and we feel very welcome," wrote Tim Walker) and The People's Pint ("I t's really convenient and the food is terrific," wrote Laura Schwartz). So without further ado, here's the official It's All Downhill New England ski food bucket list. Thanks a lot to everyone who responded, your thoughtful suggestions and notes were very much appreciated. Several of the places on the list were mentioned more than once. New Hampshire: Allen Brothers Farm, Westminster; Annie's Overflow, Holderness; SAaLT Pub, Gorham; Best Subs Known to Mankind, Claremont; Poor People's Pub, Sanbornville; Exit 28 Pizza, Campton; Newick's Lobster House, Dover; Patrick's Pub, Gilford. Maine: Gritty McDuff's, Auburn. Vermont: Heritage Bakery, Chester; The Mad Taco, Waitsfield; Doc Ponds, Stowe; Prohibition Pig, Waterbury; Miss Lyndonville Diner, Lyndonville; Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington; Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Waterbury Center; Worthy Kitchen, Woodstock; Moon Dog Cafe, Chester. New York: New Way Lunch, Warrensburg. Massachusetts: Pete's Seafood, Greenfield; The People's Pint, Greenfield. WORLD CUP RETURNING TO KILLINGTON: The US Ski and Snowboard Association and Killington announced an agreement to host World Cup racing on Thanksgiving weekend in 2017 and 2018, and all that's needed now is final approval from the International Ski Federation, which is expected in May. That's a huge win for New England. If you didn't go last year, I'd encourage you to check it out this time around because it was really fun, plus Killington had plenty of terrain open by then so there was more to do than just watch racing. Here's [a full report on the news that broke this week](. THE ANSWER: Last week I posted the photo below both here and on Twitter and asked if it was taken looking uphill or downhill because the light and conditions create a bit of an optical illusion. Now it's time for the reveal - It's looking downhill on Sugarloaf's Windrow trail, which I had all to myself for five straight runs one morning in March. [foggy_slope] ALSO AT KILLINGTON: A $110 million revitalization project at Killington's Bear Mountain was announced this week. The project is to get under way in the summer of 2018 and includes the construction of six or seven multi-family buildings and a major remodeling of the Bear Mountain base lodge. There will also be on-mountain improvements including a new lift, re-establishing the Snowshed crossover trail, and the addition of a ski bridge and tunnel. A second phase is scheduled to begin in 2020. INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE: A recent post [on SkiRacing.com details life as an independent ski racer](. Tucker Marshall's piece offers a compelling look at what it takes to make it work on your own, including finding places to crash for the night, how to sell yourself to sponsors or others who might lend a hand, and more. Pretty fascinating. A RINGING ENDORSEMENT: Former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe spends his days making some really good wine in the Pacific Northwest and also really enjoys skiing. His passion for the sport was detailed [in a video he did for Mt. Bachelor in Oregon]( and you can also pretty clearly see he is quite adept at skiing. Not a bad life. PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Globe colleague Cynthia Needham added one for the "wildlife encounters on the slopes" file last weekend. Here's her photo of a porcupine at Sugarloaf: [porcupine_sugarloaf] GOOD CALL: I have not been to Magic Mountain but I know I am going to like it when I do get there. A number of things have convinced me of this, including [an interesting conversation I had with Geoff Hatheway]( who spearheaded the purchase of the area and this season's improvements. So it didn't surprise me to see one last gesture of goodwill this season from Magic, which is having its final ski weekend this weekend. Anyone with a season pass from an area already closed can ski for free on Saturday. Meanwhile, Magic is already thinking ahead as well. Its plans for more improvements are outlined [in a recent post on the area's website](. GOOD COMPANY: Waterville Valley and the Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers organization announced this week they have partnered with the US Ski and Snowboard Association to become a USSA team development site. That arrangement will include two competitive events each year at Waterville. FITTING TRIBUTE: Gary Black Jr., the longtime publisher of SkiRacing.com, passed away in February. On Friday, the website [published remembrances of him]( from a range of voices that really captures who he was and his impact on the sport. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Some have asked me how long It's All Downhill will continue, and I can tell you the plan is to do one each Friday through April, then one a month until we resume weekly sends in the fall. I actually tend to think about skiing a lot in the warm-weather months, so I'm sure there will be topics worth exploring even in the summer. Your suggestions, as always, [are welcome](mailto:matt.pepin@globe.com). Thanks to all for reading. [Like It's All Downhill? Tell a friend to subscribe](. [Sign up for more Boston Globe newsletters](. About This Email You received this message because you signed up for the It's All Downhill newsletter. To automatically unsubscribe, [please click here.]( If you wish to unsubscribe from all BostonGlobe.com newsletters, [please click here.]( Please note: this will unsubscribe you from the newsletters only. If you wish to cancel your BostonGlobe.com subscription, please call 1-888-MY-GLOBE (1-888-694-5623). 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