SNOW PATROL

SPOT TO SKI: DUTCH HILL

Elevation 1,900 to 2,470 feet; average snow depth 20-30 inches; yearly snowfall 12 feet; skiers last year 40,000; usual season Dec. 15-April 15

If you like to ski Vermont and want to save the hour it takes to drive north to the larger resorts, Dutch Hill in Heartwellville, Vt., 39 miles from Pittsfield, Mass., offers worthwhile terrain. The 2,000-foot T bar has a 570-foot vertical drop down to State Highway 8. Trails from the top vary in character from a leisurely one-mile course down Dyke Trail to a couple of sporty half-mile runs over the minor headwalls on Windmill and Christiana. To take either trail in a reasonably polished style is considered good going for any expert. For the novice there is a completely separate 1,400-foot open slope with two ropes. For the intermediate, Dutchman's Holiday (above) has 1¾ miles of easy going, ending in a 400-yard pitch that will shoot a skier over to the Dutch Boot cafeteria 50 yards away. Tips: from New York, 192 miles away, take the Taconic Parkway, then 44 to Canan, Conn. Bostonians, 141 miles away, take Route 2 to North Adams, Mass. Heartwellville Motel & Lodge serves fine food and is within walking distance of the slope. Several inns offer a five-day package with lifts, instruction, lodging and meals for $50.

AS OF FEBRUARY 17

Nothing is as changeable as the weather, so be sure to telephone resorts for latest reports

TD—top slopes, depth in inches; BD—bottom slopes, depth in inches; CR—ski crowd last weekend; SN—inches of snowfall last weekend

•EAST

Dutch Hill, Vt.: Area had good skiing after weekend storm. Christie and Windmill being held for crowd on Washington's Birthday weekend. Kaestle skis with long thong Marker safety bindings frequent. TD 25, BD 12, CR 1,000, SN 12.

Stowe, Vt.: First major snowstorm of year gave area weekend of powder skiing, opened all trails except National. TD 30, BD 20, CR 1,500, SN 12.

Mad River Glen, Vt.: Mountain had powder skiing. Cold weather has put Norwegian net T shirts in demand at ski shop. TD 34, BD 18, SN 12.

Big Bromley, Vt.: Skiing good after weekend snowfall. TD 4-16, BD 5-14, CR 1,700, SN 9.

Jiminy Peak, Mass.: Storm put area back in operation. Lifts will operate daily Feb. 22-March 3. SN 7.

Cannon Mt., N.H.: Six-inch fall readied area for expected crowd next weekend. Skiing good. TD 3-33, CR 2,500.

Mt. Cranmore, N.H.: Lower North Conway and Arlberg best with 10-15 inches. Light blue ski pants noted in greater numbers. TD 5-12, CR 6,200, SN 1.

Belknap, N.H.: Chair closed due to bare sections on trail. T bar operated. TD 5-12.

Mt. Tremblant, Que.: Skiing good on north side, fair on south. TD 8-35, BD 3-24, CR 1,400.

Lac Beauport, Que.: TD 33, BD 28, CR 2,000.

Snow Ridge, N.Y.: Excellent. TD 22, BD 10.

Whiteface Mt., N.Y.: Lower mountain closed, upper mountain good. State is proposing $2½ million for new development on east face.

Laurel Mt., Pa.: Conditions good. CR 3,000.

•MIDWEST

Rib Mt., Wis.: Heavy crowds wearing trails, but skiing generally good. TD 6-8, BD 6-8.

Boyne Mt., Mich.: Skiing excellent. TD 6-10, BD 10-18, Hemlock 40-50 artificial.

Terry Peak, S. Dak.: Warm temperatures reduced cover, but base holding up. TD 30-36.

•WEST

Aspen, Colo.: All trails hard packed and some icy spots but skiing good after weekend snowfall. On hand for Roch Cup: Bud Werner, Sally Deaver, Christian Pravda, Ann Heggtveit. Loden cloth sports jackets are top evening wear.

Winter Park, Colo.: High temperatures, but skiing good. Base packed very hard. TD 40-54.

Arapahoe Basin, Colo.: Packed powder on all slopes. Attenhofer A-15 skis very popular.

Hidden Valley, Colo.: Warm weather has melted top cover, but skiing conditions were good.

Sun Valley, Idaho: Brush showing on south slope after warm week, but skiing on Dollar and Baldy good. Baldy TD 37, Valley Floor 17.

Big Mt., Mont.: Corn snow on mountain. Ninety percent of teen-agers using long thongs and nonsafety toe irons. TD 60-65, BD 52-58.

Jackson Hole, Wyo.: Skiing fair to good. Snow alternately thawing and freezing. TD 26-30.

Santa Fe, N. Mex.: Skiing very good. King Hughes took Midland giant slalom, Mexican wedding shirts new warm-weather ski style.

Taos, N. Mex.: High-level skiing excellent, both lifts running daily. New note: Peruvian high-peak caps. TD 75-80, BD 35-40, SN 0.

•FAR WEST

Mt. Baker, Wash.: Skiing excellent. Parties touring upper slopes in moonlight, avalanche danger zero. TD 133, BD 160, CR 3,500, SN 10.

White Pass, Wash.: Spring snow on all runs after week of high temperatures. TD 76.

Snoqualmie Pass, Wash.: Warm weather made lower areas poor, upper trails excellent. Charley Cadwell and Sally Jarvis took junior expert giant slalom titles. TD 90, BD 75, SN 5.

Stevens Pass, Wash.: Barrier Mt. best skiing, but icy and fast where well used. Racers using surplus pilot B-4 goggles. BD 98, CR 4,500.

Grouse Mt., B.C.: Melting temperatures reduced snow depths, but skiing is good. TD 100.

Mt. Hood, Ore.: All lifts operated at full capacity, including snow tractors taking skiers to upper snow fields at Timberline. CR 4,500. At Govt. Camp, skiing very good. Bill Thompson, McCall, Idaho won silver skis slalom.

Reno, Nev.: Rain has depleted snow depths, leaving conditions only fair. Denver U. took U. of Nevada Winter Carnival, Frank Brown of Colorado U. was skimeister. TD 28, BD 22.

Squaw Valley, Calif.: All lifts operated, some rain, but skiing good. Girls wearing Meggi sweaters and matching Bogner pants. TD 85.

Mammoth Mt., Calif.: Spring corn. TD 78, BD 68, CR 1,800, SN 4.

Sugar Bowl, Calif.: Skiing good in spite of intermittent rain. Mt. Lincoln to Donner Lake run open Feb. 23 with buses for skiers at end of the 3½-mile trip. TD 96, BD 60, CR 1,200.

PHOTO