SPOT TO SKI: MT. SUNAPEE

When the snow is good, as it is this week, the best skiing nearest Boston, Providence and Worcester is Mt. Sunapee, N.H. (100 miles from Boston, 150 miles from Worcester). Sunapee's "T bar in the sky" starts where its 3,200-foot chair lift leaves off and pulls skiers up another 2,500 feet to the top of two wide, well-groomed open slopes on the very crest of the mountain. Southern New England skiers who want to cut their (ravel time and still ski a major area have found a good answer and have been coming here each winter in ever increasing numbers, but lately even New Yorkers have climbed into their cars to drive the 265 miles up to Sunapee. They like to make the two-mile advanced runs that start on the open slope, then go down the typical New England woods trails alongside the chair lift and end opposite the modern glass-front warming lodge at the bottom.

Sunapee is also good to beginners. It has a big, 1,600-foot Pomalift and two rope tows on 10 acres of open hillside around the lodge. The resort has started drawing record-breaking crowds this year, and plans for expansion are afoot both at the area and among the lodge owners around Sunapee. Right now the best lodgings for comfort-loving adults are at Dexter's, which is three miles away. For the younger crowd there are budget accommodations at Four Seasons and dancing at Conrad Manor. Closest of all to area is Skinner's Lodge which provides dormitory-style rooms, low rates and also features a ski shop and rentals.

Sunapee sits at an elevation of from 1,300 to 2,700 feet and a snowfall of about 100 inches per year keeps the average depth at 18 inches. "Sunapee," says Area Manager Dick Parker, "will just about double when the new federal turnpike comes north from Boston. We're going to have a regular Sun Valley here."

SKIING ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Be sure to check resorts for latest condition changes

UP—inches of snow on upper slopes and trails LO—inches of snow on lower slopes and trails CR—crowd last Saturday SN—inches of snow last week

•EAST

Bousquet's, Mass.: Thursday and Friday night skiing draws crowds of 300 to Russell Slope. Machine-made snow provided very good skiing on slopes last weekend with rest fair to good. Expanded area handling big crowd without strain. UP 15, LO 4, SN 8, CR 2,200.

Big Bromley, Vt.: Weather sunny and skiing excellent. UP 18, LO 6, SN 9, CR 1,800.

Dutch Hill, Hogback opened for season with good running, fair crowds. UP 18, LO 6, SN 9, CR 1,800.

Stowe, Vt.: Forty-hour snowfall ended snow drought, and fast-spreading word brought rush of skiers to slopes, lodges. Billy Woods Memorial January 25-26 gets racing season under way; international jumping meet scheduled for February 2. UP 30, LO 22, SN 24, CR 2,000.

Pico Peak, Vt.: New slope, trails and 1,800-foot T bar were opened this week. Long Trail lodge booked well into next month. UP 22, LO 12, SN 12, CR 850.

Mt. Snow, Vt.: Huge crowds on hand but new strap Bucket chairlift on main mountain kept lines down to 10-minute wait. Dances every Saturday night at newly opened Old Red Mill in Wilmington. UP 25, LO 10, SN 12, CR 4,000.

Whiteface, N.Y.: Governor Harriman will cut ribbon at official opening January 25.

Belleayre, N.Y.: Trails packed for fair skiing. UP 8, LO 2, SN 10, CR 2,000.

Laurel Mt., Pa.: Plenty of machine-made snow on hand. UP 15, LO 5, SN 8, CR 1,200.

•FAR WEST

China Peak, Calif.: Will open January 18 after state inspection, with first-day skiers enjoying a probable four feet of snow.

Dodge Ridge, Calif.: Largest crowds in area's history swarming in to enjoy excellent skiing. UP 45, LO 26, SN 13, CR 1,700.

Grouse Mt., B.C.: Two lifts, Flying Skis and Paradise tows all running despite poor conditions, drizzle, fog and wet snow last weekend. First big race of season, Tyrol Slalom, set for January 19. UP 64, LO 24, SN 2, CR 2,500.

Hoodoo Ski Bowl, Ore.: Opening of new section of North Santiam highway has made drive from Portland an easy 1½ hours. UP 98, LO 87, SN 10, CR 200.

Mammoth Mt., Calif.: Excellent skiing on light powder. UP 62, LO 50, SN 12, CR 1,800.

Mt. Baker, Wash.: Skiers held off slopes last weekend until avalanche hazards—heavy new snows over slick old crust—were blasted down. Touring closed, but trails opened by noon. Tap room adjacent to Mt. Baker Lodge open. Many experts combining safety toe pieces with heel releases for double protection. UP 116, LO 96, SN 16, CR 900.

Mt. Spokane, Wash.: Surface lightning fast, weather cold and clear last week. Fall' line or Swix green waxes, ironed on, are favored by racing crowd for dry powder snow. Kastle racing skis also show strong popularity here. UP 70, LO 42, SN 8, CR 2,300.

Mt. Lassen, Nev.: New snow during week made skiing excellent with Pomalift and two rope tows running. UP 66, LO 56, SN 18, CR 1,000.

•WEST

Alta, Utah: Skiers heading eagerly for Greeley Bowl where powder, for experts up top and intermediates at bottom, was fantastic. Jaded veterans got new kicks skiing down Peruvian Gulch for three-mile run, shuttled back to Alta by car. Marker safety bindings tremendously popular here. UP 64, LO 58, SN 8, CR 850.

Aspen, Colo.: Excellent skiing conditions with reservations plentiful. Annual Wednesday ski program for children under way, will run eight more weeks. UP 44, LO 17, SN 4, CR 300.

Sun Valley, Idaho: New double chair on top section of Mt. Baldy eliminating lift lines. Special ski train from Los Angeles started winter schedule last weekend with reservations overbooked at $149.50 per week.

Winter Park, Colo.: Fine skiing with trails well packed. New Allen Phipps ski trail, Oehler high-capacity T bar for upper slopes, now open for operation. UP 28, LO 14, SN 2, CR 1,500.

•MIDWEST

Mt. Telemark, Wis.: Skiing good, crowds large. UP 4, LO 8, SN 3, CR 760.

Cliffs Ridge, Mich.: New area officially opened at dedication ceremonies this past week. UP 20, LO 28, SN 8, CR 645.

Caberfae, Mich.: Large crowds jamming area each weekend. UP 4, LO 6, SN 2.

Brule Mt., Mich.: Skiing excellent with 9-inch packed base and 3½ inches of new powder.

PHOTO

SKYWAY SLOPE on summit of Mt. Sunapee is heavily blanketed by a good portion of the 100 or so inches of snow that falls annually on this section of New England.