photo: Chris James | skier: Chris GermainAcres: 485 | Vertical: 2,160 | Snowfall: 333 | Web: stowe.com

"Stowe has a long history of challenging terrain that hardcore skiers want," says ski industry vet Jay Bowen. "It's got great nightlife up and down the mountain road, and the addition of the new hotel [the Stowe Mountain Lodge] is just incredible." This year, expect better access to that famous terrain. When it was installed in the 1980s, the Stowe FourRunner Quad was the fastest lift in the world. Decades later, it's time to move on. Look for a new high-speed quad up Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. The lift increases carrying capacity by 900 people per hour, and terminals have been reworked to alleviate crowding below and create better access to trails at the top. Trails like National Glades, Goat, and Starr, that is-some of the best lines in skiing.

From the Early Winter 2012 issue