Can non-members ski at the Mount Greylock Ski Club?

Who can ski as a guest at the Ski Club?

How much work is a member expected to do at the Ski Club?

How rustic is the Ski Club?

How hard is it to ride the rope tow?

Is the Ski Club a good place for families with children?

Is the Ski Club a good place for expert skiers?

What kind of skis are suitable for the Ski Club?

Are snowboards allowed at the Ski Club?

Does the Ski Club have food service?

Does the Ski Club have rental skis?

Does the Ski Club have anything to do with the famous Thunderbolt Ski Trail?

What about the Stony Ledge Ski Trail?

Can non-members ski at the Mount Greylock Ski Club?

The Ski Club is not open to the public. Skiing on the Ski Club's property is reserved for members and their guests. We do not sell day passes to the general public. It is easy and inexpensive to become a member.

Who can ski as a guest at the Ski Club?

We have two categories of guests.

(1) Prospective members. We encourage skiers who are curious about the Ski Club to visit and ski as our guest for one day. We hope that you will enjoy yourself and want to join. Please contact any member or send us e-mail to let us know when you plan to visit. See the membership page for more information.

(2) House guests of members. Members may bring their out-of-town guests to ski at the Ski Club. Out-of-town guests include people who live outside Berkshire County, Bennington County, and the Albany, NY, area.

How much work is a member expected to do at the Ski Club?

The Club has no paid employees, so we depend on members to operate our ski area. Each adult member should volunteer for one job during the winter and another job during the rest of the year.

During the winter members can volunteer as tow operators, ski patrollers, or area directors. Although each of these jobs requires committing to two or three days spread through the season, there is plenty of time to ski and socialize on those days. For example, a tow operator gets the tow started, signs up others to watch the tow, and then he or she can ski. These jobs are not onerous!

Each autumn we organize several work days to do maintenance on trails, the tows, and the lodge. We urge each adult member to help out on at least one work day. Most members enjoy the camaraderie of getting the Ski Club in shape for the winter.

How rustic is the Ski Club?

We are off the grid! We have no electric power line and no telephone line at the Ski Club. (Most cell phones work at the Club.) Three wood stoves heat the lodge and the bathrooms are outhouses. Propane or gasoline power the rope tows. Expect to be comfortable, but not pampered!

How hard is it to ride the rope tow?

Ride it if you can! To our knowledge, Tow #1 is the longest (1300 feet) and fastest (18 feet per second) rope tow in New England. Most Ski Club members use Bousquet tow grippers to hang on. Sturdy work gloves are recommended. Experienced skiers usually need a few rides up to get comfortable with Tow #1. Tow #3 is shorter and runs at a leasurely pace, so it is a good place for beginners to learn how to ride a rope tow.

Is the Ski Club a good place for families with children?

Absolutely yes! Our ski area is uncrowded and friendly to kids. There is a play area in the lodge for small children. Although we do not currently offer skiing lessons, several parents teach their kids to ski on our slopes. Many of the adult members of the club grew up skiing here.

Is the Ski Club a good place for expert skiers?

Absolutely yes! Advanced skiers will enjoy our narrow twisting trails and our glades. Since we rely on natural snow and do minimal grooming, experts often prefer our snow conditions to the buffed slopes at commercial ski resorts. If it snows during the week and stays cold, we have powder skiing on Saturday morning!

What kind of skis are suitable for the Ski Club?

Most members ski on alpine skis or telemark skis on our downhill trails. Some folks enjoy classical cross-country skiing in the meadow or on narrow ungroomed trails in the woods. We do not groom trails for skate skiing.

Are snowboards allowed at the Ski Club?

Yes, but riding a rope tow on a snowboard is a challenge. Beginning snowboarders may get frustrated. Experienced snowboarders, however, figure out the rope tow and enjoy riding at the Ski Club.

Does the Ski Club have food service?

No. Please feel free to bring your lunch and snacks.

Does the Ski Club have rental skis?

No.

Does the Ski Club have anything to do with the famous Thunderbolt Ski Trail?

In 1934 the Mount Greylock Ski Club helped lay out the Thunderbolt Ski Trail. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) cut this steep 2,000+ foot racing trail on the east side of Mount Greylock. During the 1930's and 1940's our club organized races there. See Blair Mahar's website and his excellent film for a history of the Thunderbolt. Nowadays the Thunderbolt is a challenging backcountry ski run. It is located on state-owned land more than 2 miles northeast of the Ski Club's property. In 2008 a new club called the Thunderbolt Ski Runners formed to maintain the legacy of skiing the Thunderbolt.

Plaque near the top of the Thunderbolt.

What about the Stony Ledge Ski Trail?

In addition to the Thunderbolt on the eastern side of the mountain, the CCC cut the Stony Ledge Ski Trail on the western side, near the Ski Club. Although it is no longer maintained as a ski trail, one can ski it when there is lots of snow. One can skin up the Roaring Brook Trail, kick and glide out to the viewpoint overlooking the Hopper, and ski down the Stony Ledge Trail. Click here for a topographical map.

Roaring Brook Trail sign.