Thrill Hills

Best Riding in the East: Stratton

Big Picture: Cognoscenti carvers go cruising in Stratton, site of snowboarding's U.S. Open.
Where: Stratton, Vermont.
Vertical Drop: 2,003 feet.
Rideable Terrain: 500 acres.
Lifts: 12.
Average Annual Snowfall: 180 inches.
Insider's Tip: Dress in layers -- Stratton can feel like an ice box in midwinter.
High: Midweek riders are scarce, so the trails are yours to rip.
Low: Weekend crowds gum up the works.
Best Bet for Lodging: Stratton Mountain Inn (800-787-2886) combines New England coziness with
High: Yankee standards.
Closest Airport : Albany, New York, a 90-minute drive.
Ticket: $49 on weekends.
Phone: 800-787-2886.

Best California Ride: Mammoth Mountain

Big Picture: Yes, the mountain really is mammoth -- there's miles of concave runs and an above-tree-line summit.
Where: Mammoth Lakes, California.
Vertical Drop: 3,100 feet.
Rideable Terrain: 3,500 acres.
Lifts: 31.
Average Annual Snowfall: 353 inches.
Insider's Tip: Check out the Wave Rave snowboard shop (619-934-2471) for the local lowdown on gear and riding.
High: Riding Climax Bowl's 40-degree slope.
Low: Getting caught in LA-style gridlock on Sunday nights.
Best Bet for Lodging: The slopeside Mammoth Mountain Inn (800-228-4947).
Closest airport : Reno Airport, three hours away.
Ticket: $45.
Phone: 888-462-6668.

Best Undiscovered Area: Crystal Mountain

Big Picture: Craggy peaks, no crowds, steep slopes, and no flats.
Where: 76 miles southeast of Seattle.
Vertical Drop: 3,100 feet.
Rideable Terrain: 2,300 acres.
Lifts: 11.
Average Annual Snowfall: 340 inches.
Insider's Tip: You must have avalanche beacons and shovels to ride the back country.
High: The view of 14,411-foot Mount Rainier from Crystal's summit.
Low: Getting stuck in the Sierra's heavy, cement- like snow.
Best Bet for Lodging: There aren't many lodges in the small resort. Alpine Inn Hotel
(360-663-2262) is the best.
Closest Airport: Seattle. On dry roads, it's a 90-minute drive.
Ticket: Weekends, $35.
Phone : 360-663-2526.

Best North-of-the-Border Riding: Whistler/Blackcomb

Big Picture: Two resorts form one mega-playground. This being Canada, there are none of the liability laws that constrain you in the United States. You can ride the steepest steeps, but ride at your own risk.
Where: 75 miles north of Vancouver.
Vertical Drop: 5,280 feet.
Rideable Terrain: 6,998 acres.
Lifts: 27.
Average Annual Snowfall: 360 inches.
Insider's Tip: Check British Columbia's weather before you head north, as the area is nearly unrideable in poor visibility.
High: The freedom to push yourself as far as you want to go.
Low: Groping your way through B.C.'s fog banks.
Best Bet for Lodging: For convenience, the Blackcomb Lodge (800-667-2855) is hard by the mountain.
Closest Airport: Vancouver International is a two-hour drive.
Ticket: $54.
Phone: 800-944-7853.