For a few reasons, I'd recommend that you start your ski day early at Mt. Snow. One is that you can start early; Mt. Snow is one of two Vermont areas (Killington being the other) that opens some of its lifts at 8 A.M. If you're someone who appreciates privacy in your skiing, the time to find it at Mt. Snow is before 9 A.M., when the groomed snow is still groomed.

In addition, most of Mt. Snow's skiing is eastern-facing. Trails on the front of the mountain are exposed to the morning sun. More sun, better snow, fewer people do you need any more reasons to get to the mountain early?

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You have two base-area choices: the main base and the Carinthia base. The main base has been spiffed up considerably since the Gidget era, and it's got more of just about everything than the Carinthia base: more dining options, more space to eat, more services (e.g., tickets, ski school, parking-lot shuttle buses), more parking. On weekdays, it's pretty much the place to go, since Carinthia is largely shut down except for weekends and holidays.

On weekends, though, head for Carinthia. It's smaller size makes it more manageable, less crowded, and gives you a headstart on skiing a side of the mountain that usually takes the main-base skiers a while to reach. This is an against-the-flow philosophy: As the main-base skiers begin working their way toward Carinthia, you can be working your way toward the main base, getting there as the morning rush-hour lift lines begin to shorten. And if you really want to get away from the weekend crowds, head for Haystack.