New York State’s Hunter Mountain is known for being one of the most crowded ski resorts in the country on peak weekends. Fortunately, a series of upgrades this past winter has helped alleviate some of that pressure. First, the resort replaced its aging Broadway Quad with the new Broadway Express High-Speed Six-Pack, adding a second high-speed lift route out of the main base area. The old Broadway Quad wasn’t retired—it was reinstalled in a new alignment as the Otis Quad, replacing the seldom-used E Double Chair and opening up better access to a previously underutilized zone of low-intermediate terrain. It’s worth noting that the surface lift located directly above the new Otis Quad is now essentially abandoned. Still, the Otis Quad remained relatively quiet throughout the season, offering skiers progressing to intermediate terrain a rare opportunity to escape the weekend crowds. As the closest Epic Pass resort to New York City, Hunter will likely never be a crowd-free experience. Bu...