I grew up in Worcester (my teens and college years). My brother raced for the Mt. Wachusett ski team. I can't tell you how shocked I am that this kind of crime happened in a place I always felt safe. My friends and I used to go the mountain hiking in the summer/fall to escape from the "city." The entire area is so peaceful, remote and beautiful compared to living in the city. I visited last fall with my young niece and nephew to hike and attend a fall festival. The visit brought back wonderful memories from my youth.
Of course, now that I live in the northernmost part of the Green Mountains of Vermont, Mt. Wachusett and that area seem crowded and definitely not remote. But for a highly populated state, Mt. Wachusett provides a wonderful respite. Perhaps that can help explain why the "locals" and the visitors within an hour's drive describe the mountain/ski area with what seem like such different terms. In truth, they are all describing a lovely area that attracts people for good reason.