Stratton 12/23 "This Gondola Sucks"

First time at Stratton. Unfortunately arrived at 9:00 so by the time I got up the mountain at 9:30, the fresh 4" of snow had already been tracked out by everyone else. Did get first runs in the snowbowl as that had a delayed opening. The best run was meadow in the snowbowl as the right side was left ungroomed over a snowmaking base. Basically everything on the mountain was groomed except this. Poached on some natural areas around meadow as they did not rope off the closed parts of the trail until mid morning. But quickly felt the rocks hitting my bases, so that was the end of that. Could see people poaching under URSA late in the day, with quite a few getting their ticket pulled by patrol.

It was their 50th Anniversary Celebration so their was a good crowd of people for a weekday. But they only had URSA, American Express, and the Gondola open. It would have been nice to have a run or two open in the sunbowl to mix things up a bit.

The Gondola really sucks as it is, they really need to replace the cabins with CWA Omegas. I can't believe that those cabins are designed to fit "12 PEOPLE". Its uncomfortable anyway you position yourself in there. So because I hated the Gondola and only rode it three times, I rode American Express and URSA in combined to get to the Summit most runs.

Overall Stratton is not my kind of resort, extremely snobby. Everyone there talked about how Stratton is so much better than the neighboring mountains of Okemo, Mount Snow and even Killington. I'm sorry people but, to me as a mountain, Mount Snow, Okemo and Stratton, are very very similar in how they ski. Yeah there is a nice mini fake Disney Tyrolean village that the other mountains don't have, but everything else about the place is bland.

Best day of the year so far with the new snow, but not a mountain a feel the need to get back to anytime soon.

when they get some snow, do go back. They really do have some pretty fantastic glades.

The gondola is weird and a concept that I don't think was repeated. It is meant for you to stand up in IIRC.

I went in 2006 and liked it, but it is not the place I would choose to ski regularly. Lifts are phenominal. The place is huge but yet you can ski it all pretty easily. Easy terrain overall, but good grooming and snowmaking. Nice facilities. But yes, it is a "resort" and not a ski area.

Their gondola does indeed suck. On a busy day they will cram an unbelievable amount of people in with their equipment into those things. Even the act of getting everyone out in time can be a challenge.

deadheadskier said:

when they get some snow, do go back. They really do have some pretty fantastic glades.

Click to expand...

this + there gondola duz suck. Hence me and the boyz dubed it the Fartbox back in like '97. The Bro & I were most impressed w/ the glades in 1 trail pod last season. I think thats the Sun Bowl but it could be the Snow Bowl. Kinda confusing names there. Anyway Jet Pilot was our favorite...

BMac said:

Their gondola does indeed suck. On a busy day they will cram an unbelievable amount of people in with their equipment into those things. Even the act of getting everyone out in time can be a challenge.

Click to expand...

+1 on the gondola. They do cram during the week most of the time but it depends on the day; usually, it's no more than 6 people per cabin but there's been instances where I go up with 7 people total in the gondola. Never seen how crowded it gets during the weekends though but I imagine it does. Usually, Amex stays busy; Ursa goes up about 1/3 full and at Sunbowl, upper six pack barely has anyone on it if it is open; sometimes it is closed or they run it for a few hours which makes it hard to enjoy the upper mountain of that area. The lower one goes about 1/4 occupied.

gondola def is terrible and I hate the atmosphere and fake village. That said, I do like the mountain when I go there..

Newpylong said:

gondola def is terrible and I hate the atmosphere and fake village. That said, I do like the mountain when I go there..

Click to expand...

Same here; mountain is a solid intermediate mountain. If you're big into skiing the steeps, you'd better look elsewhere though. Though, there's some areas that can get tough for an upper intermediate where there's big moguls and they do have their good stashes in the woods and other sweet areas.

Out of the Big 3 in southern VT. (Okemo, Mt. Snow, Stratton) Stratton is the best mountain in my opinion. While it is mostly a well groomed intermediate mountain there is enough fairly challenging terrain to keep a good skier occupied for a day or more. Their long intermediate cruising trails while not steep have a better pitch to them then what is mostly found at the other two mountains.

I can't say anything bad about their gondola. Had a very good experience riding that lift on an empty day with my wife that would probably be deleted if I explained.

steamboat1 said:

I can't say anything bad about their gondola. Had a very good experience riding that lift on an empty day with my wife that would probably be deleted if I explained.

Click to expand...

so I'm assuming you may have a slightly different pet-name for there gondola then I do... I would love to read that explantion before it gets deleted ...

I could understand getting aggravated if they tried packing 12 into each gondola, normally it's 8 or 9. I don't see it as a big deal, you're protected from the cold/wind and usually 6-7 get to sit. I've been in trams and funitels where it was so crowded you couldn't even scratch your ass. IMO if you are at the bottom it's a helluva lot quicker then taking two chairs up. The Gondola hardly ever stops but the chairs do constantly especially when the mountain is busy.

xlr8r said:

Overall Stratton is not my kind of resort, extremely snobby. Everyone there talked about how Stratton is so much better than the neighboring mountains of Okemo, Mount Snow and even Killington.

Click to expand...

I stopped dissin' areas and skiers a long time ago. More experience people like me [once Greg cured me of the flatland dissin') and perhaps you, (no insult intended) can be just as snobby about others who either don't have the opportunity to get around or are perfectly satisfied at Stratton.

So consider the source. I've heard teens dis' practically anything in their path, have to one-up their buddies and show off. I know several people who go there for the convenience and the familiarity the resort provides. The majority of skiers are intermediates and that's where the resorts target. The voices on this forum are absolutely more passionate about skiing than the vast majority of skiers.

In terms of fake-Tyrolean villages, have you checked out Vail's village? Its a village on steriods. Well done, but I can't afford to shop there. No matter, the mountain terrain is outstanding!

Now the arrogance may be real or perceived, I don't know. I've certainly seen a lot of expensive and underutilized equipment at Stratton. If they are happy spending the majority of the day inside swapping lies and stories, let them have it. They spend the money.

My philosophy is quite simple. If you get to the bottom and you have a smile on your face, that's all that really matters. After all, it's just adults playing in the snow!nn

Well put Billski; I've only gone into the village one time when I did ski and stay. I've been to Stratton about 6 other times and I've always used the Sunbowl Lodge as I've always went with the bus since that's where they are forced to go. Never really go in that main lodge otherwise than to use the restroom. But holy moly; I couldn't imagine them cramming 8 or 9 people into those gondolas.

When there's been 7 when I've been there, the 7th person is standing and its about crowded as the k1 at Killington having the full 8 people. And yet there's yuppies over there that complain when you try to fit in and be the 8th person with a reasonable sized 5 minute line in singles. Can see why they wouldn't want to fill every cabin 100% at the skyeship base to keep things moving at the midstation though.

thetrailboss said:

The gondola is weird and a concept that I don't think was repeated. It is meant for you to stand up in IIRC.

Click to expand...

Whistler has the same style cabins, but it's probably double the length and vert. Hopefully they'll both upgrade one of these days.

mlkrgr said:

Same here; mountain is a solid intermediate mountain. If you're big into skiing the steeps, you'd better look elsewhere though. Though, there's some areas that can get tough for an upper intermediate where there's big moguls and they do have their good stashes in the woods and other sweet areas.

Click to expand...

I hate the gondola at Stratton. It is uncomfortable even when you are the only one in it. They do over-cram it on busy weekends, which makes it worse. It is often on wind hold. And the lines become absurd on most mid-winter weekends.

Also, in my experience they almost never have moguls, anywhere. After 4 years of skiing Stratton 15+ days a year, we had to switch. The gondola, lack of moguls, the afternoon shadows, the crowd that all-too-often lives up to the stereotypes, it just wasn't for us.

All that being said, the glades are notable. Worth a day or two a year.

That gondola surely is awkward and uncomfortable. Not a fan.

I didn't shop at the village there, but besides making parking more difficult it doesn't bother me. Seems like at least there are a few food/beer choices available and maybe something to do for those staying overnight.

billski said:

My philosophy is quite simple. If you get to the bottom and you have a smile on your face, that's all that really matters. After all, it's just adults playing in the snow!nn

Click to expand...

+1

I will add that evaluating a ski area when many of the trails are still closed is probably junk science at best.

Jackson Hole right now has no trails opened off the top of the mountain and the TRAM is closed to skiers and snowboarders. All double diamond trails are closed. Saying that Jackson Hole sucks without ever experiencing skiing 4,000+ vertical feet off the top of the mountain down through the hobacks or skiing Alta chutes in deep powder would be extremely short sided.

BTW Jackson Hole TRAM has 100 people standing up in the box where the last few folks getting in turn and walk backwards pushing on people to get into the TRAM box. Does 100 people in a box smell? you betcha. Real skiers and riders don't seem to mind, because the skiing and riding is AWESOME!!!!!! If you don't like the smell go ski and ride someplace else. :roll:

Best glades in SVT hands down. I spend at least 4-6 days a year just for that. As far as the gondi is concerned, i may be on it once the entire day so I don't mind. I'd prefer the gondi at stratton over long lines at mt snow on weekends.

gladerider said:

Best glades in SVT hands down.

Click to expand...

*cough* Magic *cough*

twinplanx said:

this + there gondola duz suck. Hence me and the boyz dubed it the Fartbox back in like '97. The Bro & I were most impressed w/ the glades in 1 trail pod last season. I think thats the Sun Bowl but it could be the Snow Bowl. Kinda confusing names there. Anyway Jet Pilot was our favorite...

Click to expand...

there are glades in both of those. from the sun bowl lodge. there is a decent sized glades to the right of the sunrise express as you ride up. there are woods you can go in around the snow bowl chair. a lot of fun.