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Learn Me about Magic Mountain

tjf67

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No real tree cutting.

Mostly pruning and cleaning.

Nothing like the Big Jay atrocity.

yeah thats what I meant. You are glading not cutting a trail. Big jay was a trail cut.
 

koreshot

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Man, I am really really really liking what I see here about Magic. I am definitely going there after a snow storm. After reading all the info and seeing all pictures and videos, I feel like an idiot for not checking this place out sooner.

Plus I am a total sucker for rustic, "beat up" and uncrowder resorts. The fact that its almost 2 hours closer than the MRV resorts is a big plus too.
 

Greg

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Greg, I like the pictures too, especially the one before last, the sketchy rocky trail under the lift. If you had told me that picture was taken in an old school western resort like Solitude or Alta, I would have believed you. It looked pretty nasty...in a good way. Tell me you guys skied it.

I've never skied Upper Redline. To be honest, it probably is a bit beyond my comfort zone. Not sure how often it's skiable, but I see tracks down the face all the time.

Man, I am really really really liking what I see here about Magic. I am definitely going there after a snow storm. After reading all the info and seeing all pictures and videos, I feel like an idiot for not checking this place out sooner.

Plus I am a total sucker for rustic, "beat up" and uncrowder resorts. The fact that its almost 2 hours closer than the MRV resorts is a big plus too.

You'll love Magic. I don't think it's a full 2 hour closer than the MRV, maybe 90 mins., and don't expect the snow totals they get in the North, but if SoVT scores a dump, it's the place to be.

I always though Berkshire East has a similar vibe. If the Berks get a dump, be sure to check them out too.
 

sledhaulingmedic

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KS:

With good snow, it can't be beat. I'll see what I can find for pictures, but I lost a lot of them when I took down the Magic Ski Patrol website a couple of years ago.

While I like the glades and Redline when it's good, I generally spent a lot more time on the skiers' left side of the mountain...Wizard, Broomstick, Talisman, Master, Heart, Lucifer, Slide of Hans, Sorcerer and various things in between.

In the past, the woods skiing was VERY tight. THere had been some clearing done by some of the former staff, patrollers, instructors, etc, but a lot of it was just a single line through the trees. My understanding is that there has been more clearing in the last two summers.

After a number of seasons skiing there 20-40 times/season, I really miss the place. I'm going to keep a note to myself to head over after a good dump.
 

Beetlenut

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We are slowly fixing the off map/density issue of some/mosts of our trees. My best piece of advice for this season is to take a look at the mountain biking trail map put up by the Empire of Dirt. The Red and yellow trails are where I would explore.

For those interested in the layout:

19.jpg
 

Greg

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When SoVT gets dumped on this season, we should have an AZ outing lead around to all the stashes by Matt.

All in favor!?
 

koreshot

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Count me in as long as its on or around a weekend/holiday.
 

riverc0il

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1. Everything is a challenge. Even Easiest Way Down can give you a run for your money if you catch it after it's been bumped out (usually by 11ish). I've heard it called "the most challenging terrain south of Killington", but I don't know about that; I'd like to call it the most challenging terrain south of Jay.
Ummm.... No. That would be Mad River Glen which is a more challenging mountain than Jay, let alone Magic. Stowe, Smuggs, and Bush are also much more challenging mountains than Magic. I love Magic but no need to get people's hopes up only to be let down and disappointed. Most challenging terrain south of Killington without a doubt.
 

koreshot

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Ummm.... No. That would be Mad River Glen which is a more challenging mountain than Jay, let alone Magic. Stowe, Smuggs, and Bush are also much more challenging mountains than Magic. I love Magic but no need to get people's hopes up only to be let down and disappointed. Most challenging terrain south of Killington without a doubt.

Does this mean Killington is more challenging in your view River? Magic sure does seem to have more of a concentration of challenge and possibly more top to bottom challenging runs than killington does - judging strictly by trail maps and limited Kmart experience.

I have a feeling that if I spent 6 hours at Magic, I can get more challenging vertical in than at killington. Thoughts?
 

2knees

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Does this mean Killington is more challenging in your view River? Magic sure does seem to have more of a concentration of challenge and possibly more top to bottom challenging runs than killington does - judging strictly by trail maps and limited Kmart experience.

I have a feeling that if I spent 6 hours at Magic, I can get more challenging vertical in than at killington. Thoughts?

Sorry to jump in but this thread is making my adreline flow.

Having skied both a lot, i would say yes, as far as on map stuff, magic has more challenging vert than killington. Everything at killington that is steep is also as wide as a football field and most cliff bands are gone. Conclusion has a small one and the one on devils fiddle but nothing compared to what you get on redline. I've never skied black line but from what i remember riding the black chair, (havent been on that in a long time) it looks almost unskiable. The top of redline is also quite nuts. Just look out for the snowmaking pipe that runs along the bottom of it. Lucifer has a series of ledges that are very fun and master magician is as steep or steeper then anything at killington. With alot more rocks thrown in.

If someone wants to take into account off map stashes, i cant speak to that but i'm sure someone on here would have some insight.
 

sledhaulingmedic

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If someone wants to take into account off map stashes, i cant speak to that but i'm sure someone on here would have some insight.

I can't speak from a lot of off map stuff at K-mart or Stowe. (I'm sure Stowe has some gems.) MRG has a ton of wild stuff, WOAD.

Magic's trees are generally insanely tight and what is clear, as far as off map is generally tight and steep. What lacks in quantity at magic, is made up for in stashs like the wormhole and oh phuck. Unfortunately, neither are very photogenic, due to how steep and tight they are but, with good cover, I'll try and show. (It won't be pretty, but I'll give it a try.)
 

riverc0il

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Does this mean Killington is more challenging in your view River? Magic sure does seem to have more of a concentration of challenge and possibly more top to bottom challenging runs than killington does - judging strictly by trail maps and limited Kmart experience.

I have a feeling that if I spent 6 hours at Magic, I can get more challenging vertical in than at killington. Thoughts?
Honestly, I have no idea. I have not skied Killington enough to answer that question. I have only skied there early season and after the lifts have closed on Superstar. I would need to get a good run at Killington with everything open including the glades to answer that question. So Magic is definitely the most challenging south of Killington but I have no idea if it is the most challenging south of the Bush, if that clarifies things a little bit.
 

Talisman

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I have a feeling that if I spent 6 hours at Magic, I can get more challenging vertical in than at killington. Thoughts?

I have skied Magic, Killington and many other places extensively. I really enjoy skiing at Magic and think there is challening terrain there, but I have to say Killington has a greater 'volume' of challenging terrain than Magic. I dislike the crowd factor at Killington and how fast trails are skied off, but there is some great terrain at Killington.
 

2knees

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I have skied Magic, Killington and many other places extensively. I really enjoy skiing at Magic and think there is challening terrain there, but I have to say Killington has a greater 'volume' of challenging terrain than Magic. I dislike the crowd factor at Killington and how fast trails are skied off, but there is some great terrain at Killington.


you bring up a valid point. In terms of sheer volume its no comparison. I guess one could look at it almost as a quality vs. quantity arguement. My opinion is that the quality of magic's hairball terrain is better then killingtons. In a purely hypothetical situation, if i had to choose between a full week at either killington or magic, i would choose killington for its quantity of challenging terrain.
 

Greg

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It really depends on natural snowfall for the good stuff at Magic to even be skiable. If we're talking a 12"+ dump, everywhere will be good, but everyone owes it to themself to give Magic a try when the conditions are prime. I'll take the 2:45 drive to Magic over the 3:15 to Killington any powder day.
 
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