2-fers

[billski]

My master plan is to ski every area in New England, and I'm getting close. I've got to knock off Suicide Six and Middlebury. I'm concerned that I might get bored after half-day. Certainly too far away to do both in one day. What do you think?

My thought is to make a separate couple overnighter trips: one day at Suicide or Middlebury and the other day at a more challenging place, let's call it area "X." Can you please make suggestions for which area X would be, and please don't say Kmart, it's not an option. How about a Suicide and Pico combo? Middlebury and MRG/Bush? How good is the road to Middlebury. I know that Rte 100 south of Warren can be very hairy with white-outs when the winds blow, which seems to be a lot.

Any good cheap(er) places (not dorms) in either area? I just need a bed but I like privacy too. Basic is good.

Other comments? thankyouverymuch!

 

[noski]

The stretch Rt 100 between Warren and Rt 125 is fine. It is state highway and if you just drive smart, like you would on any VT road in winter, it will be fine. In good weather it's only 20 minutes or so. KingM has a place at the foot of the Sugarbush Access Rd that is reasonable, plus you get a great breakfast. You can PM him for specifics. In good weather you can get from his place to the Snowbowl in about, mmmm... 35 min? Others may be able to tell you better.

 

[billski]

The stretch Rt 100 between Warren and Rt 125 is fine. It is state highway and if you just drive smart, like you would on any VT road in winter, it will be fine. In good weather it's only 20 minutes or so. KingM has a place at the foot of the Sugarbush Access Rd that is reasonable, plus you get a great breakfast. You can PM him for specifics. In good weather you can get from his place to the Snowbowl in about, mmmm... 35 min? Others may be able to tell you better.

Thanks for the lodging tip. I've experienced white outs three times in recent years on the Rte 100 stretch. It was not a pleasant drive. It's the stretch with the wide open fields that was the killer. I tend to drive in inclement weather (can you say "powder day?"). I wished I had gone back out to rte 89.

 

[riverc0il]

Mad River and Bush are plenty of mountain for several days let alone one day. If you truly want to experience those mountains, then I would suggest doing one day at each and not combining them with Middlebury. Unless you have already skied MRG and the Bush in which case that might be a good option. A bit more of a drive but how about Middlebury and Bolton? Suicide and Pico would work well for a combined day but again Pico is plenty of mountain to explore for an entire day so a mixed day may not provide you the full experience.

I once had the goal of skiing every single area in New England. I gave up that ambition a few years ago realizing that I would never make the time to visit all the small Maine ski areas that are mostly locals only and I definitely wouldn't be making the time to drive down to RI and CT (no offence Sundown skiers ).

 

[billski]

Mad River and Bush are plenty of mountain for several days let alone one day. If you truly want to experience those mountains, then I would suggest doing one day at each and not combining them with Middlebury. Unless you have already skied MRG and the Bush in which case that might be a good option. A bit more of a drive but how about Middlebury and Bolton? Suicide and Pico would work well for a combined day but again Pico is plenty of mountain to explore for an entire day so a mixed day may not provide you the full experience.

I once had the goal of skiing every single area in New England. I gave up that ambition a few years ago realizing that I would never make the time to visit all the small Maine ski areas that are mostly locals only and I definitely wouldn't be making the time to drive down to RI and CT (no offence Sundown skiers ).

I've definitely skied MRG and Bush multiple times, and commented on them often here. I'm trying to focus on getting to Mid and Suicide. I know it's hard when such other goodies are nearby, that's why I'd like to plan one day large, one day small. I would never consider half day at a large area.
when I meant half days, I was thinking of half day at Suicide, half day at Middlebury, but I'm concerned it may be too much mid-day in-transit time.
I did hear about, on this forum, one bloke who skied sunday am at stowe (I saw his stuck car) and then went to S. VT resort (kmart?) for the second half of the day. Too much time in the car when you could be skiing.

 

[thetrailboss]

FWIW you may need a day for Middlebury. It skis pretty big...especially when the backside is open.

 

[SKIVT2]

Give these areas a break. They can entertain.
Don't do 1/2 day. It's at least an hour and a half to two hours between them on the best day and you will wish you had more time than 1/2 a day at each once you get there if you pick your days right. Definately stay all day. They may charm you.

My advice..........
Go to Suicide on a frigid windy saturday in mid season when anywhere else would be too cold and too crowded. You will appreciate the fact that it is low elevation and mostly protected. It's never crowded. Suicide leaves a couple of trails ungroomed and grooms others to perfection (perfect ridged courderoy snow still at 11AM). It's so uncrowded I've had a deer cross my path on a trail. While short, some trails are quite steep. Make sure to have lunch there in the beautiful lodge. The food can be excellent as the chef from the woodstock inn (owns the mt) often makes the soup etc. It's a great place to lower your blood pressure compared to the crowded slopes at neighboring areas.

As stated Middlebury is quite interesting when the backside is open especially after big powder. Remember 2/14/07? I believe that was a Thursday. Middlebury opened the backbowl for the 1st time all season that saturday (2/16/07?). All I can say is you shoulda been there. I was. The snow was so deep my snowboarder freind had to swim out to the cat tracks when he fell. My pocket rockets were not really enough float for the almost waist deep fresh. The terrain is old school. Very little grooming on the backside expert trails ever. This is also a cool historic lodge.

The only thing to watch for with either of these places is that they sometimes host very large ski race events. Avoid them on these days. No need to be at Middlebury when they host the annual NCAA Ski championships.

Have a great time and don't underestimate how much fun these two places can be. I've skied every Mt in VT and I still find time to get to each of these at least 1X per year.:beer:

 

[KingM]

Given what you say above, my advice is to stay in the MRV and drive down to Snow Bowl one of the days. It's only a half hour from here, for example, and then five minutes up the mountain to Sugarbush (LP).

Unless you come in a snowstorm, Route 100 will be no problem at all. The whole thing is no problem at all, if hitting Middlebury is a priority for you.

I haven't been to Middlebury yet, but I've driven by a few times and hiked down off the Long Trail through the mountain in the summer. It certainly looks like enough for a fun day of skiing.