Ascutney Mountain?

[tequiladoug]

whats the deal, pretty much every plave in VT is 90-100% open but Ascutney is at 60%?

I am trying to figure out if its worth 110 miles drive (one way) to use my WM free lift ticket next weekend.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

they arent big on mtce or blowing....

 

[reefer]

They do not make any snow (or seldom do) on the upper blacks, elevation and location are not snow friendly. They probably just need a little more snow to go 100%, although I haven't personally been there yet. I'm keeping my eye on this storm and Fridays. May end up at Ascutney Sunday so I'll post a report with pictures if I do.

 

[thetrailboss]

Pretty low key place....I lived 20 miles from it for two years and NEVER heard anything about it...except that they can't hold onto help and that they are not too great.

 

[reefer]

Pretty low key place....I lived 20 miles from it for two years and NEVER heard anything about it...except that they can't hold onto help and that they are not too great.

Have you been there or is this third hand information. By not too great................. as far as what goes?
More details please.
I mean - already being low key is a positive!

 

[thetrailboss]

Have you been there or is this third hand information. By not too great................. as far as what goes?
More details please.

Again, I lived very close by...and had several friends who were passholders and/or former employees. I have heard a lot of complaints in here and in other places. I wouldn't consider it to be "third hand info" and the sources are fairly credible. Given the amount of bad stuff I have heard, I don't think people are making it up either. The problems that they have are, not enough snowmaking, bad exposure, and it's just not run well. Read the last TR in here from one guy who went with his wife/gf last month. He was not impressed.

I will also say that I had direct contact with the mountain a few years back in my capacity as a moderator operating the AZ Challenge. They completely forgot about us.... :blink:

Have I skied there? No. Do I want to based on what I have heard and seen? No.

That all said, there is one guy here (name slips me) who owns a place there and he has had good luck....he will probably chime in.

 

[SnowRider]

With the new snow they will go 100%. I like Ascutney. Kind of classic New England. They arnt big on snowmaking but with the new snow and fun terrain it may be worth it.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

ascut has some a nice steep pitch, nice glades, old school feel, no one is ever there!!!! would be sick after a pow day

 

[MRGisevil]

For a free day of skiing I'm not too concerned if they're only 60% open. It'll be nice to check the place out and put another trail map on my wall.

 

[jaywbigred]

Wow weird. I just logged in to ask "What is the deal with Ascutney" and this was the first post.

I may be checking it out Sunday also.

Hopefully this storm nails them.

 

[reefer]

Thanks for elaborating Trailboss. I can not argue with anything you stated. It is obviously low budget and I beleive they survrive only because of the hotel/condos they have. I would never buy a pass there. It is a one-guy ownership. They (like Magic) make very little snow, especilly on expert terrain, and they are not in a snow belt. I've seen them go all season without opening some of the blacks! They cater to families that do not want the big resort hassle.
I have always had a great time there. You have to be careful when you go, and obviously after a storm would be best (like Magic). Like maybe this w/e.............
I could care less about the inner workings of the resort and who gets fired, or doesn't like the way things run internally, etc......
Terrain there is fantastic. Good pitch and follows the fall lines. They leave plenty un-groomed also. Never a crowd! As you said low key! If you go mid-week there may be 40-50 people there (like Magic), and was no liftline on a couple Sundays I've been there. Browns Tavern has always been great for lunch (not open during week). People have always been friendly.
I remeber that TR and the TR itself wasn't very impressive..............should have known better not to be there that day. There is another one from December that is more kind...................research.....
Anyway, Ascutney rocks, but you have to know what the hell your doin' and when your doin' it. I mean I love tons of untracked, good pitch, no liftlines, and a hassle-free beer for lunch..............
This is good though, now I can post pictures and label them "Yeah - Ascutney's not that great" next time I get there..........................
You don't know what your missing when they are at 100%...............................
I'm surprised you wouldn't want to try something before you totally rule it out........................

P.S. I didn't see posts by SKIQUATRO and SnoRider when I wrote this - they obviouly know when and how to roll.............

 

[thetrailboss]

I'm surprised you wouldn't want to try something before you totally rule it out........................

I don't think I have ruled it completely out. And I have been proven wrong. Every once in a while people will bash Stratton. I used to...and then I skied it on a free ticket in 2006 and I've got to say that there is some positive things about it. They just don't cater to most of the crowd here...and their rates are high. But they have fast lifts, good snowmaking, good grooming, good service, and clean well run facilities. I skied my legs off that day...it was a nice place.

The cognitive dissonance I have with Ascutney and other mountains is the "management" vs "terrain" split. With Ascutney, from what I have seen, I am not a fan of the management. As I've said here before, they seem to be hung up on the 'status' of being ski resort owners rather than running a good show. Sometimes having the owners involved is a good thing (Sugarbush, Jay, MRG) and sometimes it is not (Ascutney). That said, I've always been interested in the terrain. The same goes with Bolton. Great mountain...great terrain...but this season I feel that things aren't as appealing as they were under Bob Fries (cheaper tickets, more promos, etc). No hard feelings, it is just not as appealing. Same goes with Burke to some extent...great friends, family, my home mountain, great terrain, but sometimes certain aspects of how it is run just miss the mark completely.

Now the opposite is true with Jay for example. I'm not too excited about their terrain overall...I like variety...but their management has done a great job. Steve and Bill Stenger do a lot and get kudos. Do I recommend them? Yes, with a caveat: know the weather and conditions, and you'd better like trees.

But these are my opinions...for what the are worth...I'd like to think it is based on some experience and my impressions and gut feelings...but my opinion on these matters and $.75 may buy you a cup of coffee...

 

[SnowRider]

Ok now that Im at home and not in class I can give a better review. :lol:

Ascutney has some fun trails:Gunbarrel (sometimes big jumps) Free-Fall, Touch-N-Go, and Ledges are some good ones. Under the quad sometimes has drops but with all the snow im not sure.

Woods: Stay away from Cabin Chute (It's a hike out of it and continueing send to a huge cliff) Neverglades had some small drops (3-4 feet) skiirs right. Wispering pines is longer than Buchwacker so stick with that one.

Lines: None at all.

Lifts: Highspeed all day. You can get to everthing with no lines on it either.

Its a low key place but trust me. There WILL be powder. I went beginnig of March a week after a storm and the trails had TONS of powder. It will probobly still be awsome this weekend.

 

[schifty]

I have a ski house on the mountain and can report the coverage is 100% just that the ice crust is unreal closing the best trails. If they get a foot the place will rock. cabin shoots is a great run if you know your way down just keep going right rigth right. not positive but mid-week they may only run the old slow triple.

 

[thetrailboss]

The fact that the HSQ does not often run was one complaint I had heard.....

 

[schifty]

14-18 reported overnight on their web page!! If you have ever wanted to check the place out now is the time these conditions only come around to Ascutney every third leap year.

 

[tequiladoug]

damn, wish my free tic could have been used today.

interesting wording from their site


The 100% of our Lifts are Open !!!

The Perfect Day for Skiing and Riding!!

14"-18" of New Snow !!

 

[thetrailboss]

I don't go to a ski area to ride the snowcovered lifts.....what about those trails???

 

[danny p]

i just was listening to roger hill's podcast (bestskiweather.com) and he mentioned that ascutney is an old volcano? I have never heard that. Interesting stuff.

 

[reefer]

I'll most likely be there Sunday and report back. I got a free ticket for you if you want to join me trailboss! They are at 100%. Looking good! Would have been awesome there today and I'm guessing right through the weekend with tha clipper coming in Friday.