Ascutney Mountain

[Zand]

I haven't been there before and am looking for a relatively close day trip. How is it? How are the beginner trails at the bottom? How good is the upper mountain terrain? How crowded is it on weekends? Thanks.

 

[deadheadskier]

Its a mid-sized family mountain with a good learning area at the bottom. The upper mountain has some fun nooks and crannies to check out and a high speed lift to access them, but its still somewhat limited. Crowds shouldn't be a problem.

I posted in the AZ challenge thread that I find Ascutney to be somewhat of a travesty. I'm a skier and if a mountain is developed into a downhill ski area, I'd like to see all the available terrain maximized unless there are unique natural areas that shouldn't be exposed to the masses.

An example would be that I don't think that the summit of Mansfield should be accessed by lift because it is a unique and pristine alpine environment. On the other shoe, I think that Slidebrook at Sugarbush should be developed (at least somewhat, not mass boulevards, but a lift and a couple defined trails) because there is Mt Abraham right nearby and hundreds of thousands of acreas of undeveloped forests in the Green Mountain National forest for the back country enthusiasts to enjoy.

Which brings me back to Ascutney. To me, the current ski facilities encompass perhaps 20% of the mountain's true potential. It is an ENORMOUS mountain and if given the green light could add 500 more verticle feet and hundreds of acres of lift accessed skiing.

Sorry for the rant. I know I could've stopped with my first paragraph, but I had to let it out. For 20 years, I've felt that this mountain could be 'the s***' for southern New England skiing if only permitted/allowed to realize its potential.

The only other mountain I've looked at more outside of Ascutney and salivated about concerning lift accessed skiable terrain, is Mount Equinox in Manchester, Vermont. That's another topic and thread though as well as something that will never happen, so I'll spare you the rant there. :lol:

 

[Talisman]

Ascutney's problem is lack of natural snow because it is in a 'snow shadow' and lack of water to make snow. The snow shadow is created by the Green Mtns to the West and White Mtns to the East extracting most of the moisture from typical weather patterns. I agree that Ascutney has very interesting terrain and has expasion potential to make the ski area far larger, but where would the snow come from, natural or other wise?

Try to ski Ascutney when it is 100% open as there are some interesting looking glades. Unfortunately I never been to Ascutney when the glades are open.

 

[ATskier]

What?

Don't let them fool you. Ascutney is a hidden gem. That snow shadow stuff has to be the most preposterous weather analysis I have ever seen. In actuality, they lack the water for exceptional snowmaking. If you know where to go, there exists some great challenges for experts, though, everyone else will have fun and the price is usually right. The owner spends a lot of time in the lodge and will listen to anyone who has something to say about his resort. There's a trail bozo out there who professes to know everything about it, but hasn't been there in years. Try it and see what you think.

 

[thetrailboss]

I posted in the AZ challenge thread that I find Ascutney to be somewhat of a travesty.

Yes, it is unfortunate that they have refused to get back to us with their answers. That helped make my decision as to where I'm going to be skiing this season...one less on the list :roll:

 

[loafer89]

I have been to Ascutney twice, on both visits there was ALOT of natural snow. One visit was before the new detachable quad, and one visit after the expansion and added vertical.

The glades are interesting, especially to skiers left, those glades (Cabin Chute, The Dark Side) get very steep with some cliff like terrain to be avoided

The upper mountain trails have alot of short classic New England style feel to them AKA short, twisty and narrow.

I agree that the mountain suffers from a lack of snowfall, as I visited the place on a sunday after skiing at Okemo following a 12" dump, and Ascutney had perhaps 6-8" from the same storm even though they are only about 16 miles apart.

I took the auto road to the top of Mount Ascutney and the monadnock is huge at 3,130', but part of the mountain is a state forest, so further expansion is a pipe dream for know.

 

[Vortex]

I skied Ascutney for 20 years I was mountain rat there. Last ski visit was the late 80's. The snow belt runs around Ascutney and temps area always lower at okemo. Great skiers mountain, Water was a problem. Lack of natural snow was a valid concern.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Ascutney definitely has a snow problem, at least relative to the snowbelt areas in the Greens. Okemo and K-Mart are at a similar latitude just 20 miles away or so and they receive 200" and 250" respectively while Ascutney scrapes by with just 140" - much more like NH totals. If you believe that the Greens benefit from orographic uplift, then almost by definition you have to believe that Ascutney is penalized by a drier, warmer flow coming from the west. Regardless, it does have loads of potential. When you drive down 91 from places further North, you can see a gorgeous N and NE face that looks like it would be fantastic to ski. I wouldn't say that Equinox is the great miseed opportunity in SoVT, though. Dorset Mountain says hi:


http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4797051&e=658741&s=100&size=l&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25

 

[atomic68]

Ascutney has only one non advanced trail from the top which is crowded and distresses my wife (an intermediate). I wouldnt drive past Berkshire East to go there.

 

[Zand]

Thanks guys. I was actually debating whether to hit this or Burke for a weekend trip this year. I was about 95% towards Burke and just wanted an alternative just in case. I'm gonna have tons of new mountains after this winter, as well as some returns to old favorites.

BTW, if you guys have another AZ day at Burke, let us all know. I was just reading the TRs from last years and now my keyboard is covered in drool. :wink:

 

[awf170]

BTW, if you guys have another AZ day at Burke, let us all know. I was just reading the TRs from last years and now my keyboard is covered in drool. :wink:

Ya, we should have it again. I would probably be able to go too, and if Zand goes I wouldnt have to hang out with all of you old farts. We'll show you old guys how to really ski :wink:

 

[thetrailboss]

BTW, if you guys have another AZ day at Burke, let us all know. I was just reading the TRs from last years and now my keyboard is covered in drool. :wink:

Ya, we should have it again. I would probably be able to go too, and if Zand goes I wouldnt have to hang out with all of you old farts. We'll show you old guys how to really ski :wink:

BURKE without question, gents! :beer: I will be a passholder, so PM me and we'll get together!

PM me with questions as well...

 

[Zand]

We can have a ton of days this year, really. If someone goes on a trip somewhere and wants a day, we can just say it and get 5 people to show up. Berkshire East Day and Burke Day are musts again.

 

[thetrailboss]

We can have a ton of days this year, really. If someone goes on a trip somewhere and wants a day, we can just say it and get 5 people to show up. Berkshire East Day and Burke Day are musts again.

Yes, did everyone hear that? SHOW UP and have a good time! :idea:

It does not have to be a formal event mind you...PM's work great!

I will be regularly at Burke, Cannon, and Sunapee with sideshows at Dartmouth SkiWay, Stowe, Stratton, maybe Pats Peak, Gunstock, Butternut, etc. etc.