Ascutney?

[Joshua B]

Something about the tone of this discussion rubs me the wrong way. It's really weird to me that the moderator would basically bury Ascutney in the first response like that . Maybe people are just having a bad day. Or maybe I'm the only one who thinks it's a strange discussion about a great Vermont ski area. Oh well.

 

[thetrailboss]

Something about the tone of this discussion rubs me the wrong way. It's really weird to me that the moderator would basically bury Ascutney in the first response like that . Maybe people are just having a bad day. Or maybe I'm the only one who thinks it's a strange discussion about a great Vermont ski area. Oh well.

I'm flattered that you think I have that much influence in here. In fact, I don't. All Moderators are posters first and foremost and we do express a point of view. Nobody is right and nobody is wrong on a subject as this one. A Mod's POV carries no more weight on this type of issue.

I guess you are opposed to my point of view, and that is OK. There are people who have expressed different views in here other than mine and it seems that there is an implication that I have manipulated the conversation on this topic. I have not and don't really see how you could think that. Nobody is going to be happy all the time in here.

There are three pages of posts here and you've focused on mine and my limited POV of the resort. So because you are not happy and have made this a public issue, once again, I will respond.

Here is my first post where you say that I "bury" Ascutney:

We don't discuss it much because there is really nothing much to discuss. Few of us have been there. I live 25 miles from there and NEVER hear anything. They are a low-keyed operation. Not much natural snow since it lies in the shadow of Killington and Okemo. Not a long season either. Decent terrain from what I have heard.

Twin Tips is our resident expert on Ascutney. He frequents there.

I state some facts here: first, that I live nearby and that I don't hear much. Second, that nobody talks much about the place. Third, that they are "low keyed." And concerns about not much natural snow and short season. I was backed up on pretty much every point by other folks. The resort does not get much snow. Like it or not, that is a fact. People would rather get the real deal here from us rather than puffery.

Now if I was "burying" a resort or had an agenda, why would I say, "decent terrain" or refer the guy to "our resident expert on Ascutney?" I don't think I would.

I will admit that I did express some :roll: about their advertising. But I did qualify it by saying:

But I can see how a consultant would advise them to do that...especially going against nearby "corporate" resorts.

I've expressed my view on Ascutney. Some good points. Some bad ones. I've respected other POV;s. I don't see what is wrong with that. If you do, you can PM me as can anyone else regarding issues like this.

The only thing that I would like to "bury" are the preconceptions as to who I am. It seems that you only post a few times in here and lately it has been to publicly confront me. I hope that sometime you will come from behind the computer and ski with us. I think then you will understand that Moderator tag or no Mod Tag, I'm a good guy.

 

[Greg]

I'm a good guy.

That's debatable... :roll:

 

[thetrailboss]

That's debatable... :roll:

:lol:

 

[TwinTips21]

I seem to remember there being a short hike skier's left of the trails which brought you to an area overlooking a beautiful valley. I want to say there was a cabin or something out there too, but recalling specifics from back in those days tends to be a bit hazy so I might be confusing that with somewhere else. Twintips?

This short hike is after taking the glade "cabin chute" to the skiers left off of cloudspin. You can ski most of the way but hiking is required. You do come to a cabin that sits on a huge rock cliff where a family once lived I believe. There was a lengthy article about this cabin in the past Ascutney magazine which was an interesting read. People have been known to get lost on this trail and have a hard time finding their way back.

Also- Trailboss was just stating facts and a few opinions which is the purpose of a message board. If you disagree with something just post your opinion on the subject and all is well.

 

[thetrailboss]

This short hike is after taking the glade "cabin chute" to the skiers left off of cloudspin. You can ski most of the way but hiking is required. You do come to a cabin that sits on a huge rock cliff where a family once lived I believe. There was a lengthy article about this cabin in the past Ascutney magazine which was an interesting read. People have been known to get lost on this trail and have a hard time finding their way back.

That sounds cool. It is too bad that Ascutney is where it is because I think that if it were somewhere with more snow and fewer competitors, it would do well. I have heard that the mountain has some good steep stuff. Will have to come by and give it a spin. My preconceived opinions of places have been proven wrong after a visit or two (e.g. Stowe, Stratton, Pats Peak, etc.)

I am glad that TwinTips is here to give us a firsthand perspective on the place. :beer:

 

[TwinTips21]

Article found on Alpinezone

Couldn't get a direct link...


BROWNSVILLE, Vermont — When the Jones' family built a small Adirondack-style cabin atop a 200-foot cliff on Ascutney in 1964, they didn't expect that more than 40 years later other families would be enjoying the same view.

When asked why her dad, Robert Jones, who was then on the board of directors of Mt. Ascutney Ski Area, wanted to build a cabin, daughter Susan replied, "For fun and the beautiful views, of course!"

The Jones family spent the better part of the summer and fall of 1964 harvesting logs in the white pines, cutting tree trunks, and building the cabin into the side of the mountain in such a way that it would have a full front wall, two side walls that were angled into the mountain, and the rear wall, which consisted of a rock ledge on the bottom half. The rock also served as the back wall of the fireplace.

Inside, the family enjoyed two rope-swing benches at the fireplace, a wide wooden bench to the side, a picnic table for six and a second floor above for sleeping quarters. The family placed a simple sign on the front door which read: "Leave It As You Found It," a traditional phrase that many outdoor lovers, including hikers, use often in an effort to preserve a location's natural habitat.

While the "Leave It As You Found It" motto waned over the years, today local skiers and snowboarders as well as those who enjoy exploring the outer trees of the ski resort can sneak into the woods to the present-day Jones' Cabin, also known as Fifth Ave. Cabin. For experts, it's a new ski destination on the mountain with the additions of The Cabin Chute trail to get there, and The Dark Side brings skiers back to the main trail network.

Since 1964 porcupines have also made the cabin home, eating away at the roof. The furniture is gone, and the fireplace and flue have been rendered unusable. But the comforts of visiting a "cabin in the woods" live on, along with future plans to possibly restore the cabin to its original state.

 

[SnowRider]

200-foot cliff on Ascutney

This has got to be one of the dumbest questions but has anyone launched it? (If huckable)

 

[Jean-Pierre Skier]

This has got to be one of the dumbest questions but has anyone launched it? (If huckable)

With snowfall of less than 200 inches a year and rocky terrain, if they did launch it, they only did it once.

 

[thetrailboss]

With snowfall of less than 200 inches a year and rocky terrain, if they did launch it, they only did it once.

:lol: :lol:

Post of the day!!!!

 

[TwinTips21]

Yea, definitely not a good idea its about 200 feet to a tiny landing and then another 100-200 foot cliff. You can see this cliff when driving towards ascutney on Route 44 coming from the south.

 

[Greg]

This short hike is after taking the glade "cabin chute" to the skiers left off of cloudspin. You can ski most of the way but hiking is required. You do come to a cabin that sits on a huge rock cliff where a family once lived I believe. There was a lengthy article about this cabin in the past Ascutney magazine which was an interesting read. People have been known to get lost on this trail and have a hard time finding their way back.

Cool. Glad to know my memory is not that faded...

 

[ChileMass]

Hey - I always liked Ascutney, but I go for the out of the way places. I also always liked Bolton Valley.....

Ascutney has a few VERY steep but very short trails, and a great throwback vibe IMO. I recall seeing lots of families with lots of season passes around their arms, so the time-share thing is probably right on. I used to stay with some friends whose parents had had a condo there since the 60s and passed it on to them. Again, it's an out of the way place, very mellow and probably not for everyone. Snowcover was often an issue (as stated here) but we sure had fun up there.......

 

[TwinTips21]

FYI- I do not own a timeshare up there but my parents own a condo on the mountain.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I've skied there exactly once. It seems to have it's share of interesting nooks and cranies, although not that much was open when I was there. I've been to the summit for work more than I've been at the ski area. There are certainly some places up there I'd like to explore after a big dump.

Nice post on the cabin. Sounds like it's worth a visit.

 

[Vortex]

The cabin was quite a hang out for teen age kids in the 70 and 80's You could ski all the way in some years. I have not been there since the new ownership took over. I was a local until the late 80's. Always in the shadow of Okemo and K. Just missed the snow belt. Use to ski 100 days a year here. Eight miles off the highway was the big draw.

 

[Ski Diva]

Just thought I'd add: if you go to the Warren Miller movie in Lebanon, NH on the 21st, you'll get a free mid-week lift pass to Ascutney (Killington, too). Might be a good excuse to try it out.

 

[roark]

Just thought I'd add: if you go to the Warren Miller movie in Lebanon, NH on the 21st, you'll get a free mid-week lift pass to Ascutney (Killington, too). Might be a good excuse to try it out.

Yup, I'll be there.

(Also the K and Attitash tix are mid-week only whereas the Ascutney is just the usual non-holiday, according to http://www.skinet.com/skinet/warren_miller/article/0,26908,1424338,00.html )

 

[thetrailboss]

I think that the Ascutney Tix have restricted dates on them....

 

[roark]

I think that the Ascutney Tix have restricted dates on them....

Yes, you are right, interesting choice of dates:
Valid on one of the following days: 12/23/06, 1/15/07, 2/11/07 and 3/17/07.