Best choice for avoiding wind in Northern Vermont

[loafer89]

Warren and I are heading up to Northern Vermont to ski at the gathering on friday and I was interested in knowing if a one particular place was better at avoiding high winds than another.

We are not adverse to doing some extra driving, but I really do not want to shell out $98 at Sugarbush to ski the lower mountain.

Burke, Smugglers, Bolton, Stowe and Jay are all considerations.

Thanks

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

I know Smuggs refitted their chairs to be below tree line to reduce wind-holds, I've been there on some days when Stowe was on hold and Smuggs was turning all lifts all day...

 

[thetrailboss]

Burke rarely has wind holds...and if it does, you use the Poma. Jay has a lot of holds.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The Lookout double usually runs on windy days at Stowe you can access most of the good terrain from that lift..or hike a couple hundred vert..and ski even more terrain...

 

[madskier6]

While several lift at Sugarbush are on wind hold this morning, some of the lifts at Stowe (Forerunner Quad & Gondola most notably) are on hold for de-icing only, not for wind. Stowe is reporting that once the lifts are de-iced, they'll run & they are not mentioning any wind issues.

If the Bush is on wind-hold tomorrow, I think I'll head for Stowe. I get discount tickets there this weekend & I think that's the best bet from a wind perspective.

 

[loafer89]

Burke rarely has wind holds...and if it does, you use the Poma. Jay has a lot of holds.

What's up with Burke only having 21 out of 45 trails open?

 

[thetrailboss]

What's up with Burke only having 21 out of 45 trails open?

Icing. Plus they have only 35 trails, and 10 glades (= a sum of 45).

This last storm, like the other recent ones, had more r^&n and ice than snow :roll:

 

[MichaelJ]

Saturday is forecast to be a west or northwest wind ... how much will that affect Sugarbush, being an east-facing ski area?

 

[WWF-VT]

Tough call on wind holds at Sugarbush. Two Sundays ago the day started with only Gate House and Castlerock lifts open with Bravo opening mid morning. Heavens Gate opened at noon so we were able to get first tracks on Paradise with thigh deep blown in powder. Sometimes it's worth the wait

 

[Greg]

Saturday is forecast to be a west or northwest wind ... how much will that affect Sugarbush, being an east-facing ski area?

It's my understanding that as long as the wind is blowing down (or up) the lift line, you're okay. It's when winds start blowing perpendicular to the lift line that causes problems. That's why any winds that are north of west tend to take down lifts like Bravo and Heaven's Gate and most of the Mount Ellen lifts which are oriented more ENE to WSW. Gatehouse and Castlerock face more NW. If I'm wrong, someone feel free to correct me.

With that said, I think the winds are supposed to mellow by Saturday so you should be okay.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

It's my understanding that as long as the wind is blowing down (or up) the lift line, you're okay. It's when winds start blowing perpendicular to the lift line that causes problems. That's why any winds that are north of west tend to take down lifts like Bravo and Heaven's Gate and most of the Mount Ellen lifts which are oriented more ENE to WSW. Gatehouse and Castlerock face more NW. If I'm wrong, someone feel free to correct me.

Has anyone ever mentioned to you that you sometimes over think things?

 

[from_the_NEK]

What's up with Burke only having 21 out of 45 trails open?

All season Burke has been closing all non-groomed runs during rain events (this includes all of the glades). This seems to allow the surface to rebound more quickly after the freeze-up since the surface isn' being continually scraped down to ice by passing skiers while the snow pack is cooling.
This philosophy has seemed to work pretty well so far this year as they typically rebounded the next day to 100% open which is probably what you'll see tomorrow.
There are rarely wind holds at Burke since the main chair is not very exposed to cross winds (from E or W) and the chair runs in a NW to SE direction which parallels the fiercest wind which typically come out of the NW.

 

[andyzee]

Has anyone ever mentioned to you that you sometimes over think things?

You think? :lol:

 

[tjf67]

Jat has the Jet Triple that seems to stay out of the wind. You also get 50% off ski tickets if you present a season pass from another moutain

 

[Greg]

Has anyone ever mentioned to you that you sometimes over think things?

Has anyone ever mentioned to you that you sometimes come off like a grumpy old man?

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Has anyone ever mentioned to you that you sometimes come off like a grumpy old man?

You do alot; however, the old man take is gettin kinda old don't you think? You need something fresh. I'm bald maybe you could work that in.

 

[Greg]

You do alot; however, the old man take is gettin kinda old don't you think? You need something fresh. I'm bald maybe you could work that in.

Okay. So why are you bald? Oh, that's right...because you're OLD! :-o



Lighten up, HPD. You took the first jab...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Okay. So why are you bald? Oh, that's right...because you're OLD! :-o



Lighten up, HPD. You took the first jab...

Somebody has some sand in his vagina..:smile:

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Okay. So why are you bald? Oh, that's right...because you're OLD! :-o



Lighten up, HPD. You took the first jab...

I know, just kiddin around.

 

[Greg]

I know, just kiddin around.

Me too. And I hope I can rip like you do when I reach your advanced age...

Sorry...