First time to stratton, help!

[tmcc71]

Hi, My gf and i are headed to Stratton on Wednesday. We have never been and I thought i'd ask here first. I am an expert level skier, she is a intermediate boarder/beginning skiier. I am looking for recomendations for some nice long, easy cruisers. Something a tad more challenging, but nothing to make her uncomfortable. I happen to like cruisers too so easy is ok. One thing we are trying to avoid is prolonged flats that would be harder for a boarder to mantain forward momentum. Any advice for a first day at stratton would be helpful. Info on parking and best lifts to hit up would be helpful too. Thanks in advance. Tim

 

[adkskier]

Stratton is a very easy mountain to navigate. From your description, you can both ski/ride everything on the mountain. There are no terrible flats. You will find a little congestion in the base area as manufacturer tents will be set up for an industry trade show, but there won't be any lift lines. Parking - watch for an open lot on the slopeside as you approach. that's the closest. If it's full, you'll find very well marked signs to a lot on the opposite side of the road and an excellent shuttle operation. Best bet for lunch is the mid-mountain lodge. Prices are fair for a ski area and the food is tasty.

 

[Oncefast]

If you can't find parking in the Main Lodge area and you don't feel like taking a shuttle, you can drive a little further to the Sun Bowl lodge. If you set up there, do not take 91 from the bottom of the Ursa lift back to the lodge - very flat in spots. Better to go up Ursa and come down Middlebrook or Kidderbrook. If you take the gondola to the top and want to come down Mike's Way you'll have a little work going slightly uphill for 50 yards or so until you hit the crest of the trail. Contrary to what the web site shows, Bear Down is not groomed(as of 1/31).

 

[jaywbigred]

If you can't find parking in the Main Lodge area and you don't feel like taking a shuttle, you can drive a little further to the Sun Bowl lodge. If you set up there, do not take 91 from the bottom of the Ursa lift back to the lodge - very flat in spots. Better to go up Ursa and come down Middlebrook or Kidderbrook. If you take the gondola to the top and want to come down Mike's Way you'll have a little work going slightly uphill for 50 yards or so until you hit the crest of the trail. Contrary to what the web site shows, Bear Down is not groomed(as of 1/31).

Those are the only 2 flats of note that I can think of...Most of the mountain = cruisers. Haven't been this year, but have been plenty in past years, and grooming is their thing...you won't find many bumps. Basically anything green or blue would fit your bill. And the blacks aren't too daunting either.