Glades for the kids

[orsonab]

Just came back from a few days at Jay Peak and the kids loved the easy glades (Moonwalker, Bushwhacker, Kokomo) that they have there. In fact, the 6 year-old now finds trails boring....Are there any other ski areas, esp in NH that have something similar in terms of "kiddie" glades? I seem to remember some small ones at Pats Peak but can't think of any others.

 

[davidhowland14]

I don't know what those glades at jay are like, but ragged has the "raggae glades" which are quite easy, crotched's only marked glades are nice too.

 

[Edd]

Bretton Woods has excellent glades for learning. Your kids will love them.

 

[SnowRider]

Well said everyone. Bretton Woods is has amazing ones AND there are a lot of them (Wild West is good for beginners) Pats Peak has a lot that your kids would love also. At Bromley they have some good ones (The Glade and the area next to it.)

 

[2knees]

bromley has a few real mellow spaced out glades. perfect for kids.

heres a vid from early jan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUy3QKlCiBI

 

[Paul]

Pat's has the Zephyr, Puff and Whisper glades. Zephyr and Puff being pretty flat and easy, Whisper getting a slight bit more pitch to it. There's also the Tornado glades, but they're usually closed and are a bit steep for a 6 yr old.

Black of NH has Rabbit Run, Sugar Glades and High Road (which really is a trail, but very glade-like)

Bromley has Glade and Everglade.

Stratton has a few, Daniel's Web is all I can think of off-hand.

My daughter is 7 and feels the same way. Trying to get her back "on-piste" however as her skills are starting to decline as a result.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

had a similar experience at Bromley this past weekend with our 5yr old....good times!

 

[billski]

pat's glades aren't glades in my book. We did them in January. The trees are so widely spaced you'd have to aim right at one to hit it. It looks more like a park.

I'm taking my kids to Bolton for woods this Saturday.

BTW, I watched a group of five kids, I'd guess their ages from about 8 to 10, no adult accompaniment blast into the woods at Sugarbush, huck a rock about 4' high and just rocket through, nonstop. Amazing.

 

[billski]

pat's glades aren't glades in my book. We did them in January. The trees are so widely spaced you'd have to aim right at one to hit it. It looks more like a park.

I'm taking my kids to Bolton for woods this Saturday.

BTW, I watched a group of five kids, I'd guess their ages from about 8 to 10, no adult accompaniment blast into the woods at Sugarbush, huck a rock about 4' high and just rocket through, nonstop. Amazing.

There are some sweet lower el glades off the triple at Stowe that would be perfect. I took my kids, as young as about 8 into the woods around tollhouse. They just loved it. Of course, they are so small and their skis so small it was effortless (for them!)

 

[Paul]

pat's glades aren't glades in my book. We did them in January. The trees are so widely spaced you'd have to aim right at one to hit it. It looks more like a park.

I'm taking my kids to Bolton for woods this Saturday.

BTW, I watched a group of five kids, I'd guess their ages from about 8 to 10, no adult accompaniment blast into the woods at Sugarbush, huck a rock about 4' high and just rocket through, nonstop. Amazing.

6 year-old Dude, 6 year old.


I'm not sure how often orsonab is able to get the kids out on the hill, or how experienced they are. However he did ask about "kiddie" glades, specifically in NH, and even mentions Pat's. I know you and your kids get out an awful lot, and you're all quite experienced. My daughter is 7, and she loves the "glades" at Pat's, and I don't really worry about her when she's in them. Of course, if she gets out to ski 15 times this year, that's pretty damn good.

 

[jack97]

I'll throw in another nod for BW. Pitctch at west mnt is easy and they do a good job of clearing it. In addtion, the notch gets the snow, I remember seasons where Cannon and Loon would get rain/wintry mix and the BW would get snow just b/c of there location.

 

[2knees]

6 year-old Dude, 6 year old.

man, sometimes people get way too overanalytical with this stuff. If a 6 year old wants to call the base lodge a glade, i'd be fine with it. Glad your daughter enjoys herself, cant wait to get mine started.

 

[Paul]

man, sometimes people get way too overanalytical with this stuff. If a 6 year old wants to call the base lodge a glade, i'd be fine with it. Glad your daughter enjoys herself, cant wait to get mine started.

How much longer?

 

[orsonab]

Thanks for the tips. The easy glades at Jay are tree areas with a gentle slope and a narrow (10') main trail running through them. Main trail swiftly turns into a concave rain gutter which is fun to ski but it's even more fun to see your little kids try to find the narrowest openings between the trees. The biggest danger is that they hit powder and get stuck up to their knees 'cos they're going so slow. Probably next year's season pass will be for Sunapee - do they have anything like that?

 

[twinplanx]

Not sure about Sunapee, but, if you do get your pass there next year it will be good at Okemo (and Crested Butte). Okemo did have a special kids trail map that showed where the marked kids glades are. Not sure if this is still available and note that these "kid glades" are not really much more than some one track connectors and some small detours just off the trails. But probably some fun for the kids, as I recall they were/are marked w/ some cartoon type characters

 

[ckofer]

I don't know what those glades at jay are like, but ragged has the "raggae glades" which are quite easy, crotched's only marked glades are nice too.

I'll agree on the Crotched recommendation. Here's a pic from a few weeks ago at night. W--I--D--E spacing but that's a good thing with kids. In fact, that seems to be a very family-friendly mountain.

 

[billski]

seems more park-like than woods-like. My littlest still gets hungup if she tries to straddle some of the larger saplings. She thinks it's funny!

 

[hammer]

Pat's has the Zephyr, Puff and Whisper glades. Zephyr and Puff being pretty flat and easy, Whisper getting a slight bit more pitch to it. There's also the Tornado glades, but they're usually closed and are a bit steep for a 6 yr old.

Tornado glades are steeper but short...

I'd like to try those out at some point but they aren't open all that often. :???:

 

[Paul]

Tornado glades are steeper but short...

I'd like to try those out at some point but they aren't open all that often. :???:

That's right, I forgot how short they are.

Those and the Hurricane glades, I don't think I've ever seen either one open.

 

[phil]

Saddleback in ME has a glade for kids in their beginners area, and while i haven't seen them Sugarloaf claims kids glades