Is Smugglers Notch worth the drive?

[MadMadWorld]

Lodge and condo quality are not critical, they should just be appropriate value. I'm basically getting lodging at no cost so not concerned about that. Fixed grip doubles are a concern but more for the fact that they're doubles than how long it takes to get to the top (I may sing a different tune if it's 4F with 20mph winds). And waiting 5-8 minutes in line for a chair is no big deal. 20-30 minutes is a whole different ball of wax. I'll have to evaluate my girls' maturity to ride alone together (in the chair in front of me since that's what they'll want to do).

I took a look and read a few reviews and trip reports. Most were positive some were not so much. While I've skied some great resorts with high-end amenities (check out the floor-to-ceiling granite bathroom stall dividers at Snowbasin along with the chandeliers if you're ever there), they're a benefit, not a necessity. Nobody but me can answer the "is it worth a 5 hour drive" question (compared to, say 3.5 hours for So VT) so I probably won't know until I go.

Overall, I appreciate the feedback and the arguments about Smugglers. If I didn't want opinions, I wouldn't have posted the question. And everyone wants different things from a ski area. There's insight here, if even it's not explicit in the posts. I'm not skiing chutes and tight trees anymore so the crazy gnar is not vital. Interesting terrain, though, is. Trails that move … that have some rolls, dips and drops … are much more fun. And a place where every trail is not groomed to death.

We're likely going to pull the trigger and go; now it's a matter of ensuring my wife, the non-skier, can stay busy snowshoeing, going into Burlington, or what have you. Thanks guys.

Might she be interested in learning how to ice climbing? The snow might not be great right now but with thaw/freeze cycles, I bet the ice climbing is phenomenal in the notch!

 

[JohnQ]

Given the recent thaw and rain we've decided not to book the trip. At their ability, it doesn't much matter where they ski and it's unlikely enough terrain will be open for the trip to be worthwhile for me. Here's hoping Feb and March are better.

 

[Wavewheeler]

I feel your pain. I havet a trip planned for this week at Killington and am hoping for the best. My daughter has her last week of break this week and I promised her a ski trip there so we are going. I'd rather wait until February myself, which is when we used to go before she's was in college. Now her schedule dictates when we go. I'll be up for solo trips when it gets snowier, which I'm sure it will.

 

[Savemeasammy]

I feel your pain. I havet a trip planned for this week at Killington and am hoping for the best. My daughter has her last week of break this week and I promised her a ski trip there so we are going. I'd rather wait until February myself, which is when we used to go before she's was in college. Now her schedule dictates when we go. I'll be up for solo trips when it gets snowier, which I'm sure it will.

It may not be the best conditions of the season, but you will have your choice of ski-on lifts, and you will be spending QT with your daughter! Better conditions will come!


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[Wavewheeler]

It may not be the best conditions of the season, but you will have your choice of ski-on lifts, and you will be spending QT with your daughter! Better conditions will come!

Exactly! We are both excited despite the conditions and it could be worse..at least it's supposed to cool down and snow shower. We will probably have the place to ourselves. Love midweek! She's got new skis, boots and we will have fun. I got my wine bottle chilling for the hot tub.

Still lots of time for good conditions! It's barely mid January!

Another good thing is that with no heavy snow on the roads we can leave my gas guzzling Jeep home and take her car which gets 27 mpg and save money..or eat better, which is probably what will happen.

 

[jkaspik]

As long as the power does not go out - on my only trip up there a transformer blew and shut the mountain down. My buddy was stuck on the lift until they could get the diesel motor going to get them down.

 

[Savemeasammy]

Exactly! We are both excited despite the conditions and it could be worse..at least it's supposed to cool down and snow shower. We will probably have the place to ourselves. Love midweek! She's got new skis, boots and we will have fun. I got my wine bottle chilling for the hot tub.

Still lots of time for good conditions! It's barely mid January!

Another good thing is that with no heavy snow on the roads we can leave my gas guzzling Jeep home and take her car which gets 27 mpg and save money..or eat better, which is probably what will happen.

Be sure to write a trip report. I'm sure a lot of us will want to read about the conditions!


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[Wavewheeler]

Be sure to write a trip report. I'm sure a lot of us will want to read about the conditions!

Will do! Hopefully things will get better as the week goes on. Weather forecast can't seem to make up it's mind about whether it's going to rain or snow from Monday night to Wednesday. :roll: Guess I won't know for sure until I get there!

 

[skifree]

You will have a blast ! I love skiing with my kids. Make sure you have breakfast at the new peak lodge

 

[Wavewheeler]

You will have a blast ! I love skiing with my kids. Make sure you have breakfast at the new peak lodge

We get free hot breakfast at our hotel (it's included in the price and really good...hard to turn down eggs benedict) but if it's open we'd love to do lunch. In previous years the Peak Lodge was always close midweek, has that changed?

I love skiing with my daughter. It would've been earlier if she hadn't broken her arm at 6. She took to it like a duck takes to water and I've taken her on an annual trip ever since. She's 19 now and loves it and we have this friendly rivalry going. She has new skis and it looks like she might be getting down to the lifts in front of me. First time for everything.

 

[mister moose]

...If you were really "in it for the skiing", you'd be like most of us here who would rather have a 1988 color TV with basic cable and late-1970s wood paneling on an awesome mountain with A+ terrain, than a 60" flatscreen with 226 channels and plush modern construction with a whirlpool jacuzzi on a subpar or average mountain.

I guess I like you after all....

 

[Wavewheeler]

If you were really "in it for the skiing", you'd be like most of us here who would rather have a 1988 color TV with basic cable and late-1970s wood paneling on an awesome mountain with A+ terrain, than a 60" flatscreen with 226 channels and plush modern construction with a whirlpool jacuzzi on a subpar or average mountain.

Sounds like the hotel room I stayed at when I skied at Gore. Room was right out of 1975, but who cares? I drove up in a snowstorm and it snowed all the next day. 2 days of incredible skiing. I was barely in the room. It cost $65/night so no complaints.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Awesome news all!

I just booked a 2 night, 3 day stay for March in a 1970s-build condo unit with outdated appliances, probable wood paneling, and whose big amenity is "wireless internet"!

Cant wait!

 

[C-Rex]

I just got back from a weekend in one of those condos, and let me tell ya it was great!! Just ask Savemeasammy. No, it wasn't anything glamorous but it suited our needs just fine. We basically walked out our back door and onto the Morse lift. The trails were great, powder stashes all over the place. The glades were in play and it was definitely worth while to duck some ropes.

 

[Savemeasammy]

I felt a twang of disappointment when I saw that there want any shag carpets, but my spirits were lifted as soon as we hit Smuggs' kick-ass terrain!

I had no real complaints about our room!


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[lerops]

OK, the critical question: how do you manage the lift lines at Smuggs? We usually use the common tactics: singles line (not sure if this would work when all lifts are doubles), go to less popular lifts, ski when other people are sleeping/eating/quiting, take lessons, etc.

Any tips specific for Smuggs would be appreciated.

 

[Savemeasammy]

I have only been a few times, but there is no singles line, and they didn't let singles go up alone. You just need to pair up with someone in line. You could try Madonna II when it's busy (I have no idea how busy Morse gets...!). Start as early as possible, eat early, ski during lunch, and keep skiing at the end of the day - the usual stuff.


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[MadMadWorld]

OK, the critical question: how do you manage the lift lines at Smuggs? We usually use the common tactics: singles line (not sure if this would work when all lifts are doubles), go to less popular lifts, ski when other people are sleeping/eating/quiting, take lessons, etc.

Any tips specific for Smuggs would be appreciated.

Not much you can do about the lines when it gets busy at Smuggs. Playing the time game is the best bet. Sterling is always shorter than Madonna I unless it's a race day. Madonna II is usually the best when it's really crowded. If you know your way around the mountain, go exploring in the woods. Good snow makes the lines a lot more tolerable.

 

[C-Rex]

Playing in the woods also takes more time to get down than ripping groomers so you'll spend less time on the lift. You may actually look forward to the lift ride after some of those leg burners!

 

[lerops]

Thanks guys, appreciate it. What are some of the mellower glades? I am still working my tree skiing.