Just how good is Magic?

[riverc0il]

I was going to say that most of the classic runs at Magic get naturally bumped up. It is not a cruisers mountain although there are some nice blue & green runs for the less skilled. All the runs that I like at Magic are usually bumped. This idea of a "single" bump run at Magic to me is ludicrous. There are many! Now, if you're talking about a single seeded bump run, that's a different story.

Spot on. Though skier's right side of Magic offers really good cruising, surprisingly good cruising actually that Magic is often overlooked. Pending the snow making increase happens mostly on the groomed trails, Magic is a solid contender for great cruising that does not get scraped off.

How much of that extended snow making system is going to hit the "natural snow" trails. The reason many of Magic's natural snow trails had such a hard time opening was they could have used a little help to get the process going. That is a major factor between taking Magic from "needs natural snow" to dependable all the time.

Dedicated bump run? If you are going to seed I would suggest Lucifer off the Triple Chair. Wide open trail so you can half groom and half bump, good snow making potential due to wide trail, and in sight of the chairlift and lodge if you want to setup a comp. The kickers and terrain park have historically been on Video Blvd so that would also tie in and make the most sense.

I take issue with "boundary to boundary" at Magic. Those are generally some tight woods and while there are a few lanes here and there, it isn't like Northern VT where you can essentially ski between almost any two trails. Magic is definitely an "on the map" area. Just because a ski area claims boundary to boundary doesn't mean it adds many skiable acres.

 

[Marc]

I take issue with "boundary to boundary" at Magic. Those are generally some tight woods and while there are a few lanes here and there, it isn't like Northern VT where you can essentially ski between almost any two trails. Magic is definitely an "on the map" area. Just because a ski area claims boundary to boundary doesn't mean it adds many skiable acres.

I agree, in a sense, only if a ski area is marketed heavily has boundary to boundary but skis like you described.

In the case of Magic, I haven't heard it touted as one of its strong attributes, which means to me the policy is just insurance I'm not going to get my pass pulled. I don't care what the terrain is like, if you are allowed to go anywhere you want, that's cool beans in my book, even if actually going there isn't practical.

 

[Greg]

How much of that extended snow making system is going to hit the "natural snow" trails. The reason many of Magic's natural snow trails had such a hard time opening was they could have used a little help to get the process going. That is a major factor between taking Magic from "needs natural snow" to dependable all the time.

Yes! Good point. I would prefer to see a place like Magic use snowmaking on the normally natural trails for base-building purposes only. Groom it out and once the nat starts to fly, and barring any major melt-outs, shut off the guns and keep the cats off it. I think it's possible to strike such a balance.

 

[trtaylor]

Speaking of trail maps... one suggestion I have (that may actually put me over the edge for a Magic pass, serious) is for the resort offer topo maps right along side your "not to scale" trail maps. If there's one thing that irks me about ski resorts is the assumption that their clientele is too dumb to read a topo map.

Modern trail maps tell you absolutely nothing about how a trail is going to ski, and (although not the case with Magic) on resorts with multiple peaks, can be downright confusing and annoying when you have to traverse or side step something.


And I don't know what the legal ramifications would be, but I'd also love to see you sell topo maps of the surrounding area, if there are indeed goods to which one can tour or hike in close proximity to the resort. I think I could promise you I'd buy a pass there if you did those things (plus followed through with what you've talked about with the snow making).

I know it isn't exactly what you're asking for, but this data is very easy to obtain on-line.

 

[riverc0il]

Speaking of trail maps... one suggestion I have (that may actually put me over the edge for a Magic pass, serious) is for the resort offer topo maps right along side your "not to scale" trail maps. If there's one thing that irks me about ski resorts is the assumption that their clientele is too dumb to read a topo map.

some ski areas used to do this. if memory serves me correctly, wildcat, cannon, and mad river all had topo style trail maps at one point or at least have (historical) accurate to scale maps hanging up in their lodges if they were never distributed. i think the majority of skiers prefer the JN specials that have propagated the industry.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Dedicated bump run? If you are going to seed I would suggest Lucifer off the Triple Chair. Wide open trail so you can half groom and half bump, good snow making potential due to wide trail, and in sight of the chairlift and lodge if you want to setup a comp. The kickers and terrain park have historically been on Video Blvd so that would also tie in and make the most sense.

I think Lucifer is the most logical choice, based on traffic, pitch and available snowmaking. The only catch is that it's hard to build a base on the ungroomable portion just above the work road. (without a winch cat, that is.)

I take issue with "boundary to boundary" at Magic. Those are generally some tight woods and while there are a few lanes here and there, it isn't like Northern VT where you can essentially ski between almost any two trails. Magic is definitely an "on the map" area. Just because a ski area claims boundary to boundary doesn't mean it adds many skiable acres.

There are quite a few stashes in those tight woods, but you need to know where they are. You also have to like "lines" that are as tight, or thighter than "Dark Wizzard" at Saddleback. The bigger problems is there is so infrequently enough snow in the woods to really get in and enjoy them. When the snow hit though, there is plenty to be had between the trails.

I'm glad to here some important things are changing. SOme new faces and attitude will go a long ways.

 

[marcski]

Back in the day, Killington also had a great huge topographic trail map.

 

[WoodCore]

Spot on. Though skier's right side of Magic offers really good cruising, surprisingly good cruising actually that Magic is often overlooked. Pending the snow making increase happens mostly on the groomed trails, Magic is a solid contender for great cruising that does not get scraped off.

Totally agree, great cruising runs on the East side! Nothing like a Magic Carpet>Trick>Wand>Carumba ripper!

I take issue with "boundary to boundary" at Magic. Those are generally some tight woods and while there are a few lanes here and there, it isn't like Northern VT where you can essentially ski between almost any two trails. Magic is definitely an "on the map" area. Just because a ski area claims boundary to boundary doesn't mean it adds many skiable acres.

I hear you Steve, the woods at Magic can be tight in places and are loaded with puckerbrush but there is great potential! Remember that this ski area was closed for a lengthy amount of time and since reopening has not even seen high skier traffic on the trails! I've skied in numerous "off the map" locations at Magic both before and after the shutdown that where fantastic then and still are now other than having to deal with 10+ years of undergrowth constantly in your face. Perhaps with increased skier traffic on the trails, folks will driven back in woods of Magic, snapping a tree limb/sapling here and there and restoring the great tree skiing I experienced in the 80's.