Learn Me about Magic Mountain

[koreshot]

Ok, I have read a bunch of stuff on Magic Mountain in various posts. It sounds like a great place to ski when conditions are right. I am planning on spending time there this year, as it is the closest VT resorts for me and the terrain seems pretty challenging.

So, all you AZ Magic fans, spill it. Tell me all about it.

- Steepest Trails
- Best natural snow trails
- When is the best time to go
- How long does fresh snow stick around during the week. How about the weekend?
- Which are the best tree runs
- Which are the best bump runs
- Secret stashes, secret lines, where is the snow best preserved (sharing is caring you know)
- Are you a regular there, so that I can join you when I drive up?
- Pictures, Pictures and more Pictures
- Best places to eat around Londonderry
- Partical day (besides the obvious ones) that I need to avoid
- Snowmaking

Basically I will take all the info and thoughts on Magic skiing I can get. A single thread that contains as much info on fist hand experiences at Magic is the goal. And no fighting about prices, or how Magic compares to others in the area blah blah blah.

Thanks!

 

[pepperdawg]

Wait till Southern VT gets a mid-week storm......goto Magic....midweek you will most liekly be sharing the mountain with maybe 10 other people......skiers right side is more tame/cruisery kind of stuff......skiers left is steeper....natural hits, woods abound the entire mountain.......too lazy to type more.....butwhen theres a decent snow pack and it dumps, you cant go wrong - serious.

One of my personal favs is the chute/trail which drops in from Red Line to Lucifer....

 

[roark]

Talk to bluebird on TGR... I haven't met him yet, but seems to be one of the most knowledgeable folks.

Master Magician is probably the steepest trail in S Vt, one of the steepest in the east. But the top part gets blasted by the wind so it's never open.,

Bumps depend on the grooming but I've seen some nice lines on the sides of Talisman. Broomstick tends to bump as well. Lower Red Line gets bumped up as well.

It's still pretty dependent on natural snow, so obviously that is the best time to go.

Trees, etc. I've got a lot to learn.

The Red chair is probably the best lift in high winds. When Sneaux is only open lower mountain the red chair is calm and quiet.

Hopefully I should have a pass again this year, but even if not I'll be there whenever there's snow. And thanks to the low traffic and no wide boulevards for the wind to scour the snow lasts longer than anywhere I've ever been.

 

[mtl1076]

I'll bite, but keep in mind I am slightly biased as I work there. Here you go:

- Steepest Trails: Master Magician or Red Line.
- Best natural snow trails: anything on the West Side (skiers left). We try to keep most of the trails natural with the exception of Talisman, Wizard and Sorcerer. Goniff and Twighlight Zone are great too. I would throw Up Your Sleeve out there if you are in the mood for something mellower.
- When is the best time to go: When southern VT gets natural snow.
- How long does fresh snow stick around during the week.: Days! How about the weekend? Most of the day and into the next if you know where to look. The fixed grip lifts keep the traffic down.
- Which are the best tree runs: Goniff glade if you like it nice and wide open. Follow tracks into the trees for tighther shots. I can't really pick my favorite, they are all great and plentiful.
- Which are the best bump runs: Still working on which trail we want to seed. For natural bumps I would say Broomstick to Black Line (the old lucifer). Broomstick can be a blast when it develops a bump line.
- Secret stashes, secret lines, where is the snow best preserved (sharing is caring you know): It wouldn't be a secret if I told you....see next question
- Are you a regular there, so that I can join you when I drive up? Obviously I am there almost daily. Shoot me a pm when you are headed up sometime, if I can free myself from work I will show you around. This goes for everyone.
- Pictures, Pictures and more Pictures: Check this out, http://www.myspace.com/magicmountainvt, as well as the photo archives on magicmtn.com. I'll let others throw some more pics up. The Myspace page will be the place to find lots more photos and video this season. Get ready for some helmet cam footage!!
- Best places to eat around Londonderry: Unfortunately there isn't much. Breakfast at Stoddards and lunch/dinner at The American Grille in the IGA plaza. The Mill is good, but pricey.
- Partical day (besides the obvious ones) that I need to avoid: Honestly, there really aren't any days that I would call Magic a madhouse. If/when it does get crowded I think there is a much better vibe at Magic than some of the neighboring resorts.
- Snowmaking: I assume you've read the recent Ski area challenge so I will leave it at that. We are going to make as much snow as conditions permit and it is #1 on our priority list as we move forward.

 

[Greg]

Gotta love it when the marketing guy chimes in with such forthright responses and offers any one of us a tour! I don't know the mountain that well and Matt seemed to cover it, but I do know that if Magic gets a decent snowfall, there's no place I'd rather be south of the MRV. With that, here's my stoke from my two visits:

 

[ALLSKIING]

MAN.....That vid just got me going..I will never sleep now.

 

[billski]

Here's my secret - Magic is a great place to go when the winds are whipping. Their lifts are closer to the ground and more able to keep spinning when it's blowin. Plus, without all the boulevard trails, the snow stays on the trails even when the wind whips.

Went to Mt. Snow one day last year, place had a lift hold everywhere, we zipped up to Magic and had a blast. Best of all, nobody was there.

 

[bvibert]

MAN.....That vid just got me going..I will never sleep now.

I couldn't resist the temptation and I watched it too, dammit... Is there snow at Magic yet??

koreshot, the others have covered it well. The bit about the wind is definitely true. That video that Greg posted was taken on a windy day that had most of the lifts at Snow on wind-hold, at least in the morning. That's how we ended up there that day in the first place.

 

[Greg]

Went to Mt. Snow one day last year, place had a lift hold everywhere, we zipped up to Magic and had a blast. Best of all, nobody was there.

That video that Greg posted was taken on a windy day that had most of the lifts at Snow on wind-hold, at least in the morning. That's how we ended up there that day in the first place.

Same day perhaps? I just watched the high-res version of that vid. I'm jonesing now too. I have to get in at least 2 or 3 days at Magic this season. Pray for snow.

 

[riverc0il]

Man, I am loving this switch to WordPress. Makes pulling up beta on topics like this one a breeze! Here are my Trip Reports with pictures from Magic.

Now, here we go:

- Steepest Trails: Master is steepest but Red Line is only slightly less so
- Best natural snow trails I love Twilight Zone and Sorcerer for enjoyable natural
- When is the best time to go Best after SoVT snow fall once a base has been established
- How long does fresh snow stick around during the week. How about the weekend? Two or three days mid-week one day weekend.
- Which are the best tree runs Not many tree runs here, Twilight is relaxing and open while Goniff is a bit steeper. Off map options not so great due to lack of base depth, tree type, and tree density.
- Which are the best bump runs Slide of Hans for a bump run, IMO.
- Snowmaking Great groomed snowmaking trails skiers right for some mellow cruising. Highly underrated excellent cruising at Magic. Underrated because not only are is the skiing nice but the trails don't scrap up even at 3PM unlike most mountains.

 

[Greg]

Great groomed snowmaking trails skiers right for some mellow cruising. Highly underrated excellent cruising at Magic. Underrated because not only are is the skiing nice but the trails don't scrap up even at 3PM unlike most mountains.

Have to agree here. I've only skied Magic twice; both a few days after a dump, but in both cases, the groomers were butter smooth.

 

[koreshot]

Thanks guys, lots of good info. Great video, some good skiing in there.

Greg, I like the pictures too, especially the one before last, the sketchy rocky trail under the lift. If you had told me that picture was taken in an old school western resort like Solitude or Alta, I would have believed you. It looked pretty nasty...in a good way. Tell me you guys skied it.

Really amazing how much snow there was on the trails in the woods in the video. But whats most amazing is that you barely saw anyone else on the hill that wasn't part of your AZ group. That place really is empty.

 

[Talisman]

Magic with fresh snow is one of my favorites places to ski. Redline which is the steep trail under the double is a really challenging trail with some steeps, narrow, lift towers, snow snakes, rocks and an audience. Magic has many nooks, crannies, hidden in plain sight lines and woods shots.

The powder lingers for days and it is not unusual to cut fresh powder oon the last run on Sunday when the storm dumped on Thursday or Friday. Magic is nice antedote to areas that track out in 45 minutes afetr a storm.

 

[billski]

windeeeee

Same day perhaps? I just watched the high-res version of that vid. I'm jonesing now too. I have to get in at least 2 or 3 days at Magic this season. Pray for snow.

It very well could have been the same day. We spoke with several skiers at MS and they were all planning on going to non-Magic destinations. I suspected that the larger places like Stratton, and to some extent Bromley (who's trails are much more exposed) would have just as much trouble with wind. From what I recall in the post-partum reports, that was the case. Magic is a perfect place on a windy, snowy day. The other thing that's good about ground-hugging lifts is that the wind doesn't whip right through you while you're sitting on the chair.

The tough part about a mid-course correction like that is that is that it's very difficult to link up if you don't know where people will end up. Cell phones didn't work anywhere in the area. I couldn't believe it, but my bud didn't have a single map (or sat nav) in his car. So we had to very shamelessly ask the staff at Mt. Snow directions to Magic. Kinda funny in hindsight.

What I like best about windy days is the lack of lift lines. Only the hardiest souls are out. It makes up for all the downsides. Often, as long as the lifts are spinning, I'll try to head for the woods, since that is where the snow ends up at most resorts.

 

[MRGisevil]

My favorite subject

I would have to say that Greg's vid really said it all (PS- that video has OFFICIALLY psyched me up for the season, thanks Greg!!!) but still want to post some of my favorite things about Magic:

1. Everything is a challenge. Even Easiest Way Down can give you a run for your money if you catch it after it's been bumped out (usually by 11ish). I've heard it called "the most challenging terrain south of Killington", but I don't know about that; I'd like to call it the most challenging terrain south of Jay.


2. VIBE. One of the things I hate about some of the more commercial mountains in my comfort driving region (2-2.50 hrs) is the attitude! Snobby people and no help from the staff. At Magic everyone is really laid back and the people who work there become your friends after the second visit. Sometimes the first. In fact, I went up solo one weekend and found myself in front of a particularly nerve-wracking jump. A group of skiers who were passing me by and saw me hesitating in front of it actually stopped, gave me some pointers, cheered me on and got me over it. Come on, that just rocks.

3. Terrain. Ok, so this one kind of ties back in with challenge, but the terrain is spectacular.

There are some great trails that take you from top to bottom through a variety of ways- steep, winding, wide open, bumped out, ramped up, over the river and through the woods. I was really amazed with all the mountain had to offer. The views up at the top of Sorcerer are breathtaking- I had to be careful not to ski off the side of the trail while I was taking it all in.

4. Zero to lift in 0.025 seconds. Several weekends found me at Magic last season and the longest line I had to wait in consisted of eight, no, possibly ten, people.

5. Redline. That's all I have to say about that.

6. Be all that you can be. This is my advice for new skiers: learn to ski at Magic Mountain. It is akin to buying a video game and beating it on the hardest level first. If you take a trip to Magic after a good dump (or even a few days after) and then head over to, say, Jiminy, you're going to find yourself saying "Hmm... well... gee... at least the village at the base is nice..."

7. Price. With most ski resorts at $75++ this year it is a really nice break to find a good place to go for under $50.

That's all I can think of right now, but I'm sure there are more reasons to go. The fact that I (who has the attention span of a gnat, and that's being disrespectful to gnats) actually posted something that was longer than two sentences HAS to be some proof that this place is at least worth checking out!

 

[mtl1076]

Man, I am loving this switch to WordPress. Makes pulling up beta on topics like this one a breeze! Here are my Trip Reports with pictures from Magic.


- Which are the best tree runs Not many tree runs here, Twilight is relaxing and open while Goniff is a bit steeper. Off map options not so great due to lack of base depth, tree type, and tree density.

We are slowly fixing the off map/density issue of some/mosts of our trees. My best piece of advice for this season is to take a look at the mountain biking trail map put up by the Empire of Dirt. The Red and yellow trails are where I would explore.

I also created this in the off season. Its not for the faint of heart, but should be a ton of fun.

Maybe an Alpine Zone glade cutting day next summer??

 

[bvibert]

Maybe an Alpine Zone glade cutting day next summer??

Sounds like fun!

 

[JimG.]

We are slowly fixing the off map/density issue of some/mosts of our trees. My best piece of advice for this season is to take a look at the mountain biking trail map put up by the Empire of Dirt. The Red and yellow trails are where I would explore.

I also created this in the off season. Its not for the faint of heart, but should be a ton of fun.

Maybe an Alpine Zone glade cutting day next summer??

That looks really nice. I'd like to hook up with an experienced local to get the real tour this winter. I'd enjoy some social glade cutting during the warm time.

You may not, however, say the word "summer" again.

 

[tjf67]

We are slowly fixing the off map/density issue of some/mosts of our trees. My best piece of advice for this season is to take a look at the mountain biking trail map put up by the Empire of Dirt. The Red and yellow trails are where I would explore.

I also created this in the off season. Its not for the faint of heart, but should be a ton of fun.

Maybe an Alpine Zone glade cutting day next summer??

Man that would be a fun project I would be interested in helping with. I dont even ski the hill. You cut a tree on the hill I ski and you go to jail for life.

 

[JimG.]

Man that would be a fun project I would be interested in helping with. I dont even ski the hill. You cut a tree on the hill I ski and you go to jail for life.

No real tree cutting.

Mostly pruning and cleaning.

Nothing like the Big Jay atrocity.