MRG: why do you LOVE it....

[billski]

Have never been as well... Think Vermont's elevation and MRG's terrain/tree-type limit the undergrowth to a far greater extent than what's up in Maine = nice treelines. Looking to get over there later in the season.

$.01

But it's also a place the whole family can enjoy. The whole Birdland area is wonderful for beginners and lower-intermediates. I took my daughter 2 years ago when she was 11. We skied blues and greens all day. She has an MRG shirt that she wears with great pride. In fact, they actually groom Birdland.

 

[Smellytele]

Weekdays! I don't think I will ever ski there again on a weekend.

 

[snowmonster]

Sadly, I've never been.

You'll be a year older when you do. Go!

 

[St. Bear]

You should go, if only to see the "no diving" sign :grin:

It's high up on my To Do list. The main reason I haven't been is that I go up to New England mostly on weekends and holidays. I highly doubt it'll be this year because I don't have many vacation days to use on skiing (especially if I want to go to the Summit), but it's always on the radar.

Plus, I think I need a few more years so I can enjoy the whole mountain. Why go through all the trouble getting there if I can't make it down Paradise?

 

[polski]

emptiness (on the trails) due to the slow lifts

I'd word that a little differently - MRG brags that the Single actually is the fastest fixed-grip lift in the country. The new Single is even faster than the old because it has fewer chairs on it. Uphill capacity is unquestionably quite limited though, by coop bylaw.

Last year during President's Day week I was with my kids standing in 15-20 minute lift lines and, unprompted - when I'd expected them to be impatient and cranky - they observed that the wait was well worth it because the trails were so uncrowded. And the runs are so long and can be so tough that even standing in a long line can count as much-needed rest ...

 

[polski]

You should go, if only to see the "no diving" sign :grin:

Pee it if you can

 

[campgottagopee]

But it's also a place the whole family can enjoy. The whole Birdland area is wonderful for beginners and lower-intermediates. I took my daughter 2 years ago when she was 11. We skied blues and greens all day. She has an MRG shirt that she wears with great pride. In fact, they actually groom Birdland.

As long as you don't have a family member who boards :-o

Sorry, couldn't help myself

 

[billski]

Plus, I think I need a few more years so I can enjoy the whole mountain. Why go through all the trouble getting there if I can't make it down Paradise?

I understand where you're coming from, but I must insist that I've spent entire days on blues and woods and a had an absolute blast, never going near Paradise. Plus, it's cheaper than most. Plus you can bring home a bumper sticker and the flatlanders will be none the wiser, plus you can buy some maple syrup right off the truck. Man, I can think of a lot of reasons to go, without doing paradise.

 

[bvibert]

I can think of a lot of reasons to go, without doing paradise.

This.

 

[neil]

Only way I would go there is if I could take my first ski lesson there ;-)

 

[4aprice]

But it's also a place the whole family can enjoy. The whole Birdland area is wonderful for beginners and lower-intermediates. I took my daughter 2 years ago when she was 11. We skied blues and greens all day. She has an MRG shirt that she wears with great pride. In fact, they actually groom Birdland.

Really Bill? I've skied Mad River several times but to me its a place to hit with the boys. I cannot see my wife enjoying it at all. That's not to say she's a bad skier, she' actually quite good but she looks for a different experience. She likes to be somewhat pampered, not likely to happen at Mad River. I would hate to see it ever change but I don't think its for everyone.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[powbmps]

Never been, but hoping to check it out this year. Looks like a fun mountain. Similar in character to Magic?

 

[snowmonster]

Similar in character to Magic?

Magic reminds me of MRG.

 

[polski]

in a lot of ways, yes, Magic has a similar vibe - but MRG has more uninterrupted history and I think an even bigger community because of that and the cooperative setup.

4aprice, if I may jump in, I'd say the whole family can ski there in terms of ability level (though some may find daunting the fact that you have to take the Sunnyside double up and then ski down a bit to get to the Birdland "beginner" chair). But it's also not for everyone in terms of overall experience e.g. resort "pampering."

 

[polski]

A tradition like Milk Run - a veritable petri dish for lawsuits - could only take place at an area like Mad River. Once you've boarded the chair, Milk Run doesn't have any rules. You can ski any run you want, even one that'll be closed during regular hours.

Unfortunately I think they stopped the Milk Run some years back (after that book was published).

 

[bvibert]

Really Bill? I've skied Mad River several times but to me its a place to hit with the boys. I cannot see my wife enjoying it at all. That's not to say she's a bad skier, she' actually quite good but she looks for a different experience. She likes to be somewhat pampered, not likely to happen at Mad River. I would hate to see it ever change but I don't think its for everyone.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

I took my beginner wife there and she loved it. She's not much of the pampering type though.

 

[bvibert]

Never been, but hoping to check it out this year. Looks like a fun mountain. Similar in character to Magic?

Yes, similar to Magic, but betterer.

 

[wa-loaf]

Yes, similar to Magic, but betterer.

Yep more like: Magic is similar to MRG. :smile:

 

[riverc0il]

Never been, but hoping to check it out this year. Looks like a fun mountain. Similar in character to Magic?

Magic has nothing on MRG. Many people call Magic the "MRG of SoVT" and while I understand the parallel being drawn, it does do a disservice to MRG. And I consider Magic an exceptional mountain, so that is by no means meant as a put down of Magic but rather giving MRG the respect it deserves.

 

[severine]

But it's also a place the whole family can enjoy. The whole Birdland area is wonderful for beginners and lower-intermediates. I took my daughter 2 years ago when she was 11. We skied blues and greens all day. She has an MRG shirt that she wears with great pride. In fact, they actually groom Birdland.

I took my beginner wife there and she loved it. She's not much of the pampering type though.

Yup, I skied MRG my first season...something like March of 2004. And I agree that there is something for everyone there. I didn't feel left out at all. Rather enjoyed the experience and the vibe was very nice. It was actually one of my best ski days yet. By the last day of our ski trip I was toast and hung out at the lodge while B skied. While it's not fancy, it was cool. Unpretentious was a great word to describe the place. Looking forward to going there again someday.