Need opinions of green trail skiers in northern VT

[billski]

I am taking my youngest daughter out this MLK weekend and am working the crowd avoidance strategy. Since I'm staying in $teaux, I've considered the Toll House green trails. Every time I've been over there it has been deserted.
The other possibility is MRG greens. They have a pretty extensive network.

My daughter loves green glades, and could probably step it up a knotch, but we've got some confidence boosting to work on there.

In both cases, I have no clue how busy those particular trails will be. I suspect stowe will be less crowded, as most people are gravitating to spruce peak. Downside to stowe is that's a ton of money to pay for green trails. I do however fear that every MRG shareholder and all their kids and grandkids will be there. any experience or thoughts?

I've considered Jay, but excluded Bolton and Smuggs simply due to crowds.

 

[JD]

The toll house double has a really long flat trail off of it. It is ussually empty, but might be really boring for anyone who has mastered standing up on skis. Sensation quad, formerly the Big Pig, could be right up her ally. Sterling trail, and even main street, which has some steep pitches, but they are easily avoided by staying rightish. The triple has some nice stuff off towards the chapel, and some real easy glades above the chapel, off of the toll road. Bolton could be great too.

 

[kingdom-tele]

forget jay- no need to drive that far for what they offer for green runs, if your considering driving that far you should may as well go to burke and have the whole lower mountain to work with little to no crowd

 

[deadheadskier]

What about Cochran if it's still open? Tiny little beginner area that you could enjoy with your daughter for cheap.

 

[loafer89]

Does Bolton ever get crowded?, when we where there in mid-March the place was deserted and they had feet of snow on the ground.

 

[riverc0il]

Definitely take Jay off your list. Jay's beginner terrain is limited to the condo chair and the Metro. Metro is high traffic because all those beginner trails link skiers and riders traversing to the Tram House and base areas. Lots of fast traveling skiers and pretty high traffic. Their beginner glades are wide enough to be groomed and are pretty much just narrow trails.

Burke is a good option to consider. Entire lower mountain is all beginner trails. Trails are long for beginner trails but manageable for all but the never ever crowd. High Speed Quad makes loading and unloading the chair easy for the beginning skier. Lodge is right there, no skating or hiking. Quite the ideal beginner area setup. They have one beginner glade down there with some card board cut outs in the trees.

MRG option has similar green circle options to Burke, slightly more pitch. Those trails should be back up to par after the pending snow storm, probably not at their best right now. Birdcage by the lift eliminates the need to ski back down to the lodge. Some beginners could get some vertigo heading up the Sunnyside lift and the switchbacks down to Birdland may be a little intimidating, probably nothing any one with a solid snowplow can not easily handle.

MRG is an hour outside of Stowe and Burke is an hour and a half minimum, maybe closer to two depending upon traffic and road conditions. Bolton and Cochrans are two additional good options. Spruce at Stowe is a good option unless you truly need really flat green circle stuff. Not sure about Smuggs, but they of course are extremely well known for family friendly skiing, including the young crowd just learning and have their own dedicated beginner area. You might as well eliminate everything except for Burke if you are worried about crowds....

 

[loafer89]

If you really want to eliminate crowds ski at Saddleback, they have an excellent beginner area serviced by a slow moving, easy to load quad chair.

 

[billski]

If you really want to eliminate crowds ski at Saddleback, they have an excellent beginner area serviced by a slow moving, easy to load quad chair.

thanks for all the good comments. Now to respond to all:

I've skied very infrequently during MLK weekend, so I also need to hear from those who have. I can't control the lodges but I can control what trails I ski.

I've skied a lot at all the areas being discussed save for Cochrans, so I'm pretty familiar, but mostly with blues and blacks.

we get to crash at Stowe for free, and I think an hour's drive is about tops (after already having driven 3, plus we can't desert the invalid skier for too long....) so the geo is well-bounded. We did Burke from Stowe last year - it was a hairy 1.5 hour drive through a lot of local roads, due to blowing snow in the fields - that's a bit much. Everyone enjoyed Burke, don't get me wrong, I just think I have to look closer to the nest for some overlooked stashes. I'm not adverse to BC with her if it's something lower-end.

We've skied a lot at Stowe, the younger ones a lot over at spruce. I like sensation, but I fear the secret is out on mlk weekend, no? That's why I'm thinking about going over to toll house area Do you really think the toll house area will be busy? I find that hard to believe, having a lot of experience there, but never on a holiday. I think my daughter would have a fun time if we explored the glades off of toll road. I even considered going up a bit higher on the double. Biggest problem with toll house is there is no real lodge - we would have to go to Mansfield lodge and "do the hill" - not out of the question, just a consideration.

Yeah, I've seen it pretty busy at Bolton on the weekends. What can I find a Bolton that would be "out of the way"? My concern with BV is that everyone is on the same lifts...

MRG still looks interesting, it's cheaper than a Stowe ticket big time.

Here are my constraints:

1. missing the crowds is #1 priority. Scratch that - long lift lines are to be avoided
2. My little one doesn't need a lot of challenge to keep her happy and keep her going. While I would like to encourage her to push the limit, right now it's about building confidence.
3. She won't do rope tows any more(that puts out Cochrans, correct?)
4. I do have to be somewhat close to a lodge. My daughter is the skinniest kid I know and freezes up after one or two runs. It's amazing. We have tried absolutely everything. Going inside frequently seems to be the best solution.

p.s., she never just cruises on the greens, she always looks for "interesting things to do" including ducking into woods, bumps on the side, etc. I think over the course of the day we can "graduate" to blues -once I get her confidence up - she has had the least ski time of any of my kids. I just gotta get her out there.

so those are restrictions. I know I'll have to compromise on some of this. I'd appreciate further comments and suggestions.

 

[riverc0il]

With those thoughts in mind, Mad River's Birdland area might be the ticket. Bring anything you need up the Sunnyside with you and base out of the Birdcage. There are a few tree shots that will be challenging but may be doable for a developing beginner over there. I doubt the Birdland chair will be busy, but I have never skied Mad River on the MLK holiday. Suffice to say, I have never seen more than a few people queued up for the Birdland chair ever and a slow mid-mountain double keeps the trails fairly uncrowded. Plus, hey... its Mad River Glen. Start them young!

 

[billski]

With those thoughts in mind, Mad River's Birdland area might be the ticket. Bring anything you need up the Sunnyside with you and base out of the Birdcage. There are a few tree shots that will be challenging but may be doable for a developing beginner over there. I doubt the Birdland chair will be busy, but I have never skied Mad River on the MLK holiday. Suffice to say, I have never seen more than a few people queued up for the Birdland chair ever and a slow mid-mountain double keeps the trails fairly uncrowded. Plus, hey... its Mad River Glen. Start them young!

Is birdcage a lodge mid mountain? do they have food there?

 

[snowmonster]

Birdcage has food -- hotdogs, sodas, chips, etc.

 

[riverc0il]

Is birdcage a lodge mid mountain? do they have food there?

Yea, Birdcage is a mid-mountain lodge at the base of the Birdland Chair. It is letter C on this map. Food is served. Not quite as large a selection as the Base Box has but a decent spread none the less. Mad River has a good selection of kids ski school programs if you want to drop them off for a spell so you can go exploring. Mad River is one of the best family mountains around, which is surprising considering the mountain's reputation. But just look around when you are there, the mountain really is all about familys.

 

[crank]

Just a wild thought because I've never been there and it's probably a 1.5 hour drive if not more, but some of the Eastern Township areas may be an interesting way to avoid the MLK crowds. Barring that I 'd say either try MRG or just go to Stowe and hope for the best.

 

[billski]

Thanks all for the suggestions and brainstorming. Steve, I am leaning towards MRG & Birdcage at this point. I like that idea that we can be sequestered away from the base. The recreational forecasts are suggesting 4-7 inches on Friday for the northern greens. I have to be careful, my daughter could turn out to be a better MRG skier than I!

 

[OppositeGeorge]

Another vote for Birdland here, if you haven't already made up your mind. Lines for the single can be sick @ MRG, but really I've never seen a line at the other lifts. And despite the reputation, they really do have nice beginner/intermediate stuff there. Never been there on a holiday weekend, but still I'd think it'd be less crowded than your other options (and a metric buttload cheaper than Stowe.)

I hear what crank's saying about the Townships but I think the secret is already out. I was up there last Presidents' Day week and half the cars in the packed Orford lot had Massachusetts plates.

 

[billski]

Just a wild thought because I've never been there and it's probably a 1.5 hour drive if not more, but some of the Eastern Township areas may be an interesting way to avoid the MLK crowds. Barring that I 'd say either try MRG or just go to Stowe and hope for the best.

Crank, I like your "out of the box" thinking. It must be me, but I've never, ever had good luck with snow conditions in the Eastern Townships.

 

[crank]

Crank, I like your "out of the box" thinking. It must be me, but I've never, ever had good luck with snow conditions in the Eastern Townships.

I've been meaning to try them for years and have never been able to tear myself away from Jay when in the region. This Feb. Vacation we are parking ourselves at Jay for a week so , depending on conditions, may explore Canada for a day. Or Stowe, or MRG, or Burke.

 

[billski]

I've been meaning to try them for years and have never been able to tear myself away from Jay when in the region. This Feb. Vacation we are parking ourselves at Jay for a week so , depending on conditions, may explore Canada for a day. Or Stowe, or MRG, or Burke.

I like it.

What I do like about Quebec skiing is the apres-ski ambiance. More specifically the French-Canadian cooking was outstanding, especially in Magog. What I don't like is all the damn cigarette smokers....

 

[noski]

Mad River is one of the best family mountains around, which is surprising considering the mountain's reputation..

I concur. Even I have skied MRG/Birdland. My red and white bumper sticker says Mad River Glen: If I Can You Can.....

 

[billski]

I concur. Even I have skied MRG/Birdland. My red and white bumper sticker says Mad River Glen: If I Can You Can.....

:-D:-D

:smash: