New Trails at Stratton

[WoodCore]

Looks like two new trails in the Sun Bowl at Stratton this year......

http://www.stratton.com/mountain/0809_Mtn_Improvements.htm

 

[skiing is life]

 

[powbmps]

I've never been there, but the trail map makes it look pretty rad.

 

[TheBEast]

Interesting. Anyone know any more details? Trail rating, etc?

 

[Geoff]

Interesting. Anyone know any more details? Trail rating, etc?

From the photo.... Intermediate and east-facing. One of them might be gladed. A gladed trail at that elevation and aspect won't be skiable very often. Nothing in the Sun Bowl has any pitch to it.

I grew up as a Stratton every-weekender. Back then, it was double chairs and no snowmaking at all on the upper mountain. They only groomed their *cough* 'expert' *cough* terrain occasionally. When everything skis like a long version of Vagabond at Killington, it's quite entertaining. When they put in all the uphill capacity, chainsawed all the interesting narrow twisting New England trails into character-free boulevards, and installed snowmaking with daily grooming of everything, I stopped skiing there. Okemo was also a pretty fun place back in the 1970's and early 1980's. Magic is the only survivor and they don't get quite enough natural snow to be open reliably.

 

[billski]

From the photo.... Intermediate and east-facing. One of them might be gladed. A gladed trail at that elevation and aspect won't be skiable very often. Nothing in the Sun Bowl has any pitch to it.

I grew up as a Stratton every-weekender. Back then, it was double chairs and no snowmaking at all on the upper mountain. They only groomed their *cough* 'expert' *cough* terrain occasionally. When everything skis like a long version of Vagabond at Killington, it's quite entertaining. When they put in all the uphill capacity, chainsawed all the interesting narrow twisting New England trails into character-free boulevards, and installed snowmaking with daily grooming of everything, I stopped skiing there. Okemo was also a pretty fun place back in the 1970's and early 1980's. Magic is the only survivor and they don't get quite enough natural snow to be open reliably.

If it's so wide I can see to the bottom, I spell it b-o-r-i-n-g. I'm looking for a moderate does of "adventure", and knowing what's ahead doesn't cut it for me.

It's going to be interesting to see if Magic has fixed their snowmaking pipes adequately to build some base this year. If so, I'm going to be there a lot more often.
Aside from Magic, I like Wildcat and Black for old winding trails (discounting length and difficulty for a moment), Burke (if I'm remembering right), and MRG does a pretty good job of keeping the "personality" in the trails. If that doesn't work I can always "find" some nice winding trails off-piste.

 

[Geoff]

If it's so wide I can see to the bottom, I spell it b-o-r-i-n-g. I'm looking for a moderate does of "adventure", and knowing what's ahead doesn't cut it for me.

It's going to be interesting to see if Magic has fixed their snowmaking pipes adequately to build some base this year. If so, I'm going to be there a lot more often.
Aside from Magic, I like Wildcat and Black for old winding trails (discounting length and difficulty for a moment), Burke (if I'm remembering right), and MRG does a pretty good job of keeping the "personality" in the trails. If that doesn't work I can always "find" some nice winding trails off-piste.

Has Magic done anything about their water problem? That was always the biggest issue in the past. Doesn't matter if you fix the pipe if you suck the snowmaking pond dry after a few days of making snow.

 

[Beetlenut]

Has Magic done anything about their water problem? That was always the biggest issue in the past. Doesn't matter if you fix the pipe if you suck the snowmaking pond dry after a few days of making snow.

I thought I remember reading last year, that one of their off-season priorities was to expand the size of the snow making pond to something like double what it was. I'm sure Billski could comment, as Matt just did a presentation for the ACE ski club on Monday.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

From the photo.... Intermediate and east-facing. One of them might be gladed. A gladed trail at that elevation and aspect won't be skiable very often. Nothing in the Sun Bowl has any pitch to it.

I grew up as a Stratton every-weekender. Back then, it was double chairs and no snowmaking at all on the upper mountain. They only groomed their *cough* 'expert' *cough* terrain occasionally. When everything skis like a long version of Vagabond at Killington, it's quite entertaining. When they put in all the uphill capacity, chainsawed all the interesting narrow twisting New England trails into character-free boulevards, and installed snowmaking with daily grooming of everything, I stopped skiing there. Okemo was also a pretty fun place back in the 1970's and early 1980's. Magic is the only survivor and they don't get quite enough natural snow to be open reliably.

x2.

I used to love cruising and picking my way down the old Tamarack, North American and Rimeline in the early to mid 80s. It's just a different place now, and not my idea of fun.

 

[billski]

I thought I remember reading last year, that one of their off-season priorities was to expand the size of the snow making pond to something like double what it was. I'm sure Billski could comment, as Matt just did a presentation for the ACE ski club on Monday.

Matt didn't comment on it and I neglected to ask, sorry.