Nordic Skiing at Stowe

[BeanoNYC]

....Any suggestions? My wife started out skiing cross country as a little girl and is looking to get back into it. She's looking for rentals and some sort of tour or lesson. Trapp family lodge her best bet? Do you need reservations for something like this?

I'll be at Mansfield studying some of the steeper results of FDR's "New Deal" Program, thank you very much. A history teacher's work is never done.

 

[RISkier]

I know the Trapp Family Lodge will work. They offer rentals and lessons. I believe there are 3 different options and don't have any idea how the others would compare.

 

[andyzee]

http://www.xcountryski-vermont.com/northconditions.html?t=

 

[deadheadskier]

Trapp's is a good bet, same with Topnotch or right at Stowe's nordic center itself. I believe all of their trail systems are interconnected.

 

[Paul]

Weissner Woods. Hands-down. I know there's a really good trail network at Trapp, but it'll cost ya. Weissner is free, and it has a lot of interesting terrain.

 

[deadheadskier]

Weisnner is a great spot indeed. Also, if I were going to Stowe, I would be staying at the Stowehof which is adjacent to Weisnner. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the other lodging offerings in town, but the charm of the place is unmatched.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Trapp's is a good bet, same with Topnotch or right at Stowe's nordic center itself. I believe all of their trail systems are interconnected.

Stowe has their own nordic center? That may make the Logistics a bit easier. I'll look into it.

 

[dropKickMurphy]

You might want to check out Edson Hill Manor, also. They have their own network of trails, which are interconnected with the Trapp and Stowe Mountain Resort trail systems.

Map of Stowe Nordic trails:
http://www.gostowe.com/sports/crosscountry_map.php

 

[sugbushgal]

I skied Trapp for the first time on Saturday and LOVED it. I did, however, make the mistake of bringing skate skis and learned very fast just how hilly the trail system is (wish I had gone classic). Skiing to the Tea Room for lunch is a must.

 

[deadheadskier]

Stowe has their own nordic center? That may make the Logistics a bit easier. I'll look into it.

Yes it does, but it is not necessarily connected to the Alpine Center, though probably by shuttle bus. It's about a half mile down the hill from the Toll House lift and two miles from Mansfield Base Lodge

If you wanted to take on a true study of history though, you could always take the Bruce trail (back country trail from top of Mansfield) down to the XC center

 

[BeanoNYC]

If you wanted to take on a true study of history though, you could always take the Bruce trail (back country trail from top of Mansfield) down to the XC center

Ahh yes, the original CCC trail. I've been thinking about sweet talking a local into taking me for a tour one day. Just two issues I have:

1) Would I need AT or Tele gear for the runout at the bottom?
2) I may have a rider with me that the above runout may pose a huge problem for.

 

[deadheadskier]

At or tele gear isn't really a problem for a skier. The run out requires a fair amount of skating for maybe a half mile or so. I did the Bruce several times on normal alpine skis and really didn't find it to be that big of a deal.

That said, it would probably suck for a snowboarder. This however is true for most of the slack country at Stowe. The best stuff funnels into the notch and there are long run outs from there that I'm sure would be annoying on a board.

 

[phil]

My family was up at Stowe twice last season. My son and I did downhill, and my wife and father-in-law did XC. They both have their own gear so instead of paying trail fees they skied on the notch road leading out of the upper mansfield parking lots. Depending on snow it can be fantastic. There is also a trail along the stream down in the valley that can be good

 

[MichaelJ]

How about the Catamount Trail? Runs the entire length of VT, and is a quite beautiful combination of everything from groomed ski centers to logging roads to trails through the woods. In particular, section 23 sounds like a great place to go all the way from Trapps to Wiessner.

While .pdf maps are online, if you like the idea of the trail, buy the book (which has full descriptions as well as the maps) and support the organization!