Some Questions About Mad River Glen

[Zand]

1. How small is the parking lot? Will I have to arrive early to get a spot during Christmas Vacation?

2. How much snow does the place typically have for Christmas?

3. What are some of the best trails for bumps without very steep terrain?

4. About how far is it from Worcester, MA? (If someone could help with directions besides MapQuest, I'd appreciate it.)

5. How much tougher is the advanced non-gladed terrain than Sugarbush's? (Comparisons to runs like Liftline would be nice.)

6. Hours? I can't find them on the webiste.

Any other info to make a good day there would be appriciated. Thanks.

 

[Joshua B]

Not historically known to have a good amount of open terrain early season like that. Yes, Christmas break is considered early season for MRG. I think they're best January-March. The parking lot will only fill up during times of great snow, like when they're 100% open. Basically I'm saying I wouldn't plan on hitting MRG. You could plan on hitting MRG or Sugarbush. That would be safer.

 

[David Metsky]

1. How small is the parking lot? Will I have to arrive early to get a spot during Christmas Vacation?

Depends on the snow. On a really good day the lot will definately fill up.

2. How much snow does the place typically have for Christmas?

As Joshua said, it's not know for it's early season snow. Having said that, I had two killer powder days there last year in mid-Dec.

3. What are some of the best trails for bumps without very steep terrain?

Try Canyon and Quacky off the double chair. You could also try Lower Antelope off the single but you'll have to climb a little at the end to get back to the ski area.

4. About how far is it from Worcester, MA? (If someone could help with directions besides MapQuest, I'd appreciate it.)

Get to I-89 in Vt, get off at exit 9. Take 100B to 100 to Warren. It's 4 hours from Boston, not sure from Worcester. I assume you'd go up I-91, right?

5. How much tougher is the advanced non-gladed terrain than Sugarbush's? (Comparisons to runs like Liftline would be nice.)

The difference is conditions. With no manmade snow and no grooming, the terrain is much more variable. The steepest non-glade run would be Chute, under the upper Single. Not sure exactly how it compares.

6. Hours? I can't find them on the website.

9 to 4, lifts usually open around 8:30. Sunnyside closes earlier.

Any other info to make a good day there would be appriciated. Thanks.

Know where you are going before following tracks into the woods. Don't underestimate trails called Quacky, talk to the locals, they know the good places to ski, have a beer at the General Stark, make sure you ride the Single at least once.

 

[powers]

I've been there a couple of times and I would have to agree on the early season/thin snow thing. Thats why everyone says that if you don't have rock skis when you get there you will when you leave. Definately get a tour guide for the good stuff like Antelope and 19th and 20th holes. Its challenging skiing but I've had some great days there. After skiing MGR, you'll be ripping places like Jay Peak. You'll know that you had a good day when you feel like you've been in a car accident!

 

[Joshua B]

4 hours from Boston, not sure from Worcester.

You must drive 55.

 

[jimschley]

1. How small is the parking lot? Will I have to arrive early to get a spot during Christmas Vacation?

It's not a huge parking lot, but I've never had a problem getting a spot.

2. How much snow does the place typically have for Christmas?

It's up to mother nature. At MRG you are relying on natural snow. Last year things were awesome at Christmas.

3. What are some of the best trails for bumps without very steep terrain?

I recommend hanging a left off the single chair and checking out Antelope or Catamount.

4. About how far is it from Worcester, MA? (If someone could help with directions besides MapQuest, I'd appreciate it.)

Will take you around 3 hours as long as you avoid rush hour traffic on I-495 and Route 3. Best bet from Worcester is to take 290 E to 495 N to Rt 3 N (exit 35B). Stay on 3 into NH where it becomes the Everett Tpke and then 293 and then 93. Take I-93 North to I-89 North and stay on all the way to Exit 10 in Vermont. Follow the signs for 100B South and then 100 South into Waitsfield. Turn right on Rt 17 in Waitsfield to head up to MRG.

5. How much tougher is the advanced non-gladed terrain than Sugarbush's? (Comparisons to runs like Liftline would be nice.)

There are a number of trails that are comparable to Liftline or Rumble at Sugarbush i.e. Chute (under the single chair). There are a few trails at MRG that I would consider to be more challenging than anything at Sugarbush, i.e. Paradise

Any other info to make a good day there would be appriciated. Thanks.

Go when you know there is going to be good natural snow, although that doesn't always mean "after a dump." Natural snow has less moisture in it than machine made snow so it is more resistant to adverse conditions and skier traffic. Read the snow reports on the website-- they are notoriously honest about what conditions you'll expect to see. The mountain averages 250 inches of snow per year.

The lift line for the single-chair can be very long on busy days--- it's generally worth it because the terrain is awesome and there are no crowds on the trails. That said, you can end up waiting a half-hour for the chair on a Saturday or holiday.

This article in USA Today from a couple weeks back was pretty good: Skiing in Vermont is a trip back in time

Hope this helps.
-Jim

 

[Zand]

Thanks for the replies guys. Sounds like I'll be heading up if there's some good snow. If not, I'll wait until February.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

You can shave quite a bit of time off by taking I-190 out of Worcester to Rt 2 West, to 140 North. Follow that to Rt 12 North (in Winchendon) and take that past Keene, NH to NH 123 West in Walpole. Once you cross the River to Westminster Station, VT, take Rt 5 North and follow the signs to I-91. Ride that North to WRJ and Pick up I-89 North to Exit 10,100B South and then 100 South . Grab Rt 17 in Waitsfield and you're just about there. Enjoy

 

[beswift]

Ski it if you can?

You shouldn't be skiing Mad River unless you can't afford Sugarbush. North supposedly is in good shape right now. They can blow more snow than South, have the higher elevation, I believe. Even in January Mad River can be unattractive unless you like dumps of heavy snow, big icy bumps and other

Challenges

.

 

[beswift]

Poppycock

Natural snow has less moisture in it than machine made snow so it is more resistant to adverse conditions and skier traffic.

:roll: That's a crazy conlusion. What do you mean by adverse conditions? Natural snow can vary widely in the amount of water in it. I've skied Mad River during a heavy snowfall back when I wasn't an accomplished skier and it was very difficult because the powder was terribly wet. It's my advice that you can have a good day on General Stark's Mtn. in Dec. and Jan. (and I hope the inquirer goes back to follow up this thread) but you should check at Inverness before heading for the Ap Gap. Then you can make a quick decision about a change of plans and go to the Bush.

 

[First Tracks]

Re: Ski it if you can?

You shouldn't be skiing Mad River unless you can't afford Sugarbush. North supposedly is in good shape right now.

Good shape? Yes. Limited at the moment? Heck yeah! I left around 1:00 or 1:30 this past Sunday, as I just plain got bored skiing the same 2.5 runs on the top 1,000 feet of the mountain over and over again.

An extensive trip report from Sunday, complete with 11 photos, is here for anyone who's interested.

 

[beswift]

MRG Parking Lot

It's not a huge parking lot, but I've never had a problem getting a spot.

If you have trouble at the bottom lot, you can try the summit lot, I believe. However, I have never had to do that. It can be a tricky approach from Waitsfield, though. Hairpin turns, ect. The best treat I have had was seeing a very attractive blonde change in the lot by striping down to nothing last spring. It is best to go there at the end of the season, but you can miss it as their snow at the base melts quickly.

 

[Mr MRG]

Just saw this thread and figured as MRG's Marketing Director I'd chime in. Hope the community doesn't mind hearing from an "industry insider"

1. How small is the parking lot? Will I have to arrive early to get a spot during Christmas Vacation?

Don't worry about it, we'll fit you in

2. How much snow does the place typically have for Christmas?

God only knows! We are looking great right now. Only ski area in VT with 100% of our terrain open

3. What are some of the best trails for bumps without very steep terrain?

I would recommend Periwinkle Bowl in Birdland and Quacky off of the Sunnyside Double. Antelope off of the top of the single can have some nice bumped sections as well.

4. About how far is it from Worcester, MA? (If someone could help with directions besides MapQuest, I'd appreciate it.)

[/quote]


visit our website and click on directions under the Visitor Info icon[/quote]

5. How much tougher is the advanced non-gladed terrain than Sugarbush's? (Comparisons to runs like Liftline would be nice.)

I think our rating system is pretty comperable perhaps we tend to be a little tougher. Not sure whicj Lift line you are talking about. The key difference is the grooming. We rarely touch our expert terrain so you don't get teh wider bouilevard trails like Ripcord and Organ Grinder.

6. Hours? I can't find them on the webiste.

8:30 - 3:45 on weekends and 9:00 - 3:45 during the week.
We will go to a 4 PM closing once the sun starts to set a bit later.


Any other info to make a good day there would be appriciated. Thanks.[/quote]
Contact me anytime and I would be happyu to take you out for a personal tour. Let me know when you'll be up.

 

[bvibert]

Just saw this thread and figured as MRG's Marketing Director I'd chime in. Hope the community doesn't mind hearing from an "industry insider"

I for one love hearing from "industry insiders" I wish more would hang out in here!

Thanks for your input. MRG is one of the best (if not the best) places that I've had the pleasure to ski at!

 

[ski_resort_observer]

MRG today

Today, MRG had 46% of their terrain open and charging $50. For a few bucks more you can ski the 77 trails(85% open) at Sugarbush.

Sure, MRG is great when they have natual snow, probably got some snow today.

 

[beswift]

Snow.

Maybe you should move to the Ma. South Shore to ski? We just had a great week for snow related sports. It didn't cost me anything, either. Three days of cross-country conditioning, one day on Bear Paw snow-shoes and one just hiking in the woods on the pack. Now, I don't know whether I'll be golfing next week or ice-kiting. Keep us abreast of the snow situation up there in the boonies, though, I'll be up in the real mountains of N.H. this week where a day's tramway pass only costs me $7.

 

[riverc0il]

you really can't compare MRG to any other mountain regarding open percentage. so many more of MRG's trails are natural snow conditions only compared to any other ski area. MRG hardly grooms anything which means they have to shut down a lot of terrain when the weather takes a turn for the worse. even though the bush has a high percentage open, i would wager that most of the bushes open terrain are groomers.