Stowe Thread

[urungus]

You want to ski from the Bruce Trail to the XC Center instead of Matterhorn?

We are not the same.

Hey @BenedictGomez I made it down Bruce to the Matterhorn and hoisted one in your honor, thanks for the recommendation - I like the Den in the Mansfield lodge for its old school vibe and history dating back to 1941 and didn’t realize the Matterhorn goes all the way back to 1950 - I was put off by how it advertises itself as a sushi joint TBH

 

[BenedictGomez]

Hey @BenedictGomez I made it down Bruce to the Matterhorn and hoisted one in your honor, thanks for the recommendation - I like the Den in the Mansfield lodge for its old school vibe and history dating back to 1941 and didn’t realize the Matterhorn goes all the way back to 1950

Glad you made it, Matterhorn is an apres ski treasure.

And Switchback too. I insisted picking out the beer list for our wedding, and Switchback made the cut. They dont sell it in Jersey, so I had my wife's father bring down some cases from Vermont. And I see Shed Ale on tap too; I used to frequent the original brewery/restaurant in Stowe (RIP) back in the late 90s/early 00s; a great place.

 

[Hawk]

I find myself at the Matterhorn every time I visit Stowe. Summer or winter. What wrong with Sushi? Thiers is very good. Also most things on the menu are good. Switchback is like the Budweiser of VT. LOL it is Ubiquitious in NH and MA. Shed is good. I used to drink that all the time. The Matterhorn usually has Hill Farmstead which is a special beer for me.

I bet the Bruce was all filled in nice with all the snow they have had and skied well.

 

[urungus]

I bet the Bruce was all filled in nice with all the snow they have had and skied well.

Coverage was fantastic !

 

[LuckyStrike]

Is that trail enjoyable for a snowboarder? Are there uphill or extended flat sections?

 

[Shredmonkey254]

Is that trail enjoyable for a snowboarder? Are there uphill or extended flat sections?

There are extended flat sections but both my wife and I have made it all the way without issue. May not hurt to use a skiers pole if you hang with any two plankers. It's been years since we last did it, was worth doing so you can say you did it but if memory serves me correctly, the last half of the trail is pretty flat.

 

[LuckyStrike]

Ok thanks Shred. Do you post over at the NS forums?

 

[Shredmonkey254]

Ok thanks Shred. Do you post over at the NS forums?

what are NS forums?... and the Lynx and I talked it over, we made it no problem without poles. We did the Bruce with other snowboarders, so if your wax is good, you will be good!

 

[KustyTheKlown]

newschoolers

 

[urungus]

There are extended flat sections but both my wife and I have made it all the way without issue. May not hurt to use a skiers pole if you hang with any two plankers. It's been years since we last did it, was worth doing so you can say you did it but if memory serves me correctly, the last half of the trail is pretty flat.

@LuckyStrike Not sure if I would recommend Bruce for snowboarders. Second half of the route is on very flat green circle groomed cross country trails with some lengthly sections that are slightly uphill.

From top of Fourrunner quad to intersection with Bear Run XC trail distance is 1.9 miles with vertical rise of 5 feet and drop of 2029 feet

From there to Matterhorn on route 108 it is another 2.2 miles of flat XC skiing with rise of 47 feet and drop of only 677 feet.

 

[Shredmonkey254]

@LuckyStrike Not sure if I would recommend Bruce for snowboarders. Second half of the route is on very flat green circle groomed cross country trails with some lengthly sections that are slightly uphill.

From top of Fourrunner quad to intersection with Bear Run XC trail distance is 1.9 miles with vertical rise of 5 feet and drop of 2029 feet

From there to Matterhorn on route 108 it is another 2.2 miles of flat XC skiing with rise of 47 feet and drop of only 677 feet.

I dunno if there are different routes, but we definitely made it all the way without having to release a binding. I also remember going past xc skiers which was a goof! I gave away my Stowe back country map, so have no reference material

 

[urungus]

I dunno if there are different routes, but we definitely made it all the way without having to release a binding. I also remember going past xc skiers which was a goof! I gave away my Stowe back country map, so have no reference material

My route highlighted in red: Bruce > Burt > Ranch Brook Rd (dashed line at end)

 

[jimmywilson69]

Awesome, glad you did it!

 

[hovercraft]

Snowboarders do it all the time

 

[Vter]

Whatever, when you’ve done the Bruce, the Matterhorn is your goal, fer sur.
Have a drink or whatever.
No matter where you R parked, cross the Road and look for the “bus stop” (usually) a Blue Bus, The “108” is your Ride. They Run a very good schedule. If you miss one, don’t panic. Go have a quick beer, cause the next one is in 15-20 minutes.
This bus will take you back up to the Mtn. & All Parking Lots.
The Stowe Shuttle Busses are awesome for “Free Parking” lots, they will drop you at the “X-Country Center” too from the hill. You can always catch the “108” into town, or ski back to your car to the XC center or Toll House, take the Toll Road to Toll House or “Derby Trail” for XC Center Free Parking Lot.
It’s pretty awesome, no hassle, drop you 100’ from lift, for Free. Locals have come to like the service fer sur.
- from a person in the know

 

[urungus]

Whatever, when you’ve done the Bruce, the Matterhorn is your goal, fer sur.
Have a drink or whatever.
No matter where you R parked, cross the Road and look for the “bus stop” (usually) a Blue Bus, The “108” is your Ride. They Run a very good schedule. If you miss one, don’t panic. Go have a quick beer, cause the next one is in 15-20 minutes.
This bus will take you back up to the Mtn. & All Parking Lots.
The Stowe Shuttle Busses are awesome for “Free Parking” lots, they will drop you at the “X-Country Center” too from the hill. You can always catch the “108” into town, or ski back to your car to the XC center or Toll House, take the Toll Road to Toll House or “Derby Trail” for XC Center Free Parking Lot.
It’s pretty awesome, no hassle, drop you 100’ from lift, for Free. Locals have come to like the service fer sur.
- from a person in the know

Plus you can view the real-time location of the 108 shuttle bus on your phone, so you can nurse your final beer in the warmth of the Matterhorn until the last possible moment. Only thing I don’t like is how the 108 does not stop at the XC center in the uphill direction (towards the main resort), it only stops there in the downhill direction. I guess so the XC parking lot doesn’t get overwhelmed with alpine skiers in the morning ?

 

[Vter]

^^^
Spot on !
The “108” does not Stop at the XC Center coming up from town (Matterhorn)
It’s does Stop at the entrance on the way back down. The Resort “Free Parking” shuttles will drive you right into the XC Center, but they don’t go up or down to the Matterhorn.