Stowe vs Sugarbush...

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

This could turn into a pretty good thread. Do you prefer skiing/riding at Stowe or Sugarbush? When I was a Freshman at UVM I had the Big Pass which was a combined Stowe/Sugarbush season pass and I had my schedule set-up so I could ski MWFSS..I skied both places alot that season but liked Stowe better..for the awesome tree skiing and two top to bottom high speed lifts. Plus Stowe gets more snowfall on average(despite what the marketing guys might say). The next three years at college I got a Stowe only pass and didn't visit Sugarbush much although I spent a number of days at Mad River Glen...Do you like Stowe better or Sugarbush better???? Why??

 

[koreshot]

Stowe Advantages:
- Better terrain (although not by much)
- Better lift system accessing that terrain
- Good hiking

Stowe is the greatest, everyone should always go skiing in Stowe over SB!

 

[BushMogulMaster]

I haven't skied Stowe, so I cannot make a valid comparison. If you don't want to read my post because of that, it's perfectly fine with me . However, there is one clause here: if you do read my post, DO NOT respond with a post about "how ignorant I am for trying to discuss this without having ever skied Stowe." I know that. Now you know that. Read it for what it is... a partially-valid opinion.

I will (by my pro-Sugarbush nature :wink: ) have to point a couple of things out by sheer facts (and a lot of speculation ) that I think make Sugarbush better. First of all, contrary to your opinion (which I'm fine with, and respect), I personally dislike top to bottom lifts because they create a line nightmare on busy days and do not disperse the crowd well. Sugarbush, mostly Mt. Ellen, does a perfect job of dispersing the crowd even on the busiest of days. Because of the GMX/Summit/NRX setup, there is practically never more than a 5 minute wait anywhere. Throw Sunny D and Inverness into the mix, and we're golden... very few lift lines.

As far as trees, I can't imagine that Stowe has much better trees than the marked trees at the Bush + Slidebrook + the unmarked woods that you may not have yet experienced. However... I could be wrong since I have not skied Stowe.

I've heard a lot of talk about the front 4 or whatever those 4 great expert trails are. But I can't believe that they're any better than your combo of Middle Earth + C-Rock Run + Rumble + Liftline + Twist + Hammerhead + Tumbler + Spills + Mall + Lower FIS + Black Diamond + Exterm + Bravo. Again, I need to ski Stowe and ski those 4 trails before making a true argument. I would just be in sheer disbelief if those 4 trails were any better than the ones I mentioned. Sugarbush just has a bit more expert terrain than Stowe (35% vs. 25%) in general.

From the reports that I have heard, Stowe does not often have great bumps. Either because the skiers there don't ski bumps, or their occupied with something else. If there aren't good bumps, I don't want to ski there. You can keep your trees and groomed steeps to yourself :wink:

Based on the stats and the maps, Sugarbush has a little more to offer variety and terrain-wise. More acreage, more trails (although I do respect Stowe for their trail naming scheme, aka giving one trail one name, and not having "upper" "upper-middle" "middle" "lower-middle" "almost lower" and "lower" names :lol: ).

As far as snow, yeah, Stowe probably gets a little more. Like maybe an additional 15 or 20" per year. Not enough to make me change my mind. Besides, Sugarbush generally gets more than they report, because the measurements are mostly taken from Lincoln Peak. More often than not, Mt. Ellen gets anywhere from 1 to 6 inches more on the summit than LP. So while Stowe probably gets a little more, Mt. Ellen at least is close enough that it doesn't make a difference to me.

I'm really not dissing Stowe, and I will definitely have to ski there because I'm sure it's awesome. I'm just a Sugarbush guy, and always will be. I simply couldn't watch this thread without adding some input!

Now... the one thing that REALLY ticks me off about Stowe is that it simply is not affordable. You cannot get a discount for anything at Stowe. You know they're the only resort in Vermont that does not give tickets to VT Gold Card holders (a card held by some upper management in the VT industry)? They don't give free or discounted tickets to other ski area employees, but their employees can often get free or discounted tickets at all of the other areas (with a letter from their supervisor). It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth about the general attitude (which may or may not be what it appears).


Okay... I'm done. Now somebody that's actually skied them both can post an informed opinion

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Stowe Advantages:
- Better terrain (although not by much)
- Better lift system accessing that terrain
- Good hiking

Stowe is the greatest, everyone should always go skiing in Stowe over SB!

Um, I think you used this one already in the other thread :wink:

 

[JD]

Sugarbush offers way more back country too!

 

[ski_resort_observer]

They both start with an S, one is owned by a huge New York insurance giant, one is locally owned, they both have great terrain....I'll leave it at that. I'm too old to fall in the same trap that BMM did...:wink: :lol:

 

[koreshot]

Um, I think you used this one already in the other thread :wink:

Haha... yeah, I am really trying here, but GSS keeps bringing these Subarbush threads up.

Having skied about 10 days at both, SB is better period. Will spend most of my time there this year. How about that?

 

[BushMogulMaster]

They both start with an S, one is owned by a huge New York insurance giant, one is locally owned, they both have great terrain....I'll leave it at that. I'm too old to fall in the same trap that BMM did...:wink: :lol:

:lol:

That's why I put the little preamble at the beginning :wink:

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Haha... yeah, I am really trying here, but GSS keeps bringing these Subarbush threads up.

Having skied about 10 days at both, SB is better period. Will spend most of my time there this year. How about that?

Thank you. Much Better

 

[tjf67]

I like stowe better. Been to both at least 10 times . Worked at sugarbush north making snow one winter.

Stowe thats my choice and I'm sticking to it

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Stowe thats my choice and I'm sticking to it

Me too. I like SB alot, but Stowe gets the edge from me.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

GrilledSteeze... why don't you make this a poll just for fun?

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I haven't skied Stowe, so I cannot make a valid comparison.

You are so close to it, how could you not ski it just once to at least compare?

 

[BushMogulMaster]

You are so close to it, how could you not ski it just once to at least compare?

I'm not willing to buy a day pass at Stowe. That said, sometime I certainly will ski there. But not at $76 (or even $52 for the early/late rate). Look at it this way... I was waking up to a 4 minute walk to GMX, a 5 minute drive to Lincoln Peak, and a 10 minute drive to MRG. I guess I just didn't get around to it. I did ski Killington and Burke last year, but I was at K-mart for free and Burke on some special deal for around $15 or something. I guess you could say I'm frugal :wink:

I'm also a college student, which means I don't really have a whole lot of extra cash for $76 lift tickets!

 

[wa-loaf]

Stowe Advantages:
- Better terrain (although not by much)
- Better lift system accessing that terrain
- Good hiking

Stowe is the greatest, everyone should always go skiing in Stowe over SB!

How could you possibly . . . :evil: er, ah right.

Stow is much better by far! ;-)

 

[Talisman]

I like both Sugarbush and Stowe, but ski at Sugarbush more for two reasons: it closer to my ski house and I get cheaper lift tickets through my ski club.

Things I like about Stowe: terrain, lifts, early lift opening on weekends and an early breakfast spot close by.

Things I like about Sugarbush: terrain, access, lack of crowds and I have to drive by the Long Trail Brewery going home.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Stowe Advantages:
- Better terrain (although not by much)
- Better lift system accessing that terrain
- Good hiking

Stowe is the greatest, everyone should always go skiing in Stowe over SB!

Um, I think you used this one already in the other thread :wink:

How could you possibly . . . :evil: er, ah right.

Stow is much better by far! ;-)

What's with all the :wink::wink:. Like you guys who like SB better are much more in the know then those of us who like Stowe.

That’s condescending bull shit. SB worship threads always end up pissing me off.

 

[deadheadskier]

If I had to choose only one to ride for a day, it would be Stowe, but it's close

Sugarbush has the edge in trails, uncrowded, value

Stowe has the edge in snow, back country and lifts


While I do enjoy SB's lift system, I am someone who prefers top to bottom lifts. While I agree with what someone said about SB's system is better at dealing with crowds, I for the most part don't ski on crowded days.

I know many people love Slidebrook and other back country options at Sugarbush and justifiably so, they are great. I just think they really don't come close to the options at Stowe. Nothing at Sugarbush compares to the above tree line options at Stowe nor the vast expanse inside the notch. All of this requires very little effort to get to or from. It's this that tips the scale in Stowe's favor for me, not only over Sugarbush, but any other mountain in the North East.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

What's with all the :wink::wink:. Like you guys who like SB better are much more in the know then those of us who like Stowe.

That’s condescending bull shit. SB worship threads always end up pissing me off.

Pardon me? I was referring to koreshot's post in the "which state" thread where he was being sarcastic (and not in a condescending way). No one's trying to be condescending.

By the way, I see no SB worshiping yet. It could get much worse. Isn't it ok that some of use love Sugarbush? Am I complaining about people who love and adore Whiteface or Stowe? Nope. Good for you. To each his own. Worship whatever area you like. I like Sugarbush. You pick Stowe. Cool. No big deal.

 

[from_the_NEK]

I'm not willing to buy a day pass at Stowe. That said, sometime I certainly will ski there. But not at $76 (or even $52 for the early/late rate). Look at it this way... I was waking up to a 4 minute walk to GMX, a 5 minute drive to Lincoln Peak, and a 10 minute drive to MRG. I guess I just didn't get around to it. I did ski Killington and Burke last year, but I was at K-mart for free and Burke on some special deal for around $15 or something. I guess you could say I'm frugal :wink:

I'm also a college student, which means I don't really have a whole lot of extra cash for $76 lift tickets!

Just curious... How'd you like Burke?