Stratton Crowd Management

[Dr Skimeister]

Short version of a long story-plans made weeks ago will have me at Stratton this Sunday. I'm assuming that with the snow earlier this week and the snow that supposed to happen Saturday-into-Sunday, combined with the forcast for Sunday being a temperate day, there is a good likelihood of the place being mobbed. Does anyone with more Stratton experience that me have advice on how to move around the mountain so as to avoid crowds?

Also, does one have to go to the main base area to redeem the freebie lift tickets or can that be done at the other smaller lodge?

 

[drjeff]

Short version of a long story-plans made weeks ago will have me at Stratton this Sunday. I'm assuming that with the snow earlier this week and the snow that supposed to happen Saturday-into-Sunday, combined with the forcast for Sunday being a temperate day, there is a good likelihood of the place being mobbed. Does anyone with more Stratton experience that me have advice on how to move around the mountain so as to avoid crowds?

Just yell "there's a Range Rover with it's lights on in the parking lot!" That should clear about about 75% of any liftline

Serously though. Avoid the Gondola and don't lap off the American Express (the 6 pack out of the base area), that shoudl work quite well. Also, when in doubt ski off of one of the upper mountain fixed grip quads if the 6 packs aren't eating the lines as they usually do.

Trail volume wise, simple, into the trees if that's an option for you. Stratton has some absolutely wonderful and under utilized tree terrain, that after what could likely fall snow wise in the next 36 hours will have between 2 and 3 feet of fresh snow deposited in there in the last week!

 

[reefer]

dr_reefer

........and from my few experiences, Sunday afternoons there quite down in a hurry...............as drjeff stated, the fixed grip Snow Bowl lift is a good place to hang out in the morning 10:00 - 12:00. Shooting Star usually doesn't have a line. Must be careful if you go past it however, the Sunrise Express can get busy also. Do not take the gondi..........................

 

[Paul]

Echoing the above sentiments...

Also, The Sunrise 4, if its running, is a good option if you find yourself at the Sunbowl base area. Avoid the Sunrise 6. The 4 can get you to the Ursa Express (probably a bit of a line here, the Shooting star is a better option) to the top. If you end-up at the main base, avoid the Gondi and Amer Express, and take the South American 4 just beyond the AmEx. It will take you to the Ursa.

Also, as mentioned, the Snowbowl is a good option.

 

[Paul]

Check with Stratton, but you may be able to redeem your ticket at the Sunbowl base lodge. If you get there early enough, the Sunbowl is your best option as you won't have to take the damn shuttle. You can't park anywhere near the Main base area, unless you let Ben Franklin do the talking.

 

[TheBEast]

You can go to the second lodge at Sun Bowl Lodge. I've used it a bunch and if you get there early it's a good way to avoid the crowds. They have full service lift tickets there so should be able to do it there. Try and avoid the URSA chair in the middle of the day, but seriously if the line looks long is out to the end of the carals, it usually is only a 5-10 minute wait. Dido on avoiding the Gondola mid-day. Just not worth the wait. I usually try to ride the Shooting star a bunch (never really any kind of line longer than 5 minutes there and the Snow Bowl (fixed grip triple). While the Snow Bowl is slower there is some good woods over there you can just lap and mix in groomers as well.

 

[tequiladoug]

I redeemed the free tic at sunbowl last year.

 

[Brettski]

yeah sell your tickets and go to okemo

 

[Newpylong]

I heard they yanked the Kidderbrook Quad....

 

[ski_resort_observer]

yeah sell your tickets and go to okemo

yeah, like Okemo won't be crowded :wink:

 

[Rushski]

Drjeff is right on all counts.

Trees were great option on Friday (29th). Only problem was the Ursa was shut down a good part of the day and the Sunbowl upper was down in the afternoon.

Stay away from the gondi and definitely start and end at the Sunbowl.