Stratton Thread

[Shredmonkey254]

Great day. Unbelievable to find untracked lines in the trees all day long. Some of the trees quite deep. The kidderbrook side stuff especially. Get the slightest bit off the most trafficked line in the glades = instant pow. Consistently boot deep, sometimes calf deep. Fucking killer day and already home ordering food. Skied 29k vertical from 7:45-1:45

Also crazy that there seems to be more snow on Stratton than on sugarbush. Maybe just a combination of the terrain being less steep, Stratton skiers being less adventurous, and all of the glades being mostly above 3k feet

I’m beginning to think this place is a diamond in the rough for those that like natural skiing, for the reasons you mention. I was paying attention to where the woods runs are today and they did look good. Still getting the lay of the land and not wanting to jump in when - I think - there should be more snow… It looks like you can spend the day in the woods here in good pow, without having to hike for it or wait for a bus. I see many places that look great that are not on the map too. This place isn’t totally flat either, though low angle woods are becoming more appealing as I get older. They also had natural snow trails opened which surprised me, didn’t think Stratton did that.
My eyes are opening…
Lynxy and I had another fun day a Stratton. I can’t believe I’m saying this, looking forward to next visit!

 

[Kleetus]

Great day. Unbelievable to find untracked lines in the trees all day long. Some of the trees quite deep. The kidderbrook side stuff especially. Get the slightest bit off the most trafficked line in the glades = instant pow. Consistently boot deep, sometimes calf deep. Fucking killer day and already home ordering food. Skied 29k vertical from 7:45-1:45

Also crazy that there seems to be more snow on Stratton than on sugarbush. Maybe just a combination of the terrain being less steep, Stratton skiers being less adventurous, and all of the glades being mostly above 3k feet

Second this. Kidderbrook stuff was off the charts. Really killer day and the two inches last night definitely helped. Snowed all day too. At least another inch or so fell. The natural non gladed stuff skied great too. Especially Standard under the gondi. Got lots of windblown laps in and it was super soft. Under the Snow Bowl Quad too.

Appreciate the intel on Sugarbush. Was tempted to go next weekend as my ski clubs lodge is close to there but not so sure now. I have Thursday off due to Carter's funeral. Big most of the day work meeting Friday so can't take it off. Then the weekend. Not sure where to go though see NVT is going to get pounded with upslope again Tuesday to Wednesday.

 

[xlr8r]

Stratton has always has had good glades. But they have overperformed on snowmaking this year, and have been opening trails early on natural only. Mountain President Matt Jones has done an excellent so far running the place this year, his second year at Stratton.

 

[Kleetus]

Stratton has always has had good glades. But they have overperformed on snowmaking this year, and have been opening trails early on natural only. Mountain President Matt Jones has done an excellent so far running the place this year, his second year at Stratton.

I haven't skied Stratton in years until this weekend but after skiing the product totally agree. Snowmaking trails had great coverage and mostly great snow (few ice patchers here and there, to be expected). Natural and woods had a few sparse rocks and stumps here and there but totally avoidable for the most part and were rightfully open.

Last time I skied Stratton none of the grades were on map (not that it matters, I'd find them eventually). Everything was groomed. No natural or mogul trails. It rightfully got the nicknames "Flatton". This weekend definitely changed my opinion big time provided they keep doing this.

I firmly believe Sugarbush and Killington like to open stuff too early to some extent to boost trail counts and mark stuff as open that really shouldn't be. I feel Stratton this weekend opened stuff when it was legit ready. Sure thin cover in some spots but in all cases on the natural trails you could see it and it was totally avoidable and not rock gardens that will destroy your skis no matter what which Sugarbush and Killington like to mark as open. I love both those places but some of what they open on a couple inches of snow is questionable and I always bring a pair of rock skis with me to switch out of if want to do that stuff. Even with those I normally don't.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Stratton ops have def been impressive

The snowmaking is def full force too. They had tamarack and World Cup blasting today.

There is 1000% enough snow in the woods at stratton to ski safely. I wouldn’t say the same for sugarbush. The stratton glades have very well manicured lines. I’m way less worried about random downed trees or dead ending myself at Stratton

The place skis so good when there is sufficient natural snow to unlock the everything. I went back to kidderbrook ravine/free fall gully and to diamonds repeatedly just mining for lines. Great stuff

Also somehow there were no lift lines today like at all…

 

[Shredmonkey254]

Stratton ops have def been impressive

The snowmaking is def full force too. They had tamarack and World Cup blasting today.

There is 1000% enough snow in the woods at stratton to ski safely. I wouldn’t say the same for sugarbush. The stratton glades have very well manicured lines. I’m way less worried about random downed trees or dead ending myself at Stratton

The place skis so good when there is sufficient natural snow to unlock the everything. I went back to kidderbrook ravine/free fall gully and to diamonds repeatedly just mining for lines. Great stuff

Also somehow there were no lift lines today like at all…




View attachment 64181

Not only no liftlines, but the lifts ran and were not constantly stopping either

 

[KustyTheKlown]

I was kinda shocked that even the gondola ran all day. Snow bowl was blowing hard in the wind. Feel like I’ve seen stratton shut it down for way less than today.

Wins all around at Stratton. Weird. End times.

 

[Zand]

I was always convinced Stratton was my least favorite hill in VT and I switched to Epic this year to be able to have access to Mt Snow instead, but all I can say right now is I am extremely fucking jealous of these Stratton reports coming in and regret my life choices.

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

How busy was Saturday? I was split between Killington and, based on recent chatter, Stratton for an (iKon friendly) day trip. I ended up going to K...

 

[ghughes20]

How busy was Saturday? I was split between Killington and, based on recent chatter, Stratton for an (iKon friendly) day trip. I ended up going to K...

No lines Saturday or Sunday. I might have used the "singles" line once on Saturday. Very unusual for a weekend. Probably due to the 1st Weekend after the holiday and the cold temps and high winds. But as others have noted, all the lifts were running. No sure how they got the Gondi going, but they did.

Remarkable turnaround from Dec 31st. I suspect the high winds pushed a lot of new snow into the trees. The coverage in there is impressive, especially considering the trees were all closed a week ago.

 

[slatham]

Witnessed and heard similar regarding lack of crowds. I think with many schools back Thursday/Friday, and the pre-NYE meltdown, it was an “off” weekend. Ironically, ever since NYE it’s snowed every day with a foot+ in SoVT. Skiing (and XC and snowshoeing) are very good right now!

 

[Newpylong]

Based on the Snow Report they continue to destroy getting terrain open. Think it will literally be the Supertrail and Lift line left after they're done where they're working now.

 

[Cheetah440]

I was always convinced Stratton was my least favorite hill in VT and I switched to Epic this year to be able to have access to Mt Snow instead, but all I can say right now is I am extremely fucking jealous of these Stratton reports coming in and regret my life choices.

The key is to pick a pass, Ikon or Epic and the. Get a pass at a local, Magic, MRG,Bolton Ragged…Sunapee and crotched are useless, ski Ragged instead. Bolton is your hedge against Stowe, etc. the duopoly is unavoidable but that doesn’t mean we should t support other mountains. I will always get a Ragged pass even if I ski 2-3times. Just because. Because I hate Vail with all my being for going after the feeder mountains like a pats and Ragged. Real scumbags.

 

[Shredmonkey254]

Based on the Snow Report they continue to destroy getting terrain open. Think it will literally be the Supertrail and Lift line left after they're done where they're working now.

Mountain Forecast showing huge snow on Saturday right now…fingers crossed!

 

[Zand]

The key is to pick a pass, Ikon or Epic and the. Get a pass at a local, Magic, MRG,Bolton Ragged…Sunapee and crotched are useless, ski Ragged instead. Bolton is your hedge against Stowe, etc. the duopoly is unavoidable but that doesn’t mean we should t support other mountains. I will always get a Ragged pass even if I ski 2-3times. Just because. Because I hate Vail with all my being for going after the feeder mountains like a pats and Ragged. Real scumbags.

I'm hoping to hit Ragged on the Indy Pass this year as I have never been and have always been intrigued by the glades in between the two peaks. For now though they seem to be offering a Vail-esque early season rollout.

Pats and Gunstock seem to be blowing everyone else out of the water so far in New Hampshire.

 

[WoodCore]

Hoping to head up this coming weekend, most looking forward too seeing how much snow is on World Cup. They've had a bunch a "rats" (skiers right) plus HKD towers (skiers left) running full bore for days on end.

 

[Smellytele]

Mountain Forecast showing huge snow on Saturday right now…fingers crossed!

Euro isn't showing anything now either to go along with the GFS showing nothing. Too far out for the NAM

 

[drjeff]

Euro isn't showing anything now either to go along with the GFS showing nothing. Too far out for the NAM

This may very well turn into one of those situations that we get seemingly 5 to 10 times a year where a model or 2 5+ days out suggests a massive blizzard, and then we end up with at most a few flurries... If all of these long range model runs actually hit, just about every resort in New Enlgand would have a minimu of 150" of snowfall a season... Sadly, we know that isn't the case

 

[Shredmonkey254]

Euro isn't showing anything now either to go along with the GFS showing nothing. Too far out for the NAM

They removed the 20+ inches that was showing last night

 

[Cheetah440]

I'm hoping to hit Ragged on the Indy Pass this year as I have never been and have always been intrigued by the glades in between the two peaks. For now though they seem to be offering a Vail-esque early season rollout.

Pats and Gunstock seem to be blowing everyone else out of the water so far in New Hampshire.

When Ragged has snow, it’s simply awesome. The glades there rival anything. It’s just small, I mean it’s not so small it’s just 1000 vert, if it’s groomers only, Ragged is pretty blah. Usually icy and skied off cause they have a 6pack and only usually 2 ways down until the snow is deep. But man when they have deep snow it’s a really really fun place to ski. And they have the best lodge in skiing IMO.