Stratton Thread

[Newpylong]

The “Stratton is unskiable on Saturdays because of the crowds” accepted wisdom is interesting to me.

I’ve skied Stratton 32 days this season including every Saturday they’ve been open but 2. I think I’ve waited on a lift line longer than 10 minutes 3 times, and all 3 times involved a lift issue (gondola and Snowbowl on hold twice and a mechanical issue at Ursa once).

If you show up at the base area at 10am on a Saturday and want to ride Amex or the gondolla, you’re probably going to run into a long line. If you’re prepared to play it a little smarter and not put yourself where the crowds are between 10 and 12, use the singles lines when there’s a big difference in the time between singles and regular lines, and time your breaks right, you won’t spend a lot of time waiting in line.

I think the blackout dates on the Ikon Base pass help too. MLK weekend for example wasn’t bad at all, and Monday in particular was quiet and ski-on for a good part of the day.

Same deal as Killington - just don't be waiting for K-1 or any other core lift between 10 and 2 and you can navigate the resort fine. I rather be riding up a secondaey lift for 10 minutes and moving than wait 10-15 minutes in a line for a core lift.

I avoid everything basically between Standard and Ursa - they all are pretty much the same runs and overcrowded. Kidderbrook, Sun and Snow Bowls appeal to me more.

 

[Mailman]

Its not the really the lines, although sometimes it can be. Its the sheer number of people that they put on the hill. Its just flat out dangerous, especially if they are rolling 50-70% open (which is more often than not these recent years) and then they run every lift they have. Its too much lift capacity for the open terrain. 2 HS6, 1 HSQ and an a 10 person gondola (really 8) all terminating at the same place more or less.

So you end up with people saying the crowding isn't that bad because the lift lines are only 10 minutes. But you (I) can't really enjoy the trails because there are 500 other people around you coming down the same trail. scraping off the same ice in the same place. I guess if you are used to it you don't see the problem.

The mountain has been closer to 90% open since mid January than 50% to 70%. It usually gets to somewhere around that point by mid Jan to early Feb each year. It unsurprisingly skis better the more that's open, but that's true of anywhere.

Rather than not seeing the problem because I'm used to it, I think it's more a case of knowing the mountain and patterns well enough that the problem can be mitigated. Choosing runs based on snow quality and crowds rather than pitch, skiing the edges of runs rather than straight down the middle, knowing which trails get less traffic etc. all help. Would I rather be skiing a bigger mountain with gnarlier terrain that gets more snow? Of course. But Stratton is close enough to home that I can get my family there every weekend of the season that we're not traveling somewhere else, the coaching for my kids is excellent (my son skis with and is coached by 3 olympians every weekend), and I find a way to make the skiing fun, even on days when conditions or crowds aren't great.

 

[NYDB]

The mountain has been closer to 90% open since mid January than 50% to 70%. It usually gets to somewhere around that point by mid Jan to early Feb each year. It unsurprisingly skis better the more that's open, but that's true of anywhere.

Rather than not seeing the problem because I'm used to it, I think it's more a case of knowing the mountain and patterns well enough that the problem can be mitigated. .

I've had a house 5 miles away for 30 years. I know the mountain. I know how to avoid crowds there. When there is only snowmaking terrain open on a saturday its terrible after 10am. You can't convince me otherwise. I don't care where you try to hide.

When the trees are in and the natural terrain is open I can see your point a bit. But thats like 4 saturdays a year now.

We can just agree to disagree.

 

[ghughes20]

All of the above chatter reminds me of Yogi Berra, “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded!!!”.

Here’s a riddle… What goes offline more frequently, the Stratton gondola on a windy day or AlpineZone??

Stratton’s not crowded today!!! But, many runs are closed that could be open. My guess is that they had a late window to groom and didn’t have enough time. The un-groomed stuff is horrible. Typical “day after it rains” stuff. If this next storm delivers 6”, no worse for wear. If less, the guns will have to come back on for a lot of resurfacing.

No lift lines today. Even rode the Gondi a few times which I never do on a weekend.

Middlebrook held up nicely - which is surprising given the troubles that had earlier in the season. Lower Slalom Glade and World cup were fun. They’ve started the moguls for an upcoming competition so skiing was limited to a narrow shoulder. The shoulder was firm, but grip able.

A lot of the Blue Runs are skied off already. Big ice sheets everywhere. The Blacks are holding up better.

 

[ghughes20]

The mountain has been closer to 90% open since mid January than 50% to 70%. It usually gets to somewhere around that point by mid Jan to early Feb each year. It unsurprisingly skis better the more that's open, but that's true of anywhere.

Rather than not seeing the problem because I'm used to it, I think it's more a case of knowing the mountain and patterns well enough that the problem can be mitigated. Choosing runs based on snow quality and crowds rather than pitch, skiing the edges of runs rather than straight down the middle, knowing which trails get less traffic etc. all help. Would I rather be skiing a bigger mountain with gnarlier terrain that gets more snow? Of course. But Stratton is close enough to home that I can get my family there every weekend of the season that we're not traveling somewhere else, the coaching for my kids is excellent (my son skis with and is coached by 3 olympians every weekend), and I find a way to make the skiing fun, even on days when conditions or crowds aren't great.

This, pretty much 100%.

 

[Bumpsis]

This week was my first time at Stratton. In all of my 40 some years of skiing in the NE somehow I never made it to Stratton until just a few days ago. I really like the place.

I hit it perfectly - this past Wednesday and Thursday were absolutely fantastic, especially Thursday. The sun softened up the surface just enough to provide what I call "dry spring snow". Not exactly corn but close. The NW side of the mountain - Snow Bowl area remined mostly firm but the trails on looker's left (trails off Ursal lift) were a hoot. It will be a good few visits before I get bored there.

It was a lot of fun to learn the trail layout of a new place. I really like skiing just one big peak - it was sort of like being on a smaller version of Sugarloaf.
I liked the terrain. I'm skiing on busted MCl so carving the intermediate groomers with an occasional steeper pitch is just fine with me. Bumps and trees are off the menu for now anyway.

I was also pleasantly surprised that the trails were not scraped bare to the ice sheets by eaerly afternoon, something I definitly see even mid week at places like Loon and Sunapee. Good conditions held through the day.
And the people traffic was low, so having an open stretch of a slope for some faster turns was not an issue.

It was a surprise to find out that the distance from where I live (Boston), Loon and Stratton are about the same . A bit more time getting to Stratton - smaller roads rolling through towns with 30mph speed limits does add to the driving time. Yet, Stratton is just so much more fun. The mountain "skis big".

For both days I'd park at the Sun Bowl Lodge. A bit less busy and easy, free storage of my stuff.

So here's a question for the Stratton skiers/riders: if you were to boot up in the lodge (my strong preference), where do you leave your boot bags when at the main lodge?? I didn't see any free storage cubbies. Does that option simply not exist at that location?

 

[skiur]

For both days I'd park at the Sun Bowl Lodge. A bit less busy and easy, free storage of my stuff.

So here's a question for the Stratton skiers/riders: if you were to boot up in the lodge (my strong preference), where do you leave your boot bags when at the main lodge?? I didn't see any free storage cubbies. Does that option simply not exist at that location?

15-20 years ago no places had free storage cubbies, you just left your bags at the table. I haven't been to Stratton since 2003 so can't really comment about today but back then it had no cubbies and you just left your stuff wherever you could.

 

[ghughes20]

15-20 years ago no places had free storage cubbies, you just left your bags at the table. I haven't been to Stratton since 2003 so can't really comment about today but back then it had no cubbies and you just left your stuff wherever you could.

I don’t believe there are any free cubbies in the main lodge. There are “pay for” lockers one level down from the main lodge but as @skiur noted, most people just leave their stuff on/under the tables in the main lodge. There‘s also tables lone level up on either side of Grizzlies - the bar in the main lodge.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

This week was my first time at Stratton. In all of my 40 some years of skiing in the NE somehow I never made it to Stratton until just a few days ago. I really like the place.

I hit it perfectly - this past Wednesday and Thursday were absolutely fantastic, especially Thursday. The sun softened up the surface just enough to provide what I call "dry spring snow". Not exactly corn but close. The NW side of the mountain - Snow Bowl area remined mostly firm but the trails on looker's left (trails off Ursal lift) were a hoot. It will be a good few visits before I get bored there.

It was a lot of fun to learn the trail layout of a new place. I really like skiing just one big peak - it was sort of like being on a smaller version of Sugarloaf.
I liked the terrain. I'm skiing on busted MCl so carving the intermediate groomers with an occasional steeper pitch is just fine with me. Bumps and trees are off the menu for now anyway.

I was also pleasantly surprised that the trails were not scraped bare to the ice sheets by eaerly afternoon, something I definitly see even mid week at places like Loon and Sunapee. Good conditions held through the day.
And the people traffic was low, so having an open stretch of a slope for some faster turns was not an issue.

It was a surprise to find out that the distance from where I live (Boston), Loon and Stratton are about the same . A bit more time getting to Stratton - smaller roads rolling through towns with 30mph speed limits does add to the driving time. Yet, Stratton is just so much more fun. The mountain "skis big".

For both days I'd park at the Sun Bowl Lodge. A bit less busy and easy, free storage of my stuff.

So here's a question for the Stratton skiers/riders: if you were to boot up in the lodge (my strong preference), where do you leave your boot bags when at the main lodge?? I didn't see any free storage cubbies. Does that option simply not exist at that location?

There used to be a corrdior that connected the main first floor cafeteria table area to some bathrooms. That was full of cubbies and wall hooks. They may have axed this in favor of a paid bag check probably in the same place. You’re better off in the lookers right side lots at sun bowl tho, ski on ski off and change at your car.

 

[kingslug]

Think it's worth a 3 hour drive tuesday...
We're getting nothing up north.

 

[Newpylong]

I've had a house 5 miles away for 30 years. I know the mountain. I know how to avoid crowds there. When there is only snowmaking terrain open on a saturday its terrible after 10am. You can't convince me otherwise. I don't care where you try to hide.

When the trees are in and the natural terrain is open I can see your point a bit. But thats like 4 saturdays a year now.

We can just agree to disagree.

Stratton has 95% snowmaking there is so little natural terrain (besides woods) there is not really many places to "hide". I don't think the place skis much different in a good or bad winter. They do a good job spreading folks out with how much terrain they cover.

 

[xlr8r]

When I went in January, Everyone put their bags outside in front of the main lodge windows

 

[2Planker]

I started my 40+ year career as a Patroller 1981-85 at Stratton

GF and I were on winter break and thought we were going to Daddy's Condo for a 5 week Stratton vacation...
Nope, Her old man had signed us both up to work 5 days/week. Me for patrol, Her as a Ski Instructor....
Came back and did it for 3 more years....

Lots of crazy memories over those 4 winters

 

[ghughes20]

I started my 40+ year career as a Patroller 1981-85 at Stratton

GF and I were on winter break and thought we were going to Daddy's Condo for a 5 week Stratton vacation...
Nope, Her old man had signed us both up to work 5 days/week. Me for patrol, Her as a Ski Instructor....
Came back and did it for 3 more years....

Lots of crazy memories over those 4 winters

Was the Gondi there at that time? I heard it was installed in the 80s.

 

[2Planker]

Was the Gondi there at that time? I heard it was installed in the 80s.

Gondi was installed in the late 80’s. I’m gonna say ‘88
I was in grad school in Boston and only skied a lil those years

 

[x10003q]

Gondi was installed in the late 80’s. I’m gonna say ‘88
I was in grad school in Boston and only skied a lil those years

Yes to 1988 install of the gondola
It was installed right before Victoria bought Stratton from Moore and Munger in 1989.

 

[WoodCore]

15-20 years ago no places had free storage cubbies, you just left your bags at the table. I haven't been to Stratton since 2003 so can't really comment about today but back then it had no cubbies and you just left your stuff wherever you could.

Currently there is no bag storage inside the main lodge and its enforced. You can boot at the car, hang your bag on a rack outside or purchase a storage locker for $5 at the activity HUB next to the gondola (come and go as many times as needed). The Sun Bowl is a different story, I usually boot at the car but believe there's still a small storage room downstairs and enough dark corners to stash a bag.

 

[crippity]

Which would you choose tomorrow just based on current conditions (no other variables, just snow surface and possible wind delays), stratton or K? havent been up in over a week so dont have current intel. TKS

 

[crank]

It looks like we are gonna head up to Stratton for a day trip tomorrow. At least a 3.5 hour drive each way for us.

 

[crank]

Fun day at Stratton. Windy - the Gondola never ran. Snowed pretty hard for a couple of hours. Soft spots, windblown icefaces...variable for sure but a lot of goodness to be found. Hardly anyone there. Empty trails and mostly no lift lines at all.

Ursa was mostly out of the wind and Tamarack, the run of the day, was skiing beautifully.

3 hour 40 minute drive up door to door this morning. We skied from 10:45 - 3:30. Home now.