Stratton

[Beetlenut]

Does anyone know where the new backcountry course through the woods designed by Olympic Medallist Bill Koch is, or how to get to it? Nothing on Stratton's trail maps or web site tells of it's location, only that it exists.

 

[thetrailboss]

Does anyone know where the new backcountry course through the woods designed by Olympic Medallist Bill Koch is, or how to get to it? Nothing on Stratton's trail maps or web site tells of it's location, only that it exists.

Probably the city folk have hid it and will charge you even more $$$ to ski it, on top of the $75 lift ticket price (j/k...could not resist). :wink:

 

[Brettski]

I remeber when I was shocked when kmart charged $42 for a ticket....

 

[Talisman]

Come on Stratton is only $72 on weekends, which is a savings over $75. Unless you use the $3 to tip the guy at the tickets window! Do they expect tips at Stratton?

I hear the trail is over on the Kidderbrook part of the mountain above the Sunbowl. I haven't had a chance to hit Stratton when it is 100% open this year because I am too cheap to pay $72.

 

[thetrailboss]

Come on Stratton is only $72 on weekends, which is a savings over $75. Unless you use the $3 to tip the guy at the tickets window! Do they expect tips at Stratton?

I hear the trail is over on the Kidderbrook part of the mountain above the Sunbowl. I haven't had a chance to hit Stratton when it is 100% open this year because I am too cheap to pay $72.

Yeah, I was mocking their high tix rate...highest in the country. That said, they do have a lot of new, huge lifts.

 

[Talisman]

I have read Vail is higher at ~$77 and a couple of other places in the west, probably Beaver Creek.

 

[Beetlenut]

I haven't had a chance to hit Stratton when it is 100% open this year because I am too cheap to pay $72.

Yea me too. I'm skiing it for $40 this Friday after 14" of fresh. You'd think this trail would be open now! I'll give a report if I find/ski it.

 

[Brettski]

Is it me, or does anyone else find stratton boring....

 

[tekweezle]

stratton is ok. is there really a bad mountain when there is abundant snow?

it;s a little lacking in technical difficulty and vertical but then again that;s not their aim. they want to make themselves the family friendly resort destination with all the amenities. they are more likely to groom everything flat even on a powder day less thety be subject ot personal injury lawsuits. with so many resorts in close proximity, there's a market for a place like stratton to differentiate itself from the pack..

if i was bringing a family or a group of beginners, i;d bring them to stratton. the lifts are good and so is the food and lodges. it would really boost their confidence to ski a stratton black which is more like a blue trail anywhere else. they have decent cruising runs too. for that, the money is worth it. the high prices keep the crowds down too. but then again, most people who come to stratton usually save money buying the ticket on the internet or as part of a multi day lodging deal. anybody who is walking up to the window to buy is not making the smartest choice.

if i was looking for a challenge, i;d go elsewhere. Stratton can be boring to experts.

 

[Brettski]

I'm taking my family back to smugglers now for the 4th year in a row...

Now it may not be as slick, or as close to the New York metro area (Now there's another plus), but the poeple are great, the lodiging is great, and the ski school for the kids is great.

We've basically skied there all week.

I think this year we ski ther a couple of days and show the kids around....

 

[Big Game]

Does anyone know where the new backcountry course through the woods designed by Olympic Medallist Bill Koch is, or how to get to it? Nothing on Stratton's trail maps or web site tells of it's location, only that it exists.

I've done it..it's definitely different than most other glades. It''s kind of like going through low-pitch mountain bike singletrack, then it opens up steeper (but nothing steeper than blue square), then back to single track. Actually a lot of fun. The downside to it is is is off of Kidderbrook and you have that long run-out on the bottom if the Kidderbrook lift isn't running. But it's location is also good, because there isn't much traffic over there.

To find it, head off to Kidder Brook. Look for it on your right. There will be some entry points before the official entrance, but don't use those unless you're prepared to get dead-ended. Not sure if the entrace is flagged. Go in where it is obvious that someone cut a path.

Stratton can be a a little too corporate homogonized big money nonesense. But it is a close hill with a good vert. Luckily yesterday, they did a good job of not grooming the powder. It was a good day.

 

[DBarnes727]

http://forums.alpinezone.com/about3271.html

Discounted Stratton Tickets

 

[Skier75]

Can't say as we've been to Stratton....sounds pretty pricey to me. :roll: Not the kind of mountain I'd be looking for. Now tomorrow we'll be seeing what Waterville Valley is all about.....hope we'll like it. Personally, I like places that don't have a big crowd, if there's any such thing. Well let's see Saddleback Mountain in Maine would be one of those, as well as Sugarbush on a weekday. :beer:

 

[Brettski]

You live in NH and have never been to Waterville?

Very pretty place...just the top is not skiiable due to the wind...notice the wind fences at the top...I assume they did that to add vertical...

Great, but overlooked mountain...

Best part...nobody in NY knows that NH is a state


Big difference between southern VT and anywhere...