Sugarbush vs Stowe

[JD]

OK. Sugarbush seems to be taking all challengers. And, as Greg points out, the Sugarbush/MRG combo seems to be a knockout punch for most other areas. But I have a feeling the Valley may have met it's match in the comparison with Stowe, and if we're counting sister Mtns in the competition, the Stowe/Smuggs (smuggler's notch zone) combination. No equals in the east IMO. Snow, accessability, history, and the big big reason, as-rad-as-you-wanna-get terrain from cruising Toll Road or Sterling, to dropping into Jeff slide with you axes, ropes, and crapons, or touring from the quad to beaver meadow lodge and back for real multidays including 4 notch runs and one Bruce trail at the end.....does the Valley even stand a chance???

 

[frozencorn]

"...does the Valley even stand a chance?"

I love the Bush, but no,

 

[from_the_NEK]

Here we go again...

http://forums.alpinezone.com/17564-stowe-vs-sugarbush.html?highlight=stowe+sugarbush

 

[JD]

here we go again...

http://forums.alpinezone.com/17564-stowe-vs-sugarbush.html?highlight=stowe+sugarbush

lol.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

"...does the Valley even stand a chance?"

I love the Bush, but no,

+1

Stunned that Stowe/Smuggs don't get more play here. They've got it all. The only area where I think SB/MRG compares or excels is in the trails. Stowe destroyed a lot of their old, Eastern style trails whereas SB and MRG retain the vast majority of theirs. That's a nit though, and be be solely in the eye of the beholder. With the new ease of connecting between Spruce Peak and Mansfield, overall I don't think anyone can touch Stowe/Smuggs.

 

[JD]

Agree about trail skiing, athough smuggs def. has some character....Never was much of a trail skiier myself..

 

[atkinson]

No chance at all ...

Slide skiing and if you want cliffs to jump or rappel, MRG has the most per acre of any ski area in the East, plus more in the sidecountry of the MRV.

Deep snow here too.

The whole kit and kaboodle.

Stowe and Smuggs are incredible areas too and the above treeline stuff is really cool, but to say one is better than the other is like saying that tuna is better than salmon. Everybody has their preferences, and we are very lucky to have so many great places to ski and ride in close proximity. Between Jay's northern reaches and Killington's southern end, we've got the best range of ski areas on the East Coast, all within a 2.5 hour drive of each other.

Visit them all!

John

 

[JD]

Very diplomatic John. However, noting in the valley compares to the notch. Basically, the smugglers notch area has everything the MRV has, plus more snow and more expert off piste options. I agree though, there is good skiing all over VT.
It's funny that sugarbush counts slidebrook as part of their skiable acres, but on the trail maps it's outside their boundries. If stowe counted all the acres of skiing between Mansfield and Spruce, that questionable statistic is nullified. Options available for true ski mountaineering in the notch are not equalled in VT. Only the whites and Dacks slide areas....What compares to Tusk in the valley?

 

[campgottagopee]

I prefer Stowe/Smuggs---I'm sure the Valley has some incredible "stuff" but I'm just not as familiar with that area as I am w/ the Notch. Like John said---it's all good

 

[Starter Jackets Rule!]

killerphotobro!

 

[deadheadskier]

+1

Stunned that Stowe/Smuggs don't get more play here. They've got it all. The only area where I think SB/MRG compares or excels is in the trails. .

Agreed....

If you're looking for off map stuff, there is no rival to Mt. Mansfield in the east in terms of slack/back country....sorry Jay Peak, as much as I love you.

On map, I would probably give the nod to the MRV resorts.

As much as I love Stowe, if by some miracle I could ever afford a second home up in ski country, I would probably choose MRV, this despite still having some friends in the Stowe area. I just think the MRV has done a better job preserving it's character and 'Vermont way of life' better than the town of Stowe. It's a bit more laid back.

But again, I reiterate, Mt. Mansfield and Smuggler's Notch is the best physical piece of skiing real estate combined with abundant snowfall in the east. There really is no argument against that.

 

[frozencorn]

But again, I reiterate, Mt. Mansfield and Smuggler's Notch is the best physical piece of skiing real estate combined with abundant snowfall in the east. There really is no argument against that.

+1

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

+1

Stunned that Stowe/Smuggs don't get more play here.

Not really when you think about it. Before JD there was even less play. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that there are not a lot of Stowe skiing C.L.I.T.S. Those guys have along way to travel; they know they love the MRV so that’s where they go, and who can blame them?

Since the C.L.I.T.S. are the most numerous and vocal group on the board it just makes sense that since they haven’t skied Stowe it doesn’t get much play here.

For example, did anyone outside of Connecticut every hear of Ski Sundown before frequenting this forum? Dang, I even know the names of some of the trails now.

I like C.L.I.T.S. so don’t take it as C.L.I.T.S. bashing, it’s just my opinion why Stowe/Smuggs doesn’t get much play here compared to MRV.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I prefer Stowe/Smuggs---I'm sure the Valley has some incredible "stuff" but I'm just not as familiar with that area as I am w/ the Notch. Like John said---it's all good

It is all good, hell it's all great eastern skiing, but I give Stowe/Smuggs the edge too, but not by much.

 

[atkinson]

Come on JD, there's no way I am naming the best lines here on the internets. Besides, the Tusk is totally south-facing. Cool line, but only good during limited windows. I think the routes on the other side of the notch are better anyway.

Living here in the MRV, there are only a few places in the East that I consistently travel to ski. Stowe, Smuggs, Jay, Killington, the Presidentials and the Chic Chocs make the short list. I need to do more in the Adirondacks, and still want to visit Burke, Sugarloaf, Cannon and Katahdin, but other than that, I am in the place I love to ski the most.

John

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Stowe..two top to bottom high speed lifts...lots of classic trails..the best tree skiing in the east..great town..lots of natural snow..great sustained pitch...Sugarbush is great but Stowe is a few notches better..

 

[JD]

Tusk was great all last march. Southern exposure Isn't really applicable there becasue of how heavily it wind loads and the fact that it's in the shadow of Mansfield after mid morning....Don't see and 1000 foot slide paths that are basically lift served in the MRV...

 

[deadheadskier]

Tusk was great all last march. Southern exposure Isn't really applicable there becasue of how heavily it wind loads and the fact that it's in the shadow of Mansfield after mid morning....Don't see and 1000 foot slide paths that are basically lift served in the MRV...

Do you skin up it these days? Only times I've skied it were off the Big Pig (rip)

 

[JD]

skin up spruce quite often....

 

[billski]

Even though I ski Stowe a moderate amount, and get to MRG and Sugarbush more and more each year, I haven't weighed in here because it's like comparing three (or at least two) fine wines (or pick your vice.) They all have their own merits and I enjoy them all. It really depends where the goods are and who I'm with.

Oddly, my ski bud and I don't get good vibes at all at Smugglers. I've been there several times and certainly not been impressed with their groomers, lifts or service. Maybe it's because I haven't seen enought of the slack/back country, I need someone to show me around. I can't put my finger on it.

MRG is fun, not only because it's old school and challenging, but it's funky and unpredictable.

I'd love to get more BC/Slack in as well at Sugarbush. I love Jay too, but only midweek these days.

I know my way best around Stowe and I think Scott sums it up best by saying there is a "vast" amount of accessible terrain.

I'm assuming this is all about the hill and not about the operation, but I like apres-ski at Stowe best.