Vermont or Maine for last weekend in December?

[scootertig]

I asked this over on Epic, but didn't really get a very strong response, so I'm hoping you guys will have better insight... Trying to decide between skiing in Maine (Sugarloaf, probably) or Vermont (not sure... somewhere within an hour's drive of Burlington) for the weekend between Christmas and New Year's. Is either choice likely to be substantially less crowded than the other?

We're all low intermediate skiers, skiing greens and blues, but not much else, so maybe that would have some impact. If it's going to be a toss-up for crowds, we'll probably just wait until the week before the trip to make a decision, but I wondered if there was a clear better choice...

The original plan was to do Saddleback one day and Sugarloaf the other, but I'm beginning to wonder if we're up to the terrain at Saddleback. Is that a valid concern?

Thanks!

aaron

 

[AndyEich]

I think your Saddleback concern is valid--I only have one data point, but conditions were harsh and I had my hands full.
________
Lesbian Cam

 

[ski_resort_observer]

The Saddleback summit lift is a t-bar and it might be a challenge for you but legend has it someone made it to the top without a problem while eating an eclair, so who know's. :wink: :lol:

A resort with alot of low intermediate terrain a hour from Burlington is a tough call. Smuggs, Sugarbush or Stowe should keep you busy for a day and are all within your distance parameter. There is also night sking at Bolton which is 30 min away.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

I think you might have better luck in VT if you want good conditions at the end of December. VT typically gets more snowfall, and if you're talking within an hour of B-Town, your choices are endless. I would, of course, recommend Sugarbush. Your best bet is Mt. Ellen (which is rarely ever crowded), which will be open then, and I'm sure great beginner/intermediate cruising on Rim Run, Elbow, Lookin' Good, Which Way, Cruiser, Inverness, North Star, Straight Shot, and Sugar Run will be wide open and soft.

Within an hour of Burlington, you've also got Smuggs (great family mountain), Stowe, Mad River (they actually have some fantastic intermediate and beginner runs), and Bolton (a good choice for intermediate skiers, and not often crowded).

Don't just take my word for it though. There are some folks here who know a lot more about Maine, and may be able to provide some additional insight on that.

 

[from_the_NEK]

For starters Maine is way farther than an hour from Burlington. Vermont has very good uncrowded choices for the holiday period. Check out Bolton for smaller crowds, reliable snow, and the intermediate/beginner terrain you are looking for (and it is only 25 minutes from Burlington). Burke is also a good choice for small crowds and terrain, but it is 1.5 hours away.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

SRO, we think alike, and were posting at the same time :lol:

 

[thebigo]

At this point it is tough to determine the snow conditions that far out and you will probably need to give us a little more information to get a definitive answer.

Do you need slopeside?
Is money a concern?
Off slope activities important?

According to your criterion your options are:

Smugglers: Great family place, good natural snow, good variety of cruising terrain, I have never found the place to be crowded but also dont have a ton of experience during holiday weeks, decent snowmaking capacity, one of the top five in new england for natural snow, close to burlington

Stowe: Expensive, good snowmaking capacity, same natural snow as smuggs, close to burlington, will be crowded

Bolton: Close to Burlington, inexpensive and good natural snow, there are a couple other posters on here who can speak with more authority but this might be a good 'under the radar option'

Sugarloaf: Moderate crowds, expensive ( i just priced the week before christmas and the loaf was 50% more expensive than the river for the same room) in the middle of nowhere, average snowmaking and natural snow

Sunday River: Best variety of cruising terrain in new england, great snowmaking but limited natural snow, moderately priced and can be crowded but based on current terrain levels there will be good uncrowded options

 

[from_the_NEK]

Wow 3 replies in one minute that generally say the same thing

edit: make that 5 in 2.5 minutes

 

[scootertig]

Wow - thanks for all the help so far...

There are a few things I left out of the original post that might help explain the situation... I went to school in Maine (go Black Bears), and am going up to ski with a friend who still lives there, a bit outside of Augusta. I think he's roughly 2 hours from Sugarloaf, but he's originally from Burlington, VT, and we can crash at his mom's place in VT if we want to go that route. Otherwise, we'll crash in Maine for free, so the price of lodging is not really a concern, but I think Burlington is closer to our skiing options than his place near Augusta will be, so that might be an important consideration (especially if the weather is "good" (which is to say, bad for driving).

Thebigo, to answer your other questions (the first being "slopeside?", which is a no)... Money's a bit of a concern, but not from a lodging angle, and apres-ski is a nicety, but not crucial. My friend wants to hit a "real ski bar" but other than that, I think we're pretty much planning to drive back to wherever we're crashing after skiing each day.

All things being equal (good snow both places, equal driving distance from the crash pad, etc) it sounds like VT has the better range of terrain options... Is that a fair assessment? It also sounds like maybe crowds will be less of an issue?


aaron

 

[BushMogulMaster]

All things being equal (good snow both places, equal driving distance from the crash pad, etc) it sounds like VT has the better range of terrain options... Is that a fair assessment? It also sounds like maybe crowds will be less of an issue?

Sounds about right to me.

 

[riverc0il]

The original plan was to do Saddleback one day and Sugarloaf the other, but I'm beginning to wonder if we're up to the terrain at Saddleback. Is that a valid concern?

Saddleback bas a TON of great intermediate runs. Solid mountain for blue square skiing. Just stay away from the summit T-bar and you will be all set Regarding crowds, that is not a state specific issue but rather a ski area specific issue. Sugarloaf will be semi-crowded on a holiday while Saddleback will not be. Sunday River will definitely be packed. In Vermont, places like Bolton or Burke are less crowded options whereas the big mountains will be packed. Generally, amount of open terrain during the Christmas holidays are directly proportional to large crowds since the bigger more crowded mountains have bigger snow making systems and can get more open.

 

[riverc0il]

The Saddleback summit lift is a t-bar and it might be a challenge for you but legend has it someone made it to the top without a problem while eating an eclair, so who know's. :wink: :lol:

That is incorrect. The eclair incident was the lower mountain T-Bar, not the Kennebago summit T-bar. That would certainly be a true accomplishment.

 

[riverc0il]

After reading your second post, basing out of Burlington (bars and night life plenty) and hitting either Bolton or Bush north is probably your best bet. Crowds will not be any different in VT than ME. Bush south, Stowe, Smuggs, and Jay will all be plenty crowded on a holiday weekend and while Bolton and Bush North will be more crowded than normal, will probably offer your best bets for getting away from the crowds. You can add Middlebury to your list as well.

 

[noski]

Your best bet is Mt. Ellen (which is rarely ever crowded), which will be open then, and I'm sure great beginner/intermediate cruising on Rim Run, Elbow, Lookin' Good, Which Way, Cruiser, Inverness, North Star, Straight Shot, and Sugar Run will be wide open and soft..

10-4 on the Mt Ellen terrain. If noski can, you can. And she can.

 

[Brettski]

A real Ski bar...well that would be Brewskis on the road to smuggs...mostly all locals

Say hi to Hugh if you see him

missed going there last year...first time in 6 years, all because the schools changed the break to the end of April


http://www.smuggs.com/pages/winter/skiride/hughs-blog.php