WHAT is going on at Magic Mtn (VT)?

[billski]

Their snow report indicates "Status: 20% Open" , which is really quite opposite the marketing force I'm familiar with (anti-truth).
http://www.magicmtn.com/snow_report.htm

Is this because they are quite dependent on natural snowfall? I really want to get over there, but it may have to wait. Somewhere on a forum I read about only 1-trail open from the top with people asking for refunds.

Can anyone explain how things operate over there? I'd love to see some 1st hand pics of the trails.

 

[Joshua B]

My educated guess is...this is not the time to go to Magic, or any other ski area not known for their extensive snowmaking systems. I would just put it out of my mind for now. Watch the weather in Londonderry, VT and if they get significant snowfall, then and only then would I start to plan my trip.

 

[Treeliner]

Went to Magic about a week ago- they had received a nice amount of new snow (about a foot). The problem was, after they had that new snow, it started raining. After the rain, the temps dropped well below freezing. So what we had was this deceptively awesome looking snow that, instead of being powder, was all (EVERYWHERE) icy hardpack. A rock board (and some serious nerves) were required for the blacks and double blacks that we scraped down. Here are a few pics of the carnage:

^^^those were several day old tracks by the time we got there, that were frozen solid.

Anyway- if you're in So. vermont on a powday, this is the place you wanna be!

 

[Greg]

Looks like riverc0il's kind of terrain... :lol:

 

[Treeliner]

Looks like riverc0il's kind of terrain... :lol:

And the real funny part that I forgot to mention, was that 90% of their terrain, including the trail pictured above, was -yes- OPEN. :roll:

 

[billski]

eeew. ca - ca....

 

[Talisman]

That picture of Master Magician shows a bodacious base! Wait for another foot of snow in Londonderry and head to Magic with the rock skis or board.

 

[riverc0il]

ah, master magician. what a trail. that isn't too bad, just stay skiers left and watch out for rocks

seriously though, magic doesn't fudge their trail reports. when they are 100% open they are indeed 100% open with trails like that pictured above when mother nature has not been so kind with her snow. people will bitch when a ski area doesn't open enough trails and people will bitch if a ski area opens up trails that the average skier can't ski claiming the trail opening is just to pad the trail count. as someone that enjoys challenge and doesn't mind thin cover, i applaud magic's liberal trail opening policy.

the problem with magic is their southern VT location does not get the big snow storm dumps up north gets and they get rain hardcore when northern areas escape mostly unharmed. the rain that was only a set back for northern VT areas during teh last week of december likely cripled magic. they don't have a lot of snow making and depend largely on mother nature. so when they are reporting in 20% open, it isn't because something is wrong but rather mother nature sucker punched them. give it until the next dump and they will be back up to 100%. and when magic is fully open after a recent dump, there is no place better to be south of MRG.

 

[riverc0il]

Looks like riverc0il's kind of terrain... :lol:

indeed. i've skied far worse on a 2.5 inch base

 

[Talisman]

[quote="riverc0ili've skied far worse on a 2.5 inch base [/quote]

That's what rock skis and p-tex candles are for.

 

[billski]

:dunce:

Looks like riverc0il's kind of terrain... :lol:

indeed. i've skied far worse on a 2.5 inch base

You either have to want an adventure or be desparate to ski stuff like that. Call me a primadona. I suppose the satisfaction is in getting safely down? It certainly doesn't look like fun, or at least not an adreniline rush!
:dunce:

 

[riverc0il]

to be honest, the run in linked to in the picture sucked, sucked hard core. i would not of gone had i known, but it certainly helps to be prepared when it is not what you expected the adventure is indeed what makes it fun sometimes. when the rest of the mountain sucks and you are bored out of your mind, you gotta start thinking about the "what ifs?" heh.

 

[2knees]

I'm just happy they are operating at all. For those lucky enough to catch it on a good day such as their opening week this year or opening day in 2003 as i have, you cant find a more challenging area south of mrg. Yes it would be nice if they could make more snow but they dont have the capital. Pick your days carefully and you'll love the place. Go after a thaw freeze like now and you'll swear the place off. If it closes, that would be the real tragedy.

 

[billski]

retro

I'm just happy they are operating at all. For those lucky enough to catch it on a good day such as their opening week this year or opening day in 2003 as i have, you cant find a more challenging area south of mrg. Yes it would be nice if they could make more snow but they dont have the capital. Pick your days carefully and you'll love the place. Go after a thaw freeze like now and you'll swear the place off. If it closes, that would be the real tragedy.

Agreed. The attraction for me is the "retro", old-time style trails. Reminds me of when I learned to ski, nobody ever expected 100% anywhere. You were lucky if you got 30% snowmaking. So it's all fine with me. Snowmaking is really expensive; if you can avoid it and still make a buck, it's like the old daze. The problem will come when the owner sells out and new owner needs ROI; that will gentrify the place.

I'm still going there. Who'll spin the roulette wheel and make it stop on SNOW???

 

[2knees]

more strangeness from them. With the possibility of the upcoming storm, i was eyeballing a mid week jaunt up there. Their website lists the "west side" as closed to skiing and riding/ski ride at your own risk. First i've never heard of them refer to that area as the west side and secondly, what additional manpower does it take to keep those trails open? I know trails like twilight zone and goniff on the east seem to hold their snow better so i guess it's possible that the conditions on say slide of hans and master magician are too sketchy even for magic to condone. weird.