What "Other VT" mountains are worth checking out.

[andyzee]

In VT, I have skied:

Killington
Mt. Snow
Okemo
Sugarbush
Stowe
Jay Peak

The "Eastern To Do List" thread and reading about some of the other VT mountains got me thinking and was wondering which ones I should try this year. Burke is definetly on the list of to do slopes but what else would others recommend.

 

[Greg]

MRG, of course. If they get the snow, add Magic to your list.

 

[andyzee]

MRG, of course. If they get the snow, add Magic to your list.

Actually, that's another thing that triggered this question, Magic Mountain. There is an article in this month's ski magazine about it saying how they were in a slump and things have been changing this year. That got me thinking which new mountains I would like to check out. MRG is a given, along with Burke, but after that Magic, Bromley, Ascutney, Bolton, all kind of blend in together and none seem to just stick out and say "try me"

 

[2knees]

Actually, that's another thing that triggered this question, Magic Mountain. There is an article in this month's ski magazine about it saying how they were in a slump and things have been changing this year. That got me thinking which new mountains I would like to check out. MRG is a given, along with Burke, but after that Magic, Bromley, Ascutney, Bolton, all kind of blend in together and none seem to just stick out and say "try me"

go to bromley on a sunny warm day. If you want some seriously soft snow and easy bumps, this is the place. Its small for sure but i love it. I think i'd get sick of it if i skied there too frequently but it has its virtues. Magic is the toughest southern, hell i say one of the toughest places period in new england. Its totally worth it if you can time it out correctly.

 

[Talisman]

Another vote for Magic as a must in VT if there is some snow. A powder day at Magic while rare is unforgettable because of the interesting and challenging terrain, lack of others to track out the place and secret stashes to savor. I would rank Magic after a major snow storm as a higher 'must' than Burke or Ascutney. Burke typically has great natural snow and regularly gets hit with powder. Ascutney rarely gets enough snow to open their interesting terrain.

I would also add Pico to your list. Pico has some fun trails and when 100% has hidden surprises.

 

[loafer89]

For a laid back easy going feel, you might want to try Middlebury Snow Bowl and Suicide Six.

Suicide Six has alot of variety packed into 600' of vertical and has some interesting glade skiing.

Ascutney has some extremely steep glades called The Dark Side and I skied some of it many years back after a large dump, but they rarely seem to get enough snow these days for that to open up. Alot of the trails are of the classic New England style variety.

 

[andyzee]

I imagine the southern location makes it a little tougher on Magic with regards to snow?

 

[andyzee]

For a laid back easy going feel, you might want to try Middlebury Snow Bowl and Suicide Six.

Suicide Six has alot of variety packed into 600' of vertical and has some interesting glade skiing.

Those I haven't even considered, they seem just a bit too small. In my case, I'm coming up from NJ, so that does make a difference.

 

[roark]

I imagine the southern location makes it a little tougher on Magic with regards to snow?

That and not much snowmaking. I hope to get there some this season.

 

[loafer89]

Those I haven't even considered, they seem just a bit too small. In my case, I'm coming up from NJ, so that does make a difference.

I did both living on Long Island, Suicide Six is easy because it's on the way to Killington.

Middlebury is a tough one because it's right near Sugarbush which is a much more substantial area, but it is a good place to find powder when everywhere else is skied out.

 

[andyzee]

I did both living on Long Island, Suicide Six is easy because it's on the way to Killington.

Middlebury is a tough one because it's right near Sugarbush which is a much more substantial area, but it is a good place to find powder when everywhere else is skied out.

In the case of Suicide Six, it's not on the way for me, I come up via the Thruway. So, 250+ mile for 650 vertical and 23 trails, just doesn't seem like it's worth it. If I come up for a week, I would do K and then maybe spread out to others, but that might mean, Sugarbush, Burke, Magic, etc... There's just too many choices.

 

[riverc0il]

1st tier: MRG, Burke, Smuggs, Magic
2nd tier: Bromley, Bolton, Ascutney
3rd tier: All the Rest

of the second tier, bromley is definitely a really solid mountain and you will find some good black diamond terrain there. it is a fun mountain. if i was going to drive to that valley, i would be skiing magic though.

 

[wintersyndrome]

Ascutney is good as well if they have the coverage, however they kind of get choked off by the greens just to the west. I've always liked the pitch at Ascutney and they have some real interesting trail designs, however they say they have like 56 trails it feels more like 24 becasue some are real short, <rant> plus I dont like it when mountains use "upper and "lower" (insert trail name here) and count it as two trails just a cheesy marketing device. though Ascutney is no the only one guilty of this, they all are I think :x </rant>

 

[2knees]

Ascutney is good as well if they have the coverage, however they kind of get choked off by the greens just to the west. I've always liked the pitch at Ascutney and they have some real interesting trail designs, however they say they have like 56 trails it feels more like 24 becasue some are real short, <rant> plus I dont like it when mountains use "upper and "lower" (insert trail name here) and count it as two trails just a cheesy marketing device. though Ascutney is no the only one guilty of this, they all are I think :x </rant>

killington uses upper, middle and lower in some cases. talk about ridiculous.

Ascutney has always seemed like a decent place but they never seem to get any snow. There eastern location and low elevation seem to really work against them. obviously. someday maybe i'll get there.

 

[castlerock]

Smuggs & MRG

Smuggs has some phenomenal woods skiing. MRG is an Icon.

That will get you the Northern VT "Quinella"

Bush
MRG
Stowe
Smuggs
Jay

 

[MikeTrainor]

Pico is another VT mountain worth checking out if you haven't already. You are best to go there on a good snow year

 

[billski]

bolton

If you're and intermediate just getting started in glades skiing, bolton has a lot of super places to hit the trees, er, uh, ski glades. Price is right and the lines are small. Gets a good dumping of snow too. I spent an entire day with my kids tree skiing. Even the timid 10YO had a blast.

 

[billski]

Ascutney is good as well if they have the coverage, however they kind of get choked off by the greens just to the west. I've always liked the pitch at Ascutney and they have some real interesting trail designs, however they say they have like 56 trails it feels more like 24 becasue some are real short, <rant> plus I dont like it when mountains use "upper and "lower" (insert trail name here) and count it as two trails just a cheesy marketing device. though Ascutney is no the only one guilty of this, they all are I think :x </rant>

If it's a bad snow year, 'scutney really can suffer. They don't have huge captialization. Still, it'sbetter than a no-snow year at Magic. Great for no crowds, nice place for young families who don't want to lose their kids - everthing comes down to the same place.

 

[JD]

If it's a bad snow year, I recomend Bolton as a good smaller place. High base ele.

 

[andyzee]

Some good suggestions there, thanks.