Which order, this weekend?

[scootertig]

I've never skied in Vermont before, and I don't know when I will get to again. If I'm planning to ski Bolton Valley one day, and Stowe the other (thanks to a Christmas gift of a level 2 Utix "ski experience" pass!), which order should I do them in?

Given that there's a chance of some ugly freezing stuff falling from the sky over the weekend, will it make a difference one way or the other? It would stand to reason that maybe Stowe would be better-prepared to make nice conditions out of less-than-optimal precip, considering their target audience. I'm also figuring that BV will be less crowded than Stowe, and that Stowe would be less crowded on Sunday than on Saturday. Is that just thinking way too much? Will it make an appreciable difference? Truth be told, I'm just psyched to get a chance to ski at all...


aaron

 

[KingM]

I don't know about crowds, but Bolton is less challenging. If you haven't skied yet this year, you might ski there first to warm up. Otherwise, I'd ski Stowe first, then BV the next day to let your body take it a slower pace.

 

[billski]

Stowe on a weekday, Bolton on the weekend.

It's all about crowds on a weekend. Stowe can be doggone busy and have some handsome lines, especially on Saturday.


if you must, Bolton on a Saturday, Stowe on Sunday. Remember, the quad opens at 7:30. The place clears out right around Sunday lunch. Go to the quad first, at 730(most people don't realize it opens that early, except the high testosterone crowd), then move up mountain later as other lifts start running. Sunday afternoon the gondi is nearly deserted.

Our family does it this way, we stay with locals. Most of my family doesn't need or want the Stowe scene.

 

[scootertig]

Thanks for the input! This will be the second day on snow this year, but with new (to us) skis and new boots. Plus, we're bad. Well, that's not quite fair, but we're definitely not good.

I think BV may give us a good chance to get some confidence going before skiing Stowe. We thought about doing Smuggs instead of BV, but the fact that it's a lot harder to keep skiers of different ability levels together at Stowe (since the greens seem to be very separate from everything else) made BV a better choice. (At least at Bolton, we can ride the same lift up, take different blue and green routes down, and meet again at the bottom... The girlfriend isn't feeling so confident yet, and plans to ski all greens on day one).

We don't get to ski on a weekday, so we're stuck with this weekend. Will Stowe be that bad on a Sunday?


aaron

 

[campgottagopee]

Just go to Stowe for 2 days

 

[billski]

Thanks for the input! This will be the second day on snow this
We don't get to ski on a weekday, so we're stuck with this weekend. Will Stowe be that bad on a Sunday?
aaron

I just rewrote my post to clarify - go back in the message string

 

[frozencorn]

Just go to Stowe for 2 days

What he said.

 

[billski]

Thanks for the input! This will be the second day on snow this year, but with new (to us) skis and new boots. Plus, we're bad. Well, that's not quite fair, but we're definitely not good.

I think BV may give us a good chance to get some confidence going before skiing Stowe. We thought about doing Smuggs instead of BV, but the fact that it's a lot harder to keep skiers of different ability levels together at Stowe (since the greens seem to be very separate from everything else) made BV a better choice. (At least at Bolton, we can ride the same lift up, take different blue and green routes down, and meet again at the bottom... The girlfriend isn't feeling so confident yet, and plans to ski all greens on day one).

We don't get to ski on a weekday, so we're stuck with this weekend. Will Stowe be that bad on a Sunday?


aaron

See my post - Stowe will be crazy busy on Sunday from about 9am to about 1230pm. Then it clears. Given your skill, you might enjoy Spruce peak a lot more than Mansfield. The runs are shorter and not as steep. It is an easier place to keep the varied levels together. There are more blue choices and the vista of Mansfield is pretty awesome. If you tire of that, the new cross-lot transfer lift gets you to the other side without taking your boots off.

 

[scootertig]

So, show up early, and ski Spruce till 12:30 or so, then head over to Mansfield? Or will they both be crazy busy until they (both) clear at 12:30?


aaron

 

[billski]

So, show up early, and ski Spruce till 12:30 or so, then head over to Mansfield? Or will they both be crazy busy until they (both) clear at 12:30?


aaron

In my experience, Spruce caters to the sleepy crowd, who doesn't really get going until about 10. So you've got one and 1/2 good hour at the front of Spruce (830 opens the double), then move back into the mountain, ski off the Sensation Quad at 9:00 (less obvious to many, with great blue terrain) till 1230. Lunch early if you can, the temporary Spruce base lodge will be mobbed at noon). Then move to Mansfield at 12:30. If you're lazy like me, take the gondi for your first run, then ski over to the lookout double or four runner quad. (If you don't do it this way, it will be a long slightly uphill walk over to the fourrunner/lookout lifts) from the transfer lift.

 

[scootertig]

billski - this is great info. I appreciate it. I'm not sure if I'm in the Stowe target demo, but since I don't have to pay for the lift ticket (and considering the layout as it pertains to our group), I figured it was a great opportunity to ski one of the more famous New England areas... With info like this, we'll have a much better time...

Thanks!

aaron

 

[billski]

billski - this is great info. I appreciate it. I'm not sure if I'm in the Stowe target demo, but since I don't have to pay for the lift ticket (and considering the layout as it pertains to our group), I figured it was a great opportunity to ski one of the more famous New England areas... With info like this, we'll have a much better time...

Thanks!

aaron

They will take your money anyway they can get it. Ski concierge? Valet Parking? $8 burger? $60 shirt? :smile: Or just be grubbers like me (admittedly, I will eat at the cafeteria just beause I'm lazy.)

You will probably want to park in the main (Mansfield) lot, walk over to the transfer lift, up the stairs) and over to spruce. That would be a more appropriate base for you (rather than the mansfield lodge.) rentals and everything else are over at spruce too, not at mansfield lodge. Mansfield does have a cafeteria and bar, but many people don't like the steep hill to/fro the lifts.

Now that I think of it, I don't recall if the parking is open at spruce or not. I know they are building a parking garage.

I like the Mansfield lodge because it was built by the CCC and is small, traditional, noisy and funky, Some people say it's not easy to get around from there, unless you are hardy. Your choice.

If it's a windy day, Mansfield may not be a good choice, you may want to stay at spruce, so be alert. I like adventure, I've been atop with some pretty good winds. I thought my wife was gonna divorce me. My kids didn't like that at all. Oh well, at least there's a lot of choice$.

Enjoy yourself!

 

[OppositeGeorge]

(admittedly, I will eat at the cafeteria just beause I'm lazy.)

I've been known to grab something in the caf just because it was too long a walk to the other side of the lodge where my lunch was in the ski bag.

Now that I think of it, I don't recall if the parking is open at spruce or not.

Last time I was there (early December) the parking lot was open, but not as big as Mansfield -- of course, that means it's easier to get your stuff in and out too. I'd say hop on the parking at Spruce if there's any available, and use Mansfield as your second choice.

Come to think of it, you could try the Gondola lot before Mansfield, as it's an easy (very, very green) downhill from that base to the Over Easy lift that goes to Spruce, and no having to deal with Heart Attack Hill.

 

[riverc0il]

Personally, I would do Stowe Saturday and Bolton Sunday with the current options. Nail the good snow Saturday morning at Stowe before the crowds show up then have a laid back day at Bolton with less competition and fewer crowds on Sunday. But that is based on a maximizing powder strategy. I always gun for the busier area on Saturday and reserve the less known area for Sunday in hopes of good snow lasting two days at the smaller area which is unlikely to happen at the better known and more crowded destination. Heard mentality all the way but I value good conditions and powder higher than I value less crowds. Switch the two days if crowds are an issue.

 

[billski]

Last time I was there (early December) the parking lot was open, but not as big as Mansfield -- of course, that means it's easier to get your stuff in and out too. I'd say hop on the parking at Spruce if there's any available, and use Mansfield as your second choice.

Come to think of it, you could try the Gondola lot before Mansfield, as it's an easy (very, very green) downhill from that base to the Over Easy lift that goes to Spruce, and no having to deal with Heart Attack Hill.

Interesting strategy. The gondi is an ok base if you don't need to get back to your things. That's what we do when we start at 730 - gondi for our base, over to the quad, up Mansfield. You would need to boot up in the gondi lodge and then ski the short distance to the transfer, take your skis off.

However, if coming from spruce, the transfer lift dumps you out practically at the doorstep of the gondi, which is why I suggested the spruce as the base.

Agreed, look for the spruce lot first, I suspect that's where I would recommend they base themselves, based on their skill levels.

Steve's comments about powder are well taken, though you can get some pretty good tracks off of sensation if you get there early. Granted, not as much pow as Mansfield attracts. It will depend what his priorities are too. I always like to go to the top at least once, if for nothing but the view. My wife on the other hand prefers her runs shorter and sweeter and would rather stay at Spruce.

Well Aaron, I think you know all the trade-offs now, it's up to you to pick what's right for your group!

 

[BeanoNYC]

Now that I think of it, I don't recall if the parking is open at spruce or not. I know they are building a parking garage.

Parked at spruce last Saturday because my wife wanted a lesson. I prefer the Mansfield lodge because it's "cozy." and the history factor the Bill mentioned, but spruce does the trick. They have tons of cubbys. Wide open space. A band during lunch. ...it's a hop skip and a jump to the over easy which will bring you to the base of the main gondola.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Just go to Stowe for 2 days

times infinity

 

[kbroderick]

I'd say that Bolton is much more snow-dependent for an interesting experience (it's got a reasonable amount of terrain for a weekend for most folks either way, but it's a lot bigger when the woods are in play); Stowe has a much larger amount of groomed cruising terrain. If you get lucky with the weather (NOAA has snow/sleet for Friday night, but luck would make it more snow than sleet), there should be a nice refresh coating on top of a bomber base at either resort on Saturday. Bolton has much less competition for the goods, so taking some time and exploring should sill net you some worthwhile turns, while anything easily findable at Stowe will be tracked out by 10:30. The less-rapid uphill transport at Bolton may be a benefit, too--I find my ski days last a lot longer on fixed-grip lifts than they do when I'm ripping laps off of a detach.

 

[OppositeGeorge]

Interesting strategy. The gondi is an ok base if you don't need to get back to your things. That's what we do when we start at 730 - gondi for our base, over to the quad, up Mansfield. You would need to boot up in the gondi lodge and then ski the short distance to the transfer, take your skis off...

Yeah, that's a good point. I park @ Gondi when I can to avoid the mess that is the Mansfield lot (and, okay, to not have to climb the stairs) but, as noted above, I'm a lazy s.o.b. and will suffer through the bitterest cold if it means not having to trek back to a lodge to put another layer on/peel one off. If you think you're going to want to get back to your stuff and will be spending most of the day on Spruce, starting @ the gondi base will be a pain (though I'm not sure if it'll be any more of a pain than starting out @ Mansfield.) And come to think of it, getting back to the Gondi lodge is probably going to be non-trivial unless you take the gondi all the way to the top and come down -- maybe not the best choice for mostly-green skiers @ the end of the day.

Oh, duh, billski -- if you meant park @ Mansfield and schlep all the stuff over to Spruce on the lift to change in the Spruce lodge I guess that's easier (I'm too lazy to go back and check what you wrote ) If not, scoot should consider that option over the gondi lodge or Mansfield base. Spruce is ugly but as Beano said, it's big with lots of storage space for gear.

All right, now that I've, to use the MetaFilter cliche, overthought a plate of beans (judging by the length of this you'd think it was a post on epicski concerning pole plants or something,) let's get back to skiing. Spruce is IMO the most underrated part of Stowe -- esp if you like exploring -- up top there are a surprising number of opportunities to find fresh, untracked snow, even well into the day. Caveat: I've only been mid-week, so all bets are off during the weekend, but I suspect those upper trails don't get anywhere near the traffic they would if they were on the Mansfield side b/c poser gapers wouldn't be caught dead skiing "the beginner mountain." Thankfully, I'm too old to give a crap about what anybody thinks of my skiing any more.