Stowe is magnificent with its dramatic view of Mount Mansfield's rocky face thereby earning it the honor of best chairlift (gondola) view in New England. Turn sideways and the view of the notch is nearly as dramatic. Other ski resorts have amazing, look-behind-you views from the chairlift but Stowe's requires no extra effort other than keeping your eyes open during the ride.
It's been a several years since I have been to Stowe and I believe a massive development project has been underway for several years now. One charming aspect which probably has been rectified (with new lodges, I am sure) was the small Mount Everest expedition which one needed to undertake from the main lodge up to the chairlifts.
Brattleboro Outing Club, Brattleboro VT
Best kept secret for out-of-staters in southern Vermont. The Vermont Country Deli which is situated near the Bratteleboro Outing Club and less than a mile off of I-91 (Route 9 west). All of the food is extraordinary, but my favorite is the pulled pork with coleslaw. For the full culinary experience, the coleslaw MUST be located between the slices of bread. Tasty! Disclaimer - as there are no tables in the deli, all food is take out, but the ambiance of your car, if necessary, will not detract from the savory experience at all.
I stumbled upon the Brattleboro Outing Club one day on the way to Mount Snow. I knew it existed but hadn't bothered to find it's location because I was on the fence about including town hills in my ski quest. However, I spotted it one day and made a stop. It wasn't open yet but I made my way up the slope and did a couple of runs which landed me in the town ball field.
I stumbled upon the Brattleboro Outing Club one day on the way to Mount Snow. I knew it existed but hadn't bothered to find it's location because I was on the fence about including town hills in my ski quest. However, I spotted it one day and made a stop. It wasn't open yet but I made my way up the slope and did a couple of runs which landed me in the town ball field.
Stratton Mountain, Bondville VT
I really like Stratton. Too bad that it usually wins the award for the priciest lift ticket in New England.
One of my favorite runs is the green cruiser trail, Upper and Lower West Meadow. It's so smooth I can do it with my eyes closed.
The big HINT for those wishing to avoid the glitz of Stratton is to drive past the glamour to the Sun Bowl Lodge which is more reminiscent of the ole Stratton I imagine.
One of my favorite runs is the green cruiser trail, Upper and Lower West Meadow. It's so smooth I can do it with my eyes closed.
The big HINT for those wishing to avoid the glitz of Stratton is to drive past the glamour to the Sun Bowl Lodge which is more reminiscent of the ole Stratton I imagine.
Okemo, Ludlow VT
Basking in the warmth of a southern exposure, the mountain always looks happy as you approach it via Route 103. Okemo is like the well-dressed workhorse of the family. Highly functional, it lives up to its claim of nicely groomed wide-open trails. Have never had a bad day at Okemo although I have never had a bad day of skiing. Nothing extraordinary about the place but very pleasant.
My advice is ski early and hard at Okemo and then run to the Hatchery in town for the best sandwiches and mulled cider. They close at 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon.
My advice is ski early and hard at Okemo and then run to the Hatchery in town for the best sandwiches and mulled cider. They close at 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon.
Mount Snow, West Dover VT
I used to refer to Mount Snow as Mount Icy, but it has redeemed itself. It's southern New England's closest "BIG" mountain which probably lends itself to icier conditions, but it's doable as a day trip from southern locales.
In the last couple of years, I've had some really nice spring ski days at Mount Snow.
In the last couple of years, I've had some really nice spring ski days at Mount Snow.
Mount Washington Cog Railway Ski Train, NH
Had heard about this great ski train concept but wasn't sure if it had become reality until boarding at Bretton Woods one day when I spotted intermittent black puffs of smoke across the valley. It was the ski train and it was running! I had this tremendous urge to chuck Bretton Woods as good as the conditions were and run right over to Mount Washington.
I believe the ski train is still in operation and it's an adventure every New England skier must try. To board the old cog and chug up the hill to the water station, disembark and ski alongside the train on a 75 foot wide intermediate trail is pure delight. Most of the skiers took off like a bat out of hell, but I savored the moment and boarded at the speed of the train all the way down, waving with annoying frequency to the engineer who kindly returned each wave - repeatedly.
A bit pricey but well worth it for the experience.
I believe the ski train is still in operation and it's an adventure every New England skier must try. To board the old cog and chug up the hill to the water station, disembark and ski alongside the train on a 75 foot wide intermediate trail is pure delight. Most of the skiers took off like a bat out of hell, but I savored the moment and boarded at the speed of the train all the way down, waving with annoying frequency to the engineer who kindly returned each wave - repeatedly.
A bit pricey but well worth it for the experience.
Tuckerman's Ravine, Pinkham Notch NH
Well, I can't say that I really boarded Tuck's. Remember, I work for an insurance company which makes me by nature, risk averse. Several years ago (maybe a decade), a friend and I hiked up and camped out in the bowl in one of those lean-to shelters with sliding doors to keep out the wind. Basically, everybody is packed in and lined up in their sleeping bags like a can of sardines. I remember that night well. My friend snored louder than a freight train. All sorts of grumbling and complaining from complete strangers about the racket, but I just pretended to be asleep.
I made a major error in judgement on that trip. Not wanting to pack up a thousand pounds, I decided that the plastic boots that I had rented from EMS had enough flex in them to substitute for my real snowboarding boots. Egads. They worked fine for the hike up but when I stepped into the board - it was like I had a plank strapped to my feet. I still managed to board a little bit of Hillman's Highway and a bunch of the lower bowl.
The view in the bowl at dusk looking up at the surrounding mountains was most incredible. The mountains stood so tall and majestic with their white coats. Still chokes me up - god, what a sight.
We woke up (for those who were able to sleep) to a drizzly morning but the temps were cold and had frozen the snow. Thank goodness for crampons. We encountered one young fellow on the way down who kept losing his footing. We found him on his back like a beetle who can't get up. We helped him a few times but realized he was not going to make any progress in his sneakers on ice until the temps warmed up.
I made a major error in judgement on that trip. Not wanting to pack up a thousand pounds, I decided that the plastic boots that I had rented from EMS had enough flex in them to substitute for my real snowboarding boots. Egads. They worked fine for the hike up but when I stepped into the board - it was like I had a plank strapped to my feet. I still managed to board a little bit of Hillman's Highway and a bunch of the lower bowl.
The view in the bowl at dusk looking up at the surrounding mountains was most incredible. The mountains stood so tall and majestic with their white coats. Still chokes me up - god, what a sight.
We woke up (for those who were able to sleep) to a drizzly morning but the temps were cold and had frozen the snow. Thank goodness for crampons. We encountered one young fellow on the way down who kept losing his footing. We found him on his back like a beetle who can't get up. We helped him a few times but realized he was not going to make any progress in his sneakers on ice until the temps warmed up.
Steepest Runs in New England
This question came about last weekend while summitting Mount Washington and watching the skiers plunge into Tuckerman's Ravine (over 55 degree pitch in some places). According to the Ski Diva of theskidiva.com, here are the stats:
Goat (woods), Stowe: 39 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
Paradise, Mad River Glen: 37 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
Main Gully, Gulf of Slides: 34 degrees for 800 ft. of vertical
Freefall, Smugglers Notch: 31 degrees for 300 ft. vertical
Devils Fiddle, Killington: 31 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
Ovation, Killington: 31 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
East Snowfields, Mt. Washington: 30 degrees for 600 ft. of vertical
Black Diamond, Sugarbush: 30 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
Outer Limits, Killington: 29.5 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
Goat, Stowe: 28 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
White Nitro, Sugarloaf: 28 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
Upper Wildcat, Wildcat: 27 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
Hurricane, Pats Peak: 26.5 degrees for 200 ft. of vertical
Tight Line, Saddleback: 26 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
Superstar, Killington: 26 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
White Heat, Sunday River: 24 degrees for 500 ft. of vertical
Black Cat, Wildcat: 22 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
Tim's Trauma, Attitash: 22 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical,
Mount Washington Auto Road, 11 degrees, 3500 ft of vertical
My parent's driveway, 10 degrees, 100 ft of vertical
Goat (woods), Stowe: 39 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
Paradise, Mad River Glen: 37 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
Main Gully, Gulf of Slides: 34 degrees for 800 ft. of vertical
Freefall, Smugglers Notch: 31 degrees for 300 ft. vertical
Devils Fiddle, Killington: 31 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
Ovation, Killington: 31 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
East Snowfields, Mt. Washington: 30 degrees for 600 ft. of vertical
Black Diamond, Sugarbush: 30 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
Outer Limits, Killington: 29.5 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
Goat, Stowe: 28 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
White Nitro, Sugarloaf: 28 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
Upper Wildcat, Wildcat: 27 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
Hurricane, Pats Peak: 26.5 degrees for 200 ft. of vertical
Tight Line, Saddleback: 26 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
Superstar, Killington: 26 degrees for 300 ft. of vertical
White Heat, Sunday River: 24 degrees for 500 ft. of vertical
Black Cat, Wildcat: 22 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical
Tim's Trauma, Attitash: 22 degrees for 400 ft. of vertical,
Mount Washington Auto Road, 11 degrees, 3500 ft of vertical
My parent's driveway, 10 degrees, 100 ft of vertical
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