For those of you keeping score at home, I just wanted to let you know that in spite of all the great input I got in this thread, the wife and I have decided to take our ski trip to Vermont instead of Calgary, Alberta.
Specifically we are going to Smuggler’s Notch later this month. Our decision mostly had to do with easier traveling…we can drive there in a few hours, rather than take our three year old on his first plane trip across the continent, with all the unknowns that entails. Although he has been surprising us lately, in a good way, with what he is capable of handling, we didn’t want to start or end our vacation with a long stressful trip.
Also Smuggler’s really advertises itself as a family resort, they seem to have a lot of activities for all ages, and a state of the art day care facility, so hopefully mommy and daddy can ski at peace. Of course we want to get the little guy out there as well, providing we can find equipment that fits him!
I still want to go to Calgary, but it won’t be this winter. Maybe later this year. Thanks again for all the input.
Cool! Very close to where I am. I haven’t been skiing at all this year, so I can’t tell you first hand what conditions are like, but I’ll ask some folks.
If you need any advice/hints/tips about VT or if you want to get out of the resort for a bit let me know, I’d be happy to suggest some things.
I took a day off from work last Friday and went up to Smugg’s last Friday. Great skiing, tons of snow. Conditions were wonderful, and the weather has been decent ever since.
Smuggs?? Smuggs??!!?? No No!! go to Jay!! I have been going up to Jay Peak from Connecticut for the past several weekends. It is amazing!! Fresh tracks every morning, and the best snow in the east in my humble opinion. The glades are amazing and my wife - who snowboards - is welcome on all trails. Granted she’s an amazing snowboarder, but hey, someplaces like Mad River Glenn don’t allow them. I on the other hand telemark so while I am bowing down to her the whole time, we still have a lot fo fun.
But seriously, Smuggs is nice, Sugarbush is sweet, but I have to say Jay peak is the best…
Well, I’ve skiied at Smugg’s for a good long time, and Jay is a real nice area (if a million miles away from anything), but if I have to put it on the line, my heart truly belongs to Mad River. I learned to ski there back in the early '60s, and it’s pretty much the same today!
Q: “How many Mad River skiiers does it take to change a lightbulb?”
A: “Change!?!?”
Seriously, though, Mad River, while a shrine to Skiing As It Used To Be, has the best terrain to be found anywhere in the East. As long as it snows.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who read that as “Snuggler’s Crotch”.
Maybe this wasn’t the year but someday please treat yourself and get up to Sunshine and Lake Louise. The skiing’s fantastic but the scenery is breathtaking.
Hello BrotherCadfael! Welcome to another Vermonter.
Smuggs is a great place, but, being the most accessible to the greater Burlington area, gets the most local traffic of any of the big resorts here. So, it tends to get icy and to run out of snow first.
Phlosphr, if I’m remembering my facts right, Mad River Glenn is one of only five ski areas in the whole country that don’t allow snowboarding.
I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about Smuggler’s Notch, though I haven’t been there myself. Even though I was born and raised in Vermont, I don’t ski. Sledding is more my sport.
Be sure to check out the Tourism Department’s website for events if you want to have some fun. It’s searchable by location and everything. There is also a handy attractions and dining search, set up the same way.
Circumstances have made this a very good choice.
I love my city and mountains; but the avalanche danger here right now is rated at extreme, and slides keep closing the highways.
C’mon up and visit some other time!
You’re the only one. Well, at least we know where YOUR mind is;)
Eonwe, I have to admit it never occured to me that Smuggs gets the most use by Burlingtonians, but looking at a map I understand why. In fact, I have FoF’s (friends of friends) who live in Burlington, and I remember hearing they ski at Smuggler’s all the time. I hope there is enough snow for everyone. The ski area claims to have had 246 inches of snow this year…that’s 20.5 feet :eek: !
I should mention neither my wife nor I have ever skiied Smuggler’s before, although we’ve been to Stowe many times. There used to be a way you could ski from one mountain to the other, then buy a special lift ticket for one ride back to the top so you could get back…yes? Or am I misremembering?
Unfortunately, Smuggs and Stowe could never quite agree on reciprocal ticket use, and the trail between the two has been closed this year. Pity.
Bolton and Smuggs are the two closest ski areas to Burlington, and so get a good deal of local traffic. However, during the week, the lines and crowds are minimal.
Smuggs does have a well-deserved reputation as a family-friendly resort, with lots of activities for various age groups, very good instruction, etc.
Stowe is a very upscale resort area, competing more with the Aspens and Vails of the world. Season passes at Stowe are very expensive, although day passes at most of the northern Vermont areas are priced fairly closely.
A section of the town of Bolton is called Bolton Flats…those of us loyal to other ski areas always refer to the ski area by that name!
Thanks Eonwe! How’s life in the People’s Republic?
Even though I live in SE MO, I call Franklin County, Vermont my “home area”. I lived in several town in Franklin County. My Dad lives at the bottom of Jay Peak in Montgomery (although he winters in FL). Love the area, but the winters are just too long.