![]() Once up top, there’s only one way to go: Down.įor you adrenaline junkies, head skier’s left off the single chair and follow signs for “Paradise.” After a few jump turns and some mogul maneuvering, you will stumble upon Mad River’s notorious 38-degree pitched run. The mountain’s dramatic single-chair lift unloads you at “The Glen’s” summit, more than 3,700 feet in elevation, surrounding you exclusively with expert-only, quad-burning terrain and more than 2,000 feet of vertical drop. Mad River’s predominantly natural snowpack, steeply sloped chutes, and dense tree coverage make it known among skiers as being one of the most technical mountains on the East Coast, punctuated with the slogan “ski if you can.” To all of my snowboarders, I’m sorry, but I have to exclude you from this next listing, as Mad River Glen is one of the few “skier-only” mountains left in the country. ![]() All Nordic trails are groomed, mapped, and marked, while the backcountry is a bit more scattered and reliant on snowpack conditions. Along with the plentiful alpine skiing, Bolton provides access to tons of Nordic and backcountry skiing throughout Mansfield State Forest. Its size cultivates a fantastic learning environment.įor those who enjoy skiing after dark, Bolton also offers skiing under the stars every Tuesday through Saturday from sunset to 10 p.m. Timberline Peak is the shortest of the three but is fantastic for beginners and those transitioning from beginner to intermediate, or intermediate to advanced. Wilderness Peak offers less on-trail traffic than Vista, as well as some intermediate runs, expert-only terrain, and gnarly glades right off the lift line. Bolton is Vermont’s first ski mountain to integrate a wind turbine on-site, and the second one nationwide. Installed in 2009, this 100-plus foot wind turbine produces approximately 300,000 kilowatt hours of power annually and can start producing electricity at wind speeds as low as 6 mph. It may be hard to catch on a cloudy day, but a ginormous wind turbine sits off Vista Peak’s summit chair. Off of the top chair, you get your choice of anything from corduroy groomers to (sometimes) knee-deep glades. In terms of terrain, Vista Peak is Bolton’s most expansive. When you compare that to the $170 plus dollars you would spend for an all-day pass to other Vermont mountains like Sugarbush or Stowe, it’s practically highway robbery! You can shred Bolton’s three peaks - Vista, Wilderness, and Timberline - for as low as $89 during non-peak dates. Just a 30-to-40-minute drive from the lakeside city of Burlington, Bolton Valley provides some of the most affordable and accessible high-quality skiing and snowboarding in northwestern Vermont. Did I mention Smugg’s is home to the northeast’s only triple-black diamond? Pro-tip: Follow signs for Black Hole when ripping down Madonna I lift line.Īs a heads up, there’s not too much beginner terrain outside of Morse Mountain, so plan accordingly. Madonna and Sterling are where you’ll find intermediate and expert-only terrain.įor all you glade nuts and tree skiers, Smugg’s, in total, offers a whopping 750-plus acres of available woods skiing in between trails, along with tons of freestyle terrain to flash your steez. Madonna and Sterling are only accessible from Morse Mountain by shuttle bus or from Morse’s beginner traverser, Midway, which you can find directly off the summit chair. It’s conveniently situated next to Smugg’s mountainside lodging and town center and is designed perfectly for family-friendly vacays. Morse Mountain is where you’ll find all the beginner terrain. Why you need a great skiing or snowboarding helmet: Scientists say your brain can’t heal itselfįirst, the mountain is split into three peaks: Morse Mountain, Madonna Mountain, and Sterling Mountain. Ski trail ratings, explained (and why most ratings are actually BS)
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