That’s right. A ski trip to Smugglers Notch resort is actually affordable – if you get a Bash Badge and ski during the regular and holiday season. There are many ways to save at Smuggs during the 2010 ski season. For example, you can ski during the early or late season and pay $44 for the first day of skiing and $34 for each additional.
Can you ski/snowboard during the regular season? Buy 5 consecutive ski days, and after factoring in discounts that come with a multi-day pack, you will end up paying around $50.80 per day at Smugglers Notch resort.
2010 lift ticket prices at Smugglers Notch resort
Or, if you prefer the holiday periods – let’s assume that you are going for seven days during the holidays – buy a multi-day pack and pay an average of $54 per day. Even more, if you can ski five, seven or even more days during the regular and holiday seasons, consider buying a bash badge. It costs $99, and allows you to ski for $25 per day without any restrictions; it also comes with additional benefits so make sure to check them out.. If you look at the provided table, you can see that the bash badge works well for those who can ski 5+ days. Also, keep in mind that Smugglers Notch will have a number of retailers – exact locations are being finalized – selling adult ski lift tickets for $50. This way, might work for those who will ski less than five days.
We calculated the average per day ticket prices by summing up and dividing daily ticket prices and all applicable fees or multi-day discounts. If you note a mistake, please let us know, and we will make all necessary corrections. All efforts were made to ensure that information provided is accurate and up-to-day, however, you should always check with Smugglers Notch resort to see if there are any changes.
“If you ski 10 + days per season, don’t miss your chance to buy a season pass and save big on lift tickets!” proclaims a widely popular advertising pitch. It is somewhat correct: buying a season pass makes sense when you log a lot of days. The question is: How many days do you need to break even?
We continue our “finance for skiers 101″ with Okemo resort and so here is a breakdown of an adult peak season pass numbers.
Unlike some of its neighbor resorts , Okemo resort does not have a “okemo-only-no-restrictions-adult-ski-pass.” Instead, they offer a peak pass valid without any restrictions at Okemo resort and Mount Sunapee. This pass also offers three free days at Crested Butte during the 2009/2010 ski season. Keep these extras in mind when comparing season pass deals.
We are still waiting to find out 2009/2010 lift ticket prices, meanwhile we used 2008/2009 data to ran some numbers. It is an adult, full peak day, no extras type of a lift ticket. We will go over savings cards and promotional deals in later series of article; meanwhile, let’s see what Okemo resort offers this winter.
Okemo Resort: 2009/2010 ski deals and winter holidays calendar
Q: How much does it cost to by a peak pass at Okemo Resort?
A: If you buy it by October 12, it will cost $1207.34 including taxes. Keep in mind, that this season pass offers savings and free days at other ski resorts in Vermont and/or Colorado.
Q: How long does it take to breakeven if I buy a pass by October 12?
A: It takes about 16 peak (holiday) days to breakeven.
Q: What is a total number of the peak days at Okemo resort?
A: There are 19 peak days in the 2009/2010 ski season.
Q: What is the holiday lift ticket rate?
A: $77.00 per day. (in the 2008/2009 ski season)
Q: What if I ski all 19 peak days using my Okemo adult peak pass?
A: You will pay approximately $63.54 per day. (Okemo resort only)
I have good news! The 2009/2010 ski rankings have been released. Ski Magazine and its sister publication, Skiing Magazine, published readers’ perspectives on the best ski resorts in North America. I will not go over the Western ski resorts but, instead, will offer my humble opinion on the Eastern resorts’ rankings: they are very entertaining but fairly useless for the purpose of deciding where to go on the next ski vacation.
I do not have any intention of criticizing the readers whose opinions were used to calculate the ski rankings, nor do I want to dispute every result. However, almost any ski vacation comes with a package. I am not talking about a hotel-plus-car type of a deal; my definition of a ski package includes a ski resort, your skills, preferences, the resort’s services, and Mother Nature’s mood – these factors can dramatically skew our perspectives and influence opinions.
For example, an unseasonal thaw in the New England region – though there is nothing unusual about rains in mid-February – can spoil a ski vacation regardless of the resort’s terrain and annual snowfall. The famous Front Four at Stowe is a fantastic option to challenge yourself but when moguls are covered in thick and hard ice, it is doubtful many will appreciate the narrow and steep trails. Throw into the mix an instance of bad customer service and, all of sudden, we can read: “The worst experience ever. The next time I will choose…”
On the other hand, a foot of fresh powder makes an enormous difference. For most winter sports enthusiasts skiing in Vermont, waking up in the morning and seeing falling snow outside the window is priceless. Sometimes they spend weeks waiting for that day and, when Mother Nature dumps a foot of snow, it generally does not matter where you ski. Last season, I had great powder days at Magic Mountain, Bromley, and Stratton ski resorts in southern Vermont. I also caught snowstorms while skiing at Sugarbush, Jay Peak, and Wildcat, to name the few. At the end of day, my friends and I could care less that a resort’s cafeteria was closed, the coffee was cold, or a lift operator was unfriendly. What mattered most was the snow – it brought out positive feelings and pushed back the negatives. “We had a wonderful experience skiing at Mountain X! It is unquestionably a top-five ski resort in Vermont!” would be a typical review. (And of course it would unquestionably affect any ski rankings!)
And then, there is always a question about your skills, preferences, and athletic abilities. I have seen people progressing from a bunny slope to beginner trails in one day. I also know people who spent a couple of days struggling to master first turns. There is no hard rule about how to designate trails. What might be a double black diamond at one Vermont ski resort is designated an intermediate trail at another. In other words, you could spend days polishing ski slopes with your rear and have your miserable experience relayed in ski rankings. Or you could have a blast skiing trails that perfectly fit your style and skills, and rank a ski resort at the top of a list.
Of course, some ski resorts in Vermont are better than others. However, I think we should approach the rankings issue from a relative, and not absolute, perspective. For example, Jay Peak resort might be the best backcountry and glade experience in the East, but Smugglers’ Notch will be at the top of family programs. Stowe is a place where a convergence of luxury style, classic trails, and a picturesque ski village creates a well-rounded Vermont vacation experience. And Killington resort offers seven mountains, 145 trails, and the highest point in New England reached by an aerial lift. Which resort is better?
I think it is not the ski rankings that direct you toward the ultimate ski destination. It is a total package that includes your style, skills, needs, and — most importantly — fresh snow that makes a ski vacation truly memorable experience.
Have a snowy 2009/2010 ski season!
2010 Eastern ski resorts rankings by Ski Magazine. Overall Satisfaction.
Tremblant, Que
Smugglers’ Notch, VT
Sugarloaf, Maine
Cannon Mountain, N.H.
Jay Peak, VT
Sugarbush, VT
Wildcat, N.H.
Holiday Valley, N.Y.
Mt. Sunapee, N.H.
Whiteface, N.Y
P.s. If you would like to see all rankings, get a copy of Ski Magazine or visit their site. They have 18 categories ranking resorts based on terrain, apres-ski, snow terrain parks, lodging and such.
P.s.s. In the final rankings – Stowe was ranked third, Sugarbush was #13, Jay Peak was # 19.
A stuffed turkey or a ski vacation? I faced this dilemma a week before Thanksgiving. “Hmm, we can combine a Thanksgiving dinner with the early ski season vacation in Vermont! Mount Snow anyone?” I came up with a solution and immediately sent out emails trying to lure my friends into joining me. I promised to take gravy and cranberry sauce and hoped to have enough people to split the cost of lodging.
Those who know me well tend to take my ideas cautiously – I am a big proponent of skiing at Mount Hood in June and driving seven hours to Jay Peak for one day of powder skiing. But this time around, I had no problem selling the early ski package. Perhaps I was lucky, or maybe my friends felt it was a good time to get out of NYC. In any case, we packed an old Ford Taurus and hit I-91 in pursuit of skiing happiness.
Mount Snow in November
Most ski resorts have some terrain open by the end of November. They also offer attractive discount packages that make it a lot of sense to visit ski resorts early in the season – at least for those who can ski intermediate and advanced terrains. But we had a couple of beginners and, soon enough, I realized that convincing friends was easier than finding a ski resort that would work for all of us.
I scratched Tremblant because nobody wanted to spend a day at JFK airport. After all, it was Thanksgiving — when traffic and flight delays are as traditional as turkey and cranberry sauce. Jay Peak was very tempting; it offered huge discounts and the customer- service person sounded very optimistic about the possibility of having green trails open. However, nobody (except me) wanted to drive for seven hours, which steered enthusiasm away from Jay Peak and toward the Stowe ski resort. Stowe customer representatives sounded confident that a skating rink would be open no matter what; they weren’t sure about having beginner trails by the opening day.
Just when I thought that things were going south, my Internet search led me to an unlikely candidate located in southern Vermont – Mount Snow. The Mount Snow ski resort not only offered reasonable rates, but already had a bunny slope and one green trail open. Plus, it was just three and a half hours away from NYC. It worked for us and addressed all of our needs, so the decision was made and a condo was booked in Snow Trees Village — along with lift tickets.
We arrived at Mount Snow early on Thursday, and soon enough realized it was not easy to find someone who could help us locate our condo. Though a bit frustrated, once we finally found the condo, all logistical issues faded away. And how could they not? The one-bedroom place was spacious, had a deck, grill, and a fireplace. Plus, we brought with us a collection of fine spirits, turkey, and cranberry sauce.
Mount Snow early season skiing
The next morning — in good spirits but with heavy hangovers — we drove to the base lodge and, finally, hit the slopes. Certainly, frozen granular, occasional bare ice patches, and a limited number of trails made it difficult to enjoy skiing a whole day. But frankly, it would have been naïve to expect prime season conditions at the end of November. Sure, we hoped for an unexpected snow storm; however, having a great time with friends certainly helped to outweigh the limited November skiing at Mount Snow.
September is now almost over and the 2009/2010 ski season is not that far away. There is always a hope that Mother Nature will bless us with an unexpected blizzard. But even if she does not, it should not terminate your early season plans – just be realistic about certain aspects. Pick a resort that offers various amenities: an outdoor swimming pool, saunas, hot tubs, and a skating rink are great alternatives when the weather turns ugly. And, most importantly, round up a great company of friends!
Smugglers’ Notch resort is among top ski destinations in Vermont. Voted number one for family programs by a Ski Magazine’s reader survey, this resort offers great terrain, including the only triple black diamond in the East, unbeatable views, great deals on lift tickets, and a variety of programs so that everyone can have plenty of fun. The only disadvantage is the long drive, if you leave in the tri-state area.
Smugglers Notch resort in Vermont
I visited Smugglers Notch resort during the 2008/2009 ski season, and I admit – it is a viable alternative to some high-priced ski resorts in Vermont. Of course, Smuggs is proud to offer one of the best family-oriented resorts in northern Vermont; however, there are still many options for adrenaline-craving adults. Three big mountains and 1000 acres of terrain provide plenty of opportunities to introduce beginners to the sport, keep intermediates busy, and challenge advanced skiers.
Morse Mountain is an ideal launching pad for newbies. Unlike some resorts that mix beginner trails with intermediate and even advanced terrains, Smugglers’ Notch ski resort maintains a whole mountain for beginners only. Morse offers plenty of wide and gentle trails for practicing your first turns. The only drawback is the long lift lines on the weekends. Once you or your kids are ready to graduate and take on steeper slopes, you can take Midway from Morse towards Madonna and Sterling Mountains. (If you snowboard, take a pair of ski poles – the trail is picturesque, but awfully flat!)
Since I am not a beginner, my original goal was to explore the advanced terrain at Smugglers’ Notch ski resort. After spending a day skiing on Madonna and Sterling Mountains, I can state with confidence – and various parts of my body support it – that the ski trails can make you sweat.
If you are not in a mood to test your health insurance, then stick around “E,” a ski lift that serves intermediate terrain off Madonna mountain. An intermediate skier and snowboarder will have an enormous amount of fun trying out diverse and not overly challenging terrain. Short lines at the E ski lift are another advantage; you will not squander time waiting to get on the lift.
Smugglers Notch family resort in Vermont
But you can only ski on the blue trails for so long; eventually, the laws of natural progression call for a bit more adrenaline. First, brace yourself because there might be extremely long lift lines serving the advanced trails. Second, don’t forget a helmet and a camera. You will want to photograph some of the best mountain views in the entire East, and you will need a helmet to prevent injuries associated with often icy slopes, moguls, and trees.
Lastly, the best part; you don’t have to break the bank to afford a winter vacation at Smugglers’ Notch resort. Besides multiple programs for kids, they have reasonable lift ticket prices, considering the huge range of terrain and the multiple options for all skill levels. For example, a one-day adult lift ticket costs $66 during a holiday season or $52 for a half day. That is a significant amount of money, but you would pay up to $90 at some other popular resorts. Alternatively, if you’re a beginner, you can buy the Morse-Mountain-only ticket for $44, thereby only paying for what you use.
At the end of the day, there are many restaurants at the resort—and, of course, a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop to replenish burnt calories. If you desire a greater range of cuisine, then hop in a car, start the engine, and visit nearby Montreal. Yes, it is that far from NY and that close to Canada.
It was neither a well-organized Vermont ski trip, nor a good time to take one when we visited Okemo Mountain during the Christmas week – one of the busiest and most expensive periods for a ski vacation in Vermont. Although it was five years ago, I can still remember the huge crowds clearly, and the pain I experienced on that dreadful, icy bunny slope. After spending a couple of days polishing ski slopes with my rear, I was convinced that snowboarding was not my cup of tea. It was not until the last day that I changed my mind.
On that day, we caught the last lift ride to the middle of a Okemo mountain. There was no one behind us, it was almost 4pm, and the beginner’s trail was empty, silent, and tranquil. For the first time during the whole vacation, I found myself riding a snowboard without being hassled by speeding yahoo’s or afraid to crash into other sloppy rookies. I savored the colors of the afternoon sky, the shadows of the trees, and the sweet, smoky smell of barbeques from Okemo slope side condominiums. When I finally returned to the base lodge, I knew one thing – I wanted to book my next ski vacation in Vermont.
Okemo mountain was my ticket into the world of skiing and snowboarding, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who learned to appreciate this sport there. It is a huge mountain – there are 119 trails – so it’s almost guaranteed that you will find trails suitable for your skill level.
If it is your first time on the slopes, lift C is a slow magic carpet that will take you up a bunny hill. The next, more challenging, though very gentle and flat, beginners terrain is served by ski lifts B and C. There is a good progression system and I have to give Okemo resort a credit for installing rubber carpets at Lift B to help beginners handle the sometimes challenging ski lifts.
However, if you plan to take a ski trip as a rookie, do yourself a favor, and begin learning midweek. As mentioned above, Okemo Mountain is a very popular ski resort in Vermont, and attracts huge crowds on the weekends and holidays. I know that there are only so many quiet days, but it pays to learn skiing at your own pace without feeling pressured by a crowd of other snowboarders and skiers.
Once you can handle and control your skis or snowboard, Okemo ski resort offers multiple trail choices, with many trails for intermediate skiers and snowboarders. My personal favorite is the “Tuckered Out” trail on the Jackson Gore while some might find the “Mountain Road” a perfect cruiser for intermediates.
In terms of advanced terrain, there are plenty of choices but don’t expect an extreme challenge. If you are an expert craving dense glades or very steep and narrow runs, look elsewhere. Okemo’s black diamond is not a cakewalk but there are different types of advanced skier. Those happy to take a couple of challenging runs a day will have a good time; those looking for more will be bored after a half day.
There are many terrain parks and half pipes for freestylers: the Sobe Superpark on Nor’easter is an enormous terrain park with multiple flat rails, jibs, and boxes. Not enough? Try the ski and boarder cross-terrain park and test bank turns, rollers, and mounds. Alternatively, head to the Ross Powers Superpipe and see how well you can handle 500ft by 17ft walls. Transworld Snowboarding magazine ranked Okemo Mountain #2 for pipes, and #4 for parks in the East. You will surely test your skills and luck, just make sure that your health insurance is up and running.
My first ski trip and visit to Okemo Mountain was many years ago. It was not the perfect vacation, but had it not been for Okemo, the Sachem trail, and that fateful ride, I would probably be writing about sandcastles rather than ski resorts. Okemo mountain has plenty of memorable trails. You just need to find the right one for you.
Mount Snow resort got its name for a reason: The snowmaking crews there make a lot of snow. The Mount Snow has more than 250 snowmaking fans, the most fan guns in the entire North America. When the ski season starts in November, they start coating the mountain’s four faces, 87 trails, and 12 freestyle parks with white powder. Add 156 inches of average annual snowfall, and you will get a Vermont ski resort with huge snow base depths and varied terrain – all just four hours away from NYC.
Mount Snow resort
Mount Snow resort prides itself on opening early in November and closing in late April. My first visit there came over Thanksgiving weekend a couple years ago, and I can personally attest to the fact that they do everything possible to have decent early season runs. The caprices of the weather in the northeast can make skiing conditions quite unpredictable, so make no mistake about it – icy crust is very common here. However, for a snow-starved skier in the northeast, icy corduroy is better than no frozen granular at all, and the management at Mount Snow resort seems to understand it by having 10 to 15 trails open during the very early season.
On my consequent ski trips to Mount Snow, I encountered various snow conditions but for the most part had quite positive experiences. There is plenty of terrain for all skills and levels; however, intermediate and advanced skiers should have a better choice. While the green trails are generally wide and gentle enough for beginners, icy conditions often make the trails quite challenging. Also, consider the length of certain trails. For example, Long John and Deer Run are very nice cruisers running from the summit; however, they are quite long and could be strenuous on total beginners armed only with the “pizza pie” stopping technique. Knowing how to control your skis and speed is extremely helpful in these situations and you should not overestimate your skills when it comes down to alpine skiing or snowboarding.
At the same time, there are plenty of trails for skiers and snowboarders comfortable in linking turns and taking on all levels of the beginner and intermediate terrain. The Main Face is a home for many signature trails including Snowdance, Standard, and above-mentioned Long John and Deer Run. However, if you are desperate to push the limits – and your luck – there is the whole North Face to do that. The majority of the trails are kept ungroomed for those who need extra adrenaline, steep pitches, and moguls. Aside from the famed Ripcord, an often icy and steep double black diamond trail, there are five glades for skiers and snowboarders preferring ripping through the wooded areas.
And, of course, freestylers will enjoy 12 parks, rails, boxes, and tree skiing areas at Mount Snow resort. On the top of it, there is a mini-pipe for those learning tricks, and a super-pipe build for big air stunts. Needless to say, Carinthia is a freestyle heaven for freestylers who want to learn first Tailgrab or master Frontside 360 Nosegrab. Finally, the Sunbrook area is the place where you can find the scenic cruisers and music blasting from chairlift towers along the Beartrap trail.
Mount Snow resort
At the end of a day, there are many ways to relax. The Mount Snow Grand Summit Health Club is open until 9 p.m.; they have various spa services and a heated outdoor swimming pool that I was told “is an extremely relaxing and romantic thing to do on a quiet starry evening.” There are also dozens of restaurant and bars in the area, including the Snow Barn bar that has a reputation for the best pizza in the valley.
While the Grand Summit Hotel is a nice place to stay, it is also pretty expensive lodging option. If you are on a budget, consider the condos and townhomes. I stayed in a very nice one-bedroom condo at the Snow Trees complex and can say only positive things about it. It had everything that you might need on a ski vacation: a fireplace, deck, privacy, and access to all amenities offered through the ski resort. It was relatively cheap and a short drive to the main lodge. There was only one problem with that particular lodging option: the roads around Mount Snow resort. On a day when it rained – welcome to the northeast – and Mother Nature was in a bad mood, slush and mud made certain local roads quite challenging for a regular car.
Yet, having rain, sleet, and snow – all in one weekend – is not unusual for Vermont. The caprices of the weather can make a ski vacation in Vermont akin to a gamble, but 250+ fan snow guns, 80+ trails and just a 4-hour drive from NYC is a risk worth taking.
Raise your hand if you have ever been to or heard of Okemo, Killington, Stratton or Sugarbush mountain resorts in VT. Chances are that most of you will raise a hand. These places have extensive snowmaking, powerful grooming fleets, fast chair lifts, luxury condos, spas and everything in between that would make that ski vacation in Vermont memorable for a long time.
Main Lodge at Magic Mountain in Vermont
In this respect, Magic Mountain resort - tucked between larger and more popular ski resorts in southern Vermont – is not a household name and does not have lavish real estate or extensive snowmaking operations. As a matter of fact, when I first heard about it, I pictured an old handle tow and modest elevations. The name did not evoke images of steep chutes, dense glades, or anything that would make an intermediate /advanced skier or snowboarder drive to Londonderry. Indeed, why bother when there are more developed resorts right around Magic Mountain resort? Simply because on a good winter day it could offer similar or even better bang for your buck.
There is one catch: for optimal results you would need fresh powder, the skills to ski intermediate and advanced terrain, patience for the slow ski lifts, and an understanding that it is not a “Louis Vuitton” territory. One, of course, could immediately object: “But almost any resort rocks when it dumps a foot or so.” I agree, but here is another secret advantage of Magic mountain ski resort : you can pretty much count on not having lift lines on a weekend when Mother Nature dumps more than a foot of fresh snow. And last year, Magic Mountain resort was offering quite low prices on ski lift tickets.
Unloading at the top of the Magic Mountain ski resort in VT.
Let’s face it: a Vermont ski trip might be expensive, just like any ski vacation unless you are willing to skin up a mountain, carry a couple of sandwiches, and a tea thermos with you. In most cases you will probably pay more than $70 for an adult weekend ticket and stand in long lines to get on a ski lift. And that takes precious time away from time that you will spend on fresh powder – which let’s admit – you can’t find in southern VT every day or even every weekend.
Indeed, we are not blessed with the recurring snow storms over here, in the Northeast. And when it does snow, I usually get a feeling that a quarter of Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut hits I-87 or I-91 for a weekend skiing in Vermont. I had the very same feeling one Saturday, when I was standing in a middle of a lodge at Bromley resort and could not believe my eyes. There was not a single available chair. Moreover, I could see stretching lift lines and that sight would only make me feel worse. Exactly at this point – and while my brain was running a cost-benefit analysis of making couple turns here at the price of $10-15 per ride – I thought, why not Magic Mountain resort? The worst that could happen is that we would make couple runs but at a lower price.
Everyone in my group agreed; we hit a road and 15 minutes later were walking down a parking lot at Magic Mountain resort in Londonderry, Vermont. As I mentioned earlier, this Vermont ski resort is not a place to show off designer outfits. It has a bit more traditional, down-to-earth feel to it and everything conveys a simple approach to life and business. In other words, the ski resort doesn’t have powder rooms and lobster bisque, but it does have clam chowder, a cafeteria–which by the way is often open after 4:00pm–and a bar with live music.
Once you get over a “luxury factor” – if you care about one – Magic offers a double chair to the top, a very slow double, so take a Kindle 2.0 and load it up with your favorite electronic book. (Magic has two lifts, but last season only one worked, so I am referring to the Red and not the Black Chair.) By the time you are done reading a chapter or two, the Red Chair will take you to the summit, which stands at 2,850’ and offers a 1700’ vertical. Be careful getting off the chair because the unloading platform might be a bit steep for beginners. And from that point adjust your gear, put away a ski trail map, and have some fun.
The last time I looked at the ski map it had some mislabeled trails – and besides, Magic mountain employees are also quick to point out that you can ski anywhere you want at Magic ski resort- so a map isn’t even necessary. And it is true: all you need to know that there is an Eastern and Western side. The former is suitable for beginners and the latter for advanced skiers and snowboarders. You will probably want to be on the Western side to get most out of your day.
Magic’s web site proudly states that the top pitch of Master Magician is 45 degrees steep. Frankly, it is pretty steep for most folks. In addition, you can venture anywhere within Mountain’s boundaries, so if you like to jump from rocks or over tree branches, Magic has plenty to offer. As a matter of fact, on all my visits to Magic, the Western side was largely ungroomed; and thus, it would not be unusual for us to maneuver among the natural obstacles on and off the trails. Make a dozen or so runs on some challenging trails, and I can guarantee that it will be a long walk back from the lodge to a parking lot.
How about negatives? Well, just like any other Vermon ski resort Magic Mountain resort is not immune to Mother Nature’s tricks and unstable winter temperatures. It relies heavily on natural snow to have “skiable” surfaces. While anything mentioned above would have a negative impact on the operations of just about any resort, it appears that Magic has limited grooming capabilities. And so on some particularly icy days you won’t even get well advertised “corduroy” consisting of icy particles. It means that Magic is “unskiable” on some days so you might be bettor off enjoying the local micro-brew in a bar, or ski/slide at a bigger resort that might have better grooming capabilities.
(Keep in mind, though, that in June the management team at Magic offered to sell shares in an attempt to raise funds to improve mountain operations.)
To summarize, it is fair to say that Magic Mountain resort a well-kept secret that deserves a bit more recognition for its classic terrain, and traditional Vermont skiing style and feel. The Magic Mountain might not have advanced snow guns, groomers or valet parking – at least not yet. But it has unique character and New England authenticity that is often buried under modern luxury real estate developments and exclusive cuisines. Skiing at Magic might not be for everyone, but those who don’t mind the basics with maximum value would certainly appreciate everything that Magic Mountain resort has to offer. Just pick a good powder day.
I admit that I may hold a rather biased view of Bromley Mountain. After all, I kicked off the 2008-2009 ski season by attempting to snowboard at the “Unforgiving Boarder Cross” Park; I received my first telemark lesson (Stay tuned because we will publish a separate article dedicated to telemark programs at Bromley) there and enjoyed many good powder days at Bromley resort! Though these fond memories no doubt affect my judgment, my friends–who are not as attached to the place–agree that Bromley ski resort is worth a trip to southern Vermont.
Just having fun at Bromley ski resort
There is an appropriate time and place for every adventure, and a ski vacation is no exception. Certain ski resorts are best suited for experts, and some are geared toward beginners. From this perspective, Bromley Ski Resort could be classified as an excellent all-around resort for “weekend” warriors, who log eight to twelve days of skiing per season.
While Bromley resort may not boast the highest vertical, even by Vermont skiing standards, the relatively rare crowds, convenient ski lift system, and diverse ski terrain should satisfy skiers of most levels, including some advanced skiers and snowboarders. A beginner skier or snowboarder will certainly benefit from a couple of days at Bromley mountain. They will appreciate designated ski lifts and gentle terrains for novice skiers and snowboarders. Furthermore, should you need a ski lesson to learn the first turns or to hone existing skills, consider signing up for a group lesson. There is a very good chance that you will receive a private instructor for the price of a group lesson! The morale of a story is that on many weekends–not including certain holidays–Bromley is not crowded at all.
Bromley ski resort on a snowy day in December, 2008.
Bromley Ski Resort is also very telemark friendly. The rental shop has one of the largest selections–at least in the area–of telemark skis and boots. Last year, the resort’s management organized a telemark festival, in which anyone could try demo equipment or sign up for a free clinic that lasted for over three hours. Certainly, if the opportunity arises, the resort will organize similar events this season. So keep your eye on updates and be prepared to give teleturn a shot!
If you are interested in snowboarding and jumps, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Unforgiving Boarder X course, located directly behind the Plaza. Cambered turns, jumps, and turns will test your ability to control your skies and snowboard. Alternatively, you can make your way toward the Sun Mountain Express and ride to the top of the mountain. From the summit, you can consider a myriad of options. One word of advice: if you snowboard, keep your speed up when descending the Pushover and heading toward the main lodge. The connecting trail is quite flat!
In addition to the above features, Bromley ski resort provides excellent lift ticket deals. Personally, I favor the Sunday Afternoon Passport deal, valued at $29. Always check the resort’s Web site for new updates and deals. Chances are that Bromley will have mid-week specials that might even include lunch in one low price.
Once you are done with skiing and riding, you can take a break at the lodge. While the lodge is not particularly fancy–though Bromley mountain provides fancy Tazo teas alongside Lipton–it serves its main task of allowing you to relax, eat, and drink. There are no spas or massage tables–just a gigantic and cozy fireplace, a cafeteria, and a ski shop. Frankly, I think these amenities are more than enough. However, simply because the facilities are not luxury does not mean that the cafeteria will not burn a hole in your plastic card. Prices are comparable to other resorts, and yes, there is a minimum on credit card charges.
One final issue to be aware of is that being nicknamed the Sun Mountain is both a blessing and a curse. On some particularly harsh winter days, the sun can soften ice surfaces and make skiing and riding more pleasurable–unless, of course, you like bobsleighing. However, during the spring ski season, you might wish to find a shadow and corn snow, instead of the puddles and slush that cover many trails. It is simply impossible to ski once the sun rises in late March or early April. Nonetheless, as mentioned above, there is a time and place for every adventure, and ski vacations are not an exception.
1) You can view our photostreams from Vermont on Flickr.
2010 lift ticket prices at Smugglers Notch resort 
VERTEXPRESS ON FLICKR
