mount snow best trails

Usually groomed. The Sundance you ski today was the lower segment of the Lift Line 7 trail in the 1970s and 1980s. Snowdance is a series of dips and undulations that even an emerging intermediate can navigate. If you see it open, and the Summit and Canyon lines are long, use Ego Alley. Mount Snow Resort, West Dover. Schoenknecht promoted slopeside barbecues, concerts, and whatever he could think of. It has some ledges and double fall line hills, it often gets seeded with bumps for a section, and it has some blind rollers. Run-out trail starting at the end of Snowdance, collecting skiers from Overbrook, Un Blanco, Illusion, etc. (The whole “name this trail” thing is a tradition at Mount Snow that dates back to the 1960s.) All have snowmaking. The primary attraction to landing on the summit versus the lower terminating lifts is that you have access to every trail on the Main and North Faces, almost every trail on Sunbrook, and a few of the trails on Carinthia. Thanks to low avalanche risk, this peak just north of the town of Roslyn is a popular all-day trip, rising... Sun Top Lookout. Usually always groomed. It isn’t as steep as it first appears; it only looks that way because of how it drops off Long John. Summit was once known as Upper Ledge, and before that it was Upper Ledges. Trail originally called Upper Titanium and Titanium during the 1990s, was Upper and Lower Villager in 1986. Note that Mount Snow no longer maintains these sections. Generally groomed. Only complete top-to-bottom trail in Sunbrook. This slope was called Rope Tow when it was part of the original Carinthia ski area. Assuming we have a real winter ahead of us, the crowds will be back. The upper part of the original Jaws of Death is now the top part of Plummet. Older trail has followed similar route for decades, although the original name was Ridge Run; the “Run” portion was dropped sometime after 1982. Until recently, this trail was the lower section of Lodge. I recommend strong novices and higher take River Run just to see Ripcord and the North Face, then ride the chair to the summit and enjoy the view. Generally groomed. Generally groomed. By 2019 with new lodge and new luster, Carinthia has become a vital base area at Mount Snow. New ownership has put Mount Snow firmly back on top. Rerouted and renamed Ripcord sometime between 1982 – 1986. Groomed regularly. Not groomed. Usually always groomed. Accessed from the Canyon Express chair. Slated for small & medium park features in 2008. At one time much of Long John/Little John were known as Deer Run. Unlike the turnpikes at Killington and Okemo, there are really no dangerous intersections with higher rated trails. North Face has some tree skiing, with varied levels of difficulty. Mine Shaft starts right off with a mini-pipe, front and center at the base is the big superpipe. An unofficial area for many years. The North Face holds Mount Snow’s steepest terrain, including Ripcord, an experts-only, ultra-steep mogul field, and Jaws, which challenges all comers with its sizable bumps and classic Vermont double fall line. Like Beaver Hill, grooming on Tail is hit or miss, and again, it mainly just funnels skiers to the base area. Trail connects Long John on the Main Face to Nitro, Titanium, and Iron Run, and then becomes a true Carinthia trail, where it collects traffic from Mine Shaft and Claim Jumper. By mid-season, with full snow coverage, Snowdance is 100 yards wide, and probably the foundation trail for Mount Snow’s reputation for pleasurable skiing. (No. The primary trails served by the Sundance chair are Shootout and Sundance, which run under the liftline. Some Main Face facts and tidbits, in no particular order: Switchback is a short traverse off Deer Run that drops skiers into the bottom of Meadow. Although the terrain is great, there isn’t quite as much of it as most people think there is. Megatrails Canyon and Snowdance are wide enough so you can find your own piece of turf to make turns, even if it’s not exactly the fall-line. Usually always groomed, however, they tend to leave about a third of the trail on skier’s right ungroomed. Plan to ski and ride on 42 trails, with 33 of those donning corduroy. Miraculously, while Mount Snow caters to families and singles-looking-to-mingle, it somehow retains its classic New England ruggedness, ensuring it still gets a lot of love among the locals. This short headwall rivals Outer Limits or Vertigo at Killington, but is less taxing because it is much shorter. Very short section of the Summit Local liftline, from Somerset Road down to Low Traverse. Originally called Learning Center. The latter is a wide, gentle, delightful intermediate trail; even good novices can easily deal with Meadow. It’s seldom groomed, but doesn’t usually bump up too much. Finally they removed the chair, put in one of those carpet things, and it’s a totally safe haven for little kids. Each has varying pitch, is prone to ice, and begin with a relatively narrow chute before dropping off the summit. Schoeknecht had snow on his mind during this time. It doesn’t have Killington’s reputation, nor Okemo’s pristine conditions. Cloud Nine is a terrific run under the liftline that presents very little challenge until after it bisects Thanks Walt. For those who have gotten the hang of sliding downhill, it’s time to head to the Main Face summit. Called Lower Mainstreet on Mount Snow’s 1986 trail map. Bear Trap . How do Ski Resorts Decide on Closing Day? These include Short Fuse, a super-short chute next to Frontier, which is a short but interesting tree skiing section to skier’s right off the chair. This is really just a mad, jumbled, intersection of skiers. Not a trail people seek out to ski; just used to move between trails. Overall one of the best trails on the mountain. Last but not least are Milky Way, an under-used intermediate run from the summit of Carinthia that winds down to the Sunbrook base. Both receive less frequent grooming than some of us would like, so they certainly warrant black diamond status. Moldy oldie dates from at least 1970. Mount Snow is one of the few big eastern resorts where you can still park close to the lifts. Not groomed. Mildly interesting trail that runs from Carinthia summit to Sunbrook base. Tucked away on the mountain’s south side, Sunbrook is set off from the rest of the resort and offers an escape from the weekend hordes. With the recently completed Bluebird Express and snowmaking improvements underway, it was a bad year for Mother Nature to say “feh.” But that’s what she did. Grooming is hit or miss on this trail. Schoenknecht may not have invented the snow gun, but he certainly provided the impetus. The summit section is a bit narrow; that and the surrounding pine trees give novice skiers the feeling that they are somewhere much, much different from the bunny hills they are used to. Illusion is a narrow route off the terrain park, and is visible just to the right as you ride the chair. Committed is technically on the Main Face, but since its main purpose is to lead skiers to Jaws and Ripcord, many think of it as part of the North Face mix. The Boonies is another tree skiing section. Annoying traffic crossings result. Originally part of this route was the upper section of Jaws of Death, now continues as its own trail. The Plunge is a double-diamond drop adjacent to Ripcord, seldom open. Got that? As of 2008-09, the whole shebang is now a giant terrain park. Ridge ends at Meadow after a nice rolling run that most intermediates love. For many years, no such lift existed in Sunbrook; skiers had to ride the #14 Beartrap double chair, ski down Long John to the Main Base, then ride one of the summit chairs to re-enter Sunbrook. Today, 50+ years after Mount Snow opened on December 12, 1954, we look at the outstanding resort that is his legacy, and simply say, “Thanks, Walt.”, The grand old mountain of Southern Vermont did just fine during the ASC reign, despite ASC’s best efforts to let it die on the vine. It sort of went downhill for a couple years, then was sold to…. A couple of early snows and thaws saw the trailcount see-saw a bit, but in every case the snowguns have ramped up and fill in the blanks. Some trails are slowly opening up in northern Vermont. Officially named and completed sometime during the 1970s. Because it can be negotiated by a high end novice, it’s a great way to give developing skiers a look at the North Face — and particularly an eye-popping view of Ripcord. Cut-off is the only trail that leaves and re-enters Deer Run; it “cuts off” the crowded corner on the shoulder of the mountain. Short route, 1900′ long, partly under the Summit Local. The thing to note is that while Sundance and Meadow are frequently groomed, the two trails that serve them — Shootout and Hop — are manicured less frequently. Usually always groomed. Accessed from the Canyon Express chair. Today’s Switchback is in the same vicinity. When groomed it can be negotiated by high-end intermediates. The Trials is a wider area off to skier’s left of Olympic, and is a favorite for telemarkers and traditional tree skiers; often has patches of snow late into April. Mount Snow prides itself on being family-friendly, and therefore, provides a ton of family-oriented entertainment options. We’ll start with the key routes for each skill level…. 2018-2019 Update: New lodge at Carinthia, it’s actually taking some pressure off the main base and even Sundance. Another route from this chair is Hop to Meadow (since re-named). Usually groomed. Uncle’s is one of the true throwback trails at Mount Snow; a narrow, ungroomed New England classic that feels like a little bit of 1958. Most just venture in a little, then wisely venture back out. Four of the lifts on the Main Face are surface lifts. The site is powered by Liftopia, and if you use it, a tiny percentage helps fund skibum.net at no added cost. Somerset is a way to move across the Main Face from Canyon Express, but honestly, you’re better off skiing down a regular trail and traversing at the base. Most of Mount Snow's signature cruisers are here: Snowdance, Canyon, Exhibition, Ridge, and the 3.1 miles that make up the green beginner trail Long John. Most of it can be negotiated by a strong novice, although the continuous audience might be intimidating. Upper Exhibition has portions where the trail is canted, and thus is perhaps the least pleasant of the summit runs. Meticulously groomed. Extremely short drop near the top of the #8 Tumbleweed chair, only recently added to trail maps. Exhibition and Lodge are groomed, Ledge is less frequently. Later that same winter, three Connecticut engineers sought to improve on the ice chipper technique, and developed a snow-making machine with a paint spray gun, a 10-horsepower compressor and some garden hose. Not a trail people seek out to ski; just used to move between trails. The 3 minute Seasons services Cooper’s Junction only, a pleasant novice pasture described in detail above. For Mount Snow’s jibbers, huckers, and other daredevils, there’s Carinthia. It also made a nice tribute to the family. Be aware that the line for the Six moves faster than you might think. Runs the length of the Nitro Express chair, also accessed from Prospector. Use the short “Seasons” chair (#16). Call 802-464-6606 for prices and reservations. Usually always groomed. Mount Snow’s trail map (and everything else for that matter) boasts a 1700′ vertical on a 1900′ base elevation with a 3600′ summit. Jaws, formerly called “Jaws of Death” is the most difficult after Ripcord. An unofficial area for many years. The park rats had no complaints whatsoever; the terrain on Carinthia was in remarkably good shape for most of the season. Sapbucket is a nice blue under the bottom of the Summit Local, and is sometimes used for race events. Enjoyable, narrower version of neighboring Snowdance. Trail off the Canyon Express chair that runs from Upper Canyon to Grand Central. Narrow and not groomed frequently, it is often a bit tough for most intermediates. A mini terrain park, Grommet, is planned for the lower portion of the slope. Jaws follows a combination of trails known in the early 1980s as Plummet (not the same as today’s) and Jaws of Death. Briefest of crossover routes leads from Narrow Gage into Inferno. Two chairs run from the base area to the summit. Natural trails often had very sketchy conditions for the brief periods they were open. Wide, pleasant, moderate run off the Nitro Express chair, has a long flat run-out at the end. Beartrap under Beartrap double chair. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Along with Ego Alley, these make up the “Front Four” at Mount Snow — sort of a junior league version of the vastly more challenging front four at Stowe. An old Carinthia-era trail with no snowmaking. Short slope that connects The Flats with Season Pass. Update: The planned upscale resort is currently stalled. One of the more challenging blues; not usually groomed. And as of March 2012, I can tell you this section of Mount Snow had settled into its terrain park role quite nicely. Lodge is the most pleasant cruise, and Ledge is more in the narrow/classic New England style. Known as Cold Brook Trail back in the Carinthia days, re-named Handle Road after Mount Snow took over, which in turn was re-named Rusty Nail, then briefly became Au Naturel, the thought being that it would be something of a “natural” terrain park. Popular Quizzes Today. Hard to figure out exactly what Mount Snow is referring to; confusing relationship to Gunsmoke. He put it through an ice crusher, and spread the chips on the ski trails. Let’s hope management spins the old lifts a little more often. He devised a 300′ geyser that engineers found difficult to duplicate a half century later. It’s not needed very often, but when it is, you’re much better off below the top ridge. In addition to Canyon’s sole green trail, One More Time is also the route to follow to this section’s only black diamond territory. Beginners have plenty of places to go, from Ski Baba to the Launch Pad, but there is one spot that absolutely rules as soon as the beginner is capable of riding a chairlift: Cooper’s Junction. The Ledge trail is directly to the right of the Lodge Trail/Summit Local. Thanks Walt in black. Second Thoughts is sort of a safety valve for intermediates and emerging diamond skiers who have more testosterone than brains, and find themselves in way over their heads. Not sure whether this is due to errant topo maps or Walter Schoenknecht’s penchant for bombast; either way it’s still a great ski area at 1642′ vertical. The main route off this lift is an intermediate run on the main face called — surprise — Ego Alley. It’s a happening, hopping place. It is still sort of feeling its way; it’s a bit removed from the Main Face traffic, yet it tries to be all things to all people…Baba for the beginner, Parks for the boarders, Titanium for the masses. Not used much. However, even advanced skiers might be inclined to spend some time here, as the Main Face is where Mount Snow’s impressive capabilities for snowmaking are focused, and you can find conditions surprisingly skiable here even when New England is enduring one of its none-too-infrequent dry spells. Was known as 4RKDS for the 1993-1994 Season as the result of a “name a trail” charity auction. If you can make the time to do it, ski alongside a trail with large features (they have narrow alleys on the side for us gapers) and watch what goes on. Further down Long John is a winding route called Shooting Star that falls into Thanks Walt under the Sunbrook chair at mid-valley. Ridge also has the advantage of being one of the few trails with snowmaking in this particular grouping. Please note that this map needs to be updated. Short trail of moderate difficulty that leads skiers off of Sundance to Ego Alley; frequently used to move away from Sundance to Summit chairs. Runs from top of Sunbrook, ends at junction with Big Dipper where Big flattens out. Ticket windows are also well staffed this season. Be aware that the right-hand side of Snowdance (skier’s right) is often ungroomed. Terminates at Low Traverse and dumps into Meadow. Short Y-shaped route connects Yard Sale to base area behind Grand Summit Hotel; adjacent to Beaver Hill. If you’re finding this helpful, and you’re in the market for Mount Snow tix, click and bookmark this page: Mount Snow’s online discount lift ticket page. It has some unusual pitches, and slopes to skier’s right higher up. With the repositioning of Carinthia in 2008-2009, Ski Baba/Grommet is becoming a learning park. The dashed red line at the top is Committed, and the light blue below Ripcord is River Run. Originally known as Lower Lodge Run, now wider than it was in the 1970s and early 80s. Expect this fresh snow on top of all grooming before January 3rd. Cloud Nine ultimately joins Shooting Star, or vice versa. 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