GETTING OUTDOORS Continued from previous page
From Kim Brown, intrepid ski bum columnist for the Stowe Reporter, pictured below at Copley Hospital after a spill in last year’s Stowe Derby.
Mt. Mansfield receives an honest 250 - 300 inches of snow each winter. In a good year for those who hike, our first powder day is in late October and our last is in May. For those skeptics out there, remember that if an area receives 20 - 25 feet of snow a year there ought to be a few powder days along the way. Preferred set-up: Dynastar Big 175-cm mounted telly. Running a close second: Dynastar Big mounted alpine. No. 3: Any fat ski mounted any way. There are damn few Stowe locals who don’t own powder skis.
JUST SAYIN’
Most pathetic chairlift comment from a tourist, “Oh… those fat skis you have on… aren’t those powder skis you need out West?” Reply… “Oh, yes ma’am, I use them here to ski the ice…” (Hey folks, anyone can ski those wide-open bowls GLENN CALLAHAN out West on conventional skis, but if you really want to ski the trees here, powder skis are the tool.) For those who have fallen prey to the illusion that the only glade skiing exists at those Vermont mountains that promote their glades heavily, please feel free to ski at those resorts. Stowe has placed skiers on 13 of the 14 U.S. Winter Olympic teams—a tribute to how strong and well-established Stowe’s mountain culture is. Jimmer Moran and Justin Patnode are from Stowe, not Colorado or Utah. So are Tiger and Beach Shaw, Erik Schlopy, Chip Knight, Tasha Rigby, and a few other good skiers you might have heard of. Jake Burton Carpenter lives in Stowe for a good reason. Even though Mt. Mansfield is only 4,395-feet high, a good run for those that hike can include 2,800 vertical-foot descents. 2,000 feet of untracked powder is every bit as sweet at 4,000 feet as it is at 11,000 feet. Just sayin’. Not only do Stowe’s skiers and riders have access to a great trail system, the knowledgeable lift-served backcountry types ski in many directions along two adjoining ridgelines that offer many miles of routes. The best thing of all about Stowe is that it has the fabulous terrain of Smugglers’ Notch Ski Area on the backside. In fact, this is what sets Stowe apart from Sugarbush, Jay, Killington, Sugarloaf, Cannon, Whiteface, and other reputable eastern resorts—we have Smuggs’ and they don’t.
Areas of Stowe Mountain Resort marked outside of the ski area boundary on trail maps and with signage on the mountain itself, is hazardous backcountry terrain, containing unmarked hazards such as cliffs, thick, brushy terrain, riverbeds, stumps, rocks, avalanches. This area is not patrolled or maintained. Vermont law states that any person who uses ski area facilities to access terrain that is outside the open and designated trails shall be liable for any costs of rescue, medical, or other services. —Stowe.com 52
ing the narrow pass known as Smugglers’ Notch. Many of the trails gracing the flanks of Vermont’s highest mountain can trace their history back to the birth of skiing in North America. Nathaniel Goodrich, a Dartmouth College librarian, made the first recorded descent in 1914. Others soon followed. By the 1930s, even before the first lift, skiers flocked to Stowe. These ski pioneers came here first for a simple reason: best mountain, best snow. Most of Stowe’s trails were cut in the first half of the 1900s, and without the benefit of bulldozers. The first ones were handcut by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1940s. Charlie Lord, the architect of trails like Nose Dive, Goat, and Perry Merrill, had a natural sense of a mountain’s fall line. His trails flow down the mountain like poetry. Those of you who like to follow the sun will find Stowe is laid out perfectly to ski around the mountain. In the morning, the Front Four bask in soft morning light. In the early afternoon, work your way to the right and ski off the gondola. And to catch that elusive afternoon warmth, head to Spruce, which gets magnificent afternoon sunshine. The forgiving terrain of Spruce Peak’s sun-washed slopes also provides a haven for the youngest or newest skiers. On Mt. Mansfield, the 3.7-mile-long Toll Road is the perfect spot for beginners. The trail meanders through woods, letting you work on finding a rhythm, and you’ll see absolutely breathtaking views. The wonderful thing about the Toll Road is that it allows beginners to enjoy an experience that advanced skiers get all the time: seeing the whole mountain. Intermediate skiers can test themselves on miles of groomed cruising runs. The broad expanses of Gondolier and Perry Merrill at the Gondola, or Sunrise and Standard, where the sun shines late on the shortGREG PETRICS, STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT est days of winter, are popular with skiers and riders of every ability. Skiers who like wide cruisers will be completely exhilarated after taking a few runs down Gondolier. A favorite of many skiers is at the top, off the quad. Ridgeview, not quite as wide open as Gondolier, provides the perfect place to practice short-radius turns. Spruce Peak is also an intermediate skier’s paradise. For those learning to tackle bumps, Gulch is covered with medium-sized moguls, so skiers can concentrate on technique without being tossed around. Mt. Mansfield also has premier glade skiing for the adventurous. After a storm when there’s a solid base of snow, advanced intermediates will want to head for the consummate off-piste experience. Stowe Mountain Resort offers a number of gladed areas—all described on the ski area’s handy interactive trail map—including Tres Amigos, Sunrise, and Nose Dive glades. Remember too that venturing into terrain that is not on the trail map can be very dangerous, especially if you aren’t familiar with the area. Those who require rescue will be held liable for the expenses. This is worth noting because Stowe has seen an increasing number of people who think it would be exciting to venture into the woods and end up getting hurt, lost, or both. You can still find plenty of excitement on trail. So be safe, and have fun! ■