 A fixture in the Deerfield Valley for nearly half a century, Mount Snow has grown a lot since ski pioneer Walter Schoenknecht bought a chunk of land on Mt Pisgah from farmer Reuben Snow in 1950. Four years later, rechristened Mount Snow, the resort opened with two chairs, two tows, and seven trails. Schoenknecht"s vision of "the ski resort of my dreams" lives on today, although he might not recognize the old farm. Twenty-three chair lifts, three of them high-speed quads, and five surface lifts surface lifts serve hundreds of acres, including 139 acres of hand-cleared tree terrain. With over 50% of the terrain rated blue square Mount Snow is well-placed to cater to the "weekend warrior" crowd, those individuals and families who only get to ski or board a few times a season (whether it"s the weekend or not). They make up the majority of skier/rider visits nationwide, and Mount Snow"s southern Vermont location, wide choice of appropriate trails, snowmaking and grooming keep the place jumping on weekends and holidays. Those who are more advanced will find they are not neglected. The North Face is all marked black or double black diamond except for River Run, and it"s highlighted by the legendary Ripcord. The steepest glade on the mountain drops right alongside it. This aspect really does face north, so the snow stays cold and dry longer. On the other side of the mountain, literally, the Sunbrook area encompasses a network of southwest facing trails, including Thanks Walt, and a nice glade. Here"s where to head on a very cold day or to get a jump on spring snow later in the season. Both the North Face and Sunbrook sections offer the feel of a separate area; Carinthia used to be a separate area and Haystack still is. While Carinthia melds seamlessly into the main mountain, Haystack, open weekends and holidays, is a short drive away. While three quarters of the mountain is given over to intermediates and beginners, Mount Snow"s terrain parks are another matter altogether. Once you"ve mastered Grommet on Beaver Hill, step up to Un Blanco Gulch or the Ridercross course on El Diablo. Complete your park degree on double-diamond Inferno, or play in the massive The Gut Superpipe on Iron Run. The Grand Summit Resort Hotel provides lodging right in the center of things, and four condominium villages dot the base area. Only the Seasons Condominiums are trailside as most of the mountain is part of the Green Mountain National Forest. But the Deerfield Valley has long been a destination for visitors all year, and numerous rental properties are available, supplemented by a number of fine inns and lodges. Off-slope Fun High Country Snowmobile Tours is located not too far from the bottom of a glade named The Boonies. This is auspicious, because this outfit can get you back in the boonies on miles of maintained trails. If you prefer exploring the woods under your own power, nearby Hermitage Touring offers 50 km of groomed cross-country ski trails; Timber Creek grooms 15 km. There are also thousands of acres in the Green Mountain National Forest to explore for the experienced winter enthusiast. Aside from a busy winter event schedule at the mountain, this part of Vermont has always been hopping. Lots of bars and bands are matched by as many quiet pubs, and the restaurant scene ranges from home-cooking local hangouts to world-class cuisine.
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Ski Report
Vermont
