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09-01-2014, 06:54 AM #1Minion
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- Sep 2014
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- 1
Stowe vs MRG vs Jay peak for strong intermediate/advanced family
I am planning a ski trip to northern Vermont this year and heard great things about mad river glen, Stowe, and jay peak. My family are all strong intermediates and above with a few of us being more advanced to expert. I really enjoy the trees especially on the east coast. So that would be a priority, we are also not looking to spend what you would spend in vail or aspen. We are thinking of going from jan 28-feb 3. And was thinking we may stay in Burlington and pick between the three. We are open to other ski resort suggestions. Also which resort would be best on a powder day? Or when conditions are bad.
Thanks
Linus
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09-01-2014, 08:14 AM #2Banned
- Join Date
- May 2007
- Location
- Sandy, Utah
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- 14,410
Mad river has no snowmaking. I think the dates are good as things don't seems to kick in on the least coast til end Jan (early Jan thaw usually). For a family that might want things to do apres I'd say Stowe is best bet. Might be close to Vail rates though.
Maybe think out west instead? Not as pricey as you'd think.
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09-01-2014, 08:18 AM #3
Jay is about as good as it gets for ec trees when conditions cooperate but I would argue it is not a great intermediate mountain. Not many mild groomers and if it is a busy weekend they tend to catch a lot of skier traffic (mainly due to being so few). It is also not a place I would lock into if dates are set. Can be feast or famine and brutally cold. If you are staying in Burlington may be better off skiing resorts closer to your home base and only trek over to Jay if ma nature is fully cooperating.
Uno mas
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09-01-2014, 08:33 AM #4
Stowe vs MRG vs Jay peak for strong intermediate/advanced family
I actually think Jay is a great mountain for strong intermediates.
But it is a haul from Burlington and can be very cold in January. That said, they have built a ton of condos in recent years and in weeks with excess capacity (many) one can get a significant discount and stay on or close to The slopes with lift tickets included at a huge discount.
I'd at least explore those packages before making a final decision.
(Last spring I did two nights in a condo with three days of skiing for about $400 for me and my daugther )Last edited by robgoose; 09-01-2014 at 09:41 AM.
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09-01-2014, 08:58 AM #5
Don't be intimidated by the MRG credo, "Ski It If You Can". There is plenty of intermediate terrain and it's a great family mountain. (Full disclosure, I am a shareholder, so obviously biased, but many don't realize how much more it offers.) You can stay in the Mad River Valley and ski Sugarbush, Stowe and MRG. Your best budget area is MRG, but if the snow is light, you always have Sugarbush.
And I heard Jay cut down all their trees this summer...Screw the net, Surf the backcountry!
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09-01-2014, 09:01 AM #6
Do you really want to drive each day? What if we get a monster nor'easter and your stuck going nowhere? That said, I would skip MRG unless it gets dumped on but if you catch it right! Stowemountainresort -great resort but expensive like Vail/Spen. My vote is Jay Peak - great family place, better ski/lodging deals and if it all sucks you have the water park. Enjoy.
The Passion is in the Risk
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09-01-2014, 09:26 AM #7Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2014
- Posts
- 580
Smuggs and Bolton if you wanna be economical (Great midweek crowds, too). Throw in a day at $towe and the Bush. Jay is a funny place that can leave you frozen and bewildered. Vermont has been powder-crazed for a few years and until that corrects itself, Jay will continue to get hit exceptionally hard on big dumps. Unless you're somewhat familiar with Jay's glades, you'll be getting a lot of sloppy seconds--and that might be ok with you but be there for first chair when the gun goes off! Or just get some skins and head to Rochester.
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09-01-2014, 09:36 AM #8
Stowe, if you are up for paying the premium prices. Great all-around mountain
Gimme five, I'm still alive!
Ain't no luck, I learned to duck!
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09-01-2014, 09:52 AM #9Registered User
- Join Date
- Aug 2010
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY/Pittsford,VT
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- 155
If conditions are good any one of the three will be excellent. Sugarbush & Smuggs too. If conditions are sketchy Stowe has the best snowmaking system out of all the areas mentioned. If you decide to ski Stowe you will save quite a bit by ordering your tickets online ahead of time (like $15 a ticket). I'm not sure if you to have their RFID card already to purchase ahead or if you can buy one at the same time you order. I love skiing northern/central VT. Anywhere from Killington on north is good in my book.
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09-01-2014, 09:58 AM #10
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09-01-2014, 12:02 PM #11
Mud Rocks & Grass...
Screw the net, Surf the backcountry!
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09-01-2014, 04:57 PM #12
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09-01-2014, 05:39 PM #13
MRG/Sugarbush. Awesome combo. Stay close to that. Sugarbush has a ton of condos.
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09-02-2014, 05:42 AM #14
When the conditions suck everywhere Okemo is the best. plus they have starbucks and by December a heated chair - ask at the patrol hut for free hot chocolate cards (tell them "Zilla" sent you) and you can save a ton of money. Jay is weather proof - if conditions are the suck you can always ice skate or play in the water park.
Mad river valley has great options…..Rob "Stayalert" M
Vermont
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09-02-2014, 06:23 AM #15
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09-02-2014, 06:34 AM #16
I liked Sugarbush north when I was there, we had a pretty nice storm cycle and it was tits.
I was unimpressed with MRG, heard a lot about it. We skied there just b4 the storm hit so conditions could have been better. I thought we have better tree skiing in WV but to be fair we were feeling our our way around.
Stayed in a sweet B&B just down the road. Very convenient.watch out for snakes
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09-02-2014, 06:40 AM #17
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09-02-2014, 07:35 AM #18
sugarbush
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09-02-2014, 07:41 AM #19
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09-02-2014, 08:14 AM #20
If you go to Stowe you can hire bushwackerinPA, he's the best instructor on the EC and you'll be doing perfect falling leafs on Goat by the end of the trip.
"timberridge is terminally vapid" -- a fortune cookie in Yueyang
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09-02-2014, 08:18 AM #21
Burlington is a cool place to stay, easy striking distance of most northern vermont resorts, cheaper too. Also keep in mind smugglers notch, bolton and sugarbush. End of January is extremely cold. I'd recommend early march if possible.
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09-02-2014, 08:31 AM #22Registered User
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- Nov 2008
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- Ohio
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- 70
My pick for a family would be the condos slopeside a Jay. Place has no vail attitude, but it does have the goods. Also has good poutine and gravy and an awesome restaurant pub " Belfry "
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09-02-2014, 09:39 AM #23
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09-03-2014, 08:18 AM #24Registered User
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- Dec 2010
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- New England
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- 291
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09-03-2014, 08:29 AM #25
We've done a ski trip with the extended family every year and the mountain/town that seems to please the most (if you can stomach the prices) is Stowe. Great trees and great snow making, which can make a difference on the groomers even in late January. Jay Peak has great trees, but each time I've been there the actual trails have been a windswept icy mess. Probably just my crap timing so YMMV.
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