The picture above is of Stratton at the start of winter ski season in November. The lower trails are not yet covered.
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At Stratton, a ski vacation starts with the letter: "S".
For a winter ski vacation, it is fun to visit Southern Vermont and have your own condo through our "ski vacation rental" program.
Everything at Stratton seems to start with the letter "S". There is great Snowmobiling, Sleigh Rides, Cross Country Skiing, Tele-mark Skiing, Snow Shoeing, a Sport's Center with large pool and jacuzzi, Stratton Village and Manchester Shopping, Schedule of Winter Events, Ski and Snowboard Rental Shops, Sno-Cat Dinners and, of course, Skiing and Snowboarding.
Stratton starts each season with extensive Snowmaking around the first of November to be ready for Thanksgiving and your first vacation rental.
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| Snowmaking at full blast in early winter. Stratton can make enough snow in one day to put a foot of snow on a 9 food wide road from Stratton to Boston. We prefer they just keep it on the slope. Thanks to Dick H for this picture. |
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Winter Activities for the non-Skier or non-Snowboarder
For daily information, please click on ski conditions and weather.
For pictures of this seasons record snowfalls at Stratton, click on "Snow Photos". For direct links to other ski areas, click on Downhill Ski Areas, Cross Country Ski Areas or Trails for Hiking and Snowshoeing (summer 2008). Finally, to see why we think Stratton is the best, click on "Family Mountain".
Please remember, this is an individual web-site (not related to the Stratton Mountain Intrawest Corporation). It is only updated randomly by Stratton condo and home owners and has no real accuracy. Some information gets dated. For example we just changed the number of lifts at Stratton from 16 to 15, even though we knew that the Kidderbrook lift was sold a while ago. Some of the Jokes are old. Please go to the ski area websites for the official information. But for an up-to-date VRBO, Vacation Rental, please Contact Us.
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| Snowmobiling in Bromley Forest. They can be rented at the corner of Rt. 11 and 30 from the Equinox tour group. |
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| Snow Mobiling (or Snow Machines as Sarah Palin calls them)
A great way to spend a morning is on a Snow Mobile. Snow Mobiling can be had at the Equinox Snow Tours, at the intersection of Route 30 and Route 11, on your way to Manchester. It is a great trip through Bromley forest and close to Stratton. They can provide all the gear and take organized groups out on tours.
As an alternative on cold winter days, remember all the other "S's". Stratton has a cross country "ski touring area" at the sunbowl. There are a half dozen other x-country ski areas located nearby.
"Shopping" in Manchester is excellent, just 20 minutes away, depending on the weather. Make a left off the access road on to Rt. 30, then a left on Rt. 11 for Manchester.
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Sleigh Rides
Sleigh Rides are offered throughout the Winter. On a moonlight night, this is a great way to get out and have hot chocolate by the fire.
Sleigh Rides and horses (weather permitting) are available at the Stratton Sun Bowl or just south of the access road, on Rt 30. Winter horseback riding and sleigh riding is also available along Rt. 30 just South of Stratton.
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| A Night Time Sleigh Ride |
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| One day, we ran into a Bison farm. |
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| Sightseeing - Bison Farm
We don't really remember how to get to this Bison farm. It is somewhere east of Stratton, not far away, and a fun trip for the family.
This picture was taken at the start of the spring thaw. Be prepared for mud on the back roads in April.
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Still Photography
If you like to take pictures, you'll get excellent photographs in the Southern Vermont Green Mountain area. Stratton is beautiful in the fall and winter.
There are combined hiking and photography classes in the area, which we plan to take. Each season we get better and better pictures.
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| Top of Grizzly Bear (I think) |
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| Snowshoeing through Stratton Mountain |
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| Snowshoeing
Snowshoes are great for walking up the slopes, to take pictures or just enjoy the scenery. The Stratton trailblazers meet twice a week over at the Sunbowl for snowshoe walks.
Snowshoes can be purchased in the Village, in Bondville or in Manchester. However, there is a trick to using them. One time, while crossing through the woods, I got one caught, fell head-over-heels, and was suck in the snow. The trick is to start out on packed trails ... and if going over the hill and through the woods ... do not put your toe down first, under a branch.
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| Stratton Sports Center Pool |
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| Sports Center
The Stratton Sports Center has a large pool, a whirlpool, steam room, a fully equiped weight gym, exercise machines, indoor and outdoor tennis. The gym is often uncrowded except for Saturday afternoons, after 3:00 pm. Generally the Sports Center is open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Daily passes are often offered by ski condo and homes owners at cost ($10.60 per person per day). Children under 6 are free. If it is not crowded, non-members can have daily passes at $15.90 per day.
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A British Expedition to the Antarctic
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| They thought they were on an Antarctic expedition. |
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| Our guests from England arrived on the coldest day of the year. The wind was so strong that the power was shut down on the mountain. In their bloody tradition, after afternoon tea by a warm fire, they went out for a walk. (And our thanks to Jane and Paul for these pictures.) |
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| And so ... they went searching for ice. |
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