Ski Areas, Mount Snow, Bromley, Okemo, Killington, Stowe
A story about our life skiing them all.
Mount Snow. The first place I ever tried skiing at was Mt. Snow. I was a kid and our NJ neighbors were going up there to learn to ski ... they invited me along ... and it was great. I was all over the slope, but loved it. It had indoor skating and an outdoor pool. (Since then Mt. Snow has grown tremendously and is closest to NY and 30 minutes south of Stratton along Rt. 100.)
Bromley. Then ... when I was out of college, I was asked to go to Bromley ... and we have gone there many times since, especially when it is cold at Stratton. It was in early December. I could not wait the morning I got there ... strapped on my long thongs at 6:00 AM ... and took pictures of some pumpkins in the snow. (Bromley is a fun summer and winter family mountain and just 15 minutes west of Stratton off Rt. 30. They have a great ski school for kids.)
Okemo. My wife, right before we met, rented a condo at Okemo with friends. It was a great location. An A frame right on the slopes. (Okemo is still growing with Jackson Gore providing a new lodge and new trails. Okemo is just up Rt. 100, 40 minutes north of Stratton. Okemo and Stratton share some ski passes.)
Killington. We dated and skied at Killington 1967 qne 1968 ... and closed down the Barn ... with piles of friends. (Killington still has the best night life and is the largest set of mountains, with the most difficult terrain in Southern or middle Vermont, about an hour north up Rt. 7 or Rt. 100 from Stratton.)
Magic. Then, when we were married, our jackets, from a LI ski touring group, matched those at Magic Mountain. The lift operater's wisked the snow off our seats. It was perfect. We always stopped and skied Magic every Sunday on our way home from Killington. (Magic has a snow tubing park and is under new management, 25 minutes from Stratton, up Rt. 100 North and Rt. 11 East.)
Stowe and Northern Ski Areas. Then a close friend moved up to Stowe. They opened a Lower Village lodge in Stowe ... and we began trips to Stowe, Smugglers, Mad River Glen, Glen Ellen (now part of Sugarbush) and the lower Canadian provinces. (These areas are about 2 1/2 hours north of Stratton. If you have a week, or do not mind a 7 hour drive, Stowe is perfect. Sugarbush has some of the best difficult terrain in Vermont.)
Skiing and Snowboarding in Southern Vermont. Years ago we selected Stratton as our home base, because of the commute from Long Island, the great grooming and staff, the proximity to Manchester, and the people. Our friends started sking there in the early 1980's. From a condo in the area, you can get to many excellent ski areas.
For thumbnail descriptions and links to other areas, click here.
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