SVT 2026 - Southern Vermont

[mute1080]

Drove up last night with the fam and met @Dirtwolf and his fam at an AirBnb 5 minutes from Magic. Plan is to ski Magic today, Okemo tomorrow, Stratton Saturday, and players choice Sunday. We're thinking of splitting the drive up on the way home and stopping at Plattekill but haven't bought tickets yet just in case. Dirty and I are going get after it first thing and but my girls are going to wait since the real feel currently is -14 degrees and ski around lunch. Magic is supposed to be untouched since the storm since they are only open Thursday-Sunday

House is nice. Quirky but nice.

[mute1080]

1 minute ago, mute1080 said:

Drove up last night with the fam and met @Dirtwolf and his fam at an AirBnb 5 minutes from Magic. Plan is to ski Magic today, Okemo tomorrow, Stratton Saturday, and players choice Sunday. We're thinking of splitting the drive up on the way home and stopping at Plattekill but haven't bought tickets yet just in case. Dirty and I are going get after it first thing and but my girls are going to wait since the real feel currently is -14 degrees and ski around lunch. Magic is supposed to be untouched since the storm since they are only open Thursday-Sunday

House is nice. Quirky but nice.

 

[JFskiDan]

Now thats a super interesting set of stairs there. Need an app to navigate that. 

[theprogram4]

1 hour ago, mute1080 said:

 

There is a Facebook group called “death stairs” that the algorithm somehow sent my way.  They would love that pic 

[PSUFrankenstein]

Hope you guys have a great trip!  I'll be heading north on Saturday 

 

Those stairs are sketchy.  Saddleback condo stairs from a few years back.  

[indiggio]

WJW!  Trying to get down either to hit the bathroom after a couple of Focal Bangers would be a bad time!

[JFskiDan]

Did i just see on FB Magic is closed today? Private party?  God i hope not. 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

2 hours ago, JFskiDan said:

Did i just see on FB Magic is closed today? Private party?  God i hope not. 

That was yesterday 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The boys must be having a blast..no updates yet today or too cold to take phone out of pocket.  
 

Have fun boys and girls 

[Mixilplix]

No permit required.. Prolly no codes...Enjoy the vibes!!

[Dirtwolf]

Back at the house after a great day at Magic.  @mute1080 and I went over for 9am opening and it was chillyyyyy with real feel of -14. I honestly don’t know the names of really any trails that we skied the whole day. In the morning we got in some nice western groomers off quad and got in some steep trees with really great coverage.  Went back to the house quick at lunch to grab the fams and headed back to the hill.  Grabbed lunch at the black line tavern before heading back out on the hill with the whole skiing contingent. A few more groomers with everyone on skiers left and right off quad before the ladies had to retreat to the warmth.  Mute and I did a few more runs up till closing. 

I had heard a lot of good things about this mountain from various people over the years and I’d say it did not disappoint one bit. This mountain feels pure because it exists entirely for the act of skiing itself.  The steep and technical trails seem to follow the natural fall lines of the hill giving it great flow.  I love that there is no manufactured village vibe, zero corporate feeling and they are unapologetically keeping it old school.  It’s refreshing places like this still exist and I wish more hills would go back to this model.  
 

Anyway time for some lasagna and catan.  Okemo on tap for tomorrow. ✌🏻

 

[Johnny Law]

Have an absolute hoot ! Snow should be perfect up there for real 

[indiggio]

Not sure where you're planning on parking at Okemo, but the way we used to ski it was left to right looking at the map.

Make a beeline at the open over to the South Face quad, as everyone else just wants to putter off the middle of the mountain.
It can be a pike on Cat Nap, but once you're out there you have the place to yourselves.
Eventually the crowds will make their way over there, but by then you'll have had your fill and then you can migrate towards the middle of the mountain while others are moving elsewhere.

Keep migrating right (North) through the morning and break somewhere for lunch.

After lunch, continue the migration North over to Jackson Gore area where you can close out the day.

Just a thought, take it for what you paid for it...

[mute1080]

Third time’s the charm for me at Magic. Finally good snow and 95% open. Opening groomer runs on Trick, White Out, and Hocus Pocus had us laying railroad tracks and loving it. Got into Witch, Goniff Glades, Twilight Zone, and Sorcerer for the first time. Little Boo even crushed some single diamond trails with no issue.

Cold wasn’t an issue for me thankfully. Heated socks and new Hestra mittens ftw 

When the fam came back for lunch I went for their passes and the ticket window had a brb sign. First time I’ve seen that but not surprised there

[mbike-ski]

Noice, love the mountain but have yet to have a really good snow day yet, was super jelly while I was rolling paint this morning thinking how I coulda shoulda woulda
 

just got settled into our room at j sippin a knob creek smoky maple plannin roots for a chilly manana

Edited January 30 by mbike-ski

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

14 hours ago, indiggio said:

Not sure where you're planning on parking at Okemo, but the way we used to ski it was left to right looking at the map.

Make a beeline at the open over to the South Face quad, as everyone else just wants to putter off the middle of the mountain.
It can be a pike on Cat Nap, but once you're out there you have the place to yourselves.
Eventually the crowds will make their way over there, but by then you'll have had your fill and then you can migrate towards the middle of the mountain while others are moving elsewhere.

Keep migrating right (North) through the morning and break somewhere for lunch.

After lunch, continue the migration North over to Jackson Gore area where you can close out the day.

Just a thought, take it for what you paid for it...

I don’t think it’s gonna be crowded at Okemo today.  Maybe a bit cause four of the high speeds are on wind hold.  Have a blast guys. 

[mute1080]

Knowing it was going to be colder then yesterday we arrived at the Clock Tower lodge around 11 with real feel around -15. Got lucky and managed super close parking which was nice. Both bubbles lifts, Evergreen, and South Face lifts were on hold. Most of the trails were wind blown and scraped. Any snow kicked up never came back down on the mountain. After the fam went in for their warming break, @Dirtwolf and I explored the trees. Way better snow and less wind. Black Hole was good, Supernova was my ROTD.

Took a break around 2 since my googles wouldn't unfreeze but everything else was comfortable. Checked out what we could around Clock Tower after but as soon as the shadows crept in, temps dropped more. Left at 4 and stopped at the Westen Village Store for cheese, fudge, and Heady's. 

Was good to get the lay of the land but conditions were tough. In my head the map made it seem bigger but was easier to get around than expected.

Only pics I took on the hill was the one time I stopped to melt some snow and the hand was already out.

Edited January 30 by mute1080

[mute1080]

Stratton posted yesterday don't be shocked at cold or wind holds to delay the morning so @Dirtwolf and I planned to arrive at 9 am. After two days of minimal crowds we didn't really think it'd be an issue but were mistaken. Ski butler said snow in the back yard crowd plus an IKON pass party sponsored by North Face at night. We planned to do a skin lap if there was a delay but to do that you have to pick up a free pass at the main lodge. Got one of the last spots in lot 2 and the line was pretty long for the shuttle. Add another small line for the lifetime uphill pass, we started walking around 1015. 

Headed lookers right up Lower Wanderer and than into the trees at Lower West Meadow. LWM was awesome to walk through. @Dirtwolfwas breaking trail in spots with a foot of soft snow. No issues with down hill skiers and had a bunch of people stop to talk. Headed to Huberts Hut for a coffee at the top before heading down to the lot. Took Tree Top Way down at the end which was nice to walk to the car

Went back to the house and dropped DW off, grabbed the fam and headed back. Got a spot in lot 1 and took the shuttle to the base. Crowds were still deep at the American Express 6 and Gondy. Headed up the AE6 and the other quad to the top. Down from there to the Tamarack lift with no line and skied the trails and glades off there until calling it a day.

Plan is Plattekill to split the drive up on the way home

 

Edited February 1 by mute1080

[mute1080]

Arrived at Plattekill and met up with @Dirtwolf around 1. The place felt feral after being at an Ikon and Epic resort the last two days.

Parked and grabbed the shuttle to the snow. Started on the Northface double chair to Overlook and Lower Ridge Run. @Boo Bear did the full Overlook run while dirty and I did Plunge right under the lift. Snow was firm on the wider trails so we dipped in the trees to the left. Snow in the trees was fantastic and playful. A fluffy foot to play with and the spacing with those trees was perfect.

Did Bumps to Blockbuster and then lapped off the triple chair. Chute was a cool skinny trail with better snow. Trees skiers left of Upper Face were really good too.

We both agreed it had some good steeps and a laid back vibe. Wish it was taller though.

My favorite part might have been that the shuttle disappeared. They radioed for it to come take us back to the lot since we were waiting but it never came. Another dude with a utv pulled up and took dw and I down to the cars and drove them back up for pick up