Mike Piccoletti Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 I'm going next year from Feb. 7th through the 10th... I was wondering if Anyone has been there, and what theyed say about it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 I was there a few years ago, it's a good mountain; I liked the place. However, the lifts are extremely slow. They are slow doubles. (They might have upgraded since then, but I doubt it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 haha thats strange, i think i'll be there feb 8th to the 10th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Piccoletti Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Really? With your School?! Dude! That'd be SICK! Find out man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 no i'll be there with k2rider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Piccoletti Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Thats pretty sweet dude, your going to have to take my number and call me when your up there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romemadman Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 good snow and trails just hella slow lifts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Piccoletti Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Even the F'n Gondala? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrwilco Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 i dont think smuggs has a gondola. stowe does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan- Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 I'll be in vermont that weekend, just not at smuggs. I'll be up at Jay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riderossi Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Smuggs has nice terrain, and the trees were fun as hell. But like the others said, the double to the summit seems to last forever. You come to the top of a hill and think you are ready to get off then you round the top and see another. If you snowboard, you have to have a leash to ride the lift at the park (at least that's the way it was when i was there). Usually get one ride without it, then you either have to put on a leash if you have one, or they were selling them for $5 at the lift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xNick11 Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 I went to Smuggs last year, took 2 runs, then got stuck on a lift for two hours. Then we just went to Mad River Glenn took a easier trail, and then took this one trail that took us 45 minutes to get down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJSkiFamily Posted December 16, 2007 Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 We've gone up twice a year for the past four years and will be up there twice this winter. The resort is pretty compact - Sterling and Madonna mountains are side by side and the trails are intermediate/expert only. The beginners stay on Morse. We love the variety of the terrain - the real appeal is the glades and bump trails. There is nothing off limits within the boundaries of the resort. New glades were cut this year including doubling the width of Doc Dempsey glades which we can't wait to try. The atmosphere of the place is extremely friendly and easy going. Remember, this is the #1 family resort. People there are very chatty. Someone once told me that the snobs go to Stowe and everyone one else goes to Smuggs. All lodging is slopeside so ski in and ski out. Very convenient. The food in the Sterling base lodge is very good, but expensive (yikes). It blows my mind how much we spend per day for lunch and snacks. Yes, the lifts are doubles only and no high speed anything. That's just the way things are there. The Madonna 1 lift is a 12 minute ride. You'll exchange life stories with people on the lifts. On the plus side it keeps the traffic on the trails low. On the downside, the lines on the Sterling lift can get really, really long....head on over to the Madonna 2 lift which doesn't get as crowded. There is no night skiing. Smuggs has limited snow making because they don't have access to enough water. Which means they don't have the ability to recover from warm spells until mother nature bails them out. I've seen the trail count cut in half in a matter of days during warm spells. JMHO but the restaurants in the Smugg's area are horrible. You either have to drive to Burlington or head on over to Stowe to find decent restaurants. We drive 30 minutes to find a decent pizza place and that's a very sad statement. Take a group ski lesson. You can sign up in advance and the instructors are great. Many of them have worked at Smuggs for decades. Early Feb is a great time to go - usually some of the best conditions though it can be brutally cold so make sure you watch the extended weather forecast. We were up one President's Day weekend the the temperature on Sunday morning was minus 26 degrees. They do a torch light parade and fireworks every Thursday night. There is an indoor pool and hot tubs in the village area. All the condo units have wifi access but the cable TV is horrible - very limited number of channels. Like no cartoon network. How can you be the #1 family resort and not have cartoon network. Its a disgrace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Piccoletti Posted December 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2007 Thanks for the reviews guys! i cant wait to see some pictures of the terrain park, the mountain, and the glades! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJSkiFamily Posted December 17, 2007 Report Share Posted December 17, 2007 Lower Doc Dempsey glades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJSkiFamily Posted December 17, 2007 Report Share Posted December 17, 2007 Top of Madonna looking at the beginning of the Upper Chilcoot trail. Its that narrow pretty much most of the way down (opens up in a few spots) but groomed the entire way. Oh, found out why you have to ski down from the base lodge to get on the Madonna 1 lift. Pure ego is the answer. The founder of Smuggs (who founded IBM) wanted to have the longest chair lift in VT and in order to beat the record the bottom of the lift had to be built below the base lodge. So that's why you ski down to get on the lift. My ski instructor last year has worked for Smuggs for 49 years and is full of trivia and some great stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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