Resorts & Mountains > Bolton Valley
Note to self: Bring a neckwarmer and glasses when you go cross-country skiing, even if you don't think you'll need them.
I had a nice cross-country skate ski at Bolton Valley this afternoon. The snow was falling and I was finally getting a workout after a week of back pain. It was great to be on the snow again!
There was up to an inch of fresh snow on the nordic trails (see my first tracks?) and probably more up in the backcountry trails and alpine area. I worked my way up the hills, but then...[Read more]
Sunday, February 14, 2010
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing
I don't know if you call it cabin fever or just plain old work stress, but by mid-afternoon today I needed to get outside and exercise! I convinced the Skimeister to join me for an end-of-the-afternoon classic ski at Bolton Valley Nordic Center.
We arrived and saw that we would not be alone in our late-day ski. Ski team members from the University of Vermont and Colchester High School were on the trails, too. We set out for a nice loop out on Maple Loop and only passed a handful of kids.
An...[Read more]
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing
Well surprise, surprise! Northern Vermont ski resorts are reporting up to 12 inches of snow has fallen on their slopes in the last 24 hours. Yippee!
We knew there was going to be light snow this week, but this is much more than expected.
Thank you, Mother Nature, for exceeding our expectations on this one!
Check out Vermont ski resort conditions here.
Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Resort.[Read more]
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley, Jay Peak, Mad River Glen, Mt. Mansfield, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Sugarbush
Are you BC-curious?
Two upcoming events in northern Vermont will get skiers out into the backcountry to introduce them to backcountry skiing or improve the skills they already have. The venue for both of these events is the terrific Bolton Valley nordic and backcountry trail network. And both events have limited enrollment, so check 'em out now.
"Get Out and Backcountry Ski Festival"Sunday, January 24 at Bolton Valley
This event is put on by the Catamount Trail Association — the keepers of...[Read more]
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley
I skied this afternoon at Bolton Valley in some super-light snow that had fallen in the last 24 hours -- and it was as tasty a treat as a Fluffernutter sandwich.
In fact, light, fluffy snowflakes were falling the whole time I was skiing; it seemed to make each run a little better. On the less-traveled trails and in the glades off of the Timberline Chair, I was playing in some fun powder. I noticed at times that I wasn't able to see my skis as I made a small wake through the snow. I'd guess...[Read more]
Friday, January 8, 2010
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley, Food, coffee & après
It's time for all you cross-country skiing and snowshoeing never-evers to hit the trail!
Nearly a dozen Vermont nordic ski centers are offering free introductions to these winter sports on Saturday, January 9. Now there is no excuse not to try them!
I've grown to love nordic skiing and snowshoeing over the years. It's a quieter scene than downhill skiing, and it can be a wonderful workout. There's nothing like quietly gliding or walking through a winter wonderland.
Follow this link to read...[Read more]
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Highland Lodge, Mountain Top, Smugglers' Notch, Ticket discounts
The Skimeister and I met up with friends Thursday night at Vermont's Bolton Valley Resort. We wanted to take in the ski resort's New Year's Eve festivities, which included a torchlight parade and fireworks.
The evening was rather warm and a pretty good crowd had gathered for night skiing. The tavern on the second floor of the base lodge was full of hungry and thirsty skiers and families. We were able to get a table and have a beer before the skiers schussed down the trail holding red flares --...[Read more]
Friday, January 1, 2010
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley
Vermont ski resorts are reporting a couple of inches of new snow this morning — with the snow continuing today in many places.
At the stake at the top of Mt. Mansfield yesterday afternoon, there was a total of 26 inches of snow. I'd expect that there are a couple more inches this morning.
Here are a few morning totals thus far:Bolton - 2 inchesBurke - 3 inches Jay Peak - 3 inchesKillington - 2 inchesSmugglers - 4 inchesStratton - 1 inchSugarbush - 1 inch
Check the snow reports links...[Read more]
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley, Burke, Jay Peak, Killington, Mt. Mansfield, Smugglers' Notch, Stratton, Sugarbush
A bluebird day. Darn cold, but blue!
The trees on the ridges around Bolton Valley looked like they were frosting decorations on a cake. We went for an end-of-the-afternoon ski on the backcountry trails at Bolton. Blue sky, squeaky snow, and white trees; it was gorgeous.
There were a few more inches of snow since this past weekend, so waterbars were better covered and more frozen, as well, with the recent cold snap. I think we only had to step over one of them this time. The base is...[Read more]
Friday, December 18, 2009
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Food, coffee & après
If it's not wintry in your neck of the woods, then you have to head to higher ground. It was down-right snowy up at Bolton Valley's backcountry trails today in Vermont.
The Skimeister and I went for an afternoon tour — our first of the season. We noticed more snow the higher we went. Boy, I was feeling it as I slogged up the Bryant trail! But the Birch Loop trail brought welcome ups and downs through about 11 inches of fresh snow.
The trees had snow on them and we came across moose tracks...[Read more]
Saturday, December 12, 2009
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley
Updated 2/22/10
I've been scouring the Internet, Facebook, Twitter and more for you (you can thank me later) in search of the best Vermont ski ticket discounts. These are some of the best skiing deals for my fellow Vermonters and our out-of-state friends, too.
Double check on the details before you drive to the ski resort! And don't forget your ID if you want to cash in on a Vermonter ski discount.
When I can, I like to make use of these discounts to try a resort that I haven't skied for a...[Read more]
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
7 Comments
Filed in: Bolton Valley, Killington, Mad River Glen, Mt. Snow, Okemo, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Stratton, Sugarbush, Ticket discounts
I’m sitting at my computer in a tank top and shorts, sipping a half-and-half (half lemonade and half iced tea). At the same time I’m fretting over the upcoming deadlines for season pass discounts and frequent skier programs at Vermont ski resorts.
This summer has zoomed by much too fast, and now we’re already planning our ski season. It’s a darn good thing that I love winter!
Many Vermont ski resorts offer the best deals on season passes and ski discount programs in the early fall –...[Read more]
Thursday, August 13, 2009
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Burke, Jay Peak, Killington, Mad River Glen, Season pass, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Sugarbush, Ticket discounts
Bolton Valley and Smugglers’ Notch ski resorts in Vermont are excellent choices for those who live in and around Burlington and Chittenden County. And for those who are visiting the area, they are worth checking out for sure. They are smaller and less glitzy resorts than Stowe and Sugarbush, but they have some great terrain and, well, one cannot live on glitz alone. (Especially when one has to dig deep into one’s wallet to pay for it.)
Here is a peak at the mountain improvements that are...[Read more]
Friday, August 7, 2009
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Resort improvements, Smugglers' Notch
Believe it or not, many Vermont resorts picked up a few inches of snow early this week. I skied in it a bit late Thursday afternoon in the Bolton Valley backcountry trails.
With the warm temperatures and sunshine we have been having it was like skiing through sticky mashed potatoes. But there continues to be a lot of snow in the woods at this higher elevation and we had fun making the most of it. Although, we had to cross a stream to finish our descent on Gardner's Lane. There's a lot of...[Read more]
Friday, April 3, 2009
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Ascutney, Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Jay Peak, Killington, Mt. Snow, Okemo, Smugglers' Notch, Spring skiing
The Skimeister and I went to Bolton Valley Resort on Friday afternoon for an afternoon spring ski on the backcountry trails. I wasn't completely sure what to expect back there, but the snow was very soft and there was still a lot of it.
I noted that trying to make telemark turns on soft snow that hadn't been traveled recently was challenging. It's much easier when you are doing alpine skiing and you are on well-trodden moguls.
Even still, I was able to make a handful of decent telemark turns...[Read more]
Saturday, March 28, 2009
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Spring skiing
-- MONDAY PM UPDATE: Lots of snow. Lots of wind. Mad River Glen says they've received nearly five feet in five days. Their single chair was closed today due to high winds which shut down many lifts around the area. Stowe had its major lifts on wind hold today and Sugarbush actually closed down all the lifts by 10 a.m. because the wind was howling so badly. With not many skiers making it to the higher slopes, Tuesday will offer some amazing fresh tracks. --
The Skimeister and I got out on...[Read more]
Sunday, February 22, 2009
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing
Wow—along with some amazing new snow (it kept snowing yesterday in the mountains of Vermont), there are some hot skiing competitions happening here and abroad, as well.
As for the snow, Bolton Valley is reporting an overnight total of just over a foot, on top of the 6 inches from yesterday! Sugarbush is also reporting 17 inches in the last 48 hours. Yeow! I'm going to have to go out for a "business meeting" in the backcountry this afternoon.
Check this NOAA site for details on additional...[Read more]
Friday, February 20, 2009
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing, Sugarbush, Trapp Family Lodge
Depending on where you live in Vermont, you woke up this morning to temperatures in the order of -24 or -17. It was so cold last night that my house let out some very strange sounds. (Hope the siding is still attached.)
So, needless to say, this is not skiing weather. In fact, Bolton Valley Resort did not offer night skiing this week due to the cold. Over in northern Maine, Big Rock ski area closed for a couple days citing the dangerous wind chill.
This is the kind of weather that when you go...[Read more]
Friday, January 16, 2009
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Food, coffee & après, Stowe, Sugarbush
OK folks, while our economic recession is still trying to find its bottom, here in Vermont we're in a rebound of sorts. After a warm-up around Christmas time, we've cooled off and enjoyed some significant snowfall. The base is growing and that makes me forget about the year-end retirement account report I received in the mail today. Well, mostly anyways.The word on the street points toward a bullish recovery:
51 inches of snow at the stake near the top of Mt. MansfieldAt Killington: 12 inches...[Read more]
Thursday, January 8, 2009
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Jay Peak, Killington, Mt. Mansfield, Stowe
Freebies don't come along every day, so this is one to take advantage of this weekend.
Several Vermont nordic centers are offering free or discounted trail passes, cross-country skiing lessons and ski or snowshoe rentals on Saturday, January 10. Check out the Winter Trails site for a list of participating resorts, which include places like Ole's, Woodstock, Blueberry Hill and Sleepy Hollow cross-country centers.
You may want to call first to confirm the details, and download the release...[Read more]
Monday, January 5, 2009
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Catamount Trail, Cross-country skiing
This week the temperatures have been dropping, making for some great snowmaking weather and natural flakes falling from the sky.
The temperature in Jericho, Vermont, has dropped to 10 degrees (F) today from a high of 56 degrees three days ago! The northern mountains here in Vermont received varying amounts of new snow. Jay Peak Resort reports they have received 9 inches in the last 48 hours while further south, Bolton Valley is reporting 3 inches of new snow. Mad River Glen is waiting for a...[Read more]
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Jay Peak, Mad River Glen, Smugglers' Notch
< Follow this link for the updated post for 2009/2010: "Vermont lift ticket discounts, skiing deals in 2009 - 2010 for Vermont residents and everyone!" >
Updated 3/13/2009
2008-2009 Season Deals
I've compiled a list of Vermont ski ticket discounts. That's right, these are some of the best skiing deals for you Vermonters and flatlanders. Here in Vermont, we have to get something for suffering through lower-than-average paychecks and higher-than-average housing prices!
Some of these...[Read more]
Monday, November 17, 2008
13 Comments
Filed in: Ascutney, Bolton Valley, Bromley, Mad River Glen, Magic, Mt. Snow, Okemo, Pico, Stowe, Ticket discounts
Did you know Vermont has more colleges per capita than any other state? It's true. And all those students are now cramming for one of the most important assignments they will have this year: selecting a season pass from a range of college ski pass deals.
Here in northern Vermont, St. Michael's College students actually receive season passes to Smugglers' Notch as part of their tuition packages. Regularly Smuggs sells its college passes for $319.Champlain College provides full-time students "in...[Read more]
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Ascutney, Bolton Valley, Burke, Jay Peak, Killington, Mad River Glen, Season pass, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe
Ski Vermont, an advocate for the Green Mountain State's ski industry, is offering a limited number of Ski Vermont 3 Passes and Ski Vermont 5 Passes for the coming ski season.
I've never bought one, but here's the scoop: You can purchase this pass now and ski at three different Vermont resorts during non-peak days this winter. The participating ski resorts are: Ascutney, Bolton Valley, Bromley, Burke, Jay Peak, Killington, Mad River Glen, Magic Mountain, Middlebury Snow Bowl, Mount Snow, Okemo,...[Read more]
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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Filed in: Ascutney, Bolton Valley, Jay Peak, Killington, Mad River Glen, Okemo, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Sugarbush, Ticket discounts
Ah, nearly Labor Day. It's about time to lock in to the best deals available on season passes and skiing discount cards in Vermont.
The Skimeister and I are planning to ski around Vermont resorts and the backcountry a lot this winter, but we also want to ski Smugglers' Notch at least eight times or so, so we looked into the the Bash Badge Plus. The best price is had when you bag the badge before Labor Day.
This discount card allows the holder to buy $25 ski tickets during the season. The...[Read more]
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley, Burke, Cochran's, Jay Peak, Mad River Glen, Season pass, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Sugarbush
OK, you've got to check this out: NOAA reports there are 98 inches of snow still left on the summit of Mt. Mansfield, here in Vermont. 98 inches on April 7!
I got out on the trails at Bolton Valley yesterday and enjoyed some super spring skiing in the bright sunshine. And I wasn't alone. It was Bolton's last day of operation, despite having abundant snow, so everyone was getting their last rides on the lifts. They even kept the Vista Quad open until 5 p.m. for the die-hards.
The corn snow...[Read more]
Monday, April 7, 2008
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley, Spring skiing
I think I mentioned before that I'm spoiled rotten. Well yesterday the Skimeister and I made the most of a blue sky afternoon by skiing from 2 to 4 p.m. at Bolton Valley. We knew the weather was looking rough today so we moved around our work schedule to accommodate the sun! (It's now raining/snowing in Burlington, Vt., but it is supposed to be all snow over 2,000 feet.)
The spring skiing was quite good. The snow had turned into soft corn snow in most places. We really set our edges in the...[Read more]
Friday, April 4, 2008
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley, Spring skiing
The sun was deceiving on Saturday morning. If you looked at the calendar and the blue skies, you would have sworn it was going to be a spring skiing day. You would have also been wrong.
It was windy and downright cold in the mountains. At Bolton Valley ski resort, someone said it was zero degrees at the top of the lift early in the morning. Brrr.
While the Skimeister took to the lifts, I headed for Bolton's lower backcountry trails. I was intent on generating my own heat on this chilly day....[Read more]
Sunday, March 30, 2008
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Food, coffee & après
With sunshine in the forecast for today and early Tuesday, and mixed precipitation called for later this week, the Skimeister and I took the afternoon off to go play at Bolton Valley, Vt. I took my Völkl skis out for some exercise and he sharpened up his Burton snowboard.
I knew the scenery would be terrific because of the clear skies and the ice-covered trees I had seen the day before, but I thought the skiing would be only mediocre. On this point I was pleasantly surprised. There were up to...[Read more]
Monday, March 17, 2008
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley, Food, coffee & après
Weird. That's the best way to describe today's ski tour on the backcountry trails at Bolton Valley today. Other words that come to mind are frozen, crusty and otherworldly.
While the high trails picked up some snow over the last week, they also got the deep-freeze treatment. Ice was everywhere. It coated trees at nearly an inch in thickness.
During our ski on Heavenly Highway, Birch Loop and Gardiner's Lane, the Skimeister and I navigated around many limbs and trees that were downed by the...[Read more]
Sunday, March 16, 2008
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley
I love checklists. It gives me great satisfaction to tick things off as I complete them. Yesterday I had the pleasure of checking off the Bolton-Trapp Trail on my skiing to-do list for this season. It was the first time I had done this backcountry excursion and it was tiring, but extra snowy and fun!
The Skimeister, his step-mom and I dropped a car on Nebraska Valley Road in Moscow (a section of Stowe), Vermont, before driving to our starting point at the Bolton Valley nordic center. The car...[Read more]
Sunday, March 2, 2008
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Catamount Trail, Trapp Family Lodge
I hate to rub it in, but I just had a great Friday afternoon of skiing in powder and packed powder conditions at Bolton Valley, Vt.! And, now wait for this, it was a bluebird day to boot!
Vermont enjoyed a hearty helping of fresh snow this week—with more to come this weekend—so I left work behind and spent the afternoon skiing in the sunshine.
Boy, was I glad that I did.
There was still some powder to be found in Bolton Valley's glades and due to cold temps, it had remained light and fluffy....[Read more]
Friday, February 29, 2008
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley
The Catamount Trail Association (CTA), the group that cares for the 300-mile trail that runs the length of Vermont, got some good press a couple of days ago in the Burlington Free Press.
The article is not online (sorry, the Free Press site is extremely lame) but it reported that the organization is hosting the most ski trips and events this winter than ever before. About 30 individuals are leading nearly 60 ski tours.
The tours are rated for different abilities and you must sign up in...[Read more]
Friday, February 22, 2008
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Catamount Trail, Trapp Family Lodge
Late on Thursday afternoon, we headed for Bolton Valley Nordic Center to do a couple of laps of skate skiing. Conditions were firm and very fast.
It was a good workout as I climbed the hills on World Cup. Then I employed my much-practiced wedge, or snowplow, to keep things in check during the super-fast descents.
In Bolton Valley's Nordic Blog, they reported that they had tilled and groomed the snow on 20 km with an alpine grooming machine. My skis chattered on the small grooves as I wedged...[Read more]
Friday, February 22, 2008
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing, Ski gear
I'm happy to report that there is some fresh snow up in the mountains of northern Vermont!
The Skimeister and I headed to Bolton Valley's cross-country trails to do some classic nordic skiing today. The conditions on the groomed trails were pretty good and the fresh snow on the side of the trails measured to about five inches or so. Nice, fluffy white stuff. Of course, we would like much more to really cover up the ice-covered base that's under there, but this is a start!
On our skinny skis,...[Read more]
Saturday, January 19, 2008
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing, Food, coffee & après
With a warm, rainy week behind us at last, we headed for some groomed cross-country trails today. The Skimeister and I set our sights on the high-altitude trails at Bolton Valley, hoping there would be some decent snow cover.
We clicked into our skating skis and made our way to the World Cup loop because it had been groomed—and boy was it fast! The zippy snow made the downhill sections very exciting and the sharp corners were challenging. Still, I only hit the ground once. Not bad!
It was a...[Read more]
Sunday, January 13, 2008
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Cross-country skiing
If those twits at Heavenly, Vail and Beaver Creek send me one more e-mail ...
Their multimillion-dollar marketing machine keeps sending me mouth-watering photos of the three to 10 feet (that is not a typo) of snow that has piled up on their totally fabulous resorts in the last week. A photo in a Beaver Creek, Colo., e-mail even showed a skier (or what you could see of him) with a snorkel.
Please don't laugh, it just encourages them.
Normally, this would not phase me, but we've been...[Read more]
Friday, January 11, 2008
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley, Burke, Catamount, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Jay Peak, Mad River Glen, Stowe, Western skiing
It's days like today that I praise the snowgods, and my parents for buying me my favorite pair of mittens. We had a lovely backcountry tour today, but it was darn cold.
Fortunately, I'm someone who layers up and I know when to take out the big guns (the sheepskin mittens) when I need to.
Despite temps in the single digits, it didn't take much uphill shlogging to start generating some heat and a couple of times I had to take the mittens off to cool off my hands.
Let me tell you that I've...[Read more]
Saturday, December 15, 2007
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Ski gear
Today I buckled into my aging, but lovable, Tecnica ski boots (this is the year that I'm getting new boots—and I mean it this time!) and saddled up my Völkl skis to remember what it means to really carve a turn.
Having grown up as a downhill skier, I feel so much more confident with my heel attached to my ski and my boots pushing back against my shins as I flex and crank out some turns.
Bring on the bumps! Bring on the powder! I've got my downhill equipment on!
The downhill runs at Bolton...[Read more]
Sunday, December 9, 2007
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Filed in: Alpine skiing, Bolton Valley
What a way to start the ski season. The Skimeister and I went up to Bolton Valley's backcountry trails today and found more than a foot of fluffy snow on the trails and weighing down the tree branches all around us. Gorgeous!
This is what skiing is all about. I love gliding quietly through the woods surrounded by snow. Skiing to a viewpoint is even better, but today the "Stowe View" was non-existent because of a snow squall. Not a problem, we said, before schussing on.
I'm still not great at...[Read more]
Saturday, December 8, 2007
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Filed in: Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley
One of the conundrums you face as a skier in northern Vermont is deciding where you purchase a season pass or discount card—or whether you do that at all. We have a bunch of ski resorts within an hour and a half from Burlington, Vt., plus an abundance of backcountry terrain that doesn't require a lift. What's a skier to do?
Part of the reason I stopped teaching skiing about six years ago was to allow myself the ability to enjoy several resorts each season—not just the one I was...[Read more]
Thursday, October 25, 2007
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Filed in: Bolton Valley, Jay Peak, Season pass, Stowe, Ticket discounts
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