Resorts & Mountains in Vermont > Craftsbury
We made the most of a gorgeous day and snow-free driving conditions by jumping in the Subaru and pointing it north toward Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Craftsbury, Vermont.
We arrived to find some eager young kids starting a ski race. The adults had started earlier and we would see them skate by a few times as we started skiing the trails. Since the trails were prepared for a skate skiing race, we didn't have some classic tracks on a few areas that we expected. But we were creative and snaked...[Read more]
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Filed in: Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Food, coffee & après ski
UPDATE: Make that 14 resorts. Mad River Glen announced it will fire up a lift this weekend, as well.
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We're having a great December so far in Vermont, thanks to Mother Nature. This weekend Bolton Valley, Middlebury Snow Bowl and Pico Mountain will open — joining 10 other ski resorts in Vermont that are already running their lifts. (See our updated blog post here for exact opening dates.)
Mad River Glen, which relies heavily on natural snow, is still in wait-and-see mode. They...[Read more]
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Fall & Early season, Mad River Glen, Middlebury Snow Bowl, Pico, Rikert, Trapp Family Lodge
It's been a rough start to the ski season. Abnormally high temperatures have made snowmaking difficult to sustain. Vermont's larger and higher-altitude resorts made snow early on and have worked diligently to retain and expand coverage. We enjoyed some spring-like skiing at Smugglers' Notch over a week ago, for example.
Today you can make turns at eight Vermont ski resorts. (See our post about ski resort opening dates, here.) Two Nordic ski areas are also offering very limited skiing due to...[Read more]
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley, Bromley, Burke, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Magic, Mount Snow, Pico, Rikert
The Skimeister and I joined up with six other skiing buddies to explore the cross-country trails at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center last weekend. Located in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom — about 1.5 hours northeast of Burlington, Vermont; 1 hour north of Montpelier; and 1 hour northwest of St. Johnsbury — this place is a Nordic skier's dream.
The grooming is impeccable and the classic tracks are bomber. The center uses large Pisten Bully grooming machines to churn up the snow, smooth it...[Read more]
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Filed in: Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing
Vermont ski areas took a hit this past weekend with nasty weather that included warm temperatures and rain, and even an ice storm up here in northern Vermont. Now that temperatures have fallen back down to those appropriate for the wintertime, the ski resorts are talking up how much snow they are making to bounce back from the weekend. Blast away!
A look at snow reports today reveals terms such as hard pack, frozen granular, machine groomed and loose granular. If you are going to hit the...[Read more]
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge
Snowmakers are earning their keep these recent cold days and nights. Resorts are pumping out a lot of snow in anticipation of Thanksgiving weekend, as well as some December opening days. (Who's open? Check here.)
It sounds like Mother Nature will get into the act on Tuesday night and Wednesday, with a wintry mix that should include rain, sleet and snow accumulation. We'll see how it pans out. Check the Burlington National Weather Service report.
Even a few Nordic ski...[Read more]
Monday, November 25, 2013
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Rikert, Sleepy Hollow, Trapp Family Lodge
So this is what I've got on the topic of which Vermont ski resorts are still open now that it's mid-April...
Many mountaintops were still looking white today. It's not too late to get some turns in!
Still OPEN in Vermont:
Jay PeakKillington (plans to be open daily through daily through Sunday, May 5)Stowe (plans to be open daily through this Sunday, April 21)Sugarbush (plans to be open daily through Sunday, April 28)Mt. Snow is closed this week, but will re-open for a final...[Read more]
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Jay Peak, Killington, Mount Snow, Spring skiing, Stowe, Sugarbush
A cold front has allowed snowmaking to resume across the state. Thank goodness! And a little bit of fresh snow has fallen over the last two days at higher elevations.
Inconsistent temperatures have forced a couple ski areas to push back their opening dates. Cochran's Ski Area is pushing its opening day back to December 22. Magic Mountain also changed its opening date; it's now December 21. Both ski areas are making snow now.
For an updated look at Vermont...[Read more]
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Cochran's, Craftsbury, Fall & Early season, Grafton Ponds, Magic, Trapp Family Lodge
Craftsbury Outdoor Center in northern Vermont has been hosting many of the country's best nordic skiers all week — first with the USSA Super Tour Finals and then with the 30k & 50k National Championships.
The Skimeister and I hit the road early to catch today's men's race. The gun went off at 9 a.m. with 90 racers starting because juniors were also racing in the group, although for a shorter 20k distance.
Craftsbury has been creative this season with...[Read more]
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Filed in: Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Ski racing
This winter has been rough for most Vermont cross-country ski centers. Unreliable temperatures in the lower elevations and a lack of snowstorms have made nordic skiing tough in many places. However, there is some good nordic skiing if you look in higher-altitude spots.
This would include Bolton Valley nordic center, which sits above 1,500 feet. It's been catching some snow and the melt-downs have not been as drastic as they've been in the valleys. I did a classic ski tour today and...[Read more]
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Filed in: Bolton Valley, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge
Boy there’s a lot of snowmaking going on lately! Seems like the ski resorts are opening new terrain every few days or — in some cases — every day!
Stowe Mountain Resort reported that it set a new record: “We had over 130 snowguns running continuously this past weekend.” And I saw the snowguns in action on the petite Cochran’s ski area this weekend.
All the ski resorts are talking up their snowmaking “firepower” and respect for their hard-working snowmaking teams. (A...[Read more]
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Cochran's, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Mad River Glen, Magic, Northeast Slopes, Stowe, Suicide Six, Trapp Family Lodge
Ever wonder what all the fuss was about when it comes to cross-country skiing or snowshoeing? Well it's about time you found out.
Winter Trails Day
Eight nordic centers in Vermont are offering special events or freebies as part of Winter Trails Day on January 8. The goal: to get people out on the trails in the wintertime to see what they've been missing!
These are the nordic centers in Vermont that will participate in one way or another. Visit this site to read up on the details. Call the...[Read more]
Monday, January 3, 2011
Filed in: Blueberry Lake, Bolton Valley, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Mountain Top, Ole's, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, Ticket discounts, Trapp Family Lodge
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
Filed in: Bolton Valley, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Highland Lodge, Mountain Top, Smugglers' Notch, Ticket discounts
What would we do without Pisten Bully, Bombardier and other wonderful grooming machines?
Well this past weekend, we wouldn't have done much cross-country skiing without them. As expected, the snow had frozen up after a bout of warm weather and some rain. We were up in Craftsbury, Vermont, for a weekend of nordic skiing with friends, so we decided to ski where they had a real grooming machine—the kind that can dig in and churn up the ice and snow. We headed for the trails of the Craftsbury...[Read more]
Monday, February 16, 2009
Filed in: Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing
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
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Backcountry skiing, Bolton Valley, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Jay Peak, Killington, Mt. Mansfield, Stowe
Skiing marathons, ice harvesting and a Wassail Weekend are all on the list of Vermont's Top 10 Winter Events for 2008/2009. The list is issued by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce after judges comb through hundreds of snow-season festivities—big and small.
Take a moment to chill out this summer by perusing these Vermont winter events. Of note to skiers and riders: This year marks the 27th running of the Craftsbury cross-country skiing marathon; there's a nordic ski race benefit in Stowe; and the...[Read more]
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Burke, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Killington, Trapp Family Lodge
Sunday morning brought more blue skies to Craftsbury, Vt., and cold temperatures at 7 in the morning. By the time we had breakfast and gathered our gear, however, things were warming up nicely. I could tell this was going to be a good ski at the Craftsbury Nordic Center.
I had been to Craftsbury once before. Over the course of two days last year, we had hit most of the trails from Ruthie's Run Extension in the northeast, to the Grand Tour trail to the southwest. I remembered enjoying a ski...[Read more]
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Filed in: Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Highland Lodge
EDITOR'S NOTE: Highland Lodge is no longer a ski center. However, neighboring Craftsbury Outdoor Center has been maintaining some of the trails that run between the Highland and Craftsbury networks. Do check them out!
I may have found the most scenic cross-country trails in Vermont. They are at Highland Lodge in Greensboro.
A long climb up to the Barr Hill area at 2,100 feet afforded the Skimeister and I our first visual treat. We entered a meadow that could have been found in Colorado....[Read more]
Monday, February 18, 2008
Filed in: Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Highland Lodge
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
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Bolton Valley, Burke, Catamount Nordic, Craftsbury, Cross-country skiing, Jay Peak, Mad River Glen, Stowe, Western skiing
