Vermont is widely considered the most popular place to ski and snowboard on the east coast. It is estimated that over 80% of Vermont’s annual ski and snowboard visitors are from out of state. Skiing is a huge part of Vermont culture, consistently creating loving and accepting communities.
Commonground interviewed a student at Harwood Union High School, who requested to remain anonymous, on their opinions on ski mountains in Vermont.
“What mountain in Vermont do you think is the best to ski or snowboard at?”
“I think Sugarbush is my favorite but I also really like Bolton.”
“Why are those your favorite?”
“Well, I really like Sugarbush because of how big it is and how many options of trails you have and I like Bolton night skiing but other than Bolton’s night skiing, there’s not much else I like about it.”
Sugarbush is one of the more popular ski resorts in Vermont because of its diverse terrain for all levels and its beautiful location. Sugarbush caters a lot of out of staters. Bolton is one of the less popular ski resorts in Vermont because it isn’t very big and there are usually only three lifts open unless we get a lot of snow. But Bolton is still a wonderful place especially if you like night skiing and a more local mountain with less out of staters.
“How do you feel about crowds and long lift lines?” Commongrounds asked the Harwood student.
The Harwood student said that they hate long lift lines and big crowds because when lines are really long you may only be able to get in a few runs before the mountain closes. “I hate spending more time waiting in lines than I do actually skiing but it’s rare to find a mountain that doesn’t have long lift lines and big crowds.”
Commonground asked “Are there long lift lines and big crowds at Sugarbush and Bolton?”
“Sugarbush usually has long lift lines and big crowds but I would say it’s a lot less than some of the more popular mountains.” The Harwood student stated, continuing, “Bolton isn’t as popular so there are rarely long lift lines but their lodge is pretty small so it’s usually pretty crowded and hard to find a table to sit down, and a place to put your stuff.”
Commonground also interviewed Lawrence Gravelle, an English teacher at Harwood Union High School.
“What mountain in Vermont do you think is best to ski or snowboard at?”
Mr.Gravelle said that he hasn’t been to many of the ski resorts in Vermont but of the ones he has been to, Mad River is his favorite because of its lack of crowds.
“What qualities make a good ski mountain?” Asked Commongrounds.
Mr.Gravelle said that varied terrain and the ability to choose what you ski and ride are qualities that good ski mountains have.
Commonground asked Mr.Gravelle how he feels about crowds and long lift lines and he said that he hates them.
“I’ll take less crowded over premium terrain any day.”
“Are there crowds and long lift lines at Mad River? asked Commonground.
“Yes but everything gets jammed up at the bottom rather than the top and I would much rather have that than have things get jammed up at the top making it so that I can’t even get past people to go down.”
Commonground asked “Is there a ski mountain in Vermont that you don’t recommend?”
Mr.Gravelle said that there isn’t a mountain in Vermont that he doesn’t recommend.
Gravelle lived out west in Colorado before moving to Vermont and he stated that he has been “Pleasantly surprised by the quality of snow and quality skiing in Vermont”
We are very lucky as Vermonters to have so many diverse ski resorts to accommodate our huge, growing ski culture.