How to Get First Tracks
There are two ways to make sure you get first tracks: skin up or pay up. POWDR Corp., which owns Killington and Pico, caused a stir last fall when it announced its Fast Tracks pass. For an additional $49 a day (lift ticket not included), the pass allows a limited number of skiers access to a priority liftline. At Alterra-owned Stratton, anyone with a Stratton Summit Season Pass ($,1399) can access lifts at 7:45 am (versus 9:00 am) on weekends and holidays. In addition, Ikon and other pass holders can buy a First Tracks upgrade ($399) to do the same. All Ikon passholders also get one day a month when they can ski or ride early. At Sugarbush, the Premium Plus Season Pass ($1,349) or a regular pass with the Early-Ups add on ($499) guarantees early access. All Ikon passholders at Alterra-owned Sugarbush also get three early days. The best way to assure first tracks is to book Sugarbush’s Sunrise First Tracks and ride the Cabin Cat ($90/2 hours) before lifts open.
NAME THAT SNOWPLOW
This past fall, schools around Vermont were issued the challenge of coming up with names for snowplows and on Nov. 17 “Snow Plow Day,” each school got a visit from their newly adopted plow. Of the 160 plows that were named, these are our favorites. Watch for them.
Photo top by Brian Morh/EmberPhoto; middle courtesty Jay Peak Resort;
1..Snowbegone Kenobi (Bishop Marshall, Morristown) 2. Yo Bro, No Snow (Berlin Elementary, Berlin) 3.Jennifer Snowpez (Bakersfield Elementary, Bakersfield) 4. Captain Snowmerica (Braintree Elementary, Braintree) 5. Plowy McPlowface (Bridge School, Middlebury 6. Darth Blader (Mid-Vermont Christian School, Hartford) 7. Plow Cow (Tinmouth Mountain School, Tinmouth) 8. Snowflake Dentley (St. Johnsbury School, St. Johnsbury 9. William Scrape-speare (Homeschooling students, Ripton) 10.Slip Sliding Safety Service (Windham)
VT’S (SKI) FAST FOOD Vermont is the only state in the nation that doesn’t have a McDonalds in its capital and chain fast food is be hard to find in any Green Mountain ski town. Instead, you will find locally home-grown chains like The Skinny Pancake. What brothers Jonny and Benjy Adler started as a food truck at Middlebury College now has a half-dozen outlets around Vermont, including in Stowe, Quechee and at the Burlington airport. Each serves local farm-fresh ingredients (such as Champlain Orchards apples, Cabot cheddar and local bacon), sweet and savory, wrapped in a thin pancake or crepe. Another eatery that is expanding is Jordan Antonucci and Momoko Munenaka’s Miso Hungry. What started as a take-out ramen place located in an abandoned ski tram at Jay Peak is now serving up piping hot bowls of Munenaka’s authentic miso broth and ramen noodles from shacks at Bolton Valley, Spruce Peak at Stowe, and Mt. Ellen at Sugarbush. Nomad Coffee, which has been a fixture at Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak base the past few years returns and now has locations in Burlington and Essex.
vtskiandride.com Holidays 2021 21
