PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BURLINGTON, VT PERMIT NO. 19
Courtesy of Jeb Wallace-Brodeur
PUBLISHER SKI VERMONT Kelly Pawlak, Chair Parker Riehle, President Sarah Wojcik, Director of Marketing & Communications EDITOR Sarah Wojcik DESIGN Methodikal, Inc.
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9 Planning a Family Ski Vacation Made Simple All Mountain Mamas family ski trip tips.
If You Make it, They Will Come A tale of snowmaking in Vermont. By SARAH WOJCIK
By THE ALL MOUNTAIN MAMAS
PRINTER Lane Press COVER ART Methodikal, Inc. Visit skivermont.com/store to purchase your limited edition cover poster!
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World Cup in Vermont
Snack, Sip and Ski
By PETER OLIVER
By HILARY DELROSS
Killington hosts the first World Cup in Vermont in 38 years.
CONTACT INFO Ski Vermont P.O. Box 368 Montpelier, VT 05601 T: 802.223.2439 F: 802.229.6917 E: info@skivermont.com www.SkiVermont.com /SkiVermont & /RideVermont @Ski_Vermont & @RideVermont Ski_VT & RideVermont SkiRideVT
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Specialty food producers serve Vermont's finest local fare–slopeside.
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Learn to Snowboard
Shaken & Stirred
By KYLE OPUSZYNSKI
By MIKE HANNIGAN
Stratton's Girls Time Out snowboarding clinic.
ALSO
02 Fresh Tracks
Try something new this year.
A trio of classic cocktails, reimagined with soul and a Vermont twist.
raveling to 58 TVermont Resorts
Planes, trains and automobiles.
04 Mountain Happenings 60 ASkiing lpine and Nordic Facts and Stats 26 2016 Photo Gallery Where to go and when to be there.
It was better than you think.
Get the details on Vermont’s diverse array of skiing and riding destinations. SkiVermont.com
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FRESH TRACKS
A MOUNTAIN OF MEMORIES “Dad, it’s me. I need some advice.” I was just turning 23 when I had one of the biggest choices to make regarding the path of my future. As a relatively recent graduate of the University of Vermont, would I take an offer to make more money than I thought possible at my age, or, well, ski for a living and sustain myself on a diet of mostly pizza for the next few years? I figured my dad might provide the push I needed to send me on the path that made the most sense. He chuckled a bit on the phone and said, “Well, what do you want me to tell you?” Of course, my response was – “You know!” Needless to say, I chose skiing and never looked back. Now, in my mid-thirties and from the Director of Marketing and Communication’s chair at Ski Vermont, I get to share my passion and love of skiing in Vermont with the world, just as my dad shared his obsession with the sport with me at a young age. My dad started skiing in his mid-thirties. I often think about how his decision to jump into a new sport at that age and embrace it so whole-heartedly (he would be volunteering for the local ski patrol in a few short years) completely steered me to the happy place I find myself today. I thank my lucky stars that he made the fateful leap one winter day and became obsessed with sliding on snow. What is it about skiing and snowboarding that make people fall in love, and even become obsessed? Well, for my dad and me, Vermont played a huge role in convincing us that skiing was something to build your life around. While we hailed from Pennsylvania, we took many a family road trip to Vermont to experience the big mountains and all-encompassing winter culture that prevails here. I regularly pined for Vermont, even at the young age of eight when I confidently announced to my parents that I would move to Vermont for college and never come home. (I did just that ten years later.) Ask anyone who visits Vermont regularly, and they’ll tell you that they simply feel better after crossing the state line. The beautiful views, lack of billboards and friendly faces act as a warm embrace, welcoming you to the place where life is slower, yet full of what makes life truly valuable. When we really take a look at the big picture, what truly 2 SkiVermont.com
makes us happy? For me, it’s all about connecting with friends and family, spending time outdoors, being active and relishing the rewards of dedication and persistence. Like anything in life, a little effort reaps big rewards. Families, friends and individuals that dedicate themselves to the weekly, monthly or annual ski vacation leave with experiences and memories that last a lifetime. Does it at first seem like a lot of work to pack up the family with endless gear and snacks and drive to the mountains on a Friday afternoon? Sure, but is there anything in the world worth more than sharing screenfree time on a mountain with your kids? Or getting first tracks on a powder day with friends? And sharing stories of on-slope achievements and off-slope shenanigans by the fire with hot chocolate and Vermont’s finest beverages? I think not. So, to prep you, your friends and your family for the season, we at Ski Vermont have put together a collection of stories to get you excited and prepared for an awesome season on the slopes. Looking to try skiing or snowboarding for the first time and join the club of snow-obsessed winter revelers? Check out our story on learning to snowboard (page 42), and information on our great discount programs for beginners (page 45). Need tips to plan your epic family ski vacation? Check out our piece by the All Mountain Mamas – pros who can help you plan and simplify the ski trip process (page 9). Need some good ol’ Vermont inspiration? Check out the epic photo spread (page 26), or inspire your taste buds with our stories about local food vendors (page 34) and local libations (page 51). Finally, be inspired by the best. Read all about how the Women’s World Cup is coming to Vermont for the first time in 38 years (page 21) or about how Vermont is the #1 destination when it comes to snowmaking quality and quantity (page 18). There are a million reasons to visit Vermont and embrace the sports of skiing and snowboarding. To expand on them all, we’d need a library to house the stories. That said, a single vein runs true through all of these stories. Experiences are everything. We beckon you to experience skiing and snowboarding in Vermont this season and find out what “Winter in its Original State” is all about. Cheers,
Sarah Wojcik Director of Marketing & Communications
photo © Blake Jorgenson
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FRESH TRACKS
2016–2017 MOUNTAIN HAPPENINGS NOVEMBER
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
KILLINGTON RESORT: AUDI FIS ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP World Cup ski racing returns to the Eastern US for the first time in 25 years as the fastest female alpine racers in the world converge on Killington’s Superstar trail over Thanksgiving weekend. Free public access is available, with about 50% of the trail visible from the base area, plus top-to-bottom coverage on a wall of screens – the atmosphere will be electric. Killington.com November 26-27, 2016
MAD RIVER GLEN: WOMENS’ ONLY ALPINE SKI CLINIC Looking to ski moguls, trees and steeps better? These clinics by and for women use positive attitude, tactics and techniques to help women achieve their skiing goals. These clinics include all day coaching and lunch. Madriverglen.com January 7, 2017
BROMLEY MOUNTAIN: MOM’S DAY OFF We’re on to something good - join us for our 14th Annual fundraiser for breast cancer awareness and research. Moms, simply show us a photo of your kids at the ticket window, and ski or ride all day for just $20! The best part? 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center! Bromley.com February 3, 2017
SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT: BREWFEST Smugglers’ popular BrewFest bookends the ski and ride season in the winter and spring, with local and regional beers for sampling, music, food, prizes and a souvenir glass. Smuggs.com December 10, 2016 BOLTON VALLEY: SANTA SUNDAY Dress as Santa for a day of skiing or riding and get a free lift ticket for the day. Boltonvalley.com December 28, 2016 OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT: FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE Midnight arrives early for friends and family enjoying an assortment of activities such as ice skating, snowtubing, snowshoeing, mountain coaster rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, cookie decorating, bingo, trivia, a DJ dance party and more. Party games, balloons, noisemakers and fireworks add to the celebration, complete with a pizza party dinner in the Roundhouse at Jackson Gore. Okemo.com December 31, 2016 SUGARBUSH RESORT: NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION AND DOG PARADE Bark in the New Year at the 7th Annual Dog Parade with your K9 friend in his/her most festive costume. The $10 registration fee goes towards PAWSitive Pantry. Keep the night rolling with a New Year’s Eve Celebration that includes a torchlight parade, fireworks, live music and more. Sugarbush.com December 31, 2016
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MOUNT SNOW RESORT: YOUTH PAY THEIR AGE DAY Kids ages 18 and under pay their age for a full-day lift ticket. If they're 13 years old, pay $13, etc. Come on out for this great deal and enjoy a fun day on the mountain with the entire family. Mountsnow.com January 8, 2017 STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT: NICA ICE CARVING COMPETITION Don’t miss the 17th Annual NICA Ice Carving Competition when Professional Ice Carvers carve elegant sculptures out of blocks of ice to the theme “Tropical,” while employing maximized talent and risk taking. Stowe.com January 21, 2017
Courtesy of Sugarbush
DECEMBER
STRATTON MOUNTAIN RESORT: THE 24 HOURS OF STRATTON Skiers and snowboarders of all ages take to the slopes for 24 hours as individuals and teams vie for the most vertical feet skied and raise funds for the Stratton Foundation. Stratton.com January 7-8, 2017
BURKE MOUNTAIN: LOVE ON THE MOUNTAIN Enjoy a delectable 3-course dinner for two and laugh the night away in the romantic ambiance of the new Burke Mountain Lodge. Seating reservations are required and include dinner and comedy show. Lodging options available. SkiBurke.com February 11, 2017 SUICIDE SIX: FISK TROPHY RACE This year's Fisk Trophy slalom race, the 80th consecutive running of the event, proves to be the embodiment of why ski racing is so easy to love! The race has been in existence since 1937 and is the oldest alpine trophy race in North America! Suicide6.com February 12, 2017 SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT: FAMILYFUN WINTER CARNIVAL Smugglers’ teams up with FamilyFun magazine to host the FamilyFun Winter Carnival, an afternoon of games, giveaways, face painting, music, free barbecue and lots of family fun on the snow! Smuggs.com February 23, 2017
FRESH TRACKS
MARCH
APRIL
SUICIDE SIX: SPECIAL OLYMPICS VERMONT WINTER GAMES This annual three-day competition offers four winter sports for athletes to compete in: Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Alpine Skiing and Cross-Country Skiing — creating an everlasting memorable event for all involved. Suicide6.com March 3-5 2017 OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT: LIGHT THE NIGHT RAIL JAM Okemo lights up the snow for skiers and riders of all ages with $5,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs. A new rail garden constructed specifically for this event will give skiers and riders an optimal venue for showing off their best moves. Okemo.com March 4, 2017
MOUNT SNOW: THE COMP Carinthia’s acclaimed park builders construct a one-of-a-kind, plaza-style setup loaded with rails, boxes and a whole arsenal of unique features. Athletes will need to choose their line carefully so they can go big, get technical and flex their style, in the hope of walking away with a chunk of the cash purse for pros, or new gear from event sponsors for the amateurs, in this jam-style format competition. Mountsnow.com March 18, 2017 SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT: MAPLEFEST MapleFest at Smugglers’ Notch Resort and in the local area immerses visitors in the traditions of Vermont's maple sugaring season with sugarhouse tours, snowshoe and walking treks, specialty foods sampling, dining specials and more. Smuggs.com March 18 - April 2, 2017 JAY PEAK RESORT: SKI THE EAST’S JAY PEAK EXTREME CHALLENGE The final stop in the Ski The East Freeride Tour, the two-day Jay Peak Extreme Challenge is open to anyone who thinks they can ski the fabled Face Chutes and throw down enough style to win all the cash and schwag that’s up for grabs. Jaypeakresort.com March 18-19, 2017
Courtesy of Stratton
STRATTON MOUNTAIN RESORT: VERMONT OPEN The Vermont Open invites snowboarders of all ages to compete in Vermont’s only open snowboarding competition, set to challenge athletes with features such as a retro pipe, slopestyle course and a rail jam. Live music will entertain and village vendors will adorn the resort for this VT Chamber of Commerce Top 10 Event. Stratton.com March 10-12, 2017
BROMLEY MOUNTAIN: SPRING FLING WEEKEND Sunshine, soft snow and Spring Fling! Festivities include pond skimming, the duct tape derby, free rides on the bungee Trampoline Things, face painting and live music in the Wild Boar. Big prizes for best costume and run across the pond, and the most creative box car. Bromley.com March 25, 2017
BOLTON VALLEY: POND SKIMMING Try to skim the giant man-made pond or cheer others on while staying dry. Boltonvalley.com April 1, 2017
Courtesy of David Young & Killington
KILLINGTON RESORT: BEAR MOUNTAIN MOGUL CHALLENGE Bump skiers take on the East’s longest, steepest mogul trail, Outer Limits, pushing themselves for the ultimate bragging right, their name on the BMMC Trophy. It’s a serious race that’s also one serious party, highlighting the Nor’beaster spring season at Killington. Killington.com April 8, 2017 SUGARBUSH RESORT: STEIN’S CHALLENGE Join in a competition to see who can ski/ride the most laps on Sugarbush’s storied Stein’s Run throughout the day, one of the steepest trails in the East. Competitors are offered a dedicated singles line with top finishers winning a wide variety of prizes. Sugarbush.com April 22, 2017
OUT F IND
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S K IV E R M O N T.
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SkiVermont.com
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sugarbush.com
800.53.SUGAR
#SBCommuniTy
Community is Better at Sugarbush There’s something more to the Sugarbush experience than the legendary terrain variety, the meticulous snowmaking and grooming, the fabled history, and the authentic Vermont mountain setting. Come discover what makes Sugarbush different. For the best deals on season passes, discount tickets, lodging and more, visit sugarbush.com.
FRESH TRACKS
FIFTH GRADERS SKI AND SNOWBOARD FREE IN VERMONT WITH THE FIFTH GRADE PASSPORT Some of the fondest childhood memories come from winter; impromptu snow days, hot chocolate by the fire, endless afternoons outside rolling around in fluffy white snow, sledding and most of all, skiing and snowboarding. If you or someone you know has a fifth grader, make this winter one they’ll never forget with the Fifth Grade Passport, a program that gives 5th graders the ability to ski and snowboard over 80 times a season! To get the most out of the season and the passport savings, sign your fifth grader up for a professional lesson and watch as their confidence, spirit and healthy habits grow, both on the mountain and off. And as your fifth grader grows, so can the whole family. Through Ski Vermont’s Learn-to-Turn programs and the adventures of the passport, the whole family can travel to new resorts in the State of Vermont, skiing, riding and making lifelong
memories together. To find out more about our Learn-to-Turn programs visit skivermont.com/learn. Parents and friends can sign up for the program at skivermont.com/FGP. Eligible recipients will be mailed a
passport containing three tickets to each alpine resort and one or three tickets to each Nordic resort in Vermont. Each passport has a low processing fee of $10. Proof of age is required. Chloe Elliott ❄
Give your favorite shredder the gift of powder. Purchase the 2017 Limited Edition poster featuring the magazine cover art before they sell out. Posters purchased by November 20th will be delivered just in time for the holidays.
L E D IM IT ITE IO D N
DO YOUR WALLS NEED A LIFT?
Find pricing details and how to place your order at SkiVermont.com/store.
SkiVermont.com
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Courtesy of Erica Houskeeper
ALL MOUNTAIN MAMAS FAMILY SKI TRIP TIPS L
et’s face it, the initial thought of planning your family’s first ever (or even second or third) ski trip can be slightly overwhelming. For those unfamiliar with the sport or snowy destinations in general, the thought of snowy winter adventures on strange equipment is downright alien. Fortunately, with access to great resources on the internet paired with magazines like this beauty, it doesn’t need to be a monumental task. Ski Vermont has smartly employed top family ski and travel bloggers to create an amazing resource – All Mountain Mamas, Vermont’s Family Ski and Ride Guide. Both online and in-print, the Mamas are here to help you plan your perfect family winter getaway. SkiVermont.com
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Courtesy of Mara Gorman
The All Mountain Mamas are experts in family travel planning and have reviewed Vermont resorts and their amenities, highlighting programs, accommodations, dining options and activities that are great for families. They also provide great advice on how to plan and prepare for a winter ski trip with tips on choosing lodging and lessons, what to pack, and how to beat the cold. Here the Mamas came together to provide a simple step-bystep process for planning your Vermont ski or snowboard vacation.
luxurious with a ton of amenities and great dining options, Vermont can deliver. Plus, Vermont is within driving distance of some of the largest metro areas in North America like Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Montreal and Toronto. WHICH RESORT IN VERMONT IS THE BEST FIT FOR YOUR FAMILY?
STEP 1: PICKING A DESTINATION Obviously, we’re experts on visiting Vermont, but why should you choose Vermont as your family’s ski and ride destination? First off, did you know that Vermont is the #1 ski and snowboard destination in the East? Vermont boasts some of the highest and snowiest peaks in New England and is one of the most welcoming destinations in the United States. Resorts cater to families with topnotch children’s learning programs, day care for your littlest ones and fun and engaging off- slope activities like indoor pools, kids adventure zones, movie nights and more. Vermont also boasts an incredible amount of options for diversely interested families – whether you’re looking for a local experience that is intimate and budget friendly, or you’re aiming for large and 10 SkiVermont.com
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a destination in Vermont. You’ll likely choose a resort based on your home base and whether you are driving, flying or taking the train. With a huge population within driving distance of Vermont, we find most families pack up the car to make the trip here. If traveling from the New York City metro area or south of Vermont, you might aim to visit the southern region of Vermont, making your car ride a bit shorter. Resorts like Mount Snow, Stratton, Bromley, Magic and the Hermitage Club are all within 4 hours driving distance from NYC. Coming from the Boston area or north of NYC? Check out central Vermont, which has some of the largest resorts in Vermont including Killington and Okemo. Sugarbush is just a bit north of Killington, and Burke Mountain, while one of the most northern resorts, is a quick and easy drive from the Boston metro area on Interstate 93. Flying into Burlington, or located
north of the border? Northern Vermont boasts destinations like Jay Peak Resort, Smugglers’ Notch and Stowe Mountain Resort. A few other things to consider when choosing a destination is budget, must-have creature comforts and your family’s general interests. Some folks are drawn to smaller resorts so as not to overwhelm their families with sky high peaks and denser populations. Favorites for the local down home feel might be Bolton Valley near Burlington, Middlebury College Snow Bowl, Pico Mountain (Killington’s little sister), or Suicide Six and Quechee Ski Hill, both near Woodstock. On the flip side, adventure-seeking families looking for a challenge may choose a destination like Mad River Glen, steeped in ski history with its single chair and boasting gnarly old school terrain. And finally, for those looking to avoid the downhill thrills and get a family work out with cross country skiing, there are nearly 30 Nordic centers to choose from in Vermont, many with robust lodging options and other great family amenities. Need help finding the best resort for your family? Hit up the world wide web and visit skivermont.com/resortfinder. The resort finder allows you to find destinations in Vermont that are closest to you, and find options that
best match your lodging, lesson and dining needs.
STEP 2: PLAN YOUR TRIP: LODGING, LESSON AND RENTALS Congratulations! You’ve officially moved past the most difficult step of choosing from among Vermont’s 20 alpine and 30 Nordic destinations and can really jump into the fun part of planning your visit. Our suggestion? Call the resort you plan to visit directly and talk to one of their super-informative and friendly customer service folks and let them know exactly what you are looking for in your vacation. They’ll know all the right questions to ask and can tell you about great lodging packages that include rentals and lessons, and other promotions that can save you money. They’ll also be able to provide information on certified daycare and lessons available for your littlest ones. Prefer booking online? Head to your resort’s website and check out lodging options. There you’ll find information on the same packages the customer service rep would suggest. PRO TIP: BOOK LESSONS. We cannot encourage this enough. No one should try to learn from or teach friends and family members unless they are professionally trained. Everyone benefits from a lesson from a professional instructor, especially kids.
The instructors know exactly how to get both kids and adults comfortable on strange equipment and sliding on snow. They also schedule breaks for hot chocolate and snacks at just the right time and understand how kids can learn to not only access skiing and snowboarding, but truly enjoy it. Embarrassed to take a lesson as an adult? Don’t be! We’re never too old to learn new tricks, but it’s far easier if you have someone that knows what they are doing helping you out. (Check out the Ski Vermont Take 3 Pass to jump start your learning experience.) And if you’re already a skier or snowboarder, don’t be afraid to take your skills to the next level with a great private lesson or clinic. Maybe this is the year you finally conquer those bumps!
Here’s our go-to list, with some of our favorite brand suggestions: L ong underwear tops and bottoms – Remember, wicking fabric is your friend! Go for multiple layers and top off with a stylish sweater from Dale of Norway. S ocks – Go wool all the way and try Vermont’s own Darn Tough Socks for great comfort and patterns.
STEP 3: PACKING Never been to a cold weather destination? Afraid you’ll forget something important? Fear not, we put together the family ski trip checklist to make sure you’re covered – literally – from head to toe. To stay warm, we suggest layering the whole family in breathable, non-cotton layers topped with waterproof shells. The elements paired with sweat are no match for the proper clothing, but cotton is a big no-no as it retains moisture close to the skin which can go from just uncomfortable to downright dangerous.
O uterwear – Waterproof and windproof snow pants or bibs are a must, best matched with a technical jacket. Try light layers for temperature control, or insulated outerwear if you get cold easily. Our friends at Burton and Rossignol have great options for the whole family. G loves or Mittens – A must for outdoor winter recreation. Mittens tend to be warmer and have extra space for a hand warmer if needed. G oggles – Protect those eyes from the cold with proper eyewear for the slopes. Try goggles from anon if you want protection paired with a cool factor. SkiVermont.com
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Plan early and research multiple resorts.
Save money by traveling midweek, non-holidays, if possible.
Travel to resorts within driving distance to save time and money.
Choose lodging catered best to your group, budget and means of travel.
Stay slope-side for convenience and prepare meals in the kitchen to save money.
Enroll everyone in professional lessons, especially beginners.
Wear layers for a comfortable experience on the mountain.
Eat for energy, hydrate and indulge in local treats.
Treat the family (or yourself!) to something special.
Have fun playing in a winter wonderland! 12 SkiVermont.com
S ki and Snowboard Equipment – Skis, snowboards, poles, boots. Available to rent at resorts, but if you have your own, make sure you don’t miss anything! O ther goodies – Hand & foot warmers, hats from Skida, neck gaiters, sunscreen and lip balm. B oot bag or backpack – Keep everything organized with boot bags or backpacks for each member of the family and remember to write their names on everything. Don’t have something on the checklist or you forgot it when packing? Fear not. Just check in at the resort gift shop and they should have exactly what you need, or they’ll point you in the right direction.
STEP 4: GETTING THERE There are many ways to get to a resort in Vermont, but the final leg is almost always by car. If you’re flying or taking the train, be sure to make arrangements for pick up with the resorts or another transportation service. If you prefer more flexibility, arrange to pick up a rental that has four-wheel drive or snow tires for safe travel.
Courtesy of Erica Houskeeper
H elmet – Protecting your head is a no-brainer, but helmets also keep your head warmer than a hat. You can sometimes rent these at resorts, so check in when reserving rentals.
BE PREPARED If you are driving to Vermont, let’s talk about preparing for the drive. The Mamas have driven just about every road that leads to a Vermont ski area and know a family ski trip is worth the time in the car, but taking precautions and planning for car time will make the whole trip smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. From November through March, prepare for a range of winter weather. The Interstate highways in Vermont should be clear and easy to drive, but once you get off of them you should be prepared to drive on narrow, rural roads. All-weather tires don’t always work well on these roads, so if you don’t have snow tires you also may want to consider renting a vehicle that does or one that has four-wheel drive. No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, it’s also a good idea to be prepared for tricky winter situations. Be sure to stow winter boots and gloves, a set of flares, extra wiper fluid, jumper cables, some rock salt, blankets and a cell phone charger in your car to make sure you’re ready for whatever happens. PLAN YOUR ROUTE AHEAD You’ll also want to think about the route you use to get to Vermont. Some ski areas become less accessible in the winter months than they are in the summer, and you’ll need to add extra travel time into your calculations. For example, the road between Stowe and Smugglers’ Notch closes in the winter,
Courtesy of Gina Vercesi
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SkiVermont.com
Courtesy of Gina Vercesi
requiring a different route to Smuggs if you’re coming from the south. If you’re planning to ski at Sugarbush or Mad River Glen and are coming from the west, you probably don’t want to drive directly over the mountains where the ski areas are located but will want to take the more gentle route through Rutland. A call ahead to the ski resort you are visiting is always a good idea; staff there should be able to give you information about road conditions, the weather forecast and what route is best for you.
along the highway. Stop for regular bathroom breaks because once you get off the main roads and into the mountains, you may find that places to stop are few and far between. Vermont has staffed welcome centers on all the major highways when you enter the state, and these are great places to use the restroom, get a cup of coffee and pick up brochures about local attractions.
HAVE SOME FUN ALONG THE WAY
If you’ve followed our tips on planning your trip, you should be ready and set to have an amazing journey to Vermont this winter. And trust us, the effort is worth it. Shared adventures on the mountains of Vermont with your family will live in your memories forever, along with cozy moments by the fire and family meals in quaint Vermont villages. Our families
Add some fun stops to your trip and try to visit a variety of small towns along the way. Vermont villages are an experience of their own and you can find great art, shopping and food options along the way. Another good idea is to take advantage of rest areas 14 SkiVermont.com
are lucky enough to experience these adventures every season and cannot wait to share the experience with new families near and far. If you’re interested in more stories from our adventures and additional tips on how to make the most of a family ski trip, head over to allmountainmamas.com and you’ll likely find a great story about the ski area you plan to visit this winter.
WORTH THE EXTRA ELBOW GREASE
– The All Mountain Mamas Meet the Mamas on page 16 ❄
AlwAys snow. AlwAys AmAzing. AlwAys Home.
witH top-rAted snowmAking, two orAnge bubble cHAirlifts, And An outgoing, friendly stAff ... people count on us. we like it tHAt wAy.
1-800-78 OKEMO (1-800-786-5366) LUDLOW VERMONT okemo.com
#itsokemotime
Be sure to visit okemo.com for great deals on lift access and lodging as well as a calendar of all the great events happening at Okemo Mountain Resort.
DANA FREEMAN is the Founder and Editor of FindandGoSeek — a hyperlocal destination for families to discover what to see and do in their community. While she is always looking for insider tips on Family Fun in Vermont, she also writes a travel blog providing hotel and destination reviews in Vermont and beyond. Freeman has appeared on Huffington Post Live, is a correspondent for the Forbes Travel Guide and written for publications including Homeaway, Minitime, Ciao Bambino and Yucatan Holidays. Additionally, Dana pens a weekly column for the Burlington Free Press and curates a morning show piece for Star 92.9 FM. Dana moved to Vermont over a decade ago and put her two kids into ski programs before they entered Kindergarten. She is no stranger to the slopes herself. She grew up spending most weekends at Windham Mountain in NY. Her family is currently a combination of skiers and riders. With no plans to move to snowboarding, she is constantly trying to improve her skiing just so she can keep up with her kids!
for families near her home in New York’s Hudson Valley. Kids Unplugged has since evolved into a vibrant site featuring unique, off-the-grid travel experiences for families. Despite growing up in New England, Gina didn’t don a pair of skis until February 2014—the result of being raised by a beach-loving dad who eschewed everything having to do with snow and cold. When she finally took her first lessons and hit the slopes at Stowe Mountain Resort, she became an instant convert. As an All Mountain Mama, Gina loves sharing the joys of Vermont skiing with powder-lovers and novices alike. Gina’s work has appeared in numerous print and digital publications including the Boston Globe, Yankee Magazine and Lonely Planet. She is passionate about helping families (including her own!) unplug from electronics and the frenetic pace of modern life and believes that travel and adventure are the best ways reconnect to one another and the world around us. Gina lives in a friendly village on the Hudson River with her husband, three daughters and a good dog.
She lives outside of Burlington, Vermont with her husband, two teenagers and their chocolate lab. Follow her adventures on Instagram @danahfreeman.
GINA VERCESI is an award-winning freelance writer with an adventurous spirit and unwavering wanderlust. In 2009 Gina founded Kids Unplugged, leading weekly hikes 16 SkiVermont.com
MARA GORMAN may live at sea level in Delaware, but she’s a native New Englander and mountain aficionado who grew up skiing at Mad River Glen. Her two school-age sons and husband all learned to downhill ski during the past few years; now the entire family is hooked and regularly journeys far and wide to get on the slopes. Mara and her
older son Tommy like nothing better than steep, bumpy runs. Her husband Matt and younger son Teddy prefer long cruisers. But the entire family agrees that bluebird Vermont days are the pinnacle of skiing perfection. Mara blogs about her family’s many travel adventures at The Mother of all Trips and she is an award-winning freelance writer whose work has appeared in various USA Today print publications as well as on websites such as BBC Travel. She is also the author of The Family Traveler's Handbook. When there’s no snow, Mara and her family can be found hiking, biking and eating around the United States and Europe.
ERICA HOUSKEEPER is a writer and communications professional with nearly 20 years of experience. Erica grew up in Manchester, Vermont, and started skiing at age 4 at Bromley Mountain. She also spent her childhood skiing at Stratton, Magic and the former Snow Valley ski area. She has worked as a journalist and as director of communications for the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. In 2009, she launched www.happyvermont.com, a Vermont travel blog that explores the places and people of the Green Mountain State. In addition to her blog, Erica has built a strong social media following for Happy Vermont on Instagram and Facebook. She is a freelance writer and PR consultant, and lives in Burlington with her husband and daughter.
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u Y o t, If I l ke i l Ma W ey e Th m Co A Tale of Snowmaking in Vermont. By Sarah Wojcik
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ou’ve planned the most amazing Vermont winter vacation. Visions of snow-capped mountains and cozy villages fill your imagination. You and your friends or family have packed up the car with all your warmest gear and are ready for an epic winter getaway. You can’t wait to enter a mountain world where snow steadily falls from the skies and everything is covered in pure white. Rosy cheeks, thrilling runs and warm beverages by the fire await.
Courtesy of Mike Hitelman
Before hitting the road, you check the snow report and weather forecast at your destination and your heart skips a beat. Meteorologists are calling for a relatively dry week. Mother Nature is not cooperating. Didn’t she get the memo you were coming? Where is the 6-12 inches of powder in the forecast?
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Fear not. You’re headed to Vermont, and we have things covered – literally. Mother Nature sends all ski destinations for a loop sometimes with sparse snowfall, but Vermont is always ready to come to the rescue. With the ability to cover 80% of Vermont’s ski and snowboard terrain with state-of-the-art snowmaking, you can’t go wrong. Pat yourself on the back, because you’ve just planned a trip to the state with the best snowmaking in the world. Prepare to be impressed.
Today, the majority of Vermont resorts have the ability to cover nearly the “whole damn mountain” with snowmaking and technology has taken quality, quantity and even energy savings to new heights. Just prior to the 2014-15 season, Vermont resorts expanded the efficiency, quality and coverage of their snowmaking systems as part of a nearly $15 million upgrade in partnership with Efficiency Vermont. The aptly named Great Snow Gun Roundup supported the purchase of more than 2,700 new low energy snow guns, and in return the resorts donated over 1,800 older model snow guns to scrap. An industry wide upgrade in snowmaking efficiency of this magnitude had never been seen before the Great Snow Gun Roundup, and the estimated annual energy savings from this swap provides enough electricity to supply approximately 1,500 Vermont homes for one full year, and enough diesel to heat 340 Vermont homes annually. In technical terms the estimated annual energy savings from this swap is 10,500 MWh and 31,000 MMBtu. On top of the snowmaking efficiency upgrade of 2014, Vermont resorts have invested tens of millions of dollars in snowmaking expansions and advancements over the past five years. Stowe alone devoted $9.8 million dollars to improving their snowmaking fleet over 3 consecutive years, resulting in increased coverage and great conditions this past season despite very low natural snowfall. With the addition of snowmaking access to just two more trails last season, Okemo Mountain’s snowmaking coverage increased to 98%. Mount Snow Resort is also adding a new 120-million-gallon snowmaking pond which will increase water storage for snowmaking by six times. Add new pipelines and advanced monitoring technology to the improvement list and know Vermont is dedicated to providing the highest quality product from north to south. So what does all this really mean for skiers and riders? Well, the new guns not only save tons of energy for resorts, which
Courtesy of Stowe Mountain Resort
Historically, Vermont has always been at the forefront of ski and snowboard innovations and snowmaking successes. Since the 1960’s to today, it’s had the highest percentage of terrain covering, snowmaking ability of any ski destination in the world. It’s also been at the forefront of expansions and improvements since the late 1950’s. Killington’s founder Pres Smith had a vision from day one to be the first ski area in the United States to open and the last to close, a big goal in 1958 and something Vermont’s largest resort still strives to achieve every season. He installed snowmaking at the mountain in 1963 and promoted “guaranteed snow” for the 1963-64 season. Just a few years later in 1966, Fred Pabst of Bromley Mountain installed the “world’s largest snowmaking” plant at the cost of three quarters of a million dollars. “Nobody thought you could cover a whole damn mountain with snowmaking,” he’s colorfully quoted.
allows them to rely on less power and produce lower emissions, but they also create better quality snow surfaces and a better experience. Newer guns are much quieter and produce lighter snow that for most folks is impossible to differentiate from Mother Nature’s goods. They also enable resorts to blow snow at higher temperatures, extending the Vermont ski and snowboard season front and back. That also means more optimal snowmaking windows throughout the season and faster recovery from poor weather. Simply put – better snow, more of the time, for winter revelers everywhere.
You’ve just planned a trip to the state with the best snowmaking in the world. So now we know that Vermont is insured during a low snow year by the world’s most epic snowmaking system, but that doesn’t mean skiers and riders should stop expecting piles of pow from Ma Nature to sweeten the deal. We revel in natural snowfall as well in the Green Mountain State, and boast some of the best natural conditions in the country, certainly in the East. In fact, as we tallied totals at the end of the 2013-14 ski season, Vermont took the lead over much larger and higher mountains out west. Our own Jay Peak boasted 373 inches of the fresh stuff that season, the most in the lower 48 of the United States. On average, Vermont resorts receive about 200 inches of fresh snow yearly; plenty to cover both mountains and villages, creating that cozy, beautiful, bucolic scene you imagine in your head as you plan another winter vacation to Vermont. ❄
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It’s MORE than a race. It’s where skiing’s storied culture, world-class athletes and the iconic Green Mountains converge.
World Cup racing comes to Vermont for the first time in 38 years.
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Courtesy of Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team
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ou might think you know who Mikaela Shiffrin is, but you don’t. You know that she is very young and very, very talented – possibly the best slalom racer who ever lived, although three years of beating the socks off of her World Cup competition is too small a sample size to say for sure. But what you don’t know is this: Although her bio might say she is from Vail, Colorado, she is actually a closet Vermonter.
Vermont will be reunited at center stage in the greatest ski-racing show on Earth. Over Thanksgiving weekend, the world’s best female ski racers will compete in World Cup slalom and giant slalom races on Killington’s steep Superstar trail in the World Cup’s first visit to Vermont in 38 years. When Shiffrin got the news that the Vermont races had been added to the schedule, she says, “I was totally psyched. I thought, ‘That is soooo cool.’”
When her family moved back to Vail after living in New Hampshire, 13-yearold Shiffrin says she “begged my parents to let me go back” to Vermont’s Burke Mountain Academy, where she had been a day student. She craved the deep sense of community and the honesty and intimacy of friendships formed in Vermont. So back she went, now as a boarding student. “The bond was so strong,” she says.
So cool and so long in coming. This is only the second time the prestigious World Cup has ever come to Vermont. The first time, in 1978, Steve and Phil Mahre were winners in slalom and giant slalom, respectively, at Stratton. The length of the hiatus is surprising to the point of dumbfounding. After all, Vermont is close to the center of the U.S. ski-racing universe. Skiing and ski racing folklore imbue Vermont’s historical mosaic with vibrancy and purpose. Some of the greatest racers of all time – Andrea Mead Lawrence, Billy Kidd, the Cochrans, and many others – are natives of the state that is also
Now comes a kind of reunion, or harmonic convergence, or a case of life coming full circle: As the 2016-17 ski season gets started, Shiffrin and 22 SkiVermont.com
home to the country’s first rope tow. Skiing competitions have been held in Vermont since the 1920s. History travels on into the present: Vermont continues to energize the national ski-racing scene with a vitality unmatched by any other region in the country. In the last two Winter Olympics, more U.S. athletes, per capita, came from Vermont than any other state. The competition isn’t even close. Vermont is home to more ski academies than any other ski state, and they are all incubators for athletes, from Vermont and around the country, who aspire to the national team: Burke Mountain Academy, Green Mountain Valley School, Stratton Mountain School, Mount Mansfield Winter Academy, Killington Mountain School, Mount Snow Academy and Okemo Mountain School. There is a dollars-and-cents angle in play, too. As Herwig Demscher, who heads up the Killington organizing committee, says: “This (the Northeast) is the ski industry’s biggest market. We
have been planning for a while to try and get a World Cup back to the East.” U.S. Ski Team CEO Tiger Shaw, a native Vermonter and former World Cup racer himself, sums it up succinctly: “The tradition is so strong.” Put simply, there is enormous interest in Vermont in competitive skiing, and the 38-year absence of World Cup racing means 38 years of pent-up anticipation. Killington president Mike Solimano expects up to 15,000 fans to be on hand for the weekend. “They are just die-hard fans,” says Shiffrin. “They are part of the sport and they love it. I am really excited to feel that again.” Of course scheduling a World Cup race is not as simple as just penciling in an event on the race calendar. Multiple tiers of racing administration need to be coordinated, including the International Ski Federation (FIS), the U.S. Ski Team, the host resort and in Killington’s case, the owner of the host resort, Powdr Corporation. Within each of those tiers are more tiers. What’s more, bidding to host a World Cup event is extremely competitive business. In Europe, where World Cup racing enjoys a high status comparable to PGA golf in the U.S., dozens of resorts battle ferociously for the one or two slots, between regular tour stops, that open up on the World Cup schedule every year.
where numerous World Cup events had been held in years past. Powdr wanted to get back in the World Cup game, and as Shaw puts it, “There was a long-standing relationship (between Powder and the USST), with multiple connections there.” They teamed up in lobbying the FIS to keep November racing in the U.S. Atle Skardaal, the FIS’s Chief Race Director for the women’s World Cup, didn’t need much convincing. He had already “toured around the East Coast a couple of times before,” he says, inspecting various resorts in New England and New York for World Cup potential. When the November slot came open, he made another visit, and more or less gave the FIS’s stamp of approval to Killington at that point. Logistically, staging a World Cup event can be a daunting undertaking. The race hill has to meet high World Cup standards in terms of length, overall pitch and terrain variety. Ample space at the bottom of the hill is needed for parking, TV installations, grandstands,
etc. Plenty of quality lodging is needed to house teams, race officials, media and others. Hundreds of volunteers must be recruited, trained and organized. The tasks are innumerable. All the while, the daily show – skiers coming to ski and not watch racing – must go on. Resorts don’t shut down when the World Cup comes to town, and figuring out how to conduct a big event with minimal impact on regular ski business can be tricky. Two things about Killington were particularly impressive to Skardaal. First, he encountered “good people who knew how to do an event, not just a race.” As Demscher (a Senior Vice President for Powdr) puts it, the objective is to create a “festival” atmosphere, in which a few hours of racing are only part of a larger, multi-day celebration of the sport. At a typical World Cup, the bib draw the evening before each race, in which the skiers pick their race-start numbers, is a rollicking extravaganza, with live music,
Making memories since 1936.
bromley.com
Family, Friends and Fun.
In recent years, Aspen has been the primary Thanksgiving weekend site for the women’s World Cup. But when it was decided two years ago that Aspen would host the season-ending World Cup Finals in March 2017, the FIS looked elsewhere for a November racing venue. So that was the start – an opening in the schedule – and the U.S. Ski Team, the national governing body for ski racing in the U.S., was determined to fill that opening at another U.S. resort rather than see the opportunity slip away to some European rival. The ski team quickly joined forces with Powdr, previous owner of Park City Mountain Resort,
Vermont’s Sun Mountain 3984 Route 11, 6 miles from Manchester, VT
802-824-5522 SkiVermont.com
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fireworks and a carnival-like energy. Throughout the race weekend, sponsors and teams distribute fun promo items, hold VIP parties at local restaurants and stage public celebrations in the streets. Race fans march and dance, singing songs, and food and drink flow in abundance. Killington, known as a resort that can put on a pretty good party, was more than capable of staging that kind of festive affair. Even more impressive in Skardaal’s assessment: Vermont’s widely heralded, state-of-the-art snowmaking prowess. As climate change wreaks havoc on weather patterns around the world, the need for snowmaking to stage earlyseason World Cup races has become increasingly acute. Just how screwy has winter weather become in Europe? Last season, the FIS was forced to cancel November races in Levi, Finland because of lack of snow - North of the Arctic Circle! With races regularly being canceled or rescheduled in recent years because of snow problems, the
FIS didn’t want to take any chances on adding a race to the early-season calendar at a location where snow might be a question mark. In that regard, Vermont, with an enviable early-season track record, made ridiculously good sense. Even in warmer-than-normal snow-thin years, Vermont resorts (Killington as well as Stowe, Smugglers’ Notch, Sugarbush, Stratton, Okemo, Mount Snow and others) have developed a reputation – an expectation, in fact – for having plenty of good skiing by Thanksgiving. Typically, Vermont resorts have more November terrain open than any other Northeastern state. Solimano concedes that there is “no such thing as a sure thing,” but the reliability of snowmaking in a state with roughly 80 percent of its terrain under the guns is about as close to certainty as any “unsure” thing ever gets. Solimano says Killington is prepared to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars
above its usual snowmaking budget to be sure that World Cup racing happens this November. That might seem like a one-shot deal of throwing big money at a big event. But in truth, Vermont resorts have been opening their wallets wide, in the last two years in particular, to move the state of the snowmaking art forward. New, energy-efficient snowmaking hardware has been widely installed (see snowmaking article on page 18). Computer software has been developed to collect temperature and humidity data on virtually a gun-bygun basis, allowing resorts to determine with remarkable precision when and where snowmaking horsepower should be concentrated. The result is an unprecedented ability to make quality snow at marginal temperatures, and with lightning-quick speed. According to Solimano, the Killington snowmaking crew is able “to fully light up Superstar” with man-made snow – from bare ground to a World Cup racing surface – in one and a half to two
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days, if necessary. Courtesy of Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team
Ironically, the snowmaking formula for preparing a World Cup racing surface takes snowmakers in a direction they are usually loath to go. Normally, the goal is to create the kind of plush, edgeable corduroy that soothes the egos of recreational skiers. But World Cup racers are a perverse breed, preferring a surface as hard as asphalt. Too soft, and razorsharp race-ski edges quickly gouge deep ruts around gates, resulting in courses that become rough, uneven and unfair for later racers. To assure that that won’t happen, water is often injected into the snow to form hockey-rink-like ice. That means that after the racing, the Killington crew will be faced with another unusual challenge – “to turn it back into retail snow,” as Solimano puts it. So what’s to be expected when World Cup racing arrives in Vermont in November? For Shiffrin and other racers, it is a critical juncture in the World Cup schedule. Technical specialists (slalom and GS racers) like Shiffrin, will have had just two World Cup starts prior to Killington, a giant slalom in October in Soelden, Austria and a November slalom in Levi, snow conditions permitting. To have raced just twice in the five weeks preceding Killington is like stutter-stepping into the World Cup season, especially with many athletes still in the process of fine-tuning their pre-season training and conditioning schedules. But at Killington, the race-every-week World Cup schedule really begins. That’s why, says Shiffrin, the Vermont races will “set the tone for the season. It is where everyone will really be watching each other.” Put another way, it is where season-long momentum will be established. As Shiffrin says, “Once you get the ball rolling, it’s a whole lot easier to keep it rolling.”
handful of favorites in giant slalom. Slalom contenders include Swedish star Frida Hansdotter and Veronika Velez Zuzulova of Slovakia, but in the 2016 World Cup finals, Shiffrin basically lapped the field, beating everyone by more than two seconds. The GS race is more wide-open, with Shiffrin facing strong challenges from Austria’s Eva-Marie Brem, Germany’s Viktoria Rebensberg, Switzerland’s Lara Gut, and possibly even the American superstar, Lindsey Vonn.
She ought to know. Shiffrin has won 10 of the last 11 World Cup slaloms she has entered, making her the overwhelming favorite in slalom as well as one of a
But ski-racing predictions are about as reliable as long-range weather forecasts. At a giant slalom on Aspen over Thanksgiving weekend a year ago,
Shiffrin was comfortably ahead before making a mistake three gates from the finish and skidding off course. You never know. What happens on the race course, however, might be less compelling than everything else that surrounds it – the festival atmosphere, the fan enthusiasm, the concentration of racing energy that is so deeply embedded in Vermont skiing life. “It’s going to be amazing,” says Shiffrin. “The world needs to see the East Coast. It taught me a lot about my passion for skiing.” Vermont has been waiting a long time for this. After 38 years, let the celebration of racing begin. ❄ SkiVermont.com
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ĂŤ Sugarbush Resort; photo by Jeb Wallace-Brodeur
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Didn't get to Vermont last season?
HERE’S WHAT YOU MISSED Some call last season the winter that wasn't, but skiers and riders that came to the mountains know there's always magical surprises awaiting those that go and hunt for the pow. When in doubt, get to the mountains and find your secret stash. You never know when it might hit, but if you skip a trip, you're definitely bound to miss it.
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ĂŤ Mad River Glen single chair; photo by Jeb Wallace-Brodeur Killington Resort; photo by @joshcampbellphoto
ĂŹ
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ë Smugglers’ Notch Resort; photo by @brycemullin Okemo Mountain Resort; photo by @joshcampbellphoto
ì
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ĂŤ Seth Neary at the VT Open, Stratton Mountain Resort; photo by @eniceness Sugarbush Resort; photo by @farmerchip
ĂŹ
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ë Stowe Mountain Resort; photo by Jeb Wallace-Brodeur Killington Resort; photo by Justin Cash
ì
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Snack, Sip and Ski Specialty food producers serve Vermont’s finest local fare—slopeside. By Hilary DelRoss
Skiers and snowboarders need to refuel during and after a day on the snow and, lucky for us, specialty food producers in Vermont are eager to share their offerings with hungry snow enthusiasts right at the base of our mountains. Vermont’s thriving community of farmers, chefs, bakers, confectioners and brewers prepare delicious local agricultural products to nourish visitors and locals alike. Food and beverage enthusiasts have an abundance of opportunities throughout the year to visit farmers’ markets, farm-to-table restaurants, local cafés and watering holes, and tasting rooms of all kinds to experience locally made flavors, but no other experience is quite like sliding up to a food vendor at the bottom of your favorite ski trail. Each season, resorts across Vermont host a series of special tasting events which, together, form the Ski Vermont Specialty Food Days Tour. Follow the tour from resort to resort to experience the finest fare Vermont has to offer—on the slopes. Iconic pantry staples like Vermont Maple Syrup, the world’s best cheddar from Cabot Creamery and Vermont’s Finest Ben and Jerry’s ice cream are crowd pleasers—as are thirst quenching samples from Long Trail Brewery and Woodchuck Cider for après refreshment—but the real stars of the tour are our beloved hyper-local brands. Many of these small but mighty brands are distributed throughout the region, and some can only be found in local markets. Ski or ride right up to the table and find out what makes each of them so special. SkiVermont.com
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It’s Arthur’s Fault! Jericho Originally made for holiday gift baskets for family members, Arthur Shelmandine finally packaged his creations for distribution. It’s his fault we can’t get enough of his sweet and savory sauces, marinades and confections made with natural, gluten-free ingredients. Local ingredients are sourced whenever possible and include products from Cabot Creamery, Monument Dairy, Shelburne Orchard, Uncommon Grounds Coffee Roasters and Walker Organic Maple Syrup. Taste a sample of Arthur’s latest concoctions on the snow or take an exciting class to learn how to cook a delicious meal using his products.
Kimball Brook Farm
Karen’s Artisan Popcorn
North Ferrisburgh
South Burlington
Organic milk and cream, flavored milks (try the chocolate and maple milks!) and iced teas are made with processes that respect the health of the environment and the herd. Every drop of milk comes from the North Ferrisburgh farm and teas are made with water sourced from a pristine local spring in Stockbridge. Owners JD and Cheryl DeVos are third generation dairy farmers who transitioned to an organic herd and started bottling GMO-, pesticide-, herbicide-, antibioticand growth hormone-free milk under their own label. They raised four children in Vermont and are dedicated to keeping the state’s beautiful landscape, local fresh foods and amazing recreational opportunities available for future generations. Nutrition, taste, sustainable farming practices and fun are all equally important to the staff at Kimball Brook Farm.
Made in small batches, Karen Brittain’s kettle cooked popcorn packs a big punch. Karen sources local, organic kernels and pairs them with indulgent flavors for a whole grain, non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan snack. Hurricane Flats Farm in South Royalton supplies her kernels locally and maple sugar from Square Deal Farm in Hardwick goes into her bestselling variety, Maple Kettle Bliss. Try it for yourself, as well as Karen’s nine other savory and sweet flavors on the tour or at farmers’ markets around the state. Enjoy the light, buttery flavor and satisfying crunch along with natural antioxidants.
“Visiting different ski areas throughout the winter allows us to speak with folks who might otherwise not have the chance to taste our wonderful milks. Specialty Food Days are the best way to let new customers taste our premium products before they buy, and tell them where they can find our milks and creams in Vermont as well as at their local markets when they get home from their vacations. When we offer tastes of our chocolate milk to skiers and snowboarders, who benefit from the recovery benefits of the drink, they want to know where they can buy more. Most of the ski areas in Vermont sell our products right at their base area so visitors can refuel during a day on the slopes…even on days when we aren’t there giving away free samples! It’s such a pleasure to meet skiers and riders at the mountains, talking about snow sports and about good food and nutrition while enjoying the outdoors. For a healthy lifestyle, it all goes hand in hand.”
“We moved to Vermont because we fell in love with the surroundings, the people and the way of life. We’re happiest when we’re out playing in the snow, but we’ll hike and bike until the snow comes back again, and we bring along a bag of my popcorn in our backpacks for a snack break while out enjoying the scenery. The landscape, availability of organic food and support for small businesses in Vermont inspire me and the Specialty Food Tour connects me to the people and places that make the state so special.”
Couture’s Maple Shop and Bed & Breakfast Westfield Jacques and Pauline Couture run their maple store and B&B on the same farm where they raised their six children. For four decades, they’ve shared their home with store customers (CONTINUED on PAGE 38)
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YOUR OWN TRAIL
KNEE-DEEP, GROOMED OR GREEN; THERE’S A TRAIL WAITING FOR YOU THIS WINTER, SO GRAB A JUICY GREEN BLAZE IPA AND CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE. AVAILABLE ON DRAUGHT, IN BOTTLES AND IN APRES-FRIENDLY CANS.
(CONTINUED from PAGE 36)
and lodging guests who love waking up to maple sap boiling in the spring and fresh maple syrup waiting next to pancakes and farm raised eggs on the breakfast table. This sweet retreat is just down the road from Jay Peak Resort so guests can rest and refuel before skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Visitors to the farm can taste an array of homemade maple products at the shop and can taste their certified organic milk in some of the best known dairy brands. Couture’s is part of the Cabot Creamery Cooperative, providing their certified organic milk for Cabot’s famous dairy products. “We love going to Jay Peak for Specialty Food Days to promote our maple shop and B&B because it is very casual and we love to see the smiles on faces when they taste our maple cotton candy. We’ve been farming here for over 46 years and we’re proud to be able to hire local folks for full time work here on our farm and go out to the resorts to tell people that our milk goes into making some of their favorite yogurts and cheeses.”
Ambrosia Chocolates and Confections Weston Homemade candy for grown ups has never tasted so good. Ambrosia incorporates natural ingredients, and ingredients from Vermont when available, into vintage candy recipes to create unique, sophisticated and delicious treats for snow enthusiasts of all ages. Try their wide variety of brittles, caramels, espresso hazelnut and chocolate almond butter crunches, peppermint patties, chocolate truffles and other delights on the Specialty Food Days Tour or at the year round farmers’ markets in Rutland, Dorset and Manchester. (CONTINUED on PAGE 40)
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Ski Local, Farm Local Ski Vermont gives back to help preserve one of Vermont’s iconic industries
As this tradition continues, Vermont’s winter tourism and
dairy industries continue to support each other. Donations from passport sales help fund the preservation of Vermont’s bucolic landscape – dotted with farms and mountains. It’s this iconic landscape that draws so many visitors from around the world and while visiting Vermont, they’ll likely enjoy a taste or two of locally sourced and produced milks, cheeses and ice creams after (or during) a day on the slopes.
29 NORDIC CENTERS 17 YEARS OF THE 5TH GRADE 19 ALPINE RESORTS PASSPORT PROGRAM
20,000+
5TH GRADERS
HAVE PARTICIPATED
$65K DONATED TO KEEP LOCAL FARMS 92 FREE TICKETS TO SNOWBOARD, ALPINE AND NORDIC SKI
$10 PASSPORT
Skivermont.com/FGP
Parents, kids and resorts appreciate the promotion, as do local farmers who benefit. Each year, Ski Vermont donates all the proceeds from the sale of Fifth Grade Passports to the Keep Local Farms Fund. The Fund supports the long term viability of New England’s dairy farms through education, promotions, and fund raising activities designed to sustain local dairy agriculture. In the last five years, Ski Vermont has donated nearly $65,000 to the Keep Local Farms Fund; and at just $10 per passport, a lot of skiing went into preserving Vermont’s milk production.
Courtesy of Karen Pike
Ski Vermont’s Fifth Grade Passport allows fifth graders from anywhere in the world to ski, snowboard, cross country ski, or snowshoe for free at Vermont resorts for an entire season. The passport program is designed to get kids hooked on winter activities and the data shows that it’s working. Now in its seventeenth year, more than 20,000 kids have skied for free at Vermont’s resorts, strengthening their love of snow, connecting them with the landscape and likely enjoying a healthy snack after a fun day on the slopes.
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(CONTINUED from PAGE 38)
Specialty Food Day Calendar DATE
RESORT
Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017
Quechee Ski Area
Friday, Jan. 27, 2017
Jay Peak Resort
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017
Burke Mountain Resort
Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017
Mad River Glen
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017
Bromley Mountain
Fortuna Sausage
Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017
Middlebury College Snow Bowl
Sandgate
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017
Smugglers’ Notch Resort
Friday, Feb. 24, 2017
Okemo Mountain Resort
Saturday Mar. 4, 2017
Pico Mountain
Sunday, Mar. 5, 2017
Magic Mountain
Saturday Mar. 11, 2017
Killington Resort
Saturday, Mar. 18, 2017
Sugarbush Resort
Sunday, Mar. 19, 2017
Bolton Valley
Saturday, Mar. 25, 2017
Stratton Mountain Resort
Saturday, Apr. 8, 2017
Stowe Mountain Resort
Fortuna’s is a family affair. Proud of their century old heritage, recipes include only natural, nitrate- and glutenfree ingredients and local, humanely raised pork. The family moved the business from Rhode Island to southern Vermont to downsize and enjoy the lifestyle, but have found another niche market and continue to grow production of their smallbatch, handcrafted, old world dry cured Italian sausage. Their curing process is a 130-year-old family technique, preserving authentic flavors and natural traditions. “The Specialty Food tour reflects our family’s values and allows us to work in outdoor venues with folks who share our enthusiasm for an active lifestyle in Vermont’s natural landscape. Our products are all natural and do not require refrigeration, so outdoor enthusiasts find our products are perfect to bring along for a quick protein packed snack on the go. Hikers, skiers, mountain climbers and bikers all love Fortuna's salami and snack sticks.”
Gringo Jack’s Manchester Center Stop at the Gringo Jack’s booth to try flaky flour tortilla chips made with non-GMO and expeller-pressed canola oil, fresh unique salsas made with all natural ingredients in small batches, and BBQ sauces inspired by local craft beers, which are also available at Gringo Jack’s Market. Visitors can also swing by Gringo Jack’s Southwestern Bar and Grill to taste additional fresh, bold, healthy flavors from the Tex-Mex inspired menu in their renovated 1800’s train station restaurant, now celebrating 20 years in the Green Mountains. 40 SkiVermont.com
Skiers and riders love Specialty Food Days because they can slide right up to the tasting tables and grab a quick bite between runs—many sample-sized snacks are portable enough to grab on the go to be enjoyed on the next chairlift ride. The vendors create a festive atmosphere at the base area of each resort on the tour, with the tastings often coinciding with another resort event on the same day. Tasters can spend a lot or a little time at each booth learning about the ingredients, processes, and people behind the products available for sampling. Many of the sample products are also available for sale so guests can bring home a taste of Vermont to enjoy again with family and friends. The Specialty Food Days Tour runs from late January to early April and the schedule of dates, locations, and coinciding resorts events is posted above and updated at skivermont.com. It’s well worth planning your ski vacation around the tour schedule, but if the timing doesn’t quite work out, there are many opportunities to experience a taste from these vendors plus more from Vermont’s cornucopia of flavors the next time you’re in town. Bon appétit! ❄
BEING THE ORIGINAL IS NOT HARD, BUT OUR CIDER IS. RMON
C
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WOODCHUCK.COM
D E R
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THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN HARD CIDER
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©2016 Vermont Cider Co. Revel Responsibly ®
Courtesy of Hubert Schriebl
LEARN TO
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SNOWBOARD puszyn ski by Kyle O
I
n my mind, I have always been a skier. I learned at such a young age, I don’t remember a time when I didn’t strap on skis in the winter to enjoy sliding downhill. This winter, I decided it was time to go out of my comfort zone and learn something new; I would attempt to master snowboarding. I had tried the sport halfheartedly in the past - a lesson here and day on the hill there - but it never quite stuck. I wanted to become ambidextrous on snow and be able to both ski and snowboard on most terrain. Searching for a women’s snowboarding clinic in Vermont, I was happy to find several programs throughout the state, but one in particular at Stratton was specifically geared towards beginners like me - Girls Time Out. (CONTINUED on PAGE 45)
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On the Friday night before our weekend adventure, the Girls Time Out group congregated in the Black Bear Lodge. We bellied up to the bar, enjoying an array of local cider, beer and spirits. The intimate setting with a lovely spread of local cheeses and crackers helped break the ice and I mingled with other participants for the weekend. One woman worked for the resort and was very animated and enthusiastic about the weekend. We talked about our ability levels and I was nervous that no one else would be a newbie like me. Surely someone who works and lives at the mountain would be way out of my league.
LEARN TO TURN AT VERMONT RESORTS There is no better place to experience the thrill of learning to ski or snowboard than in Winter in its Original State. Here in Vermont, we have some of the best instructors in the world, and plenty of beginner terrain for those just starting out or trying a new sport for the first time.
TO
SKI & SNOWBOARD
For an even better deal and more days on the snow, try Ski Vermont’s Take Three program. TAKE THREE OFFERS 3 BEGINNER SKI OR SNOWBOARD LESSONS, WITH LIFT ACCESS AND RENTALS INCLUDED, FOR ONLY $129. The three lessons can be redeemed at one, two or three different participating resorts, so you can opt to stick to familiar territory or explore several mountains this season. Lessons are available all season except holidays, are for beginners only, are non-transferable and must be reserved in advance.
Courtesy of Hubert Schriebl
1
The next morning, we gathered at the Burton store in the village and booted up for the camp. A few of the women gushed over my boots, which were Frye boots made in collaboration with Burton, so everyone was clearly impressed with my snowboarding style. I knew I wouldn’t impress them with my skills so I was glad to have a leg up in the steeze factor. We were then given the snowboards we’d ride for the course of the clinic. Mine was a Burton Feelgood Flying V, which the instructors told me would be a good, versatile board for me to support my progression from beginner to intermediate. Coming from the ski world, where length, width and flex can
January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month nationwide, and Vermont resorts are once again offering a great deal for beginners. FOR JUST $49 DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY, BEGINNER PACKAGES INCLUDE A LESSON WITH A PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTOR, EQUIPMENT RENTAL AND A LIFT TICKET TO ACCESS BEGINNER TERRAIN. This offer is valid for first-time skiers and snowboarders during non-holiday periods in the month of January 2017.
BRING BR
IN G
A FRIEND
A F RIE N D.O
RG
Ready to hit the slopes this season but have friends or family who are not? No worries, with Bring-a-Friend VT they’ll be chasing fresh tracks with you in no time and you’ll be rewarded for getting them to the mountain. This season, folks who introduce friends and family to the sport with Ski Vermont’s Take Three Pass could receive two free lift tickets to one of Vermont’s resorts and be entered to win a two-night ski and stay package for two!
Visit SkiVermont.com/learn for more information on all of our Learn-to-Turn programs and a list of participating resorts.
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Courtesy of Hubert Schriebl
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I BEGAN DOING PASSES DOWN THE HILL . . . SHEDDING THE FEAR I HAD AT THE START OF THE DAY really vary between beginner and advanced, I was surprised to hear that one snowboard could be a good fit for beginners and experts alike. Chatting with the group, I shared my anxiety over being a beginner. Other women who had already taken the clinic assured me that I would have a solid base to learn the skills I needed. Many of them had used the camp as a way to reintroduce themselves to the sport annually. Most women had learned to snowboard as adults, so they understood my anxiety and helped calm my nerves in a nurturing way. I had learned to ski as a child, but I can’t even remember the learning experience. Boy was this was going to be different. We then headed over to the beginner area, stopping for a fun photo op along the way. After taking the Cub Carpet lift (think of a conveyor belt on snow) to the top of the Village Walk beginner trail, we all strapped in and the instructor
asked everyone, “So, can all of you make it down this on your own?” I looked down the slope and shook my head no, I most certainly could not. On skis I would think nothing of it; I’m usually eager to explore anything with friends, picking my way down the bumps and through the trees. But frozen with trepidation, I could barely stand up on this thing strapped to my feet, so I just hung back and let the rest of the ladies go ahead of me. Luckily, Anna Klimes, a kind and patient instructor from Toronto, saw my hesitation and helped me work my way down the hill, getting me started with a number of fun drills to get used to the board on the small stretch of snow. We progressed to tricks I could do to make transitions and turns easier like buttering, which is a flat spin to go from regular to goofy (left to right) and back again. We even ventured into the types of grabs you can do on a snowboard, like the Roast Beef, the Chicken Salad and the Beef Carpaccio. I don’t know who came up with these, but it was fun to learn them. Practicing the grabs with my board SkiVermont.com
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on the ground made the runs more fun and helped a lot with my balance and confidence. I began doing passes down the hill getting as low as I could, increasing my speed and shedding the fear I had at the start of the day. The days were broken up with picnic lunches under the sun, providing a quick break for the legs to recover and
the chance to exchange stories with the other riders. On the second day, we were lucky enough to be joined by Jackie Hernandez, Stratton Mountain School alumna and Sochi Olympian. Her sister Liz was coaching in the camp and she was in town for the holidays. After lunch, I was honored to accompany Hernandez and Klimes to the top of Stratton, astonished and humbled that
VSAA Winter Ad FINAL 2016 Choice.qxp_Layout 1 8/17/16 11:33 AM Page 1
after one day on the beginner slope I was riding with an Olympian. Hernandez was so at ease on her board and I tried to take note of her stance and performance. Her legs were straight and she kind of stuck her hips out a bit like you see with a skateboarder. I, of course, continued to struggle my way down the hill with less than perfect form. We jumped on Black Bear, the intermediate trail that winds down the mountain in a meandering fashion, but which was much more challenging than the beginner terrain where I started. Klimes jumped in to remind me to keep my legs bent
I WAS SURPRISED BY HOW MUCH I HAD IMPROVED IN JUST ONE WEEKEND
A Legacy Lifting to New Heights! Suicide Six opened to the public in 1936 with its first rope tow on Hill No. 6. Installed by Wallace “Bunny” Bertram, he joked that to ski down the steep pitch of Hill No. 6 would be Suicide, and in jest, the name stuck. Today we are one of Vermont’s most family friendly ski resorts with terrain that suits every ability. Try our ski & stay packages available throughout the season. This year the Woodstock Inn & Resort welcomes you to celebrate our NEW QUAD CHAIRLIFT with amazing skiing & snowboarding, as well as cross country skiing fat biking & snowshoeing on over 50km of trails. Plan your Vermont get away today! 866.615.5678 | www.woodstockinn.com | Woodstock, Vermont 48 SkiVermont.com
so I could absorb the snow. She also suggested that after each turn, I look over to the other side of the trail and my body would follow. It worked like magic and I used this tool for the rest of the season to successfully navigate trails. I also used the falling leaf method when I didn’t have room to make a turn, which is a technique where you stay on the heel side of the board and go back and forth down the hill rather than transitioning around to the toe side. I now had all the tools to ride the entire mountain, and I was surprised by how much I had improved in just one weekend; from being scared of the beginner slope to riding bumps with an Olympian.
Courtesy of Jeb Wallace-Brodeur
For the rest of the winter I continued to work on my snowboarding skills at different Vermont resorts. I spent a weekend trying to keep up with my niece and nephew on Morse Mountain at Smugglers’ Notch and I rode Jay Peak on a powder day with my husband and my sister’s family. I enjoyed being on a level playing field with the kids, as we were all learning together. Each time I got out on snow I progressed a little bit more and built my confidence. After I could comfortably turn anywhere on the hill, my next challenge became navigation - getting on and off the lift, getting around in lift lines, avoiding other people and so on. Exploring the variety of terrain in Vermont on a spring day with my family, I rode Sleeper and Waterfall at Sugarbush, both (partially) black diamond trails. At the end the season, I could confidently say that I was a skier AND a snowboarder. ❄
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Naturally Epic Photo credit: ŠBrian Mohr/EmberPhoto
madriverglen.com
SHAKEN
& STIRRED
A trio of classic cocktails, reimagined with soul and a Vermont twist.
Written by Mike Hannigan Photos by Michael Heeney
In a world of difficult journalistic assignments, this surely ranks amongst the most demanding. Who would be brave enough to take on an assignment that would risk life and liver, just to bring a story back to you, our loyal reader? Me, that’s who. If you think that excellence in the alcohol arts is limited to Vermont’s world-renowned double IPAs and boundary-bending crisp ciders, you’re missing out. Ski Vermont recently partnered up with three of Vermont’s best and brightest distilleries to show off what Vermonters are doing with spirits.
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A little whiskey, a little gin,
a little vodka. As much as I enjoy drinking alone, I wanted to share the experience and see what others thought. So I assembled some of our state’s foremost experts on amateur skiing and professional drinking (my friends) to weigh in on whether these drinks will do the trick once ski season arrives. Gathered around the bar at Juniper inside Burlington’s Hotel Vermont, we were met by our guides: Max OverstromColeman and Matt Farkas, founders of the Vermont Bartenders Guild and passionate advocates for the joys of mixed cocktails. We asked Max and Matt to craft the ideal cocktail for a Vermont ski day and they came back with three delicious options for you to try this winter. “As a bartender, I’m very passionate about classic cocktails – the history behind them, how they evolved,” explained Matt. “A lot of drinks have the same genetic makeup as far as the ratios and components, but when you change one ingredient, you change the whole cocktail. “All of these cocktails are historically driven: things that work,” he added. “Let’s use Vermont ingredients. Let’s use maple. Let’s use things that are from here to enhance that experience.” With the prelude over, it was time to get down to the tipples. The first contestant: Beer & the Bees, featuring Caledonia Spirits’ Barr Hill Gin. Bar Hill is made in Hardwick, Vermont, a short drive from Stowe, Smuggs, Burke and Jay Peak. 52 SkiVermont.com
BEER & THE BEES • 1 SMALL PIECE FRESH GINGER • 1/2 OZ HONEY SIMPLE SYRUP • 1-1/2 OZ BARR HILL GIN • 1/2 OZ ORLEANS HERBAL APERITIF CIDER OR LILLET • 1/2 OZ GRAPEFRUIT JUICE • 4-5 DASHES URBAN MOONSHINE IMMUNE ZOOM (OR ELDERBERRY SYRUP, OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE ON HAND IN THIS VEIN) • LONG TRAIL GREEN BLAZE IPA Muddle the ginger and simple syrup in a pint glass. Add the remaining ingredients, then add ice. Top with beer. “You can look at Beer & The Bees as a gin fizz in its proportions,” said Matt. “But say you take this element out and add a honey syrup, and you take this element out and add a spicy ginger. Then you’ve constructed a new cocktail, but it’s based on the principals of a classic. You don’t want to try to reinvent the wheel; if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. “So I lean on my classics. When someone says to me, ‘Make me what you want to make,’ I look at what’s local, what’s fresh, and then base it off of a classic cocktail. A whiskey sour is a gimlet is a
daiquiri is a mojito. They’re all variations on the same principals. “With more ingredients now, you can go in any direction. It used to be that ‘whiskey is whiskey,’ but now whiskey is plentiful and changes. Gin is so different, from brand to brand and even within brands. With so many products popping up in Vermont, it’s hard to turn down a good gin, with some local ingredients – some fresh ginger, honey syrup that’s made locally, a local bitters company.” Beer & The Bees was a solid leadoff with our crowd of skiers/riders/ lushes. It’s a cocktail of contrasts – the bright crisp citrus hits you first, but then you’re left with a distinctly warm feeling in your throat for an afterglow. It might make a perfect spring après-ski drink. “It’s tasty, with the citrus kind of cutting down on the sweet,” confirmed one taster. “One minute, it feels like this
THE OFFICIAL GIN of
BARR HILL Vermont Made Craft Spirits Hardwick, VT USA
Free Tastings & Tours
46 Log Yard Drive Hardwick, VT @caledoniaspirits SkiVermont.com
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is a great summer drink, but then the warmth hits you. It really finished warm.” With gin behind us, we moved on to vodka, specifically SILO Vodka. It’s made in Windsor, Vermont, close to Okemo and not far from Killington, Pico, Magic and Bromley. Cocktail #2: the Dirty Mule. “This is a take on a very classic drink: The Moscow Mule, traditionally made with vodka,” explained Max, mixing away. “Another very refreshing kind of libation. Traditionally it was made with ginger beer, so this is an homage to that, but we’re using a little cider and ginger syrup. And then lime juice. Very simple, very straight forward, very refreshing and very classic.”
DIRTY MULE • 2 OZ SILO VODKA • 1/2 OZ GINGER SYRUP • 1/2 OZ FRESH LIME JUICE •W OODCHUCK SEMI-DRY CIDER Mix vodka, ginger syrup, and lime in a mug with ice and top with Woodchuck Cider. Max also touched upon the practicality of such a drink. “One of the things about après-ski and ski cocktails is that the drinking component of skiing, although it seems like it will extend for hours and hours, is really truncated; the majority of sales are in a very brief window between 2:30 and 5:30. “From a bartender’s perspective, all of a sudden, we know that at 2:30, we’re about to get annihilated, because all of the skiers and riders are coming down. So with this drink, it’s boom: base spirit, got some sour, got some juice, got the fresh kind of brightness to it. And top it up and serve it.” At this point, Matt chimed in. “We’re always afraid to put beer on ice, we’re
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always afraid to put wine on ice. That it’s going to water it down,” he explained. “But you’re not drinking beer when you’re drinking it in a cocktail. You’re not drinking cider when you’re drinking it in a cocktail. You’re drinking a cocktail that has that as an ingredient. Sometimes you can offset that by having a really rich drink on ice that you’re then topping with beer or cider that’s going to thin it out, balance out that richness, and give it that effervescence you need to make it a little more drinkable.”
As a Vermonter, I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of what’s happening in the state right now. “Wouldn’t you agree that the majority of people don’t want a strong drink anyway?” asked a taster. 56 SkiVermont.com
“Especially after skiing,” agreed Matt. “Three or four later, then you might want one when you’ve got your feet in the hot tub back at the house. But the first two, it makes sense to have lighter-style cocktails.” “I enjoy this drink,” grinned another fellow taster, who scored an extra large glass. “I went for the big one. Crisp and nice – refreshing. I could see having this when you’re coming in at lunch and then heading back out.” For our third and final cocktail, we turned our attention to bourbon, specifically Mad River Distillers Bourbon Whiskey, made down the hill from Sugarbush and Mad River Glen. Max explained what we were looking at. “This is an incredibly classic cocktail. Essentially one of the first cocktails ever,” he said. “It’s a sour.”
BOURBON MAPLE SOUR • 1 1/2 OZ MAD RIVER DISTILLERS BOURBON • 3/4 OZ LEMON JUICE • 3/4 OZ VERMONT MAPLE SYRUP • 2 DASHES ANGOSTURA BITTERS Shake hard with ice and serve up with a brandy cherry.
“You have your base spirit – in this case, Mad River’s bourbon whiskey, which is made right in Warren, Vermont. And you have a citrus component, the lemon juice. And then there is a sweetening agent, which in this case is maple syrup. That’s rounded out by a bittering agent, and this is one of the most classic of those: Angostura bitters. Again, a uniquely American base spirit, as well as the trifecta of what you actually make cocktails with: bitter, sweet and acid. A bourbon maple sour.” The Bourbon Maple Sour was clearly a favorite with the crowd. Were we all just partial to brown liquors? Or maybe it was just because it was our third drink of the evening? “They had me at bourbon,” admitted one. This drink was truly delicious, a perfectly balanced cocktail with some serious kick.
ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD. As we were wrapping up, we noticed Max mixing something up with Mad River’s Revolution Rye. So naturally we said, “Hey, what’s that?” Without a word, he mixed up an extra.
'SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT' •2 OZ MAD RIVER DISTILLERS REVOLUTION RYE • 1/2 OZ FERNET BRANCA • 1/2 OZ LICOR 43 •S TIR AND SERVE UP WITH ORANGE OIL Max’s take: “Again, you have your base spirit, you have your sweetening component, and you have your bittering component. Those two sort of mellow each other out and add a nice flavoring background upon which the rye really comes forward. When I drink that cocktail, I actually get chocolate. And that’s just from the rye. That’s the rye coming through all those other flavors and it has such a strong backbone and great flavor, it just sings right through. “I call it, ‘Spirit in the Night,’” he added.
And with that, our cocktail fest started winding down. Honestly, as someone who spends most of his drinking efforts chasing down the latest and greatest from Vermont’s breweries, it was a good reminder that our state is staking its claim in the world of spirits, too. “People are like, bourbon has to come from Kentucky or whiskey has to come from the South. No, these are American traditions,” explained Matt. “When you think about Vermont as a whole – I mean SILO, Mad River, Caledonia Spirits – to hit up all three, you’re travelling the most beautiful parts of the state. Right up the ridgeline. As a Vermonter, I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of what’s happening in the state right now.” ❄
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FRESH TRACKS
C A N A DA MAINE
TRAVELING TO VERMONT RESORTS BY CAR
V E R MON T
Vermont resorts are an easy, convenient drive from anywhere in the East. Interstates 89 and 91, Vermont Route 100, the fabled skiers’ highway, and Route 7 provide excellent access to our mountains and villages, once in Vermont.
NEW H A MPSHIR E
N E W YOR K
M A S S AC H US E T T S
BY TRAIN CON N E C T ICU T R HODE I SL A N D
PE N N S Y LVA N I A NEW JER SEY
Atlantic Ocean
Two Amtrak routes operate between Washington, D.C., New York, N.Y. and Vermont, providing daily passenger service to many of Vermont’s mountain communities. For information, log onto Amtrak.com or call the resort you plan to visit. BY BUS
M A RY L A N D
DE L AWA R E
The Greyhound bus system connects Vermont communities with Boston, MA; Montreal, QC; New York and other regional and national destinations. Call 1-800-231-2222 for information. BY AIR
Take Amtrak and save 20% to your favorite Vermont ski destination.* Find out more at Amtrak.com. ®
*Restrictions apply.
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With excellent air service, Burlington International Airport is a convenient point of access to northern and central Vermont resorts. Major air carriers include American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, United, and Porter out of Toronto, ON. For those who prefer charter flights or have a personal aircraft, Heritage Aviation is ideal. Visitors to central and southern resorts often fly to Albany, NY; Boston; Hartford, CT; Manchester, NH; Newark, NJ; and Rutland, VT. Gateway cities for international visitors include Boston; New York; Montreal; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, D.C. Rental cars and resort or private ground transportation are available at all airports.
FIRST TRACKS
12 8
10
6
21 22
Burlington
5
20
11
26
3 Montpelier
13
17 2
19
23
1 15
18
14 29
Rutland
White River Jct.
16
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7
27
24
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Brattleboro
NORDIC SKI AREAS 1. Blueberry Hill Ski Center 2. Blueberry Lake XC 3. Bolton Valley Nordic Center 4. Brattleboro Outing Club 5. Catamount Outdoor Family Center 6. Craftsbury Outdoor Center 7. Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center 8. Hazen’s Notch Association 9. The Hermitage Inn 10. Jay Peak Nordic Center 11. Kingdom Trails Nordic Adventure Center
12. Memphremagog Ski Touring Foundation 13. Morse Farm Ski Touring Center 14. M ountain Meadows XC Ski & Snowshoe Center 15. Mountain Top Inn & Resort 16. Okemo Valley Nordic Center 17. Ole’s Cross Country Center 18. Quechee Ski Area 19. Rikert Nordic Center 20. Sleepy Hollow Inn Ski & Bike Center 21. Smugglers’ Notch Nordic Center
22. S towe Mountain Resort XC Ski Center 23. Strafford Nordic Center 24. Stratton Mountain Nordic Center 25. Timber Creek XC Ski Area 26. Trapp Family Lodge XC Ski Center 27. Viking Nordic Center 28. Wild Wings Ski Touring Center 29. Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center Catamount Trail Association Amtrack Stations
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Courtesy of Bryce Mullin
ALPINE
BOLTON VALLEY
BROMLEY MOUNTAIN
BURKE MOUNTAIN
COCHRAN’S SKI AREA
Bolton Valley, VT 05477 www.boltonvalley.com
Peru, VT 05152 www.bromley.com
East Burke, VT 05832 www.skiburke.com
Richmond, VT 05477 www.cochranskiarea.com
General Info:.........802-434-3444 Snow Conditions:..802-434-SNOW Reservations:.........877-9BOLTON
General Info:......... 802-824-5522 Snow Conditions:... 866-856-2216 Reservations:....... 800-865-4786
General Info:......... 802-626-7300 Snow Conditions:... 866-626-7308 Reservations:.......866-966-4820
General Info:......... 802-434-2479 Snow Conditions:... 802-434-2479 Reservations:...........................—
Vertical:.............................1,704' Trails:......................................71 Trail Acreage:....................... 300 Lifts:..........................................6 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 40%
Vertical:............................ 1,334' Trails:......................................47 Trail Acreage:........................178 Lifts:..........................................9 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 86%
Vertical:.............................2,011' Trails:..................................... 50 Trail Acreage:........................270 Lifts:..........................................5 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 70%
Vertical:............................... 350' Trails:........................................8 Trail Acreage:......................... 15 Lifts:..........................................3 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 66%
THE HERMITAGE CLUB AT HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN
JAY PEAK RESORT
KILLINGTON RESORT
MAD RIVER GLEN
West Dover, VT 05356 www.hermitageclub.com
Jay, VT 05859 www.jaypeakresort.com
Killington, VT 05751 www.killington.com
Waitsfield, VT 05673 www.madriverglen.com
General Info:......... 802-464-7734 Snow Conditions:.......................— Reservations:....... 802-464-3511
General Info:......... 802-988-2611 Snow Conditions:... 802-988-9601 Reservations:....... 800-451-4449
General Info:......... 802-422-6201 Snow Conditions:... 802-422-3261 Reservations:...... 800-621-MTNS
General Info:......... 802-496-3551 Snow Conditions:... 802-496-3551 Reservations:...........................—
Vertical:............................ 1,400' Trails:..................................... 40 Trail Acreage:....................... 194 Lifts:..........................................6 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 90%
Vertical:............................ 2,153' Trails:......................................78 Trail Acreage:....................... 385 Lifts:..........................................9 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 80%
Vertical:............................ 3,050' Trails:................................... 155 Trail Acreage:.................... 1,509 Lifts:....................................... 21 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 80%
Vertical:............................ 2,037' Trails:..................................... 45 Trail Acreage:....................... 120 Lifts:..........................................5 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 15%
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ALPINE
MAGIC MOUNTAIN
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SNOW BOWL
MOUNT SNOW RESORT
NORTHEAST SLOPES
Londonderry, VT 05148 www.magicmtn.com
Hancock, VT 05748 www.middleburysnowbowl.com
West Dover, VT 05356 www.mountsnow.com
East Corinth, VT 05086 www.northeastslopes.org
General Info:......... 802-824-5645 Snow Conditions:... 802-824-5645 Reservations:....... 802-824-5645
General Info:......... 802-443-7669 Snow Conditions:... 802-443-7669 Reservations:...........................—
General Info:........800-245-SNOW Snow Conditions:... 802-464-2151 Reservations:....... 800-451-4211
General Info:......... 802-439-5789 Snow Conditions:... 802-439-5789 Reservations:...........................—
Vertical:............................ 1,600' Trails:..................................... 43 Trail Acreage:....................... 195 Lifts:..........................................4 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 50%
Vertical:............................ 1,000' Trails:......................................17 Trail Acreage:....................... 120 Lifts:..........................................4 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 45%
Vertical:.............................1,700' Trails:..................................... 86 Trail Acreage:....................... 589 Lifts:....................................... 20 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 80%
Vertical:............................... 360' Trails:..................................... 12 Trail Acreage:......................... 35 Lifts:..........................................3 Snowmaking Coverage:.............—
OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT
PICO MOUNTAIN AT KILLINGTON
QUECHEE SKI AREA
SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT
Ludlow, VT 05149 www.okemo.com
Killington, VT 05751 www.picomountain.com
Quechee, VT 05059 www.quecheeclub.com
Smugglers’ Notch, VT 05464 www.smuggs.com
General Info:........ 800-78-OKEMO Snow Conditions:... 802-228-5222 Reservations:....... 802-228-1600
General Info:......... 802-422-6200 Snow Conditions:... 802-422-1200 Reservations:........ 866-667-PICO
General Info:......... 802-295-9356 Snow Conditions:... 802-295-9356 Reservations:....... 802-295-9356
General Info:......... 802-332-6841 Snow Conditions:... 802-644-1111 Reservations:....... 855-746-0541
Vertical:............................ 2,200' Trails:................................... 121 Trail Acreage:....................... 667 Lifts:....................................... 20 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 98%
Vertical:............................ 1,967' Trails:......................................57 Trail Acreage:....................... 468 Lifts:..........................................7 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 75%
Vertical:............................... 650' Trails:..................................... 13 Trail Acreage:....................... 100 Lifts:..........................................3 Snowmaking Coverage:....... 100%
Vertical:.............................2,610' Trails:......................................78 Trail Acreage:........................310 Lifts:..........................................8 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 62%
STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT
STRATTON MOUNTAIN RESORT
SUGARBUSH RESORT
SUICIDE SIX SKI AREA/ WOODSTOCK INN
Stowe, VT 05672 www.stowe.com
Stratton Mountain, VT 05155 www.stratton.com
Warren, VT 05674 www.sugarbush.com
Woodstock, VT 05091 www.suicide6.com
General Info:......... 802-253-3000 Snow Conditions:... 802-253-3600 Reservations:........ 800-253-4SKI
General Info:......... 802-297-4000 Snow Conditions:....802-297-4211 Reservations:...... 800-STRATTON
General Info:.........802-583-6300 Snow Conditions:..802-583-SNOW Reservations:....... 800-537-8427
General Info:......... 802-457-6661 Snow Conditions:... 802-457-6666 Reservations:....... 888-338-2745
Vertical:............................ 2,360' Trails:................................... 116 Trail Acreage:....................... 485 Lifts:....................................... 13 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 83%
Vertical:............................ 2,003' Trails:......................................97 Trail Acreage:........................670 Lifts:....................................... 11 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 95%
Vertical:............................ 2,600' Trails:................................... 111 Trail Acreage:....................... 581 Lifts:........................................16 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 70%
Vertical:............................... 650' Trails:......................................24 Trail Acreage:....................... 100 Lifts:..........................................3 Snowmaking Coverage:......... 50%
SkiVermont.com
61
NORDIC
RESORT
LOCATION
EMAIL WEBSITE
PHONE/ TOLL-FREE
Blueberry Hill Ski Center
Goshen, VT 05733
info@blueberryhillinn.com www.blueberryhillinn.com
Blueberry Lake X-C
Warren, VT 05674
Bolton Valley Nordic Center
TRAILS
MACHINE TRACKED/ SKATING TERRAIN
INSTRUCTION/ RENTAL
802-247-6735 -
50km
0km/0km
N/Y
www.blueberrylakeskivt.com
802-496-6687 -
30km
21km/21km
Y/Y
Bolton Valley, VT 05477
info@boltonvalley.com www.boltonvalley.com
802-434-6876 877-9BOLTON
100km
15km/15km
Y/Y
Brattleboro Outing Club
Brattleboro, VT 05302
xc@brattleborooutingclub.com www.brattleborooutingclub.com
802-254-4081 -
33km
25km/18km
Y/Y
Catamount Outdoor Family Center
Williston, VT 05495
mail@catamountoutdoor.com www.catamountoutdoorfamilycenter.com
802-879-6001 -
35km
20km/20km
Y/Y
Catamount Trail Association
Burlington, VT 05401
info@catamounttrail.org www.catamounttrail.org
802-864-5794 -
500km
50km/50km
Y/Y
Craftsbury Outdoor Center
Craftsbury Common, VT 05827
stay@craftsbury.com www.craftsbury.com
802-586-7767 -
✔
135km
85km/85km
Y/Y
Grafton Ponds Nordic Center
Grafton, VT 05146
info@graftonponds.com www.graftonponds.com
802-843-2400 -
✔
30km
15km/15km
Y/Y
Hazen’s Notch Association
Montgomery Ctr., VT 05471
info@hazensnotch.org www.hazensnotch.org
802-326-4799 -
60km
40km/0km
Y/Y
The Hermitage Inn
West Dover, VT 05356
www.hermitageclub.com
802-464-7734 -
14km
14km/14km
Y/Y
Jay Peak Nordic Center
Jay, VT 05859
info@jaypeakresort.com www.jaypeakresort.com
802-988-4693 800-451-4449
20km
10km/10km
Y/Y
Kingdom Trails Nordic Adventure Center
Lyndonville, VT 05851
info@kingdomtrails.org www.kingdomtrails.org
802-626-6005 -
60km
40km/60km
N/N
Memphremagog Ski Touring Foundation
Derby, VT 05830
PLHarris969@comcast.net www.mstf.net
802-334-7676 -
30km
30km/30km
N/N
Morse Farm Ski Touring Center
Montpelier, VT 05602
info@skimorsefarm.com www.skimorsefarm.com
802-223-0560 -
25km
25km/20km
Y/Y
Mountain Meadows XC Ski & Snowshoe Center
Killington, VT 05751
basecamp1@mac.com www.xcskiing.net
802-775-7077 802-775-0166
57km
57km/57km
Y/Y
Mountain Top Inn & Resort
Chittenden, VT 05737
stay@mountaintopinn.com www.mountaintopinn.com
802-483-6089 -
60km
40km/40km
Y/Y
Okemo Valley Nordic Center
Ludlow, VT 05149
info@okemo.com www.okemo.com
802-228-1396 800-78-OKEMO
22km
0km/0km
Y/Y
Ole’s Cross Country Center
Warren, VT 05674
ski@olesxc.com www.olesxc.com
802-496-3430 -
45km
45km/40km
Y/Y
Quechee Ski Area
Quechee, VT 05059
info@quecheeclub.com www.quecheeclub.com
802-295-9356 -
25km
25km/12km
Y/Y
Rikert Nordic Center
Ripton, VT 05766
rikertnordiccenter@middlebury.edu www.rikertnordic.com
802-443-2744 -
✔
55km
45km/45km
Y/Y
Sleepy Hollow Inn Ski & Bike Center
Huntington, VT 05462
info@skisleepyhollow.com www.skisleepyhollow.com
802-434-2283 866-254-1524
✔
35km
30km/25km
Y/Y
Smugglers’ Notch Nordic Center
Smugglers’ Notch, VT 05464
ski_ride@smuggs.com www.smuggs.com
802-644-1173 800-451-8752
30km
18km/26km
Y/Y
Stowe Mountain Resort XC Ski Center
Stowe, VT 05672
info@stowe.com www.stowe.com
802-253-3688 800-253-4SKI
75km
45km/30km
Y/Y
Strafford Nordic Center
Strafford, VT 05072
info@straffordnordicskiing.com www.straffordnordicskiing.com
802-765-4309 -
30km
10km/30km
Y/Y
Stratton Mountain Nordic Center
Stratton Mountain, VT 05155
feedback@stratton.com www.stratton.com
802-297-4567 800-STRATTON
12km
12km/12km
Y/Y
Timber Creek XC Ski Area
West Dover, VT 05356
timbercreekxc@gmail.com www.timbercreekxc.com
802-464-0999 -
14km
14km/14km
Y/Y
Trapp Family Lodge XC Ski Center
Stowe, VT 05672
info@trappfamily.com www.trappfamily.com
802-253-5755 800-826-7000
160km
60km/60km
Y/Y
Viking Nordic Center
Londonderry, VT 05148
skiandstay@vikingnordic.com www.vikingnordic.com
802-824-3933 -
39km
35km/30km
Y/Y
Wild Wings Ski Touring Center
Peru, VT 05152
wwxcski@sover.net www.wildwingsski.com
802-824-6793 -
28km
28km/0km
Y/Y
Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center
Woodstock, VT 05091
nvm@woodstockinn.com www.woodstockinn.com
802-457-6674
50km
30km/20km
Y/Y
62 SkiVermont.com
SNOWMAKING
✔
✔
You can go to college anYwhere, but if You love to ski and ride, there’s onlY one place where You can earn a VerMOnT DeGree.
Find your path at VTDeGreeS.OrG
ski. smile. explore. Whether it’s challenging steeps and glades or smooth cruisers and gentle learning terrain - you’ll find it all at Pico Mountain. Pico’s vertical drop of 1,967’, taller than 80% of ski areas in Vermont, will excite even the most selective of skiers and riders. Pico’s central base area, featuring a cozy lodge with stone fireplaces, makes it easy to stay connected with family and friends throughout the day. When it’s time to recharge you’ll find a variety of fare including homemade waffles, hot sandwiches and kid-friendly food options to keep you going. Pico Mountain is open Thursday - Monday and peak periods from mid December through March.
Open THURSDAY thru MONDAY & PEAK PERIODS 57 trails ° 7 lifts ° 1,967’ vertical
(866) 667 PICO
picomountain.com ©
2016-17 Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC.
SkiVermont.com
63
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AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.
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Our Farmers Thank You
Stovetop Cheeseburger Macaroni & Cheese Makes 8 cups Ingredients ■ Salt for pasta water plus ¼ teaspoon, divided
■ 13 to 14 ounces dry pasta, such as fusilli, rotini, or macaroni ■ 2 tablespoons Cabot Unsalted Butter ■ 1 shallot, minced
■ 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon King Arthur All-Purpose Flour ■ 1 ½ cups fat-free milk
■ 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
■ ½ teaspoon garlic powder ■ ¼ teaspoon pepper
The Richardson Farm Family, one of the 1,200 Farm Families who own Cabot Creamery Co-operative.
■ 6 ounces of Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar, shredded ■ ½ pound ground beef
■ 1 medium Roma tomato, diced
Since 1919,
Directions
the farm families of Cabot Co-op have been passionate about making the world's best cheese. We use only the purest ingredients to cra our creamy, delicious classics. Just maybe, that's why we've won every major award for taste. Learn more at cabotcheese.coop
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 2. When water boils, prepare pasta according to package. Drain well. 3. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook, stirring until the shallot is slightly softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Make roux by sprinkling flour over the shallot and stir to dissolve flour into the butter. Whisk in milk and continue whisking until all of the flour is incorporated into the milk. Scrape along edges of the saucepan with a heat- proof spatula make sure no roux remains in the corners. Whisk in Dijon, garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper. Whisking constantly, increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. 4. Remove the sauce from the heat. Stir in cheese and whisk until completely melted into the sauce. 5. Meanwhile, brown ½ pound ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat until cooked through. 6. Stir the hot cooked pasta, sauce, browned beef and tomato in the pasta pot. Serve immediately.
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