Stowe Conditions

[DanS]

great skiing
Cold
Crowded

A few trails that are normally groomed are all bumped up (lifeline being the most notable). Multiple trail options of 2000ft vert of bumps-love this mountain.

There are lifts with access to amazing skiing with no wait, but the high speed quad and gondola are probably 10-15 min lines.

Parking lots looked completely full by 10:15, doesn’t bother me too much.

 

[DanS]

Amazing day today. It was pretty warm which led to spring skiing—but with an almost completely open mountain. Bumps were soft and the sun made a few appearances.

It has snowed on and off, but with the temps dropping tomorrow is going to be brutal.

 

[Hulk0005]

What would stowe look like April 4 and 5? I know it's hard to predict weather but based on past years

 

[DanS]

Usually (last 4 years) there is still a lot of snow then. Each of these years Stowe could have stayed open into May (at least the trail conditions were good enough), but they have a hard close around the 15th of April.

I just found this video of my son from April 2019 (I think it was closing weekend around the 15th), definitely April though.

That is Starr, which is a natural snow trail.

 

[Harvey]

Wondering about the trees. Toast? Snow rotted beneath? Anything to report?

 

[DanS]

I think the trees in the upper half of the mountain almost definitely still have good snow levels. The lower half might possibly as well. Last I was there, they had a lot of snow. I am heading up tomorrow (although I probably won't downhill until Friday) so I can give feedback after that.

One thing I forgot to mention earlier in my post about Spring skiing in Stowe is that, in my experience, the surface tends to be firmer than in resorts further south (most notably Killington). Not that I haven't had cold days at Killington in April, but it is noticeably colder at Stowe. Personally, I find skiing in April not that pleasant if the high doesn't push 40 or the sun isn't able to soften up the bumps, which is often the case at Stowe during this time of year. If it does get warm, though, it totally rocks, because they usually have great snow levels.

 

[Harvey]

I think the trees in the upper half of the mountain almost definitely still have good snow levels. The lower half might possibly as well. Last I was there, they had a lot of snow. I am heading up tomorrow (although I probably won't downhill until Friday) so I can give feedback after that.

I was wondering if that much rain rotted the snow.

Would really appreciate the beta. Getting it Friday would be ideal.

 

[Hulk0005]

One thing I forgot to mention earlier in my post about Spring skiing in Stowe is that, in my experience, the surface tends to be firmer than in resorts further south (most notably Killington). Not that I haven't had cold days at Killington in April, but it is noticeably colder at Stowe. Personally, I find skiing in April not that pleasant if the high doesn't push 40 or the sun isn't able to soften up the bumps, which is often the case at Stowe during this time of year.

So it sounds like, barring any major weather issues , skiing at stowe will still be pretty good 1st week of April and possibly better than Killington bc further north? I don't mind if it's still cooler for "Spring" skiing

 

[DanS]

So it sounds like, barring any major weather issues , skiing at stowe will still be pretty good 1st week of April and possibly better than Killington bc further north? I don't mind if it's still cooler for "Spring" skiing

Yeah, probably still pretty good 1st week, although I can comment more on the snow levels after this weekend.

For me, Killington is the place to be once April rolls around. Stowe will undoubtably have more natural snow left at that time, but Killington rightfully earns their title of Beast from their snowmaking.

What I was trying to convey regarding the surface at Stowe is that in April, usually more of the ungroomed terrain will be skiable at Killington because it is warmer and they have more trails that get hit with sun (hello Outer Limits!!). There will probably be lots of snow on the ungroomed stuff at Stowe, but there is a greater chance of it being really firm (though not always as evidenced in the above video).

 

[Hulk0005]

What I was trying to convey regarding the surface at Stowe is that in April, usually more of the ungroomed terrain will be skiable at Killington because it is warmer and they have more trails that get hit with sun (hello Outer Limits!!). There will probably be lots of snow on the ungroomed stuff at Stowe,

Ah ok. We only ski groomed greens and blues. We are not advanced enough yet for blacks, glades or bumps, although we were skiing over some smaller whales last weekend to play some. Lol. We also avoid ungroomed given we don't know what to expect.

Given this, would you recommend one resort over the other ?

Thanks