Editor Pick
Skiing at Smuggler's Notch Resort
- December 21, 2000
- Rated 3 of 5 by
susanf from Minneapolis, Minnesota
During the first week in December, two lifts and about 15 trails were open. There was a 10-15" base, and the snowmaking equipment operated continuously, plus nature added another 6 inches during the week. We had the lifts and slopes virtually to ourselves, and the skiing was great! Most of the open runs were green or blue levels of difficulty. But Smuggler's does have its share of double and triple black diamond runs as well.
The ski school has consistently been voted #1 in the United States by readers of Ski Magazine. Full-day ski camps are available for kids from age 3 on up. They also offer a variety of adult classes and snowboarding lessons.
If I had to argue with anything at Smugg's, it would be the lift equipment. The chair lifts to the top of the mountains are extremely long, they're slow, and they offer nothing in terms of wind protection. In fact, they seem downright antiquated. On a still, sunny day, it didn't matter much. But one of our skiing days there was a 12 mph wind blowing, and we were numb with cold by the time we got to the top.
Lift tickets seem on the expensive side: $34/day for adults. There are small discounts for half day or multiple day passes.
From journal December week in Northern Vermont