By Shan Sethna
Located in the scenic Mad River Valley of Vermont, Sugarbush
resort is a popular year-round resort offering downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, sleigh rides and snowmobile tours. Summertime is ideal for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, golf, tennis, hiking and biking. Sugarbush also serves as a good base to explore Vermont's other attractions.
Wows and Woes
Snow cover can be thin early and late in the season, but January and February storms will often create classic deep powder conditions.
Sugarbush is separated into two main areas, Mount Ellen and Lincoln Peak. A chairlift links the two, but the journey can be long and slow. Fortunately, each area offers a substantial variety of terrain.
Insider Tips
After skiing or on rest days, nearby diversions include tours of working farms and of the Cabot Cheese and Ben & Jerry's ice cream factories.
Author's Most Memorable Moment
Skiing in the tres on Mt. Ellen
My last visit to Sugarbush was after a storm. The steep and sustained "Black Diamond" and "FIS" runs on Ellen Peak were fantastic. I also enjoyed skiing in the trees that day.
My favorite summertime memory of Sugarbush was a full day of riding the fast and scary downhill trails off Gadd Peak on a rented mountain bike.
Bottom Line
An extensive and diverse network of trails, a family-friendly environment and an abundance of dining options make Sugarbush one of the top year-round destination resorts in the East.
Resources
About the Author:
Denver-based Shan Sethna holds a Masters degree in journalism and has written for daily newspapers, wire services, consumer magazines and websites. His diverse background includes experience in public relations; higher education; at the Olympic Games; on Wall Street; at an African environmental non-profit; and as a ski instructor and wilderness guide.
