1.29.2018 Stratton Mountain
I’ve finally gone skiing. After subletting my place all summer, I went back to Portland for the end of October through January and had my place back. It was nice. I caught up with friends, did some networking on the job front, and generally enjoyed the city I’ve some to love. Mainly because I’m close to Brooksville and boats.
It was a fitting last night. Chris Sexton suggested we go to Duckfat because Ashley had given him a gift certificate for Christmas. Little did he know it is my go to spot. I go there at least once a week, particularly in the winter when they have the brussel sprouts. Anyway, I’d been planning this trip for some time, from the Campersedan to the subletters. As I already mentioned in previous posts, it’s amazing how things have come together to make this trip possible. I had the money, I had the ski gear, I had the ski pass, and finally I got the time. With no kids and no mortgage, there was really no reason not to go, so here I am.
One of the coolest coincidences of the last day was having my last immunization shot with Maza. Over the course of the injections, which lasted months, Maza and I became friend. She told me about her life. I told her about Plum, then Sophie. I finally was able to tell her I was heading out West, and that I had no real plan other than to ski. She told me I needed to go after the girl. I asked which one. She replied, the one with the kid.
The drive to Stratton was easy. 4 hours, and I’d timed it so I just beat the snow. It was somewhat emotional for me driving through Keene and Brattleboro where Plum had lived for a few years many years ago. It’s interesting to me how that still affects me. I guess it always has. I always wondered if things affected her like that with me. I don’t think so, and I understand why.
The skiing at Stratton was great. It was windy and cold, so windy that the gondola and several of the chairs were not running. But the East side of the mountain was open, and I did laps on the Ursa chair for the afternoon. I tried the whole mountain, but that area was the best. Looking forward to tomorrow after 6-8 fresh inches of powder tomorrow, my first powder day after the missing the AFC Championship storm with frostbite.
I stayed in an accommodation I’d found online called YogaBNB. Terrible name, but a nice place. It was run by an older couple that had lost more of their savings than they would’ve liked in 2008, and had likely tried several business ventures, first building a yoga studio in their house, and then taking in guests when the Yoga didn’t provide the income they needed. They are in a perfect location, just a few blocks from the gondola and an easy walk.
The storm didn’t disappoint, although it was cold in the AM. The news was warning everyone to stay inside, and not to venture out until absolutely necessary, but the snow had brought in warm temps overnight, and the real cold, and 50 mph winds were not forecast to arrive until later afternoon. I made it out for the first gondola, and had several first tracks runs under it. It was pretty amazing, and I had the feeling I haven’t had in a long time, effortless turns and floating on top of the snow. Because of the cold, the snow was light, and even as it got tracked, the skiing was great. I slowly moved over to the Ursa Chair where I’d been the day before and enjoyed the bluebird day with a few breaks to warm up. As expected, the weather stayed nice through 3PM, and I could’ve skied all day if I hadn’t been worried about the incoming storm, and my need to get out to 90 West before the brunt of it hit. Stratton was a solid hour on back roads to Albany and 90 West. I’m glad I left when I did, the drive to Utica was treacherous, and I ultimately had to stop there rather than Niagara Falls when my windshield mechanism froze. It was a welcome break, and I made up for it the next day with a solid 8 hours through Canada to Flint, MI. I drove straight into one of the worst polar vortex deep freezes in US history, and a lake effect system that dropped over 4 feet. But I also got to stop at Duff’s north or Buffalo for some wings. A trip highlight so far.
⛷️ Stratton Mountain Resort – Groomers, Glades & a Real Village
4
Skiing at Stratton: Polished, Social, and Better Than You Expect
Opening Snapshot
Stratton gets dismissed by “core” skiers.
That’s lazy.
It’s polished. It’s groomer-friendly. It has a real base village. And it skis better than its reputation suggests — especially if you know where to go.
Stratton isn’t trying to be Sugarbush. It’s trying to be Stratton.
And it does that well.
Getting There & Parking Strategy
Stratton is southern Vermont convenience. That’s part of its draw.
You’ve got two main approaches:
Village access / main base lots – Easy, obvious, busiest.
Sun Bowl side – The smarter play on weekends.
If you arrive early and start at Sun Bowl, you avoid the immediate gondola rush.
Parking logistics are smooth and well-managed — this is a resort that understands volume.
But it fills up. Plan accordingly.
How to Ski It (The Insider Plan)
Stratton is organized around pods.
Start away from the gondola.
Sun Bowl first — especially on weekends. You’ll get cleaner laps and fewer lift-line tourists.
Mid-morning, explore the summit lifts and long groomers while crowds redistribute.
The trees here are better than people give them credit for when coverage allows. Don’t ignore them.
What most first-timers do wrong:
They lap the gondola all day because it’s visible.
That’s the slowest way to ski Stratton.
Terrain Personality
Stratton is a groomer mountain first.
Long, consistent blue runs
Manageable black diamonds
Good snowmaking
Reliable conditions
It’s not steep in a dramatic way.
It shines for:
Carvers
Strong intermediates
Groups with mixed abilities
Skiers who want smooth, predictable snow
Advanced terrain exists, but this is not Castlerock or Sugarloaf ruggedness.
It’s refined.
Midday Strategy (Fuel & Reset)
Stratton’s base village gives it an edge over many Vermont mountains.
You can take a real lunch break without feeling like you’re in a cafeteria bunker.
Avoid peak noon in the main lodge. Slide in early or ski through and eat later.
This is one of the few southern Vermont mountains where mid-day actually feels civilized.
Après & Evening Rhythm
4
Après at Stratton is social but controlled.
Grizzly's – Classic slope-side scene. Lively but manageable.
The Green Door Pub – More relaxed village vibe.
Fire Tower Restaurant & Tavern – Good food, solid bar, less chaos.
On the ski bro scale, Stratton sits in the middle. It leans polished New York weekend more than hardcore Vermont local.
The village setup keeps everything walkable, which elevates the overall experience.
Where to Stay
Slopeside Convenience
Stay in the village. Stratton is designed for it. Walk to lifts, walk to dinner, walk to drinks.
Smart Budget Option
Look just outside the village perimeter. Short drive, major savings.
💀 Dirtbag Option
Stratton isn’t a hostel mountain. Budget condos or older inns in nearby towns are the move. This is not a ski-bum outpost — it’s a resort.
Condition Playbook
Powder Day: Get there early. It tracks fast, but coverage is consistent.
Wind Day: Stratton handles wind better than exposed peaks like Sugarloaf.
Ice Day: Groomed terrain is your friend here.
Spring Day: Southern exposure softens nicely. Great corn cycles if timed right.
Final Verdict
Stratton is polished skiing done well.
It’s not raw. It’s not rugged. It’s not trying to be.
But if you want smooth laps, social energy, and an actual walkable village in southern Vermont — it delivers.
You just have to accept what it is.