|
Not a snowboarder, don't like the sound of riders and their scrapping sound behind you? Then, ski at Mad River Glen (MRG) where snowboarders are banned and pay no heed to
its slogan, ``Ski it if you can!"
 The fact is that about 50% of the terrain at this
mountain, near Waitsfield in northwestern Vermont, is intermediate and ideal for anyone who can make a few turns. True, the remainder is challenging, but the point is, you should not
be scared off. MRG has got lots of greens and blues if you don't want to ski the woods or some of the steep bump runs.
The other aspect of MRG that you might like is that there is almost no snowmaking (there is grooming of course!) and no crowds and you can buy your ticket while standing indoors!
Unlike other Vermont resorts, MRG does not consume megawatts of power courtesy of the Quebec Cree and the land grab by Hydro Quebec for its Baie James Hydro-Electric
Project. A glance at the electric utility facilities around MRG confirm this. There's no transformer farm. You can ski at MRG secure in the knowledge that your experience does not
come at huge energy cost. And, that is the kernel of MRG. With its crunchy granola atmosphere and even political correctness, it is the very epitome of seventies environmental thinking.
MRG is also a co-operative (one share costs $1,750), owned by a group of shareholders who concerned about keeping their mountain a nature preserve as well as a ski area. Indeed,
as you ski the mountain, you are constantly reminded of the preservation efforts and the effort to stay in tune with nature. Don't even think of dropping a chocolate bar wrapper here. It is almost akin to the
feeling you get when visiting a national park. As such, Mad River Glen
is unique in this country.
And as always there is a history. MRG's history goes back to the mountain's first beginning in the 1920s and there are people living around the mountain who remember it all.
If you decide to drop in on MRG for a day, and wonder where to start, you might well begin with a quick run from the chair behind the main lodge. It's called the Practice Slope Chair.
The chair serves two short blue intermediate runs and a short easy green. Don't be put off by what appears to be a steep ending to the Practice Slope. There is still that nice easy green that you can take if
you don't feel like taking the little steep. Look for the signs to the left of you as you get off the chair at the top.
 Now, if you're feeling okay, get on the twin
Sunnyside Chair. You will end up at 3,100 feet, and at the northerly end of the resort. From here you have a choice of green, blue and black trails. I like to head over to Birdland where there
are more than half a dozen green/blue trails with names like Robin, Lark, Duck, Snail, Vixen and Fox. You'll find some narrow, old fashioned, twisty runs, just the thing to get you ready for more challenging stuff!  Try to ski these properly and not as in
the picture here. You will be glad you did later on! Use the Birdland Chair to go up and down. It's protected from the wind and a short ride. Stop off in the Birdcage Snack Bar, but be
prepared for high ski area prices. A peanut and jelly sandwich is $4.95! (apparently the price should have been $2.50).
Next, head down to the base area again and board the diesel- powered single chair to the summit. The 12-minute ride on this more than 50-year old lift will
take you to the highest point of the ski area, the top of General Stark Mountain. At the top you will see that virtually nobody heads down the double diamond under the lift. So, follow the crowd on Upper
Antelope which is a blue/green run until you get about half way down the mountain. You'll have many choices to take black diamond runs or hook up with greens and blues that will take you back to the base, so
don't fret! When powder is scarce I like to take the greens and blues to the base area.
 If you are not ``brown bagging it" I recommend General Stark's Pub.
It's generally open from 11:00m to 3:00pm. A chef's Salad is $7.25 and a Turkey Breast Sandwhich is $6.50. The food is not gourmet but satisfactory and the atmosphere is congenial. You can sit at tables or
at the bar. In any event, the pub is much nicer than the cafeteria which is somewhat dark and needs remodeling. On fair weather days, you can sit outside on a balcony, but you will not be waited upon.
MRG is just not like that. By the way, I hear the pub makes a great hot buttered rum!
Many of the people who ski at MRG are season pass holders or co-op owners. They know their mountain far better than I. What you have here is some impressions. I recommend you try the mountain, if only
to experience something different. You can easily do this now if you are staying in the Sugarbush area or in Waitsfield because there is a free
bus service. It runs between ``the Bush" as they call it, Waitsfield and MRG. The service only operates only weekends and holidays. It is one
of the co-operative things that is happening between local businesses since the departure of the American Skiing Company from Sugarbush in the fall of 2001.
Timothy Palmer-Benson
February 22nd, 2002
  You can comment on this review by clicking on the vote button or you can send an e-mail to mrgreview@nobullski-vermont.com .
If you write something thoughtfull we will publish it alongside this review. The more useful and honest commet we get on our reviews, the better it is for everyone!
|
Some ski resorts areas give free tickets to reviewers, but how can a reviewer write and honest review when the experience is paid by the resort?
|
Timothy Palmer-Benson
February 22nd,2002
|
