A wacky morning worked out for the best. A much publicized storm tracked further north than expected, which made my drive to Mad River Glen worse than usual. Despite the slow drive, I neared MRG before first chair.
However, Route 17 was backed up and the parking lot was already full. I’ve never experienced a full lot at Mad River before. I did not know that was possible before first chair. I made a U-turn and created a backup plan.
After driving back down Route 17, I stopped and browsed the web site for Northeast Slopes. Tickets are cash only and cost just $15.00. I had exactly one twenty dollar bill on me, so it was meant to be.
I drive to Mad River Glen from New Hampshire via Route 25. During the past 18 years, I drove past Northeast Slopes at least 50 times. “One of these days…” I always said to myself. It was finally that day!
Northeast Slopes is open from 12:00pm-4:00pm. Despite arriving late morning, I was still on time for “first chair”. After an hour and a half wait, I was riding a telescoping T-bar for the first time in eight years.
The T at Northeast Slopes was relocated from Ski Bradford. I grew up skiing Bradford and I never saw it run. Northeast Slopes puts the T to great use as riding the former rope tow must have been a strenuous effort.
The old rope tow parallels the T most of the way up the 350 vertical foot face. The open slope has a fairly consistent grade and is moderately pitched. It would be rated a blue square at most major resorts.
The main slope is split in half by the T and old rope tow (SBNO). A variety of options finger out to the sides of the main slope. The variations are quite extensive, it took me an hour to ski every possible combination.
A groomer made six passes on the main face, leaving most of the main slope and all other trails untracked. Some natural undulations are present as the trails are not graded and naturally follow the varying contours.
Despite the fact that singles were not doubling up, the T generally never a line. Only fifty cars were in the lot. Given the ample acreage and limited number of skiers, I was skiing untracked snow all day (almost every turn).
The blower powder was generally boot deep, though I went knee deep in a few areas that did not get skied during the past two days. The knee deep untracked turns were in a few short-but-sweet mini glades.
I skied for two hours straight. It was a riot getting more untracked turns in two hours than I would have gotten all day at Mad River Glen. I was not counting laps, but I probably skied about 10k vert of untracked blower pow.
Northeast Slopes is a neat area that offers more than one might expect when you see it from the road. The area is completely volunteer operated and offers an amazing experience on a shoe string budget. They may have the least expensive ticket in the country.
The vibe is decidedly small town, family oriented, and friendly. Yet the skiing is not small town. NE Slopes skis bigger than a local learning area. Nothing is too challenging, but the terrain is not boring either.
Northeast Slopes would be a nice stop on Friday afternoon if you are heading to Northern Vermont for a weekend trip. Or perhaps a Sunday afternoon stop after leaving a resort early. For locals, it is a no brainer.
It is a bit over half an hour from Dartmouth, which would make a good morning-afternoon combo. Especially since Northeast Slopes is only open from 12:00pm-4:00pm (with all possible options skiable in an hour).
