Mad River Glen

Frommer's Review

Mad River Glen is the curmudgeon of the Vermont ski world -- just what you'd expect from a place whose motto used to be "Ski it if you can." High-speed detachable quads? Forget it. Until early 2007, the main ski lift was a 1948 single-chair lift that creaked its way a mile up to the summit. Snowmaking? Don't count on it. This hill is nearly entirely dependent on the whims of Mother Nature. Snowboarding? Nope; it's forbidden. Toll-free telephone numbers? A fancy website? Hardly. This hill long ago attained cult status among one-with-the-mountain connoisseurs, and its fans seem determined to keep it that way: Owned and operated by a cooperative of Mad River skiers since 1995, it claims to be the only cooperative-owned ski area in the country. But don't mistake this gentler approach for easy skiing -- the slopes here are twisting and narrow, and hide some of the steepest drops in New England (nearly half the slopes are classified as "expert"). A ski school and kids' program are offered, and care is taken to preserve (and explain) the mountain's ecology. A renegade spirit remains here -- even in the face of the sport's, and Vermont's, inexorable process of upscaling.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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