| Mad River Glen is all about back to basics: no snowmaking, no high-speed
quad, and no snowboarders. When conditions are right, skiing in the east doesn't
get any better.
People often ask me what my favorite ski resort is. I usually give an evasive
answer because I honestly donÆt have one favorite.
But I can tell you that when conditions are right, it doesnÆt get any better
than Mad River Glen.
They have an amazing trail system and the best glades skiing anywhere. They
donÆt make snow, which means they are at the mercy of the weather. But when
Mother Nature delivers, itÆs magnificent. Natural snow doesnÆt compact like
man-made.
Mad River has two other advantages you donÆt find at other resorts. First,
their uphill lift capacity compared to other resorts is miniscule. They have the
iconic single chair and a couple of slow doubles. This means that there are
never a lot of people on the slopes at any given time. Less skier traffic means
better snow.
Second (and this will be a controversial observation) Mad River is the only
resort in the northeast which doesnÆt allow snowboarding. Skiing and
snowboarding both move snow around, they just do it differently. You donÆt
notice this until you ski somewhere that doesnÆt have snowboards. The bumps that
form naturally at Mad River are simply more skier-friendly. The littlest bumps
are actually fun, even for non-bumps skiers, especially when they are soft.
DonÆt let Mad RiverÆs ôSki It If You Canö challenge scare you away. They have
wonderful trails for all ability levels, and when the snow is good, itÆs great!
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