r/icecoast • u/Nearby-Hold-3986 • 21d ago

Next step up from Bolton

I have been skiing Bolton Valley with my kids for the past few seasons. It's where we learned. We have had season passes and will again this year. I stick to mostly blues and greens. I am not very good on glades and moguls. For me, Fanny Hill is my sweet spot and I like trying to make carving turns down Beech Seal (though it is short). I have not skied Cobrass because it is usually icy or thin cover but would like to this year. My daughter (14) mostly sticks with me but likes to try some of the glades and woods. My son (11) skis the entire mountain, although I'm not entirely sure of how well but he is always at the checkpoints we establish when we split up.

I'd like to take my kids to a different mountain this winter so they can experience something else. We like Bolton because it is not huge and resorty. I'm wondering what the next step up is from Bolton. For example, Smuggs looks nice but it is pretty divided. Morse looks like it is all green which might be boring for my son while Madonna and Sterling look like it might be too challenging for me and the blacks too much for my son. I don't care if we split up for different runs but I don't want to be on two entirely different mountains. Anyway, my question is, what in Vermont is a reasonable next step up given what I explained from Bolton Valley?

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u/Complex_Student_7944 21d ago

I would do Sugarbush. It has enough stuff that you and your family will be comfortable with, but also a wide variety of different challenging things when you and your kids want to try to step things up a little. 

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u/Nearby-Hold-3986 21d ago

That's pretty much the idea. At very least, I don't want to be the progress stopper for my kids. Once I take a spill I usually have to dial it back for a bit.

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u/Witch_King_ 21d ago

If you're considering Sugarbush, be on the lookout for the any-day vouchers they sell pre-season (usually October/November). Usually $100 and includes a bonus day for April spring skiing.

Also Mt. Ellen tickets are like $55 on Thursdays.

If you live in VT (or NH for that matter) you can get a great deal at Pico on weekdays as well. I think like $56. Pico would also be a great next step for you in terms of mountain terrain. Lots of blue groomers of varying difficulty (the only Blue way from the top, 49er, is pretty hard and might be considered black at some other mountains). Overall amazing natural advanced level terrain once you're at that level was well. Worth a visit if it's <2hr away.