Drive time b/t Smuggs and Stowe, and Stowe/Burlington

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

DS wants to take a look at UVM in Burlington, combine it with some time on the slopes... I think staying at Smuggs or Stowe could work as a home base for checking out the school and surrounding Burlington.

I know the "short cut" through notch/pass b/t Smuggs and Stowe will be closed in winter, so first question: how long is the drive without using the notch? I have only been up there in summer and I know roughly how long it is from Smuggs to Burlington...

2nd question: Is one closer to Burlington than the other?

3rd: What about Bolton Valley? Looks close to Stowe, not much further from Burlington, does that sound right? It's hard to tell from the map/directions but I haven't researched the mountain there so it may not matter, but I am curious to find out if BV might be a third option.

4th and final: any other good resorts for advanced snowboarders within an hour of Burlington?

DS is allowed to take a couple of "college visit" days, so I can book a non-holiday week if they have Fri or Sunday checkin - I've got an expiring RCI bonus week this would be perfect for.

II also a possibility if anyone has recommendations - if Stowe turns out to be a good option, I could try for Trapp in another week or so.

Too bad he's not interested in Utah, we've already got plans to get there as usual this Feb...


TIA,
GB

eta: for anyone in early season (they are at 12/5 checkin so far) there is some decent Last Call inventory avaiable, like $250 for at Mountainside in Stowe, Smuggs, and Bolton Valley. Thus my questions

[craftemp Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close craftemp]

Smuggs/Stowe

I just returned from a week at Smuggs. The pass was closed for two of those days. The road around the mountain takes a little more than an hour, so we limitied ourselves to the Smuggs/Burlington side of the mountain untill the pass opened,
Hope that helps

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I just returned from a week at Smuggs. The pass was closed for two of those days. The road around the mountain takes a little more than an hour, so we limitied ourselves to the Smuggs/Burlington side of the mountain untill the pass opened,
Hope that helps

Yep, that helps a lot. Thanks.

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

We've never been up in the winter, but -

our thinking is that drive time Smuggs to Burlington or Stowe to Burlington is about the same, 5 minutes difference either way - but - Stowe to B is one 'small' road and then 89 highway,(higher speeds and clear) - Smugglers to B is much more back roads -if you have a strong perference this might influence your decision. .


A resort I've heard of is Jay Peak, but this may be out of your travel range, and
I don't think it's a t/s, I just mention in answer to snow sports.

BTW many of the colleges offer students a season's Smuggs' pass for skiing as an incentive to attend

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

We've never been up in the winter, but -

our thinking is that drive time Smuggs to Burlington or Stowe to Burlington is about the same, 5 minutes difference either way - but - Stowe to B is one 'small' road and then 89 highway,(higher speeds and clear) - Smugglers to B is much more back roads -if you have a strong perference this might influence your decision. .

BTW many of the colleges offer students a season's Smuggs' pass for skiing as an incentive to attend

Thanks, Irene. I am pretty sure DS wants to ride Stowe rather than Smuggs. Which would put us better off staying in Stowe given the relative equal distance to Burlington.

btw, DS has been BEGGING for years to go to Jay Peak (saw your edit after I posted above quote), but I don't know of any t/s there. Are there any? Jay Peak apparently gets more snow than any other Northeast resort, or something like that.

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

If he wants to ski Stowe I'd certainly stay there over Smugglers for that - and proximity to restaurants, supermarket.

Don't know of any other timeshares around Jay Peak , or anyplace else to stay, apart from the resort itself.