Page 9 - Aug_2014

in an area that doesn’t see traffic. “Bet- and the west by two leading resorts in
ter Living Through Chemistry,” a 5.9+ Vermont, Stowe Mountain Resort and REHAB

on the Ragnarock Face features moder- Smugglers’ Notch Resort, each with
ate and exposed schist up three pitches their own array of summer and fall
climbing over 300 feet. “The Deep End,” events and activities.
rated as 5.11b, is listed in the guidebook Stowe Mountain Resort
your gear.
as one of the best multi-pitch-climbs in While Stowe Mountain Resort sees
Smugglers’ Notch. It’s located to the left the majority of its traffic during the

of the Big Daddy Arete and finishes high winter months, the pace only slows
above the Notch with great views. A slightly when the snow is gone. Stowe
newly established 5.9 on the wall above Resort keeps its Auto Toll Road open
the parking lot scales two pitches under until October 19 and will begin oper-
the name “Steep Jugs.”
ating the Gondola to the Cliff House
In the winter, the notch is transformed on September 13. The resort also offers
into an ideal environment for ice climb- 36 holes of golf at the Stowe Mountain AFTER
BEFORE

ing. Climbers gather from all over the Club Golf Course and the Stowe Coun-
Northeast to scale any of the Notch’s try Club. The Spruce Peak Performing Clean, waterproofed Dirt and soaked-in
approximately 70 routes, including clas- Arts Center and the Spa at Stowe Moun-
sics like the “Elephant’s Head Gully,” tain Lodge, along with many family ac- boots allow water water stops sweat
“Ragnarock” or “Poster Child.” Farr tivities, round out the resort’s offerings. vapor to escape and
escaping so it stays in
recommends “Dave’s Snotcicle,” on Aside from resort activities, Stowe town
the South Wall facing Stowe. Its south- offers a variety of dining, shopping and your boots keep your feet dry

ern exposure can make the conditions lodging options.
feel nearly tropical, even on a sub-zero Smugglers’ Notch Resort
degree-day and its consistently good Located at the foot of Madonna
climbing conditions are only a 20-min- Mountain, Smugglers’ Notch resort of-
ute hike from the road. “Hidden Gully” fers a variety of family activities, includ-
requires some hiking from the road, but ing a waterpark, mountain biking and
rewards those willing to go the distance treks on the back of a llama. This sum-

with elevation gains of up to 1,800 feet.
mer, Smuggs continues operation of its
“With the sustained gain in elevation driving range and world-class disc golf
and the variety of terrain, it’s similar course. Arbor Trek Adventures, a guid-
to something you might find in New ed tour through a network of ziplines,
Hampshire,” he says.
rope bridges and climbing walls in the
forest canopy, operates a few miles
Resorts
north of the resort and is one of the best
The Notch is flanked to the east
of its kind in the region.

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Jess Simon on the first pitch of Beanstalker, which is two pitches of 5.8 climbing.
Photo by Tim Farr

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
VTSPORTS.COM 7