Sugarbush Intermediate Skiing
Sugarbush’s intermediate skiing is varied and interesting. Intermediates can ski from the summits of both Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen and there are several pods of terrain at both mountains that will keep blue skiers engaged for several days.
Intermediate skiers love not only the large number of blue trails at Sugarbush, but also how varied the intermediate terrain is. There are wide open slopes like Inverness or Spring Fling as well as narrow, twisty trails like Lower Jester that typify the New England ski experience.
Lincoln Peak Intermediate Skiing
Lincoln Peak is a blue skier’s playground. Every area besides the Castlerock offers trails suited to intemediates; Castlerock is strictly experts-only and should not be attempted by even strong intermediates. The Gatehouse Express Quad serves a half dozen groomed blues run that make great warm up runs. Of those intermediate trails, Sleeper is the most interesting because it is cut through a beautiful strand of hardwoods. The more daring will duck off into Sleeper Woods for an introductory level glade.
At the summit terminal of the Gatehouse Quad is the the North Lynx triple. Many skiers inadvisably skip this short triple lift because it serves only a handful of trails. Birch Run is a wide-open slope that really catches the early morning sunshine. As the name suggests, Birch Run has a few scattered birch trees along its length – just enough to give the flavor of skiing in the wild, but not so many as to scare even the rawest intermediate. Intermediates looking to stretch themselves might consider trying either of the two advanced runs (Morning Star and Sunrise) located next to Birch Run as all three runs are of very similar pitch.
Lincoln Peak’s most interesting intermediate run, and one that advanced and intermediate skiers will both love, is Jester. Twisting and turning back and forth down the face of Lincoln Peak like an out of control roller coaster, Jester’s relentless curves challenge skiers of all abilities to carve around every corner.
Mount Ellen Intermediate Skiing
At Mount Ellen, the Inverness Quad service a handful of long blue cruisers, of which Inverness is the most fun because its wide open face allows for high speed turns. Up at the summit, Rim Rum offers a spectacular view of the Mad River Valley and the longest possible decent at the resort. The vistas of the surrounding countryside are absolutely breathtaking, as is a look over the precipice down the double black diamond Upper FIS headwall. Skip the super steep FIS and continue down Rim Rum all the way back to the Summit Quad.