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Hiking Stowe

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cb27.
Posts: 128 - Karma: 629
Has anyone ever hiked to the top of Mt. Mansfield for some backcountry shredding? Me and a few friends are heading up there for a weekend and we wanted to check it out. I wasn't sure if we should really be prepared for the hike or if we can just grab our skis and go. Any tips?

I would probably go for the line at 1:06, looks dope.
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/752562/East-cost-Pow
Dec 7 2015 9:20PM
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cb27.
Posts: 128 - Karma: 629
Any tips on backcountry in general?
Dec 7 2015 9:44PM
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TheWeaz
Posts: 803 - Karma: 1,903
currently stowe has maybe an inch of natural base, so if you were planning on heading up any time you're gonna have so issues.

Theres a couple well known boot packs to the top from the top of the lift, so it should be pretty easy to find, to be honest its pretty mellow back country as long as you don't stray off the more known runs. Theres a lot of places to get cliffed out up there so be careful.

Theres also tons of rocks so you'll want to wait until mid winter to try to get up there.
Dec 7 2015 9:52PM
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.Morton
Posts: 440 - Karma: 1,426
Yeah if you're going soon there won't be much snow. When the season is strong a lot of people bootpack up there so a trail will probably already be there as long as you know where to start. There was an avalanche up there a few years back but it's really rare, still it would be helpful to know what you are doing and be cautious.
Dec 7 2015 10:02PM
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cb27.
Posts: 128 - Karma: 629
TheWeazcurrently stowe has maybe an inch of natural base, so if you were planning on heading up any time you're gonna have so issues.

Theres a couple well known boot packs to the top from the top of the lift, so it should be pretty easy to find, to be honest its pretty mellow back country as long as you don't stray off the more known runs. Theres a lot of places to get cliffed out up there so be careful.

Theres also tons of rocks so you'll want to wait until mid winter to try to get up there.


.MortonYeah if you're going soon there won't be much snow. When the season is strong a lot of people bootpack up there so a trail will probably already be there as long as you know where to start. There was an avalanche up there a few years back but it's really rare, still it would be helpful to know what you are doing and be cautious.


Yeah we're not heading up until early February, so hopefully the conditions will be good with some freshies.
Dec 7 2015 10:19PM
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Mr.noodle
Posts: 1361 - Karma: 4,651
I know a little bit from skiing there quite a bit last season, but you don't really need much to hike the chin and in that area but you should bring some water and snacks. There are some awesome zones up there and the hike isn't too bad. If you don't plan on going with someone who skis there or knows the terrain I would make friends with someone on the boot pack and stick with them or follow Someone's tracks but branch off a little bit to still get powder. I also remember you have to watch out for a 100' cliff up there somewhere but I don't remember where
Dec 7 2015 10:25PM
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cb27.
Posts: 128 - Karma: 629
Mr.noodleI know a little bit from skiing there quite a bit last season, but you don't really need much to hike the chin and in that area but you should bring some water and snacks. There are some awesome zones up there and the hike isn't too bad. If you don't plan on going with someone who skis there or knows the terrain I would make friends with someone on the boot pack and stick with them or follow Someone's tracks but branch off a little bit to still get powder. I also remember you have to watch out for a 100' cliff up there somewhere but I don't remember where


Sounds good. So no need for a lot of safety equipment and shit like that do you think? Thanks for the advice with the cliff btw.
Dec 7 2015 10:30PM
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Mr.noodle
Posts: 1361 - Karma: 4,651
cb27.Sounds good. So no need for a lot of safety equipment and shit like that do you think? Thanks for the advice with the cliff btw.


I don't think it's necessary but it definitely wouldn't hurt to have it
Dec 7 2015 10:33PM
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cb27.
Posts: 128 - Karma: 629
Mr.noodleI don't think it's necessary but it definitely wouldn't hurt to have it


So I have no idea where we would be going, idek what lift to take, but im pretty sure its one of these three routes. Do you know which way to go to get the best spots?
Dec 7 2015 10:40PM
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TheWeaz
Posts: 803 - Karma: 1,903
cb27.So I have no idea where we would be going, idek what lift to take, but im pretty sure its one of these three routes. Do you know which way to go to get the best spots?


The far left route doesnt really exist, the middle one is what you take to get to the rock garden zone, which is aptly named, a bunch of cool natural feature, but big rocks and stumps in the landing so be careful.

The right route takes you to the chin which is what most people ski when they are talking about hiking mansfield, you then go skiers left, which is to the right in the picture and find hourglass and such, and then the furthest left main line is called hell brook.

As far as the big cliffs to watch out for, there a big band between the gondola and quad that are pretty hard to find a way down from if you end up on them. Theres a big set on mansfield if you go past hell brook, but the cliffs are at the bottom of the avalanche chutes anyway so don't ski them unless you know what your doing.
Dec 8 2015 9:23AM
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KravtZ
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East coast has NO snow. Good luck with your backcountry goals of 2016.
Dec 8 2015 9:35AM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7472 - Karma: 11,421
cb27.So I have no idea where we would be going, idek what lift to take, but im pretty sure its one of these three routes. Do you know which way to go to get the best spots?


If you are planning on skiing any the one to lookers left or right above the lift (which is the gondola) you are going to want to go with someone who knows the mountain. It is very easy to get cliffed out up there/find yourself in a place with no easy way out.

That being said, lookers left is quite easy to access, there is often a bootpack as soon as you exit the lookers right side of the gondola that will lead to the top. You can then follow the tracks down with relative ease.

But, to do any of this you are going to need to wait for a window between mid-February to late March for a few reasons. First, you need the right snow conditions. Mansfield gets VERY windy and can blow much of the snow off the top and down into the trees resulting in a very rocky peak. Secondly, you need a day that is not stupidly windy, because it can gust up to 50+ MPH up there. Finally, you need a day with sun/no low-hanging clouds. You lose tree cover up at the top meaning it is very easy to get disoriented and ski off the wrong side if you are socked in with clouds.

If you plan on doing it, you do not really need any gear so long as you know where you are going. You can bring a bag with water/snacks/layers that can also carry skis since a single run will easily take you 1+ hour.

If you don't know where you are going, use common sense and bring a cell phone. So long as you go off the correct side you will drop out on the Notch Road and be able to find your way back to Stowe.
Dec 8 2015 10:21AM
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.MASSHOLE.
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.MASSHOLE.If you are planning on skiing any the one to lookers left or right above the lift (which is the gondola) you are going to want to go with someone who knows the mountain. It is very easy to get cliffed out up there/find yourself in a place with no easy way out.

That being said, lookers left is quite easy to access, there is often a bootpack as soon as you exit the lookers right side of the gondola that will lead to the top. You can then follow the tracks down with relative ease.

But, to do any of this you are going to need to wait for a window between mid-February to late March for a few reasons. First, you need the right snow conditions. Mansfield gets VERY windy and can blow much of the snow off the top and down into the trees resulting in a very rocky peak. Secondly, you need a day that is not stupidly windy, because it can gust up to 50+ MPH up there. Finally, you need a day with sun/no low-hanging clouds. You lose tree cover up at the top meaning it is very easy to get disoriented and ski off the wrong side if you are socked in with clouds.

If you plan on doing it, you do not really need any gear so long as you know where you are going. You can bring a bag with water/snacks/layers that can also carry skis since a single run will easily take you 1+ hour.

If you don't know where you are going, use common sense and bring a cell phone. So long as you go off the correct side you will drop out on the Notch Road and be able to find your way back to Stowe.


I meant lookers right in the second paragraph.

Early February will be a crap shoot in regards to conditions. Best way to know if it is good is to ask a local/see how fresh the boot pack is.
Dec 8 2015 10:24AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
My Joey alarm is ringing like whoa.
Dec 8 2015 10:36AM
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a_burger
Posts: 5234 - Karma: 20,700
A shovel wouldn't be a bad idea but not super necessary if you don't venture from the beaten path. Do keep in mind a member of the meatheads crew died up there in an avalanche in the mid 2000s, though that was a bit lower in the notch
Dec 8 2015 11:10AM
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mattytru
Posts: 2788 - Karma: 5,616
w_skierA shovel wouldn't be a bad idea but not super necessary if you don't venture from the beaten path. Do keep in mind a member of the meatheads crew died up there in an avalanche in the mid 2000s, though that was a bit lower in the notch


i think he was carried down a riverbed by sluff and hit a tree. SIP alec stall.

definitely talk to locals before attempting this, like people have been saying there are plenty of places where you could get stuck pretty easily, but its also some insanely fun and unique skiing
Dec 8 2015 11:18AM
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Mr.noodle
Posts: 1361 - Karma: 4,651
cb27.So I have no idea where we would be going, idek what lift to take, but im pretty sure its one of these three routes. Do you know which way to go to get the best spots?


You can take the gondola and once you get off and out of the building you will see a trail going into the forest and you can follow that. Also you can go to sunny spruce and go to the left up a trail it looks like and there's some great powder there usually
Dec 8 2015 4:36PM
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ascent_studios
Posts: 2157 - Karma: 4,580
hyped to do this
Dec 8 2015 5:16PM
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cb27.
Posts: 128 - Karma: 629
.MASSHOLE.If you are planning on skiing any the one to lookers left or right above the lift (which is the gondola) you are going to want to go with someone who knows the mountain. It is very easy to get cliffed out up there/find yourself in a place with no easy way out.

That being said, lookers left is quite easy to access, there is often a bootpack as soon as you exit the lookers right side of the gondola that will lead to the top. You can then follow the tracks down with relative ease.

But, to do any of this you are going to need to wait for a window between mid-February to late March for a few reasons. First, you need the right snow conditions. Mansfield gets VERY windy and can blow much of the snow off the top and down into the trees resulting in a very rocky peak. Secondly, you need a day that is not stupidly windy, because it can gust up to 50+ MPH up there. Finally, you need a day with sun/no low-hanging clouds. You lose tree cover up at the top meaning it is very easy to get disoriented and ski off the wrong side if you are socked in with clouds.

If you plan on doing it, you do not really need any gear so long as you know where you are going. You can bring a bag with water/snacks/layers that can also carry skis since a single run will easily take you 1+ hour.

If you don't know where you are going, use common sense and bring a cell phone. So long as you go off the correct side you will drop out on the Notch Road and be able to find your way back to Stowe.


So if it is not bright out or if it's a rather windy day definitely don't try?
Dec 8 2015 5:45PM
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.Morton
Posts: 440 - Karma: 1,426
Mr.noodleremember you have to watch out for a 100' cliff up there somewhere but I don't remember where


I could have sworn I saw a picture of some guy backflipping a forty footer up there. Also don't be afraid to ask ski patrol or someone at the top what the conditions are looking like at the summit. They actually kind of promote hikers touring up there and they will definitely have the most up to date details on snow and weather conditions.
Dec 8 2015 6:37PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7472 - Karma: 11,421
cb27.So if it is not bright out or if it's a rather windy day definitely don't try?


If its a windy day it can be a hellacious hike up there. Visibility wise, you just don't want it to be socked in especially because you will not know the area well.

Wind is more personal preference, but you would be an idiot to hike up there if it is one of those gusty days.
Dec 8 2015 6:49PM
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Mr.noodle
Posts: 1361 - Karma: 4,651
.MortonI could have sworn I saw a picture of some guy backflipping a forty footer up there. Also don't be afraid to ask ski patrol or someone at the top what the conditions are looking like at the summit. They actually kind of promote hikers touring up there and they will definitely have the most up to date details on snow and weather conditions.


Yeah there's a lot of other cliffs but I remember there's a huge cliff that you have to be careful of
Dec 8 2015 6:54PM
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Connor_Sullivan
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cb27.Sounds good. So no need for a lot of safety equipment and shit like that do you think? Thanks for the advice with the cliff btw.


Definitely not an expert haven't really gotten to the point where'd id be comfortable out there but the least you should carry with you is a Shovel, water, food and some extra layers. You never really know what kind of situation you or someone else will end up in.
Dec 8 2015 8:25PM
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cb27.
Posts: 128 - Karma: 629
Okay I just wanna know any good spots in the woods of stowe for powder and how to get there, and how to get to the chin of mansfield for profanity hellbrook and hourglass.
Dec 8 2015 10:36PM
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as29
Posts: 4 - Karma: 17
cb27.Okay I just wanna know any good spots in the woods of stowe for powder and how to get there, and how to get to the chin of mansfield for profanity hellbrook and hourglass.


I heard about a skiing legend of sorts up at Stowe who knows all of the good spots, the name is Chris Beckerman u might wanna try to catch up with him. The Stowe legend knows all of the backcountry spots.
Jan 1 2016 11:34AM
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.Morton
Posts: 440 - Karma: 1,426
as29I heard about a skiing legend of sorts up at Stowe who knows all of the good spots, the name is Chris Beckerman.


Haha is this real and if so does anyone know where to find him?
Jan 1 2016 5:48PM
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leprechaunsissy
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.MortonHaha is this real and if so does anyone know where to find him?


I have not heard about that legend.
Jan 1 2016 7:30PM
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Pachankz
Posts: 729 - Karma: 838
Jay Bowen from meathead films is more of a Stowe legend .
Jan 1 2016 10:14PM
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.Morton
Posts: 440 - Karma: 1,426
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/804469/Spectral-8---Cliffs-of-Stowe

Holy shit! 2:45 until the end is unlike anything I have ever seen!
Jan 6 2016 8:01PM
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