Where to Ski: Trapp Family Lodge XC Skiing

I have been going up to Stowe, Vermont for as long as I can remember. The town, the ski area, the nightlife, and the memories I have made there over the years with my family and friends make this place special.

Last week I experienced a different part of Stowe for the first time and didn’t partake in my normal hunt for steep and deep up on Mt. Mansfield. Instead I went cross-country skiing at the Vonn Trapp Family Lodge. I pulled into the parking lot super skeptical, lots of people walking around in slick aerodynamic, wicking Swix Nordic attire looking like they knew what they were doing. I sat for a minute and pondered if this was a wise decision as I had packed my alpine gear just in case. I looked back at my well-loved, lived-in neon green ski boots and said to hell with it, just go do it.

In 15 minutes I was fully equipped with classic style XC rentals and a map of the joint. Things started off clumsily, but within a half hour I was having a ball whisking around through the woods on the nicely groomed trails with a few inches of light and fluffy from the night before.

There is a Cabin that sits just below the peak of Round Top, roughly a 6.5 km ski from the main lodge. A great distance for someone who is in decent shape, might think their good at XC skiing but might not be (me). Think of it as an intermediate hike that has a bowl of hot soup waiting for you at the top and instead of walking back down you get to attempt a controlled slide on skis with no edges, I must reiterate, this was a blast! If you’re less of the whisking, sliding type, snowshoe rentals are a fine alternative.

I got to the bottom after heavily enjoying my past few hours in the fine Vermont wilderness and the woman who checked in my equipment suggested I deserved a beer. Who was she kidding? Of course I did, so I dutifully took her up on her recommendation to grab one at the bar in the lodge. When I say lodge, I’m not referring to a place with wooden benches and industrial carpeting serving fries and hot dogs. I’m talking about the 96-room, Austrian inspired piece of architecture overlooking some of the finest vistas Vermont has to offer.

I asked the woman at the front desk where the bar was and she kindly directed me to the left, where to my surprise I found a bar, weird right? The bar was quieter than what I expected but it fit the mood for what the day had already previously held, quiet fun in the woods. I ordered off of the Trapp Brewery List. Ben behind the bar, suggested the Amber, which was a phenomenal, smooth selection. These brews aren’t available in many locations, and are not yet bottled, as I was informed. So I sat closing out my day at the lodge with that good ‘ol exclusive feeling that I just had, more fun than anyone else.

Since this is a blog about XC skiing on what is primarily a gravity fed website, here’s your gravity check. Within the 2,500-acre plot of recreational use area there are about 40 km of backcountry use area. The backcountry skiing must be reserved in advance, as it is a guided experience led by Sam Vonn Trapp himself.

Check out the website for more details on what this amazing place has to offer http://www.trappfamily.com/