Summer Dining and Activities

Winters at Bolton Valley are pretty busy with skiers and riders joining us day and night. Summers, however, have been relatively quiet for the past few years.

But that is now changing.

As you may have heard the DesLauriers family is back at the helm at Bolton Valley and highly involved in the community, they actually live slopeside in the Bolton Valley neighborhood. With the return to owners who live and work here, we are excited to introduce expanded dining and activities this summer.

Let’s start with food. New this summer, a hot breakfast will be served Tuesday – Sunday in Bailey’s, with Sunday featuring a brunch menu. The deli will fill in for breakfast on Mondays and will be open seven days per week for lunch, featuring sandwiches and wraps as well as an expanded selection of grab and go items and groceries.

Gather for dinner with the neighborhood five nights per week. Tuesday through Thursday the James Moore Tavern will feature appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and a selection of entrees. Friday and Saturday, catch the game on the big projection television in Fireside Flatbread while enjoying  flatbreads, wings, salads, beers and sodas.

In addition to tasty food, every good neighborhood party needs some fun games and a pool. The Sports Center will be activity central this summer. If you ski with us in the winter you are no doubt familiar with the pool, hot tub, sauna and bounce houses  located at the Sports Center. This summer, those favorite attractions will be joined by new activities such as swing set, slack line, corn hole, bocce ball, croquette, horseshoes, Can Jam and a disc golf "putting green”. You’ll even be able to gather around our bonfire and enjoy some S’Mores. Daily rates will apply and season long memberships are available. Each membership comes with a 20% discount on summer food and beverage. The Sports Center will be open Wednesdays through Sundays starting on June 25.

Please check the website for complete details, rates, and schedules. We are looking forward to seeing you around the neighborhood this summer.

The Welcome Home Sale

Ralph DesLauriers founded Bolton Valley in 1966 and ran the mountain until the late 1990’s. After a 20 year hiatus Ralph has re-purchased the mountain with his son and daughter, Evan and Lindsay DesLauriers, and a small group of local investors. The three DesLauriers family members live slopeside at Bolton Valley and we're thrilled to have the DesLauriers family back home at Bolton Valley.

We'd like to invite you to join the DesLauriers' this season and we're excited to announce the Welcome Home Sale for 2017-18 Bolton Valley All Access Season Passes. Season passes for next winter had been on sale through early April at the lowest prices at which they are offered; the Welcome Home Sale extends that deadline through April 30.

A regular adult All-Access pass can be purchased for just $489 and passes for anyone age 7-17 start at $99. Bolton Valley's Ski Bum Pass, for anyone age 18-25, is also on sale for just $159.

Passes will be on sale at these special rates through Sunday, April 30. A complete list of pass products and rates is available online.

VT Vacation Week Events

Monday, February 27        
10am - 6pm: The Sports Center is open with a pool, hot tub, sauna, bounce houses and games for the kids.

2 - 4pm: Camp fire, cookies and hot chocolate. Sit and warm up or just stop by in between runs! Fire will be held slopeside outside BV Sports.

10am - Noon: She Flies - Group Yoga & Arts for Girls (Two day event. $45)

Tuesday, February 28
10am - 8pm: The Sports Center is open with a pool, hot tub, sauna, bounce houses and games for the kids.

4 – 5pm: Free magic show in Fireside Flatbread, upstairs in the Base Lodge.

10am - Noon: She Flies - Group Yoga & Arts for Girls (Two day event. $45)

6 - 7:30pm: Public Race Training. Run the gates on Beech Seal. $5 per person.

Wednesday, March 1
10am - 8pm: The Sports Center is open with a pool, hot tub, sauna, bounce houses and games for the kids.

6 - 8pm: Free Ice Cream Social and kids’ movie in Fireside Flatbread upstairs in the Base Lodge.

Thursday, March 2
10am - 10pm: The Sports Center is open with a pool, hot tub, sauna, bounce houses and games for the kids.

2 - 5pm: DUX the Balloon Man: Free balloon sculptures for everyone. Located in the main base lodge near Guest Services.

Friday, March 3
10am - 10pm: The Sports Center is open with a pool, hot tub, sauna, bounce houses and games for the kids.

Saturday, March 4
7:30am - 2:30pm: Vertical Challenge Race for the whole family. All Day Frigid Infliction Adventure Race.

8:30am - 10pm: The Sports Center is open with a pool, hot tub, sauna, bounce houses and games for the kids.

9pm - Midnight: Blue Fox performs live music in the James Moore Tavern

Sunday, March 5
8:30am - 6pm: The Sports Center is open with a pool, hot tub, sauna, bounce houses and games for the kids.

6pm: Trivia Night in the James Moore Tavern

Monday, March 6
10am - 6pm: The Sports Center is open with a pool, hot tub, sauna, bounce houses and games for the kids.

Tuesday, March 7
6:00 - 7:30: Public Race Training. Run the gates on Beech Seal. $5 per person.

10am - 8pm: The Sports Center is open with a pool, hot tub, sauna, bounce houses and games for the kids.

Nordic and Backcountry Events

Bolton Valley is host to a number of fun and exciting events in our Nordic and Backcountry areas. Whether you're looking to try things out for the first time, or are already experienced and looking to find those secret stashes, we've got you covered. Here's a list of the various events happening throughout the year that will take you to all the action.

Wednesday Night Uphill Race Series: January 18 & 25 and February 1, 8, 15 and 22

The Wednesday Night Citizen Skimo Race Series will take place at Bolton Valley Resort for some casual competition. There are two main courses we will be alternating between, and one longer course which we will bring out for our last race of the season. The Series is a citizen race series organized by the Catamount Trail Association. 

Catamount Trail Express BC Ski Shuttle: February 4, 11 and 18

Explore one of the more natural and beautiful backcountry ski trails in Vermont along Section 22 of the Catamount Trail. The Catamount Trail Express will offer shuttle service between the parking lot off Old County Road in Nebraska Valley, and Bolton Valley Nordic Center. 

Get Out & Backcountry Insturctional Series: February 5 and 12

This winter the Catamount Trail Association will again be providing a selection of backcountry instructional courses with a single goal of helping as many people as possible develop the skills and confidence necessary to safely explore the winter woods here in Vermont! Each course is designed to teach a very specific set of skills and competencies moving you closer to becoming competent, self-sufficient, backcountry skier.

Bolton-to-Trapps Tour: February 11

Stowe Nordic is excited to revive this iconic Stowe backcountry event.  This low key tour features classic sections of the Catamount trail. The tour will depart from the Trapp Family Lodge Outdoor Center with a bus ride to the start, and will end back at Trapps with a party to celebrate the wonderful terrain you will have just skied over.

24 Hours of Bolton: February 11-12

Native Endurance is hosting New England's first ever 24-hour backcountry ski and splitboard race here at Bolton Valley. The race will offer two challenging courses - a daytime loop in Bolton's backcountry, and an overnight loop on Bolton's groomed terrain.

Participants will compete for the most overall laps in a 24-hour (or 12-hour) period. Randonnée (alpine touring/skimo racers), tele skiers, and splitboarders are welcome to test their endurance in what is sure to be the most talked about race in Vermont this winter.

Frigid Infliction: March 4

Frigid Infliction is a 8-hour winter adventure race for teams of two or three. We use an accelerated cutoff system which allows us to really challenge experienced teams while providing a great race for the first timers. If you have never done an adventure race before, this is the perfect one to start with. This was the first adventure race for about a third of the participants the past four years, so don't be intimidated! 

Split and Surfest: March 11

Splitfest is back again to fill your day will demos, merchandise, food and some local beer from Lost Nation. You'll be exploring our terrain on splitboards and all mountain snowboards. There will be free demos available if you don’t have your own equipment or happen to be interested in trying something new. During the day there will be clinics, games, tours, food and beer! 

Vermont Land Trust Tours: March 12

Come explore some of the 1,100+ acres that VLT protected in 2013, and see why the community rallied to the cause of saving this special place. Join VLT, the Catamount Trail Association, Bolton Friends, and the Green Mountain Club for a day of ski and snowshoe tours followed by an après-ski gathering.

Fat Biking at Bolton Valley

Calling all fat bike enthusiasts! We are happy to announce that for the remainder of the season we will be allowing fat biking on Picnic and Valley Loops. This is very much a trial run to see how we may be able to incorporate fat biking into our Nordic Center moving forward.

If you're unfamiliar with fat biking, imagine riding a bike with 4" thick tires, trudging through snow like an off-road vehicle. The increased contact point allows the bikes to gain more traction on slick and loose surfaces. Additionally the huge volume of the tires makes for less air pressure, which helps you float above the snow.

Since this is a trail run, we are looking for your feedback. Is our terrain fit for fat biking? How are Picnic and Valley Loop for fat biking? What could be do to improve the trails for fat biking? Any and all feedback is welcome. If you do venture out onto the terrain have fun, and be sure to follow these best practices.

Backcountry and Nordic Events

As we near February, it feels like the winter is already flying by. But not to fear, we are just getting started with events in the Nordic Center and Backcountry. Between some recurring and daily events, there are plenty of opportunities to get out there and have some fun.

•  Blue Cross Blue Shield Snow Days: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont is hosting its annual Snow Days event on February 6, 2016. This event gives Vermonters and Blue Cross Blue Shield members the opportunity to try cross-country skiing and snowshoeing for free. 

• Frigid Infliction: Frigid Infliction, the longest running winter adventure race in America, returns to Bolton Valley on March 5, 2016. This 10-hour adventure race is for teams of two or three, and is a great segue into adventure racing if you've never participated in one before. Register here for Frigid Infliction 2016.

• Vermont Land Trust Tours: Join the Vermont Land Trust, Catamount Trail Association, Friends of Bolton, and the Green Mountain Club on March 6, 2016, as they explore some of the 1,100 + acres in Bolton's Backcountry. The event will be held from 2 - 6pm, followed by an apres-ski gathering.

• Split and Surfest: Splitfest is back once again on Saturday, March 12, with a day full of demos, obstacle courses, food, and beer. For those looking to try it out for the first time, there will be a splitboarding 101 class held by the Catamount Trail Association. Meet at 8:30am outside the deli, then head inside at 4pm for drinks and a raffle. 

• 24 Hour Backcountry Skimo and Splitboard Race: From March 19-20 Bolton Valley, along with Native Endurance, will be hosting New England's first ever 24-hour Backcountry race. Participants will compete for the most overall laps in either a 24 or 12-hour period. There are numerous categories, so click here for registration and more information. 

There are several series/ recurring events this year that aim to get people off the couch and out into the Nordic terrain and Backcountry.

• Get Out & Backcountry Instructional Series: This winter the Catamount Trail Association is offering over a month of Backcountry instruction at Bolton Valley. This will include a total of 12 courses covering introduction to Nordic Touring, intermediate Nordic Touring, the Telemark Turn, and Introduction to Vertical Touring. The fun kicks off February 7, so check out the events calendar and see which one best suits you.

• Catamount Backcountry Trail Express: For the first three Saturdays in February, join us in exploring Section 22 of the Catamount Trail. There will be a shuttle between the parking lot off Old Country Road in Nebraska Valley, allowing you to ski from Bolton Valley back to your car without having to set up your own car shuttle. The event kicks on February 6 with a 10am pickup at the Old Country Road Parking Lot.

• Wednesday Night Citizen Skimo Race Series: Starting February 7, Bolton Valley along with the Catamount Trail Association will be hosting 7 uphill races on Wednesday nights. There will be two main courses, and one longer course which we will break out for the final race of the season.

Guest Blog: March Events Season Starts With Split & Surfest

For the first time in Vermont, the Bolton Valley backcountry host to an event that caters specifically to backcountry snowboarders.  This Saturday, March 14, we're hosting the first annual Split and Surfest at the entrance to Bolton’s backcountry terrain.  

Alex Showerman of Protect Our Winters and I have been working together since the fall to create a one of a kind event that would get snowboarders into the backcountry on all different types of backcountry gear. And I'm really excited for how it's all coming together. There will be demos provided by Voile, Mtn Approach, Rome, Venture, Powder Jet and Grassroots powder surfers.  We’re hoping that this event will bring people together who share the same passion for having a great time in the backcountry.  

With the help of the Catamount Trail Association (CTA) and the Vermont Backcountry Alliance, there will be a Spilt 101 class given throughout the day.  The class will cover everything from how to set up your splitboard for uphill travel to switching it over for downhill shredding. With the free class and demos hopefully everyone will be able to learn how easy and fun it is to splitboard effectively and safely. You don't always need a lift to make your turns.

What's a great spring event without beer? Lost Nation Brewery in Morrisville, VT was kind enough to donate a keg for the event and we'll have it on sale for $2. There will also be plenty of tailgate food like burgers and dogs as well. Plus, there's a raffle, too. Exciting stuff. The proceeds of the keg and the raffle will all go to CTA to help continue their efforts on maintaining and expanding the Vermont backcountry, so hopefully we'll be able to do events like this even bigger and better in the coming years.

All you need to experience all this is a regular Nordic or Alpine ticket for the day or a current season pass. So, come out this Saturday to support CTA and have a good time out in the woods. Have fun and be safe.

~Joe

Joe Gaynor is Bolton Valley's Events Coordinator. Reach him at events@boltonvalley.com

Spring Means Event Season

P: Bryce Mullin

We're almost through February now, and that gets me excited. Why? Well, aside from the fact that it should start getting warm again soon, it also means spring skiing is around the corner. And with spring skiing comes event season! Events, events and more events will dominate the calendar for the next month and a half. And it all starts this weekend with two huge ones.

Sno Quest

Gear up and head to the slopes for Vermont's biggest outdoor winter scavenger hunt this weekend. Starting on Friday February 27 and running through Sunday March 1, participants will trek all over the Bolton Valley Nordic and Alpine terrain in search of clues. Each clue will lead you to the next location, and so on. The winner at the end will receive a monetary prize of $1,000 cash! With dozens of other prizes to give away and a completely free registration, it's safe to say this is worth your time and effort this weekend. Who doesn't love free money and outdoor exercise?

Frigid Infliction

As if the chance to win money wasn't enough of a reason to hit the Nordic Center this weekend, the Frigid Infliction is back for another go 'round on Saturday, February 28. For those who haven't participated before, it's a ten hour Nordic adventure race for teams of two or three. Be prepared to snowshoe, posthole, cross-country ski, traverse a ropes course and navigate with a topographical map and compass.

If you have never done an adventure race before, this is the perfect one to start with. This was the first adventure race for about a third of the participants the past four years, so don't be intimidated!


For updated news, weather & conditions in our Nordic and Backcountry trails, view our Nordic Snow Report, which is updated twice daily.

Guest Blog: Park Sharks Love The Backcountry Too!

We pulled into the parking lot around 8:30am.

I had to rent snowshoes, so I made my way to the Nordic Center while Geoff prepped his gear at the car. Walking down, I realized our facilities typically don’t operate until 9am, so I was pleased to see they were open early. The staff there was very helpful in finding me what I needed (snowshoes that would fit over my snowboard boots) quickly. I noticed the stack of trail maps on the counter and thought it would be a good idea to grab one. However, knowing from past experience that these tend to turn into soggy, ripped up masses in my pocket or backpack, I opted to purchase the Mount Mansfield Region Nordic Ski & Snowshoe waterproof trail map; this later proved to be a wise decision.  I was back to the car in less than ten minutes which was awesome because we were eager to get moving.

Upon arrival to the car, I started my pre-hike checklist. 

The night prior, I had heard about an incident where a couple of skiers were nearly stuck on Woodward Trail due to binding malfunctions. I didn't want this to happen to me so I was thorough about checking my pack. Six Cliff Bars - because a sandwich won’t survive - one full water bladder, roughly a half gallon; extra gloves; extra hat; two long sleeve thermal t-shirts; one long sleeve Under Armor; one pair of extra socks; one set of extra lenses for my goggles; a turtle fur neck-warmer; a tubeless toilet paper roll in a sealed Ziploc bag and my helmet. 

Next was the tool kit. Screwdrivers, one Phillips and one flat; Duct Tape; paracord; a headlamp and extra batteries; two lighters and a Leatherman. I felt pretty good about what I had, so I strapped my pack to my back and we headed out.

Our route took us up to Bryant lodge first, which we had determined would be a good spot to stop and make any adjustments if necessary.  The trail had been well traveled and it made for easy going which was a nice way to start. I could hear the dull hum of the lifts operating in the background but that slowly faded away until everything was silent. 

As we gained in elevation, the trees became so coated with snow that they prevented any sound from traveling. I stopped and took it all in for a second. This was my first time out here and I was feeling a bit disappointed at all of the excuses I had made for not getting out earlier.

Bryant Camp is this awesome old cabin in the woods equipped with double doors for warmth, a cooking slate and a sleeping loft. It is the perfect send off location. From that point, there is quick access to Devils Drop, Heavenly Highway and the Catamount Trail. 

I won’t share the exact places where we rode, but what I can say is that it was the best and deepest snow I have ridden in my 15 years of snowboarding. Everywhere we looked was the most epic tree line I had seen on the east. I wanted to ride all of it but I knew my legs would never allow it. 

By the conclusion of my adventure, I finally understood the phrase “earn your turns.” And my legs did too. There is so much terrain out there within this amazing network of trails and I’m going back every chance I get.

Anthony Staples is Terrain Parks Manager at Bolton Valley.

Uphill Ski Safety

Photo Courtesy Catamount Trail Association

So, it's been going off lately. Ya know, 'cause it snowed a little bit up here. Photo above was taken last weekend during our Uphill Demo Day and yes, it's really that deep out there. It was awesome to see so many people come out and learn about uphill skiing, so in light of that, here are a few extra safety tips to remember whether you're a newbie or on your 100th tour. Stay safe and have fun!

1. Always be aware of grooming operations - This one should be pretty self-explanatory, but sometimes people don't realize that even though the mountain may be closed during off-hours, there's still operations going on. We groom all night long here at BV, and that means you're likely to come across a groomer if you're hiking our uphill route in the dark.
2. Stay off trails that are currently being groomed - If you're getting strapped in and see groomer lights on the trail in front of you, stop and wait for him to finish his work before heading up the hill. Likewise, if you're about to head back down a trail and you see a groomer on it, wait for him to pass by and then proceed with caution. Groomers always have the right of way, so please respect the work they're doing to get the mountain ready for morning.
3. If you see a groomer, yield - If you start down a trail and happen to encounter a groomer, stop on the far side of the trail and wait for him to pass if he is traveling uphill. If he is traveling down hill, move to the far side of the trail and slowly pass the groomer. Be sure to make eye contact with the pilot before you ski past and stay far away from the groomer. Do not cut back in front of the groomer at any time during your downhill run. These machines are heavy and fast and, trust me, you wouldn't want to tangle with one.
4. Wear bright colored ski gear if possible - If you've got bright colored or reflective gear, wear it. That will make it easier for groomers to see you and for your friends to keep track of you as well.
5. Ski in groups - Pick a line and everyone stick to it. Think of it as your own little wolf pack. Skiing closer together will not only make it easier to keep track of each other on the way down, but it will help our grooming staff as well. It's much easier to see four people skiing together than spread out individually all over the trail.
6. Be smart. Be respectful - Don't be that person who cuts off a groomer on your way back down the hill. Don't ski right behind a tiller to get fresh corduroy. Remember, it's dark when we groom, so our pilots can't always see you if you're too close. Keep your distance, respect them and everyone will have a good night. The uphill policy has been fun this season, so let's make sure we're all on the same page so it can continue in future years as well.

For updated news, weather & conditions in our Nordic and Backcountry trails, view our Nordic Snow Report, which is updated twice daily.

Uphill Demo Day

I've never been splitboarding, telemark or AT skiing. I've post-holed my way up the mountain preseason and once the resorts close up shop for the season, but I've never done it right.

That's why I'm excited for February 7.

We've partnered with the Catamount Trail Association and Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington to give you and me the chance to try uphill access, or "skinning" the right way. On that Saturday, the crew from OGE will have free demos from 10am-2pm and no pre-registration is necessary. Once you've been fitted for the correct gear, Catamount Trail crews will be leading short uphill tours to Wilderness Peak via our uphill access route. We'll discuss proper skinning technique, demonstrate how to transition from uphill into downhill mode, and help answer questions about the benefits of different backcountry setups. 

Available equipment will include alpine touring, telemark, and splitboarding options from Black Diamond, Dynafit, Marker and Fritschi. 

Please allow ~30 minutes to be fitted and setup with appropriate equipment.

It's also Blue Cross Blue Shield Day, so regular Nordic tickets and rentals are free from 11am-3pm for anyone who wants to get some exercise during the day.

For updated news, weather & conditions in our Nordic and Backcountry trails, view our Nordic Snow Report, which is updated twice daily.

You Take Your Car, I Take My Skis

I just finished checking in with my staff for the night and grabbed one pair of the employee backcountry skis. I walked out the door of the Nordic Center and proceed down Broadway. At the intersection of Teardrop I noticed the sky began to turn a beautiful pink hue with the mountains in the background. I continued down past the historic Bolton lodge, then all the way down to the “S” turn on the BV access road.

Once I crossed the street to the Catamount Trail, I knew by the ski boundary sign that I was leaving the boundaries of Bolton Valley Nordic area*. Fortunately, the Catamount Trail is very well marked, the snow was plentiful and I knew exactly where I was going. I crossed Joiner Brook later at the snowmobile bridge and stayed on the snowmobile tracks until I noticed a trail with ski track on it. I followed it a unfortunately fell a few inches into a running stream. Those kinds of things can happen when you leave ski area boundaries, but I was well prepared.

After about 2 minutes of banging and scraping my skies together I clipped them back on and proceeded to the trail in front of me. I came out on the switchback and after about five minutes of gliding and pushing, I ended my run at the Smiley School parking lot and walked up the road to my house at the bottom of the Access Road.

What an inspiring and thrilling ski down the mountain, and an amazing commute home.

-Nordic Wes

For updated news, weather & conditions in our Nordic and Backcountry trails, view our Nordic Snow Report, which is updated twice daily.

*Remember, trails outside the resort boundary are not marked, patrolled or groomed by Bolton Valley. There may be hazards under the snow like streams or rocks. When venturing into the backcountry, always be prepared with adequate gear and stick to the Catamount Trail.

Nordic Update

Yeah. It's all kinds of awesome in our backcountry right now.

As we've been assessing and overhauling our website/media etc this season, I just wanted to update everyone on the future of our blogs and how they'll work from here on in.

If you're looking for up-to-date conditions, snow quality, trail count etc, that information will live over in our Nordic Snow Report, which is updated twice daily. Once in the early morning with conditions for the day and once in the afternoon with projected conditions for the following day. If you're looking for basic info to plan out your day with us, head over there.

This blog will be for longer form stories and less for conditions and weather updates. We'll talk about upcoming events, interesting tidbits that you might not be aware of, and things that don't really belong in a snow report. Think of it as a way to enhance the information you're already receiving from our Nordic Snow Report. We plan on updating about once a week (give or take) when there's cool stuff to talk about.

Head over to our Nordic Snow Report page now for up-to-date conditions, weather and open trails.

New Uphill Travel Policy

We were caught in a little snow squall yesterday, picking up 3" of fluff and nothing makes me want to hit the slopes more than new snow falling from the sky. It also makes me yearn for steep & deep effortless pow turns later in the season when our backcountry fills in. Sadly, we're not quite there yet, thanks to Mother Nature's latest cruel joke, but give it a few more weeks. 

Since it's not quite deep or soft enough to trek through our 100km of backcountry terrain, some people might be jonesing to get their uphill winter hike on and test out some new gear on our alpine slopes. We understand, empathize with and appreciate your enthusiasm for skiing with us. That's why, this season, we've outlined a brand new Uphill Travel Policy designed to allow our guests to skin or splitboard uphill both during and outside of operating hours. Please read the guidelines through before attempting to skin or hike uphill, stay only on highlighted routes and obey the restrictions set forth. Happy hiking!

Bolton Valley 2014-15 Uphill Travel Policy

Uphill travel on skis is permitted at Bolton Valley. Skiers are advised to adhere to the following guidelines:

• During hours when lifts are open, uphill skiers must have a lift ticket for the day, season pass, Nordic day ticket for the day, or Nordic season pass. Uphill skiers do so at their own risk.
• During hours when lifts are not open, uphill skiers access Bolton Valley property at their own risk and do not need a ticket or a pass.
• AT ALL TIMES the two routes designated for uphill skiing are:
• Wilderness: Turnpike to Peggy Dow’s
• Timberline: Twice as Nice to Woods Hole to Brandywine
• Access to uphill skiing is limited to theses routes both during and outside of operating hours. 
• No uphill traffic is permitted to the top of Vista.
• Skiers should stay to their left when traveling uphill.
• Please form single file lines when skiing uphill.
• No dogs.
• No snowshoes. Access is limited to skiers and split snowboards only.
• Use headlamp and reflective clothing at night.
• Do not travel alone. Always have at least one other person with you.
• In case of an emergency when lifts are open contact Ski Patrol at 802-434-6892. Please carry a cell phone.
• In case of an emergency when lifts are closed call 911.

WARNING

• Be aware of grooming machines and snow machines and let them pass.
• Yield to all downhill traffic. Downhill traffic has the right of way.
• Do not access trails that you can see are being groomed.
• Please do not access trails where snowmaking is occurring.
• There are no rescue personnel on duty at Bolton Valley Resort after regular operating hours.
• Be prepared for extreme winter conditions and sudden weather changes.
• Use properly maintained equipment.
• There are many inherent dangers to winter mountain sports. Use care and caution at all times.

Access to Bolton Valley Resort premises for recreational use after hours is governed by Vermont law [12 V.S.A. 5791 et seq].

Access Is At Your Own Risk.

Nordic Is 100% Open!

It's been a banner start for us this season, and that includes our Nordic and backcountry terrain. We're approaching the second weekend of the season and everything is 100% open from the Nordic Center, which is (thankfully) a far cry from last season. Mother Nature has been tremendously accommodating thus far, so if you haven't gotten a chance to get out on some Nordic skis yet, I'd recommend doing it as soon as possible. If nothing else, the scenery right now is stunning.

After last week's Nor'Easter, the terrain looks great and is skiing even better. Things warmed up a little in the past week, so we kept groomers off the trails to preserve the base. Now that it's starting to firm up again, we should be able to lay down more classic tracks and skate grooming tonight. Until then, there's a thin breakable crust on top of the snow, but it's soft and powdery underneath once you break through. It's still early season, so there's some caution spots out there, but everything is skiing really well.

Tickets are available for less than $20 and if you need rentals, they can be had starting at $22. We also have Nordic 5 and 10 packs available, which make an excellent holiday gift or alternative to a season pass.

Storm's Coming

Greetings & salutations Nordic skiers! We had a little warmup last weekend, but it's not going to last. Cold air is back and temps are in the 20's. I'm sure you've already heard, but the first big storm of the winter is due to come through the northeast in the next 24 hours and we're hoping to catch a leg of it. It's tracking more north than originally forecasted, which is excellent news and means MORE SNOW! More snow = earlier opening of Nordic terrain. Projections from WCAX are calling for between 6-12" by Thursday AM. Get your snow dances ready.

Winter is here!

Opening day is scheduled for Saturday Dec. 13, so dig your equipment out of the basement, shed or closet where it makes its summer home and order your Nordic Season Pass today. Not skiing enough for a whole season? No matter. Pick up a Nordic 10 or 5-Pack and ski when it's convenient for you. 

If you also dabble in a little Alpine skiing in your spare time, Cyber Monday specials will be live on Dec. 1 and include $20 early season lift tickets, Night Powder Passes and Ski Bum Passes for $199. If you're as anxious as we are to get going, you're probably looking for the best way to get up on the mountain as fast as possible. Look no further. Save some green and get up here faster! Now would also be a good time to get your season pass and season lease equipment or a powder pass. BV Sports is open this weekend and daily starting on Dec. 5 for rentals, tuning and season pass printing.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Twitter for the latest news on conditions, deals and events.

Purchase your 2014-15 Nordic Season Pass Today!

This is going to be one of those weeks that just gets better as it rolls forward. Temps will top out around 10 degrees today underneath mostly cloudy skies, but then on Thursday, we expect it to be closer to 20 and Friday will be downright warm with temps close to 30 degrees. That trend seems like it will continue straight into the weekend as the mercury is forecasted to hold steady in the 20's and 30's on Saturday and Sunday. 

Our backcountry continues to be 100% open for exploration on skis or snowshoes. We last groomed on Monday morning for 15km of skate skiing and 15km of classic tracks.

With such great conditions, you might start thinking about next season. Good news - you can purchase your 2014-15 Nordic Season Pass, which is just $110 for adults and $70 for youth and seniors when you buy before April 1. If you purchase next season's pass now you can ski for the remainder of this season for free. So, save some dough and get a jump on next year!

Back in the powder again

It's snowed a little bit in the last week, leaving us with 5-7" of new snow on the ground. If you're looking to get out into our backcountry, that's excellent news and it's skiing even better now than it did after our last big storm. Seriously, there's some deep, deep stashes out there if you know where to look. 

If you prefer the low-angle Nordic trails, we groomed for skate and classic skiing on Monday. That grooming has been covered up by the snow that recently feel, so you'll find a firm, groomed base, covered with about 3 inches of snow. We plan to groom again on Thursday morning.

As far as the weather goes, today, expect temperatures in the teens under cloudy skies with a chance of flurries. Looks like a repeat of yesterday! The wax of the day will be Green.

Don't forget about our Nordic 5 and 10 Packs - they are currently on sale and come loaded with 5 or 10 trail tickets you can use any time this season.

Powder Day!

As of 11:00 am on Friday, there's 11-14 inches of fresh white on the ground and it's still snowing. It's going to be amazing conditions on all our Nordic and backcountry trails today, so find time to get up here. February has been kind to us so far, leaving nearly three feet of natural snow on the ground with more to follow. To give you an idea of how hard it is snowing this morning, we've had to dig our the Nordic Center sign a couple of times so far and it's not even noon!

You can expect cloudy skies and snow today, with temperatures in the high 20's and gusty winds. Skate grooming took place on all our usual 15km of trails. But, with the heavy snow this morning, expect that grooming to be under at least 6 inches of snow. We'll hold off on putting down any classic tracks until the storm subsides. Until then, enjoy the pow!

Nordic 5 and 10 Packs are currently on sale and come loaded with 5 or 10 trail tickets you can use any time this season.

Nordic is 100% open!

After a foot of snow in the last week, the Nordic Center is now 100% open and trail conditions are the best we've seen all season! All of our usual groomed terrain has been skiing great and was smoothed out for skate-skiing again last night, giving us 15km of skate grooming and 5km of classic tracks. It's going to be a little chilly today, but that's nothing we haven't gotten used to this Winter. It should be an excellent day.

While we have picked up some new snow recently, the base is still pretty thin. Over-grooming can actually do more harm than good to a thin base depth. Due to this we won't groom as often as we would if we had deeper base depths. Please note that terrain is still considered early-season and backcountry trails are not groomed. Conditions may vary from trail-to-trail, so we recommend skis with metal edges if you plan on venturing off Broadway.

Stay tuned for an upcoming Bolton Valley Access video where I learn to Nordic Ski!