Update 12/18: Stowe opened the Forerunner Quad on Sunday, and the crowds weren’t as bad as expected.
Last weekend, the diesel motor to the Forerunner Quad at Stowe suffered a severe maintenance issue, leading to the lift being shut down. Their original reopening date was scheduled for today, but it has now been pushed back to Sunday (if things go right).
This leaves Stowe in a major predicament. The ski resort, which struggled with traffic and crowds throughout last season, now faces a lack of lift capacity on a weekend when it’s going to snow a lot, which is a New England rarity.
The solution to this would be the new Sunrise chairlift. Unfortunately, supply chain issues have delayed its opening, so they’re stuck with the only Lookout Double chairlift and the Mansfield Gondola on their two main peaks until at least Sunday. The opening date for the new Sunrise chairlift has yet to be announced, but they are hoping to get it open as soon as next week. Spruce Peak, which is a major terrain pod for them, only has their beginner lifts open.
Vail Resorts has genuinely done a better job with communicating this season across nearly all their properties, but you can tell there’s still a lot of disconnect in the air at Stowe. Guests have made a habit of voicing their frustrations about the mountain, especially regarding the paid parking fiasco.
I think increased communication from them about lift operations, what trails they’re making snow on, and how to navigate their challenging paid parking situation would make a difference. Stowe locals are among the most historic and loyal ski bums in the country, but they’re clearly being tested at the moment. For this weekend, it may be best for regulars at Stowe to ski elsewhere in order to avoid the crowds.
Image/Video Credits: Stowe Mountain Resort
