More fun in the Notch

Smuggler's Notch is a 2.5 mile pass that connects the Smuggler's Notch and Stowe ski areas gets closed in the winter due to its snowfall and narrow, winding road. It is one of the first places in the season to get enough snow to ski, so this time of year it gets lots of traffic from cross country skiers, hikers, and snow mobiles. There is a lot of great ice climbing in the Notch, so it gets some traffic from climbers as well.

Both Saturday and Sunday were very similar for Isaac & me. Each day, Isaac got up around 6AM with his friends Ross & Kevin and hit the road to start climbing. I waited until 9AM and then headed off to the Notch for a ski. While the guys climbed, I skied back and forth along the closed stretch of road, and occasionally hiked up to where the guys were climbing to say hello. Once we were tired and satisfied, we headed home, ate, and collapsed for the evening. What a great weekend.

The feature shown above is Elephant Head, and Isaac tells me there is a fun gully climb nearby that I might enjoy.



This is the closed road. I thought the trees were really pretty with the ice on the branches.

Isaac on Territory

Close-up of Isaac on Territory