Saskadena Six 2022-2023 Season

NELSAP

Saskadena Six - Jan 19, 2023
Weather: Cloudy, near 32F
Conditions: Groomed wet granular, a bit firm in spots. Some slick spots on the Face

We skied Saskadena Six on the way back from Newport, VT on the 19th. Another Indy Pass redemption. Weather has not been kind to southern VT, and there is not much snow if at all on the ground, though this is changing with a better storm cycle.

This was our first visit since the name change. There is new signage throughout the resort, including storyboards explaining the name change and the history of the mountain. The new color scheme works well throughout the area.

Conditions were a groomed wet granular. It never became mounds of granular as temps stayed near freezing and crowds were very light. We were able to park close to the lodge (not that there are far off parking lots anyways) and got our tickets quickly. The ticket seller was quite friendly welcoming us to the resort.

There were 5 routes off the summit, and another 3 off the double (that was open for 2 hours in the afternoon). With a short lift ride (2000') to the top, and no lines, you can get in a lot of runs here. Starting at 10am I skied till 215, including a lunch break and still got in over 13k of vert.

Saskadena skis big for its vertical - the Face is quite steep, and there are all kinds of interesting trails to explore. Most of the main runs were open, despite very unfavorable snowmaking weather as of late.

Overall, a very enjoyable day. Friendly staff, good conditions, no wind, temps not too cold.

The quad

Face

Everyone's favorite Teardrop Poma Double was in operation on the afternoon.

Double

Skyline

NewEnglandSkier13

It's a nice ski area, and I hope that I'll eventually get a chance to ride the teardrop double. However, it's ridiculously expensive, and I'm not a fan of the new name.

xlr8r

Saskadena Six is such a fun little hill. Great place to hit on a weekend powder day to avoid crowds. The quad does allow for lots of quick laps as the ride up is pretty steep. Did you look in the store, I wonder if they still sell any Suicide Six merch left.

millerm277

NewEnglandSkier13;c-58946 wroteHowever, it's ridiculously expensive

Looking at the next 2 weeks, weekdays look to be $37 and weekends look to be $64. That doesn't seem to be ridiculously expensive?

They're also on the Indy Pass.

newpylong

Well this is the guy who said $65 for Saddleback mid-week was expensive a couple years back lol.

ciscokid

In my opinion, that’s the best looking operating double chair in the world, I just hope they don’t run out of that ‘60s color paint.

The old Hall gothic cathedral was # 1.

NewEnglandSkier13

newpylong;c-58956 wroteWell this is the guy who said $65 for Saddleback mid-week was expensive a couple years back lol.

Not sure where you came up with that. I've said that Saddleback's weekend tickets and season passes are pricey, but never anything about midweek.

NewEnglandSkier13

millerm277;c-58955 wrote
NewEnglandSkier13;c-58946 wroteHowever, it's ridiculously expensive
Looking at the next 2 weeks, weekdays look to be $37 and weekends look to be $64. That doesn't seem to be ridiculously expensive?

They're also on the Indy Pass.

Not as ridiculous if you prepurchase, but the walk up rates are. And $67 is still way too expensive for a ski area of that size.

conrad

Woodstock, Vermont is an expensive town, and that apparently includes the ski area as well.

Chuckstah

Thanks for the report. It's on my short list for an Indy day Sunday. I always wait for more to be open, and end up not going there.

NewEnglandSkier13

conrad;c-58961 wroteWoodstock, Vermont is an expensive town, and that apparently includes the ski area as well.

That's true, although it's worth noting that the Woodstock area's other ski area, Quechee, which is about the same size as S6, has a top ticket price of $57. Unless you have a pass, I can't see S6 being the better choice between two areas with the the same vertical and the same type of main lift. Quechee is also usually less busy than S6.

lotsoskiing

NewEnglandSkier13;c-58966 wrote
conrad;c-58961 wroteWoodstock, Vermont is an expensive town, and that apparently includes the ski area as well.
That's true, although it's worth noting that the Woodstock area's other ski area, Quechee, which is about the same size as S6, has a top ticket price of $57. Unless you have a pass, I can't see S6 being the better choice between two areas with the the same vertical and the same type of main lift. Quechee is also usually less busy than S6.

Having been to both, IMO S6 is a much better area, as far as terrain, but both worth checking out, as are all small, non-corporate ski areas :D

NewEnglandSkier13

lotsoskiing;c-58967 wrote
NewEnglandSkier13;c-58966 wrote
conrad;c-58961 wroteWoodstock, Vermont is an expensive town, and that apparently includes the ski area as well.
That's true, although it's worth noting that the Woodstock area's other ski area, Quechee, which is about the same size as S6, has a top ticket price of $57. Unless you have a pass, I can't see S6 being the better choice between two areas with the the same vertical and the same type of main lift. Quechee is also usually less busy than S6.
Having been to both, IMO S6 is a much better area, as far as terrain, but both worth checking out, as are all small, non-corporate ski areas :D

I've found my time at Quechee to be at least es enjoyable, if not more so, than S6. And they also have a Poma T-bar with a floating bullwheel!

newpylong

Quechee is very cool but I don't think they ski even close. By the numbers they may look similar but the bottom half of Quechee is like skiing on a golf course. And the top half (the actual trails) are only around 1,000 feet long. There is more terrain with more character at S6.