In 1939, the first skiers hiked the 1,000-foot vertical gain to the top of the Middlebury Snow Bowl—the rope tow wouldn’t arrive until the next winter. They followed in the boot steps of the College’s first competitive ski team from 1921, embracing the Vermont winter, and pushing themselves to recreate in the beautiful landscape.
Today, the rope tow is gone in favor of three chairlifts and a carpet lift, snowboards carve among the skiers, and packed-in cars have been joined by a regular 20-minute shuttle bus between campus and the mountain—but the sense of adventure, and desire to get outside and onto the more than 600 acres and 17 trails, remains. Students don’t have to hike anymore, but some still choose to, continuing the adventurous spirit.
Students can explore the trails, trees, and backcountry at the nation's first carbon-neutral ski mountain. Our Feb classes even graduate at the bottom of the trail after skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking down the mountain.
And for skiing on skinnier skis, the nearby Rikert Nordic Center at Bread Loaf offers skate and classic skiing, as well as snowshoeing and fat tire biking, over 55 km of groomed trails through the Vermont forest, past old stone farm walls, and even Robert Frost’s writing cabin.
Rentals, season passes, and lessons are available, and affordable, at both facilities.