Snowboarding the Glades at Stowe Mountain, Vermont

The mountain has been amazing this winter. Snowy conditions have prevailed through December and the New Years. 2026 will hopefully continue to astound!

This has been a winter to remember, and it has really just been the month of December so far here in Stowe, Vermont. The temps dropped early, and stayed low, and the snow kept coming. Nothing too big and crazy, like Juneau is having at the moment. But outside of two rain events, it has stayed under freezing for the entire month of December. I've been trying to get as many days in at the mountain as I can, and then get the kids up there as many times as I can. There have been some really cold days, some fluffy powder days, and some really amazing runs through the glades.

There are certain moments that make me so pleased that our phones have such good cameras now. I never would have been able to take this shot before.

This year I have been heading off piste for a lot of exploring through the trees. There are some spots that get pretty rutted up from lots of people going through, and some other spots that hardly anyone does. It has been these times, in the trees, that I've had to stop and take photos this year. The scenery is too beautiful, the setting so peaceful, and no one else around.

Here are a few of those moments, caught on film, from the beautiful Mount Mansfield at Stowe Mountain Resort.

This is what you want to see when you are riding up the lift. Snow, and lots of it!

Sometimes you just need a big ol' cup of joe after being outside in the snow all morning.

Just down from the mountain lies the quaint town of Stowe, Vermont.

Christmas time did get a little busier at the lifts, but it still wasn't busy in the trees!

The fourrunner quad lift isn't quite as cozy as the Gondola, but it gets you up very high, very quickly.

Top of the lift on an ethereal day.

I'm pretty sure my youngest is smiling under all that. Its pretty wild watching how quickly she picked it back up after last year.

I love boarding with the kids. They are so much fun to watch.

At the top of the quad, about to drop down the black diamond known as Nosedive. I usually take an offshoot to get into some unexplored terrain.

Another one of those days where a camera is essential. Look at that view! Heading up with my buddy Jim.

Checking out little Spruce with my oldest. She is solid out there on the hills!

I have done some early morning sessions and some late afternoon ones as well. Both have presented some wonderful opportunities for snowy landscape photography.

Near the top of the Gondola and the Cliff House with some snowy conditions on Mount Mansfield!

About to head down Nosedive. Just had to stop and take a quick pic. Powder everywhere!

My oldest, finding the deep pow pow.

Decked out for the cold, and ready to tackled those slopes in the background! Its like something out of a painting up here!

Entering the trees. This is where the untracked powder is, the tight turns, and the technical riding that is pushing me to get better.

Some places I'll have someone else's tracks to follow into the glades. Others, I make tracks for myself.

Back in town, on the covered bridge, with a birthday coffee in hand and the famous Stowe church in the background.

The trees near the top of the mountain are all conifers, and have been completely covered in white.

My happy place, through the trees.

I'm looking forward to getting back to these places after the christmas crowds have departed.

Every time I go, I find new places to check out.

This was a deep ravine that I had to stay high and to the right in order to not fall down into it.

Everything gets a little darker and much quieter when you start heading down through the trees.

You can tell I'm lower down on the mountain, surrounded by deciduous trees now.

Here comes more powder boarding through the conifers.

Its feeling like winter here in Stowe, Vermont.

Where is everyone?

I just can't get enough of this.

Looking into Smugglers Notch.

Panorama looking down Mount Mansfield!

Bring on the Powder!