Old Nosedive

The town of Stowe Vermont is very rich with ski history. Some of the first ski trails in the USA were cut on the wooded slopes of Mount Mansfield. Among those is The Nosedive. Unlike The Bruce, which was lost to the area boundary, The Nosedive is still enjoyed by many skiers each year. But the final portion of this historic trail lies just out of reach of the Four Runner Quad, on the summit of The Nose. Old Nosedive has become a bit overgrown with little spruces here and there. In the early season, these are real obstacles, but by mid February most of them are buried. The best way to access it is to hike up from the bottom. The hike usually only takes 10 minutes. Eventually the ski trail ends and narrows to the width of a hiking trail. Those approaching The Nose should continue up this trail. For those looking to ski Old Nosedive, this is where you put your skis on. The trail is tight and fast with no sign of letting up until you pop out on Nosedive. This is characteristic of old New England trails, those who have skied The Bruce know this. The top section has several convex rolls before reaching a consistent pitch. The trail hooks a slight left before popping out on Nosedive. Old Nosedive is a great way to experience a piece of ski history without traveling too far out of bounds.