The two largest cross-country centers in Stowe, Vermont, are in the midst of a tiff over a forest trail that connects the nordic centers.
Because of the falling out between the Trapp Family Lodge and neighboring Stowe Mountain Resort, the Ranch Camp trail will not be groomed for at least part of its length — causing skinny-skiers to think twice about moving between the two resorts.
And the Catamount Trail Association is now saying that those who want to ski the Catamount Trail, which follows the Ranch Camp Trail, must pay for a ticket at both nordic centers because the trail passes through both.
The reason is financial, of course. Trapps feels their trails are being used by many Stowe Mountain Resort skiers without compensation. They want Stowe resort to pay $3,000 a year to allow their guests to access the Trapps trails. Stowe would rather add on a $5 fee for its guests that want to ski the 6 kilometers to the Cabin or elsewhere on the Trapp nordic network. Stowe would forward that revenue to Trapps; this was last year's arrangement.
For details on this row, check out the <link http: www.stowetoday.com articles stowe_reporter news local_news doc4b2a299b9aa22892373015.prt external-link-new-window>Stowe Reporter's article published December 17.
