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SNOW PATROL

SPOT TO SKI: MAD RIVER GLEN

Elevation 1,500 to 3,585 feet; snow-depth 3 to 4½ feet; yearly snowfall 150 inches; skiers last year 20,000; season Dec. 15 to April 15

For those who like skiing swift and tricky and lodge fires warm and cozy, Mad River Glen in Vermont is worth a try. Long famous for some of the best skiing in the state, Mad River is better than ever this year due to the extension of the single chair lift to the top of Stark Mt. The lift serves nine advanced and intermediate trails and rises 2,000 vertical feet from the Base Box, a restaurant-ski shop at the base, to the summit at Stark's Nest more than a mile away. There is also a 600-foot rope tow on a practice slope west of the Base Box which provides an excellent practice area for beginners. Mad River is informal, not as dressy as other Eastern ski resorts. The Bud Phillips Ski School has eight instructors. Tips: Mad River can be reached from New York by car in six or seven hours, from Boston in five hours. It is also reachable by special snow trains from Boston and New York to Montpelier and Waterbury. Northeast Airlines have flights into Montpelier from both Boston and New York. Sleeping accommodations start at $1 per night for dormitory bunk space up to $12 for a private double room.

SKIING COAST TO COAST

TD—top slopes, depth in inches; BD—bottom slopes, depth in inches; CR—ski crowd last weekend; SN—inches of snowfall last weekend

•EAST

Mad River Glen, Vt.: Thaw made skiing poor, but powder fall over weekend created good surface. Better base needed to cover rough spots. TD 20-30, BD 7-20, CR 300, SN 4.

Stowe, Vt.: Heavy rains just about cleaned out skiing. Present conditions poor with ice, rocks and bare spots. Will take two feet of snow to get Stowe back in the running again. TD 18, BD 12, CR 2,500, SN 1-2.

Mt. Snow, Vt.: Only lower half of mountain open. Good skiing on Overbrook trail, poor to fair elsewhere. Stretch pants more popular than ever. TD 28, BD 18, CR 1,500, SN 6.

Mt. Cranmore, N.H.: Frozen base with packed granular surface. Only Skimobile running. TD 1-10, BD 1-10, CR 2,500, SN 1.

Cannon Mt., N.H.: All lifts closed because of insufficient snow. Rope tow operated but pocked with bare spots. TD 0-23, BD 0-12, CR 231, SN 3.

Bousquets, Mass.: Limited skiing (Russell slope only) provided by snow-making machine. TD 6-8, BD 6-8, CR 3,500, SN 0.

Mt. Tremblant, Que.: Skiing fair to good. TD 8-31, BD 4-21, CR 1,300, SN 1.

Other spots: Jiminy Peak, Mass.: Not operating. Snow Ridge, N.Y.: Fair to good. TD 4-15, BD 4-10, CR 1,200, SN 8. Dutch Hill, Vt.: Poor.

•MIDWEST

Caberfae, Mich.: Bill Schmidt of Briar Hill Ski Club first in CUSSA cross-country championship. CUSSA Junior championship, Feb. 2-3. TD 2-4, BD 6-8, CR 3,400, SN 3.

Iron Mountain, Mich.: Skiing poor to fair. No waiting on tows last weekend. TD 4-8, BD 2-8, CR 800, SN 0.

Terry Peak, S.Dak.: Only a small amount of light powder fell during the week, but zero temperatures and lack of winds kept snow depth from diminishing. Night skiing. TD 40-44, BD 38-50, CR 750, SN 2.

Rib Mt., Wis.: Skiing poor. Eight to 10 inches snow needed to make trails and upper slopes usable. TD 4, BD 4, CR 800, SN 1.

Boyne Mt., Mich.: Rain last week erased base. Timely snowfall and artificial snow machines put 12-20 inches on upper Hemlock for weekend traffic. TD 2-10, BD 8-20, CR 700, SN 7.

•WEST

Sun Valley, Idaho: Skiing excellent. Two hot spots: Holiday Run and Christmas Bowl. Reservations almost impossible to get through March 15. Baldy TD 40, Roundhouse 36, Dollar 29; BD 20; SN 8.

Santa Fe, N. Mex.: Skiing excellent, lifts crowded with 20-25 minute wait on chair lift. TD 25-35, BD 20-25, CR 1,500, SN 6.

Taos, N. Mex.: Skiing excellent. All facilities open and operating every day. Skijoring races will be held this weekend, Indian dances Saturday evening. TD 90-100, BD 70-75, CR 600, SN 30.

Arapahoe Basin, Colo.: Best skiing on Davis Cutoff and Slalom slope. All trails open except Palivacinni which is now full of snow-slide debris. Long-thong release binding popular. TD 42-60, BD 40-42, CR 700, SN 7.

Jackson, Wyo.: Skiing excellent, though extreme subzero temperatures hampering skiers. All roads open and in good condition. TD 28-32, BD 14-18, CR 400, SN 3-4.

Brighton, Utah: Excellent. Ten-minute wait on lifts. TD 76, BD 74, CR 950, SN 16.

Alta, Utah: Skiing excellent. Snow Cup race postponed last week now rescheduled for Feb. 3. TD 72 100, BD 72, CR 600, SN 34.

Reno, Nev.: Finest skiing of season, but below-zero temperatures causing some frostbite. TD 30-38, BD 24-30, CR 2,000.

Heavenly Valley, Calif.: Upper slopes excellent. TD 32, BD 23, CR 1,200, SN 6.

•FAR WEST

Snoqualmie Pass., Wash.: Skiing good, capacity crowds on tows. Ski jumping competition scheduled for Kongsberger's Hill Sunday, Feb. 3. TD 65, BD 50-55, CR 4,000, SN 10-15.

Mount Baker, Wash.: Dry powder surface settled and easy to ski. Experts skiing Chute Trail. Toboggan slope near Peanut Hill busy. TD 121, BD 136, CR 2,900, SN 3.

Badger Pass, Calif.: Skiing excellent. All lifts operating, including new No. 2 T-bar. TD 49, BD 55, CR 4,700, SN 19.

Squaw Valley, Calif.: Skiing excellent, surpassing last weekend. Fondue parties growing in popularity; slim racing parkas in bright colors seen. TD 96-108, BD 48-60, CR 1,250, SN 24.

Mt. Hood, Ore.: Severe east winds disrupted some events in the Collegiate Winter Carnival last week. Nearly 2,000 college students from 6 Oregon schools took part. TD 85-90, BD 70-75, CK 5,000, SN 33.

Other spots: Edelweiss, Calif.: Ideal skiing. TD 58, BD 74, CR 400, SN 24. Big Bear Lake, Calif.: Good. TD 6-14, BD 4-8, CR 1,500, SN 15. Mount Baldy, Calif.: Surfaces best this season. TD 20, BD 12, CR 1,350, SN 5. Stevens Pass, Wash.: Skiing excellent. TD 90, BD 80, CR 5,000, SN 7-10. Sugar Bowl, Calif.: TD 9, BD 6, CR 2,500, SN 1.

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