Sixth sense: Vermont’s Saskadena Six is an independent bearer of rustic charm

Just 10 minutes from the idyllic Woodstock Green, Saskadena Six is on the Indy Pass. (Saskadena Six)

The skiing industry will hit a significant milestone in January with the 90th anniversary of the country’s first ski lift. With the help of a Ford Model T, an early rope tow ran up a hill a couple miles north of Woodstock, Vermont, on a farm belonging to Clinton Gilbert.

Among the people who helped get that lift up and running was Rhode Island native Wallace “Bunny” Bertram, who, a couple of years later, would run a rope tow up Hill No. 6, the steeper north side, whereas the original rope tow on the Gilbert’s farm faced south.

Despite a summit elevation of about 1,200 feet and just 550 vertical feet, it quickly became a hotbed for early ski racing. Bertram owned and operated Suicide Six — which was rebranded as Saskadena Six in 2022 — until selling it to Laurance Rockefeller in 1961.

Today, there are 28 trails serviced by three lifts, with plenty of rustic charm that larger resorts can’t replicate.

Don’t expect eight-passenger, high-speed lifts or a banging après scene — though Perley’s Pourhouse is a solid place to end a ski day. For those who are willing to shift out of the modern mindset of bigger and faster, Saskadena Six is an independent ski area where a good time can be found.

“All trails lead back to the base area, providing an ideal setting for families and allowing confident young skiers to independently explore the mountain,” Woodstock Inn & Resort marketing director Jennifer Vincent said.

The ski area is owned by the Woodstock Foundation, a public charity that also owns the Woodstock Inn & Resort, located four miles away on the green in downtown Woodstock. It offers traditional ski-and-stay packages.

The mountain has offered ski instruction from the beginning and does both private and group lessons. It also helps spread the joy of snowsports by hosting area school groups during the week.

A 2,000-foot fixed-grip quad to the summit was added for the 2016-17 season. While it might not be high-speed, it does not take long to get to the top, giving ample opportunity for plenty of laps until your legs are ready to throw in the towel.

A 1,600-foot double chair and a short surface lift services beginner and freestyle terrain on the left for those looking uphill. The main slope is known as The Face, and it was here Bertram saw the potential for a ski area. It also was where S6 got its previous name, as it was said to be suicide to ski down the face. The nickname stood for almost 90 years. The new name honors the ancestral land of the indigenous western Abenaki people. The word “saskadena” means “standing mountain,” symbolizing a deep connection to the original inhabitants and the land.

Along with the Woodstock Ski Runners club, Saskadena Six has hosted the Fisk Trophy Race, one of the oldest races in the country, since 1937. The race has been a who’s who of Eastern racers with Bode Miller, Chip Knight and Jimmy Cochrane among the list of past champions. The mountain also has an important history with snowboarding, hosting the first National Snow Snurfing Championship in 1982.

The season is projected to begin on Dec. 15 and typically runs until late March.

Saskadena Six is on the Indy Pass; single-day tickets bought in advance to be used any day of the season are available online for $89 for adults, and date-specific tickets during holiday periods can be had for $81, as low as $39 midweek. The most one will pay at the window is $99.

Parking is free and just steps away from the lodge and lifts.

“We have seen substantial numbers in Indy Pass redemptions each year, with almost a 50 percent increase in the 2022-2023 season compared to the season prior,” Vincent said. “Indy Pass continues to be successful in introducing Saskadena Six to new skiers and riders traveling through our region.”

Vincent said people tend to take advantage of the pass’ two days at Saskadena because of solid conditions and the vibe at the ski area.

Its location, 25 minutes away from Exit 1 off of I-89, less than 10 minutes from Woodstock Green, makes Saskadena Six easily accessible from anywhere in New England. Like the ski area, the inn is a throwback in time. It offers Red Rooster, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant, and Richardson’s Tavern for dining and drinking.

For those who find the Woodstock Inn to be a bit heavy on the credit card, there are a number of B&B options along Route 4, while chain hotels are available to the east in White River Junction, about 30 minutes away, or across the Connecticut River in Lebanon, New Hampshire.a