The Birthday Bowls and Back Bowls are used interchangeably but I’ve come to understand it this way. If you drop in from Spruce Peak it’s the Birthday Bowls. If you drop in from Smugglers Notch Ski Area it’s the Back Bowls. Whatever you call it, this zone offers excellent glades. Ski down the trail that connects Spruce Peak to Sterling Pond, look for entrances to skiers left. Some are sneakier than others, but the most obvious is a drop in below a retaining wall to skiers left. Drop the retaining wall (or ski around to the right) and traverse to skiers left until you enter a beautiful hardwood glades. From here its proper go anywhere terrain. Pick your line through classic northern Vermont maple, beech and birch, hunting for the freshest line down to the Notch Road. If you’re coming from Stowe, throw the skins on and get walking. If coming from Smuggs, enjoy the gentle glide back to the parking lot. Be aware that skiing into the notch, even in non avalanche terrain is a serious endeavor, and many skiers have been rescued as a result of getting lost or cliffed out in this terrain. Carry a backpack with enough food, water and layers to survive a night out, and don’t go unless you have a plan.