Sugarloaf/USA 4/16/07

loafer89 · Apr 16, 2007, 3:09 PM

Area skied: Sugarloaf, Maine.

Date skied: April 16th from 9:30am - 1:00pm

Surface conditions: 8-12" powder/sleet mix, wetpacked.

Weather: snow/sleet mix before 11am, then sleet and freezing rain.
Windy, 32F.

Well day 40 was interesting weather and ski experience wise. We left Stratton in a heavy snow and arrived to Sugarloaf with a snow sleet mix falling at 8:00am.

No lifts where operating and we found out that the mountain was on wind hold so we ate breakfast and watched the Superquad be run and de-iced.

Around 9am we made our way to the Superquad and found out that was not taking passengers due to summit icing and that the T-bar was running with a snowcat taking you up Boardwalk.

A long line developed while waiting for the cat to take people up, and Boardwalk started running and just when this seemed like the way to go it was announced that the Superquad was running and we made the mad dash with 50 or more people to that lift.

Our first run was down Kings Landing and we competed for fresh lines in 10" of powder with a 2" topping of sleet. You really had to take a leaned back stance to avoid getting stuck/falling.

We skied this to Haywire with first tracks in very deep snow/sleet. Heavy sleet was now falling which hurt any exposed skin.

Next up was Tote Road and an untouched Ram Pasture Glade which had thick gluey snow. Next was Binder which had nice powder to Windrow which was 100% untracked.

We skied Winters Way and I took a fall as soon as I hit the trail by burying my tips into 12-14" of heavy sleet/snow covered moguls. This part of the mountain seemed to have alot more sleet and it was like skiing in ball bearings. Lower Spillway and Boardwalk where groomed and turns on them where the best of the afternoon.

We skied Spillway/Lower Winters Way next and it had started to change to freezing rain and turns became difficult, especially with moguls on Spillway.

Our last run was a traverse down part of Bubblecuffer to Ramdown which was thick and gluey.

In a now pouring rain we skied Buckboard with leg breaking glop for snow. All lifts where now closed due to the weather, and we where soaking wet anyway, so we went home.

The drive home was scary as it started out with six boarders/skiers pushing my car out of the parking lot slop and ended with us skidding off route 27 on freezing rain/sleet covered roads, bouncing off a snowbank and thankfully getting back on the road.

bigbog · Apr 16, 2007, 5:04 PM

Sounds like your day could've filled a segment in a TGR vid loafer!...bouncing off snowbanks..

Maine weather for you! Will be interesting to see how close any great snow will be....SR, VT, or Upper_NYS.

loafer89 · Apr 16, 2007, 5:41 PM

The NWS now says that we can expect 12-16" more snow between tonight and wednesday.

It's gotten colder with a light snow falling right now.

Two more powder days, yipe!!!!

loafer89 · Apr 20, 2007, 11:24 AM

Powder pictures of the sleet/snow mix on monday:

Powder snow on Binder:

First tracks down Windrow:

Buried moguls on Winter's Way:

Apr 16, 2007, 3:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
loafer89 Sugarloaf Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Coventry, C.T Posts: 3,604	Sugarloaf/USA 4/16/07 Area skied: Sugarloaf, Maine. Date skied: April 16th from 9:30am - 1:00pm Surface conditions: 8-12" powder/sleet mix, wetpacked. Weather: snow/sleet mix before 11am, then sleet and freezing rain. Windy, 32F. Well day 40 was interesting weather and ski experience wise. We left Stratton in a heavy snow and arrived to Sugarloaf with a snow sleet mix falling at 8:00am. No lifts where operating and we found out that the mountain was on wind hold so we ate breakfast and watched the Superquad be run and de-iced. Around 9am we made our way to the Superquad and found out that was not taking passengers due to summit icing and that the T-bar was running with a snowcat taking you up Boardwalk. A long line developed while waiting for the cat to take people up, and Boardwalk started running and just when this seemed like the way to go it was announced that the Superquad was running and we made the mad dash with 50 or more people to that lift. Our first run was down Kings Landing and we competed for fresh lines in 10" of powder with a 2" topping of sleet. You really had to take a leaned back stance to avoid getting stuck/falling. We skied this to Haywire with first tracks in very deep snow/sleet. Heavy sleet was now falling which hurt any exposed skin. Next up was Tote Road and an untouched Ram Pasture Glade which had thick gluey snow. Next was Binder which had nice powder to Windrow which was 100% untracked. We skied Winters Way and I took a fall as soon as I hit the trail by burying my tips into 12-14" of heavy sleet/snow covered moguls. This part of the mountain seemed to have alot more sleet and it was like skiing in ball bearings. Lower Spillway and Boardwalk where groomed and turns on them where the best of the afternoon. We skied Spillway/Lower Winters Way next and it had started to change to freezing rain and turns became difficult, especially with moguls on Spillway. Our last run was a traverse down part of Bubblecuffer to Ramdown which was thick and gluey. In a now pouring rain we skied Buckboard with leg breaking glop for snow. All lifts where now closed due to the weather, and we where soaking wet anyway, so we went home. The drive home was scary as it started out with six boarders/skiers pushing my car out of the parking lot slop and ended with us skidding off route 27 on freezing rain/sleet covered roads, bouncing off a snowbank and thankfully getting back on the road. __________________ Ski School - A place where novices are turned into menaces. Last edited by loafer89; Apr 16, 2007 at 3:31 PM.

Apr 16, 2007, 5:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
bigbog more Katahdin in 09'...I HoPe Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: maine Posts: 1,240	....eventful day... Sounds like your day could've filled a segment in a TGR vid loafer!...bouncing off snowbanks.. Maine weather for you! Will be interesting to see how close any great snow will be....SR, VT, or Upper_NYS.

Apr 16, 2007, 5:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
loafer89 Sugarloaf Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Coventry, C.T Posts: 3,604	The NWS now says that we can expect 12-16" more snow between tonight and wednesday. It's gotten colder with a light snow falling right now. Two more powder days, yipe!!!! __________________ Ski School - A place where novices are turned into menaces.

Apr 20, 2007, 11:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
loafer89 Sugarloaf Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Coventry, C.T Posts: 3,604	Powder pictures of the sleet/snow mix on monday: Powder snow on Binder: First tracks down Windrow: Buried moguls on Winter's Way: __________________ Ski School - A place where novices are turned into menaces.

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