MRG Proposes Midstation on Sunnyside Double

[thetrailboss]

According to LiftBlog, Sunnyside is getting a new haul rope and maybe a midstation to help in low snow years so folks can ski the machine made snow back down to the base.

Sunnyside Mid-station - Mad River Glen, Vermont

Project Summary: As the Mad River Glen Cooperative Board and Management seek to meet its strategic goals of expanding skiing opportunities, and preserving and protecting the skiing experience we have....

www.madriverglen.com

Seems like a good idea.

 

[PAabe]

They had the planned midstation area flagged off when I was there this year. Seemed like a great idea to me but I'm obviously not a regular. My cousins took a lesson there and the jump from the the handle tow to the top of the sunnyside double is bit intimidating, partly because the very top of the run was pretty crowded due to it being narrow and partly just because it is a long way up... it would be great for beginners to be able to get to the birdland lift without having to go to the top, and I did think the birdland placement was a bit odd without a mid station on sunnyside to get to it.

Better access to snowmaking trails also makes a lot of sense, and where they had it flagged off to add the midstation did not look intrusive whatsoever to me

 

[bigbob]

Why not use the money and invest in more snowmaking?

 

[thetrailboss]

Why not use the money and invest in more snowmaking?

The MRG blog post says that their issues are: (1) lack of water, and (2) permitting.

Their intent is to make the terrain that has snowmaking on it more accessible in lean years.

 

[doublediamond]

And easier access for beginners upgrading from the handle to the greens of Birdland. This is just as important as the lean snow years.

 

[Zand]

And easier access for beginners upgrading from the handle to the greens of Birdland. This is just as important as the lean snow years.

To me, this is the biggest reason for putting in an midstation there. I always found it odd that in order to get to MRG's dedicated beginner lift, you had to take another lift all the way to the top of that side of the mountain and the only beginner trail into that area is a narrow criss-crossing catwalk which also usually is fairly busy with people getting to other trails.

 

[urungus]

The MRG blog post says that their issues are: (1) lack of water, and (2) permitting.

Their intent is to make the terrain that has snowmaking on it more accessible in lean years.

Also the Co-op’s bylaws explicitly restrict snowmaking above the elevation of 2,300 feet, as mentioned at https://www.madriverglen.com/new-to-mrg/

 

[Newpylong]

There was a fairly lengthy document published at one point where the water alternatives were analyzed. Long story short there really are no alternatives. Even if they somehow managed to build a pond there is no water nearby to fill it.