The "Sugarbush Thread"

[cdskier]

I'm rarely there early enough to catch the first chair (non-early up) so the early up cancellation really doesn't affect me. But last season, the one day that I was there early enough, they were slow getting the early ups going so they didn't open Bravo until early ups got their full 30 minutes which led to me getting on the lift around 8:20. I wasn't thrilled as the reason that I made it to the mountain that early was that I had to be on the road earlier than normal.

I've been a strong defender of management at SB, but the signs are not great. NRX has to be replaced. Slide Brook needs to be fixed. I understand cancelling programs where the costs outweigh the benefits, but it's still not a great sign. The lift served mountain biking cancellation is troubling as I doubt it will ever come back.

It isn't just lift-served mountain biking either. They've abandoned so much in terms of summer ops. I guess the visitation wasn't there to justify it, but I'm also not sure they did a great job promoting what they did have. Years ago they had lift served biking, lift-served scenic lift rides, lift-served disc golf, and a variety of things at the base area (I even remember a small zip line going across the base area at one point).

For me though, one of the biggest issues continues to be the sheer lack of communication and transparency from management.

And Early Ups causing a delay on opening Bravo to the general public is bizarre. Everyone else paid for access starting at 8, therefore it should open at 8 even if Early Ups only started loading at 7:55. Only acceptable reason for a lift to be delayed for the public is if it is delayed for everyone due to weather/mechanical type of issues.

 

[mikec142]

It isn't just lift-served mountain biking either. They've abandoned so much in terms of summer ops. I guess the visitation wasn't there to justify it, but I'm also not sure they did a great job promoting what they did have. Years ago they had lift served biking, lift-served scenic lift rides, lift-served disc golf, and a variety of things at the base area (I even remember a small zip line going across the base area at one point).

For me though, one of the biggest issues continues to be the sheer lack of communication and transparency from management.

I completely agree...the lack of transparency and communication is troubling. They got hammered over this issue with the Heaven's Gate replacement. You would think they would learn their lesson.

You have a place up there...are you using it as much in the summer?

 

[Plowboy]

The Blue Stone was bought by the same guy that recently bought the VG (Village Grocery). From what hear he's looking for someone to lease it. Rumor has it that Hammond fired PK who was the VP of mountain operations. Imo the new Tommy's Toy does not fit in with overall vibe of ME at all. I haven't been to the pond, but the river and all of the brooks are very very very low!!! Living next to ME I can say most if not all of the events at ME have been flops this summer. On a positive note it's a beautiful day here next to ME!!

 

[cdskier]

I completely agree...the lack of transparency and communication is troubling. They got hammered over this issue with the Heaven's Gate replacement. You would think they would learn their lesson.

You have a place up there...are you using it as much in the summer?

Nope...haven't been up since April. Even when there was stuff to do I was lucky to make it up there twice a summer (usually for the BrewGrass festival that they no longer have and then one other weekend). Hard to justify driving 5 hours this time of year. I enjoy hiking, but not enough to drive that far too often. Too much other stuff to do closer to home.

 

[HowieT2]

The Blue Stone was bought by the same guy that recently bought the VG (Village Grocery). From what hear he's looking for someone to lease it. Rumor has it that Hammond fired PK who was the VP of mountain operations. Imo the new Tommy's Toy does not fit in with overall vibe of ME at all. I haven't been to the pond, but the river and all of the brooks are very very very low!!! Living next to ME I can say most if not all of the events at ME have been flops this summer. On a positive note it's a beautiful day here next to ME!!

I was up the week before labor day and Ive never seen the streams as low as they were. We did get a little rain that week but it wasnt much. Didnt see the snowmaking pond.
I too am disappointed at the abandonment of the mtn bike trail plan. However I wonder if it would have been successful in attracting people since the trails in the valley are already great and there are shuttles for those who want to skip the climbing.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I mean how much lift served MTB can Vermont support? Killington has a significant build out in that genre. If you aren't offering what they have or better, then its hard to attract paying customers.

when these places were all "independently owned" Summer activities were a away to keep valued staff on board year round. Alterra and Vail don't give a shit about that. They've made that pretty clear...

 

[Lotso]

Lack of water starting to get worrisome. Nothing in next 2 weeks from what I see, at least nothing that will allow them to pull from the Mad or fill the ME pond.

November could be ugly without water for snowmaking. Starting to worry about my well...

 

[tumbler]

I think they are not allowed to pull from the river yet, might be Nov 1 to March 1 or something around that. Plus they need to put the dam in to raise the water level to the height of the intakes. It is worrisome for sure, they'll open on First Time or with the new carpet at ME.

 

[urungus]

Years ago they had lift served biking, lift-served scenic lift rides, lift-served disc golf, and a variety of things at the base area

Lift serviced disc golf ? Why would you need a chairlift to go golfing (disc golf or traditional) ?

 

[thetrailboss]

Lift serviced disc golf ? Why would you need a chairlift to go golfing (disc golf or traditional) ?

Believe it or not, it is a thing. If it is like Brighton or other places, the course runs down the mountain. So folks ride up the lift and do the course down the mountain.

 

[cdskier]

Lift serviced disc golf ? Why would you need a chairlift to go golfing (disc golf or traditional) ?

Exactly what TB said. At one point Sugarbush had 2 courses. One course was in the base area (in the lower Gate House area trails and woods). The other course started at the top of Super Bravo and worked all the way down the mountain. It was fun and quite challenging.

Edit...here's a map of the old peak course:

 

[HowieT2]

I mean how much lift served MTB can Vermont support? Killington has a significant build out in that genre. If you aren't offering what they have or better, then its hard to attract paying customers.

when these places were all "independently owned" Summer activities were a away to keep valued staff on board year round. Alterra and Vail don't give a shit about that. They've made that pretty clear...

yeah, I dont know that even with an attractive offering, its bringing in the kind of customers they need.

 

[HowieT2]

Nope...haven't been up since April. Even when there was stuff to do I was lucky to make it up there twice a summer (usually for the BrewGrass festival that they no longer have and then one other weekend). Hard to justify driving 5 hours this time of year. I enjoy hiking, but not enough to drive that far too often. Too much other stuff to do closer to home.

I got mad taco, canteen creamee and flatbread twice. More than worth the drive