The "Sugarbush Thread"

[Newpylong]

3500 is a little undersized for the acreage at LP but still respectable. It's really how you use it (and how the water can get to where it needs to go) and who you have using it. From what I know the distribution system itself is in the Achilles heel at LP. The Bush gets more natural and is in general colder than Bromley.

They only run 1500 GPM or thereabout at Black NH and we blew the big leaguers out of the water in the MWV getting open last year.

 

[Smellytele]

They only run 1500 GPM or thereabout at Black NH and we blew the big leaguers out of the water in the MWV getting open last year.

Gotta remember who the competition is...

 

[Newpylong]

Gotta remember who the competition is...

That's why I said who is using it is a factor. My point as it pertains to Sugarbush was that numbers aren't everything.

 

[MrGlen]

and the annual snowmaking debate begins...
MrGlen-glad to have you aboard but note for the record that the snomaking systems at LP and Mt Ellen are separate. The maximimum capacity at LP is only some 3500 gpm. This pales in comparison to what Killington and stowe can pump.

I'm out. Wake me when we get a couple of feet of natural snow.

Howie, what prevented them from blowing snow the past couple of days when Stowe and killington both had the guns on?

 

[slatham]

Howie, what prevented them from blowing snow the past couple of days when Stowe and killington both had the guns on?

Management

 

[Rob Katz]

i don't understand why they can't do spring fling, i assume there's an answer but i don't know it fr

 

[cdskier]

i don't understand why they can't do spring fling, i assume there's an answer but i don't know it fr

They've done it before. It does need more snow than GH though. Seems like they think GH is simply the "safer" option to be able to get open the quickest lately.

 

[cdskier]

Wow, that's less than I thought. Little Bromley pumps 3,000 GPM.........

I'm surprised you're surprised! Comes up every year in this thread whenever someone starts talking about snow-making and why SB doesn't make snow on more trails at a time or expand as quickly as others, etc.

 

[thetrailboss]

MrGlen, It appears that you may have not been on a part of this community over the last 15 years like some of us. Yes they have upgraded some things but the snowmaking system at sugarbush has a long way to go. There are still vast sections of leaky piping to fix and water and air are still issues that need expanding. Look at what they can to an any given day. They can blow only one loop total and most would say that the snow they blow is still too wet. Other mountains can blow several loops of quality snow. Nope what you are saying sounds more like the company line. Sorry.

So what have they spent all the money on for the snowmaking in the last five years or so? Wouldn’t they be fixing these leaks and issues first?

 

[Lotso]

View attachment 66730

Yeah, funny typo... have loved being here and married nearly 40 years so could apply

 

[Lotso]

They've done it before. It does need more snow than GH though. Seems like they think GH is simply the "safer" option to be able to get open the quickest lately.

SF requires Snowball as well. Big acreage as compared with one way down GH

 

[slatham]

I'm surprised you're surprised! Comes up every year in this thread whenever someone starts talking about snow-making and why SB doesn't make snow on more trails at a time or expand as quickly as others, etc.

Yes well aware of the ongoing issues making snow, but with other “big” mountains pumping 10-12k+ gpm, my guess would have been circa 6k gpm.

 

[rtjcbrown]

Yes well aware of the ongoing issues making snow, but with other “big” mountains pumping 10-12k+ gpm, my guess would have been circa 6k gpm.

Would the next problem be that they drain the reservoir too quickly, and run out of water?

 

[drjeff]

Guessing that until SB is able to have a much greater water storage capacity for snowmaking purposes, that all that a big increase in pumping capacity would do, would be to have them draining their current pond that much quicker and have them having to shutdown while it refills until the can fire it up again. It would be great, especially in early season roll out mode and post thaw freeze recovery mode (if needed) they could work on more trails simultaneously, but unless they have the water supply/storage capacity to keep the system running for many days in a row (as in 7 to 10) all that just pumping more would do is drain their water storage supply that much quicker

 

[HowieT2]

Howie been out on your bike this fall? I wanted to get back to NY to bike with Ben but it did not happen. Let me know when your headed up to the Bush.

Sure. Won't be up until late December as my daughter is at Cambridge so I have to do thanksgving in jolly old england

 

[Hawk]

So what have they spent all the money on for the snowmaking in the last five years or so? Wouldn’t they be fixing these leaks and issues first?

So the history as I have been told, is this. When Less Otten bought Sugarbush he install miles of pipe that was sources from China. That pipe was made of poor quality steel and totally sucked. It roughed out over the years and now all of it has to be replaced. They have one portions of Gate house, Spring Fling and snow ball, portions of HG and the run down to the River. All of the rest needs replacement. Last year Sunrise blew out and they stopped making snow on it. I have not heard if they fixt that. They have also rebuild pump and valve stations but more work is needed.

Sunday River had the same issues buy I think Boyne has been more proactive. Machski would know.

 

[HowieT2]

Howie, what prevented them from blowing snow the past couple of days when Stowe and killington both had the guns on?

'nothing as far as I know. You're free to debate this 'till the cows come home, but its not going to change anything. We'll all be unhappy until there's a couple of feet of natural snow. I chose not to worry or complain about it.
Meanwhile, my son has 3 days in already at Abasin, Keystone and winter park. Head west.

 

[doublediamond]

What's the GPM of Mt Ellen?

 

[benski]

MT Ellen is over 2K GPM. I thought LP was 4K GPM.

Winter Park also is starting by making snow on half the beginner terrain, just like Sugarbush. They have 6,000 GPM now, but I here they have a lot of kinks that limit capacity, and it is very disjoined. They opened 2 ways down 500 Vert, but only like 1/3 of the snow was on those two routes. Some were scattered around the three trails dead center, and a trail with snowmaking only halfway up, and some more whales scattered around the upper beginner hill.

 

[Newpylong]

Ellen just shy of 3K, Lincoln just shy of 4K.