A Sneak Peek at the Future Expansion of Sugarbush??

[thetrailboss]

The folks on SkiMRV (namely Strat) found a public document that has maps of the resort that place just where they plan to expand skiing terrain (someday). Want to take a look? Click to page 47. Nice terrain pods placed on both sides but note:

* The Inverness Pod where there was planned development
* A new beginner area lift at Ellen to replace the double
* A nice pod of terrain with a lift in between Tumbler and FIS (good idea)
* A new trail on skier's right of Black Diamond off the summit of Ellen
* An area marked, "Future Mountain Explansion Potential" [sic] that has terrain above the Village and terminating near SBX
* A nice area in between North Lynx and Castlerock
* A lift that runs from the condos to Lower Snowball
* And several new trails that relieve key congestion points (namely Deathspout and Lower OG)

As expected, well planned out IMHO and the proposed connector trails show that whoever put this together knew the mountain very well. We wouldn't expect anything less though from SB :wink:

And for those wondering, here is the proposal for new tree skiing areas to be cut this fall. The proposed areas are in yellow, with most at 'Ellen and a few runs off of the Valley House Double area.

Thoughts???

 

[deadheadskier]

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

bring it

 

[RootDKJ]

I printed it and left it in the bathroom at work. Should make for several good mid-day reads.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

it would be cool if they can expand to the backside and put in some runs and lifts in the slidebrook area..

 

[St. Bear]

it would be cool if they can expand to the backside and put in some runs and lifts in the slidebrook area..

I'd be willing to bet that there would be a revolt among the locals if they did that.

/and I mean the ski bums, not the tree huggers

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I'd be willing to bet that there would be a revolt among the locals if they did that.

/and I mean the ski bums, not the tree huggers

there're skibums in the east..:razz:

 

[WWF-VT]

it would be cool if they can expand to the backside and put in some runs and lifts in the slidebrook area..

Never gonna happen as it's National Forest System (NFS) lands as well as all sorts of regulatory approval required for any new trail cutting, development, etc.

 

[thetrailboss]

it would be cool if they can expand to the backside and put in some runs and lifts in the slidebrook area..

The backside is either GMNF or private land and not developable. Plus the western exposure makes it less desireable.

The Slide Brook: it is what it is and will be. Les Otten gave up any expansion in that area in order to get the SBX installed.

 

[deadheadskier]

it would be cool if they can expand to the backside and put in some runs and lifts in the slidebrook area..

that will happen with the MRG interconnect

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

that will happen with the MRG interconnect

I was hoping they would connect with Stowe somehow..you need good pondskimming skills for skimming the Winnoski river..

 

[Geoff]

In my opinion, what Sugarbush really needs is to improve the Roxbury Gap road. If Massholes with FWD and all season radials could reliably use that road, it would inject an awful lot of money into the local economy. It's less than 20 miles from I-89 to the parking lot. That needs to be a 30 minute drive on well maintained road with a good shoulder all the way. 187 miles and sub-3 hours from the Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston. That's day trip distance for millions of people who now completely ignore Sugarbush.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

In my opinion, what Sugarbush really needs is to improve the Roxbury Gap road. If Massholes with FWD and all season radials could reliably use that road, it would inject an awful lot of money into the local economy. It's less than 20 miles from I-89 to the parking lot. That needs to be a 30 minute drive on well maintained road with a good shoulder all the way. 187 miles and sub-3 hours from the Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston. That's day trip distance for millions of people who now completely ignore Sugarbush.

I thought alot of Boston people ski Sugarbush..I never thought of that as I've never approached Sugarbush from the East..

 

[Geoff]

I thought alot of Boston people ski Sugarbush..I never thought of that as I've never approached Sugarbush from the East..

A lot do.

You need a pretty good winter driving car with good tires if you're going to drive the Roxbury Gap road every weekend. A Prius with rock-hard stock tires and a Back Bay parking sticker is going to find a ditch. Very few people in metro-Boston have snow tires.

Of course, the NIMBY people will be all pissed about any kind of road improvements.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

A lot do.

You need a pretty good winter driving car with good tires if you're going to drive the Roxbury Gap road every weekend. A Prius with rock-hard stock tires and a Back Bay parking sticker is going to find a ditch. Very few people in metro-Boston have snow tires.

Of course, the NIMBY people will be all pissed about any kind of road improvements.

I've never driven that road..is Back Bay a yuppie thing? NIMBY? It's like urban dictionary on here. I think a combined multi-day lift ticket with Stowe would be sweet but doubt that will happen. When was the last time a new run was cut at Sugarbush? I know Mount Ellen has undergone some reconfiguring of lifts in the past 15 years or so but nothing has changed at South since 1995 except the new Claybrook lodge. I've skied Sugarbush the past two seasons and more lifts and trails will have me coming back because I'm sure they will be cool and twisty trails with charecter..not McTrails....is it ski season yet

 

[WWF-VT]

In my opinion, what Sugarbush really needs is to improve the Roxbury Gap road. If Massholes with FWD and all season radials could reliably use that road, it would inject an awful lot of money into the local economy. It's less than 20 miles from I-89 to the parking lot. That needs to be a 30 minute drive on well maintained road with a good shoulder all the way. 187 miles and sub-3 hours from the Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston. That's day trip distance for millions of people who now completely ignore Sugarbush.

I have two cars with AWD and winter tires and drive to Sugarbush from the Boston area most every weekend in the winter. When the Roxbury Gap road is in good shape it only saves 10-15 mins of driving time. Paving it all the way is not going to make it any easier for cars with FWD and all season radials. That road is just too steep and winding and giving more people reason to drive it will only result in more towing opportunities for Haps.

I grew up in CT and live in MA but not yet become a Masshole

 

[wa-loaf]

I've never driven that road..is Back Bay a yuppie thing? NIMBY?

Back bay: Nice area of Boston with expensive brownstones. Tom Brady has a place there.

NIMBY = Not In My Back Yard.

 

[Geoff]

I grew up in CT and live in MA but not yet become a Masshole

The true test: Do you use your turn signals?

 

[Talisman]

The true test: Do you use your turn signals?

As a Mass-hole in recovery, I thought the test was passing in the break down lane with no use of turn signals (unless a middle finger counts).

 

[WWF-VT]

The true test: Do you use your turn signals?

Still do !

 

[deadheadskier]

What do people think about the business supporting all of that added overhead in lift ops and trail maintenance?

I'd think they'd have to generate at least another 100K in skier visits for such a decision to provide a decent ROI