Sunday River 22-23

[urungus]

Yeah, its true. I was at the Igloo yesterday when it happened. Just finished a beer and noticed the Jordan lift hadn't moved in a while. People started bailing from the lift line and hiking up towards the Grand. The back up generators started at some point and the lift started moving real slow. Not sure how long it took to get everyone off the lift but it must have been forever. Eventually they got buses down to a small parking lot where the igloo is and drove everyone out. Kind of an end to a crazy day there, with most lifts on wind hold, but if you were patient it was still a great day.

Is the igloo still open ? Not sure if this means it was closed for the day or the season on March 21

 

[Killingtime]

Is the igloo still open ? Not sure if this means it was closed for the day or the season on March 21

They had a DJ and food trucks there this past Saturday. It was pretty packed, easily a few hundred people.. Couldn't even find a place to park your skis. Yesterday was just fire pit, chill music and drinks. I didnt hear how long they expect to keep it open but I would say another week or two at least. Its bigger and better than the one from last year.

 

[parahelia]

The igloo was closed for maintenance last midweek, I assume to shore it up after the rain last Monday. With them shifting towards Jordan for closing I assume they want to run it as late as possible, that place prints money on nice spring days.

I was there 3/14-24 and there were multiple days of really fantastic spring bumps. There were also some gruesome days when it never unlocked. They are making snow to patch up a few spots after the rain and should be good for a while yet, at least wherever they made snow. The difference between Lost Princess (middle pic) where they made snow and sadly neglected Eureka was pretty stark.

 

[Killingtime]

Shot Ski World Record​

April 7​

11:00 am - 1:30 pm
The Igloo
Join us and Jägermeister as we take on the challenge of breaking the record for the World's Largest Après Shot Ski!

Looks like Igloo open until at least April 7th.

 

[machski]

Appears the River is going short this spring. Spring ops posted and last day appears to be Patriot's Day Monday 4/21.

 

[thebigo]

Appears the River is going short this spring. Spring ops posted and last day appears to be Patriot's Day Monday 4/21.

disappointing, appears loon is closing the second weekend of april, SR the third and SL the last weekend of april. feels about a week early for all three.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

i thought SR skied great this weekend, and i'm really pleased with my decision making to get north and east and have a hotel in bethel instead of gorham. morning drives would have been unpleasant bordering on unsafe both days

saturday was a great late season powder day. 3" reported in the morning, but i cleared more like 5" off my car i think. they claimed 7" by end of the day. sounds about right. all the groomers skied great early. the ungroomed sides of the groomers skied great all day. the ungroomed runs with the whales on them were too dusty on crusty, but they were ok-ish in the troughs on the sides. low angle trees were skiable with caution. i skied 3 blind ambition laps, and poached celestial. otherwise i stayed out. 7 hour, nearly 40k vertical session. great day.

went to a nice medical dispensary outside of bethel. got chinese food in bethel. passed out before 9 pm.

sunday woke up to a centimeter of snow on the car and a weird winter mix coming from the sky. got to SR for first chair and the mixed precip continued. i just lapped barker and appreciated the bubble (this is the one time i really like a bubble, weird ass semi frozen or non frozen precip). it didnt rain/ice at all overnight so the skiing was quite good. i mostly stuck to the groomers, but dabbled in the bumps and it was fine. not good not bad just fine. by about 10 am the mixed precip took on a decidely snowier quality, which was nice and let me grab a few runs on white cap without getting soaked.

got off the hill just before 11. the getting wasnt good enough to justify continuing with the long drive home, and i had some worry about icy roads. the roads ended up being fine.

great weekend. prob my last powder day of the year.

 

[thebigo]

Appears the River is going short this spring. Spring ops posted and last day appears to be Patriot's Day Monday 4/21.

Loon adding easter weekend for last to close in NH. Hopefully SR follows suit with a bonus weekend.

 

[machski]

Loon adding easter weekend for last to close in NH. Hopefully SR follows suit with a bonus weekend.

Saw that at Loon. Bit surprised they hadn't just planned through Easter Weekend to begin with.

 

[sull1102]

I was told of the extension by a Patroller a couple hours before it was pushed out via the app and he suggested they were kind of waiting to see how the snow held up this weekend before pulling the trigger but that it was always the goal.

 

[chuckstah]

Tickets are on sale through 4/28 now, with the annual free ski day scheduled for 5/3. It looks like a proper May closing for the first time in a long time.

 

[Smellytele]

If they make it to 5/3 May have to go!

 

[2Planker]

NH Black just said May 3 too

 

[urungus]

Was at Sunday River Monday and Tuesday to set the world shot ski record, there was still great coverage on the snowmaking trails and with cool temperatures in the forecast they should have no trouble making May 3.

I posted a lengthy trip report on setting the world shot ski record, it was the most fun ever - even got to hang out in the hot tub with Jonny Moseley, no joke.

April 2025 - Sunday River - Igloo & World Record Shot Ski attempt with Donny Pelletier & Jonny Moseley + Cannon Mountain & New England Ski Museum

When I saw this I knew I had to be part of the attempt, always wanted to be a world record holder LOL For years, the shot-ski record has bounced back and forth between Breckenridge and Park City, but a week ago a new record of 1460 people simultaneously drinking a shot mounted on a ski was set...

forums.alpinezone.com

 

[gladerider]

the lodging options in sugarloaf and sunday river sux. where do you all stay up there?
my kid is on spring break next week and wanted to check out the northern slopes for the 1st time with my fam.

 

[machski]

the lodging options in sugarloaf and sunday river sux. where do you all stay up there?
my kid is on spring break next week and wanted to check out the northern slopes for the 1st time with my fam.

We've owned for over a decade at SR. On hill condo first and now off mountain home in Bethel. That said, depends what you are looking for. For the balance of the season after this weekend at SR, the only slopeside lodging will be the Jordan Hotel. All it's public space was recently renovated and upgraded quite a bit, but rooms are yet to come for that. All the condos after this weekend will require a drive to the lifts. If looking for the value play, Snowcap Inn may have some food deals right now. I believe the Grand Summit will have ski in/out access this weekend but that is it for there so they may have some deals as well.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

the lodging options in sugarloaf and sunday river sux. where do you all stay up there?
my kid is on spring break next week and wanted to check out the northern slopes for the 1st time with my fam.

there are a handful of places up the road to sunday river that are decent and not crazy, but usually if I ski in sunday river I stay 30 minutes away in gorham nh where there are tons of inexpensive hotels and restaurants. there are two competing chinese buffets. its a true new hampshire north country metropolis. try the rostay for lodging in bethel.

sugarloaf is the middle of goddamn nowhere. i've stayed in farmington which is not close. I've stayed in the mountain view motel which is close and not bad. i find rangely to be a much more happening place to spend the night if I am in the loaf/saddleback area.

 

[Zand]

Sugarloaf is the one place in the northeast where I have ponied up the 200+ per night to stay at the base area hotel.

Actually paid the same amount per night to rent a 2 bedroom cabin on Rangeley Lake for a week a couple years ago. They're summer cottages so they usually have some good deals in the winter. You have Saddleback right there and Sugarloaf is under 45 minutes.

 

[gladerider]

thanks for the good intel guys

 

[bigbob]

there are a handful of places up the road to sunday river that are decent and not crazy, but usually if I ski in sunday river I stay 30 minutes away in gorham nh where there are tons of inexpensive hotels and restaurants. there are two competing chinese buffets. its a true new hampshire north country metropolis. try the rostay for lodging in bethel.

sugarloaf is the middle of goddamn nowhere. i've stayed in farmington which is not close. I've stayed in the mountain view motel which is close and not bad. i find rangely to be a much more happening place to spend the night if I am in the loaf/saddleback area.

Up the road in Eustis/Stratton area is where we have been staying the last few years when going to Sugarloaf. We have rented an apartment above a guys garage a few times, right on the snowmobile trail so I bring one of my sleds. Also, the Spillover Motel is reasonable and recently the rooms were remolded.