The "Sugarbush Thread"

[jonnyco14]

My answer was snowmaking....new pond + pumping power at Lincoln peak and then trails on general stark.

 

[machski]

He was speaking as an IKON pass member resort and talking about the overall sales numbers in general terms, not specifics. He said it to staff in training and also reported it to the Alta Town Board. I've paraphrased it many times here. You weren't there so how can you know what he said?

True, I wasn't. But we know how close to the vest Alterra holds all their pass sales data. I seriously doubt they hand out specifics to their partner resorts who might then go spill all the top secret beans.

 

[Keelhauled]

A new lift in the village or something bigger like reviving the general stark expansion would be way more interesting than replacing NRX, which is a redundant lift anyway.

Your opinion is bad and you should feel bad!

 

[teleo]

I consider NRX to be the main lift at ME. A new high speed quad is desperately needed and would be my 1st priority.

Some original plans for SB village had a chair on village run to that side of the village. I think that was before the road was extended which adds complexity. Problem is the village is not owned by the mountain.

 

[cdskier]

If I had to pick one thing...I really don't know that I could say replacing NRX would be my 1st priority. I'd rather expand snow-making capacity if I'm forced to pick 1 single thing.

 

[thetrailboss]

True, I wasn't. But we know how close to the vest Alterra holds all their pass sales data. I seriously doubt they hand out specifics to their partner resorts who might then go spill all the top secret beans.

And he didn’t give details. He spoke in general terms about trends.

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

The idea of NRX being redundant is laughable. Mt Ellen is boring AF w/o that lift.
That said I also think it's crazy to think that a replacement might happen anytime soon. It ran reliably until the end of last season once they got it fixed up. Doesn't matter how band-aided it actually was or was not. It's gonna take that sucker being down for an entire season before they resume even talking about a replacement.

 

[djd66]

The idea of NRX being redundant is laughable. Mt Ellen is boring AF w/o that lift.

+1

 

[doublediamond]

To us it may be a liaghable assertion. But to a bean counter in wherever Altera is HQ’d, they seen that the summit is a 2 lift ride no matter what and they have 2 ”fine” lifts that get you there currently. Ergo NRX is redudsnat.

Yes the mountain may not really ski that way. But that’s how beancounters look at things.

 

[WoodCore]

Alterra working on the employee housing situation at both it's VT properties https://www.compassvermont.com/p/stratton-and-sugarbush-resorts-owner

 

[HowieT2]

To us it may be a liaghable assertion. But to a bean counter in wherever Altera is HQ’d, they seen that the summit is a 2 lift ride no matter what and they have 2 ”fine” lifts that get you there currently. Ergo NRX is redudsnat.

Yes the mountain may not really ski that way. But that’s how beancounters look at things.

Its not just bean counters, its marketing. When NRX is not operating, the number of trails open stays the same.

I just had an out of the box thought. The summit lift is getting on in years. What about removing the Summit and putting in a new NRX that goes to the top. Not only does that save the cost of replacing the summit, but is a significant reduction in operating expenses. And without the summit base terminal taking up space, there's more room to put in a legitimate glen house lodge. Thoughts?

 

[cdskier]

Its not just bean counters, its marketing. When NRX is not operating, the number of trails open stays the same.

I just had an out of the box thought. The summit lift is getting on in years. What about removing the Summit and putting in a new NRX that goes to the top. Not only does that save the cost of replacing the summit, but is a significant reduction in operating expenses. And without the summit base terminal taking up space, there's more room to put in a legitimate glen house lodge. Thoughts?

I think this adds more challenges than it solves. Sure you have 1 less lift to operate and maintain, but it also reduces redundancy and limits your options when there's wind holds. There are plenty of times NRX is on hold, but summit isn't (or vice versa). NRX going to the summit would also require a realignment which would add permitting challenges as well as additional costs. Then there's the problem of limited terrain choices off the summit to handle additional capacity. And on that topic, going from 2 lifts to 1 also reduces your overall uphill capacity.

 

[crank]

IMO, For Sugarbush, the answer is always snowmaking and increasing water supply. Maybe they could run a pipeline up from Lake Champlain. lol

 

[rtjcbrown]

It all starts with the snow. Without snow, nothing else matters.

My vote goes to expanding the snowmaking system

 

[Newpylong]

Its not just bean counters, its marketing. When NRX is not operating, the number of trails open stays the same.

I just had an out of the box thought. The summit lift is getting on in years. What about removing the Summit and putting in a new NRX that goes to the top. Not only does that save the cost of replacing the summit, but is a significant reduction in operating expenses. And without the summit base terminal taking up space, there's more room to put in a legitimate glen house lodge. Thoughts?

They would never be able to cut a new lift line, and even if they could can you imagine cutting across the face of the summit diagonally?

 

[raisingarizona]

I think wind and putting x amount more people skiing the same blue trail on the ridge would be problematic.

 

[thetrailboss]

They would never be able to cut a new lift line, and even if they could can you imagine cutting across the face of the summit diagonally?

This. Even if you did some kind of an angle station it would be an odd layout. If one were to consider consolidating lifts then the easiest thing would be to run a single lift up GMX with a midstation at Glen House and then continue it up to the summit. Bonus points for making the midstation load AND unload for early season skiing.

FWIW LiftBlog this week said that Stratton has a masterplan now with multiple lift installs and re-installs. As for Sugarbush........?

 

[Lotso]

A new lift in the village or something bigger like reviving the general stark expansion would be way more interesting than replacing NRX, which is a redundant lift anyway. Unofficial way to ski between Sugarbush and mrg would be nice

General Stark, as in the now overgrown lift line to the peak above Inverness (not Gen Stark) and north of MRG (Gen. Stark)? All VT hurdles with regard to clearing trails aside, this would be a south-facing pod. With no increase in snowmaking power (and rising temps), this would not fly.

Need more water and snowmaking, plus more lift mechanics

 

[x10003q]

This. Even if you did some kind of an angle station it would be an odd layout. If one were to consider consolidating lifts then the easiest thing would be to run a single lift up GMX with a midstation at Glen House and then continue it up to the summit. Bonus points for making the midstation load AND unload for early season skiing.

FWIW LiftBlog this week said that Stratton has a masterplan now with multiple lift installs and re-installs. As for Sugarbush........?

On the Stratton master plan there are only 2 new lifts mentioned in the Components Summary - a t-bar/surface lift in the Sun Bowl and " a new chairlift to move people from condo and hotel area to main base area". The map shows "Trail 9 Lift (former Kidderbrook lift alignmernt)" but it is not mentioned in the components summary. All the other lift mentions are in reference to replacement/upgrade of existing lifts.

 

[slatham]

And the Sun Bowl T-bar could very well be funded by SMS, not Alterra.