The "Sugarbush Thread"

[Hawk]

heading up to vt tomorrow so I just checked conditions at mt snow killington and sb. For all the snowmaking complaints, kton and sb have essentially the same number of trails/acreage open. And mt snow is significantly behind both.

Howie, ping me and T and I will buy you a drink. We are also heading up tomorrow.

 

[djd66]

Looks like they are getting ready to open Castlerock! If so,... this would be quite early for them to run the lift!

 

[ducky]

I prefer Castlerock when the lift is closed.

 

[mikec142]

I prefer Castlerock when the lift is closed.

You just gave us an argument that could go for 2-3 pages. Well played! I tip my chapeau to you.

 

[Lotso]

You just gave us an argument that could go for 2-3 pages. Well played! I tip my chapeau to you.

I will bite. I agree. Unless it's a storm day and tracks get refilled....and a weekday.

 

[cdskier]

You just gave us an argument that could go for 2-3 pages. Well played! I tip my chapeau to you.

It has probably gone for more than that in the past!

If they open CR now, I think that is definitely one of the earliest CR openings I can remember. I'm inclined to think it is still too early and would rather they give it more time to accumulate a bit with limited traffic...

But again I feel like they are pressured with 1) not being able to offer as much snow-making terrain yet and 2) other resorts having a substantial amount of terrain open already

 

[tumbler]

They should open Ellen!!

If they are going to open CR then why not open North Lynx?

 

[mikec142]

I will bite. I agree. Unless it's a storm day and tracks get refilled....and a weekday.

It's cool. There's no right or wrong answer. Well, maybe my answer is the right one.

My take (as a guy older than 50) is that keeping it as hike to only sucks. I get it in the early season where it can get skied off quickly. But once there's enough snow on the ground it's simply uncool. It's in bounds, lift served terrain. Keeping it as hike to unneccessarily gate keeps one of the best pods in VT. It's already limited by the slow lift with the widely spaced chairs. The folks that have no issues hiking to CR from HG have plenty of hike to stuff in the Slide Brook side country.

Sugarbush charges X amount of dollars for a lift ticket and part of the expectation is that as much of the lifts are running and as much terrain as possible are opened up. If Sugarbush wants to keep Castlerock for a small segment of the skiers on the mountain, then they should have two types of lift tix. Sugarbush and Sugarbush minus Castlerock.

The vast majority of SB patrons can't or don't want to hike to CR. Should SB cater to them or to the minority?

 

[Plowboy]

For sure. Possibly not known is, GMVS has poured capital money into the snowmaking upgrades and t-bar. Sorry to offend using the "baby winch" term. My PB bias was showing a bit.

Not offended at all, actually thought it was funny. I'm sure you're not the only one around here with PB bias, lol. I'm old enough to remember when the narrow single cab Thiokol's replaced the old Tucker's at Glen Ellen/Sugarbush North. I remember watching Meriden Nelson groom FIS with a Thiokol, he would go up and turn around on the top steep pitch then go back down with the tracks in reverse to slow him down. This was after Roy Cohen the owner of SB bought him 2 beers and 2 shots of Jack for lunch in the GML to "calm his nerves"! LOL

 

[djd66]

I'm just happy to hear the lift is working and not broken down like it was last year.

 

[Lotso]

I'm just happy to hear the lift is working and not broken down like it was last year.

Ooooh, now you've done it...

 

[Newpylong]

They should open Ellen!!

If they are going to open CR then why not open North Lynx?

Because folks know what they're getting into on CR. Folks expect snowmaking/easier terrain on N. Lynx.

 

[teleo]

It's cool. There's no right or wrong answer. Well, maybe my my answer is the right one.

My take (as a guy older than 5060) is that keeping it as hike to only sucks is awesome. I get it in is the early season where it can will get skied off quickly. But once there's There's not enough snow on the ground it's simply so it's really uncool. It's in bounds, lift served terrain. Keeping it as hike to unneccessarily gate keeps one of the best pods in VT as THE best pod in VT. Although It's already limited by the slow lift with the widely spaced chairs it would get trashed in a heartbeat. The folks that have no issues hiking to CR from HG have plenty of hike to no other stuff in the Slide Brook side country because MT Ellen busses are not running.

Sugarbush charges X amount of dollars for a lift ticket and part of the expectation is that as much of the lifts are running and as much terrain as possible are opened up. Patrol has opened so much questionable terrain, they should be commended! If Sugarbush wants to keep Castlerock for a small segment large majority of the skiers on the mountain, so they have two types of lift tix. Sugarbush locals and Sugarbush minus Castlerock reserve.

The vast majority of SB patrons can't or don't want to hike to CR. Should SB cater to them or to the minority?

Fixed it for you

 

[kbroderick]

Report them to Patrol when you see it happening. I know many of the coaches and none of them "allow" it and would support kids being called on bad behavior. Give Patrol details (helmet color, ski/boot brand), whatever you can besides the green coat and ask that they follow up.

I'd expect you could also reach out directly to a responsible adult at the club or GMVS (depending on whether the person in question was weekend or academy). It's been a long time since I worked there, but I've also worked for other programs before and since, and all of them took feedback about athlete behavior seriously. While coaches may be realistic about what will happen, most will also do their best to encourage better behavior.

Having a good description, time, and location will greatly increase the chances that the right kid gets to enjoy the discussion with the responsible adult, so if you can note any identifying characteristics, that will be helpful.

 

[vtboarder]

Having a good description, time, and location will greatly increase the chances that the right kid gets to enjoy the discussion with the responsible adult, so if you can note any identifying characteristics, that will be helpful.

I've more than once the past five years said something to guest services at ME, who promise to pass it along. The bar has to be fairly high for me to trudge in there to do so as the results have been underwhelming. I ride ME much more than LP these days so perhaps exposed more.

 

[mikec142]

Fixed it for you

Well done.

PS. I bet that you're one of the guys that floats right past me on the hike to CR as I'm sweating and out of breath.

PPS. Years ago, I asked on this thread how long the hike takes and someone said 15-20 minutes. So I did it with my kids. It's not 15-20 minutes and by the time I was down to the base of the lift I was ready for the showers. LOL.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

i probably said 15-20. i stand by it. more like 20 tho.

 

[Hawk]

15 is a march. 20 is a civilized pace.

 

[mikec142]

i probably said 15-20. i stand by it. more like 20 tho.

It probably was you. Thanks a lot.

 

[Hawk]

Calls are done. Headed out. snowed about an inch while I was working.. Cameras show that they did not load the Castlerock. I might head up there.