The "Sugarbush Thread"

[cdskier]

My issue with ME is partly that I just don't know it as well and thus was hesitant to head down Exterminator and Lower FIS cuz I didn't want to commit to something that might be long and shitty. I wish I did both. I'd like to explore ME more when there's fresh snow.

For Exterminator, you can always cut in via the crossover that comes from Elbow across Bravo and over to Ext. That cuts off the top 1/3 or so and can be a good option if you want to test out a shorter part of it (and you avoid the slightly steeper part at the very top with the biggest bumps).

Lower FIS...generally speaking this trail has some of the best snow on the mountain and the bumps are almost always on the smaller/more manageable side. I can link numerous turns pretty well here (and I get the impression we're likely both somewhat similar abilities). The only thing that sucks about Lower FIS (and also the reason it sees so little traffic) is the runout. The runout is a workout as a decent portion is slightly uphill.

 

[mikec142]

Did you beat traffic? I skied until around 11:30 (18k vert by that point) and by the time I had lunch and packed up to leave it was just after 1. Traffic on the Thruway between 19 and 16 was terrible. It took almost an extra hour to get back to NJ.

Agreed the mountain was empty early today, although a decent number of people seemed to be coming in as I was leaving which surprised me.

I was on the road by 11am. Normally the ride from LP to home takes 5:20. Today was closer to 6:20. Same messy traffic on the thruway so maybe getting the extra hour of skiing in was worth it. I stopped for coffee in Saratoga. Normally it's 3 hours on the nose from there and today it was 3:50.

 

[mikec142]

For Exterminator, you can always cut in via the crossover that comes from Elbow across Bravo and over to Ext. That cuts off the top 1/3 or so and can be a good option if you want to test out a shorter part of it (and you avoid the slightly steeper part at the very top with the biggest bumps).

Lower FIS...generally speaking this trail has some of the best snow on the mountain and the bumps are almost always on the smaller/more manageable side. I can link numerous turns pretty well here (and I get the impression we're likely both somewhat similar abilities). The only thing that sucks about Lower FIS (and also the reason it sees so little traffic) is the runout. The runout is a workout as a decent portion is slightly uphill.

Thx for the intel. Gonna have to hit both next time I'm up. I'm out for this coming weekend. Planning on going up the last weekend of January depending on weather.

 

[solar]

Awesome weekend and was surprised at how empty it was most of the weekend, especially today. Every lift we hit, including Castlerock, had zero lines. Usual suspects got skied off through the day but the woods remained B+ with lower elevations having a light crust - Not terrible, just tired legs weren’t a fan.

Heaven’s Gate was having issues a bit this afternoon and they stopped loading for a short period of time.

Looking forward to next weekend… the -15° forecast, not so much.

 

[Blurski]

I saw a few on Saturday. The one time the person managing the line seemed to ignore the 2 people standing there for a couple minutes lol. I almost made it in the singles line faster than they did in the reserve line.

I was the 2nd group back in the line and got on before the guy in the reserve line.

 

[STREETSKIER]

I'm

 

[1dog]

For Exterminator, you can always cut in via the crossover that comes from Elbow across Bravo and over to Ext. That cuts off the top 1/3 or so and can be a good option if you want to test out a shorter part of it (and you avoid the slightly steeper part at the very top with the biggest bumps).

Lower FIS...generally speaking this trail has some of the best snow on the mountain and the bumps are almost always on the smaller/more manageable side. I can link numerous turns pretty well here (and I get the impression we're likely both somewhat similar abilities). The only thing that sucks about Lower FIS (and also the reason it sees so little traffic) is the runout. The runout is a workout as a decent portion is slightly uphill.

That run out is fast - yesterday my kid and I did it with almost no herringbone walking. great snow, no mm underneath, good cover everywhere. even lower woods had some turns ( I'm not recommending them, stay high, but that rain-wetting gave a more solid base). Good advice on lower Ex. those edges are quite often some of the best snow to make turns.

 

[cdskier]

That run out is fast - yesterday my kid and I did it with almost no herringbone walking. great snow, no mm underneath, good cover everywhere. even lower woods had some turns ( I'm not recommending them, stay high, but that rain-wetting gave a more solid base). Good advice on lower Ex. those edges are quite often some of the best snow to make turns.

I did it Sunday and it was nowhere near that fast for me. I had plenty of walking/poling to do! Although part of the problem may be that I never quite know what to expect on the beginning of the runout so probably slowed down a little too much on the last part of lower FIS before the runout.

 

[mikec142]

I did it Sunday and it was nowhere near that fast for me. I had plenty of walking/poling to do! Although part of the problem may be that I never quite know what to expect on the beginning of the runout so probably slowed down a little too much on the last part of lower FIS before the runout.

LOL. Not knowing the trail that well, I guarantee I'm poling/skating/herringbone walking the entire way.