ducky
Active member
Let's keep politics out of the Sugarbush thread too.
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The "Sugarbush Thread"
- Thread starter thetrailboss
- Start date
jaybird
Active member
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- Sep 26, 2012
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Spoke yesterday with a guy in the know.
The snowmaking pond inflatable dam posts/weirs were built too tall .. this caused the 'spillway' some issues due to insufficient water flow into the area that they need. Would have expected more competence from the engineering firm's designer on a critical element ..
Supply chain issue of a high order
The snowmaking pond inflatable dam posts/weirs were built too tall .. this caused the 'spillway' some issues due to insufficient water flow into the area that they need. Would have expected more competence from the engineering firm's designer on a critical element ..
Supply chain issue of a high order
Newpylong
Well-known member
Water volume is seldom an issue early season, and Inverness is an entirely separate water system. If they were serious about early season (and there probably isn't the market to be), then the setup at Ellen is far better than Lincoln for that. It's when you start to get into late fall when the temperatures (usually) begin to drop where Lincoln would start to get ahead in the amount of terrain that could be covered more quickly vs Ellen. If they were content with Rim Run/Panorama plus maybe another just to get open then there is more than sufficient capacity at Ellen for that venture. As much I get the lure of it, kinda doesn't make sense to me though to just have to shift gears back to Lincoln for the holiday(s).
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Interesting that Inverness is completely separate as I swear it seemed like I recall numerous times they were making snow on Inverness and nowhere else at ME at the same time over the past few years.
To the rest though, you kind of proved my point. You can get 1-2 routes off the summit open at ME quickly, but that's where it ends. After that LP has the advantage (and the advantage will only grow larger in the future when they eventually increase the snowmaking capacity at LP). To me simply 1-2 routes off the ME summit isn't worth it compared to the possibility of getting more terrain open at LP.
Nothing on Inverness. Burst pipe in the first snowmaking window, dug up, repaired, buried, repair broke. Dug up again and now waiting for temps like everywhere else.
I miss the early/late season at ME upper pod, but real estate and infrastructure for tourists drivethe bus and that's at LP.
I miss the early/late season at ME upper pod, but real estate and infrastructure for tourists drivethe bus and that's at LP.
No, but skied the main Slide Brook pitch from Lincoln last day Slide Brook was open several years ago. Was a hoot. I know an old master plan called for a lift pod in there- would be outstanding upper intermediate terrain.
Unless they greased the right wheels and renegotiated. Doubtful but nothing is impossible.
True.
Newpylong
Well-known member
The pump house is right next to the little pond across from the bottom of the Quad. They share air, but the water is separate. As far as I remember two smaller pumps in there.
Our points diverge because I was saying the lack of water would not detract from Ellen's ability to get minimal terrain open early season. It's the Thanksgiving time frame (which I guess you could still call early season for sure) where they would be leapfrogged by Lincoln as things cool down. That's all.
Maybe the air is the issue then and they don't have enough air to run Inverness plus other terrain?
I think one reason our points diverge is because we're thinking of different definitions of early season. To me I'm considering opening by Thanksgiving as "early season" as I see no reason for SB to realistically think about pushing for earlier than that. Let K keep the "early early" season title. It just isn't worth it and I don't see the ROI with opening earlier.
Inverness water used to be tied into the main system and the pumphouse at the bottom was a booster for the whole mountain and not used very much but that was during the loud snowmaking times. They might have re-plumbed though. The reason nothing else is running when Inverness is online is because that trail takes up all the capacity, it is huge. Add in running lower brambles and nothing is leftover.
I do like the new early season of VH lift, I wish they had got lower snowball and racers edge done too to spread the crowd out a bit. Then go big and get Steins and coffee run and claim the earliest steepest terrain opening. Not a fan of GH early opening but when I look at the camera it is getting used. It is a long slow slog from the summit to the base at LP. Once all of lower jester gets done then birdland and murphys can follow. Just need better consistent temps. And maybe a better balloon in the river.
I do like the new early season of VH lift, I wish they had got lower snowball and racers edge done too to spread the crowd out a bit. Then go big and get Steins and coffee run and claim the earliest steepest terrain opening. Not a fan of GH early opening but when I look at the camera it is getting used. It is a long slow slog from the summit to the base at LP. Once all of lower jester gets done then birdland and murphys can follow. Just need better consistent temps. And maybe a better balloon in the river.
slatham
Well-known member
Yes all to aware. Key word was IF.
That was great pod back in the day. Hell they even had FIS open for thanksgiving some years - Turkey Tumble. I am sure we’d all rather ski FIS and Rim and Elbow vs GH and SB/SF.
But yeah it ain’t happening…..
And yes this year it wouldn’t have made much difference - maybe a week? But under typical fall weather - assuming that still exists - the ME Summit could open weeks before GH/VH, IMHO.
Completely agree. I am an admitted Sugarbush North/Mount Ellen fanboy.
I'd rather start at LP with VH/SB and avoiding having to deal with downloading at ME (funny that not too long ago in this thread people were saying they hated downloading on Bravo...yet now people want to download on GMX to ski the summit at ME as the early option). Usually they can get HG in the mix pretty soon after VH/SB opens to add some nice variety. I don't find the summit terrain at ME that overly compelling compared to LP. FIS is fun, but short. Not really a trail I enjoy lapping. Rim Run is also not really a trail I like lapping.
Don't get me wrong, I love ME when the mid-mountain is open and the Inverness pod is open. But summit only I find somewhat limited and not overly exciting.
Don't get me wrong, I love ME when the mid-mountain is open and the Inverness pod is open. But summit only I find somewhat limited and not overly exciting.
Newpylong
Well-known member
Yes, I am referring to prior to Thanksgiving IE playing with the big boys. That's why I said probably not worth it...and once you get into Thanksgiving it makes no sense to focus efforts there by that point.
SteezyRob
Active member
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shipyardcreek
New member
I heard it called Plunging Elevator. When the snow is good it is a fun little run. Just don't go below the second work road. Also watch for the rocky section near the bottom. If need to bail, there is a work road about halfway down that takes you to the official Slide Book runs.
Hawk
Well-known member
So much helpful information on here. Everybody is a reqular tour guide. nice.
This. unless the nrx is running, mt ellen is not a full day of skiing for me.
IceEidolon
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If you really needed the one seat ride you could replace three lifts and get a three stage gondola going. That would be way more trouble than it's worth, but it's technically possible.
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