2013 King of Spring - Who will it be?

[drjeff]

IMO Sugarloaf is the real king of spring regardless of whether Killington stays open an extra week or two longer. Just compare the acreage open during the later stages of the season. I can recall recent springs when SL has had 50+ trails open to K's less than 10. On the flip side, Killington should be applauded for their re-commitment to staying open well into May. Due to proximity, Saddleback could compete but don't believe they make the snow-making commitment.

Trying to compare K's late season operations the last few years vs. what is very likely going to happen this year doesn't make much sense. Mike Solimano is running K much more aggressively and listening to customers and what they like, far more than the last few GM's did. K sure seems to have gotten it's "swagger" back

 

[Angus]

DrJeff, do you know if they have extended their snowmaking efforts to build significant depths beyond Superstar? Sugarloaf and Saddleback have a natural advantage given their location in western Maine mountains.

 

[ScottySkis]

DrJeff, do you know if they have extended their snowmaking efforts to build significant depths beyond Superstar? Sugarloaf and Saddleback have a natural advantage given their location in western Maine mountains.

I think K gets an average of 250 inches of snow in a season, pretty sure Sugarloaf averages about 200 inches in a winter, I don't know what Saddleback average is.

 

[deadheadskier]

DrJeff, do you know if they have extended their snowmaking efforts to build significant depths beyond Superstar? Sugarloaf and Saddleback have a natural advantage given their location in western Maine mountains.

From what I saw this past weekend there was a lot of terrain on the mountain with significant base. Killington should be able to offer quite a bit of terrain through April. I'm sure there will be a point in April where the Loaf may have significantly more terrain open than Killington as they have the advantage of being farther North, colder temps and more viable terrain above 2000 feet. Overall though, I still think K goes longer than the Loaf this year and will offer a great spring skiing product. That's a great thing for Northeastern skiing; it just forces other mountains to up their game.

 

[bigbog]

...And as long as it's open, the snow is pretty good Scotty...northward facing...always pretty good pp somewhere as it closes.

 

[andyzee]

Don't even think it's question for this year

 

[LasersInTheTaiga]

Mammoth Mountain, July 4th.

 

[LasersInTheTaiga]

Oops, wrong forum . My vote is for Killington.

 

[Gilligan]

DrJeff, do you know if they have extended their snowmaking efforts to build significant depths beyond Superstar? Sugarloaf and Saddleback have a natural advantage given their location in western Maine mountains.

Why would DrJeff have this kind of information when, by his own season count, he has not skied a single day at Killington so far this year?

 

[K2Trav]

Hearing May 15 for Sugarloaf, we've got a ton of snow.

 

[o3jeff]

Is this for continuous or weekend operation?

 

[ALLSKIING]

K put out something on FB talking about closing parts of the mountain in April....Not much will be open late April but Skye Peak even with snow on other parts of the mountain. They did say that it would be great to make it to June this year....I think they will push it until Superstar runs out of snow.

 

[LasersInTheTaiga]

How much are killington spring tickets? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it to get a spring pass there, might go four or so times depending on when they close.

 

[mlkrgr]

Killington no doubt.

Now we all have to make it up there and make it worth it for them to keep doing this from now on.

Killington but there should be more that take the value route. Can never go wrong with pricing at Waterville and they're closing on 4/14.

 

[mister moose]

How much are killington spring tickets? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it to get a spring pass there, might go four or so times depending on when they close.

In the recent past late spring tickets were $49. Wouldn't surprise me if they do that again. Prices will ease gradually from the 80's downward as the trail count goes down. If you come up 4 times, buy the pass.

Typical late season pattern is to be down to Skylark and Superstar once the blast of warm air melts the rest of the mountain. At some point Skylark goes and it is Superstar only. Options they've announced include running K1 later than planned if snow and crowds dictate. It's also been suggested that the Sky Peak HSQ runs a little later to service Bear, particularly OL which has a lot of snow on it. That can be dicey as the route to OL from Skye Peak is southern facing and usually rots out fairly soon, but we might see one more weekend after BMMC for that lift.

It's almost April 1st, and the next week's forecast is pretty cool to cold. Depths on Superstar are deeper than in anyone's recent memory. Reserve piles are all over the place. Those of us that enjoy late spring bumps had better stock up on Cutters, from up here right now it's looking like a very late spring this year at Killington.

 

[steamboat1]

Last year K had Superstar, upper & lower Skyelark & lower Bitter Sweet open until the last day. The headwall of Superstar washed out so that's why it didn't stay open longer, plenty of snow on the rest of Superstar.

I think you are correct mister moose in that late season tickets were $49 last year. They had a deal last year where a pass holder could bring up to two buddies with them & get 1/3 off the ticket price for them. Think it came out to $32 for a ticket. I haven't heard if they are going to do this again this year.

 

[gmcunni]

sugarbush says via facebook

we plan to keep going through April if the snow lasts. Maybe even a final weekend in May.

 

[catsup948]

How late will Mount Snow stay open? Next weekend?

 

[drjeff]

How late will Mount Snow stay open? Next weekend?

The new GM Blog that came out today said guaranteed daily through the 14th (although they may close for a midweek day if the weather is really crappy that day) - after that if the business demand is there they could very well do a weekend only or 2. TONS of snow all over the mountain - and a forecast for the week with more cool temps!

Gladeiator + winter brewfest next Saturday! :beer:

 

[gmcunni]

The new GM Blog that came out today said guaranteed daily through the 14th (although they may close for a midweek day if the weather is really crappy that day) - after that if the business demand is there they could very well do a weekend only or 2. TONS of snow all over the mountain - and a forecast for the week with more cool temps!

don't they shut down pods before main mountain, any talk of that yet?