2020-21 Sunday River

[Riverveteran]

Since we have been ripping Vail for staffing issues, figured I'd add SR into this. This vacation week, they have backed off considerably from snowmaking efforts, only making on 2 or 3 unopened trails at a time this week. My belief is that they are very short staffed, especially in lift ops and have shifted the bulk of the snowmaking team to lift ops over the holiday to allow for maximum lifts in operation. Kind of crappy, but nature has been playing ok in Maine this week with mostly white, small refills and they got a ton made in the lead up. I expect a full push to all uncovered terrain starting next Monday or Tuesday as they shift those snowmakers back to snow.

My belief is it's not that cold.

 

[Smellytele]

My belief is it's not that cold.

And probably a high wet bulb

 

[machski]

And probably a high wet bulb

No, actually I have confirmation both snowmaking personnel AND ski patrol are actually working lift ops this week. Snowmaking is active on Tempest, not the highest elevation trail they have remaining so that theory of not so cold as the reason is out the window (if it were, they'd likely be on Upper DD, upper Vortex and Northern lights).

 

[MadKitty]

No, actually I have confirmation both snowmaking personnel AND ski patrol are actually working lift ops this week. Snowmaking is active on Tempest, not the highest elevation trail they have remaining so that theory of not so cold as the reason is out the window (if it were, they'd likely be on Upper DD, upper Vortex and Northern lights).

Sunday River is putting out a great product for their customers though. Have a pass there for the first time in several years and I've been beyond impressed with their operations. A+

 

[machski]

It is now at a minimum a trend and likely to continue to play through the season, but Sunday River isn't running full lift access to all its terrain idweek this year due to staffing. Both White Heat and Aurora will not run this week and pretty much didn't last week too. Unsure if this is lack due to sick calls/Covid or just lack of hired. Guess we will see as the weeks progress. At least this week they are calling those terrain pods open for those willing to uphill and/or hike (even without Locke spinning, White Cap summit is a pretty easy hike across Locke to the summit for anyone). What does surprise me a bit is not actually using the Aurora work road as a ski out trail from Aurora. Sure there is a bit of uphill skating required, but no real heavy uphill. And half the road is already a "ski trail" being Yetivilles Exit and soon even further up coming off the Western Merrill Trail (which will add snowmaking to that half of Aurora Road next year).

Kind of surprised we don't have a staffing thread outside of the Vail Sucks thread.

 

[deadheadskier]

It is now at a minimum a trend and likely to continue to play through the season, but Sunday River isn't running full lift access to all its terrain idweek this year due to staffing. Both White Heat and Aurora will not run this week and pretty much didn't last week too. Unsure if this is lack due to sick calls/Covid or just lack of hired. Guess we will see as the weeks progress. At least this week they are calling those terrain pods open for those willing to uphill and/or hike (even without Locke spinning, White Cap summit is a pretty easy hike across Locke to the summit for anyone). What does surprise me a bit is not actually using the Aurora work road as a ski out trail from Aurora. Sure there is a bit of uphill skating required, but no real heavy uphill. And half the road is already a "ski trail" being Yetivilles Exit and soon even further up coming off the Western Merrill Trail (which will add snowmaking to that half of Aurora Road next year).

Kind of surprised we don't have a staffing thread outside of the Vail Sucks thread.

So are they running Quantum triple or Jordan double so you can still ski Aurora trails? Or is it completely shut down?

 

[machski]

So are they running Quantum triple or Jordan double so you can still ski Aurora trails? Or is it completely shut down?

Completely shut down in Aurora Basin. They never run the double or triple midweek unless winds force Jordan and Aurora Quads shut, then they shift the staff. Which is why I wonder why they don't advertise Aurora Road as an exit option, I've used several times late season after Aurora is officially closed by North/Chondi still going. If groomed, really not bad on skis anyway. Boarders won't like it but better than hiking out for sure.

 

[Newpylong]

No Aurora is bad but no White Cap is really bad.

Is that work road uphill to the top of White Cap from Locke? The one that you take to get to Bim's Whim. Not that it would really help anyone who isn't looking for an adventure anyway lol.

 

[deadheadskier]

No Aurora is bad but no White Cap is really bad.

Is that work road uphill to the top of White Cap from Locke? The one that you take to get to Bim's Whim. Not that it would really help anyone who isn't looking for an adventure anyway lol.

Interesting that you feel that White Cap is a bigger deal than Aurora. White Heat is obviously the most famous trail in both pods, but I think Aurora is a bigger loss overall as far as what the pod offers. Air Glow and Northern Lights are two of my favorite cruisers. Vortex is often a sheet of ice, but still can be fun. Then again Shockwave is a great trail on White Cap too.

Close call

 

[Newpylong]

I missed that that they aren't running a lift (Quantum or Jordan Double) out of there, I ASSumed they were and you could ski the top 70% of all that stuff from Jordan or Spruce. Yeah, that's bad too....

 

[Dickc]

No Aurora is bad but no White Cap is really bad.

Is that work road uphill to the top of White Cap from Locke? The one that you take to get to Bim's Whim. Not that it would really help anyone who isn't looking for an adventure anyway lol.

From the top of Locke, you climb like you are going to Bim's, but go over toward White heat before you wound go down to Bim's but then ski gently downhill for a bit. Then there is a somewhat steeper climb up to the top of White Heat. Its not all that long, and perhaps 100 vertical.

 

[machski]

Interesting that you feel that White Cap is a bigger deal than Aurora. White Heat is obviously the most famous trail in both pods, but I think Aurora is a bigger loss overall as far as what the pod offers. Air Glow and Northern Lights are two of my favorite cruisers. Vortex is often a sheet of ice, but still can be fun. Then again Shockwave is a great trail on White Cap too.

Close call

Yeah, right now all of Aurora's snowmaking terrain is open (save for Quantum) where as Shockwave has yet to see snowmaking and is closed off WH. I'd prefer to see Aurora Quad spinning and Spruce idled if short staffed. Spruce is an easy enough hike up Sirius and we did it for an entire season after the old triple topled over the summer before.

 

[2Planker]

From the top of Locke, you climb like you are going to Bim's, but go over toward White heat before you wound go down to Bim's but then ski gently downhill for a bit. Then there is a somewhat steeper climb up to the top of White Heat. Its not all that long, and perhaps 100 vertical.

Past the granite bench commemorating a Patroller who passed from breast cancer.....

 

[deadheadskier]

Yeah, right now all of Aurora's snowmaking terrain is open (save for Quantum) where as Shockwave has yet to see snowmaking and is closed off WH. I'd prefer to see Aurora Quad spinning and Spruce idled if short staffed. Spruce is an easy enough hike up Sirius and we did it for an entire season after the old triple topled over the summer before.

I agree about shuttering Spruce before Aurora.

If I were a pass holder there, I'd ask Brian Heon that question. People do really love Risky and Amex, but no question Aurora is the better terrain

 

[skef]

[…] Spruce is an easy enough hike up Sirius and we did it for an entire season after the old triple topled over the summer before.

That was a special season, hitting the stuff off of Spruce peak that surprisingly few people were willing to hike up — what, 50 feet? — for.

 

[parahelia]

That was a special season, hitting the stuff off of Spruce peak that surprisingly few people were willing to hike up — what, 50 feet? — for.

I have really fond memories of that season. My youngest was 4 and by doing that hike, got to ski nearly-empty AmEx and Risky. A great way to build confidence before going to the more-trafficked blues.

 

[machski]

I agree about shuttering Spruce before Aurora.

If I were a pass holder there, I'd ask Brian Heon that question. People do really love Risky and Amex, but no question Aurora is the better terrain

Some are citing the fact Spruce has a full patrol hut at the top and Aurora does not (the season Spruce was out of commission, Aurora did still have the crappy little patrol hut just to the left of the Aurora Quad unload). Still, the Jordan hut reaches all the same Aurora terrain except Upper Vortex and Aludra. And if this is the reason its Spruce over Aurora, they are still allowing climbing/hiking/skinning for WH/Obsession and Salvation which would make me think they are in fact staffing the patrol hut atop WC without a lift running to it.

I'm going to venture its the surge causing this extreme lift truncation midweek, and not just the low hired staffing levels. If this was a known plan due to lack of hired staff, I would have thought SR would have already blown Upper Downdraft to give a full 3 runs off the top of Spruce. That piece seems odd and off to me.

 

[2Planker]

Some are citing the fact Spruce has a full patrol hut at the top and Aurora does not (the season Spruce was out of commission, Aurora did still have the crappy little patrol hut just to the left of the Aurora Quad unload). Still, the Jordan hut reaches all the same Aurora terrain except Upper Vortex and Aludra. And if this is the reason its Spruce over Aurora, they are still allowing climbing/hiking/skinning for WH/Obsession and Salvation which would make me think they are in fact staffing the patrol hut atop WC without a lift running to it.

I'm going to venture its the surge causing this extreme lift truncation midweek, and not just the low hired staffing levels. If this was a known plan due to lack of hired staff, I would have thought SR would have already blown Upper Downdraft to give a full 3 runs off the top of Spruce. That piece seems odd and off to me.

Upper Airglow and the top of NL are a bitch to get Code coverage to if coming from Jordan top.
Still have to grab the sled from the top of Aurora/return #12

I was one of 3 patrollers who actually built that POS Aurora shack in 1992. Surprised it lasted as long as it did...

 

[machski]

Upper Airglow and the top of NL are a bitch to get Code coverage to if coming from Jordan top.
Still have to grab the sled from the top of Aurora/return #12

I was one of 3 patrollers who actually built that POS Aurora shack in 1992. Surprised it lasted as long as it did...

So what makes it any easier for those coming from Spruce? The patrol chute in the woods that comes out a bit further up Borealis?

I think you underestimate your carpentry skills

 

[2Planker]

So what makes it any easier for those coming from Spruce? The patrol chute in the woods that comes out a bit further up Borealis?

I think you underestimate your carpentry skills

Yes, from Spruce top we'd hoof it thru the woods to a sled stashed there for Vortex, or continue hoofing to the Shack to grab different sled and ski it down Upper Airglow or NL.

That shack was our demo model.
We built the Spruce one, the next year in 1993.
Then we retired from building. Probably a good thing