Any cruising runs at Sugarbush?

[New Daddy]

So far, my first visit to Sugarbush has been disappointing for a couple of reasons.

1. Lack of cruisers

What appears to be good cruisers on the map are too winding (e.g., Jester) or too flat for a good portion (e.g., Snowball).

2. Lack of footrests on chairlifts

This is probably personal preference, but I like footrests on chairlifts because they give you extra support for resting. Unfortunately, the two "ports of entry" chairlifts from the base - Super Bravo and Gate house - didn't have footrests.

3. Bumps didn't hold snow well

With the recent snowfall, I would have expected better snow cover on bumps.


To the contrary, I found Mt. Ellen complements all these shortcomings of the Lincoln Peak.
Its blue slopes were some of the best cruisers I have skied in recent years, and the black diamond bumps really held snow well.

I have a couple of more days to spend at SB, but I'm not sure if I should go back to the Lincoln Peak at all.


So here is my question: does SB have long, steady-pitch cruisers at all? If so, where are they? I haven't been able to find them.

 

[andyzee]

So here is my question: does SB have long, steady-pitch cruisers at all? If so, where are they? I haven't been able to find them.

On Mt. Ellen.

 

[deadheadskier]

Ripcord groomed?

 

[Paul]

A little South, at Okemo.

 

[New Daddy]

Ripcord groomed?

No, it was not groomed.

 

[andyzee]

A little South, at Okemo.

Or even further south with Mt. Snow, Damn you want wide straight groomer, that's the place!

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Yup, the only straight trails at LP are liftlines, none which are cruisers. It's rep is long windy classic New England trails. Lower Snoball(past the flat traverse)>Spring Fling, Lower Snoball>Racers Edge are cruisers and a couple of trails off of Gatehouse but that's about it.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

So far, my first visit to Sugarbush has been disappointing for a couple of reasons.

2. Lack of footrests on chairlifts

This is probably personal preference, but I like footrests on chairlifts because they give you extra support for resting. Unfortunately, the two "ports of entry" chairlifts from the base - Super Bravo and Gate house - didn't have footrests.

Come on. those lifts are like 7 and 5 minutes respectively, if that.

3. Bumps didn't hold snow well

With the recent snowfall, I would have expected better snow cover on bumps.

My guess is that this is b/c most of the SB bump runs are natural cover only, with the exception of Ripcord and Stein's Run.

To the contrary, I found Mt. Ellen complements all these shortcomings of the Lincoln Peak.
Its blue slopes were some of the best cruisers I have skied in recent years, and the black diamond bumps really held snow well.

I have a couple of more days to spend at SB, but I'm not sure if I should go back to the Lincoln Peak at all.


So here is my question: does SB have long, steady-pitch cruisers at all? If so, where are they? I haven't been able to find them.

Well, you sort of answered your question. SB quite clearly has everything you want, just not all at LP. FWIW, I don't understand the contention that Snowball is too flat. Snowball> Lower Snowball and Snowball>Spring Fling are two (OK, 1.5) really enjoyable cruisers with consistent, and continuous pitch. Hot Shot>Waterfall>Hotshot, and Birch Run are also great runs. But that's about it at LP for cruising if you rule Jester out. For cruising, it's all about ME.

 

[Mikec13]

try Birch Run to Sleeper Chutes to Sleeper,,,Mt Ellen deinitely has better Blue cruisers...if you like bumps try Castlerock

 

[andyzee]

But that's about it at LP for cruising if you rule Jester out. For cruising, it's all about ME.

My question, if you want some nice cruising, how do you rule out Jester. That's a long time favorite of mine. Jester to Valley House to Snowball and Spring Fling or Racers Edge. If you want blues for cruising, it just doesn't get better than that.

I'm sorry, but when I first read the post, all I could think is:

Would you like a limo to the top?

 

[deadheadskier]

Inverness at Mt. Ellen is a great cruiser as well.....

Mt. Ellen definitely has the better crusiers. I've said it before and will again, as awesome and as big of a draw as Castlerock is, Mt. Ellen is overall a better ski mountain.

 

[hardline]

get thee to stratton. i think you will find most of the people on here like trails that are more natural and have some soul to them or dont like trails at all. then there freaks like greg that have bumps on the brain:flame:

 

[andyzee]

get thee to stratton. i think you will find most of the people on here like trails that are more natural and have some soul to them or dont like trails at all. then there freaks like greg that have bumps on the brain:flame:

You mean bump for a brain. :lol:

 

[frozencorn]

I'm sorry, but when I first read the post, all I could think is:

Would you like a limo to the top?

Ha! At least they could put in some seat warmers on the chair lift too.

 

[WWF-VT]

Mt Ellen cruisers include Rim Run, Elbow, Cruiser, Which Way , Northstar, Inverness and Walt's trail and you get a footrest on the North Ridge chair

Other trails at Lincoln Peak that are cruisers are almost anything off the Gate House chair, Birch Run off North Lynx and many regulars woulds likely consider Murphys Glade and Birdland to be cruisers.

 

[andyzee]

Ha! At least they could put in some seat warmers on the chair lift too.

Heated bars for your hands would be nice. And a cocoa dispenser on each lift wouldn't hurt any.

 

[shadyjay]

One of my favorite cruisers is Jester->VH Traverse->Snowball, then to either Spring Fling or Lower Snowball->Racer's Edge.... a great cruise, though VH Traverse is the one that's "flat"... not Snowball. Hot Shot->Waterfall is also great, and its been getting some great grooming attention this seasson. Birch Run and Sunrise are also great for cruising.

Mt Ellen does have Inverness, but that's subject to closure for race training. If it is, you've got Which Way, Northstar, Rim Run, Lookin' Good, Elbow... and, oh yeah... Cruiser!

The only lifts without footrests would be the Doppelmayrs... Gate House, and Super Bravo... everything else has the rests, even the DM Slide Brook - maybe that was a safety reason to have rests on that lift. The new Poma/Leitner lifts do have foot rests, such as the GMX at Mt Ellen.

For bumps... there is definetely the Rock, which relies 100% on natural snow so there can be thin cover up there... and did we mention rocks???!!! Ripcord has high exposure to winds, so its snow gets blown around. Spillsville and Paradise are a bit more protected, as is Domino. Twist and Moonshine often have good bumps and are in the woods, but lower in elevation. Morning Star under North Lynx has bumps but again, natural snow and south facing exposure (not that we've had any damaging effects by the sun this month). Stein's has been flattened a day or two ago. And that's your Lincoln Peak bump report.

I've been to all of the big resorts in Vermont, and they all have their pros and cons... Okemo and Mt Snow and Stratton have some great cruisers, but a lot of their terrain is flat and there is a lack of "warmth", unless you're talking about from the hundreds of people all around you. Killington has (from my experience) only a handful of trails actually worth skiing, while the rest are more like connector trails... with hundreds on them. Sugarbush is something special and that's what keeps a lot of folks coming back. Everything is not groomed every day, there are lots of tree areas, Slide Brook, a good portion of au' natural trails (though in a bad snow year that can come back to haunt you), high speed lifts to get you out of the base, friendly staff , a new base lodge, cold beer, warm hellos, etc etc... I could go on. We do have plenty of cruisers, steeps and deeps, and beginner terrain... something for all abilities.

But regarding the lack of snow on the moguls... things should be MUCH nicer, fluffier, quieter, softer, etc today and tomorrow.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

But regarding the lack of snow on the moguls... things should be MUCH nicer, fluffier, quieter, softer, etc today and tomorrow.

Oh yeah... they're nice now! Soft, sweet bump skiing on Encore, Tumbler, Hammy, Cliffs headwall, Bravo, Exterm, Black Diamond, skiers' left Lookin' Good, skiers' right Lower Northstar. Might even be some bumps on Elbow/Which Way after the weekend! There's your Mt. Ellen bump report! Best bump skiing east of Mary Jane!

 

[tjf67]

My question, if you want some nice cruising, how do you rule out Jester. That's a long time favorite of mine. Jester to Valley House to Snowball and Spring Fling or Racers Edge. If you want blues for cruising, it just doesn't get better than that.

I'm sorry, but when I first read the post, all I could think is:

Would you like a limo to the top?

Do you still ski?

 

[andyzee]

Do you still ski?

Huh? :roll: