Lincoln Peak vs. Mount Ellen

[BushMogulMaster]

I don't agree with everything you say, BMM, but I enjoyed your well thought out response. (Can't believe you dismissed the Heaven's Gate area, though.)

I don't post often, so when I do, I think about it way too much!

As for Heaven's Gate... I really am not a fan in the least. I don't like Ripcord at all. I've never enjoyed a run on Ripcord. Jester is a neat run, but only about the first three times you ski it. I do like Spillsville when the bumps are good. Organgrinder bores the heck out of me. Paradise is a beautiful trail, but not once have I been happy with the bumps. In fact, it's been pretty rough all of the times (probably 15 or 20 times) I've skied it. I'll take the GMX, Summit, or Northridge areas any day over Heaven's Gate. Not to mention the lift itself. People complain about Inverness, but I'd be willing to bet Heaven's Gate is running at the same or a slower speed (in fpm). I'd rather the 8 minute Summit ride.

 

[Greg]

I don't post often, so when I do, I think about it way too much!

As for Heaven's Gate... I really am not a fan in the least. I don't like Ripcord at all. I've never enjoyed a run on Ripcord. Jester is a neat run, but only about the first three times you ski it. I do like Spillsville when the bumps are good. Organgrinder bores the heck out of me. Paradise is a beautiful trail, but not once have I been happy with the bumps. In fact, it's been pretty rough all of the times (probably 15 or 20 times) I've skied it. I'll take the GMX, Summit, or Northridge areas any day over Heaven's Gate. Not to mention the lift itself. People complain about Inverness, but I'd be willing to bet Heaven's Gate is running at the same or a slower speed (in fpm). I'd rather the 8 minute Summit ride.

Geez! :roll: You sound like some sort of mogul snob or something. Skiing is not just all about bumps, you know... Aww, hell, who am I kidding, yes it is.

Seriously though, I still like the HG pod whether the lines are perfect or not. Paradise and Spills are just great trails.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

If the bumps are crap on Ripcord..the groomed section is a fun high speed cruiser...Paradise is the bomb deezy along with the woods skiers left. I'm not picky about bumps..I don't need zipperlines..weird wide spaced odd bumps present a cool challenge...

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Geez! :roll: You sound like some sort of mogul snob or something. Skiing is not just all about bumps, you know... Aww, hell, who am I kidding, yes it is.

Seriously though, I still like the HG pod whether the lines are perfect or not. Paradise and Spills are just great trails.

How dare you! I'm not a mogul snob! Oh wait... yeah I am. And for me... skiing is all about bumps. Which is where a lot of my differing opinions of LP vs. ME come from. I do prefer the layout, the lack of lines, and the atmosphere as well. But from a strictly skiing standpoint, the bumps and the variety make all the difference!

But for clarification, I don't want perfect lines. They can get old also. But I can't stand gaper bumps, created by throwing 5000 intermediate gapers down a run like Ripcord or Paradise or C-Rock Run. The bumps at ME are certainly not perfect lines. But they're zipperlinable (I know, that's not a word. sorry). The bumps at LP often end up so spaced and so oddly shaped that one cannot zipperline WC-style. That said, I'll take crappy bumps over no bumps any day of the week. I take 1 warm up cruiser run in the morning, and the rest is bumps. The only exception is when I'm drilling bump technique on the flats.

 

[Greg]

But for clarification, I don't want perfect lines. They can get old also. But I can't stand gaper bumps, created by throwing 5000 intermediate gapers down a run like Ripcord or Paradise or C-Rock Run. The bumps at ME are certainly not perfect lines. But they're zipperlinable (I know, that's not a word. sorry). The bumps at LP often end up so spaced and so oddly shaped that one cannot zipperline WC-style. That said, I'll take crappy bumps over no bumps any day of the week. I take 1 warm up cruiser run in the morning, and the rest is bumps. The only exception is when I'm drilling bump technique on the flats.

I think you've been spoiled. Want to see gaper bumps? Just come south of say Killington. One thing I appreciate about mountains like Sugarbush, MRG and Sugarloaf is the percentage of advanced skiers is higher. I'm sure it's similar at Stowe, Jay, Whiteface, etc. Better skiers = better lines. This is why I so strongly advocate seeded bumps, especially down this way.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Isn't the debate on which is better Sugarbush North or South, a bit like saying the super model's left eye is prettier than her right eye?

Sounds like we all love Sugarbush.

From the responses, it sounds more like everyone's comparing her "Balcony" to her "Back Porch", if you know what I mean.

That being said, SB is the last major mountain in New England for me to hit. Yes, I do need to get there this winter. It'll be mid week, so I'll have to figure out where to park.

 

[WWF-VT]

From the responses, it sounds more like everyone's comparing her "Balcony" to her "Back Porch", if you know what I mean.

That being said, SB is the last major mountain in New England for me to hit. Yes, I do need to get there this winter. It'll be mid week, so I'll have to figure out where to park.

Many resorts wish they had the variey of terrain options and challenge presented by Mt Ellen and Lincoln Peak.

Midweek they do run a shuttle between the mountains. Hopefully you will have more than one day and I would recommend you spend a full day at LP and ME

 

[Birdman829]

It's all good, but Lincoln Peak fan here. I know North has some great trails and according to BMM better bumps, but I find myself drawn to CR, Paradise/Spills, Twist/Moonshine, Morning Star and the Mall. You?

LP for all the reasons you mentioned. I'd go over to Ellen if LP was real crowded or if I just wanted a change of pace last year.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

It's all good, but Lincoln Peak fan here. I know North has some great trails and according to BMM better bumps, but I find myself drawn to CR, Paradise/Spills, Twist/Moonshine, Morning Star and the Mall. You?

Those trails are great. But in my own personal opinion, I find the following:

Hammerhead, Lower FIS, Black Diamond, etc. are in the same league as Castlerock. Bravo/Exterm are comparable (but with better bumps) to Paradise/Spills. Tumbler/Semi-Tough are comparable to Twist/Moonshine. Black Diamond beats the Mall any day for steeps, bumps, and rocks factor. Not quite as long, but certainly more challenging. Encore/Cliffs provide better skiing IMO than Morning Star, but without the sun factor.

Another reason I vote for ME: it consistently gets more snow on the summit. If LP gets 8", ME usually gets 10". Occasionally it works the other way around, but most often ME gets the better hand snow-wise. Just to throw some random numbers out there, on a year that LP totals, say, 238", ME probably totaled 265". Not a huge difference, but factoring in the generally smaller crowds and you have more snow lasting longer staying nicer.

However... it doesn't really matter. It's all Sugarbush, and it's all good. I just happen to be a Mt. Ellen proponent.

 

[thetrailboss]

Yes, Ellen gets more snow and it is usually colder....LP is warmer.

 

[Greg]

Yes, Ellen gets more snow and it is usually colder....LP is warmer.

Sheesh! Another spoiled local.

Connecticut is warmer.

 

[win]

Which of my four children is my favorite? Unless one is crazy or cruel, you never answer that question even when one disappoints and one has had a beer too many!

However, in a moment when I am now really starting to think about winter here is my ideal day on a non-powder morning. I love to start on Snowball and Spring Fling after a ride up Bravo because I always marvel at the view looking over to East Warren on a clear morning. It is the same view one will see in 100 years. Then I love a cruiser down Birdland, Lower Organ Grinder or Murphy's and then up Heaven's Gate to Organgrinder all the way down and up Gate House to Sleeper and then up North Lynx to Sunrise or Birch and on a weekend or Holiday over SB express and up North Ridge to Elbow and up Summit to Upper Rim Run and Looking Good and back up to Exterminator or Bravo and up North Ridge to either Hammerhead or Tumbler and then up GMX to Cliffs and back SB Express to Snow Plan.

On a Powder Day? That's my secret and where I take my favorite child!

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Which of my four children is my favorite? Unless one is crazy or cruel, you never answer that question even when one disappoints and one has had a beer too many!

However, in a moment when I am now really starting to think about winter here is my ideal day on a non-powder morning. I love to start on Snowball and Spring Fling after a ride up Bravo because I always marvel at the view looking over to East Warren on a clear morning. It is the same view one will see in 100 years. Then I love a cruiser down Birdland, Lower Organ Grinder or Murphy's and then up Heaven's Gate to Organgrinder all the way down and up Gate House to Sleeper and then up North Lynx to Sunrise or Birch and on a weekend or Holiday over SB express and up North Ridge to Elbow and up Summit to Upper Rim Run and Looking Good and back up to Exterminator or Bravo and up North Ridge to either Hammerhead or Tumbler and then up GMX to Cliffs and back SB Express to Snow Plan.

On a Powder Day? That's my secret and where I take my favorite child!

Did the president of the resort pay you to say that? Oh wait... you are the president! :wink:

 

[KingM]

Sheesh! Another spoiled local.

Connecticut is warmer.

Right now there's some guy in Alabama reading that, thinking about Sundown and Mohawk and wondering, "What the hell is that guy complaining about?"

 

[Greg]

Right now there's some guy in Alabama reading that, thinking about Sundown and Mohawk and wondering, "What the hell is that guy complaining about?"

Touché. :lol:

Actually you made my point. I feel lucky to have Sundown right down the road. But it ain't no Sugarbush, that's for sure...

 

[thetrailboss]

Touché. :lol:

Actually you made my point. I feel lucky to have Sundown right down the road. But it ain't no Sugarbush, that's for sure...

It just means that you appreciate the visits to SB and other places more....

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

its all good.....but i'm partial to C'rock...

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

its all good.....but i'm partial to C'rock...

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Wow... you must really be partial to C'Rock if you had to post it twice! :wink:

 

[thetrailboss]

Wow... you must really be partial to C'Rock if you had to post it twice! :wink:

He's really excited....