• Welcome to AlpineZone, the largest online community of skiers and snowboarders in the Northeast!

    You may have to REGISTER before you can post. Registering is FREE, gets rid of the majority of advertisements, and lets you participate in giveaways and other AlpineZone events!

Mt. Ellen at Sugarbush; Opening Day, 12/18/09 - AWESOME!

BushMogulMaster

Industry Rep
Industry Rep
Joined
Mar 9, 2007
Messages
1,815
Points
48
Location
Leadville, CO
What a day! Beautiful snow, bluebird skies, frigid temps, fantastic snowmaking, tons of acreage to ski, etc.

I'll let the pix do the talking. Get up here and ski. It's awesome!

View from the base area, early AM:

image001.jpg


On the way up GMX:

image002.jpg


The Northridge "Pod:"

image003.jpg


"Times Square:"

image004.jpg


Cliffs:

image005.jpg


Upper Mountain:

image006.jpg


Upper Mountain #2:

image007.jpg


View across midflats from Glen House:

image008.jpg


Top of Northridge, Camel's Hump in background:

image009.jpg


Looking up to the summit:

image010.jpg


Across the ridge:

image011.jpg


Snow covered trees and a bluebird sky!

image012.jpg
 

BushMogulMaster

Industry Rep
Industry Rep
Joined
Mar 9, 2007
Messages
1,815
Points
48
Location
Leadville, CO
The Mt. Ellen GM, Dan Torsell (my dad), in his office:

image013.jpg


Looks like another planet up there:

image014.jpg


Elbow/Rim/Lookin' Good intersection:

image015.jpg


Trees, signs, and skies:

image016.jpg


Hammerhead:

image017.jpg


Snowmaking fleet in full force at end of the day:

image018.jpg
 

Trev

New member
Joined
Jun 1, 2009
Messages
622
Points
0
I am headed up to spend the xmas weekend in Berlin VT.. looking to ski on that Sunday.. and this looks like a prime target !
 

rtibbs4

Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
Messages
57
Points
6
Location
MA
Website
www.basecampmountsnow.com
Great pics. I didn't get to Sugarbush last season.. or many other places for that matter. Looking forward to getting back up there after the holidays.
 

thetrailboss

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jun 4, 2004
Messages
33,758
Points
113
Location
NEK by Birth
It was an amazing day. I got first chair and first tracks down Hammerhead and Lower FIS. Some of my pics:

Who is this guy driving the groomer? :wink: I think I saw you in the lodge...

13559_207738179666_744459666_3030474_2157492_n.jpg


This is when you KNOW it is going to be an amazing day:

13559_207738119666_744459666_3030471_7177709_n.jpg


Waiting for first chair:

13559_207740599666_744459666_3030480_7121657_n.jpg


13559_207740634666_744459666_3030481_3158500_n.jpg


First tracks down Hammerhead:

13559_207740684666_744459666_3030483_7242173_n.jpg


Wow!

13559_207744474666_744459666_3030498_2875106_n.jpg


13559_207744539666_744459666_3030501_950392_n.jpg


13559_207744549666_744459666_3030502_7378092_n.jpg


13559_207766159666_744459666_3030573_4846236_n.jpg


13559_210452974666_744459666_3042515_5593798_n.jpg
 

Newpylong

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
5,420
Points
113
Location
Upper Valley, NH
Awesome pictures. To say I miss Sugarbush would be an understatement... I used to clock around 100 days a year there.
 

BushMogulMaster

Industry Rep
Industry Rep
Joined
Mar 9, 2007
Messages
1,815
Points
48
Location
Leadville, CO
It was an amazing day. I got first chair and first tracks down Hammerhead and Lower FIS. Some of my pics:

Who is this guy driving the groomer? :wink: I think I saw you in the lodge...

13559_207738179666_744459666_3030474_2157492_n.jpg


Hahaha... I though that might have been you with the camera! Yeah, that was a quick emergency catting operation! There wasn't a clear pass to the base of GMX, so when I got there around 7:30, my first duty was in the cat. By 9:00, the skis were on. I had first tracks on Encore.


Anyway... just got off of a ridiculously long grooming shift (11 hours instead of 8... had to push out Straight Shot and base area whales). Can't think straight. Need sleep. Must ski tomorrow.
 

thetrailboss

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jun 4, 2004
Messages
33,758
Points
113
Location
NEK by Birth
Hahaha... I though that might have been you with the camera! Yeah, that was a quick emergency catting operation! There wasn't a clear pass to the base of GMX, so when I got there around 7:30, my first duty was in the cat. By 9:00, the skis were on. I had first tracks on Encore.

Who else would be crazy enough to get to Mount Ellen at 7:45 am and stand outside waiting for first chair?

Nice grooming on the upper mountain. Elbow, Rim Run, and Looking Good were all in good shape. Considering that there was no snow a few weeks ago, it was very good.

It was also nice to see the camraderie that ME is known for. All lifties and staff were really excited to talk with me and other skiers and riders. One liftie @ NRX said to me, "I'm glad to be working." No pirate flag though....
 
Top