Mt. Sunapee Master Plan online

[Puck it]

Looks pretty interesting with all the proposed lifts. Especially the lift that would service the Catract area.

http://www.mountsunapee.com/mtsunapeewinter/downloads/pdf/masterplan/MSR-Master-NoMaps.pdf

 

[thetrailboss]

What is really interesting is that night lighting was approved for the North Peak Trails and the learning area (see pp 44).

 

[St. Bear]

Most of the 85 pages are way over my head and interest level. I did find interesting the part where they talk about the existing trail system being overly-weighted towards Low Intermediate and lacking in Advanced and Expert, essentially confirming how I always viewed Sunapee growing up.

 

[deadheadskier]

I thought the whole West Bowl concept was shot down by the state?

I can see the appeal in adding that terrain. Sunapee is just a tad small to be considered by many to be more than a day area. That addition would make the area comparable in size to Loon and equally close to Boston with the added advantage of the Lake for summer time recreating.

 

[thetrailboss]

I thought the whole West Bowl concept was shot down by the state?

I can see the appeal in adding that terrain. Sunapee is just a tad small to be considered by many to be more than a day area. That addition would make the area comparable in size to Loon and equally close to Boston with the added advantage of the Lake for summer time recreating.

I think the idea of leasing the small strip of land to allow the Muellers to connect to their new "Jackson Gore II: More Condos and Junk" was shot down...so this is the alternative: only expand the ski area. But if you look at the maps, I think you see buildings on the southern periphery. Not sure....

I don't think we will see Gov. Lynch skiing there anytime soon....

 

[bobbutts]

maps:
http://www.mountsunapee.com/mtsunapeewinter/downloads/pdf/masterplan/MSR_MP-Maps.pdf

 

[deadheadskier]

I hope at the very list they soon install a detach in East Bowl.

 

[thetrailboss]

I hope at the very list they soon install a detach in East Bowl.

Yes, Sunbowl is to be upgraded to a HSQ. I remember when I was a passholder in 2005 the lift needed a new drive...thanks to a lightning strike...and there was some discussion then about upgrading it to a HSQ.

 

[WWF-VT]

Mt Sunapee is a nice mountain focused on intermediate skiiers that day trip and they are hitting their target market. Not sure if this expansion will do much to enhance the terrain for more advanced skiers.

 

[deadheadskier]

Mt Sunapee is a nice mountain focused on intermediate skiiers that day trip and they are hitting their target market. Not sure if this expansion will do much to enhance the terrain for more advanced skiers.

probably not

but with the expansion it could have enough terrain to become more of a weekend resort / vacation ownership draw than it stands currently. Obviously the Meuller's interest is creating Okemo Lite.

One thing is for certain, the place gets pretty mobbed as it's currently run, so they're doing something right. I'm sure the expansion would improve the skiing experience not only from increased variety, but spreading skiers out away from the main face more.

 

[Puck it]

Forgot about the lights. This would definitely be nice with Flying Goose being lit up.

What is really interesting is that night lighting was approved for the North Peak Trails and the learning area (see pp 44).

 

[thetrailboss]

Forgot about the lights. This would definitely be nice with Flying Goose being lit up.

:blink: What?! This makes no sense.....

 

[deadheadskier]

:blink: What?! This makes no sense.....

It makes perfect sense. A northern night time retreat for the CLITS. :lol:

Sunapee is about an hour and thirty five minutes door to door from my place. I could see myself heading up on a Friday night after work if the bumps were prime on Goose.

 

[Puck it]

Bingo!!!!!!!!!!!!





I would be there in a heratbeat after work. It is an 75 to 90 minutes for me from my house.

It makes perfect sense. A northern night time retreat for the CLITS. :lol:

Sunapee is about an hour and thirty five minutes door to door from my place. I could see myself heading up on a Friday night after work if the bumps were prime on Goose.

 

[bobbutts]

what NH needs for night is a damn hs quad... we already have plenty of slow cold fixed chairs
At night I like a fast few hours of turns, not long cold lift rides broken up by short runs.

that said I'm still excited about the possibility of lighting, I'd dump my Pat's peak pass for sure

 

[thetrailboss]

what NH needs for night is a damn hs quad... we already have plenty of slow cold fixed chairs
At night I like a fast few hours of turns, not long cold lift rides broken up by short runs.

that said I'm still excited about the possibility of lighting, I'd dump my Pat's peak pass for sure

Bretton Woods has night skiing off the Bethlehem Express Quad, which is the oldest HSQ in NH. Granted it is only one run though.....

 

[RISkier]

probably not

but with the expansion it could have enough terrain to become more of a weekend resort / vacation ownership draw than it stands currently. Obviously the Meuller's interest is creating Okemo Lite.

One thing is for certain, the place gets pretty mobbed as it's currently run, so they're doing something right. I'm sure the expansion would improve the skiing experience not only from increased variety, but spreading skiers out away from the main face more.

There is no doubt in my mind the Muellers really know how to run a business. The last few times we've been to Sunapee it has been a complete mob scene. It's certainly the largest area within reasonable day trip range for us but it has started to feel too much like Wachusett on steroids.

 

[thetrailboss]

It's certainly the largest area within reasonable day trip range for us but it has started to feel too much like Wachusett on steroids.

I was going to draw the same comparison. It really has the same vibe and feel, especially with the lake nearby as well as the lodge. It used to be a sleepy locals ski area with antequated facilities, limited snowmaking, and a flinty NH feel to it. Now it has been gentrified and upgraded to Okemoesque status. Some love it, some hate it. Locals I spoke with in 2005-2006 largely liked the improvements, the increased snowmaking, longer season, service, etc. but hated weekend crowds. As to what the Muellers wanted to do, again, it was really polarized.

 

[bobbutts]

As a midweek place it's great for lots of high speed cruising. Biggest drawback is there's nothing steep and natural to lap and the on-map glades generally are disappointing. Goosebumps is actually steep but it always gets groomed out. Cataract glade is the nicest pitch but access to it stinks (17 mins of chairlift rides per lap), the proposed chair would at least fix that, but probably would just turn it into even more of a mogul field with trees.
For me all this just means is that when there's nice natural snowpack and surface I like to go elsewhere. When due to weather the only real choice is groomers, Sunapee is fantastic compared to everything else in the region, and seems to extend on this with the proposed expansion.

 

[thetrailboss]

When I skied at Sunapee in 2005-2006, their glades were open like one weekend. They don't get enough snow to even bother.