Redline or The Mall

[Greg]

Redline (Magic):

The Mall (Sugarbush):

I love liftlines and these are two classic double liftlines. Which do you prefer? Tough call for me. I feel The Mall wins for overall snow reliability (not based on the above pic! ). Redline wins if based on the gnarliness factor.

 

[wa-loaf]

I want to ski them both. When's the AZ Magic trip? :-D

 

[bvibert]

When's the AZ Magic trip? :-D

We should definitely do a Magic trip this year. A few of us met up last year, but it was a last minute thing after an aborted Mount Snow (wind hold) trip.

That said, I've never skied either trail. I'd like to give both a shot at some point when I feel I'm ready though.

 

[riverc0il]

Red Line is one of the best lift line trails in New England. Not in the top three by a long shot but still up there. Mall is a nice lift line but pretty mellow. Definitely no gnar and not steep. Much like JimG said of the Rumble vs Goat thread, I do not think it is a fair comparison. Red Line hands down for me.

 

[MrMagic]

Red Line is one of the best lift line trails in New England.

PERIOD

 

[Greg]

I want to ski them both. When's the AZ Magic trip? :-D

We should definitely do a Magic trip this year. A few of us met up last year, but it was a last minute thing after an aborted Mount Snow (wind hold) trip.

Magic is definitely on the agenda for me this season. Perhaps several times. I'd be down for a few AZ gatherings. I love your enthusiasm, wa-loaf. I look forward to skiing with you this season.

That said, I've never skied either trail. I'd like to give both a shot at some point when I feel I'm ready though.

After how well you handled MRG, I think you're ready for both now, Brian. Prior to last season I don't think I would say that. You came a long way last year.

Red Line is one of the best lift line trails in New England. Not in the top three by a long shot but still up there. Mall is a nice lift line but pretty mellow. Definitely no gnar and not steep. Much like JimG said of the Rumble vs Goat thread, I do not think it is a fair comparison. Red Line hands down for me.

I think the Mall is pretty steep at the top before it gradually mellows. Redline is mellow at the start, then the two drops, then the very steep stretch before mellowing. I'm not including upper Upper Redline which is probably beyond my skill level, at least beyond pure survival:

I almost made the comparison between Redline and the Castlerock Liftline which may be more comparable from a technical skiing standpoint. I just figured the CR LL would win hands down. If you take the snow surface unreliability of Redline into consideration, I think The Mall wins. On a 2 foot powder day, Redline hands down.

 

[Beetlenut]

We should definitely do a Magic trip this year. A few of us met up last year, but it was a last minute thing after an aborted Mount Snow (wind hold) trip.

I'm definitly up for a Magic trip this year. I use to ski Magic back in the late Eightys when Timberside was part of it. After seeing last years video of the AZ trip, I remembered why I liked skiing there so much. Don't want to miss this years trip! ;-)

 

[riverc0il]

Nothing on the Mall makes me want to throw my skis sideways like Red Line has. I think CR Liftline would have been a much better comparison, actually. Terrain wise, tough choice in that case to be quite frank. Sugarbush has the advantage of more and better snow. All things being equal though... I love the narrow feel and intimate audience on Red Line. There are some places you can really put it out there. Castlerock Lift Line is phenomenal for about 100-200 feet then peters out rather quickly. I'd take Red Line personally, snow conditions being equal.

 

[wa-loaf]

Magic is definitely on the agenda for me this season. Perhaps several times. I'd be down for a few AZ gatherings. I love your enthusiasm, wa-loaf. I look forward to skiing with you this season.

Hehe yea, I want to ski everywhere, but reality may get in the way of that. Sugarbush is the only trip locked in right now. Trips to Magic and the Beast are at the top of the list. And possibly a Sundown night.

 

[Greg]

And possibly a Sundown night.

Bring it! 625 vert of shenanigans...

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Redline. I love the Mall, but it's just not in the same league.

 

[bvibert]

After how well you handled MRG, I think you're ready for both now, Brian. Prior to last season I don't think I would say that. You came a long way last year.

Thanks, but I think the conditions at MRG that day had a lot to do with it, the fresh snow just seemed to make things look easier.

I'm not including upper Upper Redline which is probably beyond my skill level, at least beyond pure survival:

Is the upper part even technically a trail? I was under the impression that it was never open due to the chairs getting so close to the ground...

 

[kingslug]

Every time we went up, I would look at Redline and wonder how to get down the really steep parts. A no fall zone for sure. With a lot of coverage it might be doable(for me anyway) but not the day I was there.

 

[riverc0il]

A no fall zone for sure.

Not really... unless red line is iced up (which would cause it to get roped), you certainly are not going to slide very far on a bumped up red line even on the steep sections.

 

[wintersyndrome]

I agree that bumps do act as "brakes" for falls, But my body tells me exposed rock is a no fall zone fer sure.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Thanks, but I think the conditions at MRG that day had a lot to do with it, the fresh snow just seemed to make things look easier.



Is the upper part even technically a trail? I was under the impression that it was never open due to the chairs getting so close to the ground...

Maybe it has changed with the new management, but that was permanently closed in the 5 years I patrolled there. It was always roped off in the '80's as well. The chairs are too low. Same was true of "Blackline" which was never considered a trail until someone put it on the map. That really takes a lot of snow to cover.

 

[kingslug]

Not really... unless red line is iced up (which would cause it to get roped), you certainly are not going to slide very far on a bumped up red line even on the steep sections.

It was pretty icy when I was there, and the top was roped off.

 

[shwilly]

Red Line is one of the best lift line trails in New England. Not in the top three by a long shot but still up there.

What would your top 3 be?

I guess I'm not a big lift line fan, or my usual haunts don't have many memorable lift lines. I can't think of many lift lines in my personal favorites.

 

[riverc0il]

What would your top 3 be?

Single Liftline at MRG (including Chute)
Tramline at Cannon
Face Chutes to River Quai at Jay

Red Line and Castlerock Liftline would probably come in just below my personal top three somewhere in the 4-6 slots. Sunday River, interestingly enough, has a lot of great liftline trails would some fantastic bump lines. Agony is great for a liftline bumper but the liftlines under the Oz and Jordan quads are fantastic (Caramba and something else). The liftline under the Bonaventure Quad is probably in my top ten as well, also far superior to The Mall at Sugarbush, in my opinion, especially due to the nice optional drops at the top. Similar low level bumps on the end of both of these trails. Zoomer Liftline at Cannon is another favorite though definitely not a personal top ten. I am sure the Smuggs liftline on Madonna will find its way into my top five when I get there. Wildcat's pair of liftlines are amongst the best top to bottom bumpers around at 2k vert though not top ten material. I am totally missing some good ones for sure, but those are some of my favs.

 

[AHM]

Some favs......

In no particular order........

1. Bravo at SB. Nothing special but typically great snow
2. Mall at SB: It's solid run when non stopped.
3. Chute/liftline at MRG: just a super run
4. Supreme chair at Alta: not really a run, but serious terrain under the lift
5. Trifides at La Grave: These are great shots, with a whole lot of consequence, but quite fun. My profile pic is on Trifides 1.