Sugarbush Details

[ChileMass]

I'm gonna take my buddy JoshuaB up on his idea of a new thread about Sugarbush. Never been there and always heard outstanding things about it - who's got the lowdown? I am considering not going to Quebec and maybe going to the 'Bush instead. I hear the weather always sucks (very little sun due to the Champlain lake effect), but that also means there's lots of snow. I hear the connecting chair between Sugarbush and the old Glen Ellen peak is a great ride. Tell me more - what are the best black/bump runs, best cruisers, best place to get a beer/wings after, best place to avoid crowds on weekends, best places to stay, best deal on ski school for kids, etc, etc, etc........??

 

[jlangdale]

Sugarbush is a great mountain. There's a good amount of diverse stuff to test yourself and have fun. Two different mountains are nice and the split brook chair that connects them is a fun little chair lift ride when it's running. If you go mid-week or during slow periods, don't expect it to be running all the time.

I love south summit, organgrinder is a great run and paradise is great if you like trees. You can really get lost back there. Castle rock is very challenging. I also really love the run down from the summit along the blue Jester which zig-zags down then you can hit the connector to the Valley double and hit spring fling and some other really nice runs through the trees on the far side of south. North lynx is also a nice area to hit.

North is also great, a lot of great views and good runs. Nice terrain park over there w/superpipe. If you go on the weekend, stop by the NASTAR course at south on Spring fling and say hi to the photographer.

Good place to eat and grab beer is Arvads, they have one in Waitsfield and one in Waterbury too. The one in Waitsfield is near the pizza place off rt 100.

 

[Greg]

Sugarbush is one of those "must-visit" resorts for me. Problem is it's a bit further than my day trip travel limit (3.5 hours one way) so it'll have to be planned around a weekend or vacation stay...

 

[Joshua]

going there for New Years...can't wait

any good night spots to celebrate the new year? i realize its quieter up there than other resorts, but there is always one spot....

 

[jlangdale]

Blue tooth bar has recently been bought my Sugarbush. It's been a little dead any time I've gone there. But it's a nice place, has a big screen tv.

The Mad River Tavern on the corner of 17 and Rt100 is the place to go. I've had a lot of fun there. Usually a good band playing there, moreso during the season I believe. If you go, just watch yourself and take the bus or something. The VT state troopers have been cracking down very hard on the Tavern. Citing employees drinking while working, people dancing while drinking, and serving people that have already had too much. The troopers are usually watching that place closely through town. They also may have an undercover trooper inside.

The tavern is also going to have to be closed for 30 days suspended license for the violations. They were trying to get the license totally revoked I think. Rumors abound that they want to push the owner out of business or something. It's definately a popular place and any place they are trying to shut down you know is probably a good time.

http://www.cybertopia.net/reporter/headlines/3327tavern.html

 

[Joshua]

dancing while drinking? im a 3rd year law student, didn't know that was illegal.

 

[jlangdale]

I don't know if it's illegal either. Weird. But from insurance the glass and stuff probably doesn't fly.

 

[Joshua B]

To avoid crowds, use Mt. Ellen as your base, and just use the Slide Brook Express Quad to head over to Lincoln Peak during lunchtime. One of my favorite trails is Jesture off the top of Lincoln Peak. It's a classic, winding, New England-style trail with lots of zig-zagging.

 

[Greg]

..and any place they are trying to shut down you know is probably a good time.

Ha! True that.