sugarbush future

[SKIER4LIFE1281]

i saw on the alpine zone ski area challenge that sugarush may expand north of the inverness quad and improve snowmaking at the base at mount ellen. i also heard a rumor that they might expand terrain above the sunnyside double and over a little bit.

 

[thetrailboss]

i saw on the alpine zone ski area challenge that sugarush may expand north of the inverness quad

That's not likely at all considering that they tried to do this in the 60's and went so far as cutting a liftline before realizing that they did not own the land.

and improve snowmaking at the base at mount ellen.

I guess they could....there isn't really more to improve...

i also heard a rumor that they might expand terrain above the sunnyside double and over a little bit.

There used to be trails here....

 

[ski_industry_enthusiast]

That's not likely at all considering that they tried to do this in the 60's and went so far as cutting a liftline before realizing that they did not own the land.

Actually, not quite the whole story. Summit Ventures actually does own the land above Inverness, IIRC. There were other involved issues.

There used to be trails here....

I don't think so. There was a logging/work road, but never ski trails.

 

[Skier75]

Humm...interesting, since we are going to hit the 'Bush tomorrow with my daughter. She lives nearby and her husband works there. Can't wait, it should be pretty awesome! We'll post a TR when we come back.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

The only thing I know for sure is the Bush is focused on building the next phase of the new Lincoln Peak Village, www.lincolnpeakvillage.com. in the upcoming time before next season.

In the future something will have to be done about the Inverness lift. If your going to replace the lift might as well put in a longer lift and extend the terrain above towards the top of Starks.

 

[maplevalleymaster]

I saw something recently in Ski Magazine I believe. Something about thinking about an HSQ on Castlerock???? This seems crazy, but I am almost positive I saw this. Can anyone relate?

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I saw something recently in Ski Magazine I believe. Something about thinking about an HSQ on Castlerock???? This seems crazy, but I am almost positive I saw this. Can anyone relate?

Doubtful since they replaced the lift a couple of years ago. Never believe everything you read in Ski.

 

[ski_industry_enthusiast]

I saw something recently in Ski Magazine I believe. Something about thinking about an HSQ on Castlerock???? This seems crazy, but I am almost positive I saw this. Can anyone relate?

The article referenced that early in the Summit Ventures years (2001 or 02), they considered replacing the OLD double with an HSQ. However, due to extreme opposition to the idea, it never happened. Instead, they replaced the OLD double with a NEW double, with the same chair spacing as the original to maintain the feel, and the uphill capacity.

 

[Newpylong]

The article referenced that early in the Summit Ventures years (2001 or 02), they considered replacing the OLD double with an HSQ. However, due to extreme opposition to the idea, it never happened. Instead, they replaced the OLD double with a NEW double, with the same chair spacing as the original to maintain the feel, and the uphill capacity.

The American Ski Company came up with the plans to replace the Castlerock lift, and when Summit Ventures bought in 2001, they went ahead with the plans.

I really don't see a need to replace the Inverness Quad, given the terrain in that area...

 

[Mike_451]

ASC had plans to widen Castlerock, add snowmaking, grooming, and a high speed quad. Anybody who has any respect for Sugarbush knows this would be a bad thing. SV had apperently kept this plan on the books when they bought the resort, but decided to preserve Castlerock the way it has been.

A high speed quad is out of the picture completely, for one the added traffic would mean snowmaking would be necessary. Secondly, the snowmaking and added trafic would require widening the trails, and thirdly, anybody who would even consider going forward with that would probably be lynched.

The terrain above the inverness, according to Win in the AZ challenge is a personal priority of John Eagan to develop. This means the resort is interested in doing something with it. Obviously, it is an idea that is on the table, and isn't something that has been ruled out.

The area inbetween Tumbler and lower FIS abouve the SD chair, is probably the most realistic area where any serious terrain expansion other than the Inverness could occur. Contrary to the drawings on the trail map, there is a significant amount of potential for terrain in this area.

The most likely terrain expansion to come in the immediate future is in the form of additional "official" gladed areas.

The Inverness Quad is rediculously slow, although they will probably keep it arround for a while. There was a lift path cut for the chair above the inverness by glen ellen. This is still easily visible from German Flats Road. The path ends on Brambles, and running a lift all the way to the top, wouldn't work with the orriginal intended path.

As far as Snowmaking, there are plans to add a guns to the terrain off of Suny D that dont have snowmaking.

The Current System at Mt Ellen is limited by the ammount of water that is available. The Resort is looking into adding a remote pond, as the current pond is for south only. In addition to that, they are looking into interconnecting the systems via Slidebrook, which was permitted with the Slidebrook Chair.

In the future, some snowmaking upgrades, such as an additional compressor and pump are likely at Mt Ellen.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

One of the most important factors preventing the Bush from expanding is available power from the grid. Diesel power usage has been basically eliminated except for emergency situations. On very cold nights where power usage is at a maximum keeping the snowmaking system going full bore thru the night is problematic. Nothing a couple of wind turbines on "Mt Baldy" couldn't fix. :wink:

 

[Newpylong]

ASC had plans to widen Castlerock, add snowmaking, grooming, and a high speed quad. Anybody who has any respect for Sugarbush knows this would be a bad thing. SV had apperently kept this plan on the books when they bought the resort, but decided to preserve Castlerock the way it has been.

I would like to know where you got this information, because I do not believe it... Perhaps this was a twinkle in their eye when they made all the improvements to South in 94/95? Surely it wasn't when their order for the new Poma double was made in 2001. This was ASC's lift, not SV.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I would like to know where you got this information, because I do not believe it... Perhaps this was a twinkle in their eye when they made all the improvements to South in 94/95? Surely it wasn't when their order for the new Poma double was made in 2001. This was ASC's lift, not SV.

SV replaced the aging Carlevario Savio Castlerock Double. The new Poma chair was installed in 2001 based on the specifications of the original in an effort to maintain Castlerock's traditional character.

 

[Plowboy]

"Save The Rock", is what the bumper sticker said.

 

[Mike_451]

Les Otten personaly wanted to add a HSQ chair, snowmaking, grooming, and tame the trails by means of a bulldozer.

In addition to the "Save the Rock" stickers, there was also "More Rock Les Otten"

Apperently the Plans were for the HSQ were still on the book, when SV bought the resort, and they continued to look at the possibilities.

The old double chair was condemned by the state, because the concrete footings were going bad, and Sumit Ventures arranged for and purchased the new chair, as well as the GMX. The CR chaIr was not ASC'S chair.

Win has said that there probably won't be any additional High Speed Quad Chairs, and the replacement Valley House Chair will likely be either a fixed grip triple or quad.

The only likely possibility for an additional High Speed Chair would have to come with terrain expansion.

Win has also said, there won't be any Six Packs under his watch.

Sugarbush has plenty of uphill capacity, and any more would start to dump to many people on the trails. The lift system at Sugarbush is just right, and will probably stay the way it is for a long time.

As far as snowmaking, supposedly the power limitations are at South (LP) and that there is power available for additional compressors or pumps at North (ME) However, the Snowmaking Pond in the Valley only supplies South, and the pond at North is limited heavily by capacity and permitting, so upgrades to capacity are impossible for now there.

They are supposedly looking into interconnecting the two systems via slidebrook, which was permited with the chair, or adding a remote pond for North. The system at South is pretty adiquet, but North could use more capacity to get the mountain open quicker.

 

[ski_industry_enthusiast]

The Inverness Quad is rediculously slow, although they will probably keep it arround for a while.

Actually, even though I completely agree that it feels terribly slow, it's running at about 420 fpm. Anything more than 450 fpm, and you'll knock people over left and right, and then have to stop and slow a lot. Part of the reason it feels slow is that the chair spacing is pretty wide; there could almost be a chair between each chair, or at least 30% more. Then you'd pass chairs more quickly, and feel like it was moving fast. But really, 420 fpm is pretty quick for a fixed-grip chair.

I would like to know where you got this information, because I do not believe it... Perhaps this was a twinkle in their eye when they made all the improvements to South in 94/95? Surely it wasn't when their order for the new Poma double was made in 2001. This was ASC's lift, not SV.

SRO is correct. The current Poma Alpha Series Double was installed in 2001 BY SUMMIT VENTURES to replace the old double. Here's a link for some more info: http://sugarbushhistory.com/sugarbush_011.htm.

In fact, here's a quote directly from the Sugarbush website:

[quote="Sugarbush.com]Since acquiring the Resort in 2001, the Castlerock and Green Mountain Express chairlifts were replaced {by Summit Ventures}[/quote]

 

[KingM]

I was just commenting to my son last week how awesome it would be if they developed some of that terrain above Inverness. There are some great natural lines, woods, etc., to exploit. Add another upper mountain lift and you'd be rivaling LP. Of course, they also need some work done on the base area to bring it within shouting distance of all the great stuff they've got going on at LP.

 

[ski_industry_enthusiast]

I was just commenting to my son last week how awesome it would be if they developed some of that terrain above Inverness. There are some great natural lines, woods, etc., to exploit. Add another upper mountain lift and you'd be rivaling LP. Of course, they also need some work done on the base area to bring it within shouting distance of all the great stuff they've got going on at LP.

Base improvements would be great, but I would hope that they would be fitting to the character of ME. It's an old-school new england charm atmosphere, and something like Claybrook, or even the new Gatehouse would completely ruin that, IMO. Definitely will need a new lodge soon, even though I love the old Green Mt Lodge. I'd like to see something just as rustic and quaint put up, in keeping with the ME spirit, but certainly more up to date. I'll just be royally pissed if there's not a real fireplace in it. I don't care what the permitters say... put the darn fireplace in anyway. I'll take care of the state and town officials who can't seem to find any value in a REAL WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE!

Ok, ok... so I got a little worked up. I just like my fireplaces :wink:

 

[KingM]

I'll just be royally pissed if there's not a real fireplace in it. I don't care what the permitters say... put the darn fireplace in anyway. I'll take care of the state and town officials who can't seem to find any value in a REAL WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE!

Ok, ok... so I got a little worked up. I just like my fireplaces :wink:

That's funny. About once a week I get a guest at the inn who says, "Oh, that's a real fireplace?" Usually after having had breakfast in front of it for about three days running. It's pathetic that we assume the default is fake.

 

[MikeTrainor]

That's funny. About once a week I get a guest at the inn who says, "Oh, that's a real fireplace?" Usually after having had breakfast in front of it for about three days running. It's pathetic that we assume the default is fake.

You know that’s funny I was thinking the same thing while I was eating breakfast. Then I noticed the flames got a little to big to be a gas fireplace. Nice place you have by the way.