Sugarbush question

[Edd]

How's getting back and forth between the Mt. Ellen and Lincoln? Shuttle only, I assume, looking at the trail map. Is it not worth it trying to ski both in a day? I'm asking because I see Mt. Ellen is $17 on St. Pattys. Is Mt. Ellen alone enough to occupy 2 advanced skiers for a full day? I bet the season pass holders won't come near Mt Ellen that day.

 

[deadheadskier]

I've spent plenty of days just skiing Mt. Ellen. If it weren't for Castlerock, Mt. Ellen would be my preference of the two mountains. It essentially is most days unless Castlerock is in fantastic shape. There is plenty of terrain there for a full day. You'll have some repeats for sure, but where won't you?

 

[kcyanks1]

How's getting back and forth between the Mt. Ellen and Lincoln? Shuttle only, I assume, looking at the trail map. Is it not worth it trying to ski both in a day? I'm asking because I see Mt. Ellen is $17 on St. Pattys. Is Mt. Ellen alone enough to occupy 2 advanced skiers for a full day? I bet the season pass holders won't come near Mt Ellen that day.

Mt. Ellen is certainly enough to occupy advanced skiers for a full day. On weekends and holidays the Slide Brook Express chair connects the mountains -- not sure whether St. Patrick's Day counts as a holiday for that purpose.

 

[Greg]

If you time the Mad Bus just right, you might have as little as 20 minutes of downtime getting between the 2 areas. Use that time for a break and Power Bar lunch. They seem to stick pretty closely to the schedule.

 

[WWF-VT]

Looks like the $17 ticket is for Mt Ellen only so no need to worry about going to Lincoln Peak unless you want to buy an all mountain ticket that day. Mt Ellen is more than enough to occupy you for a full day

 

[marcski]

Personally, I like the variety of terrain over at South, with Castlerock, etc....

Also, looking back, do you think that they could have better spent the however many millions of dollars that it cost them to build the slidebrook lift>>???

 

[Brettski]

I prefer Mt. Ellen

But just being in the MRV is a blast

 

[Greg]

Also, looking back, do you think that they could have better spent the however many millions of dollars that it cost them to build the slidebrook lift>>???

ASC spent it. Not the current owners. ASC is no more which should answer your question. Still, Win and co. reap the benefit of having such a unique chair.

 

[Edd]

Mt. Ellen is certainly enough to occupy advanced skiers for a full day. On weekends and holidays the Slide Brook Express chair connects the mountains -- not sure whether St. Patrick's Day counts as a holiday for that purpose.

Woops, the interactive trail map on their site didn't show the Slidebrook. I think it's because it's only showing what's currently open. The static map shows it, though. We may pass up St Pats day in any event because if we get a possible 6 inches Sunday night, we'll hit MRG on Monday, then Sugarbush the next two days, head up to Stowe which I really feel like we should spend two days at, but I want to go to Smuggs too, but by that time it's Saturday, and I hate Saturdays....holy crap! It's too much to decide! I wanna go now!!

 

[kcyanks1]

Woops, the interactive trail map on their site didn't show the Slidebrook. I think it's because it's only showing what's currently open. The static map shows it, though. We may pass up St Pats day in any event because if we get a possible 6 inches Sunday night, we'll hit MRG on Monday, then Sugarbush the next two days, head up to Stowe which I really feel like we should spend two days at, but I want to go to Smuggs too, but by that time it's Saturday, and I hate Saturdays....holy crap! It's too much to decide! I wanna go now!!

All great mountains (I've never been to Smuggs, though), so you should have a great time no matter where you go. I wouldn't worry about crowds at Sugarbush even on the weekend. Doing MRG on a weekday is a good idea.

 

[hrstrat57]

Is Mt. Ellen alone enough to occupy 2 advanced skiers for a full day?

Without question yes.

 

[thetrailboss]

How's getting back and forth between the Mt. Ellen and Lincoln? Shuttle only, I assume, looking at the trail map. Is it not worth it trying to ski both in a day? I'm asking because I see Mt. Ellen is $17 on St. Pattys. Is Mt. Ellen alone enough to occupy 2 advanced skiers for a full day? I bet the season pass holders won't come near Mt Ellen that day.

If conditions are good, which they are improving, you can find plenty of terrain...groomed, bumped, etc. Ellen is bigger than it looks on the map. The fast lifts make it seem smaller.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

Smuggs is the hidden gem of the north!!! i think they have more acres of tree skiing than trails...love it there...

 

[marcski]

ASC spent it. Not the current owners. ASC is no more which should answer your question. Still, Win and co. reap the benefit of having such a unique chair.

Of course ASC put it in. But what I was getting at....is it must have cost them a bundle, with the trail clearing etc. let alone the $$ and time to get the clearance. Don't you think they could have better used that money at the time...in doing some other upgrades?

 

[deadheadskier]

Of course ASC put it in. But what I was getting at....is it must have cost them a bundle, with the trail clearing etc. let alone the $$ and time to get the clearance. Don't you think they could have better used that money at the time...in doing some other upgrades?

money could've been spent elsewhere sure, but at the time it was part of a 28 million project that included multiple new lifts and other improvements. I think they claimed either 5 or 7 new lifts with the project, though some of those were old lifts moved to new places.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Of course ASC put it in. But what I was getting at....is it must have cost them a bundle, with the trail clearing etc. let alone the $$ and time to get the clearance. Don't you think they could have better used that money at the time...in doing some other upgrades?

Yes. Definitely. IMHO, one of the dumbest lift installations in New England ski history. Fun ride, but major PITA on so many levels. Little to no ROI. Lots to worry about. Lots to maintain. Doesn't run often. Etc.

I equate it more to a Disney theme park ride, than an actual ski lift. An incredible piece of engineering on Doppelmayr's part, but pointless nonetheless, IMO.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I've always enjoyed beginning my day at Sugarbush South(Lincoln Peak)..doing a few runs off the Heavens Gate and Castlerock chairs..maybe a run or two on Gate House or North Lynx..then the Slidebrook to Sugarbush North(Mount Ellen, Glen Ellen).,,then a run or two on Cliffs, Hammerhead, Bravo, Encore..then to the top for FIS and BlackDiamond..then Lower FIS..a run or two on Walts, Brambles, and Inverness..then a few last runs at South.,..it makes for a fun ski day..

 

[Newpylong]

Personally, I like the variety of terrain over at South, with Castlerock, etc....

Also, looking back, do you think that they could have better spent the however many millions of dollars that it cost them to build the slidebrook lift>>???

No! Except it should run everyday...

 

[kcyanks1]

Yes. Definitely. IMHO, one of the dumbest lift installations in New England ski history. Fun ride, but major PITA on so many levels. Little to no ROI. Lots to worry about. Lots to maintain. Doesn't run often. Etc.

I equate it more to a Disney theme park ride, than an actual ski lift. An incredible piece of engineering on Doppelmayr's part, but pointless nonetheless, IMO.

I've actually never ridden it. Some time I'll have to, but I haven't felt a need yet. I generally just go to South and spend the entire day there. I've been to North maybe 1-2 times since the lift has been in, and in that case, skied all day at North. I guess thankfully I've gone at times when enough has been open to occupy me at a single mountain.

 

[hrstrat57]

I equate it more to a Disney theme park ride, than an actual ski lift. An incredible piece of engineering on Doppelmayr's part, but pointless nonetheless, IMO.

My kids love it....that scream and yell the whole ride, yep they have even said it is like an amusement part ride......

Spending one day at each area makes more sense....and I worry about getting stuck in an evac....but it sure is fun.