SUGARBUSH: The 2005 AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge

[Lostone]

So reading the EIS posted above, the "pipelines aare what we would refer to a sthe Slidebrook lift. Those changes are the ASC changes done years ago.

Questions:

1) I agree with the above about wanting summit temperature and wind speed info. I'd like it in the lodge and on the site.

2) Are they ever going to do anything with the lights on Easy Rider? I've seen them, but wasn't aware why they were ever put up, until I read the above mentioned EIS.

3) Any plans to make some areas off limits for tree skiing? Looking at places like Paradise woods, you can see what happens with too many people going thru an area. I love to ski in the trees, but would hate the whole mountain to start being torn up like that is. (I know, it is sacrilidge, but too many places are getting too open. )

 

[dmc]

3) Any plans to make some areas off limits for tree skiing? Looking at places like Paradise woods, you can see what happens with too many people going thru an area. I love to ski in the trees, but would hate the whole mountain to start being torn up like that is. (I know, it is sacrilidge, but too many places are getting too open. )

WHAT? Why would you say something like that...
wow....

 

[thetrailboss]

Re: New question...

Was hiking up there today, Castlerock to be specific, and noticed one of those wind speed gauges/wind direction indicators on the last tower on the Castlerock lift, realize I've seen them elsewhere on the mountain... why are those there if no one can see the data? Is it possible that that information could make it to Sugarbush.com so we could see windspeed/possible temps at summit as well as base, like MRG does?

A lot of that info is used for snowmaking/lift operations. If the wind exceeds a certain point, the lifties have to stop boarding it :wink:

 

[thetrailboss]

I recall seeing in the 1996 EIS paperwork a proposal to build a trail from the top of North Lynx down across Slide Brook and terminating near the Gate House Quad terminal. Will this ever come to fruition? If not, why?

 

[Strat]

I recall seeing in the 1996 EIS paperwork a proposal to build a trail from the top of North Lynx down across Slide Brook and terminating near the Gate House Quad terminal. Will this ever come to fruition? If not, why?

Such a trail does exist, at least, partially... I'm not sure where it comes out, but there is a closed-off area on skier's left at the top of sunrise that leads to a narrow trail that crosses over slidebrook at the top of the ridge and continues downward, easily visible from slidebrook as well... I have no idea where it comes out, I figure it must just be a service road, perhaps terminating in the village somewhere... I wonder why they would ever want to build a trail like that that would go all the way down to the gatehouse... and where would it go? It seems like in order to make it back to Gatehouse, it would have to cross slidebrook (as that trail I mentioned above does) and hit Village Run, then continuing back into Pushover or maybe Easy Rider... seems like a rather useless trail that would probably get underused... would, however, like to see the plan for that...

 

[Strat]

OK, new question...
Any chance for lift operations maybe every other weekend or something during the summer for mountain biking capabilities? I know a lot of people would enjoy that... would make something happen at the ski area (as opposed to golf course) during the summer, instead of the nothingness that goes on right now...

Just thought of another one...

Snowflake, the trail once serviced by the old T-Bar at North, to the south of Sunny D (at the termination of Lower FIS) has gone unused for years... seems like with North's complete and total lack of beginner terrain, a cheap T-Bar could be purchased by Sugarbush and installed down there to make North a little more accomodating to beginners... North has seen a lot of improvements, but that would really make it more of a complete mountain... does this plan seem semi-realistic?

 

[thetrailboss]

Thanks for your contributions! I've split the thread so that you can keep talking about SB...so post there...look for responses from JJ soon!!

 

[Greg]

JJ's responses are in:

http://skiing.alpinezone.com/articles/challenge/2005/response.htm?resort=sugarbush

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Pretty good replies, IMHO. I like to see honesty and passion. Glad to hear about the new website and the possiblity for integrating real-time data. And the Waffle House at Allyn's Lodge...yum!

JJ - I'll be taking you up on that offer.

 

[thetrailboss]

A delay...but glad to hear back Good substance.

 

[smootharc]

Bonehead boy here....

.....realized that he wishes he had tossed a few questions out. Was dozing on that AZ challenge. Informative stuff, though.

:dunce:

 

[awf170]

http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4889661.00012052&e=666767.000028714&datum=nad83

Does look pretty hard to do...

Has anyone considered cutting a traverse from the top of Middle Earth down to the base of the North Lynx triple? Such a trail would have multiple benefits for SB. First, it would help overcome the current single point of failure which exists in accessing the North Lynx and Slide Brook chairs. If Gate House goes down, there's no way to get ‘theah from heah.' While a traverse from Castlerock wouldn't be optimal, it would at least be the start of a solution there. Furthermore, when one wants to go from the Castlerock/Heaven's Gate trail pods to North Lynx or back to Mt Ellen, they must go through the already-crowded base area and queue for the Gate House lift with the beginners who would probably appreciate shorter lift lines.

 

[smootharc]

But, by golly, all that choice terrain.....

http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4889661.00012052&e=666767.000028714&datum=nad83

Has anyone considered cutting a traverse from the top of Middle Earth down to the base of the North Lynx triple?

....with so few trails doth maketh me drool.....and wonder....

To get over to North Lynx looks like you'd have to start swinging wide basically near the top of Middle Earth. Anyone know how to bribe Forest Service officials.

A previous post of mine wondered about all the possibilities for trails between existing trails at Castlerock and at the top of SB North. Such dreams appear to exist in the place where fantasy, resort economics, and government agencies collide.

 

[ctenidae]

You're right; Allyn's Lodge is a phenomenal place to grab a bite to eat or just hangout, but right now there are no plans to expand it. However, there will be a Waffle House up there this season so I would suspect that the line for food in Allyn's would decrease. No immediate plans for warming hut at the top of Gate House right now.


Does he mean a Waffle House (tm) Waffle House, or a Waffle Haus Waffle House? I mean, a real live Waffle House would be a major reason for me to make the drive. A BLT and a bowl of Bert's chili will set you up like nothing else. And nothing's more enjoyable than dinner at The Hairlip Cafe.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Does he mean a Waffle House (tm) Waffle House, or a Waffle Haus Waffle House? I mean, a real live Waffle House would be a major reason for me to make the drive. A BLT and a bowl of Bert's chili will set you up like nothing else. And nothing's more enjoyable than dinner at The Hairlip Cafe.

I'm pretty sure he meant a Waffle Haus, as in the tiny shack they had at the base of the GH lift the last few years. What a great way to start my ski day.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Re: But, by golly, all that choice terrain.....

http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4889661.00012052&e=666767.000028714&datum=nad83

Has anyone considered cutting a traverse from the top of Middle Earth down to the base of the North Lynx triple?

....with so few trails doth maketh me drool.....and wonder....

To get over to North Lynx looks like you'd have to start swinging wide basically near the top of Middle Earth. Anyone know how to bribe Forest Service officials.

A previous post of mine wondered about all the possibilities for trails between existing trails at Castlerock and at the top of SB North. Such dreams appear to exist in the place where fantasy, resort economics, and government agencies collide.

Starting at the right turn down the fall line was precisely what I was talking about. Trying to cut a run much lower than that creates issues with the steep fall off skiers' left of ME as well as the deep gully in between. Higher up, the gully really doesn't exist and there is no steep drop off on the left. Not really worth checking out in there though - crappy SE exposure.

 

[skibum1321]

I have an additional question related to pass pricing. It seems that most mountains have found a way to attract the recent college graduates. Stowe has a discounted pass, Jay and Smuggs are just plain cheaper and then there's the All East pass. I see this as a critical market as these are the people that will be skiing the mountain for years to come and will have the income to buy a full pass and possibly condos in the future. Does Sugarbush ever plan to offer a discounted pass to this segment? I know that personally I skied Sugarbush for 2 years in college and will now be skiing Smuggs because I can't afford the Bush at this point in my life.

 

[throp]

College Alum

A very good point. We did not create a special pass this year, but it is something that could make sense for us to do in the future. We have made the Mt Ellen pass very affordable - both season as well as day, so I hope you come down from Smuggs and keep enjoying the Bush.

Win Smith (I gave JJ the day off since Ski Mag ranked us in the top ten in the East this year)

 

[thetrailboss]

I have an additional question related to pass pricing. It seems that most mountains have found a way to attract the recent college graduates. Stowe has a discounted pass, Jay and Smuggs are just plain cheaper and then there's the All East pass. I see this as a critical market as these are the people that will be skiing the mountain for years to come and will have the income to buy a full pass and possibly condos in the future. Does Sugarbush ever plan to offer a discounted pass to this segment? I know that personally I skied Sugarbush for 2 years in college and will now be skiing Smuggs because I can't afford the Bush at this point in my life.

This was my position for the last two seasons...we skied at Pats Peak. So what do I do? GO back to school. :wink: Pass deals abound, except for the %^&*($#s at Okemo who put an age limit on their college passes :evil:

A very good point. We did not create a special pass this year, but it is something that could make sense for us to do in the future. We have made the Mt Ellen pass very affordable - both season as well as day, so I hope you come down from Smuggs and keep enjoying the Bush.

Win Smith (I gave JJ the day off since Ski Mag ranked us in the top ten in the East this year)

Is this for real? The real WIN Smith? Joke?

 

[Treeliner]

A very good point. We did not create a special pass this year, but it is something that could make sense for us to do in the future. We have made the Mt Ellen pass very affordable - both season as well as day, so I hope you come down from Smuggs and keep enjoying the Bush.

Win Smith (I gave JJ the day off since Ski Mag ranked us in the top ten in the East this year)

Is this for real? The real WIN Smith? Joke?

Well if you look at the other 3 posts by 'throp'...

http://forums.alpinezone.com/about4005.html&highlight=

Throp started a thread, saying "I hear that Sugarbush is open and still has great skiing. I understand that their Mount Ellen is open during the school vacation week of April 18th and that their are some great prices that make it worth driving up there. Any more info?"

I dont mean to be a conspiricy theorist here but it sounds to me that someone posted that to stir up some conversation on a certain mountain and see what people had to say about it - if you know what I mean.

then... after some people reply throp says "Thanks. Think I'll try it. I hear the people are really nice there, too!"

decide for yourself, i guess