Sugarloaf Announces Terrain Expansion to Burnt Mountain and 10-year Development Plan

[Edd]

That's the way I go, 65 minutes from Rt 95 to the loaf. I can make it in 3 hours 5 minutes from Lee if I get on the pike in Wells.

you think taking 4 straight across to Wells is quicker than grabbing 95 in Portsmouth?

I'm curious as I travel from Newmarket to Portland all the time for work. Always just shoot over to 95 in Portsmouth

I'm skeptical of goiing through Wells too but that's a hell of a good drive time to the Loaf.

 

[bigbob]

I'm skeptical of going through Wells too but that's a hell of a good drive time to the Loaf.

Try the Wells way someday, it is 8 miles shorter than getting on I 95 in Portsmouth. I am 4 miles west of Newmarket off Rt 152. I take Tuttle to Rt 155 thru Dover, then Rt 4 to South Berwick, Me then up to North Berwick, then over to Wells. Coming back Sunday evenings in the summer, it can back up in South Berwick, I just take the first right when I get into town to get back on Rt 236.
I Will be driving this route Sat morning on my way to Norway, Me. You also save a buck on the way north and 2 bucks on the way south on tolls.

 

[thetrailboss]

I'd take any option over a tram. The Funitel at Squaw is pretty sweet.

+1 and it is frickin fast.

 

[deadheadskier]

Try the Wells way someday, it is 8 miles shorter than getting on I 95 in Portsmouth. I am 4 miles west of Newmarket off Rt 152. I take Tuttle to Rt 155 thru Dover, then Rt 4 to South Berwick, Me then up to North Berwick, then over to Wells. Coming back Sunday evenings in the summer, it can back up in South Berwick, I just take the first right when I get into town to get back on Rt 236.
I Will be driving this route Sat morning on my way to Norway, Me. You also save a buck on the way north and 2 bucks on the way south on tolls.

Is Norway where you stay when you ski Sunday River?

What way do you take to SR from Lee? I'm assuming the same route to 95. Do you go the 26 route from Grey or cut over 302 to I forget what road it is North from the Sebago area.

Where I figure I'd lose time going that route is from Newmarket you have to take 108 and that can be a bit slow going through downtown Dover.

 

[bigbob]

Norway is a summer camp, will be closed this weekend. I do go up I 95 to Rt 26, follow 26 directly to Sunday River. I will go thru Portsmouth if i am meeting people at the Pease Park and Ride lot.
On a side note, construction on Rt 26 thru Poland is progressing. Most of the road now has pavement down, was gravel most of the summer. Stretch thru Poland Village is still not been torn up. There is now a blinking light above the new high school before the hill at Ram Ewe Farm. Extra truck climbing lanes have been added at the hill by the Poland Spring Resort, but lines were not painted as of last Sunday.

 

[snoseek]

Is Norway where you stay when you ski Sunday River?

What way do you take to SR from Lee? I'm assuming the same route to 95. Do you go the 26 route from Grey or cut over 302 to I forget what road it is North from the Sebago area.

Where I figure I'd lose time going that route is from Newmarket you have to take 108 and that can be a bit slow going through downtown Dover.

125 to 16 to 25 to 160? to 5 or just 16 to 302 to 5

These ways are pretty consistent for me every time, easier driving when the weather/frost heaves aren't too bad

 

[deadheadskier]

125 to 16 to 25 to 160? to 5 or just 16 to 302 to 5

These ways are pretty consistent for me every time, easier driving when the weather/frost heaves aren't too bad

no, talking 95 in ME to 302 to 5

since moving here, I haven't tried approaching the river from 16.

 

[AdironRider]

From 16 I always headed up North through Gorham, not sure if thats the route you were talking about or not.

I always liked it as I never had a pass there and allowed me to pass 5 other options that if they looked better, could just swing in there. Many a time I said screw it and hit up either Wildcat or backcountry on Tucks.

 

[thetrailboss]

Slow news day for the Rutland Herald: This was frontpage news today.

 

[bigbob]

no, talking 95 in ME to 302 to 5

since moving here, I haven't tried approaching the river from 16.

Rt 26 is a far better road, less frost heaves than the other roads. About 75 minutes to SR from I 95.

 

[mikestaple]

I love the 'Loaf, learned to ski there and these plans are very nice and exciting - but until they find some way to apply leverage on the condo owners and upgrade the interiors to something as modern as at least 1995, I won't be going back for a while.

Many nice condos - but also many that haven't had an upgrade in 20+ years. This very variable housing stock always makes me leery of going up. (And yes I have a brood of kids so it does matter - if it was just adults, I could live in a shack.)

Do I really need to spend 5 hours driving up there and then have to get in a b*tchin' session with the condo folks to move to something that isn't done up in 20 year old dorm furniture and cooking utensils?

I know it isn't directly ski related, but if I have to travel that far for sub standard housing, then I might as well go out west (which is what I've done the last two years).

Love these plans. Can't wait to go back. But it might not be until 2020.

 

[thetrailboss]

I love the 'Loaf, learned to ski there and these plans are very nice and exciting - but until they find some way to apply leverage on the condo owners and upgrade the interiors to something as modern as at least 1995, I won't be going back for a while.

Many nice condos - but also many that haven't had an upgrade in 20+ years. This very variable housing stock always makes me leery of going up. (And yes I have a brood of kids so it does matter - if it was just adults, I could live in a shack.)

Do I really need to spend 5 hours driving up there and then have to get in a b*tchin' session with the condo folks to move to something that isn't done up in 20 year old dorm furniture and cooking utensils?

I know it isn't directly ski related, but if I have to travel that far for sub standard housing, then I might as well go out west (which is what I've done the last two years).

Love these plans. Can't wait to go back. But it might not be until 2020.

This.

Very true. I know that last season when I wanted to go up there for another outing besides the AZ Summit I found the prices to be absurd for lodging. They have a monopoly no doubt, but I agree that the quality is lacking. I wanted to go the second to last weekend and the Sugarloaf properties were no cheaper than like $189 per person per night or something like that. It was Late April. I doubt that they were sold out....

 

[riverc0il]

At the AZ Summit, I had no problems with the condo we stayed in and I think it was one of the older ones. Then again, I never stay in condos so I have no basis for comparison. They had a lot of new condos for those that want something a bit more fancy. Probably a lot more money, though. But my impressions were the condo we stayed in was nice and comfortable, had everything we needed, and was a significant upgrade from a hotel. Bed was a little small though (full instead of a queen or king, IIRC).

 

[Edd]

This.

Very true. I know that last season when I wanted to go up there for another outing besides the AZ Summit I found the prices to be absurd for lodging. They have a monopoly no doubt, but I agree that the quality is lacking. I wanted to go the second to last weekend and the Sugarloaf properties were no cheaper than like $189 per person per night or something like that. It was Late April. I doubt that they were sold out....

As a longtime passholder with Boyne / ASC I feel pretty aware of their tactics.

For Sunday River / Sugarloaf, it doesn't matter what time of year you call, the customer service folks speak as if they are practically sold out and that you are calling at a very busy time. "Hmmm, let me dig verrry deep and see if a spot is available."

Do your research if you want to stay up there. I'm guessing they are half empty half the time.

 

[bvibert]

At the AZ Summit, I had no problems with the condo we stayed in and I think it was one of the older ones. Then again, I never stay in condos so I have no basis for comparison. They had a lot of new condos for those that want something a bit more fancy. Probably a lot more money, though. But my impressions were the condo we stayed in was nice and comfortable, had everything we needed, and was a significant upgrade from a hotel. Bed was a little small though (full instead of a queen or king, IIRC).

Our condo had some outdated furnishing and what-not, but it wasn't enough to bother me. It was quite comfy. My wife and I shared a full bed, a queen would have been nicer but the full was just fine.

 

[Geoff]

This.

Very true. I know that last season when I wanted to go up there for another outing besides the AZ Summit I found the prices to be absurd for lodging. They have a monopoly no doubt, but I agree that the quality is lacking. I wanted to go the second to last weekend and the Sugarloaf properties were no cheaper than like $189 per person per night or something like that. It was Late April. I doubt that they were sold out....

$189 per person per night in late-April? That's insane.

I don't know how Sugarloaf has been but at Killington, the midweek business have pretty much vaporized. If you own a condo in the rental pool, it's sitting empty midweek most of the time. The economics don't work when your unit is only rented on holidays and peak weekends. If Sugarloaf has the same problem, it's not surprising that a lot of units aren't being updated.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

$189 per person per night in late-April? That's insane.

I don't know how Sugarloaf has been but at Killington, the midweek business have pretty much vaporized. If you own a condo in the rental pool, it's sitting empty midweek most of the time. The economics don't work when your unit is only rented on holidays and peak weekends. If Sugarloaf has the same problem, it's not surprising that a lot of units aren't being updated.

I would imagine that Sugarloaf has very low mid-week buisness and many condo's sit empty. However I would guess this is nothing new, afterall it is Sugarloaf. Sugarloaf has half as many skier visits as Killington and I believe is on par with the amount of on mountain condo's. Granted I have zero idea of how the condo rental deal works. Do all rentals of condos have to go through the ski resorts? Are certain condos owned by the mountain itself?

During Reggaefest I rented a condo and it was very nice, granted I think it was only 2 or 3 years old.

 

[wa-loaf]

Some pics of the new glades here: http://www.sugarloaf2020.com/Blog/post/Ah-the-dulcet-tones-of-chainsaws.aspx

 

[gmcunni]

cool.. looks like some good pitch in those pictures.. i don't know the mountain but i think i read others posting that it was "flat" where they were building out phase 1.

 

[snoseek]

This is going to be fun!!!!!!!!