Sugarloaf first visit

[urungus]

Powder Keg and Bubblecuffer Ext. are my favorite on the front side. They tend to grab all the snow blown off Nitro and Gondi respectively.

Thanks for the great advice everyone !! This mornings conditions report says they lost power for 4 hours overnight with winds gusting to 90 mph. So I am expecting some areas to be wind-scoured but the foot+ of snow that fell Sunday/Monday has got to wind up somewhere.

 

[deadheadskier]

Thought i read somewhere Timberline express was moved to a 2026 project but you are correct, liftblog still shows 2025.

Pure speculation: SL is the largest boyne property without a d line. SQ line would be perfect for an SL version of barker six. SQ could be rehabbed and moved to KP line, dropping down into bracket. Any salvageable parts on KP could be used to upgrade double runner. Result would be a modern lift fleet good for foreseeable future with significantly improved movement around the mountain.

When Superquad comes out, it's destined for the scrap heap. It's had almost as many problems over the years as the Barker Quad.

 

[machski]

When Superquad comes out, it's destined for the scrap heap. It's had almost as many problems over the years as the Barker Quad.

Possibly, but maybe not. Dopp is supposedly rehab/upgrading the Six Shooter which is a similar vintage Garaventa CTEC detach (albeit a 6 seater). They would likely do similar for a move of Superquad. I believe the fact both SQ and Whiffletree are both G-CTEC detaches to be the reason why Boyne is moving Shooter the SL. They will have 3 similar machines now to streamline MX and parts.

 

[machski]

Thought i read somewhere Timberline express was moved to a 2026 project but you are correct, liftblog still shows 2025.

Pure speculation: SL is the largest boyne property without a d line. SQ line would be perfect for an SL version of barker six. SQ could be rehabbed and moved to KP line, dropping down into bracket. Any salvageable parts on KP could be used to upgrade double runner. Result would be a modern lift fleet good for foreseeable future with significantly improved movement around the mountain.

I honestly do not see Boyne reusing any type of Borvig lift equipment. If King Pine comes out, it will be scrapped except for the drive base terminal which I believe is all new Dopp. Everything else on a DR replacement will be new (chairs, towers/cross arms and sheaves, probably add a carpet loader for beginner ease, new top return and likely a mid station).

 

[deadheadskier]

Possibly, but maybe not. Dopp is supposedly rehab/upgrading the Six Shooter which is a similar vintage Garaventa CTEC detach (albeit a 6 seater). They would likely do similar for a move of Superquad. I believe the fact both SQ and Whiffletree are both G-CTEC detaches to be the reason why Boyne is moving Shooter the SL. They will have 3 similar machines now to streamline MX and parts.

Super quad was installed in 1994. The Six Shooter was installed in 2003. Not only is it older, it probably has considerably more hours use per season. It might have the most hours on it of any active high speed chair in the East save for Superstar. I could be wrong, but it certainly seems unlikely that it gets refurbished. Probably just keep some of its parts to support Whiffletree and T Line.

 

[Zand]

Super quad was installed in 1994. The Six Shooter was installed in 2003. Not only is it older, it probably has considerably more hours use per season. It might have the most hours on it of any active high speed chair in the East save for Superstar. I could be wrong, but it certainly seems unlikely that it gets refurbished. Probably just keep some of its parts to support Whiffletree and T Line.

I would submit the soon to be defunct Wachusett summit quad to the "most used" lifts category. Wachusett usually runs a 4.5 to 5 months season and the lift runs for 12-14 hours per day. Built in 1994. Another lift that probably won't get refurbished or relocated but you never know.

 

[thetrailboss]

Super quad was installed in 1994. The Six Shooter was installed in 2003. Not only is it older, it probably has considerably more hours use per season. It might have the most hours on it of any active high speed chair in the East save for Superstar. I could be wrong, but it certainly seems unlikely that it gets refurbished. Probably just keep some of its parts to support Whiffletree and T Line.

You said what I was going to say--SQ is 31 years old and has a lot of hours on it. I don't see it as a candidate for refurbishment. Six Shooter was Moonlight Basin's main lift and has relatively fewer hours on it. Big Sky ran it more often after they took over Moonlight Basin.

Having a D-Line replace SQ makes a lot of sense, but I have to wonder if Boyne is hesitant to invest that kind of money up there. Six Shooter is the second refurbished lift to go there. Interestingly enough, Bucksaw Express is the former Swift Current from Big Sky.

 

[thebigo]

Kanc/7BX was originally a 95 install and felt like a new lift when reinstalled, still feels faster than other hsdq. Jordan was early 90s vintage as well.

Anybody know if Crest was scrapped?

 

[jimk]

A few pics to go with the comments: here

 

[thetrailboss]

Anybody know if Crest was scrapped?

Yes it was. I saw it being scrapped in the spring of 2023. It was done.

 

[machski]

Super quad was installed in 1994. The Six Shooter was installed in 2003. Not only is it older, it probably has considerably more hours use per season. It might have the most hours on it of any active high speed chair in the East save for Superstar. I could be wrong, but it certainly seems unlikely that it gets refurbished. Probably just keep some of its parts to support Whiffletree and T Line.

You could be right DHS. What I do know is SL and Boyne have spent quite a bit of money the last decade upgrading components and controls of SQ. Depends how far Dopp will be going with Shooter on its refurb to see if SQ may be a candidate. If Shooter comes out like Bucksaw, Seven Bros and Shedhorn then I would think SQ could be a candidate. If Shooter is a very light refurb (first G-CTEC that Dopp will be refurb and reinstalling for Boyne) and that's how they would do other G-CTEC detaches then maybe not.

 

[deadheadskier]

All fair points. And now that the days of new detaches costing 7 figures seem to be over maybe they do try and salvage that lift elsewhere on the mountain.

I would think maybe the double runners would be a more likely candidate for moving SQ to vs KP. Not a lot of real estate to work with at the KP unloading area for a HSQ terminal and it wasn't long ago they put a fair bit of money into it. Though dropping the base of it down lower to accommodate a better traverse experience from Burnt would be pretty great.

 

[machski]

All fair points. And now that the days of new detaches costing 7 figures seem to be over maybe they do try and salvage that lift elsewhere on the mountain.

I would think maybe the double runners would be a more likely candidate for moving SQ to vs KP. Not a lot of real estate to work with at the KP unloading area for a HSQ terminal and it wasn't long ago they put a fair bit of money into it. Though dropping the base of it down lower to accommodate a better traverse experience from Burnt would be pretty great.

Regardless of where or if they might move SQ, first they have to drop the big coin for an all new SQ. I think that lift needs to be a signature type, especially where a base to summit lift isn't in consideration.

 

[thebigo]

wind resistance has to be #1 concern for SQ replacement. A six would be a better fit but Boyne presumably has a trove of data at this point on wind preformace between six and eight.

 

[urungus]

Thanks again for the advice, I made my first trip to Sugarloaf on Wednesday and despite a few misadventures had a great time.

I recently attached An ULLR medallion to my coat for good luck, depending on how you look at things it may or may not have worked:


OMG corner where Sugarloaf suddenly appears as you round a bend on route 27, best shot I could get while trying to keep eyes on the road




Arrived at 8:30 and as advised I parked at the far end of lot E (right turn off the access road), so easy to ski directly onto the Bucksaw trail and down to the new Bucksaw Express chairlift. However as far as I can tell, there is no way to ski back to the lot once the lifts have closed, forcing you to take a shuttle bus or walk down the access road. So in retrospect I wish I had parked on the left side of the access road in lot C or D, where I believe there is a similar setup where you can ski directly onto the Natalie’s Birches trail and then down to the Snubber chairlft midstation. And looking at the trail map, it looks like you can ski down to lots C and D from the main base at the end of the day. From lots C and D, Snubber will take you directly to the base area, whereas from the top of Bucksaw you have a fairly long kind of meh descent back to the base area - I took the Haywire trail, the only black diamond option, but it was groomed and not as steep as I was expecting, I see on 1994 trail map it was once a blue - https://skimap.org/skiareas/view/448


Had my first bit of bad luck in the parking lot at the start of the day when the end of one of my boot buckles snapped in half as I was trying to close it. So once I had skied down the base area from the top of the Bucksaw Express, I went to the rental shop where they were unhelpful so I trudged over to the ski shop. They pried off the remnants of the buckle with a screwdriver and attached a new buckle free of charge (I did tip the guy since he was so helpful). Then up the Whiffletree Chair to Broccoli Garden glade, entrance clearly marked on skiers right of Upper Buckboard. A narrow path opens up into a nice mellow low angle glade that leads directly into Stubbs glade which is similar:

 

[urungus]

Wanted to check out Brackett Basin, but King Pine and Timberline were on wind hold, so took Double Runner > Skyline and then down the Spillway X-Cut to the entrance:


Clear signage at the start of the traverse. Can’t Dog 1 looked too tempting to pass up, figured I could traverse out further on subsequent laps once King Pine opened:




However part way down disaster struck, I hit the butt end of a submerged log and flipped out of my skis and landed back first on this rock. Sat there for a second wondering if I had broken my back. But miraculously I was OK (thank the ULLR medallion ?)


However one of my poles was not so lucky:


So I had to ski the rest of the run with one pole, LOL. Went back to the base and back to the rental shop and asked if I could borrow a pole and they said I could not use one of their rental poles but they had a sad collection of lost and found poles in a garbage can that I could choose from. Longest one was about 6 inches shorter than my size but with No other choice I took it. In retrospect I should have bought a new pair at the ski shop where they were friendlier but I didn’t want to waste even more time (and pay ski shop prices). So instead time for a break and a Bag Burger at the legendary Bag and Kettle:






Lots of Grateful Dead themed decorations, hopefully in some future year I will be able to attend their Fire On The Mountain festival https://www.sugarloaf.com/events/fire-on-the-mountain


Food truck in base area:

 

[Zand]

Those glade signs are definitely new in the last 3 years. But glad they're finally marking things. Hopefully they marked the run back from the log yard too.

 

[LuckyStrike]

Nice pix! Is the Mexican restaurant open? Im heading up there tomorrow and like eating there.

 

[urungus]

Unfortunately the Burnt Mountain cat skiing operation was not yet running https://www.sugarloaf.com/winter-activities/cat-skiing


By afternoon the King Pine and Timberline chairlifts came off wind hold. Great views at the top of Timberline:


Went down Barber Chair (aka Pipe Cleaner) as suggested by @LoafSkier19 and found this reminder I was in Maine. Fun trail but basically a single track and I struggled a bit to check my speed:

I had wanted to test my mettle on the (frontside) Snowfields, but after looking up the wind-scoured frozuroy from the X-Cut, and talking to a patroller at the top of Timberline, and given my bad luck so far (broken buckle, crash into rock, broken pole) I decided against tempting fate any further and instead took the Tote Road all the way from top to bottom, great cruising.

Once back in the base it was time for my first-ever ice cream social, something I had wanted to do for many years once I discovered their existence from the Simpsons:

 

[urungus]

Due to my various mishaps, I was not able to hit all the trails I had hoped to, but that gives me something to look forward to on my next visit when hopefully I will be able to stay for more than a single day.

Ski Run 9 = Tote Road, including the extension from the top of Timberline:

Afterwards had a nice soak at the Sugarloaf Sports and Fitness Center where you can get a day pass for $15. The hot tub upstairs by the pool was crowded but the one downstairs between the lockers and the sauna was empty, although a little weird because depending on where you are sitting in the tub, you have a direct view into the locker area where people are getting changed. This is the view from the locker area:


Note broken piece of boot buckle by receipt: