Sugarloaf/Sugarbush

[FRITOLAYGUY]

I have never been to either of these mountains and i remember quite a few discussions on this board last year of which was better or what one you preferred. I recall the voting was close, however this year i hear almost nothing about sugarloaf, and it seems sugarbush is now the darling mountain of the northeast, and everyones best skiing experiences of their lives have been at the bush lately, and a must ski over just about everything, whats going on here??

 

[ALLSKIING]

I think those are the two top places to ski in the east. The reason you have not seen many trip report from the loaf is the location...Come april the loaf trip reports will start to roll in. Spring skiing at the loaf rocks.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Ya i know the loaf is a bit out of the way, and ill be the first person to admit i couldnt enjoy both mountains to their fullest because of my skill level, it just seems its 90/10 Sugarbush this year.

 

[JimG.]

I think those are the two top places to ski in the east. The reason you have not seen many trip report from the loaf is the location...Come april the loaf trip reports will start to roll in. Spring skiing at the loaf rocks.

A general statement that may or may not be in agreement with personal experiences.

I don't buy into these types of classifications like "tops in the east". Tops for what?

I firmly believe that EVERY ski area has something good to offer, and probably something not so good also.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

A general statement that may or may not be in agreement with personal experiences.

I don't buy into these types of classifications like "tops in the east". Tops for what?

I firmly believe that EVERY ski area has something good to offer, and probably something not so good also.

Cmon Jim no hijacking my thread, thats just his opinion on his favs, i know you had a great week and MRG.. I wont just limit this to sugarloaf it just seems sugarbush has taken over as everyones favorite place in the northeast this year unlike past years, just my opinion from reading these boards

 

[ALLSKIING]

A general statement that may or may not be in agreement with personal experiences.

I don't buy into these types of classifications like "tops in the east". Tops for what?

I firmly believe that EVERY ski area has something good to offer, and probably something not so good also.

Sure, its a general statement and all ski areas do have good and bad points but if I could put two areas in my backyard..those places would be my choice.

 

[snowmonster]

At the end of last season, Sugarloaf and Sugarbush were numbers 1 and 2 in my personal rankings. I like the terrain in both places and they've both given me some of the best skiing days I've had so far. I make it a point to hit both mountains at least once a year.

I did Sugarbush this year after the Valentines Day storm and it was great as usual. Finally did Mt. Ellen too. Last year's trip to Sugarloaf was in January when it was pretty icy up there. This year I set my trip to the Loaf for late in March to get more accumulation and, hopefully, open up the backsides (which I think I have enough skill to ski).

I agree with Allskiing that the TRs from the Loaf will increase as the season winds down and the driving to CV gets less demanding. At any rate, I'll be there in 2 weeks and that'll mean a TR from me.

 

[Greg]

Sugarloaf/USA is AWESOME. Sugarbush is AWESOME too. Consider SB + MRG, and the MRV has the most and best terrain in the East, IMHO. I haven't skied Whiteface, Stowe or Jay which I imagine also encompass the top 6 so I don't know how they compare.

 

[klrskiah]

I think those are the two top places to ski in the east. The reason you have not seen many trip report from the loaf is the location...Come april the loaf trip reports will start to roll in. Spring skiing at the loaf rocks.

i'll post a TR with some pics if i'm up there this weekend.

 

[snoseek]

Sugarloaf on a good day is my personal favorite east coast mountain. sugarbush is probably more consistent powder.

 

[ski_industry_enthusiast]

Sugarbush is definitely the best mountain in the East, IMO. Combined with MRG, the MRV has, by far, the best skiing east of the Rockies (again, IMNATHO).

I'd like to get up to the Loaf sometime soon, too. But the Bush will always be #1 for me: kick a$$ terrain, lots of bumps, great lifts, great snow (and lots of it), great people, great food, great atmosphere, huge mountains, and the list can go on and on and on. Just a fantastic place to be.

 

[Newpylong]

Bush, best in the East. Been my opinion since I went to school there in the 90's, but it seems people are all of a sudden just starting to figure out the place exists!

 

[gores95]

I am booked for the first week in April up at the loaf ..well the mid-week portion. It will be my first time there..looking forward to it.

Jerry VERY surprised that being from Maine you never made it to SL. How far are you from it?

Sugarloaf/USA is AWESOME. Sugarbush is AWESOME too. Consider SB + MRG, and the MRV has the most and best terrain in the East, IMHO. I haven't skied Whiteface, Stowe or Jay which I imagine also encompass the top 6 so I don't know how they compare.

Greg likewise real surpised that you never made it to Stowe and Jay, two of the premier mountains in Northern NE. You owe it to yourself to hit both on a trip.

C'mon if you're going to run a NE skiing board how can you not have skied those two and have any real cred????

 

[snoseek]

Jerry VERY surprised that being from Maine you never made it to SL. How far are you from it?



Greg likewise real surpised that you never made it to Stowe and Jay, two of the premier mountains in Northern NE. You owe it to yourself to hit both on a trip.

C'mon if you're going to run a NE skiing board how can you not have skied those two and have any real cred????

probably didn't feel like shelling 80 bucks to ski. sugarbush almost has everything stowe has without the 80 tag and the trust fund one piece suit country club flatlander crowd.

Jay deserves it's own trip completely seperate.

 

[Greg]

Greg likewise real surpised that you never made it to Stowe and Jay, two of the premier mountains in Northern NE. You owe it to yourself to hit both on a trip.

C'mon if you're going to run a NE skiing board how can you not have skied those two and have any real cred????

I never claimed that I had any credibility... Stowe and Jay are on the list, as is Whiteface.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

I never claimed that I had any credibility... Stowe and Jay are on the list, as is Whiteface.

Greg if you dont ski them this year youll just be one year older when you finally do.

 

[shwilly]

It seems to me that a lot more Vermonters post on AZ than Mainers, and that simple fact accounts for why you don't hear that much about the Loaf.

As others have said, they're both great, so you really can't go wrong. The one clear advantage is that Sugarbush gets more snow more often. Still, the Loaf has gotten several nice dumps this year, and hopefully more are on the way.

 

[klrskiah]

This is only my 4th season riding ... It has only been this season that I felt my skill level has developed enough to attempt riding there ... I remember a couple of seasons ago I was very much humbled at K-mart during a Thanksgiving week.. oh I live as far as you can get from the Loaf and still live in Maine. Mapquest shows it to be about a 3 1/2 hour trip.

i think that is a commom misconception about sugarloaf that there is no easy terrain, and people are intimidated to go there. at least half of the mountain is green/blue so you shouldn't have any trouble finding something you like... plus theese days they groom everything to death :angry:

you should be able to make it in under 3 hours from kittery especially once you know the roads better. takes me just over 2 hours from portland

you'll have a blast, mid week is DEAD up there!

 

[Angus]

My comments for Sugarloaf would be as follows

a) for most folks, plan to ski Sugarloaf after March 1. That based upon two factors 1) weather and 2) snow. In January and February, the winds just whip across the valley and it can just be miserable cold. Plus, it really does snow there alot in March and 1st half of April. Plus the snow holds up there too and you get great corn.

b) In terms of mountain, it is huge. Never been to whiteface that advertises 3,400' but Sugarloaf is a true 2,600' although I think they advertise more now. when you drive up to anyplace in the NE, you just don't get that "Wow" feeling that you get when the Loaf comes into view.

c) Although this has changed a bit since I started skiing there 25 years ago, think about the mountain in halves - the top is steep with anything and everthing anyone looking for a challenge could ask for and the bottom half is basically composed of a bunch of wide intermediate cruisers.

d) some of the stuff that made sugarloaf so great has been removed in the last decade - terrain widened/flattened, grooming, et cetera.

e) it's a haul to get there! but the roads have improved alot since the early 80's when you figured it was even money that you'd be killed by a logging truck or break an axle getting there!

 

[JimG.]

Cmon Jim no hijacking my thread, thats just his opinion on his favs, i know you had a great week and MRG.. I wont just limit this to sugarloaf it just seems sugarbush has taken over as everyones favorite place in the northeast this year unlike past years, just my opinion from reading these boards

Wasn't trying to hijack...was trying to get folks to be more specific about why they feel either is "tops".

Mission accomplished.