Sugarloaf/Sugarbush

[ski_resort_observer]

I strongly agree with the idea that it's the quality of the terrain vs the quantity of terrain. I rarely ski on weekends, almost always working, so I understand that on a busy weekend other factors must be included.

I am getting up at 5am in the next couple of weeks and driving 2.5hrs to ski Magic. I am totally stoked. I know the conditions might be iffy but I am still looking forward to it. On weekends I bet you actually get more skiing done at a Cannon, Wildcat, Burke, Bolton or Magic vs a Stratton, kmart, Stowe or Sugarbush(LP).

The great thing about the Bush is that on a busy weekend you can access the majority of the terrain with out ever going down to the LP base area. Unfortunately, most want to be at LP, park at LP, eat lunch at the same time which crowds the Gatehouse Lodge and use the base lifts to get around. Those people are not utilizing the pod setup of the Bush and when facing the mouth of the lion(the busy weekend LP base area) they happily climb right in.

 

[SHRED HEAD]

Hey Shred Head....I see from your avator that you have been to Burke. Do you ski there regularly?

Yep, every weekend other than race days when I'm at Stowe, Smugs, Jay, Mad or ...:dunce: DISNEY-Bush....LOL....

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Burke is awesome. We used to love going over there when they had "car load wednesday's". The price was so cheap one day it rained pretty much all day and we still had a great time. Gotta get over there before Ginn changes it into.........? :wink:

 

[SHRED HEAD]

I don't pretend to know every aspect of Burke, have skied it many times and enjoyed it. I don't think Burke has the vast amount of terrain that Sugarbush, Jay, Stowe or Sugar Loaf offer. I often find smaller places like Burke, Magic and Ascutney offer great skiing and fewer people to share the snow with. Most ski areas offer "more than meets" the eye.

What's the use of "Vast amounts of terrain" if it all skis the same i.e groomed courdory that polishes into icy patches interspersed with oddly spaced piles of Gun-POw that pass for moguls by afternoon which is the predominant condition at Sugarbush. There is just not enough off-piste galde skiing to make the plcae very interesting to me. The natural tree lines are too tight to get rythym and the man-made glades are bob-sled runs. They just don't space out to my liking like they will at Sugarloaf, Stowe, Jay, Mad and...Burke. I forgot to throw Smugs into the mix too. all better than Sugarbush without the mascara. opps, now I've offended women skiers :beer: too!!

BTW, Magic and Ascutney don't even beloing in the same sentence with Burke. They don't have the terrain, the snow, the vert or the Kindom 'tude .

Don't get me wrong, Sugarbush is a great place if your used to skiing Hunter, Brodie, Blue Hills or Mount Show ...but YOU CAN'T Compare it to Sugarloaf and that's how this whole thing started!!! LOL

 

[ski_resort_observer]

What's the use of "Vast amounts of terrain" if it all skis the same i.e groomed courdory that polishes into icy patches interspersed with oddly spaced piles of Gun-POw that pass for moguls by afternoon which is the predominant condition at Sugarbush. There is just not enough off-piste galde skiing to make the plcae very interesting to me. The natural tree lines are too tight to get rythym and the man-made glades are bob-sled runs. They just don't space out to my liking like they will at Sugarloaf, Stowe, Jay, Mad and...Burke. I forgot to throw Smugs into the mix too. all better than Sugarbush without the mascara. opps, now I've offended women skiers :beer: too!!

BTW, Magic and Ascutney don't even beloing in the same sentence with Burke. They don't have the terrain, the snow, the vert or the Kindom 'tude .

Don't get me wrong, Sugarbush is a great place if your used to skiing Hunter, Brodie, Blue Hills or Mount Show ...L

Whew! I'm glad I noticed that you drink. ROFLMAO

 

[from_the_NEK]

What's the use of "Vast amounts of terrain" if it all skis the same i.e groomed courdory that polishes into icy patches interspersed with oddly spaced piles of Gun-POw that pass for moguls by afternoon which is the predominant condition at Sugarbush. There is just not enough off-piste galde skiing to make the plcae very interesting to me. The natural tree lines are too tight to get rythym and the man-made glades are bob-sled runs. They just don't space out to my liking like they will at Sugarloaf, Stowe, Jay, Mad and...Burke. I forgot to throw Smugs into the mix too. all better than Sugarbush without the mascara. opps, now I've offended women skiers :beer: too!!

BTW, Magic and Ascutney don't even beloing in the same sentence with Burke. They don't have the terrain, the snow, the vert or the Kindom 'tude .

Don't get me wrong, Sugarbush is a great place if your used to skiing Hunter, Brodie, Blue Hills or Mount Show ...but YOU CAN'T Compare it to Sugarloaf and that's how this whole thing started!!! LOL

Have you ever skied at Magic?

 

[skimore]

Going to ski Sugarbush Sat/Sun. Any recommendations on how to attack the place to avoid crowds and maximize fresh tracks?

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Going to ski Sugarbush Sat/Sun. Any recommendations on how to attack the place to avoid crowds and maximize fresh tracks?

Two words: Mt. Ellen.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

What's the use of "Vast amounts of terrain" if it all skis the same i.e groomed courdory that polishes into icy patches interspersed with oddly spaced piles of Gun-POw that pass for moguls by afternoon which is the predominant condition at Sugarbush. There is just not enough off-piste galde skiing to make the plcae very interesting to me. The natural tree lines are too tight to get rythym and the man-made glades are bob-sled runs. They just don't space out to my liking like they will at Sugarloaf, Stowe, Jay, Mad and...Burke. I forgot to throw Smugs into the mix too. all better than Sugarbush without the mascara. opps, now I've offended women skiers :beer: too!!

BTW, Magic and Ascutney don't even beloing in the same sentence with Burke. They don't have the terrain, the snow, the vert or the Kindom 'tude .

Don't get me wrong, Sugarbush is a great place if your used to skiing Hunter, Brodie, Blue Hills or Mount Show ...but YOU CAN'T Compare it to Sugarloaf and that's how this whole thing started!!! LOL

Yes, listen to this guy. He knows of what he speaks. By all means, do NOT go to Sugarbush. All the trails are the same and there are NO glades worth skiing. None at all.

L to the OL!!!!!!! Da Loaf is teh bestest!!!!11

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Going to ski Sugarbush Sat/Sun. Any recommendations on how to attack the place to avoid crowds and maximize fresh tracks?

Get there early on Saturday and hit the Bravo chair at LP. Enjoy those trails for an hour or so before moving on up to the upper mountain lifts for a bit. When it gets crowded, check out North Lynx for a while. If that gets crowded, or you want a change of pace, take the Slide Brook Express over to Mount Ellen for a few hours before returning at 2:30 or so and enjoying some more turns at a now less crowded LP.

 

[skimore]

Thanks for info

 

[kcyanks1]

Going to ski Sugarbush Sat/Sun. Any recommendations on how to attack the place to avoid crowds and maximize fresh tracks?

I really wouldn't worry about crowds. They generally are not a problem, unless lifts are on hold. What type of skier are you? If you are an advanced skier, I'd take the Super Bravo lift and then Downspout (Deathspout) or Domino (better run, but if you want a groomed warmup don't do it) to Heaven's gate. Warm up on Organgrinder (a black diamond but often groomed) or maybe Jester (intermediate trail). Then take a run on Paradise. Then continue down past the Heaven's gate lift, and hang a left over to the Castlerock lift and enjoy a few runs there. The Castlerock lift might have a long line, but it's worth it. Otherwise I'd go with Tin's advice.

As for fresh tracks, you are getting a big storm it seems, so they should be all over the ungroomed terrain. Enjoy!

 

[Rook]

'loaf impressions

After years at Sunday River, I made Sugarloaf my primary resort to ski this year. I have to give respect to Maine's Big Mutha for her trail diversity. Top to bottom skiing any way you like it. From ez blues like tote road and timberline to double blacks that will separate the men from the boys. White nitro and gondi line are absolute gems. Steep and consistently groomed with a great fall line. They do however, get interrupted by cross cut trails whch cuts the fun factor down on the weekends as you avoid others . 'Nitro does collect its share of gawkers and side sliders (some of whom become intimate with the netting at the bottom). For more natural condition steeps, bubblecuffer and winters way will have their way with you.

Do yourself a favor, do not wait until spring to ski the Loaf. I'll admit I took a beating on January's cold, windy days but they soon died down and Feb provided some of the best, consistent weekends all year. All in all, 8 weeks no melting, (not even close to 30) a couple of storms and consistent soft packed powder.

The lift system is the mountains downside. This mountain doesn't draw nearly the number of skiers as the other resorts, but the lifts make it feel like it does. Credit old dual double chairs on spillway and only one detach quad accessing the majority of the mtn.

What it lacks in chairlift technology, it more than makes up for in character. Racers with their 160 cm Fischers (seems to be the de rigueur ski this year) effortlessly scribe arcs underneath the lift on their way down to the CVA race center. Old timers, dressed in wool and an elmer fudd hat, flop down a pair of 205 Kneissels. Dudes in Carhartt gear top to bottom! Geze bindings :blink: . The last mono skier on earth, and plenty of free-heelers :smash: The widomaker bar lacks good service. The food rivals only your high school cafeteria, but if you ever watch Spike TV after 11 you'll appreciate the talented waitstaff :wink: definitely a welcome treat after a you took the singles line only to be wedged between Paul Bunyan and Babe!

True to Maine form, the loaf is like a big lobster bake. Lots of work, messy, delicious but leaves you wanting more.

See you there this weekend.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Nice report Rook.That would be about my take on the Loaf.Kudos for not fanning the mandatory SR vs SL flames.I'll be there the next 2 weeks.

 

[Angus]

This has been a good thread...I'm partial to Sugarloaf given my familiarity with the area and mountain. The thread has touched on a lot of good points. The snow event over the next couple of days is evidence of why people love the Loaf in the spring – winter last longer up there. In April, NW Maine seems to get snow when every place else is raining. It's going to be cool up there this weekend though.