Date(s) Skied: March 12, 2007
Resort or Ski Area: Sugarloaf/USA
Conditions: MG/SC
Weather: Partial Sunshine. Temps in the 40's.
2006-2007 Report # : 41
Trip Report: Trailboss. Sugarloafer Since 2007. My first time ever and I won't forget it. What an incredible place....one of the most incredible places I have skied.
We got up early at Sunday River and had a quick breakfast before getting into the car. I called the snowphone to confirm that the lifts were turning and that there had been some grooming. The report said that the lifts were turning and that 71 trails had been groomed. So it was a go.
The drive to Farmington was longer than expected, but once we headed north on Route 26, we began to head into the wilderness. About 25-30 miles from the ski area, I spotted the mountain, which was easy to pick out because of the snowfields and the towers on the top. Once past Kingfield, I got excited. Then we got to "Oh My Gosh" corner,
where I almost drove off the road. Ms. TB stopped what she was saying and exclaimed, "holy sh$%! That is huge."
Up the access road we went. We got there a little before 10 and I parked the car and walked up to the lodge. What a view:
We booted up and got on the SuperQuad. Nice ride and great terrain. I felt like I was out west or something. First run was down Narrow Cage and Crib Works. Wow. Some steep stuff and great grooming. We made some big turns on the MG stuff.
On the next ride up, we decided to go to the top and hit White Nitro before it got skied off. I had always wanted to ski above treeline at Sugarloaf, and this was the opportunity. So we took Tote Road down to Timberline Quad.
As we rode up, the views became more incredible. The terrain on this side also looked interesting and the snow was softening up. At the top, we took the cat track along side the old summit building and to the top of White Nitro Extension, where we took in the views:
We took a deep breath and then hit the trail. Talk about steep and intense....the view is knee wobbling as you come down. The snow was incredibly soft and awesome...run of the day. We skied down to the Sluice Cross Cut. Ms. TB was --she had just skied the steepest run of her life and in good form.
So we decided to hit the runs on the King Pine Quad. First was a spin down Haul Back, which was steep and fun. There were some icy patches, but it was a great trail. We did Widowmaker next, which had some mini-death cookies on it at the bottom. We did two runs down Ramdown, the first blue square that we had skied this morning...and a break from the steeper stuff. We had been skiing on adrenaline for the past 90 minutes or so....the pitch is unbelieveable!
We then headed down Upper and Lower Whiffletree before taking a spin down Tohaul and Crosshaul to the base.
It was about 11:30 and we decided to take lunch. We enjoyed a flatbread pizza....which I got for 50% off because of my season pass! We regrouped and planned our afternoon. We had hoped to hit the middle stuff off of the Spillway Doubles before going over to the Timberline and closing out on some of the easier stuff off of SuperQuad.
We got back out and headed to the top. Upper Binder looked interesting and soft, so we decided to give it a spin. Despite the few thin spots and the handful of rocks, it was nice and soft. We would hit it two or three more times:
The plan now was to hit White Nitro and head down to Spillway via Gondola Line and Winter's Way.
White Nitro was soft and great as it was in the morning:
But the headwall below the X-Cut was slick and we could see people sliding and skidding down it. So we took a detour around it and to the Gondi line, which was a bit slick. Winter's Way to the Spillway was treacherous. Shear ice. Ms. TB thought she was going to die....it was nasty.
After that experience, we decided to head back to the softer snow on Timberline. Good choice. We hit the Timberline Trail and Upper Binder several times before taking a break and hiking to the summit.
The Timberline Trail:
After spending some time up here, we decided to head to the base and do a few more runs. We took Lower Timberline down to Middle Scoot and then Lower Tote Road, where we found great soft snow.
We did Competition Run, which was nice and steep before doing a long closing run down Tote Road.
I got myself a Sugarloaf T-Shirt and we headed back to Sunday River, down Route 17 this time to Rangeley. What a scenic road, but beware...the frost heaves will eat your car!
Can't wait to get back here. Amazing mountain. Throw in some softer snow and fresh legs, and I'd be in heaven!
Resort or Ski Area: Sugarloaf/USA
Conditions: MG/SC
Weather: Partial Sunshine. Temps in the 40's.
2006-2007 Report # : 41
Trip Report: Trailboss. Sugarloafer Since 2007. My first time ever and I won't forget it. What an incredible place....one of the most incredible places I have skied.
We got up early at Sunday River and had a quick breakfast before getting into the car. I called the snowphone to confirm that the lifts were turning and that there had been some grooming. The report said that the lifts were turning and that 71 trails had been groomed. So it was a go.
The drive to Farmington was longer than expected, but once we headed north on Route 26, we began to head into the wilderness. About 25-30 miles from the ski area, I spotted the mountain, which was easy to pick out because of the snowfields and the towers on the top. Once past Kingfield, I got excited. Then we got to "Oh My Gosh" corner,
where I almost drove off the road. Ms. TB stopped what she was saying and exclaimed, "holy sh$%! That is huge." Up the access road we went. We got there a little before 10 and I parked the car and walked up to the lodge. What a view:
We booted up and got on the SuperQuad. Nice ride and great terrain. I felt like I was out west or something. First run was down Narrow Cage and Crib Works. Wow. Some steep stuff and great grooming. We made some big turns on the MG stuff.
On the next ride up, we decided to go to the top and hit White Nitro before it got skied off. I had always wanted to ski above treeline at Sugarloaf, and this was the opportunity. So we took Tote Road down to Timberline Quad.
As we rode up, the views became more incredible. The terrain on this side also looked interesting and the snow was softening up. At the top, we took the cat track along side the old summit building and to the top of White Nitro Extension, where we took in the views:
We took a deep breath and then hit the trail. Talk about steep and intense....the view is knee wobbling as you come down. The snow was incredibly soft and awesome...run of the day. We skied down to the Sluice Cross Cut. Ms. TB was
--she had just skied the steepest run of her life and in good form. So we decided to hit the runs on the King Pine Quad. First was a spin down Haul Back, which was steep and fun. There were some icy patches, but it was a great trail. We did Widowmaker next, which had some mini-death cookies on it at the bottom. We did two runs down Ramdown, the first blue square that we had skied this morning...and a break from the steeper stuff. We had been skiing on adrenaline for the past 90 minutes or so....the pitch is unbelieveable!
We then headed down Upper and Lower Whiffletree before taking a spin down Tohaul and Crosshaul to the base.
It was about 11:30 and we decided to take lunch. We enjoyed a flatbread pizza....which I got for 50% off because of my season pass! We regrouped and planned our afternoon. We had hoped to hit the middle stuff off of the Spillway Doubles before going over to the Timberline and closing out on some of the easier stuff off of SuperQuad.
We got back out and headed to the top. Upper Binder looked interesting and soft, so we decided to give it a spin. Despite the few thin spots and the handful of rocks, it was nice and soft. We would hit it two or three more times:
The plan now was to hit White Nitro and head down to Spillway via Gondola Line and Winter's Way.
White Nitro was soft and great as it was in the morning:
But the headwall below the X-Cut was slick and we could see people sliding and skidding down it. So we took a detour around it and to the Gondi line, which was a bit slick. Winter's Way to the Spillway was treacherous. Shear ice. Ms. TB thought she was going to die....it was nasty.
After that experience, we decided to head back to the softer snow on Timberline. Good choice. We hit the Timberline Trail and Upper Binder several times before taking a break and hiking to the summit.
The Timberline Trail:
After spending some time up here, we decided to head to the base and do a few more runs. We took Lower Timberline down to Middle Scoot and then Lower Tote Road, where we found great soft snow.
We did Competition Run, which was nice and steep before doing a long closing run down Tote Road.
I got myself a Sugarloaf T-Shirt and we headed back to Sunday River, down Route 17 this time to Rangeley. What a scenic road, but beware...the frost heaves will eat your car!
Can't wait to get back here. Amazing mountain. Throw in some softer snow and fresh legs, and I'd be in heaven!
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Sigh, I don't think I'll make it up this year. 
