Sugarloaf West Mtn Expansion and HSQ officially a go

[deadheadskier]

Huge advantage during seasons like this one given their geography and elevation

 

[soposkier]

Sugarloaf is currently reporting 439 acres while killington is showing 381 acres. Were you skiing mostly natural or has boyne built yet another omnipotent snowmaking system at the loaf?

Take a look at Saddlebacks report, 100% open. Haven't made it up there yet this year but crazy how different even Saddleback and Sugarloaf can be from one another given the proximity.

 

[Edd]

Take a look at Saddlebacks report, 100% open. Haven't made it up there yet this year but crazy how different even Saddleback and Sugarloaf can be from one another given the proximity.

Pretty sure Saddleback base elevation is significantly higher.

 

[urungus]

Pretty sure Saddleback base elevation is significantly higher.

2120 feet vs 1417 feet

 

[jimmywilson69]

I didn't realize it had that much higher of a base elevation. 700' is significant

 

[deadheadskier]

I think Saddleback also gets slightly more snow. Maybe the large lakes locally add some juice. Also, most of the skiing at SB is really above 2500 feet elevation. Only the beginning terrain is below it. The mountain also has less exposure and doesn't get pummeled by wind nearly as bad.

Both seem to be having the best seasons of anywhere in the East this season

 

[Andrew B.]

Killington got rid of any in person ticket purchases but the Guest Service desks are still staffed at all *5* base lodges for folks that have buying issues or questions. Is there anyone on staff at WC or Barker like this or all gone?

They are manning the SR sports closets (tooo small to be called stores IMO) in each location. I imagine if you had a CS issue you could go in there and they will call someone for you but front facing CS is really only at south ridge.

 

[machski]

I didn't realize it had that much higher of a base elevation. 700' is significant

That's because almost no one skis to Sugarloaf's actual base. Superquad is a good 400' vertical higher than the bottom of Snubber. Loaf really is only 2400' very of so.

 

[tipsdown]

I didn't realize it had that much higher of a base elevation. 700' is significant

It is although that includes the massive runout of the Snubber lift. It is a very flat real estate lift. Sugarloaf's base village is around 1800 ft.

 

[tipsdown]

I think Saddleback also gets slightly more snow. Maybe the large lakes locally add some juice. Also, most of the skiing at SB is really above 2500 feet elevation. Only the beginning terrain is below it. The mountain also has less exposure and doesn't get pummeled by wind nearly as bad.

Both seem to be having the best seasons of anywhere in the East this season

Agreed. Most of the blue/black terrain at both mountains is about 2500-2600 ft and up.

 

[thetrailboss]

Interesting. "Kircher Concepts" doing mountain construction projects and design work. Recognize some of the projects? Must be Boyne is branching out.

Kircher Concepts

Kircher Concepts provides high fidelity concept art for businesses and individuals working on small to large scale construction and renovation projects.

www.kircherconcepts.com

 

[crystalmountainskier]

Interesting. "Kircher Concepts" doing mountain construction projects and design work. Recognize some of the projects? Must be Boyne is branching out.

Kircher Concepts

Kircher Concepts provides high fidelity concept art for businesses and individuals working on small to large scale construction and renovation projects.

www.kircherconcepts.com

Stephen Kircher’s son Everett’s company. He is very talented.

 

[thebigo]

new map with west mountain posted. no way to ski down from base to bucksaw, only way back to west is take superquad.

https://www.sugarloaf.com/documents/Sugarloaf/Trail%20Maps/sl_trailmap_.pdf

 

[deadheadskier]

Maybe that helps force their hand on updating the SQ. There's going to be a fair amount of people who typically ski Whiffletree who now ski over on West. The combination of those skiers plus day trippers starting on West May result in even longer lines on the SQ. Greater capacity and reliability would really benefit there.

 

[ceo]

new map with west mountain posted. no way to ski down from base to bucksaw, only way back to west is take superquad.

https://www.sugarloaf.com/documents/Sugarloaf/Trail%20Maps/sl_trailmap_.pdf

I'm not surprised. It's enough of a hike from SQ base to the old Bucksaw base. I'm disappointed they didn't take this opportunity to redo their impossible-to-read trail map.

 

[LoafSkier19]

I'm not surprised. It's enough of a hike from SQ base to the old Bucksaw base. I'm disappointed they didn't take this opportunity to redo their impossible-to-read trail map.

To make the map worse, every lift is off to the left. #3 T is more where Skyline should b, KP going up Ripsaw, etc. Hopefully they fix the lift layout before they start printing maps.

Overall I’m happy we got the expansion. Used to enjoy some low key laps off old Bucksaw when everything else got crowded. Glad that option is back plus there should be direct ski trail access from the lower lots now. On a side note, I’ll be curious to see what’s left of the glades that were there as well.

 

[deadheadskier]

I wouldn't have noticed those lifts being off prior to someone mentioning it. That's really bad

 

[mbedle]

Looks like somehow that layer got shifted when they updated the map.

 

[The Sneak]

Ok I have not been to the Loaf in many years, but I was a UMF student in the 90s who was at the Loaf multiple days per week, and remember Whiffletree as a solid trail pod for it's intended audience. This new West expansion looks more like 'convenient lift access for property owners' with a trail or 2 thrown in than a pod. Am I missing something? I'm slow and have not read this thread in full.

 

[ceo]

Looks like somehow that layer got shifted when they updated the map.

Wow, that's really bad. WM and Bucksaw are in the right place, but the Double Runners are not only shifted left, but so far apart it looks like DR East goes up Lower Winter's Way. Skidway is completely to the left of the former gondola cut (why is that even still on the map?), and I initially thought they'd taken #3 T-bar off the map entirely.