Sundown Improvements?

[thorski]

Any word or pix of anything going on at sundown?

 

[jarrodski]

weed whacking... want to help?

 

[thetrailboss]

weed whacking... want to help?

I can see some of the AZ crew showing up....like these guys do at MRG (scroll down to "Blades of Glory" or "Scythe Guys.")

 

[bvibert]

weed whacking... want to help?

Only if it's in the woods in preparation for mountain biking on the mountain...

 

[2knees]

I would totally help clear out some of that glade next to ***** but it still doesnt solve the problem of lack of snow.

i'm going in there next year no matter what. I really want to ski it.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I would totally help clear out some of that glade next to ***** but it still doesnt solve the problem of lack of snow.

i'm going in there next year no matter what. I really want to ski it.

What's the average annual snowfall there?

 

[bvibert]

I would totally help clear out some of that glade next to ***** but it still doesnt solve the problem of lack of snow.

i'm going in there next year no matter what. I really want to ski it.

Exactly, that's why I specified clearing it for MTB use, skiing would be an added bonus when conditions permit.

 

[bvibert]

What's the average annual snowfall there?

Somewhere around 50 inches. A lot of times snow from one 'storm' doesn't last long enough to be there when the next storm hits. So even when we do get a sizable storm (12 inches is pretty big), it falls on top of bare ground.

 

[thorski]

Snowmaking on a glade run there would solve the lack of snow problem.
Now that would be an awesome improvement. Not a small to medium sized halfpipe but still pretty awesome.

 

[Greg]

Somewhere around 50 inches. A lot of times snow from one 'storm' doesn't last long enough to be there when the next storm hits. So even when we do get a sizable storm (12 inches is pretty big), it falls on top of bare ground.

Yep. "Powder days" at the beloved Sundown are meant to top coat the bumps. Although there is one treed area that gets enough snow making blow-in that it's usually skiable. It's just that it's so short that it's almost not worth blowing off a bump run to ski it. As I understand it, if/when the expansion comes to pass, some thinned out areas down wind of snow making is part of the plan.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Exactly, that's why I specified clearing it for MTB use, skiing would be an added bonus when conditions permit.

When my youngest and I where in Indian Guides (father/son YMCA group), we always attended a annual weekend camping trip to Camp Jewel in Northwest CT. We went on a hike up one of the hills with a camp staff member and he told us there use to be a little ski area there and we hiked around the trails. It must have been tuff to operate back before snowmaking.

The camp itself had one snowgun so they could be sure they had enough snowmaking for sleding for winter campers.

 

[severine]

When my youngest and I where in Indian Guides (father/son YMCA group), we always attended a annual weekend camping trip to Camp Jewel in Northwest CT. We went on a hike up one of the hills with a camp staff member and he told us there use to be a little ski area there and we hiked around the trails. It must have been tuff to operate back before snowmaking.

The camp itself had one snowgun so they could be sure they had enough snowmaking for sleding for winter campers.

http://www.nelsap.org/ct/jewell.html

 

[Highway Star]

Sundown = Satans Kingdom Ski Area?

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Sundown = Satans Kingdom Ski Area?

I thought you where busting balls until I read:

We first began making snow in 1966 when we purchased the snow making equipment from the "Satans Kingdom Ski Area" now know as "Sundown Ski Area" You are correct - there were two ski slopes - one 300 feet long and the other about 500 feet long. There was a Ski maintenance shop at the bottom, along with a two story warming shelter and snack bar. The two engines for both tows were at the top of the hills. ( This was one of the first such areas in Connecticut and Western Mass. and no-one told us to put the engine houses at the bottom ) We had to have a bulldozer push the fuel truck up the hill each fall to fill the tanks at the top of the hill ! WOW ! What a chore.

Good move on Sundowns part with the name change.

 

[Greg]

There' still a cool Satan's Kingdom poster in the bar.

 

[bvibert]

Good move on Sundowns part with the name change.

IIRC the name was changed by the new owner after Satan's Ridge failed and closed for at least a season in the late 60's.

There's still a Satan's Ridge sign hanging in the bar at Sundown.

 

[severine]

Good move on Sundowns part with the name change.

Part of it likely has to do with other stuff in the area named such, I imagine. There's a water tubing place down the road called Satan's Kingdom, which is part of a state recreation area.
http://www.ctmuseumquest.com/?page_id=4088

 

[deadheadskier]

You should get some commission thorski. Any sundown thread is literally a value added thread to azone. :lol:

 

[thorski]

You should get some commission thorski. Any sundown thread is literally a value added thread to azone. :lol:

I'm all for expansion at sundown. I want a halfpipe I can ride without having to ski like Simon Dumont. I understand it's not the best time economically to spend money, but it's good to talk about and get ideas out there.
I still feel devil carts would work good at sundown in the summer. They are more fun and cheaper to set up then an alpine slide. For people who don't know what devil carts are they are like big wheels for adults with air filled tires that are powered by gravity only. If you don't know what a big wheel is then I pity you fool. Maybe throw in a portable climbing wall as well.
It seems like a waste to me to have an area like sundown not being used in the summer.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

You should get some commission thorski. Any sundown thread is literally a value added thread to azone. :lol:

times two...when it snows at Sundown...do they leave any non-bumped runs ungroomed for people to enjoy the freshies??? Feeling solid bumps under some fresh Poe is not the best..that's where the snowsnakes hide..