The "Sugarbush Thread"

[Hawk]

Yup, and actually the original LBO connection plan was a lift from the top of Castle Rock to Upper Mount Ellen. That was when he planned to string a HSQ up Castlerock. The locals let him know their opinion on that plan quite rapidly and strongly.

It wasn't the locals that squashed that Idea. That plan would totall affect the long trail so State and USFS said no way. The locals were up in arms because less wanted to upgrade the Castlerock lift to a triple or quad, cut more trails and add snow making. Locals replied with " More Rock! Less Otten!"

 

[Smellytele]

All of the bubbles are falling apart already. Numerous missing panes and many cracked. Some with issues closing. I'll be there next weekend, but apparently it looks totally run down after just two years.

Heard they are replacing all the bubbles with a different material that is stronger. Also heard that the weakness/fragility of them may have been caused by some cleaning agent.

 

[deadheadskier]

Heard they are replacing all the bubbles with a different material that is stronger. Also heard that the weakness/fragility of them may have been caused by some cleaning agent.

Certainly possible regarding the cleaning chemicals. I deal with that all the time in my world of medical equipment. Cat and mouse game. Viruses evolve and become resistant to common chemicals, stronger chemicals produced, then new equipment needs updated plastics to handle the new chemicals.

 

[tumbler]

The snow depth thing is a cover, Slidey B ran every day under ASC, the lift mechanics would take 4 wheelers in to clear the line. The concern and stress is having to evac it. To help with that there are two evac bags on each tower to speed up the process. I do agree with not running it below certain temps. My wish is that it could be a gondi. I was told many years ago that the towers were designed for for gondi cabins but I don't think they would ever do that. Maybe with today's technology they could put cameras on a bunch of towers to remotely see the wind effects to feel more comfortable running it. I enjoy riding it on a sunny day and skiing both mountains.

 

[Cheetah440]

I think Slidey B would get more use with 1) a new lodge at the top of Gatehouse, it's a beautiful view and is nice and sunny. 2) Install a lift running where Header and CR runout meet so you don't have to stand in the Gatehouse line which is always huge on the weekends. Cut some glades from the flats and put a couple bridges in to get across Clay Brook ravine so it doesn't have to be just a transfer lift.

None of which will happen. Alterra has no intentions at all of that level of investment. They don’t have to. It’s all going out west. We got HG, that will be about it for a while. I mean, it’s been 5yrs already. Remember that list Win posted of all these fantasy projects and upgrades? They can’t even get lifts inspected before mid season, don’t expect all these upgrades and new projects. We got HG, What we have now is the high watermark.

 

[tumbler]

I agree it's not happening but fun to dream about it. I also agree with the assessment of the lift issues and lack of mechanics but need to give credit of getting a new HG lift and some good snowmaking upgrades. And not to jinx it but it seems like NRX has been doing pretty good, I would still like a replacement though.

 

[Hawk]

Cheetah, I'm gald you are such an optimist. I guess I might as well sell all my ski stuff and take up golf. ;-)

 

[Cheetah440]

Cheetah, I'm gald you are such an optimist. I guess I might as well sell all my ski stuff and take up golf. ;-)

Realist. If playing fantasy what if, I would put that lift up the old liftline starting at the intersection of Lower Jester/gondolier/Stiens. Reduce the need to go down to Bravo, bettwr early and late season. Reduce the horrors of death spout. That would be the #1 project I would have done had I been a multi millionaire owner with money to burn.

 

[Cheetah440]

Cheetah, I'm gald you are such an optimist. I guess I might as well sell all my ski stuff and take up golf. ;-)

No need to sell your ski stuff. I golf April-December. I haven’t even had the itch at all until this morning seeing grass for the first time in months. But hold out until mid April. Tourneys start down her early May, which is ridiculous, zero time to get ready unless you travel to practice etc.

 

[cdskier]

Realist. If playing fantasy what if, I would put that lift up the old liftline starting at the intersection of Lower Jester/gondolier/Stiens. Reduce the need to go down to Bravo, bettwr early and late season. Reduce the horrors of death spout. That would be the #1 project I would have done had I been a multi millionaire owner with money to burn.

Where is this fantasy lift off-loading? The summit? If so, is this in place of HG? Or in addition to it?

 

[Cheetah440]

In addition to. Doesn’t have to go to summit, that must have been nuts back in the day with wind. Top of OG, I mean it used to be a liftline….how did they off load the lift in 1972?

Think about how this “pod” would free up HG. Reduce the stress on Braco.
What % of those who take HG ski Jester versus the others. LP really needs a new “Pod” anyway. Anyone who skis weekends knows this. If Slidey B is headed for the grave, I’d send it up and make it great again.

Again, not happening. But that would be what I would do if I had unlimited money. Permitting shouldn’t be an issue, it used to be a liftline. Where else can you get more uphill capacity?

 

[machski]

It wasn't the locals that squashed that Idea. That plan would totall affect the long trail so State and USFS said no way. The locals were up in arms because less wanted to upgrade the Castlerock lift to a triple or quad, cut more trails and add snow making. Locals replied with " More Rock! Less Otten!"

Oh, I remember those stickers floating around. I think we are all quite happy LBO left CR as is.

 

[djd66]

With all that uphill capacity on Lincoln peak, where are you going to put all that extra traffic?

if you were going to add or change a Pod, I would rethink North Lynx and put in a HSQ that goes to the bottom of Header to the top of NL. Put in a few more trails to help absorb the traffic.

 

[Cheetah440]

With all that uphill capacity on Lincoln peak, where are you going to put all that extra traffic?

if you were going to add or change a Pod, I would rethink North Lynx and put in a HSQ that goes to the bottom of Header. Put in a few more trails to help absorb the traffic.

Good luck with the regulations on that one. If you could, do that too.

I'm not thinking about EXTRA traffic. Just looking for a new "pod" for existing traffic. You have a liftline there to use, it was a liftline.

 

[djd66]

Good luck with the regulations on that one. If you could, do that too.

I'm not thinking about EXTRA traffic. Just looking for a new "pod" for existing traffic. You have a liftline there to use, it was a liftline.

I realize this is all dream world stuff that people on the internet are coming up with,... But are you talking about keeping the HG current quad and adding an additional HSQ that goes to the top of OG? How is that a new POD? Isn't that just adding uphill capacity to an existing POD?

 

[doublediamond]

There actually is a master plan approved with a pod between North Lynx and Castlerock. That is where any meaningful expansion will take place, not in SlideBrook

 

[MrGlen]

Did this rain seriously take out ~40 trails? I see only 75 open on the website now.

 

[Rob Katz]

mrg only showing 37...

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Did this rain seriously take out ~40 trails? I see only 75 open on the website now.

i assume they are just keeping people off stuff for snow preservation. no skiing mushy naturals.

 

[cdskier]

Did this rain seriously take out ~40 trails? I see only 75 open on the website now.

With wet conditions you at least temporarily close a number of trails to allow them to drain.