The "Sugarbush Thread"

[KustyTheKlown]

lol i ski across the og flats because i am a weirdo completist who likes skiing og t2b. some real frogger shit crossing downspoit

 

[Cheetah440]

So one lift that serves primarily Jester (and maybe OG) and one lift that serves RC and Paradise? Honestly seems pointless to me. Just so people can avoid Downspout? Take Lower Jester/Lower OG to HG Traverse to avoid DS. With HGT now having snowmaking, that was one of the benefits to give a more reliable alternative to DS. If anything I think doubling capacity to the summit would make DS worse. Some people skiing Jester would inevitably still take DS to get back to the base of this new fantasy lift. And anyone that skis OG from this new lift would essentially have no choice but to take DS as skiing across the OG flats is rarely done by most people.

Well it wouldn't just serve those two runs. It would also allow for a better early season and late season as well maybe. I'd put a mid station too. my mountain my lift.
Sure there's a bit of redundancy in it, but one could say the same thing having VH and Bravo. Why do we need both? Well, I love having redundancy.

I have always personally felt that one of Sugarbush weakness is no bottom to top lift. MRG has one, Stowe has 2. Four runner Quad and Gondy are both epic lifts and serve epic terrain top to bottom. Stratton, Smuggs. etc. I mean, stratton has 3 lifts that summit. Most others do. In fact, is Sugarbush the only one that doesn't? That's a personal nit that's all. I like the pods approach but having choice with top to bottom as well to me would make it better. So when playing fantasy mountain, I would always go back to that. The liftline is there, no regulations needed, which as we know in VT is a big barrier. so that's why I would love to see a basically bottom to top lift. especially over a base to base lift like Slidey-B. I can see your argument, although I would disagree on downspout, the only reason anyone skis downspout to to go to HG. That is the only reason. LOL

 

[deadheadskier]

Stratton only has one TTB summit lift

There are others that don't do TTB. Sugarloaf is the most appropriate comparison. They got rid of their gondola for the same reason as Bush; too windy at top for it.

The traffic issues getting to HG aside, I think the lift layout at SB is pretty great. Spreads the crowds around nicely and allows you to stay at the elevation the snow is best. It works with big vertical mountains.

While 4Runner and the Gondola are great, they ain't so fun on the weekends.

 

[Cheetah440]

Bring it back.

 

[Cheetah440]

Stratton only has one TTB summit lift

There are others that don't do TTB. Sugarloaf is the most appropriate comparison. They got rid of their gondola for the same reason as Bush; too windy at top for it.

The traffic issues getting to HG aside, I think the lift layout at SB is pretty great. Spreads the crowds around nicely and allows you to stay at the elevation the snow is best. It works with big vertical mountains.

While 4Runner and the Gondola are great, they ain't so fun on the weekends.

I meant they have 3 lifts that summit, not t2B.
Sugarloaf layout is awful IMO. Some love the POD approach though, I give you that. I am only saying I'd offer both. T2B or pod. Not gonna happen LOLZ, unless I hit a Billon power ball, but then I probably wouldn't throw it all away on this anyway.

 

[Plowboy]

I just read on FPF Sully the dog has been found!! "Sully was found this morning via drone at Sugarbush near Steins! I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who reached out, shared information, spread awareness and helped in the search. Thank you all so much! His family is so grateful to have him back."

 

[KustyTheKlown]

love that.

i saw a flyer saying she was on a lead and may have been caught up in the woods, which made me so sad.

 

[deadheadskier]

I was more concerned the dog was stolen. Bernese cost a ton of money to adopt

 

[tumbler]

In my 30+ years of being at SB I've never thought about another lift on the old Gondi liftline. I've always thought the connector from Header to GH flats made sense to avoid base area. I think North Lynx has too much capacity for 3 trails, take every other chair off. I would like to see the pods go in between NL and CR the Lower FIS one and above Inverness. I would even argue GH should be a 6 pack to get more beginners up. All pipe dreams. I see no reason to have a base to summit lift.

 

[Rob Katz]

the way the trails are cut, i don't think a ttb lift would be good, as you'd likely funnel into lower downspout/jester anyway. i guess it doesn't help that there's that lump where bravo peaks.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

i like the many distinct 'peaks' at lp and have no interest in CR or HG including a bunch of run out terrain

 

[Hawk]

I disagree with alot of this. Take chais off of NL. No way it is fine. Your header lift wipes out Apple Orchard and other places. NOPE Add over at Ellen is fine.

 

[cdskier]

Well it wouldn't just serve those two runs. It would also allow for a better early season and late season as well maybe. I'd put a mid station too. my mountain my lift.
Sure there's a bit of redundancy in it, but one could say the same thing having VH and Bravo. Why do we need both? Well, I love having redundancy.

I have always personally felt that one of Sugarbush weakness is no bottom to top lift. MRG has one, Stowe has 2. Four runner Quad and Gondy are both epic lifts and serve epic terrain top to bottom. Stratton, Smuggs. etc. I mean, stratton has 3 lifts that summit. Most others do. In fact, is Sugarbush the only one that doesn't? That's a personal nit that's all. I like the pods approach but having choice with top to bottom as well to me would make it better. So when playing fantasy mountain, I would always go back to that. The liftline is there, no regulations needed, which as we know in VT is a big barrier. so that's why I would love to see a basically bottom to top lift. especially over a base to base lift like Slidey-B. I can see your argument, although I would disagree on downspout, the only reason anyone skis downspout to to go to HG. That is the only reason. LOL

I just don't get the appeal of a T2B lift. Pods have more advantages and flexibility. The summit of LP is not large. There's really not capacity for multiple lifts going to that summit.

For me personally, the lift setup at Stowe is one thing I really dislike about it. Sure it is great midweek to lap Four-runner, but on weekends I like having options to move around to different pods to avoid crowds. Always going back to a primary T2B lift is not my cup of tea...

There's plenty of other mountains with no T2B lift - Whiteface, Gore, Pico, (even K doesn't really have one). That's just a few off the top of my head.

"It wouldn't just serve those 2 runs"...what other trails would it serve? From a capacity standpoint, you need to look at the chokepoints. From the summit, there are only 4 options. And you said you expect HG to be more for the advanced terrain (RC/Paradise). If one of your goals of this lift is to focus more on intermediates...then that means the majority are skiing Jester. A single T2B lift where most people ski a single blue run for half of their trip back down the mountain before they can split to other trails seems like a bad idea and just asking for trouble.

Also access to HG is absolutely not the only reason to ski DS. I see people all the time ski DS and go straight to Lower DS (I've done it myself).

I'll take Slide Brook any day over a T2B (or even additional summit) lift at LP.

Now if we want to talk about fantasy, I'm aligned with some other suggestions of other areas to add lifts/pods/trails. Above Inverness. Around Lower FIS. Between NL and CR. Etc

 

[djd66]

also wondering if little low elevation places like b-east and catamount may ski mushy instead of rock solid...

Its really warm in mass right now,... 56 out (feels like its in the 60's)

 

[Hawk]

In my 30+ years of being at SB I've never thought about another lift on the old Gondi liftline. I've always thought the connector from Header to GH flats made sense to avoid base area. I think North Lynx has too much capacity for 3 trails, take every other chair off. I would like to see the pods go in between NL and CR the Lower FIS one and above Inverness. I would even argue GH should be a 6 pack to get more beginners up. All pipe dreams. I see no reason to have a base to summit lift.

Wait a minute. You said Header to GH Flats. Never mind. That might work although I have skied in there. It is pretty flat.

 

[cdskier]

I disagree with alot of this. Take chais off of NL. No way it is fine. Your header lift wipes out Apple Orchard and other places. NOPE Add over at Ellen is fine.

LOL. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone brought that up

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Its really warm in mass right now,... 56 out (feels like its in the 60's)

i made a reservation for sunday at windham. saturday is sold out. i think i will check out a weirdo indy on sat. been to b-east. never catamount. dont think any of the indy PA places are worth my time. ive been to music festivals at montage

 

[vtski802]

The other thing is this. Les Otten gave up all future considerations for expansion into the slidebrook area in return for that lift. It would be such a waste to just give up on it now is my thought. It is quite a novilty for a big group of people and the scenery is pretty cool. It also gives you an idea of the actual scope of the entire area.

One other thought about travel time and that lift. When I take that lift I consider it a 3 lift propistion. First wait in long gatehouse line, then 15 minute lift across then wait and ride Northridge. On a busy day I have beaten friends to Walts taking the bus. But that is on a busy day with good timing with the bus. If it is cold you freee your ass off too on 3 lifts with no skiing.

I've timed it twice now (last season) and it's right at the 11.5 minute mark from load to unload.

 

[Hawk]

Who does that. LOL

 

[tumbler]

Wait a minute. You said Header to GH Flats. Never mind. That might work although I have skied in there. It is pretty flat.

Yes, and it could be just a transfer with no skiing because you would have to build bridges to cross Clay Brook.