The "Sugarbush Thread"

[HowieT2]

it always pours at camp bisco. running water down hill thru tents. no thanks!

i havent camped at a music festival since camp bisco was at ILCC in mariaville ny.

camping good. music festivals good. camping at music festivals = no thanks.

totally agree.
Took my family to mountain jam at hunter when my daughter was about 11. Upon entry, my wife and daughter went to the ladies room and encountered some girls who were camping washing their armpits in the sink. That didnt go over so well.

 

[thetrailboss]

Yes Base Pass at Sugarbush still has the blackouts. Whoa, that would have been interesting on holidays. LOL

That was my thought as well. FWIW Solitude now has no blackouts at all.

 

[Rob Katz]

Yes, they like coming to SB over MRG because they generally have less time to ski between classes and social life so they want to get as many runs in as possible. They also go to ME a lot. Surprising amount of Midd students too who like bigger mountain skiing than the Snow Bowl.

Totally get how mrg isn't for everyone but i hate how mrg gets a rap for waiting in lines? i find the lines at sugarbush to be worse, but maybe that's just because (in my opinion) you get more for the wait at mrg. idk, i mentioned this before but some sugarbush ski patroller was totally hating on me at jay peak for skiing at mrg, talking about how all you ever do it wait in lines. i just sat there and didn't really respond cus it was so weird to me.

 

[Shredmonkey254]

This is what was on the website.
"There are a few more newsworthy(ish) bits. The immensely popular For20s pass is coming back. This is the pass that gives anyone ages 19-29 all-mountain access without blackouts for just $469. An all-mountain College Pass will be just $399 and college kids wanting more of the local feel can grab a Mt. Ellen-only pass for just $199."

Just facts mama.

you are already back from your run this morning? must be extra special out there!

 

[VTSkiBike]

Totally get how mrg isn't for everyone but i hate how mrg gets a rap for waiting in lines? i find the lines at sugarbush to be worse, but maybe that's just because (in my opinion) you get more for the wait at mrg. idk, i mentioned this before but some sugarbush ski patroller was totally hating on me at jay peak for skiing at mrg, talking about how all you ever do it wait in lines. i just sat there and didn't really respond cus it was so weird to me.

20-25 minutes lift lines on the single are definitely a reality many Saturdays at MRG but I have noticed that you only get those lines mid-late morning.

 

[djd66]

Totally get how mrg isn't for everyone but i hate how mrg gets a rap for waiting in lines? i find the lines at sugarbush to be worse, but maybe that's just because (in my opinion) you get more for the wait at mrg. idk, i mentioned this before but some sugarbush ski patroller was totally hating on me at jay peak for skiing at mrg, talking about how all you ever do it wait in lines. i just sat there and didn't really respond cus it was so weird to me.

MRG is great during a good natural snow year - like we have had this year. The problem is when you have a year when it does not snow much.

As far as the lines at SB vs MRG - have you skied MRG on a Saturday when they are sold out? I've waited in plenty of 20 minute lines for the Single.

 

[deadheadskier]

totally agree.
Took my family to mountain jam at hunter when my daughter was about 11. Upon entry, my wife and daughter went to the ladies room and encountered some girls who were camping washing their armpits in the sink. That didnt go over so well.

At least there was an attempt at personal hygiene being made. That is a rarity at your typical wook festival.

 

[deadheadskier]

MRG is great during a good natural snow year - like we have had this year. The problem is when you have a year when it does not snow much.

As far as the lines at SB vs MRG - have you skied MRG on a Saturday when they are sold out? I've waited in plenty of 20 minute lines for the Single.

On a good snow weekend day at MRG, I probably average about 10-12 runs split between the single and double. Granted, those runs can wear you out like a 20 run day at a "normal" 2k vertical mountain, but I do find myself getting long lift line fatigue at MRG more than most places.

What I have noticed is many regulars don't seem to mind the lines and there is a lot more banter. That's kinda neat, but I'm someone who wants to spend as much time as possible on snow while skiing, not waiting around to get to the snow.

 

[TSQURD]

2 of my kids do Freeski at MRG, so I ski there almost every Saturday. For some reason the wait there doesn’t bother me - I find 10 minutes at sb much more aggravating than 20-30+ min at mrg. Could be I almost always have a blast, could be just the vibe. But for me, I really enjoy the overall experience regardless of lift lines.

 

[shipyardcreek]

Skied MRV last Saturday. First thing in the morning I got three runs off the double with no lift lines and never waited more than 5 minutes at the double. When I went to the single late morning the wait was 45 minutes. By lunch time it was done to about 30 minutes. When I finished my day about 1 pm there was no lift line at Birdland.

 

[jimmywilson69]

This is what was on the website.
"There are a few more newsworthy(ish) bits. The immensely popular For20s pass is coming back. This is the pass that gives anyone ages 19-29 all-mountain access without blackouts for just $469. An all-mountain College Pass will be just $399 and college kids wanting more of the local feel can grab a Mt. Ellen-only pass for just $199."

That's cool stuff and important to the sport IMO.

Vail's week attempt at a college pass is an $80 discounted epic local. It used to be several hundred dollars discounted.

 

[cdskier]

That's cool stuff and important to the sport IMO.

Vail's week attempt at a college pass is an $80 discounted epic local. It used to be several hundred dollars discounted.

I think it also shows how much Alterra still allows their mountains to make local decisions.

 

[djd66]

Honestly, if i were in college in VT, i would buy both MRG and Mt Ellen passes. Seems like a great deal - $369 ($199 + $170) for both Mountains.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I think it also shows how much Alterra still allows their mountains to make local decisions.

I agree. I also think its cool because it potentially brings new/younger people to MRV for the long term. I know that was the intention with prior ownership.

 

[cdskier]

I agree. I also think its cool because it potentially brings new/younger people to MRV for the long term. I know that was the attention with prior ownership.

I'm likely the poster boy for that scenario. The initial release of the Four 20s pass under Win is what resulted in me buying a condo up there.

 

[WinS]

One of the best decisions we made. I am really pleased to see it back.

This morning the skiing was far better than I feared. It did not rain yesterday and the sun and wind dried the snow before last night’s grooming. It was actually fun spring skiing yesterday, Today, the first runs on the GH pod were reasonably soft. Bravo trails with the early grooming were edgeable but alot firmer. A second night of grooming will make for nice early skiing but fresh snow is needed or warm sunny weather.

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

Yeah, the last time I went to MRG I spent waaayyyy more time standing in line than I have tolerance for. If you're in the locals clique I can totally see how you might rationalize 30 minutes feeling like 10. But that's not me <shrug>

 

[Lotso]

brutal winds. Likely to continue on the weekend. Was at Midd today and no Worth triple, but they had Sheehan and Bailey Falls going, so you could access the whole mountain with a little creativity

 

[Rob Katz]

MRG is great during a good natural snow year - like we have had this year. The problem is when you have a year when it does not snow much.

As far as the lines at SB vs MRG - have you skied MRG on a Saturday when they are sold out? I've waited in plenty of 20 minute lines for the Single.

Well of course, but that's better than waiting in Bravo to slide down deathspout then wait in heaven's gate to ski stuff off there, with crowded trails. and of course, castlerock is a long line in of itself. idk, the vibe at mrg for me is just better, i know people there so standing around at the bottom doesn't bore me as much as sugarbush i guess.

also, if you're waiting 30+ minutes to ski chute to canyon or something, i get that. but I can easily spend 30 minutes exploring in the woods past paradise each run (if the snow's good, which it has been), so that makes the lift line seem worth it to me. then again, i can spend 20 minutes skiing a woods run in slidebrook that makes the sugarbush lift lines worth it, too (although it's a little different cus you can't lap).

 

[Rob Katz]

2 of my kids do Freeski at MRG, so I ski there almost every Saturday. For some reason the wait there doesn’t bother me - I find 10 minutes at sb much more aggravating than 20-30+ min at mrg. Could be I almost always have a blast, could be just the vibe. But for me, I really enjoy the overall experience regardless of lift lines.

What are their names? just wondering i'm on freeski too