The "Sugarbush Thread"

[bumpcrasher]

If I had a place up there I think I would be a little bummed about the apres ski in the Valley. Castlerock Pub is great but pulling the plug at 6 seems a little early. Going out isn’t for everyone but many enjoy it. Certainly Stowe and Killington have night life.

Sugarbush set up does seem nice being able to walk with open container. Stratton actually has a nice set up with its little walking village Grizzlys in the lodge and Mulligans and a couple of other places on the walkway.

Apres is good on Saturdays and it is still packed at 6 pm!! Music is going and the beer is flowing at both CRP and Green Mountain Lounge. Then it is a hard stop and everyone gets kicked out. To close THAT early is relatively new and kind of downer.

 

[Hawk]

I don't think of it as fancy, I think of it as mediocre food at a premium price point.

Last year then new chef did a better job. And as for prices everything up here is no bargain. But we are discussing Apre Howie and for that it is not a bad option if you have a group of friends that you want to sit down with and actually get a drink and talk.

 

[Hawk]

Well, I did it. Pulled the trigger on the Sugarbush Reserve Pass. Not sure if I should be proud or slightly ashamed, but here we are.

For that kind of money, I’m half-expecting them to hand me the keys to the Valley House chair. Maybe a reserved parking spot in the courtyard. Or at least a monogrammed robe for when I inevitably end up sitting in Rumble’s trying to convince myself it was a good “investment.”

I told my buddies they’re not allowed to make eye contact with me in the lift line unless their RFID also glows gold. Pretty sure that’s how it works.

I keep trying to justify it: early lift access, valet parking, “exclusive” this and that. But let’s be honest, it’s really just paying a premium for the privilege of saying, “I ski Sugarbush… differently.”

Still, maybe they’ll use my contribution to reopen some restaurants or fund a bartender at Castlerock Pub past 7 p.m. If so, money well spent.

Valet parking is not included with that pass. That is extra.

 

[Julius]

Was the Warren House mentioned? Maybe Sam Rupert’s was..

 

[mikec142]

Last year then new chef did a better job. And as for prices everything up here is no bargain. But we are discussing Apre Howie and for that it is not a bad option if you have a group of friends that you want to sit down with and actually get a drink and talk.

I think this sounds about right. The food at Rumbles isn't great. Sadly I'm not surprised as this isn't unique to Sugarbush. It's a hard business and it's especially hard if it's seasonal. That said, for an apres after the Castlerock Pub apres, it's solid. I'm assuming (this is dangerous) that a beer at Rumbles costs the same as at CRP and there are TV's. If you have a crew, it should be just fine.

 

[mikec142]

Well, I did it. Pulled the trigger on the Sugarbush Reserve Pass. Not sure if I should be proud or slightly ashamed, but here we are.

For that kind of money, I’m half-expecting them to hand me the keys to the Valley House chair. Maybe a reserved parking spot in the courtyard. Or at least a monogrammed robe for when I inevitably end up sitting in Rumble’s trying to convince myself it was a good “investment.”

I told my buddies they’re not allowed to make eye contact with me in the lift line unless their RFID also glows gold. Pretty sure that’s how it works.

I keep trying to justify it: early lift access, valet parking, “exclusive” this and that. But let’s be honest, it’s really just paying a premium for the privilege of saying, “I ski Sugarbush… differently.”

Still, maybe they’ll use my contribution to reopen some restaurants or fund a bartender at Castlerock Pub past 7 p.m. If so, money well spent.

I can't tell if this is serious, or sarcasm, or trolling. Whatever it is, it's very well done. Bravo.

 

[jonnyco14]

Looks like they might pivot to upper mountain terrain for snowmaking if they can't open the bottom: "If given the opportunity we will focus on opening lower mountain terrain first, but we are prepared to shift to upper mountain terrain if temps don't cooperate down low."

 

[thetrailboss]

Looks like they might pivot to upper mountain terrain for snowmaking if they can't open the bottom: "If given the opportunity we will focus on opening lower mountain terrain first, but we are prepared to shift to upper mountain terrain if temps don't cooperate down low."

What a great idea. It's how it always used to be.

 

[MrGlen]

So word is Sugarbush is once again planning to “open” with a single trail off Gate House — you know, the same green run that feels like a glorified bunny slope with a lift attached.

At this point, if we’re just checking a box to say the mountain is “open,” they might as well fire up the magic carpet and call it a day. Throw some snow on the First Timer’s area, hang up a banner that says We Did It, and save everyone the effort.

Killington and Stowe aiming for real terrain when they do open. You can tell their goal is to give people something worth skiing, not just a marketing line that says “we’re open.” Sugarbush, on the other hand, seems perfectly content to roll out a single green and call it a milestone.

What’s the point of having world-class snowmaking capacity if opening day always feels like a training exercise for ski school? Gate House is fine once the whole thing’s running, but when it’s just one green from mid-mountain to the base, it’s not skiing — it’s optics.

 

[cdskier]

What’s the point of having world-class snowmaking capacity if opening day always feels like a training exercise for ski school? Gate House is fine once the whole thing’s running, but when it’s just one green from mid-mountain to the base, it’s not skiing — it’s optics.

Whoever said Sugarbush has world-class snowmaking capacity? LOL

 

[oldfartrider]

So word is Sugarbush is once again planning to “open” with a single trail off Gate House — you know, the same green run that feels like a glorified bunny slope with a lift attached.

At this point, if we’re just checking a box to say the mountain is “open,” they might as well fire up the magic carpet and call it a day. Throw some snow on the First Timer’s area, hang up a banner that says We Did It, and save everyone the effort.

Killington and Stowe aiming for real terrain when they do open. You can tell their goal is to give people something worth skiing, not just a marketing line that says “we’re open.” Sugarbush, on the other hand, seems perfectly content to roll out a single green and call it a milestone.

What’s the point of having world-class snowmaking capacity if opening day always feels like a training exercise for ski school? Gate House is fine once the whole thing’s running, but when it’s just one green from mid-mountain to the base, it’s not skiing — it’s optics.

Stowe has no choice with top to bottom lifts.

 

[MrGlen]

Whoever said Sugarbush has world-class snowmaking capacity? LOL

Yeah, they’ve only spent millions upgrading pumps, lines, and guns over the last decade. Must’ve been for decoration, right? Maybe the HKDs are just lawn ornaments and the new compressors are part of some avant-garde art exhibit called “Waiting for Winter.”

The issue isn’t capacity, it’s execution. Sugarbush could blow snow like Killington if they actually wanted to. Instead, we get the annual tradition of pretending Gate House opening is some kind of historic achievement while the rest of the mountain sits there looking like early October.

 

[cdskier]

Yeah, they’ve only spent millions upgrading pumps, lines, and guns over the last decade. Must’ve been for decoration, right? Maybe the HKDs are just lawn ornaments and the new compressors are part of some avant-garde art exhibit called “Waiting for Winter.”

The issue isn’t capacity, it’s execution. Sugarbush could blow snow like Killington if they actually wanted to. Instead, we get the annual tradition of pretending Gate House opening is some kind of historic achievement while the rest of the mountain sits there looking like early October.

No...capacity is still a far larger issue than execution. They have something like 3500-4000GPM at Lincoln Peak? That pales in comparison to other major resorts. There's no chance they can blow snow like K does with their current system.

The upgrades have largely been to fix things (i.e. old cheap pipe installed by ASC) or switch to newer guns to allow them to utilize the little capacity they have quicker without having to move as much equipment around.

 

[Smellytele]

So word is Sugarbush is once again planning to “open” with a single trail off Gate House — you know, the same green run that feels like a glorified bunny slope with a lift attached.

At this point, if we’re just checking a box to say the mountain is “open,” they might as well fire up the magic carpet and call it a day. Throw some snow on the First Timer’s area, hang up a banner that says We Did It, and save everyone the effort.

Killington and Stowe aiming for real terrain when they do open. You can tell their goal is to give people something worth skiing, not just a marketing line that says “we’re open.” Sugarbush, on the other hand, seems perfectly content to roll out a single green and call it a milestone.

What’s the point of having world-class snowmaking capacity if opening day always feels like a training exercise for ski school? Gate House is fine once the whole thing’s running, but when it’s just one green from mid-mountain to the base, it’s not skiing — it’s optics.

You're just upset you can't use your rich guy pass over there to cut in line.

 

[MrGlen]

No...capacity is still a far larger issue than execution. They have something like 3500-4000GPM at Lincoln Peak? That pales in comparison to other major resorts. There's no chance they can blow snow like K does with their current system.

The upgrades have largely been to fix things (i.e. old cheap pipe installed by ASC) or switch to newer guns to allow them to utilize the little capacity they have quicker without having to move as much equipment around.

If capacity is really the issue, then maybe Sugarbush should start snow farming. Cover the late-spring piles with reflective tarps, hay, and sawdust like they do in Europe and at some western resorts. You can literally keep thousands of cubic yards through summer and have a base ready to spread the moment temps drop. Would this work in reality, probably not, but just trying to get creative

 

[mikec142]

If capacity is really the issue, then maybe Sugarbush should start snow farming. Cover the late-spring piles with reflective tarps, hay, and sawdust like they do in Europe and at some western resorts. You can literally keep thousands of cubic yards through summer and have a base ready to spread the moment temps drop. Would this work in reality, probably not, but just trying to get creative

That's gotta cost something...are you willing to sacrifice your monogrammed robe?

 

[Blurski]

Looks like they might pivot to upper mountain terrain for snowmaking if they can't open the bottom: "If given the opportunity we will focus on opening lower mountain terrain first, but we are prepared to shift to upper mountain terrain if temps don't cooperate down low."

Also mention "Lift Maintenance" would be nice after last years lift debacle that they would make a statement that the lifts have been inspected & in working order. They also mention "river levels have risen a bit" are they flowing at the CFM required for them to refile the pond. All nice spin words but lake definitive information, all just marketing BS.

 

[Boxtop Willie]

Well, things are starting to look better on the snow making front. The pond is full, all 18,000,000 usable gallons of it. Which is all of 75 hours of snow making given LPs 4000gpm capacity. The longer term issue is refilling the pond. As of yesterday's data the Mad River wasn't running hard enough to allow the pond to be refilled. Flow needs to be 0.79 CSM. (February Median Flow Rate) and it's been in the mid-0.75s for a while. Yesterday's reading ticked 0.785ish. Today's rain should help. It seems counter-intuitive but more rain and not cold temps would be more help.

 

[Blurski]

Well, things are starting to look better on the snow making front. The pond is full, all 18,000,000 usable gallons of it. Which is all of 75 hours of snow making given LPs 4000gpm capacity. The longer term issue is refilling the pond. As of yesterday's data the Mad River wasn't running hard enough to allow the pond to be refilled. Flow needs to be 0.79 CSM. (February Median Flow Rate) and it's been in the mid-0.75s for a while. Yesterday's reading ticked 0.785ish. Today's rain should help. It seems counter-intuitive but more rain and not cold temps would be more help.

Good information, let it rain, 75 hours of snowmaking does not get us too much terrain.