The "Sugarbush Thread"

[cdskier]

Nice, but bittersweet pics! Only 180ish days to go for next season. The countdown has begun LOL.

Hah...yes, only 181 days until snow-making begins!

 

[rtjcbrown]

Seems like Spring Fling hung in there better than years past, and Stein's not so much.

 

[tumbler]

They didn't blow as much snow on Stein's as in years past, much less hours of snowmaking.

 

[cdskier]

I had been saying for quite a while this season that I didn't think Stein's was as deep as it was last year. Of course that was just my perception from skiing it and looking at it and nothing scientific in terms of actual measurements (last year I remember Sugarbush measuring the depth and talking about how deep it was either in their snow report or one of their blog posts...this year if they did that, they never mentioned it anywhere that I recall).

For Spring Fling and Snowball, they did fire the guns back up in March on those trails. I'm inclined to think that certainly helped and if they hadn't done that, we might not have made it to May.

 

[mrvpilgrim]

If I recall they replaced the pipes on spring fling and snowball if not last year then the year before allowing for more efficient snow production on those trails. Looks like that investment is paying off.

 

[Hawk]

If you compare this year to the last 5 years I think there is very little difference other than the snow depth on Spring fling. it is May first and we were skiing Steins and then closing. That is all one can ask from Sugarbush.

 

[cdskier]

If you compare this year to the last 5 years I think there is very little difference other than the snow depth on Spring fling. it is May first and we were skiing Steins and then closing. That is all one can ask from Sugarbush.

Generally speaking yes, as long as Spring Fling and Stein's can make it to the start of May, that's all we can expect and I'm perfectly happy with that. I do think they cut it a little too close on Stein's this year and the depth on the last weekend sure seemed less than some other recent years that I remember. Is that a factor of the weather this year though? Or did they really make a bit less snow as it seemed? Unless someone measured the depth on Stein's in mid-winter or knows how many hours of snow-making happened this year vs other years on the trail, then I'd say it is tough to say for sure.

I do recall 3 years ago where HG was still running in May and patrol was hand-shoveling lower Ripcord to keep a path down it open. Granted that had a lot more to do with weather than anything else and was an unexpected surprise that year (2014).

 

[slatham]

If I recall they replaced the pipes on spring fling and snowball if not last year then the year before allowing for more efficient snow production on those trails. Looks like that investment is paying off.

Yes, water pipes. New one's are either 12" or 20". They're pretty big and allowed the full-on assault of high efficiency guns blazing this winter.

 

[benski]

If I recall they replaced the pipes on spring fling and snowball if not last year then the year before allowing for more efficient snow production on those trails. Looks like that investment is paying off.

I think the main advantage is early season when they can open the trail faster and move on to the next trail quickly. I think i heard with the new pipes the trail opens in 2 days instead of 3.

 

[Hawk]

The new pipes on Spring Fling are nice. They replaced both the air and water pipes and are bigger yes and most importantly they don't leak and won't blow out like the rest of the old system. It does mean that the trail can get covered faster but it also should mean that the trails should have more consistent snow coming out of the guns.
The biggest thing that slows them down when opening trails and resurfacing is the lack of equipment on hand. Most snow making outfits have enough hoses and guns on hand to have set ups on most locations on all of their main snow making trails. Sugarbush does not. The result is the snow makers have to break down a trail, lug the hoses and some times guns to the next trail, set up and then run and tune the system. This is why they just blow a trail for many days and then move on and do not go back until it is absolutely necessary. They are really lucky that the bush gets good natural snow most years or they would be kind of screwed.

 

[cdskier]

Perhaps snowmaking improvements can be more of a main focus in the future once they finish their other capital expenditures. I know they've done a lot of incremental improvements with replacing some pipes, buying some more guns, etc, but it would be nice to see a major effort at some point for upgrades. I think they need to seriously consider increasing the size of the snowmaking pond. Running out of water earlier this year at times when you had good snow-making temps was not good. They are lucky they ended up getting rain after that to refill the pond.

 

[tumbler]

I don't think that they are going to invest much in the snowmaking system besides maintaining. They have their program and they are going to stick with it. They roll the dice on the natural and it has mostly been working out for them. They have a lot of towers now, it would be nice to buy more short tower hoses to leave at those locations so they can do quicker switchovers.

 

[rtjcbrown]

I don't think that they are going to invest much in the snowmaking system besides maintaining. They have their program and they are going to stick with it. They roll the dice on the natural and it has mostly been working out for them. They have a lot of towers now, it would be nice to buy more short tower hoses to leave at those locations so they can do quicker switchovers.

I agree. They are already one of the last to close, and seem content with the schedule they keep. I think any improvements will be made to be more efficient

 

[benski]

Perhaps snowmaking improvements can be more of a main focus in the future once they finish their other capital expenditures. I know they've done a lot of incremental improvements with replacing some pipes, buying some more guns, etc, but it would be nice to see a major effort at some point for upgrades. I think they need to seriously consider increasing the size of the snowmaking pond. Running out of water earlier this year at times when you had good snow-making temps was not good. They are lucky they ended up getting rain after that to refill the pond.

I believe win has said there next step is to replace snowmaking pipe with larger pipes so they can run more water to various parts of the mountain.

 

[WWF-VT]

From Win's Word on July 5, 2017

I have previously highlighted the capital projects we have undertaken this summer to improve your experience: two new chairlifts, two new groomers and two new snowmaking pipes are the major ones. We now have added three more projects to the list. Over the summer we will be installing RFID gates at our base lifts, thus replacing the old scanning system we have used for the past decade. As you probably know, RFID cards are kept inside your clothing and a radio frequency opens a gate to allow you access to the lift. This should make your experience in the lift line more pleasant. It will mean, however, that all season passholders will have to get new media this year before coming to the lift for the first time. Thereafter, the card may be used again. For someone buying a day ticket, the card can be re-used again by reloading it online, saving the need to go to the ticket window.

We have also decided to replace one of our 6,000 CFM Electric Compressors at Lincoln Peak with one that operates at variable rates. Since our new snowmaking guns use so much less compressed air, this will allow us even more efficient snowmaking, which has the double advantage of saving money for us and helping the environment by using less electricity without making any less snow.

Finally, we are also purchasing another 60 SnowLogic guns to make sure that we continue to improve our capacity to make snow whenever Mother Nature gives us the temperatures necessary.

 

[slatham]

[QUOTE=WWF

Good news all around, but especially the RFID. I hadn't fully appreciated this until I skied Stowe and then Sugarbush is quick succession. The scanning was just atrocious vs. the RFID technology.

 

[TheArchitect]

Good news all around, but especially the RFID. I hadn't fully appreciated this until I skied Stowe and then Sugarbush is quick succession. The scanning was just atrocious vs. the RFID technology.

Agreed. RFID is much better. Glad they are installing it at SB.

 

[Hawk]

I am a huge fan of the RFID. I wonder how they will work the Resort charge on the old passes. I bet they will have to do away with that.

Thanks, Steve

 

[slatham]

I don't think that they are going to invest much in the snowmaking system besides maintaining. They have their program and they are going to stick with it. They roll the dice on the natural and it has mostly been working out for them. They have a lot of towers now, it would be nice to buy more short tower hoses to leave at those locations so they can do quicker switchovers.

tumbler I think they're uping their game a bit with new pipe on two trails (hopefully with the same result as the recently installed pipe on Snowball + Spring Fling), a new compressor, and 60 new Snowlogics. Granted, that's not HUGE but it is certainly more than just maintenance IMHO.

 

[mbedle]

I am a huge fan of the RFID. I wonder how they will work the Resort charge on the old passes. I bet they will have to do away with that.

Thanks, Steve

RFID passes can have resort charge. Stowe has it.