The "Sugarbush Thread"

[WWF-VT]

Looks like a firm and fast day on groomers tomorrow....

Better than expected at Mt Ellen today. Sunny, a couple of inches of new snow up high and the groomers off North Ridge chair were in great shape and uncrowded. Ventured down Lower Exterminator and Hammerhead with rocks860 for today's fun runs.

 

[Slidebrook87]

Fun day at Stratton. Pretty typical eastern conditions with pretty firm conditions. Good mountain operations but the lift maintenance clearly suffered under Intrawest’s ownership. Ursa had a grip force fault all day long. The last time I skied at Stratton was before the Snow Bowl Express and that new lift has completely changed the way the mountain skis. It helps ease crowds at other lifts as well as provide a short 5 minute ride to a lot of terrain on that side of the mountain. The old quad took 13 minutes and while a nice way to escape crowds on a busy day, the new lift is certainly appreciated.


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[Smellytele]

Was at Lincoln peak today and also better than expected. As noted 2 inches fell over night. Bumps runs skied okay early but we’re scraped later. People were afraid of the woods but they skied well better than the bump runs.
Normal busy time 10-12 but besides that no more than a 3-5 minute wait.
Castle rock had a 17 minute wait ( timed by John Coltrane’s favorite things) around 11. Castle rock lift line skied pretty good today.


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[deadheadskier]

Fun day at Stratton. Pretty typical eastern conditions with pretty firm conditions. Good mountain operations but the lift maintenance clearly suffered under Intrawest’s ownership. Ursa had a grip force fault all day long. The last time I skied at Stratton was before the Snow Bowl Express and that new lift has completely changed the way the mountain skis. It helps ease crowds at other lifts as well as provide a short 5 minute ride to a lot of terrain on that side of the mountain. The old quad took 13 minutes and while a nice way to escape crowds on a busy day, the new lift is certainly appreciated.


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Alterra has owned Stratton since 2017. Any deferred maintenance issues at this point falls squarely on them and not Intrawest.

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[Slidebrook87]

Alterra has owned Stratton since 2017. Any deferred maintenance issues at this point falls squarely on them and not Intrawest.

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Deferred maintenance isn’t exactly something that simply goes away as it has lasting impacts on lifts. While Alterra is doing a better job maintaining them, the lasting effects definitely show. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ursa is replaced soon. It had a mechanical issue later today which caused it to close early and is not in good condition at all.


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[deadheadskier]

Deferred maintenance isn’t exactly something that simply goes away as it has lasting impacts on lifts. While Alterra is doing a better job maintaining them, the lasting effects definitely show. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ursa is replaced soon. It had a mechanical issue later today which caused it to close early and is not in good condition at all.


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Of course it isn't, but Alterra is into their third season. It's on them. You were 11 when Intrawest owned it. Life experience matters grasshopper. What you read on some chairlift website doesn't make you some all knowing pro about how the mountain was operated when you were in 5th grade. Newsflash, there are Stratton regulars on this site. Some of us have friends who worked there for years in MTN ops. There literally hasn't been a peep about Intrawest mismanagement of lift maintenance in that time from forum members or employees.

Ursa was installed in 99. Not going anywhere for probably five years. There's been only one HSQ replacement in New England due to age as opposed to increasing capacity. The Forerunner at Stowe, which was 25 years old and I believe the very first HSQ installed in New England. Sometimes I think you believe ski areas have a blank checkbook with unlimited resources to spend. Ski areas lose money many seasons; even the best operated ones.

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[rocks860]

Yeah the snow at mount elllen was very nice today, much better than I thought it would be. As @WWF-VT mentioned there was still legit packed powder on some trails there at 2 pm. I skied Lincoln before I met up with him and morning star and castle rock run were quite nice, I was pleasantly surprised. By the time I got back to LP the snow had basically turned to corn between ice patches on a lot of stuff.


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[Slidebrook87]

Surprisingly Stratton had very little corn and a lot more firm groomers. Upper Downeaster had to be the iciest trail I have ever skied, at least for this year. Literally no snow on top of complete ice... and a steep pitch. By the end of the day most people were just taking their skis off and sliding down. I wish they would leave a few trails moguled as skiing groomers all day gets boring after awhile.


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[Smellytele]

The "Sugarbush Thread"

Surprisingly Stratton had very little corn and a lot more firm groomers. Upper Downeaster had to be the iciest trail I have ever skied, at least for this year. Literally no snow on top of complete ice... and a steep pitch. By the end of the day most people were just taking their skis off and sliding down. I wish they would leave a few trails moguled as skiing groomers all day gets boring after awhile.


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Why is that surprising? Everywhere saw a thaw freeze. If you were surprised then you should look at weather reports before going...


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[Slidebrook87]

So I saw this building today and it kind of reminded me what a new Ellen lodge could look like. It would obviously be on a larger scale, but this type of architecture along with larger windows could work very well. A deck could also be built on the front portion.


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[Smellytele]

So I saw this building today and it kind of reminded me what a new Ellen lodge could look like. It would obviously be on a larger scale, but this type of architecture along with larger windows could work very well. A deck could also be built on the front portion.


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So a barn wow where did you get that idea for sugarbush? Did you suggest clay brook to win as well?


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[Slidebrook87]

So a barn wow where did you get that idea for sugarbush? Did you suggest clay brook to win as well?


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Similar to Clay Brook but more of a style for a base lodge. This obviously wouldn’t be exactly what I imagine it looking like, but I feel like this sort of modern barn style architecture would work well for the new lodge.


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[rocks860]

Also why is there Stratton discussion here?


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[Slidebrook87]

We’ll be expecting a full report on their mountain operations.

This is why. There is no dedicated Stratton thread either.


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[deadheadskier]

This is why. There is no dedicated Stratton thread either.


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start one. Having the Sugarbush thread get taken over by Stratton discussions will get real annoying, real quick to many people

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[Slidebrook87]

start one. Having the Sugarbush thread get taken over by Stratton discussions will get real annoying, real quick to many people

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The discussion is basically over now. I just wrote that original comment as a trip report. If there’s enough interest in a Stratton thread I’m create one.


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[Orca]

So a barn wow where did you get that idea for sugarbush? Did you suggest clay brook to win as well?

Does anyone else find Clay Brook hideous? Goofy barn motif with its ridiculous faux silos, and it's totally in the way. Everyone has to walk around the horrible monstrosity to get to the lodge and slopes. It has no use to the general public, unlike say the Cliff at Snowbird that has shops and restaurants. The outdoor pool is in a fishbowl, gawkers walking along the walkway looking down the pool that sees little use but is constantly spilling wasted energy into the atmosphere. Sugarbush would be better off without it.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Does anyone else find Clay Brook hideous?

The silo is ridiculously poorly executed, it looks nothing like a farm silo and sticks out like a swollen thumb.

Remove the rocket ship, errrr, I mean "silo", and I think the building is pleasing to the eye.

 

[Newpylong]

Deferred maintenance isn’t exactly something that simply goes away as it has lasting impacts on lifts. While Alterra is doing a better job maintaining them, the lasting effects definitely show. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ursa is replaced soon. It had a mechanical issue later today which caused it to close early and is not in good condition at all.


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You don't need to replace a lift with high hours, especially a 6 pack. What you need to do is replace or rebuild vital components - motor, gearbox, controls, comm line, etc.

 

[Slidebrook87]

You don't need to replace a lift with high hours, especially a 6 pack. What you need to do is replace or rebuild vital components - motor, gearbox, controls, comm line, etc.

It’s to the point where there are so many issues with that if one thing is replaced, there’s always going to be another issue with it. Yesterday the gates were broken, there was a grip force fault and another mechanical issue. Half the control systems don’t even work and it’s overall just a mess. Normally I would agree with you on this point, but it’s sort of like Barker where it’s too far to do this. A lift from 1999 shouldn’t be like this, but that’s what poor maintenance will do. Thankfully Alterra has been running it much faster than it used to run.


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