I don't know much about Stratton at all...but I assume they have a lot more snowmaking power just by the nature of them being further south. So like you said, it is an apples to orange comparison. Also fwiw, Sugarbush had 85 acres on Sunday open (the acreage on the Sugarbush trail report wasn't updated initially for some reason when all the new terrain came online off Super Bravo and HG and still showed only 40 which is what it was before that additional terrain opened).
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The "Sugarbush Thread"
- Thread starter thetrailboss
- Start date
I don't know much about Stratton at all...but I assume they have a lot more snowmaking power just by the nature of them being further south. So like you said, it is an apples to orange comparison. Also fwiw, Sugarbush had 85 acres on Sunday open (the acreage on the Sugarbush trail report wasn't updated initially for some reason when all the new terrain came online off Super Bravo and HG and still showed only 40 which is what it was before that additional terrain opened).
Newpylong
Well-known member
Definitely Apples to Oranges.
Stratton is a sleeping snowmaking giant with nearly as much capacity (air and water) as anyone else in the East. Unlimited water. Coupled with fairly mellow acreage, they can get terrain open very rapidly.
Hawk
Well-known member
I think you missed his point. They did not need to groom it. They could have just opened it with whales without grooming. There was no pressure to groom for it to be open.
slatham
Well-known member
Unless there were gaps between whales, or frozen whales. Neither of which I would rule out.
But to your point, properly distributed snow with attention paid to not making wet snow at end (if not making down right dry snow) is perfectly skiable and too many areas will not open in such circumstance.
Hawk
Well-known member
Yes, but as most of us here know, Sugarbush has opened terrain with whales in all kinds of condition. there may have been gaps as you said above so they chose to groom and open. I guess whatever now. It is open. Now bring on Ripchord.
Hawk
Well-known member
This is Sugarbush. Until they finish upgrading and fixing the issues there is no expectation on my part that they will be able to blow snow any faster then they are doing now. Belive me, I have done my fair share of bitching on this site but I am not going to compare Sugarbush to anybody else. Their philosophy has not changed in the 20 years I have skied here except for a few years when Les Otten was in town.
KustyTheKlown
Well-known member
stratton is also a cone. all lifts essentially end at the same place, at 4000 elevation. seems logistically much easier to work with that set up.
Yup...I've skied numerous trails at SB over the years that were opened ungroomed to "allow the snow to drain" as they used to say. Some were great and a lot of fun...some had really oddly shaped whales that were not as fun. I've even seen some Gate House terrain open with whales on it before it was groomed. Like you said though, what's done is done.
jaybird
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Not much draining required on belugas left on Ripcord. Awesome work Monday !
Stratton is a different universe. Apples and bananas is a better comparison.
Still wondering about Birdland
Looked like a Boomer passholder.
Stratton is a different universe. Apples and bananas is a better comparison.
Still wondering about Birdland
Looked like a Boomer passholder.
The snow report says they're moving to Lower Snowball and Racer's Edge next for snowmaking (although also looks like someone accidentally checked off "Lower Snowball Woods" for snowmaking in the trail report instead of "Lower Snowball" 
). Seems like a good plan to me to get another VH route done next. If I had to guess, I'd say after Ripcord maybe Lower Jester/Lower OG would make the most sense.
). Seems like a good plan to me to get another VH route done next. If I had to guess, I'd say after Ripcord maybe Lower Jester/Lower OG would make the most sense.
Hawk
Well-known member
Or Sleeper / Waterfall ?
Another possibility...I didn't feel like skiing under the guns yesterday or Sunday on the GH side, so I haven't seen whether any equipment was staged at all on those trails.
I think Lower OG/Lower Jester may make a tiny bit more sense first though to give an alternate to Downspout on the Super Bravo side. Then next week you focus on getting another GH route ready before Christmas. Both options make sense to do though before Christmas...just not sure which order they will pick.
temps look ok through sunday. hopefully they get snowball/racers edge done before the weekend and then they can move on.
when is mount ellen scheduled to open? next weekend?
Kingslug20
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Or maybe get a foot of snow this weekend...
That would be nice..
That would be nice..
hovercraft
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You are correct they do not need to groom it to open it. I was coming from the space that a lot of people don’t like to ski or ride on trails with whales on it. So opening to me was groomed and ready to go. But your point is well taken…….
today is wednesday so they probably groom that out friday night or maybe even in the morning before the bulk of the snow.
I just talked the wifey into driving up thursday evening. what a coincidence.
Yea...I could see them grooming it either Thursday night or Friday night depending on the timing of the bulk of the snow.
I'm already up here. Happy to not have to worry about timing the drive up around a storm for a change!
driving through the snow is half the fun (don't tell my wife I said that). but I'm not expecting poor road conditions tomorrow evening. Have to decide whether to take my pickup with AT all weather tires or the wife's suv with better tires.
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