The "Sugarbush Thread"

[MadPadraic]

This isn't anything new. It just is more visible this year. This isn't the first time we've talked about this topic.

No, but we should continue talking about it until Alterra fixes it.

 

[cdskier]

No, but we should continue talking about it until Alterra fixes it.

I don't disagree. I've said for a while that increasing water storage and also pumping capacity needs to be a priority. Unfortunately there are also some lifts that are coming up as priorities too in the not too distant future. Putting in another pond alone as was talked about a few years ago won't be cheap or quick.

 

[Shredmonkey254]

The blog did mention low water supply, but it also said they were going to light up Valley House.

Still no guns on anywhere today.

Just to add...I do disagree with Cheetah's comments that "they aren't trying". That's not fair to the people working on the mountain. They are just limited by the resources available to them.

For sure the drought is making things tough for Sugarbush. If they were trying, good customer service would have changed the plan and have upper Ellen open for all of Thanksgiving weekend. It was pretty obvious earlier that week that they couldn’t make enough snow to open their desired lower terrain at Lincoln - especially if they were aware of the lack of water to make the snow they needed. But there was over a foot of snow up top and they had made snow up there too. Then it snowed more and now word is that it’s all tracked out! Normally it would be heaven’s gate that would be opened but that’s not possible yet this year. I would say it’s not lack of resources but lack of leadership. My guess is that Sugarbush makes more profit from GMVS than they do from the paying public. We will be headed elsewhere again this weekend too, spending our money in other towns… as I would assume many others will too.

 

[djd66]

My guess is that Sugarbush makes more profit from GMVS than they do from the paying public.

there is no way this is accurate.

 

[ducky]

Quoting Shred and "more profit":
As a former parent, I can assure you that is not the case. They do pay a lot but think about the economics of a small private school with just 100 students having that much influence. Tuition is high but about the same as other private prep schools and several of those kids, mostly local, are fully funded with scholarships (theoretically, the most needy not the most talented). The racing brings money to the mountain and international recognition. When SB-sponsored, Ali Nullmeyer, races on the WC and Olympics, everyone knows where she went to school and her home mountain (as former student, Doug Lewis is often the announcer). While WC skiers Nina O'Brien and Paula Moltzan did not go here, both their former USST boyfriends did and they are connected to the valley.

Meanwhile, NOAA says possible 6-12 over the next few days. Have fun on GH everyone.

 

[Lotso]

Meanwhile, NOAA says possible 6-12 over the next few days. Have fun on GH everyone.

Hopefully VH will run and ropes will drop...

 

[Cheetah440]

Just to add...I do disagree with Cheetah's comments that "they aren't trying". That's not fair to the people working on the mountain. They are just limited by the resources available to them.

I’m not talking about the workers. Of course not, that’s silly to infer. I’m talking about a lack of a “can do” attitude among the leadership. Look how they ended last season. WW Killington do? Would they have opened ME summit by now? Hell they would have already had top to bottom going there. And you all know it.
nobody wants to ski GH, sorry maybe in October.

 

[Lotso]

Not even 8 am and a crowd forming

 

[Hawk]

They are blowing spring fling now. That's encouraging.

 

[tumbler]

Not even 8 am and a crowd forming
View attachment 63637

Free hat!

 

[Cheetah440]

Not even 8 am and a crowd forming
View attachment 63637

Free hat!

 

[Plowboy]

Free hat!

Free breakfast sandwich!!

 

[Shredmonkey254]

Not even 8 am and a crowd forming
View attachment 63637

Just thirsty for turns!

 

[Lotso]

And an hour later:

 

[Cheetah440]

And an hour later:
View attachment 63639

Epic

 

[thetrailboss]

Epic

I think you mean Ikonic.

 

[Zand]

I think you mean Ikonic.

If anyone in that line with an Ikon pass is smart they'd be at the Ikon resort an hour south of there.

 

[Blurski]

And an hour later:
View attachment 63639

Looks like someone is not getting a hat or sandwich

 

[Hawk]

The grand majority of those people live and work in the valley and probably will get in a few runs and head to work. The ones that really wanted to ski have already gone to Killington one day or another. I recoglized a few of those people. ;-)

 

[HowieT2]

They've lucked out some other years with either decent early natural snow or being able to open higher elevation terrain to hide the weaknesses of their snow-making system. They simply can't pump enough GPMs in short windows and don't have the water storage capacity to mitigate risks of drought (or frozen rivers like they had some other years that also resulted in low flow in the Mad River).

This isn't anything new. It just is more visible this year. This isn't the first time we've talked about this topic.

same thing every year. For the uninitiated, this very thread is over 900 pages, find nov/dec from any prior year and you'll see the same discussion.
It is what it is until they open mt ellen.