The "Sugarbush Thread"

[Lotso]

Do you think they will have SB and/or valley house open this weekend?

Related: Are guns still going on SB/SF? Can't really tell from camera

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

Are we actually hoping for rain, to wash away snow on the mountains and trails, so that it'll fill the snowmaking pond, so that we can blow it back onto the trails?!?

 

[Hawk]

If we would get a storm that dumps heavy wet base on the mountain and it rains in the valley, that would work. I guess snow storms with some warm up in between would do the same trick. Or it just dumps all the time and we ski just natural like MRG. OK i'll sign up for that. ;-)

 

[Plowboy]

Just took a walk to the snowmaking pond, not much water in it. It's very LOW!!

 

[thetrailboss]

FWIW I just got an Email that MRG is going to open top-to-bottom this weekend.

 

[Hawk]

Yup, why not. People have been skinning up there for a week.

 

[SteezyRob]

mad river is the BOSS

 

[Lotso]

All the more reason to open VH and NL and drop ropes on the natch trails...

 

[Cheetah440]

All the more reason to open VH and NL and drop ropes on the natch trails...

I’m sure they will drop ropes for Sat. Shame though that they don’t treat ME like MRG, just open it all up let it rip. Snow is precious and there’s plenty on ME for safe skiing.

 

[Lotso]

I’m sure they will drop ropes for Sat. Shame though that they don’t treat ME like MRG, just open it all up let it rip. Snow is precious and there’s plenty on ME for safe skiing.

Agreed.

 

[Lynxy Woods]

I’m sure they will drop ropes for Sat. Shame though that they don’t treat ME like MRG, just open it all up let it rip. Snow is precious and there’s plenty on ME for safe skiing.

remember - at Ellen that precious snow is reserved for GMVS…
if they open Bravo it should be a great weekend there! Have fun

 

[Lotso]

remember - at Ellen that precious snow is reserved for GMVS…
if they open Bravo it should be a great weekend there! Have fun

Only Elbow now and Inverness/Brambles later. Plenty of other trails to have an MRG experience on, which i what I believe Cheetah's point was.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

For me, knowing that HG was out of commission early season, they should have had a plan in place to quickly pivot to ME up high if temps weren't looking good. This policy of opening GH first STRUCTURALLY increases the risk that they won't be able to make snow and open on time, especially given their inadequate capabilities with marginal temps or short windows. This is about priorities and foresight, not lack of effort or whatever. You can't make a decision that you KNOW narrows your margin for error, and then cry that it's out of your control when the weather eliminates that margin.

 

[djd66]

Agreed.

Same here,… if they have enough snow, open it up

 

[Cheetah440]

Only Elbow now and Inverness/Brambles later. Plenty of other trails to have an MRG experience on, which i what I believe Cheetah's point was.

Odd thing is last year they really let it go. Steins after the thaw and Rainer mid Dec. total ski it if you can. Lixis and twist had more dirt than snow, and it was awesome and fun. Maybe this is just a cautious open and this weekend they let it rip.

 

[cdskier]

I'll play devil's advocate with the "they should just open ME up" comments...it again isn't that simple. At a minimum you're now talking about running 2 extra lifts, extra ski patrol, extra F&B, etc. What's the gain from doing this? It really doesn't seem like a prudent business decision. (And they may not even have the staff to try to pull that off since the planned ME opening date is still a few weeks away).

Odd thing is last year they really let it go. Steins after the thaw and Rainer mid Dec. total ski it if you can. Lixis and twist had more dirt than snow, and it was awesome and fun. Maybe this is just a cautious open and this weekend they let it rip.

Very different opening some trails on natural with questionable conditions when you at least have SOME trails available that are available for the masses vs running a lift now to terrain that has nothing ready for non-diehards.

 

[Cheetah440]

I'll play devil's advocate with the "they should just open ME up" comments...it again isn't that simple. At a minimum you're now talking about running 2 extra lifts, extra ski patrol, extra F&B, etc. What's the gain from doing this? It really doesn't seem like a prudent business decision. (And they may not even have the staff to try to pull that off since the planned ME opening date is still a few weeks away).



Very different opening some trails on natural with questionable conditions when you at least have SOME trails available that are available for the masses vs running a lift now to terrain that has nothing ready for non-diehards.

Devils argument counter argument: With 1/16 lifts open it’s not really a good argument to make that it would be such a burden to staff up 2 extra lifts. I mean by Dec 5 they should be ready to open up at least half the lifts. They are a ski area after all. This isnt CT. This isn’t a mom and pop operation.

 

[cdskier]

Devils argument counter argument: With 1/16 lifts open it’s not really a good argument to make that it would be such a burden to staff up 2 extra lifts. I mean by Dec 5 they should be ready to open up at least half the lifts. They are a ski area after all. This isnt CT. This isn’t a mom and pop operation.

You missed the whole point that it isn't "just" 2 extra lifts...

 

[Shredmonkey254]

You missed the whole point that it isn't "just" 2 extra lifts...

I think you are missing the point. It’s open the two lifts at mt. Ellen INSTEAD of freaking gatehouse. the snow has been sitting up there and a lot of snow had already been made. All the while knowing they have water supply problems .Open something that people who ski early season actually want to ski. i couldn’t agree with Cheetah and Tin more.

 

[Shredmonkey254]

I think you are missing the point. It’s open the two lifts at mt. Ellen INSTEAD of freaking gatehouse. the snow has been sitting up there and a lot of snow had already been made. Open something that people who ski early season actually want to ski. i couldn’t agree with Cheetah and Tin more.

I gotta walk away now…