The "Sugarbush Thread"

[1dog]

Bush thread. River? Who's on 1st?

 

[HowieT2]

I disagree a bit, but given that both are on Ikon and they are next door, just try out both. Brighton definitely has the snowboarder rep, and Solitude has that crazy flat runout to get back from some of their best terrain. However, a lot of Solitude's terrain is a crap-ton of fun on a board.





So I'm not Gen-Z let alone Gen-Alpha, but I don't really think the ski reporter is actually catering to them. They are just a bit too self-indulgent with their reporting.


I'd contend that basically all major eastern resorts have the same three demographics.


Yeah its a dead horse topic, but debating that sort of thing is the reason that this forum exists.


I did a week at Bachelor last May. I do not recommend. Crystal, Baker, and even Stevens Pass are far better. Even though I have Ikon, when I do an Oregon trip later this winter, I'm planning on doing zero to one days at Bachelor and just paying my way at some of the Hood areas and Hoodoo. There are some caveats about my opinion on Bachelor, but I'd put it up there with Northstar in terms of "major destination resort that isn't worth traveling for."


The food and bar are very expensive by Valley standards. We haven't tried the food, but the cocktails are pretty good. I think both Hyde Away and Bluestone have better bar programs, but that is sort of nit-picking. Also, the bar is very cramped. Still, I'm glad it exists, and is a good addition to the Valley.

Agreed the bar is cramped in winter when the outdoor deck is not an option but the food is good and the menu interesting.

fwiw went to scrag n roe for the first time last night. Now with an Asian menu. It was ok.

 

[MadPadraic]

There were 2-3 for the entire State and they come when the resort feels a lift is ready for inspection. The plan is not to have a lift inspected the opening week but sometime that happens and not necessarily controlled by a resort. Lift mechanics especially those with electrical knowledge are in short supply and more so since COVID. Being short even a mechanic or two impacts the summer schedule. Failing an inspection can be for a significant or even a seemingly minor issue. For instance a branch on a tree might be considered to be to close to the chair and need to be cut before the lift is cleared. It can also be something the inspector felt should have been done or was not done to their satisfaction.

I'm just going to throw this out there, because the VT government gets some crap on this thread. I don't recall any major lift incidents in VT. Yes, we tend to get stuck on SB lifts (NRX in particular). Stratton had a geyser from a snowmaking pipe IIRC, but I can't think of any other big ones. However, NH and ME have both had major major lift incidents in recent memory. Chair/cabin derailments are a regular thing in British Columbia. CO and UT have them on occasion.

Hopefully, I'm not jinxing VT here, but the lifts are generally safe when they are actually running. Now back to complaining about SB/Alterra not having their crap together this year....

 

[HowieT2]

I didn't realize the majority of Sugarbush lifts will be 30-year-old in 2025. Sugarbush needs a local independent group to buy them. With so much aging infrastructure a local group could buy Sugarbush for Pennis on the dollar. I believe Killington sold for $150 Million with an updated snowmaking and Lift system. The number of total updates needed at Sugarbush is probably pushing $100 million. Replace 7 lifts that are 30 years old, new snowmaking equipment, increase snowmaking capacity, new pond(s) etc. I know these projects wouldn't be fixed right away with a new owner, but it does devalue the resort at time of purchase.

It was owned locally until a few years ago. And as great as that stewardship was, there were still times when lift operations and/or snow making were an issue. I don’t think any of us know the facts but it doesn’t appear to me that the new corporate owners are spending any less on capital investments than the previous local owners did. the latter installed 3 new fixed grip lifts over the course of 20 years. Alterra has done 1 in their 4 years. The nrx needs to be replaced but it’s a detachable, and the cost is orders of magnitude more than a fixed grip. Isn’t it something like 10m for a detachable while a fixed grip is closer to 4m?

 

[KustyTheKlown]

today was a really good day

I expect tomorrow to be similar, but at mt ellen

Tuesday shaping up to be tasty…?

 

[Shredmonkey254]

I was on about chair 10. Lift stopped at the bottom of Spills For 45 minutes. Brrrrrr. Positives. Got to ski an untracked paradise. Really good . Got a lift ticket voucher and lunch! Chair is now closed not a good look. Oh Well.

Sorry to hear you were one of the lucky few to get stuck on the chair. Wondering if the ski movie Frozen came up while sitting there. Meanwhile… everyone was in line at HG and sBravo was ski on. We lapped Steins relentlessly as it was skiing magnificently.

 

[hovercraft]

Sorry to hear you were one of the lucky few to get stuck on the chair. Wondering if the ski movie Frozen came up while sitting there. Meanwhile… everyone was in line at HG and sBravo was ski on. We lapped Steins relentlessly as it was skiing magnificently.

When did you switch to skis?

 

[Lotso]

Hey Sugarbush snow reporter: Please spell Riemergasse correctly. It is named for the late Joe Riemer, who was part of the group that rescued Sugarbush. The least you could do is get the guy's name right.

 

[Castlerockrisk]

I took 9 laps on HG today. trails skied great and CR middle earth and lifeline were stellar. That is why I ski here. I have spent a career consulting with ship owners to keep their fleets safe and operational I know what keeping machinery running and safe in the most severe conditions anywhere in the world. I have also had a pass here for 39 years and live here.

There is no doubt that preventative maintenance and planning could mitigate the lift malfunctions. It’s not the final link of the chain that breaks that is the root cause of a problem. Operational management mandates a devoted management and well trained employees with many checks and balances. I hike at Sugarbush’s all summer as well as MRG. There is no comparison between the two with respect to offseason trail work and maintenance, there is not a rust spot on any MRG lift, people climb the towers all year, and trail work is constant. Mrg efforts gears up even more after Labor Day. I can not say the same about Sugarbush. The technology of the new lifts requires well trained people with Very good mechanical and electrical skills, this requires training and a good salary and a substantial year round staff. It has to start with that commitment. To me that’s more important than opening new lounges or buying delis.

Considering that we as pass holders pay a large fee many months before the lift runs should mandate that the lifts run when the season commences. As noted in prior posts the lack of managements ability to pivot and open lifts when we have snow is inexcusable. Yes I hiked to CR today and it was great, but why was the lift not running? That is BS, especially since we paid for that service many months before. The same goes for North Lynx, and North Ridge. We do not have great conditions often and when they are not accessible due to scheduled opening dates that management sets or due to malfunctions- we are not getting the services that we have paid for. When a lift is down for several weeks because of a failure does management keep it open longer or open another lift. We all know the answer.

I appreciate Wins transparency but if I told my shipping clients the same I would be unemployable. We need better service, Be better here or should we say be mediocre here. We have the best inaccessible terrain in the East.

This is not an insult it’s a hope that better things will happen.

 

[Shredmonkey254]

When did you switch to skis?

I took 9 laps on HG today. trails skied great and CR middle earth and lifeline were stellar. That is why I ski here. I have spent a career consulting with ship owners to keep their fleets safe and operational I know what keeping machinery running and safe in the most severe conditions anywhere in the world. I have also had a pass here for 39 years and live here.

There is no doubt that preventative maintenance and planning could mitigate the lift malfunctions. It’s not the final link of the chain that breaks that is the root cause of a problem. Operational management mandates a devoted management and well trained employees with many checks and balances. I hike at Sugarbush’s all summer as well as MRG. There is no comparison between the two with respect to offseason trail work and maintenance, there is not a rust spot on any MRG lift, people climb the towers all year, and trail work is constant. Mrg efforts gears up even more after Labor Day. I can not say the same about Sugarbush. The technology of the new lifts requires well trained people with Very good mechanical and electrical skills, this requires training and a good salary and a substantial year round staff. It has to start with that commitment. To me that’s more important than opening new lounges or buying delis.

Considering that we as pass holders pay a large fee many months before the lift runs should mandate that the lifts run when the season commences. As noted in prior posts the lack of managements ability to pivot and open lifts when we have snow is inexcusable. Yes I hiked to CR today and it was great, but why was the lift not running? That is BS, especially since we paid for that service many months before. The same goes for North Lynx, and North Ridge. We do not have great conditions often and when they are not accessible due to scheduled opening dates that management sets or due to malfunctions- we are not getting the services that we have paid for. When a lift is down for several weeks because of a failure does management keep it open longer or open another lift. We all know the answer.

I appreciate Wins transparency but if I told my shipping clients the same I would be unemployable. We need better service, Be better here or should we say be mediocre here. We have the best inaccessible terrain in the East.

This is not an insult it’s a hope th

I took 9 laps on HG today. trails skied great and CR middle earth and lifeline were stellar. That is why I ski here. I have spent a career consulting with ship owners to keep their fleets safe and operational I know what keeping machinery running and safe in the most severe conditions anywhere in the world. I have also had a pass here for 39 years and live here.

There is no doubt that preventative maintenance and planning could mitigate the lift malfunctions. It’s not the final link of the chain that breaks that is the root cause of a problem. Operational management mandates a devoted management and well trained employees with many checks and balances. I hike at Sugarbush’s all summer as well as MRG. There is no comparison between the two with respect to offseason trail work and maintenance, there is not a rust spot on any MRG lift, people climb the towers all year, and trail work is constant. Mrg efforts gears up even more after Labor Day. I can not say the same about Sugarbush. The technology of the new lifts requires well trained people with Very good mechanical and electrical skills, this requires training and a good salary and a substantial year round staff. It has to start with that commitment. To me that’s more important than opening new lounges or buying delis.

Considering that we as pass holders pay a large fee many months before the lift runs should mandate that the lifts run when the season commences. As noted in prior posts the lack of managements ability to pivot and open lifts when we have snow is inexcusable. Yes I hiked to CR today and it was great, but why was the lift not running? That is BS, especially since we paid for that service many months before. The same goes for North Lynx, and North Ridge. We do not have great conditions often and when they are not accessible due to scheduled opening dates that management sets or due to malfunctions- we are not getting the services that we have paid for. When a lift is down for several weeks because of a failure does management keep it open longer or open another lift. We all know the answer.

I appreciate Wins transparency but if I told my shipping clients the same I would be unemployable. We need better service, Be better here or should we say be mediocre here. We have the best inaccessible terrain in the East.

This is not an insult it’s a hope that better things will happen.

To me that’s more important than opening new lounges or buying delis.
yup!