The "Sugarbush Thread"

[WinS]

im not sure how much i am shooting the messenger, but i got grievance with whoever's job it is to write the snow report

Here’s a contrary opinion. I think Lucy shows a lot of passion and individuality. Those who criticize Sugarbush for being “corporate” cannot say that this is “corporate” snow reporting. However, needs to continue to spell Riemergasse correctly. Merry Christmas to all.

 

[Carl_Greig]

Here’s a contrary opinion. I think Lucy shows a lot of passion and individuality. Those who criticize Sugarbush for being “corporate” cannot say that this is “corporate” snow reporting. However, needs to continue to spell Riemergasse correctly. Merry Christmas to all.

Merry Christmas!

 

[Lotso]

Thanks, Win!

BTW: Upper FIS and Exterminator were as awesome as I have ever seen them on a non-powder day today. Love natural snow trails with tons of soft snow!

The t-bar line and to its right were also fun, just a little heavier than on the upper mt, but still a hoot!

 

[thetrailboss]

I was confused about Holiday hours too. I guess this year they begin today and go through New Year’s. It is also a bit confusing knowing the Ikon blackouts vs a local area’s Holiday definition is you have the base pass. My drive over from Shelburne yesterday have longer than normal due to the weather, so I was happy to see lifts starting at 9am but when I saw the long line at Bravo and figured I won’t get first tracks I moved over to Gatehouse and had two really nice untracked runs there. I did not have a lot of time so I did not get up HG but I found that Lower Snowball was not skied and had some really nice untracked powder around 9:30am. Unlike the trails with snowmaking there was no crust underneath.

It is not unusual to borrow a part from Slidebrook is there is a part backlog. Slide Brook and GMX are similar Dopplemayr lifts, and SB is not ready to go. But I think the ground over we have many get this running sooner that thee past few years. Let’s hope the Sunday/Monday weather is like the first rain that hardens the base rather than melting the snowpack.

Slide Brook = Dopp.
GMX = Poma Leitner

 

[djd66]

Slide Brook = Dopp.
GMX = Poma Leitner

Somehow I think Win knows just a little bit more than you on swapping parts from SB & GMX.

 

[bumpcrasher]

Is there any update or timeline on getting NorthRidge or North Linx fixed??

 

[VTSkiBike]

Is there any update or timeline on getting NorthRidge or North Linx fixed??

They were spinning North Ridge this afternoon and had the RFID gate up but no mention in this afternoon's snow report if it will open.

 

[cdskier]

They were spinning North Ridge this afternoon and had the RFID gate up but no mention in this afternoon's snow report if it will open.

So looking at the webcam history, I see 2 people rode the lift up (and back down) together this afternoon. Looked like 1 had a clipboard with him...maybe the inspector?

 

[thetrailboss]

So looking at the webcam history, I see 2 people rode the lift up (and back down) together this afternoon. Looked like 1 had a clipboard with him...maybe the inspector?

Wow. Someone did their homework on this question!

 

[skiur]

Killington has a much better lift system than Sugarbush. Most of Killington's main lifts are newer except for superstar which is being replaced at the end of the year. If Sugarbush wants to charge the same price as the big resorts in the Northeast, they need to up their game. View attachment 63919

That's kinda misleading, the SRQ and Poma aren't from 2018, they moved to their current location then. The SRQ is from the 80s, and the poma is from the 50s. That leaves 3 lifts that are younger than 28. Add in Pico's lifts and you get really old.

 

[machski]

Killington has a much better lift system than Sugarbush. Most of Killington's main lifts are newer except for superstar which is being replaced at the end of the year. If Sugarbush wants to charge the same price as the big resorts in the Northeast, they need to up their game. View attachment 63919

Seriously dude, did you even really compare newness? Here's Sugarbush's list, pretty similar other than K has to installed 2 detach over the last 2 decades vs 1 just beyond 2 decades for SB. But K has just as many aging Detaches as SB, more if you include Pico's 2 as well.

 

[Newpylong]

Sugarbush is about the last area I would criticize as far as aging lifts. Issues sure, but in the grand scheme of things they are in really good shape (as the table above shows). The fact that literally every lift but CR and NL is a quad is also work mentioning.

Killington has their work cut out for them on replacements.

 

[vtski802]

Anyone know if GMX is fixed? There was a brief mention of it running "at reduced speed remainder of the day" in yesterday's snow report, but no updates. It's not clear from the webcams either.
The lack of communication is super frustrating. Just tell us it'll be 2 weeks (or whatever) before NR is open!

 

[slatham]

Slide Brook = Dopp.
GMX = Poma Leitner

I think the confusion is that while GMX is Poma, it was moved to NRX by Dopp, and perhaps had a major overhaul by them too.

 

[bumpcrasher]

Been at Mt Ellen for all 8 days. GMX is struggling with numerous daily mechanical failures. (Sitting thru one now!). NorthRidge has not run once. Patroller said North Linx backup diesel broke. No end in sight and no word from management.

 

[HowieT2]

Sugarbush is about the last area I would criticize as far as aging lifts. Issues sure, but in the grand scheme of things they are in really good shape (as the table above shows). The fact that literally every lift but CR and NL is a quad is also work mentioning.

Killington has their work cut out for them on replacements.

Agreed and the one lift that needs to be replaced, NRX, isnt an age issue.

 

[urungus]

Sugarbush is about the last area I would criticize as far as aging lifts. Issues sure, but in the grand scheme of things they are in really good shape

Sure our lifts are unreliable, constantly breaking down, and don’t pass inspection, but at least they aren’t that old !

 

[cdskier]

I think the confusion is that while GMX is Poma, it was moved to NRX by Dopp, and perhaps had a major overhaul by them too.

Huh? Someone said they were using parts from Slide Brook for GMX (which I agree with TB is odd since they are different manufacturers entirely). What would the old GMX being moved to NRX have to do with Slide Brook parts being used for the current GMX? I've heard of Slide Brook parts being borrowed for Super Bravo (and maybe GH) in the past, but I think the mention of both Slide Brook and GMX being Dopp lifts was just an honest mistake.

 

[machski]

Agreed and the one lift that needs to be replaced, NRX, isnt an age issue.

Actually, it is an age issue at least partially. NRX is now a very old model Poma HSQ that is still chain driven in the terminals. Unlike Dopp, the current Leitner-Poma isn't into really doing refurbs or even fully supporting it's older tech systems. Add to it LBO had Dopp move and reinstall when he overhauled SB back in the '90's, L-P probably wouldn't really touch NRX now. That is why it needs to be changed out
GMX is a modern vintage L-P detach, they should support that well.

 

[djd66]

Huh? Someone said they were using parts from Slide Brook for GMX (which I agree with TB is odd since they are different manufacturers entirely). What would the old GMX being moved to NRX have to do with Slide Brook parts being used for the current GMX? I've heard of Slide Brook parts being borrowed for Super Bravo (and maybe GH) in the past, but I think the mention of both Slide Brook and GMX being Dopp lifts was just an honest mistake.

the someone was Win. I’m not a lift mechanic but I take Win at his word, as he owned the Mtn and would know way more about this stuff than anyone on here.