The "Sugarbush Thread"

[vtski802]

Hope they fire up Stein's and Ripcord in this nice window of consistent 24-hr dry cold..

Yeah, the minefield at the top is getting ridiculous. Saw snowmakers checking the tower guns the other day.

 

[vtski802]

Snowmaking has wrapped on FIS:

Guns are now running on Cliffs. More issues with North Ridge: https://www.newenglandskiconditions.com/viewreport.php?reportid=3726

What a somewhat not accurate and definitely dramatic report.

"They have proudly gone cashless, so I did not spend my cash there."

What an odd statement

 

[Lotso]

CD, you are correct about ME. Brambles should be the last. Today was my first day at ME, and I was impressed with the amount and the quality of the snow made there. The investments in new pipe above mid-flats, North Star and the new pumps at mid station has made a big difference. Looking up at FIS and the big whales and skiing over the snow at the bottom of FIS, I would guess in a few days it will get groomed out, be awesome that first day and then wait for natural to moguls it up Given the temps in the forecast, I would guess the focus at LP will be first on completing the GH Pod and then moving up to Ripcord and maybe more on Upper Grinder, adding to a few spots, Steins’s and then the extra spring snow for Upper Snowball and Sping Fling. But that is I guess and nothing I have heard officially. It was a great morning of skiing today. And maybe a few more inches over night.

Thanks, Win! Can you ask them to take the "1 min. ride" off of the HG icon? Pretty far off and kinda silly

 

[vtski802]

I had a good day at Lincoln Peak today but the snow was a bit hit or miss. Considering the rebound from a big mess I guess it’s in good shape. But a lot of … variability out there today. Organgrinder was straight up unfun.

Organgrinder needs another coat of snow

 

[urungus]

NRX not running yet today

 

[vtski802]

NRX not running yet today

How long till we get another blog post reminding everyone they are hiring for lift mechanics?

 

[cdskier]

So they said they put a lot of work into NRX in the off-season so it would run properly this year. Seems it has been down more than up so far...

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

Has NRX run normally for the entirely (or even the majority) of a single day this season?

 

[Lotso]

NRX not running yet today

Drive over to LP while NRX is 'delayed' and get whisked up HG in one minute!

Good news is it appears GMX is running as a detachable again, not like the Second Coming of the Mountain Chair that it has been...

 

[1dog]

Drive over to LP while NRX is 'delayed' and get whisked up HG in one minute!

Good news is it appears GMX is running as a detachable again, not like the Second Coming of the Mountain Chair that it has been...

Engineers ( 2 snow machines) appear to have left NR in last 30 mins- so apparently it's hopeless.
Uncrowded- maybe that's the message company needs.

Snow in places just great.

 

[solar]

Serious question; Aside from Castlerock and Slide Brook, which haven't opened, are Heaven's Gate (aside from some ramp concerns) Valley House Quad the only lifts NOT having problems this year?

 

[cdskier]

Serious question; Aside from Castlerock and Slide Brook, which haven't opened, are Heaven's Gate (aside from some ramp concerns) Valley House Quad the only lifts NOT having problems this year?

Not that I want to jinx it..but I don't recall any issues with Super Bravo, Gate House, and Village either at LP. At ME, I don't recall anything significant on Summit either.

 

[WinS]

Not that I want to jinx it..but I don't recall any issues with Super Bravo, Gate House, and Village either at LP. At ME, I don't recall anything significant on Summit either.

CD, I do not either. As I understand it the issue with NRX was the belt on the lower bull wheel needed to be replaced. They do wear out and need periodiic replacement The chairs were not gripping properly which is why they were loading 2 at a time yesterday for awhile and a liftie was manually guiding the chairs around the bull wheel to keep it running. But I guess the decision was made to place it on a mechanical and change the belt earlier rather than wait until after the resort closed. This is a part in inventory and it was scheduled to be finished in time to open today. Not sure what caused the delay. But I enjoyed several one minute rides up HG today.

 

[Lotso]

CD, I do not either. As I understand it the issue with NRX was the belt on the lower bull wheel needed to be replaced. They do wear out and need periodiic replacement The chairs were not gripping properly which is why they were loading 2 at a time yesterday for awhile and a liftie was manually guiding the chairs around the bull wheel to keep it running. But I guess the decision was made to place it on a mechanical and change the belt earlier rather than wait until after the resort closed. This is a part in inventory and it was scheduled to be finished in time to open today. Not sure what caused the delay. But I enjoyed several one minute rides up HG today.

Well played, Win

NRX spinning new. No load seen yet

And none at all....dead again

 

[urungus]

As I understand it the issue with NRX was the belt on the lower bull wheel needed to be replaced. They do wear out and need periodiic replacement

We aren’t that far into the season … shouldn’t this have been spotted and taken care of over the off season during the annual maintenance? Proactive rather than reactive ?

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

Hypothetically: If you could snap your fingers and tomorrow, in place of NRX, there's a new, properly running fixed grip quad. Same alignment. Would you take that?
I know it wouldn't ever actually happen but I'm curious what people think. A slow but new and reliable North Ridge lift vs the current failure prone NRX and the prospect of (god only knows when) future replacement?

 

[Lotso]

Hypothetically: If you could snap your fingers and tomorrow, in place of NRX, there's a new, properly running fixed grip quad. Would you take that?
I know it wouldn't ever actually happen but I'm curious what people think. A slow but new and reliable North Ridge lift vs the current failure prone NRX and the prospect of (god only knows when) future replacement?

Yes. Big sustained vertical with access to nearly 100% of the ME terrain. I am old enough to remember the old NR double, and it was brutally slow. (close to 12 minutes; NRX is +/- 5 if it runs). Don't know if today's FG doubles would be any faster than the old one...

 

[ducky]

Pretty good day at Mt Ellen and typical conditions for January. Having North Ridge down seems kind of nostalgic.

 

[machski]

Yes. Big sustained vertical with access to nearly 100% of the ME terrain. I am old enough to remember the old NR double, and it was brutally slow. (close to 12 minutes; NRX is +/- 5 if it runs). Don't know if today's FG doubles would be any faster than the old one...

Do any of the manufacturers even building doubles now? Smallest chairs going up I have seen brand new are Triples.

 

[urungus]

Do any of the manufacturers even building doubles now? Smallest chairs going up I have seen brand new are Triples.

At Whiteface they are replacing the Little Whiteface double with a new double.