The "Sugarbush Thread"

[Shredmonkey254]

Has anyone hit the large rock slide in slide brook? I’m keen to adventure over there this weekend.

I find it worth doing at least once a year so that in the off season, when I'm driving around and looking up at it, I can easily remember the adventure that was had. Regardless of which side you enter it, you will probably be cursing. Then, be sure to plan which side you will exit it - it is a slide and all that crap is piled at the bottom - so you don't want to run the length right to the bottom. As long as you are good at reading the terrain all around you and pay attention so you don't get flatted, it is a fun adventure. It is an adventure, it ain't door #1. I have not been in Slidebrook yet this year as I have not wanted to deal with the low tide conditions down low, so no idea what you will find this weekend. Good luck and have fun if you do it.

 

[Getskied]

“Two snow reports converged in a snowy wood”

Sugarbush:
Jan. 28th, 2025 10:25 AM: Top of the morning riders and skiers! We scored another 2 inches overnight, and the snow globe is set to deliver several more inches by days end-Did somebody say free refills?

MRG:
Somebody shook the snow globe and delivered us another 2″ of snow overnight! Josh Fox’s Single Chair WX is calling for accumulating snow throughout the day today which means we’re storm skiing all day. Did somebody say, free refills?

 

[Carl_Greig]

Jan. 29th, 2025 12:18 PM "we've got over 100 features across 3 parks--Reimergasse and Straight Shot at Mt. Ellen, and for our beginners, the 4 feature park on Sugarbear Forest at Lincoln Peak."

Lol, it's snowing and the lifts are turning, let's get after it! Be safe out there everyone!

 

[VTSkiBike]

If this has already been discussed to nausea, apologies, can't search on here right now. However what's up with the backpack policy this year? I mean I get the intention, general safety, but I've been skiing with a backpack for probably 20 years and I've only gotten it caught twice, and both have been this year when I have it unstrapped and on my lap. Luckily I was able to wrench it free last second and didn't stop the lift, but it was very annoying. Hey I get it. When you see some kid roll up with a Starter jacket, white wash jeans and a Jansport school bag with all kinds of keychains hanging off it maybe tap him on the shoulder and ask him to remove it for the ride. My backpack is tight against my back, has special sleeves to put the lengths of the buckle straps that aren't being used and is always buckled. If you make me take it off completely or have the chest strap unbuckled so I can swing it around to my front then I have a loose end that can now get caught when before there was nothing to catch.

Maybe some discretion? My son was wearing his and a liftie told him to take it off and a patroller behind him in line told the liftie his backpack was fine. Thank you. Common sense prevails. At the end of it all if you get caught on the lift and can't get off as you go around at the top your skis will catch the emergency stop and stop the lift anyways. Unless of course they're worried their maintenance crews missed servicing that during the summer.........sorry. That was a bit offsides and don't want to kick that discussion back up. I can also appreciate that someone that is carrying a folding card table, 12 extra chairs, a lantern, 3 pairs of snowshoes and Ariens snowblower strapped to the outside of their pack may not fit on the chair without sliding off when they get on, so again a gentle tap on the shoulder for them.

Oh well. Been years since I've been on this forum but remembered this was the place to come if you've got a question or gripe.

There's a sign on a few lifts that asks to put backpacks on your lap.

Why not just leave your bag at the base? Unless you're regularly doing side/backcountry laps from the resort(?)

 

[mikec142]

There's a sign on a few lifts that asks to put backpacks on your lap.

Why not just leave your bag at the base? Unless you're regularly doing side/backcountry laps from the resort(?)

They've been pretty serious about the backpack thing on the new Heaven's Gate. I've seen it at Gate House too.

I'm probably an exception as I'm sticking to the on piste stuff, but I never want a backpack. If I can't fit it in my pockets, I don't want it. I usually have a bar and a small water bladder/flask in my pocket. I see people all the time with huge packs and I'm always curious what's in them.

 

[Lotso]

Jan. 29th, 2025 12:18 PM "we've got over 100 features across 3 parks--Reimergasse and Straight Shot at Mt. Ellen, and for our beginners, the 4 feature park on Sugarbear Forest at Lincoln Peak."

Lol, it's snowing and the lifts are turning, let's get after it! Be safe out there everyone!

The mind reels...it's not like it's hard to get it right...

 

[jimmywilson69]

loud blue tooth speakers playing the most awful music that is louder than my helmet speakers.

LOOK AT ME I'M A JERRY!

 

[Lotso]

They've been pretty serious about the backpack thing on the new Heaven's Gate. I've seen it at Gate House too.

I'm probably an exception as I'm sticking to the on piste stuff, but I never want a backpack. If I can't fit it in my pockets, I don't want it. I usually have a bar and a small water bladder/flask in my pocket. I see people all the time with huge packs and I'm always curious what's in them.

I recall someone being killed at Titus a few years ago when their pack got caught on the chair...eek

 

[ColdRain&Snow]

If I can't fit it in my pockets, I don't want it.

I used the old LL Bean wardens parka for a while, quite a while ago. Used to carry 4 beers, a flask, a Walkman, cassettes, extra batteries, and a pocket sandwich.

 

[drjeff]

I recall someone being killed at Titus a few years ago when their pack got caught on the chair...eek

That was actually a patroller if I recall correctly. Such a sad accident

 

[mikec142]

loud blue tooth speakers playing the most awful music that is louder than my helmet speakers.

LOOK AT ME I'M A JERRY!

Haha...I told this story a few years back. I'm on Super Bravo as a single with three young guys. They have their bluetooth speaker blaring Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf" at top volume. They start talking to me and eventually one of them asks my name...without missing a beat, I say "Simon Le Bon" and they are like, "Cool, nice to meet you Simon."

 

[VTSkiBike]

They've been pretty serious about the backpack thing on the new Heaven's Gate. I've seen it at Gate House too.

I'm probably an exception as I'm sticking to the on piste stuff, but I never want a backpack. If I can't fit it in my pockets, I don't want it. I usually have a bar and a small water bladder/flask in my pocket. I see people all the time with huge packs and I'm always curious what's in them.

I'll only have my pack so I can put my skins in there for touring.

I also wonder what these people have in their huge packs at the resort. Part of the reason you pay to ski at resort is there are warm buildings right near the lifts to keep your stuff in, so why carry it all with you? Who knows.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

i only carry a pack when i am skiing out west. i carry avy gear which is mostly a formality in case i ski terrain that requires i have it like the dive at banff. also like to be able to put my skis on my pack when hiking terrain out west. carry lunch, water, and weed. in the east no ski area is large enough to justify a pack and i dont feel the need to eat as much or hydrate as much when im not at high elevation, so my pockets ar fine

 

[mntman4bush]

Well since you ask I usually carry a full size signed cut out Steve Buscemi , some fishing waders, a spare set of skis (cut in half else they don't fit quite right) and a copy of Harry Chapin Living Room Suites on 8 Track (sealed). You know the essentials. Honestly this forum doesn't disappoint. When I joined 15 years ago I'd have gotten the same response so should have anticipated it. Glad I'm back.

I have water, snacks, hand warmers, sometime extra goggles or lenses, glove liners depending on the day and also I have kids. Not in my bag of course, but sometimes it's nice to throw something extra in for them or anyone else I might be skiing with. Back when I was younger I'd have a sandwich so I could eat on the lift and not have to go in. I don't like having a bulky jacket or things in my pockets. I can;t even imagine going down a bump line with 4 cans of beer bouncing around in my jacket. A slim design pack pulled tight doesn't bother me and I prefer it. That being said I also wonder when I see the giant packs, but to each their own.

In any case it goes beyond signage now and almost every lift and they ask you to take it off. A minor annoyance for sure. I just nod politely and say sure and sometimes do take it off if I want something in it that ride up, but mostly don't. Was just curious what spawned this new behavior and if it would kindly stop excepting for when you can see the pack will be an obvious issue. (i.e. huge pack, tons of things hanging off etc).

 

[jimmywilson69]

people wear back packs at my hill in PA. Its silly and like I said often involves loud shitty music.

 

[thetrailboss]

The mind reels...it's not like it's hard to get it right...

He’s taunting us…..

 

[shadyjay]

When I used to work the top of Bravo, I'd see people get their bag straps caught in the chair all the time. So it is a safety issue. Maybe more so on chairs with slatted backs.

 

[Lotso]

He’s taunting us…..

And plagiarizing MRG's report

 

[crank]

In my shell I carry a sandwich ( 2 if my wife isn't wearing her backpack, protein bar, nuts≥ water bottle, chapstick kleenex, my pass, glove liners, balaclava, neck buff (unless I'm wearing them) cell phone, glasses, weed, lighter, pipe. I sometimes wish I had fewer pockets because my shell gets so heavy it feels like a pack.

I can't blame the mountain it's just a safety thing. I have been hung up a bit offloading with a pack on - not a good feeling and a good way to get hurt. If you're careful and keep all your extraneous straps tucked in you should be fine, but if I'm managing a lift department I'm gonna tell my lifties nt to let people wear backpacks. When I was a liftie, more than 40 and less than 50 years ago, I was a stickler for making people take their pole wrist straps off and to look over their outside shoulder when loading. Safety first!

 

[Lotso]

I had a pack nearly take off my arm and then watched it enjoy a trip down the line to the base all alone hanging from the chair. I made the Run of Shame to get it, but thankfully was not hurt. I learned my lesson.