The "Sugarbush Thread"

[1dog]

my wife's handiwork

Great work Howie! Tell her she's hired! And thx! My cru always got a laugh from that one.

 

[slatham]

New blog just now:​

Launch Plan​

In line with the last several years, we’re focusing on a similar launch plan for early season terrain. Once we see a solid window for snowmaking temps, which right now looks like it might be November 7th, we’ll start by focusing on Gate House terrain including Pushover, Slowpoke, Sugarbear Road, Lower Hot Shot, and First Time. Why Gate House terrain? As we’ve said in the past it’s for a couple reasons. First is that we like to get terrain for all skier levels open as soon as possible. This allows us to get some beginner/intermediate terrain open right away. And because that terrain is inherently less steep, it requires less snowmaking to get open. That can be pretty important with temps so variable in November these days and makes it a safer bet for getting open on time.

From there, we’ll move to making snow on the Valley House side. This will be including Snowball, Spring Fling, Valley House Traverse and Heaven’s Gate Traverse. Coinciding with that we’ll also begin snowmaking at Mt. Ellen. Focus will be up high based on temperatures including Rim Run, Elbow, and FIS (taking advantage of our brand new pumps at mid-station), before moving down the mountain. Snowmaking on Inverness will also be a priority early season, especially with a new drive and controls in that lift ready to roll for the season.

The next pod of snowmaking terrain will be upper mountain around Heaven’s Gate. Speaking of that lift, progress marches onward on the new Heaven’s Gate Quad. Doppelmayr has been hard at work getting the new quad installed. While there were a few delays related to flying conditions and concrete pouring, things are still progressing well. At this point all the towers are in, the concrete is done, the haul rope is up, snowmaking pipe has been installed, and all remaining parts have been delivered.

Next up we’ll be splicing the rope on November 7th . Then we’ll be hanging chairs, installing lift shacks, and moving the summit patrol shack back into place. The plan is to have our Acceptance Test (essentially when Doppelmayr hands over control of the lift) the week of November 18th.

Right now the safest guess for opening Heaven’s Gate terrain is likely early December. Though, there’s certainly a possibility that it ends up being a little bit earlier or a little bit later. That’s actually pretty normal in a historic context. Looking at the past five years, Heaven’s Gate opened on December 5th, December 9th, November 24th, December 11th, and November 28th. Our projections put us right within that range. Remember, even once the lift is ready, we need to make snow on that terrain to have it skiable. We should be able to start making snow up there the week following the Acceptance Test. We’ll continue to keep you updated on that front based on how the final stage of the lift project goes and subsequent snowmaking operations to get that terrain opened.

 

[Newpylong]

I think the rest of New England would love to see where they get their weather if they think good snowmaking is arriving 11/7.

 

[Lotso]

Ambitious schedule for the mechanicals. Agreed on weather forecast. Killington likely starting to be concerned for WC.

 

[slatham]

I think the rest of New England would love to see where they get their weather if they think good snowmaking is arriving 11/7.

The euro has gotten more bullish on cold for this weekend, but more 8th/9th, and brief. The euro operational and the Euro control are outright bullish for around the 14th, but that’s 10 days out with little support from other models so far. But at least something is starting to show…..

 

[bigbob]

my wife's handiwork

Killington is looking for a new snow reporter that pays big bucks with a pass to boot. She can probably do better than Howdy beast Fans.

 

[Lotso]

The euro has gotten more bullish on cold for this weekend, but more 8th/9th, and brief. The euro operational and the Euro control are outright bullish for around the 14th, but that’s 10 days out with little support from other models so far. But at least something is starting to show…..

Oy: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/610day/

 

[djd66]

my wife's handiwork

Not to hi-jack your wife’s work,… but if any of you have seen the actual movie this came from ( Downfall) it’s an incredible movie to check out. Here’s a free link if anyone is interested.

 

[HowieT2]

New blog just now:​

Launch Plan​

In line with the last several years, we’re focusing on a similar launch plan for early season terrain. Once we see a solid window for snowmaking temps, which right now looks like it might be November 7th, we’ll start by focusing on Gate House terrain including Pushover, Slowpoke, Sugarbear Road, Lower Hot Shot, and First Time. Why Gate House terrain? As we’ve said in the past it’s for a couple reasons. First is that we like to get terrain for all skier levels open as soon as possible. This allows us to get some beginner/intermediate terrain open right away. And because that terrain is inherently less steep, it requires less snowmaking to get open. That can be pretty important with temps so variable in November these days and makes it a safer bet for getting open on time.

From there, we’ll move to making snow on the Valley House side. This will be including Snowball, Spring Fling, Valley House Traverse and Heaven’s Gate Traverse. Coinciding with that we’ll also begin snowmaking at Mt. Ellen. Focus will be up high based on temperatures including Rim Run, Elbow, and FIS (taking advantage of our brand new pumps at mid-station), before moving down the mountain. Snowmaking on Inverness will also be a priority early season, especially with a new drive and controls in that lift ready to roll for the season.

The next pod of snowmaking terrain will be upper mountain around Heaven’s Gate. Speaking of that lift, progress marches onward on the new Heaven’s Gate Quad. Doppelmayr has been hard at work getting the new quad installed. While there were a few delays related to flying conditions and concrete pouring, things are still progressing well. At this point all the towers are in, the concrete is done, the haul rope is up, snowmaking pipe has been installed, and all remaining parts have been delivered.

Next up we’ll be splicing the rope on November 7th . Then we’ll be hanging chairs, installing lift shacks, and moving the summit patrol shack back into place. The plan is to have our Acceptance Test (essentially when Doppelmayr hands over control of the lift) the week of November 18th.

Right now the safest guess for opening Heaven’s Gate terrain is likely early December. Though, there’s certainly a possibility that it ends up being a little bit earlier or a little bit later. That’s actually pretty normal in a historic context. Looking at the past five years, Heaven’s Gate opened on December 5th, December 9th, November 24th, December 11th, and November 28th. Our projections put us right within that range. Remember, even once the lift is ready, we need to make snow on that terrain to have it skiable. We should be able to start making snow up there the week following the Acceptance Test. We’ll continue to keep you updated on that front based on how the final stage of the lift project goes and subsequent snowmaking operations to get that terrain opened.

Next up we’ll be splicing the rope on November 7th

I might have to come up for this. Fascinating.

 

[jimmywilson69]

so they did a lot of work since those pictures were taken if the line is on. that means the top and bottom bullwheels are in place if a splice is happening in 2 days.

good stuff.

I'll say it again. It's almost like the lift manufacturer and installation team knows what they are doing...

 

[drjeff]

so they did a lot of work since those pictures were taken if the line is on. that means the top and bottom bullwheels are in place if a splice is happening in 2 days.

good stuff.

I'll say it again. It's almost like the lift manufacturer and installation team knows what they are doing...

Yup, the reality is, that as long as all of the concrete is poured by say Oct 10th, and the rest of the components are on site, unless there's some major snafu, you're realistically going to have a lift that's ready to spin by Thanksgiving

 

[Lotso]

Next up we’ll be splicing the rope on November 7th

I might have to come up for this. Fascinating.

I helped splice a poma cable once...the guy directing us was a shaman. I had no idea how he did it, but from a big n=mess of cables we got a perfect splice.

 

[Castlerockrisk]

At Ny Maritime we were taught how to splice heavy wire. If performed properly it retains 100% of the wires breaking strength while minimally increasing diameter. Easier said than done and a true art, my splices always looked like shit. People who did it often had calloused hands that were incredibly strong. If anyone can take photos please share

 

[HowieT2]

so they did a lot of work since those pictures were taken if the line is on. that means the top and bottom bullwheels are in place if a splice is happening in 2 days.

good stuff.

I'll say it again. It's almost like the lift manufacturer and installation team knows what they are doing...

My understanding is that there only a handful of people in the countyry qualified to splice a haul line so when that is scheduled, it's imperative that the pieces are in place.

 

[Lotso]

Short splice video

From Copper Mt.