I was kind of kidding. My drive is 4.5 hours and I came up to the valley for more than stuffing my face. Mountain biking, hiking, paddling, swimming. Didnt make it to the MTN though. I do prefer being in the mountains than the beach.
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The "Sugarbush Thread"
- Thread starter thetrailboss
- Start date
kbroderick
Active member
I would note that there is a parallel to backcountry skiing insofar as technical skill development is much quicker with lift service (and doubly so for those of us who don't have cyclist-level aerobic capacity).
In general, improved features on local trail systems definitely narrow the gap in overall experience, but I don't think downhill biking in a park environment is going to disappear anytime soon. I could see lift access eventually being less of a thing and people just relying on e-bikes to ascend work roads, but the combination of trail crew, trail and feature density, and lap-ability with the uphill rest period is different than riding a trail system (plus there's the presence of patrol, which is a significant benefit when there are so many big features).
I certainly don't think there is or ever will be as much market for lift-served MTB as there is for lift-served skiing in Vermont. Not only are you competing against a free option that's more similar than xc/bc skiing, but you don't have the same weather advantage over points south, and the larger ski areas in northern New England all rely heavily on proximity to larger population centers.
Hawk
Well-known member
On a regular day you would get 3 bomber runs on groomers going as fast as I could. I was a rush to go that fast with no one on the hill. Very fun unless it was like 0 degrees out or below.
On a powder day it was 2 untracked runs on whatever run you wanted off Bravo and then straight to HG for your choice of runs there. If they were on time at the HG lift opening, you got an untracked run of your choice, then your second run was usually mostly untracked as the general public are just getting there.
My timing was usually pretty good so I was on first or second chair both lifts most days. There were several years that we got 6 to 8 powder days. Not so much lately. It was totally worth it.
These comments about powder days reminds me of this gem from a few years ago. I think someone in here gets credit for making this. We all need a laugh….and ski season to start soon. Hopefully the snowmaking ponds fill up soon.
Pretty sure this was Howie's wife's work...
AdironRider
Well-known member
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To echo Newpy, there is very little money made by ski resorts in the summer. If they break even they consider it a win and it helps a little with keeping a few more key staff members fully employed and access to benefits. Now that the market for summer stuff at ski areas is getting established (as in its been around for a decade or two) it is getting harder and harder to justify as costs for lift replacements increase well above inflation. The cost benefit analysis just isn't there.
The best option from a pure profit perspective is to keep a low key food venue open but have more XC mtb trail / access.
The best option from a pure profit perspective is to keep a low key food venue open but have more XC mtb trail / access.
This sounds reasonable to me. IMHO there has to be something at the mountain that helps foster a sense of community. As I said upthread, I'd be down with having a cocktail and food while listening to someone play guitar. But it's got to be something. Otherwise people will find that sense of community elsewhere.
That is correct.
KustyTheKlown
Well-known member
that hitler scene is really the gift that keeps on giving. every subculture i am involved in has a masterful version of the hitler scene meme.
lol wow 'i really like water slides' to end that is chef's kiss!
lol wow 'i really like water slides' to end that is chef's kiss!
VTSkiBike
Active member
Not gonna lie, that video had me laughing pretty damn hard.
jimmywilson69
Well-known member
Its really very funny
ducky
Active member
This may be old news but the plan is to open Gatehouse first again. Been living here 18 years and this is the driest I've seen so hopefully, that changes and we get a wet fall.
Oy...
Newpylong
Well-known member
If something didn't work the first time, why not try it again.
Gatehouse first defies logic. It would be like Killington focusing on Rams Head first. While the infrastructure is better and the terrain caters to all ability levels, it is the hardest to make early season snow on due to elevation and once open there are still at square one on the rest of the mountain.
Gatehouse first defies logic. It would be like Killington focusing on Rams Head first. While the infrastructure is better and the terrain caters to all ability levels, it is the hardest to make early season snow on due to elevation and once open there are still at square one on the rest of the mountain.
KustyTheKlown
Well-known member
thanksgiving weekend ca$h from families who want green terrain i guess?
rivers as low as I've ever seen.
Hope:
Here’s a breakdown of what’s being forecast / expected for Northern New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, etc.) this coming winter — what seems likely, what’s uncertain, and what to watch. If you want for a specific city, I can pull that too.
What the Forecasts Say
- Farmer’s Almanac
- Predicts a cold, snow‐filled winter in New England. Boston.com
- Says there will be “frequent snowstorms,” especially along the Atlantic coast, with cold snaps in mid-January and mid-February. Boston.com
- Suggests mixing of rain & snow at times, particularly nearer the coast. Boston.com+1
- Direct Weather (via Unofficial Networks)
- Forecasts varied snowfall, with potential for heavy snow in many parts of the U.S., including parts of New England. Unofficial Networks
- But as always with these longer‐range seasonal predictions, there’s a fair bit of uncertainty. Unofficial Networks
- NOAA / National Weather Service (NWS)
- Their winter forecasts tend to be more about probabilities (e.g. temperature anomalies, precipitation anomalies) rather than exact snowfall amounts this far ahead. I didn’t find a detailed snowfall total from NWS for Northern New England yet in what I saw.
- However, the experimental probabilistic snow/fall‐amount products do show maps for lower-end vs. higher-end snowfall amounts, to give an idea of risk & uncertainty. National Weather Service+1
More from Chat:
My Rough Estimate
If I had to put a number on what I think Northern New England might see (inland/higher elevation), here’s a ballpark:- For places like the White Mountains, northern NH, northern VT, inland ME: maybe 120-160+ inches snowfall over the winter, depending on storm tracks and how cold it stays.
- For lower elevation / coastal areas: more like 60-100 inches, with more variability and rain/snow transitions.
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