The "Sugarbush Thread"

[Plowboy]

Former Blue Stone is now the Mad Moose Bar & Grill.
https://www.madmoosebarandgrill.com/

Former Collaborative Brewing is now the Joy Bar and Restaurant
https://joybarandrestaurant.com/

Both opening soon.

 

[doublediamond]

Jay hasn't had 100. That's marketing BS

 

[HowieT2]

No excuses- with this much natural snow fall- they should be T 2B. While not figured into official numbers-the difference in snowfall is minimal-and doesn't reflect upslope or lake effect benefits to ( North especially):

Based on historical data from sources like NOAA and resort reports, here's a comparison of average annual snowfall for the two Vermont ski resorts (note that these are approximate long-term averages and can vary by season due to weather patterns):

- **Stowe Mountain Resort**: Around 314 inches (about 26 feet) per year.
- **Sugarbush Resort**: Around 262 inches (about 22 feet) per year.

This means Stowe typically sees about 52 inches more snowfall annually than Sugarbush. Stowe's higher elevation and northern location in the Green Mountains contribute to this edge, though microclimates and individual storms can lead to yearly fluctuations. For the most current or detailed stats, checking official resort snow reports or sites like OnTheSnow is recommended.

How much snow has there been at LP? You seem to know.
All I know is that as of monday the Mansfield stake was at 38" which is fantastic. I'd be very surprised if there was 3 feet of settled snow at LP or even 2 feet.
I don't think you can take 30 year average snowfalls to deduce and declare that since Stowe has 38" Sugarbush has gotten 82% of that. It doesnt work like that.

 

[HowieT2]

Communication, lack thereof, is all on local management and it starts at the top with Hammond. I'm sure the marketing dept would love to be hyping things up but he has decided that it is best to operate in secrecy and keep everyone in suspense. Yes it would be nice for Alterra to send some capital Bush's way but not too many years ago they were able to open on average with all the other resorts (excluding Killington, SR).

Another thing to be concerned about it the MRV is still in severe to extreme drought status- they say the river is up a bit but not enough to substantially draw from the river and there is little to no groundwater to help refill the pond.

Actually, as of last weeks drought monitor, MRV is in D1 Moderate Drought

 

[HowieT2]

Jay hasn't had 100. That's marketing BS

Vibe snow reporting. They've gotten a great amount of snow, no doubt and I hope they enjoy it, good for them, but it's nowhere near 100 inches

 

[thetrailboss]

Just posted by Stowe: Opening day this Friday is going to be one for the books. We plan to have over 50 trails open, totaling 20+ miles and 225 acres of terrain!

"My only reply is, 'you're welcome!' Stay EPIC my friends!"

 

[ducky]

One wcax news report I read re Jay Peak said, "They've had over 4 feet of snow, that's 82 inches!" I guess 82" is over 4', slightly. Last report I heard was they have had 96" ytd, presumably at the summit.

 

[thetrailboss]

One wcax news report I read re Jay Peak said, "They've had over 4 feet of snow, that's 82 inches!" I guess 82" is over 4', slightly. Last report I heard was they have had 96" ytd, presumably at the summit.

Wow. I love WCAX, but boy it is a shadow of its former self.

 

[1dog]

Duckys

How much snow has there been at LP? You seem to know.
All I know is that as of monday the Mansfield stake was at 38" which is fantastic. I'd be very surprised if there was 3 feet of settled snow at LP or even 2 feet.
I don't think you can take 30 year average snowfalls to deduce and declare that since Stowe has 38" Sugarbush has gotten 82% of that. It doesnt work like that.

Ducky's wife said possibly 3' at summit of MRG - lot less at base. That would appear to imply we have close to 2+' at summit- tho the point is there seems to be little effort to have T2B skiing with much more help than previous years from the sky this early. But hey, ski Stowe- I'm headed to Jay - season on ( for now).

 

[1dog]

Actually, as of last weeks drought monitor, MRV is in D1 Moderate Drought

dunno where that report comes from- average for year so far: https://www.raindrop.farm/rainfall-totals/zipcode/05673#map

 

[Zand]

 

[1dog]

One wcax news report I read re Jay Peak said, "They've had over 4 feet of snow, that's 82 inches!" I guess 82" is over 4', slightly. Last report I heard was they have had 96" ytd, presumably at the summit.

this one close to 100" : https://snowbrains.com/east-coast-s...nt-want-to-suspend-uphill-access-but-we-will/


must be true- its on the internet: https://www.powder.com/ski-resorts/biggest-early-season-stretches-jay-peak

Who really cares? Just go and find out- as the saying goes ' if you don't go, you won't know.'

 

[GopherControl]

If I recall the first year they opened Gatehouse first, their plan was to open both Gatehouse and Valley House. This was to attempt to offer beginner terrain as well as the WROD on Snowball Spring Fling. They weren't unable to pull off both and only opened with just a WROD on Gatehouse. Nobody liked it and now Gatehouse first remains the ops plan because reasons. It never works and it's hard to understand why they keep sticking to this plan of catering to low elevation snowmaking, in marginal temps, for beginners who aren't going to have a good time on a WROD in the first place.

Letting the webcams run all summer then turning them off right before the season starts, in the places one would expect to see them making snow is not a mistake. They want to keep you guessing, which would be fine if they over deliver in the end, but they don't.

 

[jonnyco14]

Former Blue Stone is now the Mad Moose Bar & Grill.
https://www.madmoosebarandgrill.com/

Former Collaborative Brewing is now the Joy Bar and Restaurant
https://joybarandrestaurant.com/

Both opening soon.

Thanks for sharing. Happy to see a few new places opening!

I am excited to get the season started and hopeful we have something similar to Jay or Stowe this weekend at Sugarbush. Looks like Jester and organgrinder are fully blown and they are finishing up the bottom. I do wish their was more communication but there has been some investment...They just put in Heaven's Gate last year for $10m which is part of the reason they couldn't blow up high last year.

 

[Lotso]

It's Wednesday afternoon. Snow report says/said: "We're still working through our opening terrain options and will have a definitive update for you by Wednesday afternoon."

Hmmmm. Maybe they mean by Wednesday after afternoon...

 

[tumbler]

11:59 pm

 

[vtski802]

I did see what said. I was just pointing out that the difference is huge to the general community.
BTW I totally advocate for less skier visits. You like crowds? I don't.

I don't like crowds either, but if skier visits drop off, so does investment in the mountain. It's a vicious cycle.

 

[vtski802]

11:59 pm

 

[Julius]

Good communication from the top starts with the basics down low.

 

[fulgoreXC]

Yeah. Where's the update? The "afternoon" is waning.

Looking at the conditions reports for season total natural snowfall. SB has 22", 50" for Stowe and 93" for Jay. Let that inform your decisions for the weekend. If I didn't have SB pass, I'd be up at Jay. But alas, the snow gods don't like Bush.

Regarding snowmaking investment since Alterra purchased from Win here's just a sampling:
over 100,000 feet of new pipe
6 new pumps, including a new mid mountain pump station
new compressor increasing capacity by 50%
new weir and intake system
dozens of new snow guns

Admittedly most of that was at Ellen, which goes to the argument to open there first. All told those improvements rang in at over $10M. So to say Alterra hasn't made any investments... well that's simply untrue. Now what they do with that? There's something to complain about.