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The "Sugarbush Thread"

Lotso

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I don't think they have any guns on at all. Nothing visible on webcams, but maybe elsewhere they are using the temps to their advantage. Or hiding from GMP rate spikes...
 

Hawk

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Mad River Valley / MA
I'm not so sure...there have been quite a few posts about lifts over the years too. Maybe 1/3 snow-making, 1/3 lifts and 1/3 other? That honestly might even be high for both lifts and snow-making. The snow-making discussions die off quickly once a good portion of the mountain is open.
I think you are very accurate. Personally I just wish they would work harder on fixing the issues. Be transparent about the issues instead of blowing the company line up our ass. I think alot of the complaints would be tempered down if they at least kept people informed and fessed up to the real problems. I ski here more that most and my complaints come from disappointment because I know it could be much better.
 

cdskier

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I think you are very accurate. Personally I just wish they would work harder on fixing the issues. Be transparent about the issues instead of blowing the company line up our ass. I think alot of the complaints would be tempered down if they at least kept people informed and fessed up to the real problems. I ski here more that most and my complaints come from disappointment because I know it could be much better.

Well said Hawk and I couldn't agree more.
 

Newpylong

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Upper Valley, NH
The problem is ski areas have always been very vague in their information dissemination especially when it comes to issues. I personally always errored on the side of giving more information (so there are less rumors, guessing etc), but was frequently overridden: "people don't need to be in the weeds that much". I wholeheartedly think you need to tell people what the issue/challenges is so people don't think you're blowing smoke up their ass. Operating machinery in this kind of environment is extremely challenging, just tell it how it is and what you're doing about it.
 

cdskier

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The problem is ski areas have always been very vague in their information dissemination especially when it comes to issues. I personally always errored on the side of giving more information (so there are less rumors, guessing etc), but was frequently overridden: "people don't need to be in the weeds that much". I wholeheartedly think you need to tell people what the issue/challenges is so people don't think you're blowing smoke up their ass. Operating machinery in this kind of environment is extremely challenging, just tell it how it is and what you're doing about it.

This thread is a perfect example of how many rumors (often incorrect ones at that) can easily spread due to lack of information being shared...
 

fulgoreXC

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Nov 5, 2025
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Somewhere in the East
The problem is ski areas have always been very vague in their information dissemination especially when it comes to issues. I personally always errored on the side of giving more information (so there are less rumors, guessing etc), but was frequently overridden: "people don't need to be in the weeds that much". I wholeheartedly think you need to tell people what the issue/challenges is so people don't think you're blowing smoke up their ass. Operating machinery in this kind of environment is extremely challenging, just tell it how it is and what you're doing about it.
Been there done that! Transparency is good but the details are often misinterpreted. i.e. the LP compressor coolers. That's why frequent communication about what is happening, where and why should be included in every daily snow report.

on another matter... I stand corrected regarding Killington's snowmaking capacity. Rumor has it last night they were pushing 10kgmp with 28kcfm. Now that's moving some water. And with the temps as cold as they were last night, spicey for the crews on the mountain.
 

vtboarder

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Dec 12, 2024
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Just my 2c - been a pass holder since 2000 - SB man made snow has always been poor for the most part. Odd year now and then when it wasn't too dreadful but I just gave up bitching about it as nothing changes. Note, I'm speaking of quality, not even the related issue of quantity. But would like to say all the technical stuff in this recent thread has been interesting to read!
 

1dog

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Oct 2, 2017
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Just my 2c - been a pass holder since 2000 - SB man made snow has always been poor for the most part. Odd year now and then when it wasn't too dreadful but I just gave up bitching about it as nothing changes. Note, I'm speaking of quality, not even the related issue of quantity. But would like to say all the technical stuff in this recent thread has been interesting to read!
I recall a few years w SV and those new low E guns ( ?) that pushed out drier snow. Maybe it was a dream tho. Like MRG, they rely on that extra lake effect/upslope snow that doesn't always get reported, but as one of the ' Big 6' ( guessing K/Mart/Stowe/Okemo/Stratton/Snow) they have the lowest and poorest snow making. Yet we still come and we all know why . . . . .
 

cdskier

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And Castlerock now open for hiking...seems a touch early. I'm sure the upper parts are fine, but I'd expect the lower parts to be a bit on the thinner side.
 

kbroderick

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Dec 1, 2005
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Maine
Been there done that! Transparency is good but the details are often misinterpreted. i.e. the LP compressor coolers. That's why frequent communication about what is happening, where and why should be included in every daily snow report.

IMO, frequent and detailed communication that actually lets people "behind the curtain" so to speak is a great way to keep some of the most-engaged skiers and riders happy. A lot of people aren't going to be too interested in which part of the snowmaking system is the likely cause for an overly watered surface, but those that are can really enjoy getting into the details and geeking out a little. Those people are most likely trying to get into the details with or without official information, so sharing some of that behind-the-scenes stuff is a good way to both reduce rumors and keep those people engaged (not to mention that plenty of people on here are probably able to get distracted by those technical details and forget why they were mad in the first place).
 
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ducky

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Nov 18, 2017
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Waitsfield, VT
Directed to our resident snowmaking experts.
It occurred to me that the water supply may be low so I checked the pond and river this morning. The pond looked down a bit, maybe 2-3'. The weir was inflated and some water was being directed to the pond but the river flow is very low, as was the flow into the sluiceway. On the sluice cover was a meter showing 91.4% with a green light on #1 and a red light on #5. Anyone know what this means?
From what I've read, the whole pond is only good for 3-4 days of snowmaking. How long would it take to open GH at full capacity?
I heard that in the not too distant future the VT ANR will actually require a hgher river flow (taller sluice) and that will further limit snowmaking in dry years.

IMG_6117.jpeg
 

MrGlen

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Dec 19, 2024
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Directed to our resident snowmaking experts.
It occurred to me that the water supply may be low so I checked the pond and river this morning. The pond looked down a bit, maybe 2-3'. The weir was inflated and some water was being directed to the pond but the river flow is very low, as was the flow into the sluiceway. On the sluice cover was a meter showing 91.4% with a green light on #1 and a red light on #5. Anyone know what this means?
From what I've read, the whole pond is only good for 3-4 days of snowmaking. How long would it take to open GH at full capacity?
I heard that in the not too distant future the VT ANR will actually require a hgher river flow (taller sluice) and that will further limit snowmaking in dry years.

View attachment 66979
Please don’t worry Ducky. I’ll grab a couple of complementary waters from the reserve lounge and pour them into the pond. That should at least get Sleeper open.
 
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