The Sunday River Faithful

[highpeaksdrifter]

I just like Maine and Sunday River. I like the slopeside lodging. The vibe in General is great"my kids Love it." I have many friends there know and we talk often and not just ski season. wish I could get up there more. I feel at home there.

Bob R. and others really love Sunday River. I can get with that “I feel at home there” sentiment cause I feel the same way about Whiteface.

My questions for you guys are, if Sugarloaf was the same drive time for you as SR or if Sugarloaf was even closer would you still go to SR?

Unfortunately, I’ve never been to either, but from what I’ve been told and have read I get the impression that SR doesn’t have the terrain or get the snow that Sugarloaf does. Is this true?

 

[Beetlenut]

Bob R. and others really love Sunday River. I can get with that “I feel at home there” sentiment cause I feel the same way about Whiteface.

My questions for you guys are, if Sugarloaf was the same drive time for you as SR or if Sugarloaf was even closer would you still go to SR?

Unfortunately, I’ve never been to either, but from what I’ve been told and have read I get the impression that SR doesn’t have the terrain or get the snow that Sugarloaf does. Is this true?

I'd have to say yes. SL has better terrain. But I like them both. These last two years, they both got tons of snow.

 

[Vortex]

I would ski the loaf more if it was closer. The river has a better lift system better, grooming and snow making. A litlle bit of back and forth between the loaf and the River "who is better always goes on."


The terrain is great at the Loaf. Tough question. Good question.

I can't answer it. I left Loon to drive another 1.45 hours to ski what I consider a better place. Be an easier question if the Loaf had less Wind, better lifts ,better snow making and not as cold. I think snow quality is just as important as terrain. If you asked before I set my roots, I probably would be more into the loaf. I'm happy where I am at this point.


Made me think alot.


Still need to use the correct know or now.:roll:

 

[snowmonster]

My questions for you guys are, if Sugarloaf was the same drive time for you as SR or if Sugarloaf was even closer would you still go to SR?

No. I would go to Sugarloaf. It's my favorite mountain in the East and I make it a point to hit it at least once a season. Perhaps if I lived in Portland, Sugarloaf would be my home mountain. I know there are some folks from Boston who make the trip to Sugarloaf every weekend. But, I'm usually a day-tripper and 8 to 9 hours on the road is too much.

Sunday River has its limitations -- it's short, and doesn't get as much natural snow as other places -- but it compensates for it with reliable snow-making and having a long season. The vibe/home feel entered the equation when I was deciding whether to make Sunday River or another resort my home mountain (not Sugarloaf) after the ASC demise. It's good to ski but, if you can do it and share the experience with friends, it's even better.

 

[MadPadraic]

I had a pass last year to SL and SR. First time I'd ever been to either. We are considering getting the same pass this year (with Loon included) and not doing SR at all...just Loon and SL when there is time for a longer trip.

Don't get me wrong, SR has potential...but it has the dreaded Kansas trail and lacks sniffle stations.
SR feels further than it is, and SL feels a little closer than it actually is. I suspect others will disagree on this.

 

[deadheadskier]

sniffle stations?

 

[MadPadraic]

sniffle stations?

Those all important tissue boxes in lift lines with a trash basket a few feet downline of the tissue box. Their lack of them had Wee Thomas calling SR "The Ghetto Mountain" last year.

SL also has far superior on mountain dining.

 

[deadheadskier]

got it, thought this might have been some new 4:20 lingo I had never heard of :lol:

 

[snoseek]

I think I like Sunday River better in the early season and mid-winter and Sugarloaf better from March on. Both places have a vibe that cannot be matched anywhere else, over the years I spent a lot of time at the river and lived in town for a couple years so I personally got to know it better. I love just showing up and bumping into friends. The snow at the river is also some of the most consistent on the east coast.

Screw it I think I like Saddleback the most

 

[bigbog]

......

I "discovered" skiing at the "higher-than-Wachusett" altitude at Sunday River..later in life than most who had families that made a jouney now & then, but I grew up with a loving relationship with wilderness a LONNNNGGGGG time ago, and after you spend some time in the beautiful areas of this continent, being faithful to processes that think "pristine" and "woodland environment" are simply obstacles between them and more profit..is rather difficult...but that's just me.. SR is a haul 4me, but maybe something other than using rte. #2 would do the trick. It's always fun to ski another group of mtns.
I think the River could put a little more thought to work on a few of its mtns, thus making more trails operable..that often sit closed till tons of snow arrive...and even then...there's no ideas for public use, only employees/patrol...

 

[AndyEich]

I think SL is a better mountain. Great steeps, character, and it's massive. The only negatives that really have to do with skiing are the mediocre lift system and wind holds. SR has its strengths, but I don't think you'll find many people here who'll say it's better than SL.

But when you ask which area is best, I (like most people, probably) overemphasize ski area "brawn." When I decided to buy a place, I had to be a lot more practical--who has the most reliable conditions? long season? family friendly? stuff to do in summer? nice town? where would I rather bring a friend who can't ski black diamonds yet? Yes, the drive was a factor, but so were others' skiing and non-skiing preferences, and it was a lot more about how it would hold up on the not-so-great days, rather than the best day of the season.

Quick story: a couple friends came up this past winter. They drank too much upon arrival and didn't meet me on the slopes till around noon. I met them at the top of the lift and they both said how much they liked SR (not just to be polite--my friends are not all that polite). I pointed out that they hadn't even taken a run yet, so what how could they say it's nice? We all grew up in PA, but I go skiing with them in Utah every year so they are already used to big areas--it wasn't that.

On the next lift ride we broke it down--examples were the lady who showed them where to park by dancing, the guy in front of the Barker ticket window who made fun of them for showing up late and looking hung over, orderly lift lines, and not seeing anything or anyone who was too fru-fru along the way.

With the pass including SR and SL for "free," you don't really have to choose between them. I think the question why a large number of people choose ME rather than VT when they're ~equidistant.
________
DEPAKOTE HELP

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

got it, thought this might have been some new 4:20 lingo I had never heard of :lol:

 

[Terry]

I think I would still pick SR because the conditions are more consistent. When Sugarloaf is good it is awesome but when the weather turns either windy, or you have NCP, they don't recover anywhere near as quickly. Also whenit is busy you can always find an out of the way lift that doesn't have long lines. Basically at Sugarloaf if you want to ski the top, you only have 2 choices of lifts and they can get very crowded.

 

[Vortex]

My point is kind of dislayed here.. I have seen snowmonster, Terry and andy this summer. (Thaller1 on vacation with no internet or she would habe piped in.) Other regulars from the Sr side" Sr community folk" of Steveski,Darkhorse, Monkey brook " He post here some" Skiis left and rigth, Maineskier69 "AZ poster" Voklboarder and ski Lab. rightcoastrider. Medmarkco. List goes on. Point is the area brings us together. granted more in ski season, but freindlship continue year round. Missed a party Tofer had as well as a couple others. Summer is busy. opps add Jerry G and the leovel jewels as well.


I agree we have been working to get more trash casn and some tissues. I think they put holders in at Barker, but I could be wrong.

back to the loaf of The River. I don't think I would ever own at the Loaf. Too cold alot of the year and wind. Too far to drive for me. When I go I love it. Late season its great, Plus the ride home is partly in day light.

The river just has something. More intangables hard to explain.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

The river just has something. More intangables hard to explain.

You're doing good explaining, but you can't quite bring it all to the service. You just feel it inside, I get that. Keep diggin and tell us more.

I like where this thread is going.

 

[Vortex]

The snow is good when it may be questionable at other locals. # 1 reason.

They make snow when ever they can. Grooming is fantastic. They open early they close late. Even on a wind hold days there is stuff to do. The kids can access the park with out a lift if they need to.

The shuttel service allows the teens a littlle freedom with still a contolled border. We offer suggestons on the commuinity board and if they can do it, they will.

I asked for shuttle info to be posted in the condo's and lodges giving better info for guest about the shuttle. I never got an answer the next weekend I was up, They were posted every where.

Small stuff that happens every day. Andy hit it ,the Sr crew. They are great.. I can go to 6 rest and not drive. I can get a shuttle ride into bethel. Different service free of change. When the time changed they stayed open later on sat.

Kids programs. My son loves the seasonal program. He wants to learn to be an instructor and they have a program for that. Vacation weeks and weekends always something for kids fireworks, arts and crafts movies, tubing, soon night turns. Live childrens entertainment. Face painting scavenger hunts.

They set up, not us asking , meet and greets with management. Bought us breakfast opened the lift early for us.

back to work.

 

[deadheadskier]

One thing that surprised me the most about Sunday River was the 'vibe' there. In moving to Maine a few years back and having SR become my home mountain, I was fully expecting it to be basically like Okemo in terms of terrain (though a bit more challenging) and clientele. I was dead wrong.

 

[Vortex]

Your balls will be busted. Don't you worry. Folk already are aware of you. All you have to do is show up and you will be a welcome addition.

 

[snoseek]

I'm going to mention that the town of Bethel is a pretty cool town. I like it because it's a normal town that would exist perfectly fine without the ski area, unlike the usual fake Swiss village with overpriced restaurants, bars and entirely too much retail. When I lived in Bethel I could walk to several different restaurants and bars that were completely unpretensious.

 

[Vortex]

I know and expecting that to happen that is why I will just leave them at home .. I will be known as the "OldslowboarderME" I am sure .. :lol:

1st day we will make your welcomed. We'll take you across Kansas to Lower down draft. cut you over on exit right to ridge run eventually. you'll love it. 2nd run will be down rockingchair to Road runner. You'll be ready for the Season then.:idea: