Worst 10 lifts in the East?

[x10003q]

Only been to Stratton once. This is definitely a misplaced lift.

I would've loved to ski Stratton when they had the Kidderbrook Quad. There's some really fine tree skiing over that way, but it sucks you have ski that long run out and take two lifts to lap them.

They made a big mistake with the Shooting Star lift. They should have started it below Freefall or the Vertigo Glades just below Freefall. You would only have a short run down from the top of the Sunrise Express out of the Sun Bowl.

Kidderbrook was a long, cold lift that was the place to ski on crowded weekends. We always skied right on to it. I also miss that lift. Extending the Shooting Star lower to the bottom of at least Freefall would have solved skiing some of that area. Taking a run through Vertigo or Freefall sucks now becasue of the horrible runout.

 

[lmgrnjeep]

surprised no one metioned Bucksaw chair at Sugarloaf... a good 15 minute ride on a double that was built in 1969 and was the first chairlift at sugarloaf. It gets you to bullwinkles and after that your pretty much stuck... and cannot go any higher unless you go to the superquad back at the base or cross cut half the mountain and go to SPillway.... pointless lift unless they take timberline and extend it to bullwinkles... then it would be money

 

[Mapnut]

I loved the Bucksaw chair when I lived in Maine in the early 70s and Sugarloaf was my main place to ski. Must have ridden it a hundred times, skiing Lower Tote Road, Binder, Glancer and Scoot. It could get pretty respectable waiting lines on weekends in those days. The ride up was restful (compared to the T-bars) and nice for tanning in the afternoons.

 

[deadheadskier]

The Loaf should replace Bucksaw Double and Timberline Quad with a two stage Gondola. I think it would be a huge hit. Gets those who miss the Gondola a signature base to summit lift with a lower section that can still run on busy days. It would offer enclosed lift access to Bullwinkles for nighttime and summer usage. Most importantly, the lift would pull traffic away from the Superquad and Spillway chairs.

 

[ceo]

The Loaf should replace Bucksaw Double and Timberline Quad with a two stage Gondola.

On the same alignment as Bucksaw? No thanks. Sugarloaf's base area is spread out enough without making people pole a quarter mile from the base lodge to the signature lift.

 

[Smellytele]

I thought I read somewhere that there was a new plan in the works trying to get a new gondola going at the Loaf???

 

[deadheadskier]

On the same alignment as Bucksaw? No thanks. Sugarloaf's base area is spread out enough without making people pole a quarter mile from the base lodge to the signature lift.

I think they could reconfigure the skier drop off area and shuttle route such that folks could ski below the Superquad to get to Bucksaw and expand the village westward. There's a lot of unrealized potential with Sugarloaf's Village. It's great as is, but could be better with a bit of expansion at the expense of losing some prime convenient parking real estate. I'm thinking a day skier services building where the admin building is and have the Gondola take off from there. To me, it's a more viable option than running a gondola up the old Gondi Line.

 

[steamboat1]

What's wrong with the old gondi line?

It worked in the past.

 

[deadheadskier]

What's wrong with the old gondi line?

It worked in the past.

The saying goes 60% of the time, it worked every time. :lol:

Bucksaw liftline and Timberline liftline are in a better spot on the mountain to have fewer wind holds.

 

[Mapnut]

What's wrong with the old gondi line?

It worked in the past.

Not that well. It would run to the midstation on windy days, but that would get you a short expert run with a long runout, or access to the same terrain as the two lower T-bars.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

What's wrong with the old gondi line?

It worked in the past.

Not really, it was so unreliable and once it was down, it was down.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

The Loaf should replace Bucksaw Double and Timberline Quad with a two stage Gondola. I think it would be a huge hit. Gets those who miss the Gondola a signature base to summit lift with a lower section that can still run on busy days. It would offer enclosed lift access to Bullwinkles for nighttime and summer usage. Most importantly, the lift would pull traffic away from the Superquad and Spillway chairs.

I think that is one of the ideas floating around, but I doubt this would alleviate the wind issues, perhaps even make them worse. I am guess because of the profile of a gondola they really can get hammered by the wind. However I have always wondered, being that it is a gondola, is it possible to put some really heavy weight on the bottom of each gondola cabin to make it nearly wind resistant? Perhaps put lead inside the bottom framework...:wink:

 

[thetrailboss]

I think that is one of the ideas floating around, but I doubt this would alleviate the wind issues, perhaps even make them worse. I am guess because of the profile of a gondola they really can get hammered by the wind. However I have always wondered, being that it is a gondola, is it possible to put some really heavy weight on the bottom of each gondola cabin to make it nearly wind resistant? Perhaps put lead inside the bottom framework...:wink:

Good idea, but think of the amount of energy needed for the drive to move said heavy cabins up and down the mountain.

 

[Black Phantom]

Isn't any lift that is running a good lift?

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Tell that to the youngsters the first time they get to ride the Single by themselves.



The family vibe at MRG is amongst the best around. If I ever had a kid, I'd probably switch MRG to my home mountain and get the pass there.

+20

Best family vibe I've encountered.

- small town feel with everyone knowing each other
- single base area makes it hard to get lost
- cheap prices for everything make it affordable
- highly regarded kids ski school
- dedicated beginner area with its own chair and lodge
- great mix of intermediate terrain to enable learners to climb the skill ladder at the appropriate pace
- very few wahoos with NFL jackets tucking out of control, endangering everyone

If you don't think MRG is a good family mtn, you haven't been there.

 

[bvibert]

Good idea, but think of the amount of energy needed for the drive to move said heavy cabins up and down the mountain.

Actually, as long the other cabins on the down hill side had the same amount of weight added then gravity would help them pull the haul rope down the mountain, so it may not be as bad as you think. Of course the added weight would mean more weight and friction on the sheaves, so it wouldn't be a wash. I wonder what the actual affects of adding weight to all the carriers would be?

 

[Madroch]

How about a funitel at sugarloaf on the old gondi line-- aren't those lifts supposedly more stable in higher wind? Cost be damned... I actually like the t-bar ideas better.. but a funitel would be cool (although it would move more people to the goods).

 

[deadheadskier]

I have read the price tag for a Funitel running the old Gondi line would cost in the neighborhood of $20M. It would be cool as hell, but no way they'd ever get the ROI from that.

 

[The Sneak]

T bars right up gondi line and maybe one on the new peak. that's my vote :dunce:

 

[steamboat1]

What's wrong with these pictures?