The Last Weekend - Sugarloaf!

The last weekend of lift-served skiing in the east used to bring me to central Vermont in the latter days of May, but in recent years, the resort I grew up skiing has stepped up to the plate and offered the latest and best skiing in the east.

Sugarloaf may not get as much snow as some Vermont resorts, but with a high altitude and a colder winter, the snow last longer. So come this weekend, myself and a bunch of friends will pack out skis, food, and netbooks, and head for Maine’s western mountains for a rite of spring and what is hopefully a glorious conclusion to an epic season!

Spring skiing in Maine

The third weekend of April has passed and throughout most of New England most ski areas have already either closed previously or at least after today. In Maine we happen to be a little fortunate with the colder nights and thick base.

On Friday I took a day trip to Sugarloaf and enjoyed some of the best conditions of the season with wall-to-wall snow cover and good friends to share it with. Not to mention the vast rays of sunshine that just so happen to have burned my face a little. Thankfully, both Sugarloaf and Sunday River will remain open for the next couple of weeks!

The Ups and Downs of Spring Skiing!

As the spring rains fall across the northeast, ski area after ski area is closing down for the season and while the larger resorts remain open, most have scaled back their operations. Even places with tons of snow left in certain pods have limited their open terrain. It is the sad reality of spring in the mountains.

And while this may seem a little depressing – and it is – there’s still a lot of good skiing to be had across the country and right here in New England. With 91 days down, I’m still within reach of my goal of 100 days for the season. I look forward to soft corn snow and bright sunshine as I embark on the last few weeks of lift-served skiing. And yet after the lifts shut down there’s still time to head to the eastern backcountry skiing mecca on Mount Washington.

The snow is falling just about everywhere!

I suppose if you live anywhere where the temperatures typically get below freezing during the winter months, chances are you have had at least one snowstorm already this year. While the west coast, Rockies, and eastern seaboard have been hammered by storm after storm, even places like Las Vegas and New Orleans have received snowfall this winter and we’re still in the early stages.

This past week alone, some of my favorite mountains in the Sierra’s like Squaw Valley and Heavenly Mountain Resort have received totals of around 4 feet of snow. And while the amounts haven’t been as high, and normally aren’t, here in the east, Sunday River and Sugarloaf have each reached the 3 foot mark for December. What this means to skiers and riders is an abundance of early season terrain that normally doesn’t open until January or February.

Everyone has an opinion on opening day!

You can troll from one message board to another and there is a common theme aside from the annual first track stoke. It’s the annual, “guess the opening day thread,” and no matter whether you’re on EpicSki or AlpineZone it’s unavoidable. Everyone and his or her cousin has an opinion on which area will open first, why that particular area will open first, why Killington no longer opens first, and even a mention about how, from time to time, a resort from North Carolina opens first.

As skiers, we’re obsessive and trivial things like these make us happy. I mean even if I’ve never met some guy who says that my home mountain is going to open on Halloween, he can actually make me feel better. No, not because he has any credibility, but just because we share that little common belief. It’s silly, really, but it’s what keeps us going in those waning months before the bull wheels actually do start to turn and the snow guns stay on whenever possible. So check out your local ski forum and read the opening day thread!

Rating ski areas by their chili!

Although I’ve never mentioned it here before, I used to have a test that I put to every ski area I visited. Sure, the mountain’s terrain, size, and snow quality have always been and always will be hugely important to me, but when I was younger, I used to joke about how I rated mountains or resorts for their chili recipes. To most, this would sound strange, but to skiers and riders, chili is a staple food. While many larger resorts use food service chili that’s pretty generic, the best mountains for the best chili are often the mom and pop ski operations. Take for example, the Camden Snow Bowl in Camden, Maine. This 900’ vertical mountain might not offer much to entice skiers or riders aside from the fabulous views of the Atlantic Ocean, but inside their rustic a-frame lodge you’ll find real homemade chili that is a little different everyday, but always pleasing. Further up the road, Sugarloaf, used to have a fabulous chili before the days of ASC, but now it’s like the other bog mountains. So next time you decide to take a break from the larger resorts, try the chili at your local mountain; if it’s not some of the best you’ve had, I’ll be very surprised.

Parabola helps cure the summer blues!

While the temperature may still be a little warm to start thinking about snowmaking, or wearing a sweater for that matter, a good way to satisfy your skiing stoke would be watching the new ski flick from T&W Productions out of Yarmouth, Maine, Parabola. T&W specialize in getting lots of footage of eastern skiers and riders at locations all across New England while also dedicating ample portions of their films to adventures at in some of the biggest and best resorts in Utah and Wyoming. From Sunday River, Maine to Snowbird, Utah, there's no shortage of powder days accompanied by one of the best soundtracks you can imagine to get your adrenaline rushing. Check out the trailer to the film and catch some of action and beautiful footage throughout the movie.

Happenings at Sugarloaf???

More rumors are coming out of the western Maine resort of Sugarloaf. During the past couple of months there have been some odd happenings. It started with two truck loads of CWA Omega I cabins being shipped in from Big Sky Montana. While it was said that these may be used in the future, it’s hard to imagine that anyone would want to spend the money on gas to ship all those cabins to a location that is only about 40 miles from the Canadian border. Nonetheless, the cabins were dumped in some bushes and thus lending credence to the notion that Big Sky wanted them out and they had to go somewhere. That being said, some pictures surfaced recently of stakes in several spots around the resort and one in particular that is situated right outside of Bullwinkle’s. On the stake it says, “Top bull wheel,” but heck, that could mean anything, right…

The end of American Skiing Company

Almost a year after trying to dissolve itself and having sold off all but one resort, The American Skiing Company is finally laid to rest with the sale of The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah to resort developer Talisker. While the sale faced legal challenges from the owner of much of the land the Canyons rests on as well as stiff anti-trust opposition from bidder Vail Resorts, the sale agreement has been reached and the company that both changed the landscape of ski resort ownership and at the same time angered many skiers and riders, is no more. Sunday River and Sugarloaf, both in Maine were sold last June to Boyne USA of Michigan. The American Skiing Company was founded by former Sunday River owner, Leslie B. Otten, who had quickly developed several resorts in the east and a handful out west. In 2001, ASC was the largest operator of ski resorts in the United States, but when the company went public to attempt to raise capital for rising investment costs, they were struck with less than favorable weather conditions and began a long downhill slide.

Anyone see a Gondola cabin?

There have been reports of Big Sky Montana gondola cabins showing up at Sugarloaf, Maine by the truck load, but the problem is that Sugarloaf doesn't have a lift permit to install anything this year. As you can imagine, skiers and rider from the Loaf are once again crying foul as their sister resort is getting a new hybrid, but folks in Carrabassett Valley should be stoked in my opinion. I mean you don't truck 35 gondola cabins from Montana to Maine for no reason. Sure, their currently sitting in bushes, but perhaps next year they will be cruising above the West Mountain trail???

Boyne weighs their lift options for Sugarloaf

While Boyne Resorts is installing the northeast's first hybrid lift at Sunday River this summer, Sugarloaf, Maine has been told that no new lift is in the plan for the next year. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen as the rumors continue to fly and some activity has others talking. Big Sky Mountain Resort in Montana recently shipped 35 gondola cabins to Sugarloaf and the chatter perked up. Resort official indicated that their is a chance that a gondola may be installed somewhere on the mountain, but no plans are imminent and none are in the works for next season. All this comes as Sugarloaf has speculated that along with Sunday River, they too, would like a lift to access their mid-mountain restaurant and their has often been talk about a new lift or used gondola being used to access this area on West Mountain. For now it's all speculation, but sometimes it's just more fun that way...

Sunday River nabs World Cup snowboarding event!

In 2001, Jeremy Bloom and Johnny Moseley dueled on the bumps of White Heat in an F.I.S. World Cup Freestyle Mogul stop at Sunday River, Maine. While the event was a huge success and brought the spotlight to Sunday River, it's been 7 long years since a World Cup event of any sort has beckoned. Meanwhile, Sugarloaf, Maine has hosted two U.S. Alpine Championships. Sunday River has been fortunate to remain on the radar of the USSA by hosting a few snowboard Grand Prixs, but the World Cup is a whole different level and with the event straddling February and March of 2009, the names competing will be many of the same that will don their nations colors the following year in whistler for the Olympics.

Lifts come to a creaking halt...

I had been holding out hope that at least one ski area would step up and offer lift-serviced skiing this weekend, but it seems that despite plenty of cover at several areas, everyone has thrown in the towel. And yes, I've been asked why I haven't done the same... Really? Me, throw in the towel on my favorite season? Not likely, especially when I have the best fiancee in the world that doesn't want to stop either. So yeah, we'll be hoofing it this weekend!

The snows of Sugarloaf

Julie and I set out early Saturday morning for the last lift-serviced skiing of the year. With three resorts offering said service this weekend, we headed to Sunday River's sister resort, Sugarloaf. While the sky was gray and the threat of rain was constant, we met up with about 10 other Sunday River folks and enjoyed a fabulous day of soft turns with some sweet sounds being played live on the deck of the Base lodge. After checking into our room in Stratton, Julie and headed back to the mountain to The Bag, one of my favorite restaurants on the mountain. Normally it's so packed you can't see across the room, but there were only a few brave souls left.
Sunday started with lots of promise in the sky to the west. It looked as though it was lightening up after a night of fairly steady rain, but then on the second or so ride up the lift, the rain began to fall at a steady clip. The wind was ripping at the top of the quad, but the snow was awesome. Our numbers for day two were cut in half, but not the smiles. Nonetheless, after about a half-dozen runs, we threw in the towel as are clothes were soaked through. It would have been nice to have had some sun this weekend, but good friends and soft snow made it great! Next weekend with either be back at Sugarloaf if they turn a lift or at Sunday River hiking for turns.
TODAY WAS DAY 89, MY HIGHEST TOTAL EVER!!!!

Is this the last weekend??? :(

Early tomorrow morning, Julie and I will head north on our way to Sugarloaf for one last fling with lift-served skiing. With a surprise 8 inches of snow falling earlier this week and some nice mid-week temps, the Loaf is gonna go off this weekend. While both Sugarbush and Jay Peak in Vermont will both also open for the weekend, Sugarloaf hasn’t turned off their lifts thus far, making them the unofficial “King of Spring,” even after all that rain we got earlier this week. So while Sunday may mark the end of the lift-served season, there is still hope that someone will come out of left field and attempt another weekend opening. If not, we’ll just have to earn our turns.

Sugarloaf's still turning the lift...

I've been trying to avoid looking out the window this morning as the site is saddening. It's been raining for a couple of days and after a week of above normal temps, only one ski resort in the east remains open for daily operations. Sugarloaf, Maine has had to do some patchwork on the lower mountain to provide a groomed trail to the base of the SuperQuad, but has good cover on several trails fomr the top of the lift. Of course it you're looking for grooming, this is not the place... Except that until this Saturday it's the only place. While The Loaf will win the race for the last to be open continuously, Jay Peak and Sugarbush, both in Vermont, hope to open a trail or two each for the weekend. Again, as a note to any skier or rider, terrain will be un-groomed moguls and variable late season terrain for advanced skiers and riders only. If you do not fit into this category - while we still want you to be able to enjoy the sports - please wait until next season for your own safety. For all others, we'll see you out on the hill!

Who will be last? An update!

So about a week ago I discussed all the ski areas closing down as May approaches and I even posed a question to many friends regarding, which ski area will be the last to have lifts running in New England. While only a few have daily operations ongoing to date, there are several that plan to reopen this weekend and some have said they will go further. Actually, some haven't said anything while both Sugarloaf in Maine and Wildcat in New Hampshire have indicated that they will at least go for the first weekend in May. This of course bodes well for people like me, but I have to wonder if a Vermont area will make a last minute decision. With former "King of Spring Skiing," Killington, closing a couple days ago, I would say that the resort with the best skier base to make feasible attempt would be Sugarbush. Jay Peak, the region's snowfall anomaly, could probably make it with their snowpack, but the northern kingdom of Vermont is just too far for many to travel for limited operations. The guessing game goes on.

Last Resort Standing???

Okay, so we know that most ski resorts have given their expected closing dates while most have already closed. I personally think Sunday River will be too busy getting ready to build "The Viking Express" to stay open past their announced date, but it would be cool if they pulled a fast one and opened a couple weekends after the 27th. The Loaf has said May 4th, but there have been hints of later. Wildcat has said they will stay open for weekends as long as there is snow and people want to ski, but how many people? The Bush has said they will close, then said they will stay open, and it goes back and forth. If the Bust stays open they will get traffic. Mt. Snow wants to show off what their 101 fans guns did this past winter and prove that their southern location won't keep them from being the last. Finally there's Killington, home of the former "Superstar Glacier." They gave a date and then extended a week; hell they were originally supposed to close a few days ago. So let's hear what you think will happen. My vote goes to WC. I think that their exposure and elevation will hold the snow and they will open on weekends through mid-May or later, or at least I hope...

Your Mountain's Expanding... April Fools!

Okay, so I’m one of those gullible folks that falls for just about every April Fools prank in the book. Yesterday was a day where ski enthusiasts had a field day with April Fools jokes on seemingly every alpine forum. Sadly, I fell for a good number of them. Perhaps the one that made me want to slap myself the most was a “press release” on the Sunday River Community Forum that was perfect from the format to even some of the details of the announcement. As if last month’s public announcement of the new Chondola wasn’t enough, one of the moderators, who is an employee of Freeskier Magazine, posted a fake press release regarding expansion to the western flank of Jordan Mountain. Such an expansion plan was drawn up over a decade ago under the direction of Les Otten and is still a viable option for the resort. Why this worked? Sunday River announced spending upwards of $20 million through this summer of which only $14 million has been accounted for, so trail expansion along with the history of the plans made it believable, especially with the huge increase of skier visits this year. Why this shouldn’t have worked? The author noted that the 200 acre development would be serviced by a new 6-pack. That would be unrealistic with the feeder lifts all being quads. Anyway, many of us took the bait. Other fictional press releases from online forums around the area included the finalization of the Killington-Pico Interconnect with a two way high-speed quad, despite POWDR Corp indicating this was not in their immediate plans, Sugarloaf’s expansion to Burnt Mountain, which was perhaps the most believable as the mountain has indicated plans are being drawn for the expansion, and the most ludicrous being an expansion at Crotched Mountain that would not only reopen the closed side of the resort, but also link the two to now defunct Temple Mountain via a tram taken from Cannon. I’m not sure anyone bought this one, but the funniest part about it was that the article said Cannon was replacing the iconic Tram with a Chondola. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m not so sure I’d like that chairlift ride!

Sweetser finally cracks the top 10 at Nationals!

After going five years without a breakthough performance at the national level, Sam Sweetser of Cumberland, Maine - and son of Ski Maine Association Executive Director, Greg Sweetser - finally cracked the top 10 on Monday in the men's downhill at Sugarloaf, Maine. Sweetser knew going into the event that it may be his last, especially without a top result, but was happy to be least attempted it on a mountain he grew up racing and knows well. The 5th place finish is Sweeter's best career result in the downhill, which was won by T.J. Lanning, the surprise winner who also captured the combined gold.