TR: Sugarbush April 19

[dloveski]

I had my first ski experience outside of the Intermountain West---I have never skied the Northeast, so this weekend was my chance. I co-sponsored a conference in Boston, where my brother lives. Since he relocated from Utah, he has joined the Appalachian Mountain Club and conducts telemarking clinics and skis the Mad River areas as much as possible. So, he took me on a Vermont field trip (he was considering Tuckerman's---but some event up there dictated other plans to avoid the crowds.

Sugarbush. It was so warm Saturday--it felt like June. No gloves necessary----wish I'd worn my bikini:

Top of Heavens Gate:

The Castle Rock lift was steep with gnarly bumps ----but on this lift, they don't blow snow, so the coverage was pretty sketchy in places:

The glades:

My impressions:

1. It was quite busy----which, given the spring conditions, surprised me. In Utah, even with awesome conditions, by April, it's pretty empty at the resorts.

2. It was steeper than I expected (especially Castle Rock) and under the lift at Heaven's Gate. The moguls were HUGE.

3. Fellow skiers were quite friendly and many had great ski form/technique.

I rented skis---and think they were the wrong ones for the deep moguls---K2 Nancys---long planks. Great in the slushies---pretty combersome in the deep moguls.

An interesting day.........

Vermont is really beautiful. Stayed at a B and B---the 1824 House---would recommend it to anyone. Food, ambience was great.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

VERY cool pics!
Makes me appreciate the Colorado Snow right now!

I spoke to someone who has the K2 Nancys and was using them at Loveland last weekend. She SWORE they were fabulous on the crud!

Glad you had a great time!

 

[ski diva]

SO glad you had a chance to ski in the east, dloveski. It's just a shame that conditions weren't better, especially considering the fantastic season we've had. I think it was probably busy because so many places are closed, and anyone who wants to ski has a very limited options.

BTW, someone IS wearing a bikini top in the first photo (to the left, behind you). Now THAT'S amazing in New England. We don't usually get to combine skiing with warm temperatures.

Sugarbush is a great mountain, and the Mad River Valley is indeed beautiful. Come back again and we'll ski it together!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Word is out in the east that Sugarbush is holding on, which is why it's busy. Yeah, it's going fast - that's what 10 days' running of sunny and warm can do at lower elevations!! In 7 seasons in the east, I don't recall any of them having this much spring skiing. It's just fun to get out there and party, anyway. The last of the edge to edge coverage out here was on/around April 8. I expect to be dirt-dodging and puddle jumping today at Sugarloaf (one of the late closing contenders). Eastern skiers are DEFINITELY die-hards I'll bet a sizable percentage of them came up from NYC, even.

Glad you were able to experience our crazy spring skiing year!!

 

[dloveski]

VERY cool pics!

I spoke to someone who has the K2 Nancys and was using them at Loveland last weekend. She SWORE they were fabulous on the crud!

Glad you had a great time!

The K2's were actually good in the slush cruisers and mid-size bumps, because conditions were soft. Where I struggled was in the deep bumps, because a) I'm not a great deep mogul skier and b) the Nancys were long planks, making shorter turns harder for me.

It was interesting to venture out of my ski zone and spend time with my brother who will telie anywhere, anytime, any conditions.

 

[dloveski]

Sugarbush is a great mountain, and the Mad River Valley is indeed beautiful. Come back again and we'll ski it together!

I was impressed with Sugarbush and sighted Stowe and Killie off in the distance as we drove back to MA, which also looked like some fun terrain. Tree skiing back east is so different from tree skiing out west, due to the deciduous trees in the East.

Oh, and thanks to the Divas who turned me onto the Transpack. It was a great way to transport the gear on the plane.

 

[SnowHot]

I must say, as much as I love the powder skiing I've experienced in the West. I LOVE the experiences I've had in the East as well. Stowe is amazing. I haven't been to Sugarbush, but I'm thinking about it now that you've posted your TR.
What a beautiful place!

 

[dloveski]

Some of the runs in Sugarbush were pretty steep and a couple of the cruisers were way fun, reminding me of Park City or Deer Valley intermediate runs.

I am and will always be a Utah Diva---but I am all for trying new resorts---and this is another benefit for being a SKI DIVA---we have pretty good geo coverage, including the DIVAS in the Alps!!!

We could have Diva field trips all over!!!

 

[ski now work later]

I love Vermont skiing In fact, I love Vermont during any season (except maybe a bad mud season).

So glad you got a chance to ski a good mountain, despite the small amounts of snow. I have skied Stowe and Smuggler's Notch and they are great mountains.