skibum1321 wrote:

kcyanks1 wrote: skibum1321 wrote: I have on main problem with the Mt. Ellen pass. When I ski at North, I like to go into Slidebrook. The problem is that when you come out, the shuttle always takes you to South. There isn't really anywhere to wait for a shuttle to take you back to North. If I took the shuttle back to South and then waited and went back to North again, there goes 45 minutes of my day. If I'm paying for a lift ticket, that's unacceptable. Is it too secret to ask where you could enter Slidebrook from North? I've heard it's possible but never done it. Perhaps by the top of Lower FIS? I took the tour (from South at the top of Morningstar) a couple years ago, and then last season went in a couple of times with friends from the same place the tour went. We stuck to the beaten path (some tracks, marked trees), because I didn't want to get stuck at the bottom not being able to cross the river, or come out somewhere away from where the shuttle stops or anything. If you go in at North, is there also a way to get down to ensure you won't get lost? I'd rather not talk about it on the boards for the world to see and the way I go in is usually kind of hard to find. I'll be going to the Bush on a couple of Fridays this year. If you could make it up either of those days I would be more than happy to show you the light.

Thanks, I understand. Not sure yet whether I'll make it up on a Friday this year, but if it seems like I will I'll PM you and see if it's one of the times when you'll be there.

Strat wrote:

Just pointing out there is a handy thing called a private messages on this forum... Just thought I'd mention that.

True, thanks...if skibum1321 is willing to do that, I'll of course apprecaite any input, but I understand that "show but not tell" view.

Strat wrote:

Just pointing out there is a handy thing called a private messages on this forum... Just thought I'd mention that.

I would just prefer to show people where stuff is. I realize there are PMs also though.

kcyanks1 wrote:

skibum1321 wrote: I have on main problem with the Mt. Ellen pass. When I ski at North, I like to go into Slidebrook. The problem is that when you come out, the shuttle always takes you to South. There isn't really anywhere to wait for a shuttle to take you back to North. If I took the shuttle back to South and then waited and went back to North again, there goes 45 minutes of my day. If I'm paying for a lift ticket, that's unacceptable. Is it too secret to ask where you could enter Slidebrook from North? I've heard it's possible but never done it. Perhaps by the top of Lower FIS? I took the tour (from South at the top of Morningstar) a couple years ago, and then last season went in a couple of times with friends from the same place the tour went. We stuck to the beaten path (some tracks, marked trees), because I didn't want to get stuck at the bottom not being able to cross the river, or come out somewhere away from where the shuttle stops or anything. If you go in at North, is there also a way to get down to ensure you won't get lost?

there are places to go in and make it to the bottom, but it's a lot more difficult to find than at South. I think Powder Mag from earlier this year had a few words to say about it. I'm sure the SB ski patrol is thrilled with the idea of inexperienced folks trying to find the right worm hole based on those few paragraphs. Slide Brook is big and pretty darn steep in its upper reaches. I wouldn't recommend venturing into anything unmarked unless you are with a group of at least three, preferably with one who has experience skiing into it.

kcyanks1 wrote:

skibum1321 wrote: I have on main problem with the Mt. Ellen pass. When I ski at North, I like to go into Slidebrook. The problem is that when you come out, the shuttle always takes you to South. There isn't really anywhere to wait for a shuttle to take you back to North. If I took the shuttle back to South and then waited and went back to North again, there goes 45 minutes of my day. If I'm paying for a lift ticket, that's unacceptable. Is it too secret to ask where you could enter Slidebrook from North? I've heard it's possible but never done it. Perhaps by the top of Lower FIS? I took the tour (from South at the top of Morningstar) a couple years ago, and then last season went in a couple of times with friends from the same place the tour went. We stuck to the beaten path (some tracks, marked trees), because I didn't want to get stuck at the bottom not being able to cross the river, or come out somewhere away from where the shuttle stops or anything. If you go in at North, is there also a way to get down to ensure you won't get lost?

Wasting 45min while taking shuttles? You could probably walk it in that amount of time or less. That is the price you pay for skiing off-piste. I have never liked the shuttle idea at slidebrook. If Sugarbush wants to charge people for tours and have a private shuttle to take those who paid for the tour that is fine with me. Whatever happened to earning your turns? Please don't take this the wrong way....I am not trying to be negative. I have been skiing that area pre-slidebrook express.

And yes is too secret to ask about stashes. Let someone show you like skibum1321 said. Most people find these spots by exploring themselves or with someone who knows.

skibum1321 wrote:

I have on main problem with the Mt. Ellen pass. When I ski at North, I like to go into Slidebrook. The problem is that when you come out, the shuttle always takes you to South. There isn't really anywhere to wait for a shuttle to take you back to North.

There is a northbound shuttle stop across the street and about 200 yards further north on German flats from where you come out from skiing.

castlerock wrote:

skibum1321 wrote: I have on main problem with the Mt. Ellen pass. When I ski at North, I like to go into Slidebrook. The problem is that when you come out, the shuttle always takes you to South. There isn't really anywhere to wait for a shuttle to take you back to North. There is a northbound shuttle stop across the street and about 200 yards further north on German flats from where you come out from skiing.

I had seen people across the street before but it didn't look like much of a bus stop so I figured they were just hoping it'd pick them up.

[quote="kcyanks1"]

skibum1321 wrote:

I have on main problem with the Mt. Ellen pass. When I ski at North, I like to go into Slidebrook. The problem is that when you come out, the shuttle always takes you to South. There isn't really anywhere to wait for a shuttle to take you back to North. If I took the shuttle back to South and then waited and went back to North again, there goes 45 minutes of my day. If I'm paying for a lift ticket, that's unacceptable.

I worked at the Bush 1997-2001 then again last winter. I could be wrong but I don't remember a diference in an all-mountain day tocket weekend price vs all mountain mid week.

Regarding shuttle and the Slidebrook trailhead, of course, as you implied, there are shuttles heading both directions. When go into Slidebrook, your on your own as far as transportation. The trail head on German Flats Rd(assume that's where your talking about) has the parking on the southbound lane so if you stood on the other side the road the northbound shuttle MIGHT pick you up. It's a dangerous place to stop. Getting you from there back to the lifts is not Sugarbush's responsibility or part of the service for what you are paying for when you buy a lift ticket.

ski_resort_observer wrote:

skibum1321 wrote: I have on main problem with the Mt. Ellen pass. When I ski at North, I like to go into Slidebrook. The problem is that when you come out, the shuttle always takes you to South. There isn't really anywhere to wait for a shuttle to take you back to North. If I took the shuttle back to South and then waited and went back to North again, there goes 45 minutes of my day. If I'm paying for a lift ticket, that's unacceptable. I worked at the Bush 1997-2001 then again last winter. I could be wrong but I don't remember a diference in an all-mountain day tocket weekend price vs all mountain mid week. Regarding shuttle and the Slidebrook trailhead, of course, as you implied, there are shuttles heading both directions. When go into Slidebrook, your on your own as far as transportation. The trail head on German Flats Rd(assume that's where your talking about) has the parking on the southbound lane so if you stood on the other side the road the northbound shuttle MIGHT pick you up. It's a dangerous place to stop. Getting you from there back to the lifts is not Sugarbush's responsibility or part of the service for what you are paying for when you buy a lift ticket.

I realize that Sugarbush has no responsibility for getting me back to the mountain. I was just stating the reason why I would not want to buy a North only ticket.

Tin Woodsman wrote:

kcyanks1 wrote: skibum1321 wrote: I have on main problem with the Mt. Ellen pass. When I ski at North, I like to go into Slidebrook. The problem is that when you come out, the shuttle always takes you to South. There isn't really anywhere to wait for a shuttle to take you back to North. If I took the shuttle back to South and then waited and went back to North again, there goes 45 minutes of my day. If I'm paying for a lift ticket, that's unacceptable. Is it too secret to ask where you could enter Slidebrook from North? I've heard it's possible but never done it. Perhaps by the top of Lower FIS? I took the tour (from South at the top of Morningstar) a couple years ago, and then last season went in a couple of times with friends from the same place the tour went. We stuck to the beaten path (some tracks, marked trees), because I didn't want to get stuck at the bottom not being able to cross the river, or come out somewhere away from where the shuttle stops or anything. If you go in at North, is there also a way to get down to ensure you won't get lost? there are places to go in and make it to the bottom, but it's a lot more difficult to find than at South. I think Powder Mag from earlier this year had a few words to say about it. I'm sure the SB ski patrol is thrilled with the idea of inexperienced folks trying to find the right worm hole based on those few paragraphs. Slide Brook is big and pretty darn steep in its upper reaches. I wouldn't recommend venturing into anything unmarked unless you are with a group of at least three, preferably with one who has experience skiing into it.

I heard PowderMag mentioned that going from North is better, which is why I thought that there was a possibility the route was well known enough for message board posting -- e.g., telling someone that you go from the top of Morningstar at South is no news, since the tour does that. I would never go in there without a group of 3, especially not knowing where I'm going, and also would want to be with someone who's done it. I didn't go in to Slidebrook from South until I had taken the tour, and even then when I went back I was not only in a group of 4 or 5, but with another person who had also done the tour.

[Edit: By "Morningstar" I meant North Lynx; I think it might be the second time I confused the lift with the trail under it.]

The way I go in is definitely not a well-known one. However, there may be other routes that are better known.