If you could get one change done to the Sugarbush web site, what would it be?

I would like to see, on the trail report, instead of a simple checkmark for "Groomed", the date of last grooming. As someone who primarily skis weekends and holidays, I don't check the ski report every day. Knowledge of last grooming would be very useful when deciding where to ski with family and friends. Many of our best trails can be a completely different experience when recently groomed.

Would anyone else like this?

Nick Danger wrote:

If you could get one change done to the Sugarbush web site, what would it be? I would like to see, on the trail report, instead of a simple checkmark for "Groomed", the date of last grooming. As someone who primarily skis weekends and holidays, I don't check the ski report every day. Knowledge of last grooming would be very useful when deciding where to ski with family and friends. Many of our best trails can be a completely different experience when recently groomed. Would anyone else like this?

I agree. I would also like to see a webcam pic @ different elevations. That would be nice.

I am happy to see that the snow report is time stamped, but would also like to see the trail report time stamped as well. I know there are many of us with short windows of opportunity to ski mid week and to know that the trail / lift ops are up to date would save that occasional wasted trip.

I would like to see a section with testimonials from skiers about the great day they had at the Bush. Maybe one per day. For example....


Wendy from New Jersey,
"I love ripping the sick
terrain they have here"

The checked trails are what is groomed the night before. Is you are looking at tomorrow's report (Monday) the trails that are checked as groomed will have bee groomed sometime between 4pm on Sunday and opening on Monday. Conditions and the amount of terrain to be groomed often determine the exaact timing of what is groomed. Generally the groomers start up high and work their way to the base.

walknet2 wrote:

and to know that the trail / lift ops are up to date would save that occasional wasted trip.

I believe you can check the interactive trail map for lift status. It has been said, in the past that it is updated immediately. I did check on Friday afternoon, and at first it said it was running (I knew the wind hold had been lifted before I left.) and later it said it was on windhold.

As to when it went on windhold and when the update was made to the site, I don't know. I also don't know how soon the opening/closing of a trail would be reflected on the interactive map or regular list, I don't know.

I'd be happy to hear confirmation/refutation of this.

As someone who ran tests for a living, I can say it is always good practice to have a time stamp on all data. It almost never costs anything and answers questions before they are brought up.

Hi Win,

Yes, I understand what the checks mean on the trail report. I'm looking for additional information that goes back more than one day. When I wake up Saturday morning and check the trail report, it would be great if I could see that Middle Earth, for example, was groomed Thursday night, not just what was groomed last night. This would be especially useful for trails that are infrequently groomed.

Thanks for listening.

win wrote:

The checked trails are what is groomed the night before. Is you are looking at tomorrow's report (Monday) the trails that are checked as groomed will have bee groomed sometime between 4pm on Sunday and opening on Monday. Conditions and the amount of terrain to be groomed often determine the exaact timing of what is groomed. Generally the groomers start up high and work their way to the base.

Nick Danger wrote:

Hi Win, Yes, I understand what the checks mean on the trail report. I'm looking for additional information that goes back more than one day. When I wake up Saturday morning and check the trail report, it would be great if I could see that Middle Earth, for example, was groomed Thursday night, not just what was groomed last night. This would be especially useful for trails that are infrequently groomed. Thanks for listening.

Nick, first of all, welcome to SkiMRV. Thanks for contributing to this evolving community.

Second, I'm as a big a stickler as you'll find for improvements to the snow/trail report on the website, but even in the example you gave, I can't imagine that would add much value.

Middle Earth is going to be bumped up pretty much by the afternoon after it is groomed, no? At latest the following day, depending on how busy it is mid-week. I'm not sure how you would be able to tell the difference between Middle Earth groomed Thursday night vs. the previous Monday.

As for suggested improvements of mine, I'll keep beating the drum:

1) More frequent updates during snow events.

2) Time stamps on all reports and updates

3) Better snow reporting that gives a range/figure for both the upper mountain and lower mountain (or even add mid too if available)

4) At least one web cam each at the base of LP and ME

5) More communication as to what the Ops team is doing now and planning in the week or two ahead. The post from Win on how SB is planning to go top to bottom is exactly what I'm talking about.

Bring back the Mountain Cam!

Quote:

Nick, first of all, welcome to SkiMRV. Thanks for contributing to this evolving community. Second, I'm as a big a stickler as you'll find for improvements to the snow/trail report on the website, but even in the example you gave, I can't imagine that would add much value. Middle Earth is going to be bumped up pretty much by the afternoon after it is groomed, no? At latest the following day, depending on how busy it is mid-week. I'm not sure how you would be able to tell the difference between Middle Earth groomed Thursday night vs. the previous Monday.

Let me add my welcome to the forum. Are you the same Nick Danger that had the Yahoo group? If so, double welcome.

Now, Tin, I can see his point. No. If Middle Earth has been groomed on Tuesday, and there is no snow, since, it is likely to be a slide for life. Those trails really don't hold snow when groomed.

If it has been groomed on Tuesday, and there has been a big snowstorm, since, it is likely to be one of the best runs you will ever get, with soft, fresh bumps. I would advise staying away from it, in that case.

Even moreso for the blues. The difference between Snowball groomed the night before and groomed two days ago can be immense! That said, it would be a royal pain to keep up with it. Fairly easy in concept, by just entering the date of the last groom. But it is one more thing to have people complain about being incorrect.

But you can do the same thing. If you are coming up on the weekend, start taking notes from the daily reports. Too much work? Well, that might be what the mountain might say, too.

I like the idea of having a 3-5 day backward review of the snow report. I suspect a good web master could archive at least one snow report per day. I do love the pictures of the day. Very helpful.

Treeskier wrote:

I like the idea of having a 3-5 day backward review of the snow report. I suspect a good web master could archive at least one snow report per day. I do love the pictures of the day. Very helpful.

Not a bad idea. But the average person is looking for immediate satisfaction....I don't thin they are looking beyond 3 days. They want to know what is going on today and how much it dumped/didn't dump. A lot can happen weatherwise in 24hrs. Please correct me if I am wrong

Treeskier wrote:

I like the idea of having a 3-5 day backward review of the snow report. I suspect a good web master could archive at least one snow report per day. I do love the pictures of the day. Very helpful.

Like this?

http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-mountain/conditions/index.php

First time poster here- The daily trail/snow report can be printed out correct? For the hardcore few that want to analyze the progressions of grooming, snowmaking, etc . . . Why not print the page out every day? Then you'll have a hardcopy you can mark up and pick your runs!

I check the trail report daily, and can generally remember the details on my favorite spots.

Welcome Tomthumb!