Snowmaking Priorities Moving Forward

**NU88** · 12-07-2009, 07:41 PM

I read "Win's Word" today and overall I agree with the approach he is taking in regards to snowmaking. Moving forward though beginner trails need to open ASAP if Sugarbush is going to attract young families and future adult skiers. Wachusett Mountain is in our backyard and they are planning to have terrain available for all abilities by this Thursday. We were planning on going to our condo this weekend but it looks like we are going to have to wait another week or two before we can all ski at the mountain as a family. I think the Sugarbush team is doing a great job so far and I'm sure they are aware of this fact.

**Tin Woodsman** · 12-08-2009, 03:00 AM

Originally Posted by NU88

I read "Win's Word" today and overall I agree with the approach he is taking in regards to snowmaking. Moving forward though beginner trails need to open ASAP if Sugarbush is going to attract young families and future adult skiers. Wachusett Mountain is in our backyard and they are planning to have terrain available for all abilities by this Thursday. We were planning on going to our condo this weekend but it looks like we are going to have to wait another week or two before we can all ski at the mountain as a family. I think the Sugarbush team is doing a great job so far and I'm sure they are aware of this fact.

Do not look at the man behind the curtain! Everything is fine as regards snowmaking. We opened before Attitash and it's 2500' summit elevation, so everything must be OK. It's not like Okemo or Mt. Snow are top to bottom or anything... oh wait....

You're absolutely right. The team is doing the best job they can with what they've got. It's just tough when you've got one arm tied behind your back

**Birch Boy** · 12-08-2009, 11:46 AM

As someone relatively new to the forum and a new season pass holder, what, exactly, are the limitations on SB's snow making capacity. It is a bit disappointing that they are only able (or willing) to make snow on 3-4 trails at a time. I would think that they should be able to do at least double that.

**gone.skiing** · 12-08-2009, 11:49 AM

Not to sound rude, but please use search button to find threads from years past. It has been asked and answered too many times to repeat.

**Hawk** · 12-08-2009, 12:02 PM

He's right birchboy. We have discussed this way to much. It's never been a priority because Mother Nature has been so good to us.

**John Walden** · 12-08-2009, 12:58 PM

Be patient, Birch Boy. I have been skiing here for 25 years and you will love it. Nothing like it anywhere; well I do like Alta too.

**Birch Boy** · 12-08-2009, 01:03 PM

I would like to assume that things are different from years past - i.e. things are always changing (like buying new HE guns, etc), so I was looking for an update but I'll take your suggestion to "find threads find threads" from years past. Also, while MN has been good, again in years past, she's been a B so far this winter. I say we take matters into our own hands. Lets load up some spray bottles with H2O, hike up the hill and pull the spray trigger till our hands fall off, though some ppl's hands might be in better shape than others.

**skibum1321** · 12-08-2009, 03:19 PM

This is just the nature of New England winters. It's not perfect all the time, but in general the Bush tends to get much more natural than most other areas and snowmaking talks only flare up at a few key pain points (like now).

**gone.skiing** · 12-08-2009, 03:55 PM

Search for snowmaking related posts by win. You will get them all, including updates from year to year.

It is a benefit we enjoy here that you don't get at other places: having the owner comment on issues. Let's not have him repeat earlier posts.

**Tin Woodsman** · 12-08-2009, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by Birch Boy

As someone relatively new to the forum and a new season pass holder, what, exactly, are the limitations on SB's snow making capacity. It is a bit disappointing that they are only able (or willing) to make snow on 3-4 trails at a time. I would think that they should be able to do at least double that.

As other have pointed out, there's been lots of discussion of this issue in previous threads. If there are any material improvements for this year, they haven't been made public on this forum, so the same issues still exist. They've got two entirely separate systems, once each for North and South, so that's inherently inefficient right there. They've got water limitations at North and air/compressor (read: power) limitations everywhere. The system just isn't built to run wide open on 4-5 runs at a time like you see further South. As others have pointed out, it's certainly fair to make a strategic decision for less snowmaking power when you receive more snow than anyone to your South or East. Mother Nature helps out more often than not over the course of the season. The problem with that situation is that you are really hamstrung in most early seasons and whenever there's a thaw mid-season. Every year it's a race to get enough terrain open for the X-Mas holiday, when they really make their money. That is brought into relief this year as they now have just 10 days before the crowds begin to show up, and they are laboring to get a few upper mtn runs open while their key competitors to the north and south are all open top to bottom.

I'm sure there are long-term plans to address these snowmaking deficiencies, but it appears that the build-out of the LP Village is higher on the priority list. In the interim, you'll simply have to deal with modest, incremental improvements here and there and hope for snow from the big gun in the sky. If that whomper of a storm forecast for Dec 17-18 verifies, this discussion will be all academic anyway b/c everything will be buried.

**HowieT2** · 12-08-2009, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Birch Boy

I would like to assume that things are different from years past - i.e. things are always changing (like buying new HE guns, etc), so I was looking for an update but I'll take your suggestion to "find threads find threads" from years past. Also, while MN has been good, again in years past, she's been a B so far this winter. I say we take matters into our own hands. Lets load up some spray bottles with H2O, hike up the hill and pull the spray trigger till our hands fall off, though some ppl's hands might be in better shape than others.

I like the attitude. All will be well by next weekend. arctic air is a coming and just in time for me. I'm stuck in NY again this weekend.

**notorious** · 12-08-2009, 06:01 PM

[I like the attitude. All will be well by next weekend. arctic air is a coming and just in time for me. I'm stuck in NY again this weekend.[/quote]

Apparently news of the transient nature of good snow has not filtered out of sweet New England to Yankee stadium or whatever it is now called. The snow portents are good this weekend. No guarantees for next (but if it's good you get a twofer). Use it or lose it. So sorry for your scheduling conflicts.

**Strat** · 12-08-2009, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by Tin Woodsman

If that whomper of a storm forecast for Dec 17-18 verifies, this discussion will be all academic anyway b/c everything will be buried.

Links to said forecast?

**Lostone** · 12-08-2009, 07:40 PM

In answer to the original post,

Moving forward though beginner trails need to open ASAP if Sugarbush is going to attract young families and future adult skiers.

you can be assured that it is well known that green terrain is very important to the guests, and therefore high on the priority list for opening.

That is really partly MNATHO, but not without foundation.

**HowieT2** · 12-08-2009, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by notorious

[I like the attitude. All will be well by next weekend. arctic air is a coming and just in time for me. I'm stuck in NY again this weekend.

Apparently news of the transient nature of good snow has not filtered out of sweet New England to Yankee stadium or whatever it is now called. The snow portents are good this weekend. No guarantees for next (but if it's good you get a twofer). Use it or lose it. So sorry for your scheduling conflicts.[/quote]

much appreciated. I got conflicts on my conflicts but after this weekend, I should be good 'till April.