Sugarloaf, ME
Unlike Sugarbush or Sunday River which sport many peaks; Sugarloaf is one, single, massive hunk of mountain. Both very large and very tall by New England standards, Sugarloaf has the breadth to provide varied terrain for all experience levels. I was particularly enamored that you could lift to the top of the mountain (4,200 feet high) and just as easily take green circles or black diamonds all the way to the base - and its a long ride! This is ideal for groups of skiers with varied skill, age, or hangover.
Media
I’ll give you what you came for early. Here is my latest movie, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. I think this video captures what I enjoy most about skiing: I love the action - the thrill of downhill skiing is absolutely addicting. Pushing yourself and pushing the mountain, doing something dangerous with confidence, and remembering your self-reliance. I love getting outdoors - the size and scale, the engagement of my senses, and the feeling of being within nature, not just an observer of it. I enjoy a drink afterward - skiing can be punishing and a hard fight should be followed by a good drink. Its just the way it should be.
Sugarloaf Movie featuring Rob D’s Clubbed to Death
More after the jump…
The Loaf has a more traditional cut to its trails. The difficult terrain comes in 3 familiar flavors: Extremely Steep (they actually attach the grooming Cats to a winch and lower themselves down to groom the face), Narrow Twisting with Moguls, and the ever popular Wide Half Groomed Half Mogul (where the trail is split roughly down the middle with moguls on one flank and the rest groomed). The easier trails are wide, open, and well supported by snowmaking.
The Loaf’s Slopeside Condos and Watering Holes
The good news is that Sugarloaf has the greatest ski bar in the NorthEast: The Widowmaker! The Widowmaker is probably the best ski bar I’ve been to. Live music, cute waitstaff, massive central bar, billiards, that old school ice hockey version of Foosball in a plastic dome!; and most of all the Vegas Baby! The Vegas Baby is a shot designed by The Widowmaker staff consisting of Crown Royal, Malibu, and Peach Schnapps - each in massive portions - dropped into a glass of RedBull. I was at the Loaf for 2 nights and 3 days, probably had 12 Vegas Babies. My only regret is that I couldn’t handle more.
Sugarloaf has exceptionally strong fundamentals: A massive, steep, mountain compatible with all skill levels; A great bar scene which excels; And a Northern location which catches plenty of snow.
Its failures lie in the auxilaries: their “slopeside condos” are actually ‘really far away.’ There is no infrastructure. The resort map they gave us was a joke. To get to the proverbial slope of “slopeside” (because its not actually on the mountain, but rather built just to get to the condos), you have to walk through property marked “private access.” Oh, and the chairlift working this monstrosity closes at 3:30pm so you’re screwed for later half of the day.
I’m not kidding. The condo was 300 yards from a man-made slope which will get you to a chairlift which will lift you to the baselodge - in the morning only. Otherwise, you’re walking the entire 600 yards to dinner, or The Widowmaker!, and back. Even if you can bear the cold, stagger upright, hold your footing, and press on through myriad minor difficulties and juvenile adventures; you’d still have to cross a bridge, negotiate a maze of identical condos, walk through private property, and find your condominium (emphasis added - because I did find a condo which looked a lot like my condo). And we had one of the close condos! There is a shuttle: it runs every half hour and has no discernible route or stations - one morning we just found it idling nearby.
I know. I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “This guys an idiot. This guy just didn’t do his homework. Its probably all there, he just didn’t find it.” Or, “yea, everythings tough when you’re bombed.” False. False, and I’ll tell you why: even discounting that I might have an intellect and I ski often; I was traveling with Michael “Lenny” Leonard. Lenny once made it unassisted to my mother’s front door in Harwich Port, Cape Cod from Boston without crossing a bridge and only using public transportation. He is a master of infrastructure. We were both thwarted. (how’d he do it? next post I’ll reveal his secrets!)
In short, Sugarloaf is one of the greatest skiing mountains North of Boston and a must visit for those who enjoy the nightlife. However, its far away and inconveniences its condo renters. Go here, but bring your moxie and keep troop morale high!
Forward Calendar: Feb 4-6 Stowe, VT. Feb 11-13 Killington, VT
So if you’re like me and want Warren Miller’s body frozen for posterity…
Stay tuned!
You forgot to mention all that flat light that Sugarloaf gets after the sun gets behind that massive hunk of a mountain!