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…
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Overview:
I’ve returned from my first foray into the mountains! My jacket now boasts a small gold (looking…) Steamboat Springs pin for successfully skiing one of the gems of Colorado. Located in the Northwest corner of the state, Steamboat is about a 3 and 1/2 hour drive from Denver over some formidable terrain - including a mountain pass which accumulated a 13 car pile-up mere hours after my passing through. Along the valley ride you can see hollow tunnels dug straight into the mountainside by a previous generation’s gold miners. It occurred to me as we climbed North, West, and up, that this is Deadwood country, a thought which was verified as we drove by the gravesite for Wild Bill Hickok.
The ski mountain at Steamboat is set up like an upside-down triangle with a cluster of lifts, shops, and a gondola built into one mass loading area. Though anyone familiar with walking even small distances in ski boots would admire the efficiency of the setup, the high volume weekend made for real pandemonium. Luckily, there is a newly built wood patio and glass gazebo (complete with bar) overlooking the chaos. With the sun out and Colorado’s lax attitudes towards marijuana (radio: “get your medical license this Sunday at the Holiday Inn!”), it makes for great people watching.
At ten and a half thousand feet high, Steamboat is one TALL mountain. And for some, I’m sure scientific, reason it also gets a ton of snow. The mountain has a diverse set of runs including a lot of gnarly alpine skiing. Renowned for its “champagne powder,” I couldn’t really tell the difference. But the snow was deep and the mountain is a real treat.
Photos:
Here’s the part you’re all waiting for! And I must mention that I am proud of myself for accomplishing this: I got the pictures from my chest mounted camera onto my computer, formatted those into a slideshow, formatted the slideshow into a video, added music, and posted the video on YouTube. At the moment, the only audio I can add is pirated music (I’ll fix that soon..). Which means that the first 4 videos are brought to you by Old Crow Medicine Show! A favorite band of mine.
Follow me after the jump…
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