2024-2025 Ski season Thread

[bch2014]

Does anyone in this thread have any Chamonix experience? I'll be skiing there on 1/31 and 2/1 and have a question regarding terrain selection for a guided day.

Pending snow conditions and weather, my friend and I are planning on spending 1/31 skiing at Les Grands Montets, as we hear that it has the best lift-served/on-piste skiing in the valley. If the weather is poor, we can audible to Brevent or Les Houches. 

For our second day, we want to do a day of guided skiing to get off-piste. The most famous run is the Vallee Blanche, but it seems that it's less about the skiing and more about the scenery and the "experience" (i.e. the stop for lunch halfway down the valley, etc.). Quite frankly, I spend a lot of time of time in France for work, so I'm more interested in the highest quality ski experience possible rather than the dining/culture aspects as I already get plenty of that.

If you've done the Vallee Blanche, would you say I'm being stupid and that we should just do it, or can you recommend other guided zones that might be more worthwhile?

[bwt3650]

anyone know why Castlerock at sugarbush is still hike only?  Would think there would be enough snow up there.  Was thinking of heading there next week for my once a season sugarbush stop, but I usually like to wait until Castlerock and Slide brook are going.  I know Slide brook needs depth for the lift evac, but I would have thought there would be enough natural for both by now.

[powderfreak]

23 minutes ago, bwt3650 said:

anyone know why Castlerock at sugarbush is still hike only?  Would think there would be enough snow up there.  Was thinking of heading there next week for my once a season sugarbush stop, but I usually like to wait until Castlerock and Slide brook are going.  I know Slide brook needs depth for the lift evac, but I would have thought there would be enough natural for both by now.

I thought I saw Slidebrook wasn't going to run this season.  If Castlerock isn't open this weekend for MLK with all the recent snowfall, then it's probably not opening this season would be my guess.

[MRVexpat]

52 minutes ago, bwt3650 said:

anyone know why Castlerock at sugarbush is still hike only?  Would think there would be enough snow up there.  Was thinking of heading there next week for my once a season sugarbush stop, but I usually like to wait until Castlerock and Slide brook are going.  I know Slide brook needs depth for the lift evac, but I would have thought there would be enough natural for both by now.

Huge staffing issues in lift maintenance and general lift issues are pushing slidebrook to the end of the priority queue unfortunately. There was a blog post on their website about it somewhat recently. Re: Castlerock, they usually keep it hike-to for a bit to preserve the conditions early season since those are super boney and narrow trails that get scraped down pretty quick. I agree though, there is definitely more than enough snow now to open it for MLK so if that doesn't happen, you'd have to think there is another maintenance issue we don't know about. Personally I hope they keep it hike-to only. It's a quick fun trek and the snow stays soooo nice even on busy weekends. 

[bwt3650]

I thought I saw Slidebrook wasn't going to run this season.  If Castlerock isn't open this weekend for MLK with all the recent snowfall, then it's probably not opening this season would be my guess.

I should have dug more before asking. There’s a blog buried in their website talking about it. Sounds like staffing and lift mechanic issues, with the goal to open both. That mountain really just seems to constantly be fighting battles. Hope they catch a break soon. I’m sure there’s much more to the story and behind the scenes alterra stuff.


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[radarman]

3 hours ago, MRVexpat said:

Huge staffing issues in lift maintenance and general lift issues are pushing slidebrook to the end of the priority queue unfortunately. There was a blog post on their website about it somewhat recently. Re: Castlerock, they usually keep it hike-to for a bit to preserve the conditions early season since those are super boney and narrow trails that get scraped down pretty quick. I agree though, there is definitely more than enough snow now to open it for MLK so if that doesn't happen, you'd have to think there is another maintenance issue we don't know about. Personally I hope they keep it hike-to only. It's a quick fun trek and the snow stays soooo nice even on busy weekends. 

I've been a longtime SB skier, but you just gotta shake your head these days.  Even the Magic ops crew is like "what a sh*tshow up there" .  It's an effing disgrace how they treat Ellen too.  But yet I do go back for more. 

All that said, I do agree that the hike to Castlerock is fine and that line gets so long on busy days anyway it's probably faster to just go over from HG

[mob1]

3 hours ago, radarman said:

I've been a longtime SB skier, but you just gotta shake your head these days.  Even the Magic ops crew is like "what a sh*tshow up there" .  It's an effing disgrace how they treat Ellen too.  But yet I do go back for more. 

All that said, I do agree that the hike to Castlerock is fine and that line gets so long on busy days anyway it's probably faster to just go over from HG

I ski Sugarbush at least 3-4 every year (It's quite the trek from NYC but well worth it) and always found that as a no frills resort (for the most part) they tended to open terrain with limited snow coverage and it added to a sense of adventure.  

 

It hasn't been the case in recent years so I wonder if it's a safety thing required by Alterra. 

[radarman]

1 hour ago, mob1 said:

I ski Sugarbush at least 3-4 every year (It's quite the trek from NYC but well worth it) and always found that as a no frills resort (for the most part) they tended to open terrain with limited snow coverage and it added to a sense of adventure.  

 

It hasn't been the case in recent years so I wonder if it's a safety thing required by Alterra. 

It's not really that as far as I can tell.  They just have had a really hard time with lifts and staffing.  And the planning has been awful.  Last year was a prime example.  They shutdown HG and Castlerock before the late season 3 foot dump to prep for the new lift and said they had planned that for a year. Ok fine.  But then they didn't keep Ellen open and said they couldn't just ask their staff to stay a few extra weeks... when they just told you they knew a year in advance that there would be no upper mountain anywhere!

They basically never run Inverness.  North Ridge was down on some of the biggest weekends of the year.  GMX was down this year for a bit over Christmas.  They don't let you skin Ellen even as snow rots on the hill.  It's just super hateable how they operate since Alterra took over.

But the terrain is very good to great, so there's that.  If they'd sell off Glen Ellen to a benevolent wealthy family, I'd frickin love it.

[mreaves]

17 minutes ago, radarman said:

It's not really that as far as I can tell.  They just have had a really hard time with lifts and staffing.  And the planning has been awful.  Last year was a prime example.  They shutdown HG and Castlerock before the late season 3 foot dump to prep for the new lift and said they had planned that for a year. Ok fine.  But then they didn't keep Ellen open and said they couldn't just ask their staff to stay a few extra weeks... when they just told you they knew a year in advance that there would be no upper mountain anywhere!

They basically never run Inverness.  North Ridge was down on some of the biggest weekends of the year.  GMX was down this year for a bit over Christmas.  They don't let you skin Ellen even as snow rots on the hill.  It's just super hateable how they operate since Alterra took over.

But the terrain is very good to great, so there's that.  If they'd sell off Glen Ellen to a benevolent wealthy family, I'd frickin love it.

I’ll put it on my list for when I win Powerball or MegaMillions. 

[GCWarrior]

Sugarbush is so awesome but I will say their lift fleet is aging.  I know they have the new heavens gate and valley house is newer but their HSQs date back to ASC.  That’s a long time ago at this point. 
I wonder if Alterra is a little bogged down with the legal problems associated with the abasin purchase.  

[Hitman]

I think the castlerock lift will be running by the weekend.  They are short staffed on lift maintenance which has led to innumerable problems including lifts not ready to go when the season started.  But they were making snow on the entrance to the lift yesterday so I'm guessing it just needs to be inspected at this point.  Can confirm there was sufficient snow to run the lift before the additional foot this week.

Also Altera sent staff from out west to assist.

I don't think the lift issues are related to the age of the fleet.  The HSQ's are getting long in the tooth but that's not the problem. The one lift that needs to be replaced is the northridge HSQ which has been a problem since it was moved to its current location.  Apparently it has unique design of some kind of chain (I'm no mechanic) that was only on 2 other HSQs both of which are retired.  Over the years theyve put money and effort into overhauling it but it doesnt run reliably.  It's a lemon and was supposed to be replaced this summer along with Heavens gate but that got nixed and apparently isnt happening this summer either.

The Slidebrook lift is a  different story.  It isn't so much the lift that's a  problem, its that they are disinclined to run it, especially when they are short on lift mechanics.  Its a long discussion, but suffice to say, a lift that runs sideways over woods presents a whole host of challenges compared to normal lifts that run up and over ski trails.

Fwiw-best early season I can remember in many years.

[powderfreak]

1 hour ago, Hitman said:

The Slidebrook lift is a  different story.  It isn't so much the lift that's a  problem, its that they are disinclined to run it, especially when they are short on lift mechanics.  Its a long discussion, but suffice to say, a lift that runs sideways over woods presents a whole host of challenges compared to normal lifts that run up and over ski trails.

From an operational standpoint, I'd want no part of that lift either.  I bet they wish it wasn't even there to be honest.  A shuttle bus breaks down, another one picks up the riders.  That thing breaks down, you're talking a 6-8 hour evac process.  With no other infrastructure around.

Even something as simple as a mechanical stop from a broken tower circuit, like a CPS (cable positioning system) fault... something most lifts have happen with some frequency... looks like it would be an ordeal.  Any other place it happens, a lift mechanic just snowmobiles to the tower, visibly looks up to see the cable is still where its supposed to be, and then radios clear and the lift starts up.  Happens fairly regularly to be honest... might be a 5 minute stop for most lifts.  On Slide Brook that lift mechanic is on a journey to get to some of those towers to do something as simple as visually clear a routine fault.  Nahh, I'm all set with that from an operations standpoint.

[mreaves]

13 minutes ago, powderfreak said:

From an operational standpoint, I'd want no part of that lift either.  I bet they wish it wasn't even there to be honest.  A shuttle bus breaks down, another one picks up the riders.  That thing breaks down, you're talking a 6-8 hour evac process.  With no other infrastructure around.

Even something as simple as a mechanical stop from a broken tower circuit, like a CPS (cable positioning system) fault... something most lifts have happen with some frequency... looks like it would be an ordeal.  Any other place it happens, a lift mechanic just snowmobiles to the tower, visibly looks up to see the cable is still where its supposed to be, and then radios clear and the lift starts up.  Happens fairly regularly to be honest... might be a 5 minute stop for most lifts.  On Slide Brook that lift mechanic is on a journey to get to some of those towers to do something as simple as visually clear a routine fault.  Nahh, I'm all set with that from an operations standpoint.

I'm not a skier so I'm not all that familiar with the terrain you guys talk about so I took a look at the SB trail map.  That lift does cross some isolated terrain that would cause problems if there is a breakdown.  It leads me to wonder whether there was the possibility of similar issues would be a problem if they had ever gone through with the connecting lift between you guys and Smuggs.

[powderfreak]

Just now, mreaves said:

I'm not a skier so I'm not all that familiar with the terrain you guys talk about so I took a look at the SB trail map.  That lift does cross some isolated terrain that would cause problems if there is a breakdown.  It leads me to wonder whether there was the possibility of similar issues would be a problem if they had ever gone through with the connecting lift between you guys and Smuggs.

Honestly the connection between Stowe and Smuggs would’ve been cake compared to Slide Brook.  You could walk it in like 10-15 minutes.  I can ride to the top of Spruce and walk to Smuggs in no time.  Slide Brook is like an isolated valley between the terminals.

[SJonesWX]

11 minutes ago, powderfreak said:

Honestly the connection between Stowe and Smuggs would’ve been cake compared to Slide Brook.  You could walk it in like 10-15 minutes.  I can ride to the top of Spruce and walk to Smuggs in no time.  Slide Brook is like an isolated valley between the terminals.

i went to Smuggs a couple times back in the late 80's. i could have sworn you could ski over to the Stowe side and catch the Stowe lift back up, but my memory could be cloudy from tons of bong hits in those days. Some epic college trips. it was like $250 per person for 5 nights (shared condo) and 4 lift tix

[radarman]

Agree on Slide Brook.  Was a dumb waste of money to begin with.  Unnecessary as well.  Rode it twice, once over, once back, just to say I did it.   Wonder if they could use that to replace North Ridge?

[Hitman]

I think from a marketing perspective the slide brook lift has some significant value.  For actual skiing, it’s of little use.  That being said, in the deal with the forest service to install the lift, they agreed not to put trails/lifts in slide brook and that has preserved it as a great sidecountry tree skiing area.

pf-in addition to the operational challenges you mentioned, the lift traverses some valleys so there are spots where the chairs are really high off the ground making any evacuation a nightmare.  It’s also 2 miles long.  Some years ago they stopped running the lift if temps are below 5f, now 10f.  Many complain about that, but imho, that is wise.  I’ve been stuck up there in the cold and while it was only 10 minutes or so, it felt like eternity.  If there is a problem on an extremely cold day it would be a dangerous situation.