Killington vs Sugarloaf

[boston_e]

Thought I'd throw this one in the mix since there was some good discussion in the Killington vs Sunday River Thread.

Thoughts?

Killington has much better nightlife and is closer. Overall they definitely have more lift capacity, but that is offset by lack of crowds at Sugarloaf.

All in all I think they have a lot of comparable terrain, but I might give Sugarloaf the edge in that they don't have as many crossovers and intersections.

[Geoff]

On a good day, Sugarloaf blows away Killington in all aspects. I've taken a very hard look at the place as an alternative to Killington.

From an every-weekend with a vacation home point of view:

The good:
* Tons of ski-in/ski-out housing at a reasonable price point with very low property taxes
* A large mountain with sustained vertical
* Adequate natural snow... 220". Far enough north that thaws are less frequent
* Lengthy spring skiing
* A season pass that works at Sunday River when Sugarloaf has problems (early season, wind, recovery after a thaw)
* A very relaxed vibe. Too far for the worst of the Boston a-holes to drive. The metro-NY market is invisible

The bad:
* One big peak with nothing else around. Huge wind hold and wind scouring problems. Expect a number of weekends where you don't ski very much.
* Freakin' cold in January
* Limited snowmaking. When it's bad, it's very bad. The same issue Sugarbush has but with somewhat less natural snow.
* Nothing nearby. The grocery store is a major expedition.
* The lift layout sucks. On bluebird days, you'd really like a lift from mid-mountain where the steep part ends all the way to the top.
* Limited apres-ski.

[Big Bob]

Boyne has started rejuvenating the mountain with increased/more efficient snow making in order to make the place more profitable. Bullwinkles underwent another expansion and is very busy, could be bigger yet. May see some movement soon on a possible gondola or other lift/ lodge over in the west mnt area. Small store on 27 at base of access road, another 20 minutes away in Kingfield. Farmington, about 40 minutes away has everything, similar or more than west Leb and about the same distance. Windholds are still a problem. Everything above Rt 27 is private property so no DUI checks. Aprea ski seems to take place in the condos, houses, or the Rake!

[Gutts]

Can't disagree with anything Geoff said, pretty much sums it up.

I would say the windholds during late December and January are a huge minus...........also the holds that follow major storms....nothing worse than not being able to catch the freshies when 2/3rds of the lifts are down.........not Sugarloafs fault, but just a fact of life.

I think they need a cog railway to take people to the top... :)

[k dude]

Sugarloaf is the worst!!

[Gutts]

Sugarloaf is the worst!!

Hmm and why is that?

[Geoff]

Sugarloaf is the worst!!

Hmm and why is that?

I'll bet this was a response to Sugarloaf pulling the season pass of some chronic internet complainer who flamed them for their quote about skiing conditions in the story about that Stratton Mountain School girl who died on Spillway free skiing during a speed traing week.

[skifaster]

I like sugarloaf, but prefer Killington.
More snow at K, seals the deal for me.

[JerseyGuy]

Sugarloaf is the worst!!

Hmm and why is that?

I'll bet this was a response to Sugarloaf pulling the season pass of some chronic internet complainer who flamed them for their quote about skiing conditions in the story about that Stratton Mountain School girl who died on Spillway free skiing during a speed traing week.

Maybe... or it's a logical response from the same person who brought us the following:

SR sucks and is over rated......the only good trails they are always having GD races on....all the time!!
having a Chondola doesnt make a grea mountain..........like Stratton.............great lifts ...mediocre terrain

Okemo absolutely Sucks!! mediocre mountain!! crowded !! expensive !! sardine can in all lodges!! poor parking and traffic control!! Funnell effect at bottom of Mt! It absolutely sucks if every respect!! Killington Rules!!

the skiing at Killington is great.......tons of snow, MOST diverse terrain anywhere. you will never get bored compared to Okemo & Stratton. itz the best!!

In all fairness, he IS named "k dude".

[skiingsnow]

I notice Sugarloaf's website says their season length runs Mid November to Late April.



No May skiing this year?

[Geoff]

I notice Sugarloaf's website says their season length runs Mid November to Late April.
No May skiing this year?

This has been covered ad-nausium for the last year. Sugarbush, Jay Peak, and Sugarloaf ran into May because it was the right thing to do for their customers. Killington gave us the middle finger.

[thebigo]

I notice Sugarloaf's website says their season length runs Mid November to Late April.



No May skiing this year?

It said the same thing last year, they stayed open because snow conditions warranted.

Under promise and over deliver? Manage in accordance with operations rather than pre-season budget?

Sugarloaf is the best mountain in the east. The negatives are drive time, wind hold and you can get some days where it is miserable to ski. Although the effects of wind holds have been mitigated in recent years as they have been known to use the cat to ferry people to the upper mountain t-bar on days after dumps when the wind howls.

I disagree with distance to a grocery store being a negative. The grocery store at the end of the access road is comparable to grocer on the k access road and the store just north of kingfield is ample.

I also disgaree with apres as a negative. The rack is on par with anything at killington, the bag is similar to the outback and the shipyard offers a change of pace.

The real area where sugarloaf separates itself is those perfect spring days in kingpine or the snowfields; the almost non-existant thaw cycles and endless tree options.

Also the quality of skier/snowboarder and limited uphill capacity combine to yield an experience differentiated from the rest of new england.

Other positives are loon and sunday river on the same pass. Loon generally sucks but is a decent mid week powder spot and sunday river has offered halloween skiing two years in a row and offers destination on those days when the loaf is unbearable.

[Gutts]

http://www.sugarloaf.com/TheMountain/Da ... index.html

First four pics = Point Sugarloaf

[RENO]

I'd love to hit Sugarloaf, but on a great weather day it would take every minute of daylight and then some to get there from central NJ! It would definitely have to be a whole week trip...

[rogman]

The loaf is a great mountain with a lot of good terrain. Damn, it's cold though! I think Boyne removed all the thermometers from the tops of the lifts this year. Couldn't find any when I was there in January. Although the Apres is limited, the bars are all good. The Bag, Rack, Widowmaker, and Sugarloaf Inn are all terrific place to down a beer. What is nice is that most of the lodging is down below them, so you can do your apres thing, then ski home in the dark to your residence. It is a place that skis big, but midweek in Jan feels small enough that you feel like you know everyone on the mountain. Great trees, and the mid-mountain lodge is a great place to go on chilly day. Unfortunately, most of the exposure is the same, so when it howls, there are few places to hide, but they are very good about firing up a cat when that happens.

In a related note, Boyne's old man, Kircher, was an interesting dude. A resourceful engineer, and the Preston Smith of the Midwest. Don't casually dismiss him. The son seems like a decent sort. They've made some PR mis-steps, but have tried to do the right thing overall. SR and Sugarloaf locals are very happy with Boyne.