Unofficial Sugar Bowl

Winter’s arrival brought us a storm.  Of actual snow this time!

I woke up Friday to a couple inches of new snow and motivated to make it to Sugar early.  I hadn’t been since Monday, which was sunny and nice but not the best snow conditions.

Given the modest crowds last weekend, I expected the day to be busier, but it was surprisingly empty.  The storm conditions must heave kept everyone away.  Morning wasn’t the deepest powder day ever, but a couple inches were amazing to lap on the groomed after so much questionable weather.

Afternoon brought more interesting possibilities.  Patrol didn’t open anything new (and even closed off Steilhang by moving Lincoln’s closed line lower), but the snow piled up and made for enjoyable lines and free refills all over.  I hadn’t been on Judah chair all season and had many fresh laps there in the last couple hours of the day.

Like other “slightly restricted” passholders, your humble editor is blacked out until next year.  Sugar usually gives us up to and including Christmas day, but this year they were a grinch and thought the weekend more important than their loyal passholders.  Bah humbug!

I’ll see if any of my contributors with unrestricted passes can write about things for the rest of 2016.  Until then I’ll still write the occasional article about things other than current mountain conditions, and look forward to seeing you all on the mountain on Monday the 2nd. 😉

– John S

Wow.  It has not an easy December for this snow addict.  The 2-3 feet we were promised fell as mostly rain, with some snow at the end.

After I got over the disappointment, I admit, Friday was a fun day.  Even though it was heartbreaking to see how much of the base washed away, there was some fresh snow to push around and hardly anyone else there to doing it.  Free refills at 3 o’clock?  I’ll take it.

Snow guns were going from Judah to Disney.  I’m guessing Sugar Bowl is pushing to get Judah open for the holidays.

Disney opens back up Saturday!  See you in the cave…

– J Snow

Raining again now…. but predictions are still on track for a switch over to snow later today and some significant accumulation by Friday morning.  Doing my snow dance!

It sure has been a tough early-season.  The last few storms have been pretty disappointing, so I am hesitant to get my hopes up too much.

Waiting anxiously for Friday morning…

Disney is closed, just Lincoln running (and Nob, Christmas, Gondola).  I didn’t make it out today, but I hear the post-rain conditions described as “questionable”.  Sugar bowl’s own site even says “a bit rough”.

Let’s hope the incoming precipitation is colder and makes for better times!

It sure has been quite the early season ride!

Your good editor finally made it out to Sugar for some turns first thing in December.  Trails were skied again like the old friends they area, and favorite chill spots were visited and inaugurated for the season.  Steilhang, Disney cave, Hari-Kari, the Tippy Top, the eponymous Sugar Bowl and the Office too!  No Sisters for me yet – saw folks picking their way down but I’ll be waiting for a little more coverage personally.

Everyone was stoked for the precipitation arriving this week, but alas… just a little too warm, and it has been almost entirely rain.

Lincoln and Disney have been open (plus Nob and Christmas Tree).  Village only / gondola access most days of the season so far.  J side was open the first weekend in December, but with the rain this weekend, Sugar was closed entirely on Saturday and then just the Village today.

At least on the bright side, there’s more precipitation arriving.  If temps stay cold this time, that could erase all those frowns quickly!

– John S

Oh my. only 18 inches of fresh. what an opening weekend. Looks like more tonight, guess its back to the Bowl in the a.m. Hope they load Dis!

Only the best first day ever!? 3rd chair with the fam and Sugarbowl provided free cookies in line! 1st run down Vanderbilt was awesome!

Opening day is this Friday, November 25th!

Lincoln, Nob and Christmas Tree will be spinning.  Not too shabby!  Lincoln laps sound like a great way to start the season.

Unfortunately, this poor guy won’t be in town for the occasion.  Looking into some help — if you’re going to be at Sugar Bowl opening weekend and you want to contribute a guest post, get in touch!

Everybody have fun on Hard Drinkin’ Lincoln for me!!

– J Snow

My pass arrived!

It sure has been a whirlwind of a summer.   Then, just like that, temperatures have gotten chilly, the mountain tops received a dusting, my pass arrived, and town is abuzz with talk of winter.

Over at OpenSnow, they’re projecting a November 18th, 2016 opening date, the weekend before Thanksgiving.  Last year Sugar opened on November 21st, 2015, the same weekend before Thanksgiving, on the heels of two decent storms.  It has been raining cats and dogs this weekend, but too warm for any accumulation, and no sign of anything else on the horizon so far…

Think snow!

– John S