2023 New England Gathering PSA & Prologue

[Lauren]

Did you ask whether she was talking about lobster or butter?

 

[KingGrump]

You just gotta move north...down to $6.99 a pound right now.

NYC area are running the same price. We also like variety in our meals.
Neither one of us is on a diet. Unless it's the see food diet. Three pounds of lobster and a stick of butter will take few days to burn off.

What I really missed are steamers. it's about $10/lb in NYC. Ouch.

 

[Lauren]

What I really missed are steamers. it's about $10/lb in NYC. Ouch.

I'd take steamers over lobster any day...not sure what they're going for up this way

::thinking about dinner tonight::

 

[Tony S]

I didn't get the Ikon base add-on to my Killington pass this year, so likely only in for Saddleback.

What was the Sugarloaf day ticket price for non-Ikon folks?

If you’ve been to Sugarloaf and don’t want to pay for a full price day ticket (or even an Ikon Buddy pass), I understand that. But if you haven’t been and you’ve now driven all the way to the Arctic Circle, it’s probably worth checking out.

I've appended the CURRENT numbers from the Sugarloaf website. They are, obviously, subject to change.

I agree strongly with SKI-3PO's comment. I understand that from the perspective of skiers whose world view is informed by living in the greater DC / PA / NJ / NY / CT megalopolis, a winter trip to Maine is a rare undertaking. If you're going to spend the time and money to come all the way up here, buy lodging, etc., saving $30 or $40 dollars on a lift ticket strikes me as a "penny wise, pound foolish" sort of thing. ESPECIALLY if you haven't been to these ski areas and therefore don't know what you are missing. If you talk to experienced northeast skiers who have been to all the major mountains in the region, you wil be hard pressed to find many who would not rank Sugarloaf in the top 5 alongside Stowe, Killington, Sugarbush, Jay, etc.

 

[Tony S]

I'd take steamers over lobster any day...not sure what they're going for up this way

::thinking about dinner tonight::

Last I looked here in town, $20 / 5lb from the local guy.

 

[cantunamunch]

View attachment 176384

If only we could find Brian Finch some buttery insulated bibs...

 

[Lauren]

If only we could find Brian Finch some buttery insulated bibs...

If he eats enough butter dogs, they won't need to be insulated...

 

[cantunamunch]

...or we can start over with a different coat

 

[James]

Wait, is it actually in Maine or is this still conjecture? I see the Maine effect has people dropping out already.

People would commit to Utah a year ahead if they could. NE? Two weeks is pushing it.

 

[Ogg]

Wait, is it actually in Maine or is this still conjecture? I see the Maine effect has people dropping out already.

People would commit to Utah a year ahead if they could. NE? Two weeks is pushing it.

I try not to plan any NE skiing more than a week out. Even at that my plans have been foiled by weather.

 

[Crank]

Wait, is it actually in Maine or is this still conjecture? I see the Maine effect has people dropping out already.

People would commit to Utah a year ahead if they could. NE? Two weeks is pushing it.

Well I dropped out but I could drop back in.

Where should one look for lodging supposing one were considering reconsidering? Nearer Loaf or Rangely?

 

[Tony S]

I haven't been to a gathering, but do you negotiate with the mountain at all? Back when Alpinezone had some leadership that cared about it, they negotiated some really good lodging and ticket rates with Sugarloaf for their "AZ summit". I think I paid $250-300 for a shared condo, 2 days of skiing, a party, and first tracks on Sunday morning.

Maybe @Tony S 's cat-herding skills are superior to mine.

They're not.

Generally, we’re more attendees than organizers. And that kind of organization often requires up front $$$ commitment that makes life difficult even for an organizer. And it doesn’t take long for the enthusiastic organizer to realize we are not well organized.

Quakers have a saying: "It's not that we have no clergy; it's that we have no laity."

Translation: All chiefs, no indians.

@Dadskier, sounds good. Here is the career path for realizing your vision:

1. Attend at least one gathering to see how things go down in practice. Observe the attitudes and behaviors people exhibit as the date approaches and then as the event happens.
2. Volunteer to serve as Gathermeister for a subsequent gathering.
3. Attempt to execute your plan.

May Ullr be with you!

 

[James]

I try not to plan any NE skiing more than a week out. Even at that my plans have been foiled by weather.

And this is why we count on 6 people maybe showing for NEG. Killington was a major exception. Clearly the answer if we want attendees.

Where should one look for lodging supposing one were considering reconsidering? Nearer Loaf or Rangely?

No idea. A yurt in the middle?
@Tony S would know.

 

[scott43]

I stayed at the Mountain Inn. Was very nice. Dunno about the pricing. Hot tub rocked...

 

[dbostedo]

I stayed at the Mountain Inn. Was very nice. Dunno about the pricing. Hot tub rocked...

Are you going to join us this year? Are we actually going to coax any Canadians out of Canada?

 

[cantunamunch]

Hot tub rocked...

DON'T do that.

I am now completely torn between the body size jokes, the Canadian tepid tub jokes, the local carpentry standards jokes, and the 'need a biocidal shower afterwards' jokes.

Oh, the pain!

 

[scott43]

Are you going to join us this year? Are we actually going to coax any Canadians out of Canada?

Well it's on the radar but there are a lot of factors for me. So the best I can say is we'll see. I enjoyed my trip there. No people and ice box cold. Love it.

 

[scott43]

DON'T do that.

I am now completely torn between the body size jokes, the Canadian tepid tub jokes, the local carpentry standards jokes, and the 'need a biocidal shower afterwards' jokes.

Oh, the pain!

Yes I've suffered through folliculitis...

 

[Tony S]

This is what happens when I start a stoke thread. James chimes in and next thing you know we're talking about skin disease.

 

[KingGrump]

ames chimes in and next thing you know we're talking about skin disease.

Just be thankful he is talking about the more cheerful things in life.
It could be worse. Much worse.