Back on track with some random gathering thoughts. I am looking forward to attending, hopefully with a crew in tow.
Random thoughts:
1. March 25 strikes me as an ideal weekend to pick for the NEG, April skiing can be great or terrible, March seems safer bet for weather and snowpack. Its all a roll of mother natures dice, however
2. Sugarloaf has tons of lodging in condo's. The Alpine Zone used to get killer weekend deals for their gathering. Like $170 for 2 nights and lift tickets in a slopeside condo. I would sign up and pay in advance for that. Not sure what #'s it took for that deal.
3. If you stay slopeside at Sugarloaf, do you want to drive approximately an hour to Saddleback? Maybe shorter drive, not sure. I would do it for a day, but the Loaf has Bracket Basin which is snow cat and lift served back country terrain. I have skied it several times and it is fabulous. No snowmaking, so Mother nature needs to cooperate. Bring your skinning gear for sure and we can organize a backcountry group.
4. If not lodging at Sugarloaf, I would pick someplace inbetween to stay, and split maybe 4 days of skiing. You will not be bored in 3-4 days, I promise you.
5. Sugarloaf is on the IKON, Saddleback is on the Indie pass. Sunday River is on the Ikon.
6. Sunday River is arguably the biggest ski area in ME. Its about 1 3/4 hours drive from Saddleback. I do day trips infrequently from SR to Saddleback for some variety. Do we included SR in the gathering?? I will leave that to Tony to rule on. Its further south, so on the way there or home, so first or last day skiing there could be a consideration.
7. Lastly, there are two other ski area's close to Sunday River, Mt Abram and Black Mtn of ME. With good natural snow both have excellent tree skiing. I am not suggesting they be gathering Mtn's, but if someone is doing extended days, they are worth a day ski. I think I paid $55 for a Saturday day ticket at Mt. Abram last year and hit a powder day. Untracked snow all day long, it does not get skied out quickly.
I personally am planning on using Tony's info to get a multiday pass at Saddleback. I had the Indie last year, but just Ikon this year. There are always good deals to be had for Maine ski areas if you look. AKA Marker's find.
Random thoughts:
1. March 25 strikes me as an ideal weekend to pick for the NEG, April skiing can be great or terrible, March seems safer bet for weather and snowpack. Its all a roll of mother natures dice, however
2. Sugarloaf has tons of lodging in condo's. The Alpine Zone used to get killer weekend deals for their gathering. Like $170 for 2 nights and lift tickets in a slopeside condo. I would sign up and pay in advance for that. Not sure what #'s it took for that deal.
3. If you stay slopeside at Sugarloaf, do you want to drive approximately an hour to Saddleback? Maybe shorter drive, not sure. I would do it for a day, but the Loaf has Bracket Basin which is snow cat and lift served back country terrain. I have skied it several times and it is fabulous. No snowmaking, so Mother nature needs to cooperate. Bring your skinning gear for sure and we can organize a backcountry group.
4. If not lodging at Sugarloaf, I would pick someplace inbetween to stay, and split maybe 4 days of skiing. You will not be bored in 3-4 days, I promise you.
5. Sugarloaf is on the IKON, Saddleback is on the Indie pass. Sunday River is on the Ikon.
6. Sunday River is arguably the biggest ski area in ME. Its about 1 3/4 hours drive from Saddleback. I do day trips infrequently from SR to Saddleback for some variety. Do we included SR in the gathering?? I will leave that to Tony to rule on. Its further south, so on the way there or home, so first or last day skiing there could be a consideration.
7. Lastly, there are two other ski area's close to Sunday River, Mt Abram and Black Mtn of ME. With good natural snow both have excellent tree skiing. I am not suggesting they be gathering Mtn's, but if someone is doing extended days, they are worth a day ski. I think I paid $55 for a Saturday day ticket at Mt. Abram last year and hit a powder day. Untracked snow all day long, it does not get skied out quickly.
I personally am planning on using Tony's info to get a multiday pass at Saddleback. I had the Indie last year, but just Ikon this year. There are always good deals to be had for Maine ski areas if you look. AKA Marker's find.
