Pretty decent conditions despite meltdown and re-freeze. Most trails have been rolled and many tracked. Groomer did a decent job with about an inch of fresh snow over thick crust. Trails and tracks are a bit crusty. Snow plowing on hills is a bit challenging, but there are some smooth spots. The west end of the picnic loop had a very crusty snowmobile track which caused us to turn around. Otherwise the inch of snow over the smooth crust would have been quite skiable. The other end of the picnic loop had just been rolled. Not a bad day.

(Chip Treen)

After skating the Onion River Road and Oberg loops yesterday, I was expecting hard and fast somewhat icy conditions on the Homestead and Hogback loops today. To my surprise, the new PB had groomed those trails recently and in spite of above freezing temps, the skate deck was smooth and firm, but not icy at all. Great push and glide were had. Wonderful afternoon for a quick ski with no fear on the downhills. Some debris issues, but nothing too grabby and more snow should put that issue to bed. Thanks SBTA!

(Tim Nelson)

Tried to ski Moose Fence, but extremely hard and icy. Did some hiking instead. Waiting for the new snow.

(Linda Johnson)

Set out from the Briton Peak Trailhead this time. The trail was a little more worn from this side and a little extra debris around, but the tracks were still great and the deck was plenty firm. Absolutely beautiful out there.

(Dan Boody)

My first time on these trails and they were amazing! The classic tracks on the green section of the Oberg loop were phenomenal. The snow was great, despite warming temps and a decent amount of traffic. I got back out for skate mid afternoon and skied partway into the Picnic Loop, then back on the blue Oberg Loop. The snow was a little soft, but still magnificent and plenty firm enough to have a great ski. It was starting to hit dusk and so I turned around at the top of a hill with a caution sign (the hill went steeply down, turned one way then sharply the other way and I was seemingly alone out there).

(Dan Boody)

Snow base was good but groomed tracks were not straight and had some pretty significant "S" curves in them in places where the tracks are normally straight and steady (see photo). I'm an experienced skier but would have lost it going down Bridge run in the tracks had I not hopped out onto the skate ski section. I'm a local who has skiied here a few years now quite a bit and I've never seen them like this before.

Photos:

(Jamie Swanson)

I think I have a case of new piston bully bias as it seems the corduroy on Sugarbush has never been more beautiful. Solid skate deck, firm tracks and pole plants all a delight today. Some smoothing out of the long uphill in the Oberg loop will need further work but overall beautiful skiing has put smiles on many faces.

Photos:

(Liz Wagner)

Classic skied the Picnic loop from Britain Peak trailhead. Grooming was immaculate, glide was great in spite of the cold, Polar wax providing good kick. Woods side pole plant plunging were a bit of an issue on the Britain peak loops and Hogback but on the Picnic loop itself and the connector there were no problems. Saw Darin starting to groom on his first run with the new PistonBully as I finished. That is a beautiful machine! Looking forward to the rest of this season.

(Tim Nelson)

Great skiing today on the Sugarbush. The trails yesterday were on the soft side as the snowmobile groomers could not adequately handle the near foot of snow we recently received. Today was excellent on the Britton peak trails as the new piston bully reworked the trails, yeah! I used my new Yoko skis with VR30 and a short pocket of Rode multigrade with satisfaction but could also have used wooden skis as the temp at the start was 14 and 10 at the finish. Firm skate deck, tracks and pole plants.

Photos:

(Liz Wagner)

Picnic Loop this early in the season was a real treat. Mostly very good conditions. A little rough with a few water spots on the sides, overall great day. Homestead and Hogback and return to Oberg had a few inches of fluffy snow but the glide was great and the tracks well formed.

(Tim Nelson)