Skiing at Sugarloaf 1/29/15

Two days after our first big snow storm on January 27^th, I took advantage of the ebbing weather patterns to parley myself an outstanding day of skiing.  When central Maine’s Carrabassett Valley strikes that rare combination of fresh snow, mild winds and bright sunshine, its time to ski the ‘Loaf.







Sugarloaf Maine is the BIGGEST U.S. SKI MOUNTAIN east of the Mississippi River (Killington is second).  Among eastern resorts it offers the third most continuously vertical drop, behind only Whiteface (NY) and Sugar Bush (VT), and it offers the only above-treeline skiing in the east that is actively serviced by lifts.

And it is seriously challenging; 43% of its trails are black diamonds or double diamonds.  Although it lacks Whiteface/Lake Placid’s Olympic pedigree, it is so big and challenging that in the early ‘70’s several World Cup championship events were canceled in Europe and held here. Among eastern ski mountains, Sugarloaf definitely kicks butt. 

My 4WD Pathfinder made short work of the many still-snow covered roads during the 2hr 15min journey from Freeport, and I arrived without drama in time to catch an early chair up the mountain.  For anyone harboring the misguided notion that Maine is a land of flat, featureless forests, guess again.

The ‘Loaf’s north facing slopes perfectly catch the light dry snow blown in by the nor’easters of the Canadian Maritimes.  This makes for good off-piste skiing and buttery smooth groomed surfaces perfect for carving.  Unfortunately it also means skiing in shadows while the morning sun is still rising, but the forgiving surface allowed me to attack trails like Tote Road, Cinder Hoe, Binder, and Hay Burner with gusto.

After thoroughly abusing the west-side trails during my morning runs, I took an early lunch at Bullwinkle’s mountain side grill before heading over to the east side of the mountain.  Here trails like Buckboard, Whiffle Tree, Spring Board, and Pole Line are warmed to perfection by the bright afternoon sun, and the friendly slopes make for relaxing skiing that was much appreciated by my hammered knees.  Also appreciated were trails mostly empty of other skiers, even on an epic day like this.

Sugarloaf is a mountain that dictates its own terms; it is notorious for high winds that shut down lifts, and fierce snow squalls that block out the sun and make skiing treacherous.  It’s often brutal weather can frustrate your best laid plans.  But – when the winds are light, the snow is fresh and the sun is shining brightly in bluebird skies, Sugarloaf beckons.  And when it beckons, you go.  
See Yah!!