Tag: Maine Tourism

  • Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (May 3, 2024)

    Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Weekly Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox at the end of every week to highlight what’s happening with your Maine ski resort!

    Mountain Report:

    Mountain NameTrails OpenPercent Open
    Saddleback0 / 680%
    Sugarloaf73 / 17641%
    Sunday River0 / 1390%
    Pleasant Mountain0 / 470%

    Trail of the Day: Bridle Chain (Sugarloaf)

    Upcoming Events:

    Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Plus, check out our Featured Events page where we dive deeper into the events we don’t want you to miss!

    Event Name:Start Date:End Date:Occurrence:
    Lost Valley Open HouseMay 4May 4One Day
    Sugarloaf’s Closing DayMay 5May 5One Day
    Mother’s Day Event @ Jordan SpaMay 11May 11One Day
    Sugarloaf Marathon & 15KMay 12May 12One Day
    Mother’s Day Brunch @ Sunday RiverMay 12May 12One Day
    Mt. Abram Bike Park Opening DayMay 24May 24One Day
    Sugarloaf Golf Course Opening DayMay 24May 24One Day
    The Pub @ Saddleback Opening DayMay 24May 24One Day
    Rangeley Birding FestivalJune 7June 9Three Days
    Black Mountain of Maine Golf TournamentJune 15June 15One Day
    White Nose Pete Fly Fishing FestivalJune 15June 15One Day
    43nd Annual Sugarloaf Ski Club Classic Golf TournamentJune 21June 21One Day
    2nd Annual WinterKids Mountain Mayhem @ Mt. AbramJune 22June 22One Day
    Hallie’s Hustle 5K Run/Walk @ Black Mountain of MaineJune 23June 23One Day
    Sunday River Scenic Lift Rides OpenJune 27October 13Every Day

    Closing Weekend at Sugarloaf:

    On Sunday, May 5, Sugarloaf will send the final chair of the season up the SuperQuad at 3:50 p.m. They’ll have live music on The Beach from Jordan Kaulbach on Saturday 12pm-3pm and the Beach Bar open 12pm-4pm Friday through Sunday. Learn more below.

    sundayriver.com

    Open House at Lost Valley:

    Don’t miss Lost Valley’s Open House happening on Saturday, May 4, from 11:00-3:00. With vendors, music, and food, you won’t want to miss this event! Learn more by clicking the link below.

    lostvalleyski.com

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    Going Up Is Getting Faster:

    This week, Pleasant Mountain announced The Summit Express. After 86 years, the mountain will finally add a high-speed, detachable quad to their lift lineup. The lift, which is a Doppelmayr refurbished High-Speed Quad, will take skiers and riders up to the top in under 5 minutes. The lift came from Sunday River’s Jordan Express lift and will be installed this summer.

    Read all the stats about this exciting lift on their website.

    pleasantmountain.com

    Statewide Lift Construction:

    Across the state, there are three mountains that are installing chairlifts. Pleasant Mountain is installing a refurbished Doppelmayr High-Speed Quad, BigRock Mountain is installing a new Doppelmayr Quad, and Lost Valley is installing a used Hall Double Chair.

    Pleasant Mountain:

    As of Wed, May 1

    On Wednesday, Pleasant Mountain posted some pictures of the progress. Currently, the towers are all down as well as the drive/return terminals.

    BigRock Mountain:

    As of Mon, April 1

    Since receiving the delivery of chairs and cushions on April 1, the mountain hasn’t posted any new information surrounding the new lift.

    Lost Valley:

    As of Wed, May 1

    On Wednesday, Lost Valley posted some pictures of progress as well as a video that explained what’s happening. Currently, crews are working to remove the existing bearings to replace them before building the lift. This will help maintenance as bearings typically last 7-10 years.

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    NEW Featured Events Page:

    Check out the latest page on the website: Featured Events. This is a page where we share the big events happening at Maine ski areas that you don’t want to miss! Check it out below:

    mainelyskiing.com/featured-events

    Get Ready For Summer:

    As the days get warmer, we’re starting to think about summer activities. There’s a lot to do in the Western Maine mountains during the “off-season”, and we want to lay it all out for you. Click over to the Summer Activities page to see the rundown, linked below!

    mainelyskiing.com

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    A More Comfortable Ride:

    BigRock Mountain in Mars Hill will be installing a brand new Doppelmayr Quad this summer. The new lift, which will have the same name as the double that currently sits in its place, will be called Gemini. BigRock started fundraising for the project back in 2021 but has secured enough for the payment to Doppelmayr. The surveying took place last summer, and construction is expected to start in the spring.

    Read more on this project and donate to help BigRock make the Northern Maine ski experience even better on their website below.

    bigrockmaine.com

    Season Pass Sale:

    Many resorts have already made their 2024-25 season passes available for purchase. If you want the best deal with the best perks, you need to purchase now. Plus, look to see if purchasing a pass means you can ski the rest of this season with it! For all the pass info and pricing, click the link below.

    mainelyskiing.com

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    Sugarloaf Marathon:

    The Sugarloaf Marathon and 15K is happening on Sunday, May 12. Just because the event registration has closed doesn’t mean you can’t go support the runners! For more information on the races, click the link below.

    sugarloaf.com

    Photo: Maine Drone Imaging

    Mainely Skiing Gear Guide:

    Start preparing for next season by stocking up on the best gear! Pro tip: Search around your local shops for amazing deals on winter appeal during the summer.

    mainelysking.com/gear-guide

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    Last Chair:

    A part from the slightly cooler temps and some occasional thawed precipitation, this week was another one for the books. If you’re wanting to ski, this weekend is it for the 2023-24 ski season.

    Weather:

    “Hey Siri, play Final Countdown”. It’s the last weekend of the 2023-24 ski season. Make it count as Sugarloaf is closing on Sunday. When out on the hill, always be ready for spring conditions. Check the mountain lift status page before heading up to the mountain, linked below.

    mainelyskiing.com

    Day:Friday:Saturday: Sunday:
    High:61   59   53   
    Low:40   39   41   
    Based out of Rangeley

    Who’s Got Last Chair?

    – Keegan

  • Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (April 26, 2024)

    Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Weekly Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox at the end of every week to highlight what’s happening with your Maine ski resort!

    Mountain Report:

    Mountain NameTrails OpenPercent Open
    Saddleback0 / 680%
    Sugarloaf108 / 17661%
    Sunday River
    *Reopening Tomorrow*
    *Closing Sunday*
    0 / 1390%
    Pleasant Mountain0 / 470%

    Trail of the Day: Skidder (Sugarloaf)

    Upcoming Events:

    Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Plus, check out our Featured Events page where we dive deeper into the events we don’t want you to miss!

    Event Name:Start Date:End Date:Occurrence:
    Live Music on The Beach @ SugarloafApril 27April 27One Day
    LVPC Duck Derby @ Lost ValleyApril 27April 27One Day
    Sunday River Closing Day + Free Ski DayApril 28April 28One Day
    Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Pleasant Mountain Season Pass Prices IncraseApril 30April 30One Day
    Sugarloaf Marathon & 15KMay 12May 12One Day
    Sunday River Scenic Lift Rides OpenJune 27October 13Every Day

    Closing Weekend at Sunday River:

    On Sunday, April 28, Sunday River will send the final chair of the season up the Jordan 8 lift at 3:50 p.m. Also, on Sunday, they are having a free ski day, so you don’t need to purchase a ticket to ski on the last day. Learn more below.

    sundayriver.com

    LVCP Duck Derby:

    The LVRC Duck Derby presented by Nason Mechanical happening April 27th at Lost Valley. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 5 fastest ducks, and the prizes are determined by the number of ducks sold! Additionally, the Lost Valley Brewpub will be open from Noon to 4 PM, serving up some great fare and awesome beer. A portion of the food sales will be donated to LVRC as well as duck sales.

    Event Schedule:
    • 12 PM to 4 PM Restaurant Brewpub open.
    • 1 PM Last chance to enter a Duck in the race
    • 2 PM Race Start!
    • 3 PM Winners announced!

    Purchase your duck for $12 online here: https://my-site-105371.square.site/ You do not have to be present to win, but you will miss the excitement!

    facebook.com/lostvalley

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    Live Music on The Beach:

    Sugarloaf will be hosting live music on The Beach on Saturday, April 27. Catch live music at The Beach by The High Mountain Rangers from 12pm-3pm. Learn more below:

    sugarloaf.com

    Going Up Is Getting Faster:

    This week, Pleasant Mountain announced The Summit Express. After 86 years, the mountain will finally add a high-speed, detachable quad to their lift lineup. The lift, which is a Doppelmayr refurbished High-Speed Quad, will take skiers and riders up to the top in under 5 minutes. The lift came from Sunday River’s Jordan Express lift and will be installed this summer.

    Read all the stats about this exciting lift on their website.

    pleasantmountain.com

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    NEW Featured Events Page:

    Check out the latest page on the website: Featured Events. This is a page where we share the big events happening at Maine ski areas that you don’t want to miss! Check it out below:

    mainelyskiing.com/featured-events

    Get Ready For Summer:

    As the days get warmer, we’re starting to think about summer activities. There’s a lot to do in the Western Maine mountains during the “off-season”, and we want to lay it all out for you. Click over to the Summer Activities page to see the rundown, linked below!

    mainelyskiing.com

    Advertisements

    A More Comfortable Ride:

    BigRock Mountain in Mars Hill will be installing a brand new Doppelmayr Quad this summer. The new lift, which will have the same name as the double that currently sits in its place, will be called Gemini. BigRock started fundraising for the project back in 2021 but has secured enough for the payment to Doppelmayr. The surveying took place last summer, and construction is expected to start in the spring.

    Read more on this project and donate to help BigRock make the Northern Maine ski experience even better on their website below.

    bigrockmaine.com

    Season Pass Sale:

    Many resorts have already made their 2024-25 season passes available for purchase. If you want the best deal with the best perks, you need to purchase now. Plus, look to see if purchasing a pass means you can ski the rest of this season with it! For all the pass info and pricing, click the link below.

    mainelyskiing.com

    Advertisements

    Sugarloaf Marathon Registration Open:

    The Sugarloaf Marathon and 15K registration is now open. Thankfully, you have time to prepare for the race, as the deadline to sign up is April 15. For more information on the races, click the link below.

    sugarloaf.com

    Photo: Maine Drone Imaging

    Mainely Skiing Gear Guide:

    It’s been a long time in the making, but I’m extremely excited to share our gear guide page with you. Complete with beginner, intermediate, and expert pages filled with the appropriate gear for each level. Check it out by clicking the link below.

    mainelysking.com/gear-guide

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    Last Chair:

    With another great week of spring skiing behind us, it’s time to start looking towards the weekend. While we saw some lower-than-normal temps around Wednesday and Thursday, it was good nonetheless.

    Weather:

    We’re ready for another great weekend of skiing at Sugarloaf and Sunday River. After taking a look ahead, I’m glad to see the rain predicted on Sunday has a low probability – fingers crossed! When out on the hill, always be ready for spring conditions. Check the mountain lift status page before heading up to the mountain, linked below.

    mainelyskiing.com

    Day:Friday:Saturday: Sunday:
    High:50   58   61   
    Low:27   38   43   
    Based out of Rangeley

    Thanks for a great season, Sunday River!

    – Keegan

  • Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (March 22, 2024)

    Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Weekly Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox at the end of every week to highlight what’s happening with your Maine ski resort!

    Mountain Report:

    Mountain NameTrails OpenPercent Open
    Saddleback68 / 68100%
    Sugarloaf159 / 17690%
    Sunday River119 / 13986%
    Pleasant Mountain29 / 4762%

    Trail of the Day: Sluce (Sugarloaf)

    Upcoming Events:

    Make sure to add these events to your calendar to keep yourself up to date with the local happenings. Of course, you can always visit our events page, which is constantly getting updated so you can know about the event before anyone else! Click here

    Event Name:Start Date:End Date:Occurrence:
    Free Ski Night @ Black Mountain of MaineJanuary 10March 20Every Wednesday
    Saddleback Ski Patrol AuctionMarch 23March 23One Day
    WinterKids Family Day @ Sunday RiverMarch 24March 24One Day
    Saddleback Operations Shifts Back One HourMarch 25March 25One Day
    Bust ‘N’ Burn @ Sunday RiverMarch 29March 31Three Days
    Spring Fling @ Pleasant MountainMarch 31March 31One Day
    Easter Egg Hunt @ Pleasant MountainMarch 31March 31One Day
    Sugarloaf Easter ServiceMarch 31March 31One Day
    Sunday Rriver Easter ServiceMarch 31March 31One Day
    Easter Egg Hunt @ Sunday RiverMarch 31March 31One Day
    Spring Fest Weekend @ Sunday RiverApril 5April 7Three Days
    Sugarloaf Reggae FestApril 11April 14Four Days
    Pond-A-Palooza @ Sunday RiverApril 13April 13One Day
    Sunday River Season Pass Holder Appreciation LunchApril 14April 14One Day
    ’24 East Coast Pond Skimming Championship @ SugarloafApril 20April 20One Day
    The Great Tailgate @ Sunday RiverApril 20April 20One Day
    Sugarloaf Season Pass Holder BBQApril 27April 27One Day

    WinterKids Family Days:

    Join the WinterKids Family for their own Family Days at local Maine ski mountains coming up soon! Get all the important information on their website: winterkids.org

    Sunday River – March 24

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    Going Up Is Getting Faster:

    This week, Pleasant Mountain announced The Summit Express. After 86 years, the mountain will finally add a high-speed, detachable quad to their lift lineup. The lift, which is a Doppelmayr refurbished High-Speed Quad, will take skiers and riders up to the top in under 5 minutes. The lift came from Sunday River’s Jordan Express lift and will be installed this summer.

    Read all the stats about this exciting lift on their website.

    pleasantmountain.com

    Spring Fling at Pleasant Mountain:

    In what has become a veritable tradition at Pleasant Mountain, the Annual Spring Fling is Sunday, March 31. The Slush Cup, which is their pond skim, starts at 1:30 pm. Register (for free) in Guest Services starting at 8:30 am. Learn more below.

    pleasantmountain.com

    Reggae Fest at Sugarloaf:

    Join Sugarloaf for the 36th Annual Sugarloaf Reggae Festival, presented by Baxter Outdoors, on April 11-14, 2024. Prepare yourself for four days of music and non-stop parties at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain with two amazing headliners: John Brown’s Body and Long Beach Dub All Stars. The biggest party on the East Coast consists of two nights of music in the King Pine room, two days of outside entertainment on The Beach, three nights of music in The Widowmaker, reggae DJs at Bullwinkle’s, and more. Learn more and register below.

    sugarloaf.com

    3rd Annual Hill Climb:

    The 3rd. Annual Hill Climb at Saddleback has recently opened for registration, so be as quick as a ski bunny and register! The Hill Climb is on Friday & Saturday, April 19-20, 2024. This event grows every year and brings in smiling faces from all over New England. It is definitely something you do not want to miss! Learn more below!

    saddlebackmaine.com

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    A More Comfortable Ride:

    BigRock Mountain in Mars Hill will be installing a brand new Doppelmayr Quad this summer. The new lift, which will have the same name as the double that currently sits in its place, will be called Gemini. BigRock started fundraising for the project back in 2021 but has secured enough for the payment to Doppelmayr. The surveying took place last summer, and construction is expected to start in the spring.

    Read more on this project and donate to help BigRock make the Northern Maine ski experience even better on their website below.

    bigrockmaine.com

    Saddleback Ski Patrol Auction:

    Come out and support the Saddleback Ski Patrol on Saturday, March 23 in the Saddleback Base Lodge. There will be a silent auction happening all day and a live auction starting at 5:30pm in the fireside room. For all the important info, click the link below.

    saddlebackmaine.com

    Season Pass Sale:

    Many resorts have already made their 2024-25 season passes available for purchase. If you want the best deal with the best perks, you need to purchase now. Plus, look to see if purchasing a pass means you can ski the rest of this season with it! For all the pass info and pricing, click the link below.

    mainelyskiing.com

    Advertisements

    Total Solar Eclipse:

    The Total Solar Eclipse will come through Maine on Monday, April 8th, 2024. It looks like BigRock Mountain and Big Moose Mountain will be right in the middle of the path. Saddleback and Sugarloaf will get some time in the darkness as well. As we get closer to April, we will start sharing some events coming from these mountains.

    mainelyskiing.com/events

    Bust ‘N’ Burn:

    Prepare to witness history reborn on March 29 – 31. After a decade’s wait, Bust ‘N’ Burn triumphantly returns to Sunday River, reigniting the heart-pounding legacy of the freestyle competition. Hosted by Donny Friggin Pelletier, you won’t want to miss this event. Learn more below:

    sundayriver.com

    Skier Services:

    Check out the Skier Services page on our website. This page is filled to the brim with things skiers will find helpful. With pages like a resort status page, mountain guides to Saddleback, Sugarloaf, Sunday River, Pleasant Mountain, Black Mountain of Maine, and Lost Valley (With more to come, stay tuned), and more. Find it all on the Skier Services page from the website or by clicking the link below.

    mainelyskiing.com

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    Saddleback Lift Operations Shift:

    On Monday, March 25, Saddleback will move to their spring operating schedule. This change will shift all on-mountain services back one hour. For lifts and trails, see below

    Midweek (Mon-Fri): 10:00-5:00
    Weekend (Sat-Sun): 9:30-5:00

    Sugarloaf Marathon Registration Open:

    The Sugarloaf Marathon and 15K registration is now open. Thankfully, you have time to prepare for the race, as the deadline to sign up is April 15. For more information on the races, click the link below.

    sugarloaf.com

    Photo: Maine Drone Imaging

    Mainely Skiing Gear Guide:

    It’s been a long time in the making, but I’m extremely excited to share our gear guide page with you. Complete with beginner, intermediate, and expert pages filled with the appropriate gear for each level. Check it out by clicking the link below.

    mainelysking.com/gear-guide

    Advertisements

    Saddleback Webcams:

    Have you visited the Saddleback Webcams? With three cameras scattered across the mountain, you’re guaranteed to get the best sunset. You could go back in time if you missed the best part. Click the link below to see last night’s sunset!

    saddlebackmaine.com

    Last Chair:

    Welcome back to Winter, Maine. Our ski season is saved! With over 10” of new snow this week, we’re back! Plus, we’re eyeing down a pretty significant snow event this weekend! Those snow dances are paying off, which means we’ll be skiing later into the spring.

    Weather:

    After the mid-week snow storms, the mountains are finally getting filled in. Thankfully, March isn’t done yet! We have upwards of 20” of new snow coming Friday night into Saturday. Thank you for the snow dances! For the current lift status, click the link below.

    mainelyskiing.com

    Day:Friday:Saturday: Sunday:
    High:24   25   32   
    Low:13   13   13   
    Based out of Rangeley

    Enjoy that fresh snow!

    – Keegan