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 Name
Trails Open
Percent Open
Saddleback
0 / 68
0%
Sugarloaf
22 / 176
13%
Sunday River
15 / 139
11%
Pleasant Mountain
0 / 47
0%
Trail of the Day: Timberline (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:
Saddleback Opening Day
December 2
December 2
One Day
Live Auction at Black Mountain of Maine
December 2
December 2
One Day
Barker 6 Opening Day
December 9
December 9
One Day
Demo Day @ Sunday River
December 9
December 9
One Day
Sunday River Santa Sunday
December 10
December 10
One Day
Sugarloaf Tree Lighting Festival
December 16
December 16
One Day
Winterfest Weekend @ Sunday River
December 16
December 17
Two Days
Christmas Vacation Week
December 25
December 29
Five Days
Indie Demo Day @ Sunday River
January 6
January 6
One Day
2nd Annual Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback
January 7
January 7
One Day
Rangeley Fat Bike Loppet @ RLTC
January 28
January 28
One Day
IFSA Junior Freeride @ Saddleback
January 28
January 28
One Day
Fire on the Mountain @ Sugarloaf
February 2
February 4
Three Days
February Fest @ Saddleback
February 23
February 23
One Day
Saddleback Opens Tomorrow:
Saddleback will send their first chair of the season up the Rangeley Express at 8:30am on Saturday, December 2. The plan is to spin the South Branch, Rangeley, and Kennebago Quads with 10 trails. Those trails could include:
Difficulty
Trail Name
Difficulty
Trail Name
Tri-Color
Blue Devil
Upper Green Weaver
Wheeler Slope
Lower Green Weaver
Royal Tiger
Upper Grey Ghost
Smelt Streamer
Lower Grey Ghost
For more information or to stay in the loop and get ready for opening day, click the link below.
The first chair of Sunday River’s latest major project, Barker 6, gets sent up the hill lighting fast, on Saturday, December 9. There will be a raffle for the first chair. For more information, click the link below.
On Monday night, snowmaking crews from Pleasant Mountain, Lost Valley, and Black Mountain of Maine all fired up their equipment. While the snow we got on Wednesday will help build bases, we hope it’s just the start of “Snowvember”. Bring it on, Mother Nature. For the most current report on your local resorts, click the link below.
Join Sunday River on the slopes with their annual Santa Sunday. The Registration is now open to join the hundreds of Santas sending it down South Ridge. All proceeds go directly to the River Fund, a non-profit organization that supports youth education and recreation in the Bethel area. To sign up, click the link below.
That first chair is always one of the most exciting moments in the early season. It’s time to start waxing those skis, dusting off gear and making sure your pass is ready. mainelyskiing.com/season-passes 😉 you’ll thank me later. Below is a table of the opening days as we know right now. Plus, for a more frequently updated list, click the link below.
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.
This week, Saddleback announced $49 lift tickets available for the full season. Act fast, as there are only so many tickets being sold at that price before going to the next pricing tier. Click the link to purchase now.
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.
Our Resort Status page is now live. Complete with the various ski areas we cover, you’ll have all the important information relevant to us skiers. Check out the page below.
Season passes have been on sale throughout the summer but to take advantage of the savings, you better purchase now! Check out the table to see all season passes:
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails:
Difficulty
Trail Name
Difficulty
Trail Name
Hatchet
Bucksaw
Feller-Buncher
Cutter
Chipper
Whistle Punk
Upper Beaver Tail
Lower Beaver Tail
Knot Bumper
Yarder
Twitcher
West Mountain Crosscut
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr, and is set to be completed by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week of the lift construction. See more by clicking the links below.
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!
This week’s cold temperatures brought incredible snowmaking temps to the mountains. Mountains were able to crank out that white gold. Expect expansions coming soon! Keep doing those snow dances, Mainely Skiers!
Weather:
While we’re looking forward to Saddleback’s opening day, it’s looking like a bit of a washout. With rain in the forecast for both today and tomorrow, you might want to check with your mountain’s report page before booting up. Keep tabs on the lift status page for more info.
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 Name
Trails Open
Percent Open
Saddleback
0 / 68
0%
Sugarloaf
8 / 176
5%
Sunday River
5 / 139
4%
Pleasant Mountain
0 / 47
0%
Trail of the Day: Lollapalooza (Sunday River)
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:
Sugarloaf Opening Day
November 17
November 17
One Day
Yarmouth Ski Club Ski Swap
November 18
November 18
One Day
Bridal Show & Tasting @ Sugarloaf
November 19
November 19
One Day
Lonesome Pines Trails Ski Swap
November 19
November 19
One Day
Volunteer Work Day & Brunch @ Big Moose
November 19
November 19
One Day
Thanksgiving Dinner @ Sunday River
November 23
November 23
One Day
Saddleback Pub Opens
November 24
November 24
One Day
Saddleback Opening Day
December 2
December 2
One Day
Live Auction at Black Mountain of Maine
December 2
December 2
One Day
Demo Day @ Sunday River
December 9
December 9
One Day
Sunday River Santa Sunday
December 10
December 10
One Day
Sugarloaf Tree Lighting Festival
December 16
December 16
One Day
Winterfest Weekend @ Sunday River
December 16
December 17
Two Days
Christmas Vacation Week
December 25
December 29
Five Days
Indie Demo Day @ Sunday River
January 6
January 6
One Day
2nd Annual Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback
January 7
January 7
One Day
Rangeley Fat Bike Loppet @ RLTC
January 28
Januaray 28
One Day
IFSA Junior Freeride @ Saddleback
January 28
January 28
One Day
Fire on the Mountain @ Sugarloaf
February 2
February 4
Three Days
February Fest @ Saddleback
February 23
February 23
One Day
Sunday River / Sugarloaf Is Open:
On Tuesday, Sunday River sent the first chair of the 2023-24 ski season up the hill on their Jordan 8 lift, and this morning, Sugarloaf did the same with their SuperQuad lift. Welcome to the start of the ski season. We hope it’s a long and snowy one! Check out the current lift status by clicking the link below!
On Saturday night, Saddleback’s team of snowmakers took to the hill to show us the first signs of winter. Once there is enough snow to open the trails, they will. Keep doing those snow dances! Click the link to read their report.
Join the Yarmouth Ski Club for their annual Ski Sale happening this Saturday, November 18. Open from 9:00am – 12:00pm, come check out their extensive supply of skis, boots, poles, boards, and more at William H. Rowe School, 52 School St., Yarmouth. For more information, click the link below.
That first chair is always one of the most exciting moments in the early season. It’s time to start waxing those skis, dusting off gear and making sure your pass is ready. mainelyskiing.com/season-passes 😉 you’ll thank me later. Below is a table of the opening days as we know right now. Plus, for a more frequently updated list, click the link below.
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.
This week, Saddleback announced $49 lift tickets available for the full season. Act fast, as there are only so many tickets being sold at that price before going to the next pricing tier. Click the link to purchase now.
This week, Sugarloaf announced $41 early season lift tickets. You need to purchase now as the prices go up after a set number of people purchase. For more information and to purchase your ticket, click the link below!
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.
Our Resort Status page is now live. Complete with the various ski areas we cover, you’ll have all the important information relevant to us skiers. Check out the page below.
If you’re looking to get married at Sugarloaf, you need to go to their Bridal Show & Tasting. The event occurs on Sunday, November 19, from 1-4pm in the King Pine Room. There will be many different vendors and flavorful dishes being served. For all the details, head over to the website below.
Join Sunday River around the table for a lovely Thanksgiving meal. The folks from Camp will be cooking a tasteful turkey with all the sides you could imagine. Happening from 1-8pm, you can’t miss this!
Season passes have been on sale throughout the summer but to take advantage of the savings, you better purchase now! Check out the table to see all season passes:
It might only be fall but the folks from Sunday River are already in the winter mindset. This week, the mountain announced a new early-season operating guide. The plan is to start the season off with top-to-bottom skiing and riding off their Jordan 8 lift. They hope to have “multiple trail choices” serviced from the Jordan 8. For more information and to stay in the know, click the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails:
Difficulty
Trail Name
Difficulty
Trail Name
Hatchet
Bucksaw
Feller-Buncher
Cutter
Chipper
Whistle Punk
Upper Beaver Tail
Lower Beaver Tail
Knot Bumper
Yarder
Twitcher
West Mountain Crosscut
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr, and is set to be completed by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
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!
We saw the start to the 2023-24 ski season this week as Sunday River opened this Tuesday and Sugarloaf sent their first chair up the SuperQuad this morning at 8:30. Here we go! Think cold temps and snow.
Weather:
While we might be skiing, the temps suggest otherwise. On the bright side, the warm temps will allow the tired snowmakers to get some much needed rest, before returning to the hills next week.
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Fall Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Maine Foliage Report:
The Maine Foliage Report brought to you by MaineFoliage.com
(AUGUSTA, Maine) – The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s (DACF) final Foliage reportfor October 18 indicates peak and past peak conditions throughout most of the state. Peak conditions are approaching the coast in zone one with high leaf drop (more than 70 percent).
This Week’s Foliage Outlook
“This foliage season was a tricky one to forecast. While we had color because trees do what they need to do to prepare for their long winter nap, the colors were muted in some areas and breathtaking in others. Our rainy, wind-swept weather played a significant role,” said Gale Ross, fall foliage spokesperson.
While the weather might not be conducive to long road trips and leaf peeping this upcoming weekend, there are dozens of fun-filled activities taking place statewide. For those who are adventurous and still want to catch a glimpse of the fall colors, a hike in and around the blueberry barrens in DownEast Maine is a must-see. Barrens ablaze with the fall colors never disappoint! As we close the books on another fall foliage season, let’s give a hearty shout-out and thank you to all our leaf lovers and everyone who shared their memorable fall foliage photos with us, added Ross.
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:
Saddleback Pub Closed Until Winter
October 21
October 21
One Day
Daylight Savings Ends (Fall Back)
November 5
November 5
One Day
Sugarloaf Opening Day
November 17
November 17
One Day
Bridal Show & Tasting @ Sugarloaf
November 19
November 19
One Day
Thanksgiving Dinner @ Sunday River
November 23
November 23
One Day
Saddleback Pub Opens
November 24
November 24
One Day
Demo Day @ Sunday River
December 9
December 9
One Day
Sunday River Santa Sunday
December 10
December 10
One Day
Sugarloaf Tree Lighting Festival
December 16
December 16
One Day
Winterfest Weekend @ Sunday River
December 16
December 17
Two Days
Christmas Vacation Week
December 25
December 29
Five Days
Indie Demo Day @ Sunday River
January 6
January 6
One Day
2nd Annual Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback
January 7
January 7
One Day
Fire on the Mountain @ Sugarloaf
February 2
February 4
Three Days
February Fest @ Saddleback
February 23
February 23
One Day
Opening Days:
That first chair is always one of the most exciting moments in the early season. It’s time to start waxing those skis, dusting off gear and making sure your pass is ready. mainelyskiing.com/season-passes 😉 you’ll thank me later. Below is a table of the opening days as we know right now.
Mountain Name
Opening Date
Saddleback Mountain
December 2
Sugarloaf
November 17
Sunday River
Not Announced
Pleasant Mountain
Not Announced
Black Mountain of Maine
Not Announced
Big Rock
Not Announced
Camden Snow Bowl
Not Announced
Mt. Abram
Not Announced
Big Moose Mountain
Not Announced
Lost Valley
Not Announced
Hermon Mountain
Not Announced
Titcomb Mountain
Not Announced
Mountain Lift Status is Back:
Mainely Skiing’s Mountain Lift Status Page is officially back and ready to go for winter. Now, we just need lifts to start spinning. The page was temporarily offline due to it not looking right/working for some users. Thanks to the work of our website development team, we have been able to fix the problem and it will be good to go for winter. Think snow!
Big Moose Mountain in Greenville, formally named Big Squaw, needs your help. The mountain has been hard at work reclaiming the upper mountain trails by bringing them back to skiable terrain. This is only made possible due to the support on GoFundMe. The mountain has raised about 30% of their goal of $60,000. If you’ve skied here before the upper mountain closed in 2004, you know it was a special experience. You can help bring this back by donating to the mountain’s GoFundMe. Click the link below to see the money raised and donate. Click here: link
Crews are also working on replacing the existing lift’s communication line. This isn’t an easy task, especially with a small crew. Nevertheless, Big Moose Mountain pushes on.
Various resorts got out early to test the snowmaking equipment. Sunday River’s tough team of snowmakers took to the hill early on Tuesday morning to fire up their system over on Jordan. Saddleback did the same on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo: Saddleback Maine
Season Pass Sales:
Season passes have been on sale throughout the summer but to take advantage of the savings, you better purchase now! Check out the table to see all season passes:
Sugarloaf recently updated their trail map to show the new Bucksaw area. The map has a few changes compared to the previous one, which was their map for over two years. See for yourself here: sugarloaf.com Also, if you want to be in the know, head over to the Sugarloaf Mountain Guide – linked below.
It might only be fall but the folks from Sunday River are already in the winter mindset. This week, the mountain announced a new early-season operating guide. The plan is to start the season off with top-to-bottom skiing and riding off their Jordan 8 lift. They hope to have “multiple trail choices” serviced from the Jordan 8. For more information and to stay in the know, click the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails:
Difficulty
Trail Name
Difficulty
Trail Name
Hatchet
Bucksaw
Feller-Buncher
Cutter
Chipper
Whistle Punk
Upper Beaver Tail
Lower Beaver Tail
Knot Bumper
Yarder
Twitcher
West Mountain Crosscut
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
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!
Now that things are closed for the season, the countdown is on for snowfall. Whether it’s by Mother Nature or some powerful snowmakers, either way, we’ll be happy. Bring on Winter!
Weather:
While the forecast is calling for another wet weekend, those lows are looking promising. Low temps have been on a steady decline for a few weeks now and Sunday’s low gives us skiers hope that winter will come once again!
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Fall Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Maine Foliage Report:
The Maine Foliage Report brought to you by MaineFoliage.com
This week’s Fall Foliage Report from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) reports moderate to peak conditions (50-100 percent) throughout most of Maine.
As of October 11, 2023*, Maine Forest Service (MFS) staff reported peak and past peak color conditions with moderate to high leaf drop in zones five, six, and seven. Color changes in zones one through four are rapidly approaching peak. Coastal Maine, zones one and two, typically are last to reach peak during mid-to-late October.
This Week’s Foliage Outlook
“Despite the wind-swept rain we’ve received in the past two weeks, Maine is still showing plenty of color, blended in with the green of the oaks along the immediate coast,” said Gale Ross, fall foliage spokesperson.
“I spoke with Brandon Alfonso, park ranger in Acadia National Park, about conditions in the park. He observes that the park is 50-66 percent toward peak. He also noted that while the wind and rain in the DownEast region knocked down quite a few leaves, there is still color in the birches contrasting with the greens in the oaks,” Ross added.
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:
Penobscot Valley Ski Club Ski Swap
October 14
October 14
One Day
Sugarloaf Golf Course Closing Day
October 15
October 15
One Day
Sunday River Golf Course Closing Day
October 15
October 15
One Day
Saddleback Pub Closed Until Winter
October 21
October 21
One Day
Daylight Savings Ends (Fall Back)
November 5
November 5
One Day
Bridal Show & Tasting @ Sugarloaf
November 19
November 19
One Day
Demo Day @ Sunday River
December 9
December 9
One Day
Sunday River Santa Sunday
December 10
December 10
One Day
Sugarloaf Tree Lighting Festival
December 16
December 16
One Day
Winterfest Weekend @ Sunday River
December 16
December 17
Two Days
Christmas Vacation Week
December 25
December 29
Five Days
Indie Demo Day @ Sunday River
January 6
January 6
One Day
2nd Annual Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback
January 7
January 7
One Day
Fire on the Mountain @ Sugarloaf
February 2
February 4
Three Days
February Fest @ Saddleback
February 23
February 23
One Day
Mountain Lift Status is Back:
That’s right, Mainely Skiing’s Mountain Lift Status Page is officially back and ready to go for winter. Now, we just need lifts to start spinning. The page was temporarily offline due to it not looking right/working for some users. Thanks to the work of our website development team, we have been able to fix the problem and it will be good to go for winter. Think snow!
Big Moose Mountain in Greenville, formally named Big Squaw, needs your help. The mountain has been hard at work reclaiming the upper mountain trails by bringing them back to skiable terrain. This is only made possible due to the support on GoFundMe. The mountain has raised about 30% of their goal of $60,000. If you’ve skied here before the upper mountain closed in 2004, you know it was a special experience. You can help bring this back by donating to the mountain’s GoFundMe. Click the link below to see the money raised and donate. Click here: link
Crews are also working on replacing the existing lift’s communication line. This isn’t an easy task, especially with a small crew. Nevertheless, Big Moose Mountain pushes on.
If those jobs aren’t enough, the trusty ol’ tarp only lasts for so long before talks emerge about what to do. The lodge for the upper mountain, which sits near the top unload of the current lift has a pool, which has the roof needing to be replaced. Last Wednesday, the mountain posted to Facebook asking for ideas and within a few days, they had raised over $16,000 of roofing material thanks to generous donors. If you would like to support the mountain in its efforts to become a bigger and better ski area, click the link to support.
Various resorts got out early to test the snowmaking equipment. Sunday River’s tough team of snowmakers took to the hill early on Tuesday morning to fire up their system over on Jordan. Saddleback did the same on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo: Saddleback Maine
Season Pass Sales:
Season passes have been on sale throughout the summer but to take advantage of the savings, you better purchase now! Check out the table to see all season passes:
Sugarloaf recently updated their trail map to show the new Bucksaw area. The map has a few changes compared to the previous one that was their map for over two years. See for yourself here: sugarloaf.com Also, if you want to be in the know, head over to the Sugarloaf Mountain Guide – linked below.
It might only be fall but the folks from Sunday River are already in the winter mindset. This week, the mountain announced a new early-season operating guide. The plan is to start the season off with top-to-bottom skiing and riding off their Jordan 8 lift. They hope to have “multiple trail choices” serviced from the Jordan 8. For more information and to stay in the know, click the link below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
The Penobscot Valley Ski Club is doing their annual Ski Swap in Bangor, Maine on Saturday, October 14. The event will be taking place from 8am – 2pm in the Bangor Parks and Rec Building at 647 Main Street. New & used equipment: Aline & Nordic skis, snowboards, boots, poles, gear, apparel & more!!! Plus, Saddleback will be there. Don’t miss it!
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails:
Difficulty
Trail Name
Difficulty
Trail Name
Hatchet
Bucksaw
Feller-Buncher
Cutter
Chipper
Whistle Punk
Upper Beaver Tail
Lower Beaver Tail
Knot Bumper
Yarder
Twitcher
West Mountain Crosscut
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
The Rangeley Health and Wellness in Rangeley, Maine – at the bottom of Dallas Hill Road, has announced their new fall hours. These hours are effective October 1.
Monday
5AM – 7PM
Tuesday
5AM – 7PM
Wednesday
5AM – 7PM
Thursday
5AM – 7PM
Friday
5AM – 7PM
Saturday
8AM – 2PM
Sunday
8AM – 2PM
For more information on the Rangeley Health and Wellness, check out their website.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
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!
The trees are becoming peak foliage. Head up to the mountains and check it out for yourself. Bonus points if you get a round of golf in on one of the closing golf courses this weekend.
Weather:
The temps are certainly going down with this weekend’s high expected to barely reach the 60-degree mark. Right now, we’re forecasting a very cloudy weekend but that won’t stop us from having fun.
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Fall Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Maine Foliage Report:
The Maine Foliage Report brought to you by MaineFoliage.com
The fourth 2023 Fall Foliage Report from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) reports moderate to high color change (50-70 percent) throughout most of Maine. As of October 4, DACF Maine Forest Rangers in northern Maine report peak color conditions (70-100 percent) with moderate to low leaf drop (30-50 percent).
Northern Maine (zones six and seven) is on track to reach peak conditions this week. Fall colors in all other areas of the state will occur from north to south through mid-October. Coastal Maine typically reaches peak color during mid-to-late October.
This Week’s Foliage Outlook
“The conditions projected for this upcoming long holiday weekend set us up for one of the best weekends to plan your fall foliage outdoor activities with an abundance of events taking place statewide. The fall colors are emerging in the canopies across Maine, and the leaves are still intact, making it perfect timing for leaf-peeping enthusiasts,” said Gale Ross, Maine’s fall foliage spokesperson.
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:
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Oktoberfest 5K @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Pumpkin Decorating @ Sugarloaf
October 7
October 7
One Day
North American Wife Carrying Championship @ Sunday River
October 7
October 7
One Day
Balence Bike Race @ Sugarloaf
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
New England Corn Hole Championship @ Sunday River
October 8
October 8
One Day
Uphill Climb @ Sugarloaf
October 8
October 8
One Day
Winterfest Weekend @ Sunday River
December 16
December 17
Two Days
Big Projects For Big Squaw:
Big Moose Mountain in Greenville, formally named Big Squaw, needs your help. The mountain has been hard at work reclaiming the upper mountain trails by bringing them back to skiable terrain. This is only made possible due to the support on GoFundMe. The mountain has raised about 30% of their goal of $60,000. If you’ve skied here before the upper mountain closed in 2004, you know it was a special experience. You can help bring this back by donating to the mountain’s GoFundMe. Click the link below to see the money raised and donate. Click here: link
Crews are also working on replacing the existing lift’s communication line. This isn’t an easy task, especially with a small crew. Nevertheless, Big Moose Mountain pushes on.
If those jobs aren’t enough, the trusty ol’ tarp only lasts for so long before talks emerge about what to do. The lodge for the upper mountain, which sits near the top unload of the current lift has a pool, which has the roof needing to be replaced. Last Wednesday, the mountain posted to Facebook asking for ideas and within a few days, they had raised over $16,000 of roofing material thanks to generous donors. If you would like to support the mountain in its efforts to become a bigger and better ski area, click the link to support.
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair. Hurry – this is the last weekend available for scenic lift rides!
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
Season passes have been on sale throughout the summer but to take advantage of the savings, you better purchase now! Check out the table to see all season passes:
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, Oktoberfest is right around the corner. Make sure to sign up so you won’t miss out on the festivities!
Schedule of Events
10-11 a.m. – Oktoberfest 5K
11 a.m. – Festival gates open. TJ Swan performs on the deck.
12 p.m. – Pie eating contest on the deck. $10 entry. The winner gets a pie and a gift card to The Pub.
1:30-3:30 – SKOSH performs on the deck.
3:30 – Stein Hoisting Championship! 10 men’s/women’s qualifiers will go head-to-head. This is always an Oktoberfest favorite – don’t miss it!
4-8 p.m. – Pub open
Happening All Day – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Keg Toss & Stein Hoisting – these events will run all day. Qualify for the Stein Hosting Championship until 3 p.m.
Costume Contest. Dust off the lederhosen! The person in best-dressed Oktoberfest attire will win a 3-night stay for 9 people in Rangeley thanks to our friends at Morton & Furbish Vacation Rentals. Stay is for a future date in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024.
Biggest BRAT Contest. Pile on the sauerkraut – we’re going to have a contest to see who can load up (and EAT) the heaviest brat! Add your toppings and weigh in. What’s the prize? Brattgin’ rights!
Fall CLEARANCE SALE! Get serious savings on skis, boards, and winter apparel.
Vendor Village – visit vendor booths near the festival entrance for sweet treats like apple crisp and local goods.
For more information and to get tickets, click the link below.
It might only be fall but the folks from Sunday River are already in the winter mindset. This week, the mountain announced a new early season operating guide. The plan is to start the season off with top-to-bottom skiing and riding off their Jordan 8 lift. They hope to have “multiple trail choices” serviced from the Jordan 8. For more information and to stay in the know, click the link below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
Don’t miss Sugarloaf’s Homecoming Weekend. Happening October 6-8, this three day event is packed with loads of events both on and off the mountain. Check out the full rundown below.
Friday, October 6
Time
Event Name
Location
Details
9am-3pm
Swig and Swing Golf Tournament
Sugarloaf Golf Course
Registration is full.
Saturday, October 7
Time
Event Name
Location
Details
8am-2pm
Tailgate Ski Swap & Sale
The Rack
Sell or trade your used skis, snowboards, gear, and apparel. Or Donate gently used winter clothing and winter sport equipment to support local schools. Learn more.
9am-12pm
Pumpkin Decorating
The Alfond Competition Center
For ages 12 & under. Online registration is now open. Sign up here.
9am-2pm
Scenic Lift Rides
SuperQuad
Purchase tickets here. 23/24 Season passholders ride for free with their pass present.
9am-4pm
Coat & Gear Drive
Narrow Gauge
Donate gently used winter clothing and winter sport equipment to support local schools. Learn More.
9am-5pm
Upcountry Artists
King Pine Room
Art Show featuring some of Maine’s finest artists & craftsmen.
9am-5pm
Sugarloaf Home Show
Narrow Gauge
Various vendors and info booths
10am-5pm
Bar & Grill
The Beach
Serving food and beverages outside
11am-2pm
Live music by Seagrass
The Beach
Free admission, all ages welcome
1-4pm
Axe Throwing
The Landing
Splittin’ Wood is setting up an axe throwing station. Free to ages 10 & up; first come, first serve.
2:30-5pm
Live music by Aldous Collins Band
The Beach
Free admission, all ages welcome
2:30-3:30pm
Balance Bike Races
Main Street
Registration will open soon
3-6pm
Après Music
Widowmaker
Music by Robin Cottle
6-7pm
Film Viewing Party
Widowmaker
Join us for a night of action packed short films created by Maine film maker, Josh Lawless. Experience mountain biking, powder skiing, stunning sunset jumps, epic backcountry adventures, and more. Free admission, all ages welcome
The Saddleback Bike Park is still open but not for long! The park will be closing for all downhill on Sunday, October 8.
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad this weekend through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
Celebrate Fall in the mountains at Sunday River. With classic events like the North American Wife Carrying Championship, the annual Sunday River Sports Sale, scenic chairlift rides, and more, you won’t want to miss this event during peak foliage season. Rain or shine, the events are happening. See the full rundown below:
Saturday, October 7
Time
Event Name
Location
Details
9am-5pm
39th Annual Blue Mountain Arts & Crafts Fair
South Ridge Lodge
Shop many local artisans for unique gifts.
9am-4:30pm
Maine Beer Box
Slopeside at South Ridge
Sample Maine craft beer from the 78 taps on the Maine Beer Box.
10am-4pm
Scenic Lift Rides
Slopeside at South Ridge
Take in views of the foliage from high above with a scenic chairlift ride on the resort’s Chondola. Don’t forget your season pass or RFID card. If you buy online and have your RFID card you can go direct to lift. Need a card? You can pick it up at a PUB in the Welcome Center to save time. We recommend riding early in the day to ensure access and avoid downloading delays.
9am-5pm
Sunday River Sports Annual Sale
South Ridge Lodge
Stock up for ski season with great deals on gear, clothing, outerwear, logo items, and more from Sunday River Sports.
24th Annual North American Wife Carrying Championship
Slopeside at South Ridge
Nothing brings you closer together than carrying your partner through a 278-yard obstacle course. This signature Sunday River event presents the winners with the wife’s weight in beer and five times her weight in cash. Registration is open now.
Savor a delectable wine-pairing sample menu crafted by renowned Chef Harding Lee Smith with seatings at 12PM and 3PM.
12pm-3pm
Sunday River Kids: Fall Fun
Sunday River Real Estate
Swing by the Sunday River Real Estate offices to paint a pumpkin or join the fall scavenger hunt. Prizes will be awarded for completed scavenger hunts! *Limited number of pumpkins available – pumpkin painting is first come, first served and is limited to one pumpkin per child.
11am-5:30pm
Live Music
Slopeside at South Ridge
Groove to the blues with local musicians River Bottom Funk, Cryin’ Out Loud, and Grammy Award-winning guitarist and songwriter Paul Nelson.
Sunday, October 8
Time
Event Name
Location
Details
9am-3pm
39th Annual Blue Mountain Arts & Crafts Fair
South Ridge Lodge
Shop many local artisans for unique gifts.
9am-4pm
Maine Beer Box
Slopeside at South Ridge
Sample Maine craft beer from the 78 taps on the Maine Beer Box
10am-4pm
Scenic Lift Rides
Slopeside at South Ridge
Take in views of the foliage from high above with a scenic chairlift ride on the resort’s Chondola. Don’t forget your season pass or RFID card. If you buy online and have your RFID card you can go direct to lift. Need a card? You can pick it up at a PUB in the Welcome Center to save time. We recommend riding early in the day to ensure access and avoid downloading delays.
9am-4:30pm
Sunday River Sports Annual Sale
South Ridge Lodge
Stock up for ski season with great deals on gear, clothing, outerwear, logo items, and more from Sunday River Sports.
10am
9th Annual New England Cornhole Championship
Slopeside at South Ridge
Grab a partner and start practicing because serious cash and bragging rights are up for grabs. Registration is open now for just $34 per team.
11-3:30pm
Live Music
Slopeside at South Ridge
Groove to the blues with local musicians River Bottom Funk and Cryin’ Out Loud.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
The Rangeley Health and Wellness in Rangeley, Maine – at the bottom of Dallas Hill Road, has announced their new fall hours. These hours are effective October 1.
Monday
5AM – 7PM
Tuesday
5AM – 7PM
Wednesday
5AM – 7PM
Thursday
5AM – 7PM
Friday
5AM – 7PM
Saturday
8AM – 2PM
Sunday
8AM – 2PM
For more information on the Rangeley Health and Wellness, check out their website.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
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!
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Fall Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Maine Foliage Report:
The Maine Foliage Report brought to you by MaineFoliage.com
(AUGUSTA, Maine) – At 2:50 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, nature marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. With the changing of the seasons just hours away, anticipation is building for Maine’s leaf-bearing trees to show off their colors. This second 2023 Maine Fall Foliage Report from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) reports very low (less than 30 percent) color change throughout Maine. As of September 20, 2023, DACF Maine Forest Service Rangers in northern Maine report very low to low color change (10-30 percent), with very low leaf drop throughout the entire state. But thats about to change!
This Week’s Foliage Outlook
“There was concern that the strong winds and rain from Hurricane Lee this past weekend would significantly impact our fall foliage season. Our trees have remained resilient, and leaves remained intact. Now that its nice and quiet, with autumn arriving this weekend, lets kick back and enjoy the changing season,” said Gale Ross, Maines fall foliage spokesperson.
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:
Brunch In The Pub
July 9
September 24
Every Sunday
Xterra Trail Run World Championships @ Sugarloaf
October 1
October 1
One Day
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
XTERRA Trail Run:
Join Sugarloaf on Sep 30 – Oct 1 for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. Sugarloaf Mountain has been chosen as the pinnacle event for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. A weekend-long trail running festival that will see top elite and amateur runners compete for $10,000 in prize money and XTERRA championship crowns in both full and half marathon distances. Live music, great food, and family entertainment will keep the energy high throughout the weekend, with 5K and 10K trail runs, and races for kids to ensure everybody can get involved. For more information and to sign up, click the link below.
Big Squaw Mountain, now called Big Moose Mountain in Greenville, Maine needs your help. The mountain has been working hard to reclaim the upper mountain trails and bring them back to skiable trails. This is only made possible due to their support on GoFundMe. The mountain has raised about 30% of their goal of $60,000. If you’ve skied here before the upper mountain closed in 2004, you know it was a special experience. You can help bring this back by donating to the mountain’s GoFundMe. Click the link below to see the money raised and donate.
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair.
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, Oktoberfest is right around the corner. Make sure to sign up so you won’t miss out on the festivities!
Schedule of Events
10-11 a.m. – Oktoberfest 5K
11 a.m. – Festival gates open. TJ Swan performs on the deck.
12 p.m. – Pie eating contest on the deck. $10 entry. The winner gets a pie and a gift card to The Pub.
1:30-3:30 – SKOSH performs on the deck.
3:30 – Stein Hoisting Championship! 10 men’s/women’s qualifiers will go head-to-head. This is always an Oktoberfest favorite – don’t miss it! Raise your stein and keep it raised! Thanks to our stein sponsor, Hight Auto!
4-8 p.m. – Pub open
Happening All Day – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Keg Toss & Stein Hoisting – these events will run all day. Qualify for the Stein Hosting Championship until 3 p.m.
Costume Contest. Dust off the lederhosen! The person in best-dressed Oktoberfest attire will win a 3-night stay for 9 people in Rangeley thanks to our friends at Morton & Furbish Vacation Rentals. Stay is for a future date in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024.
Biggest BRAT Contest. Pile on the sauerkraut – we’re going to have a contest to see who can load up (and EAT) the heaviest brat! Add your toppings and weigh in. What’s the prize? Brattgin’ rights!
Fall CLEARANCE SALE! Get serious savings on skis, boards, and winter apparel.
Vendor Village – visit vendor booths near the festival entrance for sweet treats like apple crisp and local goods.
For more information and to get tickets, click the link below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
The Saddleback Bike Park is back open! Let’s all do a little dance to stop the rain… I mean, it’s a suggestion. Anyway, the sun has come out once again, which allowed for the trails to dry up a bit and the crews to get back out and touch them up. The riding will be a little muddy still, but never-the-less fun!
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
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!
With all the rain we’ve gotten recently, please make sure to drive carefully when coming up to the Rangeley area. Some roads are flooded or washed out entirely in parts of Rangeley, Oquossoc, Bryan, Farmington, Farmington Falls, Jay, Wilton, and more. Drive safe, Mainely Skiers!
Weather:
With those low temps looking more like fall then summer, I think it’s safe to say welcome to fall! I can’t wait to see more colors on the trees and the resorts doing snowmaking tests.
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Summer Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Maine Foliage Report:
The Maine Foliage Report brought to you by MaineFoliage.com
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) fall foliage spokesperson Gale Ross has announced the start of foliage season throughout the state. The first 2023 Maine Fall Foliage Report, issued each Wednesday throughout the foliage season, reports very little color change throughout the state.
“I like to remind folks that the color change depends on the weather as we advance into fall. We rely on the cooler temperatures and shorter days to enhance the progression of color”
This Week’s Foliage Outlook
“This summer, Maine received a considerable amount of rainfall which will enhance the fall colors, unlike the past two seasons when the state’s forests were impacted by summer drought. Minimal defoliation in certain tree species may impact color in some areas due to the wetter than normal summer, but it should not have a significant impact on our foliage season,” said Gale Ross, Maine’s fall foliage spokesperson.
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:
Brunch In The Pub
July 9
September 24
Every Sunday
Northwoods Gravel Grind Afterparty
September 9
September 9
One Day
Xterra Trail Run World Championships @ Sugarloaf
October 1
October 1
One Day
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
XTERRA Trail Run:
Join Sugarloaf on Sep 30 – Oct 1 for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. Sugarloaf Mountain has been chosen as the pinnacle event for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. A weekend-long trail running festival that will see top elite and amateur runners compete for $10,000 in prize money and XTERRA championship crowns in both full and half marathon distances. Live music, great food, and family entertainment will keep the energy high throughout the weekend, with 5K and 10K trail runs, and races for kids to ensure everybody can get involved. For more information and to sign up, click the link below.
Big Squaw Mountain, now called Big Moose Mountain in Greenville, Maine needs your help. The mountain has been working hard to reclaim the upper mountain trails and bring them back to skiable trails. This is only made possible due to their support on GoFundMe. The mountain has raised about 30% of their goal of $60,000. If you’ve skied here before the upper mountain closed in 2004, you know it was a special experience. You can help bring this back by donating to the mountain’s GoFundMe. Click the link below to see the money raised and donate.
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair.
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, the Saddleback 5k signups are now open.
Registration & Timeline:
Registration Location: The registration area is located in front of the MAIN BASE LODGE. There is plenty of free parking.
Bib/T-shirt Packet pick-up will be on race day beginning at 8:30 am
The race begins at 10:00 AM.
Registration Fee $40
The requested T-shirt size cannot be guaranteed after September 20
The top 3 male/female finishers will receive prizes.
No dogs allowed
The lift will not spin for rides to the top during the 5k.
For more information and to sign up for the race, click the link below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
The Saddleback Bike Park is back open! Let’s all do a little dance to stop the rain… I mean, it’s a suggestion. Anyway, the sun has come out once again, which allowed for the trails to dry up a bit and the crews to get back out and touch them up. The riding will be a little muddy still, but never-the-less fun!
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
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!
With all the rain we’ve gotten recently, please make sure to drive carefully when coming up to the Rangeley area. Some roads are flooded or washed out entirely in parts of Rangeley, Oquossoc, Bryan, Farmington, Farmington Falls, Jay, Wilton, and more. Drive safe, Mainely Skiers!
Weather:
Tropical Storm Warning! Most of Eastern, Central, and Southern Maine are in the Tropical Storm Warning. Remember to take the necessary precautions to prepare and plan for the storm.
Other than Saturday being the day of the storm, the other days look good for some time outside. It’s time to get out because Life is Better Outside!
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Summer Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Saddleback is Maine’s Favorite Mountain:
This just in – Saddleback Maine has been named Downeast Magazine’s Best Of Maine for the Ski Mountain category. This is the second year in a row the mountain has received such a title. Saddleback has been using the “Maine’s Favorite Mountain” slogan since they won the nomination last year around this time and will be able to hold on to the title for another year. Congratulations Saddleback.
Photo: Saddleback Maine
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:
Brunch In The Pub
July 9
September 24
Every Sunday
Northwoods Gravel Grind Afterparty
September 9
September 9
One Day
Xterra Trail Run World Championships @ Sugarloaf
October 1
October 1
One Day
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
XTERRA Trail Run:
Join Sugarloaf on Sep 30 – Oct 1 for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. Sugarloaf Mountain has been chosen as the pinnacle event for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. A weekend-long trail running festival that will see top elite and amateur runners compete for $10,000 in prize money and XTERRA championship crowns in both full and half marathon distances. Live music, great food, and family entertainment will keep the energy high throughout the weekend, with 5K and 10K trail runs, and races for kids to ensure everybody can get involved. For more information and to sign up, click the link below.
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair.
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, the Saddleback 5k signups are now open.
Registration & Timeline:
Registration Location: The registration area is located in front of the MAIN BASE LODGE. There is plenty of free parking.
Bib/T-shirt Packet pick-up will be on race day beginning at 8:30 am
The race begins at 10:00 AM.
Registration Fee $40
The requested T-shirt size cannot be guaranteed after September 20
The top 3 male/female finishers will receive prizes.
No dogs allowed
The lift will not spin for rides to the top during the 5k.
For more information and to sign up for the race, click the link below.
On a facebook post made today by Sunday River, they explain the progress on the Broadway trail as it undergoes a major snowmaking upgrade. They shared a photo along with a link to their blog where they go into more detail about the automated snowmaking plan as well as other updates happening around the 8 peaks. Check it out in the link below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
The Saddleback Bike Park is back open! Let’s all do a little dance to stop the rain… I mean, it’s a suggestion. Anyway, the sun has come out once again, which allowed for the trails to dry up a bit and the crews to get back out and touch them up. The riding will be a little muddy still, but never-the-less fun!
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
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!
With all the rain we’ve gotten recently, please make sure to drive carefully when coming up to the Rangeley area. Some roads are flooded or washed out entirely in parts of Rangeley, Oquossoc, Bryan, Farmington, Farmington Falls, Jay, Wilton, and more. Drive safe, Mainely Skiers!
Weather:
Wow! I don’t know what you guys did but here is our first good weather weekend for a few years! Joking aside, we’re forecasting some partly sunny skies all weekend with warm weather on tap. It’s time to get out because Life is Better Outside!
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Summer Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Saddleback is Maine’s Favorite Mountain:
This just in – Saddleback Maine has been named Downeast Magazine’s Best Of Maine for the Ski Mountain category. This is the second year in a row the mountain has received such a title. Saddleback has been using the “Maine’s Favorite Mountain” slogan since they won the nomination last year around this time and will be able to hold on to the title for another year. Congratulations Saddleback.
Photo: Saddleback Maine
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:
Brunch In The Pub
July 9
September 24
Every Sunday
Northwoods Gravel Grind Afterparty
September 9
September 9
One Day
Xterra Trail Run World Championships @ Sugarloaf
October 1
October 1
One Day
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
XTERRA Trail Run:
Join Sugarloaf on Sep 30 – Oct 1 for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. Sugarloaf Mountain has been chosen as the pinnacle event for the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. A weekend-long trail running festival that will see top elite and amateur runners compete for $10,000 in prize money and XTERRA championship crowns in both full and half marathon distances. Live music, great food, and family entertainment will keep the energy high throughout the weekend, with 5K and 10K trail runs, and races for kids to ensure everybody can get involved. For more information and to sign up, click the link below.
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair.
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, the Saddleback 5k signups are now open.
Registration & Timeline:
Registration Location: The registration area is located in front of the MAIN BASE LODGE. There is plenty of free parking.
Bib/T-shirt Packet pick-up will be on race day beginning at 8:30 am
The race begins at 10:00 AM.
Registration Fee $40
The requested T-shirt size cannot be guaranteed after September 20
The top 3 male/female finishers will receive prizes.
No dogs allowed
The lift will not spin for rides to the top during the 5k.
For more information and to sign up for the race, click the link below.
On a facebook post made today by Sunday River, they explain the progress on the Broadway trail as it undergoes a major snowmaking upgrade. They shared a photo along with a link to their blog where they go into more detail about the automated snowmaking plan as well as other updates happening around the 8 peaks. Check it out in the link below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
The Saddleback Bike Park is back open! Let’s all do a little dance to stop the rain… I mean, it’s a suggestion. Anyway, the sun has come out once again, which allowed for the trails to dry up a bit and the crews to get back out and touch them up. The riding will be a little muddy still, but never-the-less fun!
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
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!
With all the rain we’ve gotten recently, please make sure to drive carefully when coming up to the Rangeley area. Some roads are flooded or washed out entirely in parts of Rangeley, Oquossoc, Bryan, Farmington, Farmington Falls, Jay, Wilton, and more. Drive safe, Mainely Skiers!
Weather:
With, you guessed it, more rain today and tomorrow, it’s looking a little tough to have some quality time outside. Thankfully, Sunday is our saving grace as it’s calling for partly sunny skies with temps in the high 60’s. It’s time to get out because Life is Better Outside!
Welcome to the Mainely Skiing Summer Email! This email will be sent straight to your inbox whenever we release new emails. In this email, we will highlight all the summer activities in or around the Rangeley Area!
Barker Express Chair Sale:
As Sunday River is right in the thick of the new Barker 6 construction, the old chairs had to get out of the way to make way for new Doppelmayr 6 person chairs. One heck of an upgrade if you ask me! Sunday River sold the 120 chairs and the process went to charity – three in fact. They announced they raised $112,767 total. That means Sunday River proudly presented $17,589 to Maine Adaptive, The River Fund Maine, and the MSAD 44 Daycare Initiative. Click the link below to read the full press release.
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:
Brunch In The Pub
July 9
September 24
Every Sunday
Northwoods Gravel Grind Afterparty
September 9
September 9
One Day
Xterra Trail Run World Championships @ Sugarloaf
October 1
October 1
One Day
Sugarloaf Homecoming
October 6
October 8
Three Days
Oktoberfest 2023 @ Saddleback
October 7
October 7
One Day
Sunday River Fall Festival
October 7
October 8
Two Days
Scenic Lift Rides:
Scenic Lift Rides are now open at Sugarloaf and Sunday River! Take a ride up the Chondola at Sunday River or the SuperQuad at Sugarloaf. Click the respective links to learn more about catching the chair.
The Chondola is dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly, so you’ll want to pack up your whole family for this scenic adventure. Lift rides are available from 10AM-4PM on Saturdays and Sundays from early July to mid-October. You can buy tickets online in advance, but will need to pick up your tickets upon arrival. You can also purchase tickets on-site at the various lodges and base areas. Lift tickets will be issued until 3:30PM or until capacity is reached. If you plan to ride the lift back to the bottom, please load before 4PM. For more information, visit the links below.
It’s that time again to start thinking about the fall. After waiting, for what seems like forever, we finally have warm weather. If you’re looking to cool down a little and think about the fall, the Saddleback 5k signups are now open.
Registration & Timeline:
Registration Location: The registration area is located in front of the MAIN BASE LODGE. There is plenty of free parking.
Bib/T-shirt Packet pick-up will be on race day beginning at 8:30 am
The race begins at 10:00 AM.
Registration Fee $40
The requested T-shirt size cannot be guaranteed after September 20
The top 3 male/female finishers will receive prizes.
No dogs allowed
The lift will not spin for rides to the top during the 5k.
For more information and to sign up for the race, click the link below.
On a facebook post made today by Sunday River, they explain the progress on the Broadway trail as it undergoes a major snowmaking upgrade. They shared a photo along with a link to their blog where they go into more detail about the automated snowmaking plan as well as other updates happening around the 8 peaks. Check it out in the link below.
Check out the latest on the Summer Activities page on our website. This page gives access to all the incredible activities you can do in the mountains of Maine. From mountain biking, to hiking, swimming, and golfing, there is something for everyone. Check it out on the home page or by clicking the link below.
This week, Saddleback posted to their various social media accounts explaining how they need to close the downhill mountain biking as of rain. If you’ve been following along with these weekly updates and watching the weather, you know it’s been a wet one this summer. They claim they need time for the trails to dry out, and for crews to work to repair sections of trails that got hit the hardest with rain. Not to fear though – they did give a date on when the bike park will be open. It’s Thursday, August 24.
They will be spinning their South Branch Quad Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:47 pm. (We know it’s a weird time). This is to maximize your time outside and ride the newest summer project for yourself. During the winter months, when the mountain is spinning all six of their lifts, closing at 3:40 pm isn’t that big of a deal – there are other ways to ski until 4:00 pm. With this, however, the lift is moving slightly slower to allow the use of foot traffic.
The MTB crew is only getting started, and there are already plans to grow. In the meantime, check out their progress and purchase a pass to see for yourself by clicking the link below.
The newest major lift progress at Sugarloaf since the SuperQuad all the way back in 1994, the new Bucksaw Express will take skiers and riders to the top of West Mountain by the on-mountain Bullwinkles Grill. The lift will stretch 6,574 feet long and feature a 1,433-foot vertical rise. It will also be the future home to over 200 new homes including 52 single-family house lots.
The expansion will shorten the existing West Mountain Double Chair to the mid-station to relieve congestion at the top unload area. Set to debut in late December – early January with 12 trails: Bucksaw, Feller Buncher, Chipper, Hatchet, Whistle Punk, Beaver Tail, Knot Bumper, Gandy Dancer, Cutter, West Mtn. Crosscut, Twitcher, and Yarder. Although the difficulty ratings haven’t come out yet, I expect it to be around greens and blues with some blacks mixed in to keep things interesting.
Sugarloaf posted a video to Facebook showcasing the project and Sugarloaf’s continued investment to their mountain. They’re adding 246 high-efficiency HKD snow guns and over 88,000′ of new snowmaking pipe. Check out the full video below along with the 2030 plan.
Sunday River is making quick work on their newest project, a new, high-speed, detachable 6 person lift – Barker 6. This new lift is manufactured by the world’s leading lift manufacturer, Doppelmayr and is set to be complete by the 2023-24 ski season. This lift will be pretty much identical to the Jordan 8 by featuring heated, ergonomic seats, individual head & foot rests, weather-proof Sunday River Red bubble covers, automatically lowering and locking restraining bar, 13 towers with 63 chairs, and a ride time of just under 5 minutes. This new lift will be a game changer for the Barker area and for Sunday River as a whole.
As well as the Barker 6, Sunday River is installing their second triple chair on Merrill Hill. The new triple chair will provide more opportunities for ski-in, ski-out homes on Merrill Hill. This lift is the second Doppelmayr lift getting installed at the River. While this lift wasn’t in the public eye as much as Barker 6 until this week, the two lifts should be complete when the snow flies. Check out the progress from a photo Sunday River posted this week over on Merrill Hill. See more by clicking the links below.
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!
With all the rain we’ve gotten recently, please make sure to drive carefully when coming up to the Rangeley area. Some roads are flooded or washed out entirely in parts of Rangeley, Oquossoc, Bryan, Farmington, Farmington Falls, Jay, Wilton, and more. Drive safe, Mainely Skiers!
Weather:
This weekend looks a little shakey to be outside. Thankfully, if we can avoid. therain, it shoud make way for some partly sunny skies with warm temps. It’s time to get out because Life is Better Outside!
