Sunday River Mountain Archives - Page 5 of 7

Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (March 1, 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 Name	Trails Open	Percent Open
Saddleback	41 / 68	60%
Sugarloaf	50 / 176	29%
Sunday River	81 / 139	58%
Pleasant Mountain	31 / 47	66%

Trail of the Day: King’s Landing (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 Maine	January 10	March 20	Every Wednesday
WinterKids Downhill 24 @ Sugarloaf	February 29	March 1	Two Days
Rangeley XC Loppet @ RLTC	March 2	March 2	One Day
Girls Ride Day @ Sugarloaf	March 2	March 2	One Day
WinterKids Family Day @ Saddleback	March 3	March 3	One Day
Eddy & Betty Dinner @ Sunday River	March 5	March 5	One Day
Banked Slalom @ Sugarloaf	March 9	March 9	One Day
Cardboard Box Race @ Pleasant Mountain	March 9	March 9	One Day
Rangeley Moose Dash Snowshoe 5K @ RLTC	March 10	March 10	One Day
2nd. Annual Back To The Banks @ Saddleback	March 16	March 16	One Day
Annual Mattress Race @ Pleasant Mountain	March 16	March 16	One Day
WinterKids Family Day @ Mt. Abram	March 16	March 16	One Day
WinterKids Family Day @ Pleasant Mountain	March 17	March 17	One Day
Inferno @ Sugarloaf	March 23	March 23	One Day
Spring Fling @ Pleasant Mountain	March 23	March 23	One Day
WinterKids Family Day @ Sunday River	March 24	March 24	One Day
Bust ‘N’ Burn @ Sunday River	March 29	March 31	Three Days

Girls Ride Day:

Come out to Sugarloaf on Saturday, March 2, for the third annual Girls Ride Day hosted by the Girls Trip Adventure Co., A day of fun for girls who snowboard. Learn more about Girls Trip Adventure Co. below.

thegirlstripadventureco.com

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

Saddleback – March 3
Mt. Abram – March 16
Pleasant Mountain – March 17
Sunday River – March 24

Banked Slalom at Sugarloaf:

Come on out and join the greater Sugarloaf snowboard community for the 13th Annual Sugarloaf Banked Slalom event. Nothing quite beats hanging out with 200+ of your local New England buds at Sugarloaf for one of the top East Coast, snowboard-only events. Snowboarders will unite to celebrate the growth of the sport. Sign up now:

sugarloaf.com

USASA Slopestyle At Saddleback:

Watch as some of New England’s best young skiers go head-to-head for top honors at this USASA Slopestyle Competition on Wheeler Slope Park built by the Saddleback Terrain Parks crew. Show up and watch this awesome event on Saturday, March 9. This event is sold out for USASA-registered skiers only. Learn more below:

saddlebackmaine.com

2nd Annual Back To The Banks:

Saddleback will host their second annual Back To The Banks, a banked slalom event on Lower Grey Ghost on Saturday, March 16. Please note, this event is only open to snowboarders or people who use snow skates. For more information and to sign up, click the link below!

saddlebackmaine.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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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

Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides:

If you’re still in the Christmas spirit or you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly adventure, there are a number of various dates for horse-drawn carriage rides in downtown Rangeley. Don’t miss out on making those memories before the season ends! For more info and dates, see the full schedule below!

• Saturday, February 24th (February Break)
• Saturday, March 2nd
• Saturday, March 9th
• Saturday, March 16th

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. 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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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

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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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:

We started the week off great; however, Mother Nature had other plans for us. Sadly, we ended the week with rain and strong winds, which closed some ski areas and seriously affected others. Pray for snow, Mainely Skiers – we need it!

Weather:

After the rain and intense wind this week, the ski areas are still recovering. Sadly, it’s not getting any better. We’re looking at ra*n on Saturday, and those warm temps will carry over into Sunday, making for difficult grooming conditions. Today or later in the day on Sunday, would be the better times to go skiing this weekend. Now more than ever, we need snow dances! For the current lift status, click the link below.

mainelyskiing.com

Time to put on the Gore-Tex!

– Keegan

March 1, 2024

Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (February 16, 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 Name	Trails Open	Percent Open
Saddleback	54 / 68	79%
Sugarloaf	97 / 176	56%
Sunday River	98 / 139	71%
Pleasant Mountain	29 / 47	62%

Trail of the Day: Red Devil (Saddleback)

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 Maine	January 10	March 20	Every Wednesday
February Vacation Week	February 19	February 23	Five Days
February Fireworks @ Sugarloaf	February 20	February 20	One Day
February Fest @ Saddleback	February 23	February 23	One Day
WinterKids Downhill 24 @ Sugarloaf	February 29	March 1	Two Days

February Break Fun:

Remember, as February Break approaches we want to give you the best all-in-one events calendar for every mountain throughout vacation. While this is sent in the email every week, you can always see the most current info by going to our events page. Click here for more: mainelyskiing.com/events

Sat, Feb. 17:

Slopeside Fire Dancing at Sunday River
Horse Drawn Wagon Rides in Downtown Rangeley
Chris Goodenough @ Black Mountain

Sun, Feb. 18:

9th Annual Winterpalooza in Rangeley
Après Music Series: Ryan McCalmon at Saddleback
Horse Drawn Wagon Rides in Downtown Rangeley
Noel & Don @ Black Mountain
Bea Wee Lollipop Race at Saddleback

Mon, Feb 19:

President’s Day
February Fireworks at Sugarloaf

Tues, Feb 20:

West Mountain Celebration at Sugarloaf
Horse Drawn Wagon Rides in Downtown Rangeley
Sparks Art Critter Encounter at Sunday River
WinterKids Family Day at Black Mountain
Winterstick Snowboard Demo Day at Saddleback

Wed, Feb 21:

Eddy & Betty Dinner at Sunday River
Racing With The Moon at Pleasant Mountain
WinterKids Family Day at Mt. Abram

Thurs, Feb 22:

Climb For Community at Sugarloaf
Horse Drawn Wagon Rides in Downtown Rangeley

Fri, Feb 23:

February Fest at Saddleback
GeeWhiz Grom Slopestyle Open at Saddleback
Friday Night Live Music at Pleasant Mountain
Storybook Snowshoe at Sugarloaf

Sat, Feb 24:

CVA Scholarship Bash @ Sugarloaf
Après Music Series: Unknown Legend at Saddleback
Adam Brenton at Black Mountain
Slopeside Fire Dancing at Sunday River
Eddy & Betty Dinner at Sunday River
Horse Drawn Wagon Rides in Downtown Rangeley

Sun, Feb 25:

Bea Wee Lollipop Race at Saddleback
Free Sleigh Rides at Black Mountain
WinterKids Family Day at Titcomb Mountain
Byron Glaus at Black Mountain

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

WinterKids Downhill 24:

Help raise money for families in need by participating in Sugarloaf and WinetKids Downhill 24. Happening from February 29, to March 1. To register and learn more about this special opportunity to ski around the clock, click the link below!

winterkids.org

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Bucksaw Express:

Sugarloaf’s newest lift and biggest expansion since the SuperQuad, Bucksaw Express opened today. Get to the west side for all the new trails. Learn more below.

sugarloaf.com

Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides:

If you’re still in the Christmas spirit or you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly adventure, there are a number of various dates for horse-drawn carriage rides in downtown Rangeley. Don’t miss out on making those memories before the season ends! For more info and dates, see the full schedule below!

• Saturday, February 17th
• Sunday, February 18th 11:30-1:30pm (Winterpaloozah)
• Tuesday, February 20th (February Break)
• Thursday, February 22nd (February Break)
• Saturday, February 24th (February Break)
• Saturday, March 2nd
• Saturday, March 9th
• Saturday, March 16th

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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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

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:

With the opening of Bucksaw Express, we’re looking good rolling into the weekend. Sadly, we watched some rain cause some problems early in the week, but the cold temps allowed groomers to get out and till up the ice, turning it into perfect corduroy.

Weather:

The temps are looking more like winter as we kick off February vacation. Don’t let the cloudy skies wreck your fun, bring the low-light goggles and some layers for warmth. We’re also eyeing some snow in the long-range forecast, so keep doing those snow dances, Mainely Skiers! For the current lift status, click the link below.

mainelyskiing.com

Pack your low-light goggles.

– Keegan

February 16, 2024

Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (December 29, 2023)

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	15 / 68	22%
Sugarloaf	36 / 176	20%
Sunday River	24 / 139	17%
Pleasant Mountain	8 / 47	17%

Trail of the Day: Blue Devil (Saddleback)

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:
Christmas Vacation Week	December 25	December 29	Five Days
Indie Demo Day @ Sunday River	January 6	January 6	One Day
Vertical Challenge @ BigRock	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

Christmas Break:

Get ready for the always busy Christmas Vacation Week. This week, it looks like it will be packed with family-friendly events happening all week. For the most up-to-date information, make sure to bookmark the events page or click the link below!

mainelyskiing.com

Vertical Challenge @ Big Rock:

The Vertical Challenge is set to take on BigRock on January 6, 2024. The Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski & snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast. In addition to the races, attendees enjoy a festival, featuring snowy activities for all ages throughout a fun day on the mountain.

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Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides:

The Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides are back in Downtown Rangeley. See the full schedule below!

• Saturday, December 30th
• Saturday, January 6th
• Saturday, January 13th
• Saturday, January 20th
• Saturday, January 27th
• Saturday, February 3rd
• Saturday, February 10th
• Saturday, February 17th
• Sunday, February 18th 11:30-1:30pm (Winterpaloozah)
• Tuesday, February 20th
• Thursday, February 22nd
• Saturday, February 24th
• Saturday, March 2nd
• Saturday, March 9th
• Saturday, March 16th

Vertical Challenge @ Black Mountain of Maine:

Happening at Black Mountain of Maine on Saturday, January 20, the Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski & snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast. In addition to the races, attendees enjoy a festival, featuring snowy activities for all ages throughout a fun day on the mountain. Learn more below.

skiblackmountain.org

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

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

Resort Status Page:

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.

mainelyskiing.com

Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback:

Saddleback will host the Vertical Challenge on Sunday, January 7. The event is a series of free casual ski and snowboard races open to all ages and abilities. Skiers and snowboarders are divided by gender and age to compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals in each category. Check it out by clicking the link below.

saddlebackmaine.com

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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:

Since the crazy winter storm that sent the Maine ski scene into a frenzy, ski areas are desperately trying to recover. The week of fog, rain, and warm temps aren’t helping as resorts can’t start snowmaking until the next cold front moves in. In the meantime, we’re praying for snow.

Weather:

While we just have to sit, wait, and hope for snow, the long-term forecast is looking prime for snowmaking. Make sure to check your local mountain’s report to see the latest on snowmaking. I guess if Mother Natute won’t provide it, they’ll just have to make it. Click the link below to see current lift status.

mainelyskiing.com

Back to my snow dances…

– Keegan

December 29, 2023

Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (December 22, 2023)

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	20 / 176	12%
Sunday River	0 / 139	0%
Pleasant Mountain	11 / 47	25%

Trail of the Day: Tote Road (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:
Santa Visits @ Saddleback	December 23	December 23	One Day
Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides in Downtown Rangeley	December 23	December 23	One Day
Christmas Eve Service @ Sugarloaf’s Dick Bell Chapel	December 24	December 24	One Day
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

2023 Mountains Update:

So… On Monday, December 18, a day that will go down in 2023 skier history, Maine saw over 5 inches of rainfall. Plus, the warm temps melted a lot of snow, making for loads of runoff. River capacity was maxed out, towns flooded, and, roads were washed out, and resorts saw crazy infrastructure damage. This forced the resorts in the state to close down to assess the damage. Make sure to check your local mountain’s report page before planning a return to the mountains.

Christmas Break:

Get ready for the always busy Christmas Vacation Week. This week, it looks like it will be packed with family-friendly events happening all week. For the most up-to-date information, make sure to bookmark the events page or click the link below!

mainelyskiing.com

Vertical Challenge @ Big Rock:

The Vertical Challenge is set to take on BigRock on January 6, 2024. The Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski & snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast. In addition to the races, attendees enjoy a festival, featuring snowy activities for all ages throughout a fun day on the mountain.

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Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides:

The Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides are back in Downtown Rangeley. See the full schedule below!

Saturday, December 23rd
• Wednesday, December 27th
• Saturday, December 30th
• Saturday, January 6th
• Saturday, January 13th
• Saturday, January 20th
• Saturday, January 27th
• Saturday, February 3rd
• Saturday, February 10th
• Saturday, February 17th
• Sunday, February 18th 11:30-1:30pm (Winterpaloozah)
• Tuesday, February 20th
• Thursday, February 22nd
• Saturday, February 24th
• Saturday, March 2nd
• Saturday, March 9th
• Saturday, March 16th

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. Plus, for a more frequently updated list, click the link below.

mainelyskiing.com

Mountain Name	Opening Date
Black Mountain of Maine	December 26
Big Rock	December 27
Camden Snow Bowl	December 26
Mt. Abram	December 24
Hermon Mountain	December 30
Titcomb Mountain	Not Announced

Vertical Challenge @ Black Mountain of Maine:

Happening at Black Mountain of Maine on Saturday, January 20, the Vertical Challenge is a series of free casual ski & snowboard races held at ski resorts throughout the northeast. In addition to the races, attendees enjoy a festival, featuring snowy activities for all ages throughout a fun day on the mountain. Learn more below.

skiblackmountain.org

Santa Visits @ Saddleback:

Santa Claus is comin’ to town on Saturday, December 23 at Saddleback. He’ll make a stop in Rangeley before heading back to the North Pole to get ready for a busy Christmas Eve! Click the link to read more!

saddlebackmaine.com

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

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

Resort Status Page:

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.

mainelyskiing.com

Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback:

Saddleback will host the Vertical Challenge on Sunday, January 7. The event is a series of free casual ski and snowboard races open to all ages and abilities. Skiers and snowboarders are divided by gender and age to compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals in each category. Check it out by clicking the link below.

saddlebackmaine.com

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Sugarloaf Making Progress:

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.

facebook.com/sugarloaf

sugarloaf.com

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:

Sadly, after Monday’s storm, the resort’s trail counts have been reduced back down to snowmaking trails and very limited lifts. The good thing is that there isn’t a big worry of hitting rocks, stumps, grass, or other early season conditions… It’s just snow!

Weather:

We’re forecasting some better snowmaking weather for the weekend before Christmas Break. Start your vacation off right in the mountains! Click the link below to see current lift status.

mainelyskiing.com

Great to be back on snow!

– Keegan

December 22, 2023

Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (December 8, 2023)

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	67 / 68	99%
Sugarloaf	66 / 176	38%
Sunday River	31 / 139	22%
Pleasant Mountain	5 / 47	11%

Trail of the Day: Blue Devil (Saddleback)

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:
Pleasant Mountain’s Opening Day	December 8	December 8	One Day
Lost Valley’s Opening Day	December 9	December 9	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

Pleasant Mountain is Open:

Pleasant Mountain sent their first chair of the season up the Pine Quad at 9:30am this morning. For more information or to stay in the loop, click the link below.

pleasantmountain.com

Lost Valley Opens Tomorrow:

Lost Valley has been cranking out snow and are opening a week earlier than expected. Lost Valley will send the first chair of the season up at 9:00am. They also plan to offer 4 trails:

Early-season conditions means no easy way down. All trails will be marked as Blue Squares.

Difficulty	Trail Name	Difficulty	Trail Name
	Pine Grove		Big Buck
	Deer Run		Bobcat

For more information, please check out their report page listed below.

lostvalleyski.com

Sunday River’s Barker 6 Opening Day:

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.

sundayriver.com

Three More Resorts Start Snowmaking:

This week, snowmaking crews from BigRock, Camden Snow Bowl, and Mt. Abram all fired up their equipment. While the snow we got on Sunday and Monday will help build bases, we hope it’s just the start of a great season ahead. Bring it on, Mother Nature. For the most current report on your local resorts, click the link below.

mainelyskiing.com

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Santa Sunday:

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.

sundayriver.com

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. Plus, for a more frequently updated list, click the link below.

mainelyskiing.com

Mountain Name	Opening Date
Pleasant Mountain	December 8
Black Mountain of Maine	December 26
Big Rock	December 16
Camden Snow Bowl	December 26
Mt. Abram	December 16
Big Moose Mountain	December 26
Lost Valley	December 8
Hermon Mountain	December 30
Titcomb Mountain	Not Announced

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

Saddleback $49 Lift Tickets:

Buy Now And Save!

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.

saddlebackmaine.com

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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

Resort Status Page:

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.

mainelyskiing.com

Saddleback’s New Website:

Saddleback released a new website that we think looks pretty good! They debuted it for the first weekend of the season, and it will only get better as the season progresses. Check it out below!

saddlebackmaine.com

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:

Mountain Name	Adult Price	Next Deadline
Saddleback Maine	$949	12/31
Sugarloaf (New England Gold)	$1,619	N / A
Sunday River (New England Gold)	$1,619	N / A
Pleasant Mountain	$959	N / A
Black Mountain of Maine	$525	N / A
Big Rock	$520	N / A
Camden Snow Bowl	$550	N / A
Mt. Abram	$599	N / A
Lost Valley	$645	N / A
Hermon Mountain	$530	N / A
Titcomb Mountain	$265	N / A

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Sugarloaf Making Progress:

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.

facebook.com/sugarloaf

sugarloaf.com

The Barker 6 Mix:

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.

sundayriver.com

Facebook Post

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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:

Woah! Thanks for all the snow, Mother Nature, we loved it! The snow that fell Sunday night into Monday made for great mid-week skiing out there. We watched Sugarloaf nearly triple their trail count and Sunday River doubled it. We’re looking good as we start December.

Weather:

We’re hoping the rain for Sunday will hold off, making for a good weekend of skiing and riding. With four resorts already open and Lost Valley opening tomorrow, there’s lots of excitement here in the mountains. Welcome to winter, welcome to ski season!

mainelyskiing.com

Keep doing those snow dances!

– Keegan

December 8, 2023

Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (November 24, 2023)

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	13 / 139	9%
Pleasant Mountain	0 / 47	0%

Trail of the Day: Kings Landing (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 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:

Last week, both Sunday River and Sugarloaf sent the first chair of the 2023-24 ski season up the hill. 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!

mainelyskiing.com

Three More Resorts Start Snowmaking:

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.

mainelyskiing.com

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Downeast Ski Club Ski Sale & Winter Expo:

The Downeast Ski Club Ski Sale is happening this Saturday from 8:00am – 3:00pm at the Portland Expo in Portland Maine. Admission is free, and thousands of items are up for sale. You’re bound to find great deals all day! For more information, click the link below.

downeastskiclub.com

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. Plus, for a more frequently updated list, click the link below.

mainelyskiing.com

Mountain Name	Opening Date
Saddleback Mountain	December 2
Pleasant Mountain	December 16
Black Mountain of Maine	December 26
Big Rock	Not Announced
Camden Snow Bowl	December 26
Mt. Abram	December 16
Big Moose Mountain	December 26
Lost Valley	December 15
Hermon Mountain	December 30
Titcomb Mountain	Not Announced

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

Saddleback $49 Lift Tickets:

Buy Now And Save!

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.

saddlebackmaine.com

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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

Resort Status Page:

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.

mainelyskiing.com

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:

Mountain Name	Adult Price	Next Deadline
Saddleback Maine	$949	12/31
Sugarloaf (New England Gold)	$1,619	11/30
Sunday River (New England Gold)	$1,619	11/30
Pleasant Mountain	$959	11/30
Black Mountain of Maine	$475	11/30
Big Rock	$500	11/27
Camden Snow Bowl	$550	N / A
Mt. Abram	$599	N / A
Lost Valley	$645	N / A
Hermon Mountain	$530	N / A
Titcomb Mountain	$265	N / A

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Sugarloaf Making Progress:

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.

facebook.com/sugarloaf

sugarloaf.com

The Barker 6 Mix:

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.

sundayriver.com

Facebook Post

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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:

This past week, we were welcomed by the first big storm of the season. Dropping 7-10 inches across the resorts. Keep doing those snow dances!

Weather:

We’re back into snowmaking temps which means the mighty snowmakers headed back to the hill. The good thing is that these temps should allow Saddleback to stick with their opening day, Dec 2. The bad is that we’ll be skiing under snowmaking clouds. These lows should bring some amazing expansions. Keep tabs on the lift status page for more info.

mainelyskiing.com

Thank a snowmaker!

– Keegan

November 24, 2023

Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (October 13, 2023)

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!

mainelysking.com/mountain-lift-status

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.

gofundme.com

Snowmaking Tests:

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.

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:

Mountain Name	Adult Price	Next Deadline
Saddleback Maine	$949	12/31
Sugarloaf (New England Gold)	$1,619	11/30
Sunday River (New England Gold)	$1,619	11/30
Pleasant Mountain	$859	10/13
Black Mountain of Maine	$475	11/30
Big Rock	N / A	N / A
Camden Snow Bowl	$445	10/31
Mt. Abram	$599	N / A
Lost Valley	$645	N / A
Hermon Mountain	$477	10/31
Titcomb Mountain	$205	11/4

Sugarloaf Debuts New Trail Map:

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.

mainelyskiing.com

Sunday River Early Season Update:

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.

sundayriver.com

Fall Activities:

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.

mainelyskiing.com

PVSC Ski Swap:

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!

pvskiclub.org

Sugarloaf Making Progress:

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.

facebook.com/sugarloaf

sugarloaf.com

New Hours At Rangeley Health And Wellness:

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.

https://rrhwp.org/

The Barker 6 Mix:

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.

sundayriver.com

Facebook Video

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:

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.

Think sun – then snow!

– Keegan

October 13, 2023

Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (August 18, 2023)

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.

sundayriver.com

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

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.

sundayriver.com
sugarloaf.com

Oktoberfest 5k Signups:

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.

saddlebackmaine.com

Sunday River Updates Snowmaking Projects:

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.

sundayriver.com

Summer Activities:

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.

mainelyskiing.com

Saddleback Bike Park Closed For Rain:

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.

saddlebackmaine.com

Sugarloaf Making Progress:

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.

facebook.com/sugarloaf

sugarloaf.com

The Barker 6 Mix:

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.

sundayriver.com

Facebook Video

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:

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!

Have a great weekend!

– Keegan

August 18, 2023

Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (February 24, 2023)

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	68 / 68	100%
Sugarloaf	99 / 162	61%
Sunday River	132 / 139	95%
Pleasant Mountain	30 / 47	65%

Trail of the Day: Thrombosis Glade (Saddleback Mountain)

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:
Lollipop Races @ Saddleback	January 1	April 2	Every Sunday
President’s Week @ Sunday River	February 17	February 26	10 Days
2nd. Annual February Fest @ Saddleback	February 24	February 24	One Day
WinterKids Family Day @ Saddleback	March 5	March 5	One Day
Cardboard Box Race @ Pleasant Mountain	March 11	March 11	One Day
DST Operations Shift @ Saddleback	March 12	March 12	One Day
Mattress Race @ Pleasant Mountain	March 18	March 18	One Day
Back To The Banks Banked Slalom @ Saddleback	March 18	March 18	One Day
Paror Ski Demo Day @ Saddleback	March 18	March 18	One Day
Spring Fling @ Pleasant Mountain	March 25	March 25	One Day
Spring Fest Weekend @ Sunday River	March 31	April 2	3 Days
Sugarloaf Reggae Fest	April 6	April 9	4 Days
The Great Tailgate @ Sunday River	April 15	April 15	One Day
King Of The Mountain: Hill Climb @ Saddleback	April 21	April 22	2 Days

BIG News From Sunday River:

Just announced – Two new lifts will be taking skiers and riders up the mountains of Sunday River. A new Merrill Hill Triple will access the back side of the mountain and add to the Real Estate options and ski-in, and ski-out house lots. Also, the most highly anticipated announcement, a brand new, Doppelmayr High-Speed, 6-Person Bubble chair will replace the Barker Mountain Express. Both lift upgrades are expected to open for the 2023-2024 ski season. For the latest on the Sunday River 2030 project, click the link below.

sundayriver.com

February Fest:

On February 24, Saddleback Presents: The 2nd Annual February Festival at Saddleback Mountain Presented by Skowhegan Savings Bank Plus, the Torchlight Parade & Live Music! Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to spend time with the Saddleback Family on that Friday of February Break. For more information, click the link below.

saddlebackmaine.com

Après Music Series:

Don’t Miss Saddleback’s Après Music Series up in The Pub. After a great day of skiing, come inside to some great music and bites. See full schedule:

Date:	Music Artist:
February 24	12/OC Band (Feb Fest)
February 25	Austin & Green Duo
March 3	Jordan Kaulback
March 4	Invite The Wild
March 10	TJ Swan
March 11	Toby McAllister
March 17	Jordan Kaulback
March 18	The Mallett Brothers
March 24	Austin & Green Duo
March 25	Kitty And TJ

King Of The Mountain Hill Climb:

Registration for the loudest party in the east opened recently. This event runs from Friday, April 21, to Saturday, April 22. This two-day event is presented by Hight Family of Dealerships, BOSS Power Equipment, and WIN Waste Innovations. Hurry – as this event will be capped for numbers. Register now to secure your spot!

Click HERE to add yourself to the race!

Lollipop Race:

Calling all kids 12 and under, Every Sunday at Saddleback, the Rangeley Alpine Ski Club will be co-hosting this event with the Saddleback Ski School. From 1-2, the gates will be open for racing followed by awards on the deck. contact the Ski School desk to sign up. The race takes place on skiers right of Royal Tiger, just below the Rangeley Chair. For more information, see the link below.

saddlebackmaine.com

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:

Thrombosis was skiing great today! The last 50 feet was a little scratchy but beyond that, pure bliss. Make sure to check out the runs off-piste for some surprising conditions.

If you’re ripping it up on the slopes this winter, make sure to tag us on Twitter (@mainelyskiing) and we’ll repost!

Weather:

We had a cold day today, with the feel-like temps hovering around 0 – it felt it. Saturday is more of the same: Hopefully with less wind.

Make sure to check out the Mountain Lift Status, as lifts and trails will be changing throughout the day and onto the weekend. Click the link below for more.

mainelyskiing.com

Go rip it up wickid hahd!

– Keegan

February 24, 2023

Mainely Skiing Weekly Email (February 10, 2023)

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	68 / 68	100%
Sugarloaf	134 / 162	83%
Sunday River	128 / 139	92%
Pleasant Mountain	32 / 47	68%

Trail of the Day: Lower Kancamangus (Pleasant Mountain)

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:
Lollipop Races @ Saddleback	January 1	April 2	Every Sunday
Homeschool Day @ Titcomb Mountain	February 16	February 16	One Day
President’s Week @ Sunday River	February 17	February 26	10 Days
8th. Annual Winterpaloza	February 19	February 19	One Day
2nd. Annual February Fest @ Saddleback	February 24	February 24	One Day

Carrabassett Fat Tire Race:

Take part in the Carrabassett Fat Tire Race happening in the town of Carrabassett on Sunday, February 12. Click the link below to sign up. Hurry – as event registration closes on Friday, February 10.

sugarloaf.com

February Fest:

On February 24, Saddleback Presents: The 2nd Annual February Festival at Saddleback Mountain Presented by Skowhegan Savings Bank Plus, the Torchlight Parade & Live Music! Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to spend time with the Saddleback Family on that Friday of February Break. For more information, click the link below.

saddlebackmaine.com

Après Music Series:

Don’t Miss Saddleback’s Après Music Series up in The Pub. After a great day of skiing, come inside to some great music and bites. See full schedule:

Date:	Music Artist:
February 10	Barney Martin
February 11	Toby McAllister
February 17	Jordan Kaulback
February 18	Humble Strings
February 21	Ryan McCalmon
February 25	Austin & Green Duo
March 3	Jordan Kaulback
March 4	Invite The Wild
March 10	TJ Swan
March 11	Toby McAllister
March 17	Jordan Kaulback
March 18	The Mallett Brothers
March 24	Austin & Green Duo
March 25	Kitty And TJ

King Of The Mountain Hill Climb:

Registration for the loudest party in the east opened recently. This event runs from Friday, April 21, to Saturday, April 22. This two-day event is presented by Hight Family of Dealerships, BOSS Power Equipment, and WIN Waste Innovations. Hurry – as this event will be capped for numbers. Register now to secure your spot!

Click HERE to add yourself to the race!

Lollipop Race:

Calling all kids 12 and under, Every Sunday at Saddleback, the Rangeley Alpine Ski Club will be co-hosting this event with the Saddleback Ski School. From 1-2, the gates will be open for racing followed by awards on the deck. contact the Ski School desk to sign up. The race takes place on skiers right of Royal Tiger, just below the Rangeley Chair. For more information, see the link below.

saddlebackmaine.com

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 the more positive temps! Oh have we missed them. What we haven’t missed is the non-frozen precipitation. Check out the upcoming weather for all the details.

If you’re ripping it up on the slopes this winter, make sure to tag us on Twitter (@mainelyskiing) and we’ll repost!

Weather:

As the weather is looking right now, Friday is a no-go – well, unless you want to get wet. For all the other “fair weather” skiers, like myself, we’ll snag the first chair on Saturday. Fortanly the rain doesn’t look like it’s going to do much damage to the slopes. Pray for snow!

Make sure to check out the Mountain Lift Status, as lifts and trails will be changing throughout the day and onto the weekend. Click the link below for more.

mainelyskiing.com

Go rip it up!

– Keegan

February 10, 2023

Day:	Friday:	Saturday:	Sunday:
High:	29	41	49
Low:	19	34	35

Day:	Friday:	Saturday:	Sunday:
High:	20	23	23
Low:	13	4	13

Day:	Friday:	Saturday:	Sunday:
High:	29	37	42
Low:	14	33	40

Day:	Friday:	Saturday:	Sunday:
High:	29	28	37
Low:	8	19	27

Day:	Friday:	Saturday:	Sunday:
High:	72	65	75
Low:	54	54	61

Tag: Sunday River Mountain

Mountain Report:

Trail of the Day: King’s Landing (Sugarloaf)

Upcoming Events:

Girls Ride Day:

WinterKids Family Days:

Banked Slalom at Sugarloaf:

USASA Slopestyle At Saddleback:

2nd Annual Back To The Banks:

3rd Annual Hill Climb:

Saddleback Ski Patrol Auction:

Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides:

Total Solar Eclipse:

Bust ‘N’ Burn:

Skier Services:

Sugarloaf Marathon Registration Open:

Mainely Skiing Gear Guide:

Saddleback Webcams:

Last Chair:

Weather:

Mountain Report:

Trail of the Day: Red Devil (Saddleback)

Upcoming Events:

February Break Fun:

Sat, Feb. 17:

Sun, Feb. 18:

Mon, Feb 19:

Tues, Feb 20:

Wed, Feb 21:

Thurs, Feb 22:

Fri, Feb 23:

Sat, Feb 24:

Sun, Feb 25:

3rd Annual Hill Climb:

WinterKids Downhill 24:

Bucksaw Express:

Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides:

Skier Services:

Sugarloaf Marathon Registration Open:

Mainely Skiing Gear Guide:

Saddleback Webcams:

Last Chair:

Weather:

Mountain Report:

Trail of the Day: Blue Devil (Saddleback)

Upcoming Events:

Christmas Break:

Vertical Challenge @ Big Rock:

Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides:

Vertical Challenge @ Black Mountain of Maine:

Mainely Skiing Gear Guide:

Sugarloaf Marathon Registration Open:

Resort Status Page:

Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback:

Saddleback Webcams:

Last Chair:

Weather:

Mountain Report:

Trail of the Day: Tote Road (Sugarloaf)

Upcoming Events:

2023 Mountains Update:

Christmas Break:

Vertical Challenge @ Big Rock:

Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides:

Opening Days:

Vertical Challenge @ Black Mountain of Maine:

Santa Visits @ Saddleback:

Mainely Skiing Gear Guide:

Sugarloaf Marathon Registration Open:

Resort Status Page:

Vertical Challenge @ Saddleback:

Sugarloaf Making Progress:

Saddleback Webcams:

Last Chair:

Weather:

Mountain Report:

Trail of the Day: Blue Devil (Saddleback)

Upcoming Events:

Pleasant Mountain is Open:

Lost Valley Opens Tomorrow: