Saddleback, ME 1/31/04

Chromer

Chromer

New member
Saddleback over in Rangley, Maine is much improved this year. New <BR>owner. Ticket prices went down, the chairs got new pads, they're making <BR>more snow (so at least rocks and the icy spots are mostly covered), their <BR>grooming is better (so the snow has stayed put with the 50-80mph winds we've <BR>been having up high this week), they've cleaned-up some existing neglected <BR>glades and cut a couple new ones. <BR> <BR>Cold today, but no lifts on "wind hold". Cosied up to the woodstove in a <BR>comfy chair in the warming hut at the top of the chair when the feet got too <BR>cold. High temp at the top of the highest chair looked to be about -5. <BR> <BR>Almost all manmade on the trails, but almost no ice showing anywhere except <BR>natural snow trails. The manmade had been groomed up to a supremely <BR>carveable soft surface. Not quite packed powder, but close. <BR> <BR>Snow in the woods depended on aspect and varied from wind-scoured and <BR>sculpted styrofoam to wind-pack to fluffy untouched knee-deep. <BR> <BR>A $35 ticket, about 10 other "serious" skiers in competition for the woods <BR>goods, and an awesome BBQ pork sandwich for lunch from the cafe capped off <BR>the highlights. <BR> <BR>They need some input on how to cut a glade though... "Nightmare" is exactly <BR>that -- they removed so many trees that there is nothing left to protect the <BR>snow from the wind anymore and it has been blasted clean. <BR> <BR>I have to get over there more. It's only about 20 minutes longer from <BR>Kingfield->Saddleback than Kingfield->The 'loaf, and it's an entirely <BR>different world.
 
Was it possible to ski off of the Kennebago T-bar? and if so what trails were open. When I was there on January 17th this part of the mountain was closed and the trails looked very sparse. Upper Peachy's Peril was an unedgable icy deathtrap, to put it mildy. Has there been alot of new snow in the last two weeks? I want to take a trip back up to ski Sugarloaf on Easter weekend if there is enough snow by then to open the snowfields.
 
Heading up to Saddleback with the family for 4 days in Feburary. We have never ski'd this area, from the sounds of your experience and the up coming weather forcast should be fun. Is ther good coverages on most trails? Are there trails for the kids? They're intermidiate skiers and boarders.
 
I never rode the Kennebago T-bar that day. It was running, however. I'd have to think that by Easter things will be in much better shape snow-wise. <BR> <BR>As for intermediate terrain, truth told I don't spend much time on that so I can't really say. Looking up at the mountain from the base, things get increasingly steep moving from right to left. It isn't a huge area when you're just skiing trails, so 4 days might get a little repetitive. Maybe 2 days there, spend a day at Sugarloaf, and spend your last day at Sunday River on your way home.
 
Oh, and the intermediate trails I did see were well covered with manmade snow. Things should be even better covered now.
 
Thanks for the info. Heading up Friday. Will probablly take your advice and head over to Sugarloaf for a day.
 
Make sure you pick a calm day to go to sugarloaf. They've been having a rough time with winds forcing lifts to stop running this season. <BR> <BR>Even the Superquad has been down 18 days so far this season, mostly in the last 6 weeks.
 
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