Welcome to the end of March, a major transition here at Sugarbush, and one I personally look forward to every year. While we do say goodbye and thank you to Mt. Ellen for another fun-filled season, we also get to welcome in our spring operating schedule. Beginning Monday, March 30th, we will push our lift schedule back an hour, moving to 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM midweek and 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on weekends.
Wondering why it is we do that? I think the weather yesterday into today provides a good example of the benefits of pushing back an hour. This time of year we typically begin to see a lot of freeze/thaw cycles (great for my side-hobby of Sugaring, trickier for groomers here on the mountain). Last night in particular we didn’t see the freeze happen until the morning, pretty close to our 9:00 AM opening. In order to put out the best product we could, we opted to delay a number of lifts while our grooming team resurfaced as much terrain as they can. The end result was a much better product than the alternative of grooming pre-freeze or not grooming at all. Typically, we’ll see that freeze happen more in the middle of the night, and pushing the schedule back an hour gives our groomers a little more time to groom post-freeze. It also gives Mother Nature an extra hour to soften things up as we open for the day. Long story short, the move to spring hours yields better surface conditions not to mention an extra hour of afternoon sun.
As we turn the page to April, we also still have two of our best spring events on the horizon. Pond Skimming returns on Saturday, April 4th, one of our mainstay events that is already sold out. But don’t fret. For those of you a little too late on the sign up trigger but wishing you could try your luck across the pond can still enter in by winning the Pond Skimming Entry Party Costume Contest on Friday, April 3rd. We’re handing out 25 spots for the best dressed. Then the following Saturday, April 11th we welcome in Andy Frasco & The U.N. for our 5th Annual Spring Fling. They’ll be playing the big stage in the Lincoln Peak Courtyard starting at 2:30 PM in what is sure to be a packed party. Get here early and check out The Grift at 12:30 PM as well. Yet that’s not all…Easter, Mad Triathlon, live music, and more are all on the docket too. Check out the full events calendar. Of course, I also have to highlight Pride Weekend from several days ago. Thank you to everyone who came out and showed support, it was another incredible time. For the fourth year in a row, the sun started shining right in time for the parade down Snowball/Spring Fling. See Corinne’s blog for the highlights.
The spring sun should also remind you that Season Passes and Quad Packs are on sale now at their lowest rates. If you buy now you can ride now for the rest of this season. And, for those of you with TBD Tickets, your spring ticket is valid April 1st through the end of the season.
Soft turns, sunshine, and plenty of parties. Don’t miss out on the spring vibes.
See you on the mountain.