Sugarloaf opens for 2021/22 winter season
CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine (November 22, 2021) – Thanks to favorable snowmaking conditions over the past 10 days and cold temperatures forecast for the coming week, Sugarloaf became just the third ski resort in the east to open for the 2021/22 winter season on Monday.
Sugarloaf’s opening day terrain included two lifts and seven trails covering more than 36 acres and spanning 4 miles, from the summit of Maine’s second tallest mountain all the way to the base. Sugarloaf currently has the most open terrain in the East.
“We’ve been fortunate that our northern location and high elevation has given us some good snowmaking conditions over the past couple of week,” Crusher Wilkinson, VP of Mountain Operations said. “That, combined with some efficiency upgrades to our snowmaking system, allowed us to cover a lot of ground very quickly.”
Over the summer, Sugarloaf made substantial enhancements to much of resort’s snowmaking system, replacing miles of air and water lines and upgrading hydrants. In addition, Sugarloaf worked with Efficiency Maine to add several hundred new low-energy HKD R4 Impulse tower guns in various locations across the mountain.
The new ultra-efficient guns produce snow with significantly less energy than older-style ground guns and are projected to save over 11,000 kWh per gun per year – an important step towards reaching the resort’s goal of a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030.
Lift service on opening day was available on the SuperQuad and Timberline lifts.
For more information on snowmaking, conditions and resort updates, please visit www.sugarloaf.com/mountain-report
Updated COVID-19 Guidelines for 2021/22
While the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and certain changes implemented in 2020/21 will remain in place, Sugarloaf guests can expect fewer restrictions and operational limitations for the upcoming season. In all of its policies regarding COVID-19 safety, Sugarloaf will continue to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), as well as local health authorities. The resort will adjust policies throughout the season as conditions and guidance from these entities change.
Sugarloaf is currently requiring face coverings for its staff while indoors, and recommending face coverings for all guests while indoors. Face coverings are not currently required in outdoor settings.
Certain changes implemented last year for COVID related reasons will remain in place. All ticketing will continue to be managed at outdoor ticket windows and automated ticket kiosks, and pre-purchase will be required once again. Likewise, lesson programs for all ages will continue to meet outdoors, as opposed to inside the Base Lodge. Some conveniences that were added last year will also remain in place, including added outdoor restroom facilities, online ordering for many resort restaurants, and RFID ticket checking.
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For photos from opening day, please click here: https://sugarloaf.imagerelay.com/sb/883c01fb-9437-485c-82f3-9ec7409a43fd/opening-day-2021