Carrabassett Valley, ME – Thanks to 10 inches of new snow Tuesday night, Sugarloaf opened its new Brackett Basin area to skiers and riders for the first time on Wednesday. Brackett Basin is the first of the Maine ski and snowboard resort’s three-phase terrain expansion onto neighboring Burnt Mountain that will make Sugarloaf the largest ski area in the East.nSugarloaf ski patrollers dropped the ropes on the four upper glades of Brackett Basin on Wednesday, called Birler, Sweeper, Edger, and Cant Dog. Together these glades encompass 60 acres of glade skiing.

“When we announced the Sugarloaf 2020 plan over the summer, we said that the end goal was a rejuvenated, revitalized Sugarloaf,” said John Diller, Sugarloaf General Manager. “The opening of Brackett Basin today marks a significant step toward achieving that goal.”

The lower Brackett Basin glades — Rough Cut, Red Horse, Blacksmith, High Ball, and Logging Road — remained closed on Wednesday due to ongoing commercial logging. These remaining glades, which cover a full 210 acres, are expected to open in the coming weeks.

BrackettBasin is the first phase of a massive 655-acre terrain expansion onto Burnt Mountain, which was announced this summer as part of the “Sugarloaf 2020” ten-year road map. The expansion will double Sugarloaf’s in-bounds terrain, making it the largest ski area in the East.

The new terrain is all gladed, “sidecountry” terrain, offering skiers and riders a backcountry style experience with the security of patrolled, inbounds terrain. The expansion will be completed in three phases, the first of which is the 270-acre Brackett Basin. The second phase will encompass 135 acres, including the summit of Burnt Mountain, and will open a second above-treeline area to accompany Sugarloaf’s Snowfields. The third and final phase will be 250 acres, and will open the north face of Burnt Mountain.

Access to the new terrain on Burnt Mountain is via a cross-cut from the top of the existing King Pine Quad. Brackett Basin terrain is for expert skiers and riders only.