Carrabassett Valley, ME – As another nor’easter marches up the East Coast, officials at Sugarloaf announced this afternoon that the Maine resort will kick off its 62nd ski and snowboard season at 9 a.m. this Friday, joining fellow Boyne Resorts stablemate Sunday River, also in Maine, on the short list of ski resorts that have opened thus far this season. Thanks to favorable temperatures and a new fleet of state-of-the-art snowmaking equipment, Friday’s opening day will take place a full week ahead of schedule, and the earliest opening day at Sugarloaf since 2007.
Sugarloaf’s snowmakers have been able to take advantage of a sustained window of below freezing temperatures since Sunday to blanket several trails in fresh snow. The crew utilized $1 million-worth of new low-energy HKD snowguns, purchased during the off season.
Skiing and riding on Sugarloaf’s opening day will be available on the Boardwalk and Lower Winter’s Way trails, with lift service available on the Double Runner East lift. The resort will remain open on Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:50 p.m., before closing on Monday for the midweek period. Lift ticket prices will be reduced to $25 for all ages.
If weather and conditions cooperate, Sugarloaf hopes to reopen for seven-day-a-week operation on Friday, Nov. 16.