Sugarloaf/USA
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- For the mountain in Rio de Janeiro see Sugarloaf Mountain, Brazil
Sugarloaf/USA is a major ski resort located on Sugarloaf Mountain near Carrabassett Valley, Maine.
The first trail was cut at Sugarloaf in 1951 by a group of locals known as "The Bigelow Boys". Led by Amos Winter, they transformed the mountain into what is today one of the largest ski areas in the Northeast. At 4,237 feet (1291 m) Sugarloaf is second in elevation to Maine's highest peak, Mount Katahdin. The summit of Sugarloaf offers the only lift-serviced above-treeline skiing in the Northeast.
As of 2005, there were 54 miles (87 km) of marked trails, and a total of 651 acres (2.6 km²) of skiable terrain. Fifteen chairlifts can serve 21,180 skiers per hour. There are currently 131 marked trails and glades, most of which are named after logging terms in a tribute to Maine's logging history. (See List of lumberjack jargon.)
There are several regions of the mountain. The base areas contains many easier beginner trails. To the east is the Whiffletree Quad, which features more beginner terrain and leads to the King Pine Bowl, which features many ungroomed steeps. Above the base area is mid-mountain, which contains the bulk of the mountain's "cruisers" and well-groomed moderate trails. To the far west is West Mountain, a fairly easy group of trails far off to the side.
Average annual snowfall over the past 10 years is 206 inches (5 m). To supplement natural snowfall, Sugarloaf has snowmaking facilities covering 490 acres (2 km²) with manmade snow.
The Appalachian Trail crosses near Sugarloaf's peak and the elevation on this part of the trail offers expansive views of Maine's Western Mountains and New Hampshire's White Mountains.
In 2007, Downeast Books is publishing the History Of Sugarloaf by John Christie, covering the mountain's founding and development.
Sugarloaf/USA is owned by American Skiing Company.
