Sugarloaf/USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sugarloaf/USA | |
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| Location: | Carrabassett Valley, Maine, United States |
| Nearest city: | Lewiston, Maine |
| Top elevation: | 4,237 ft |
| Base elevation: | 1,417 ft |
| Runs: | 133 |
| Longest run: | 3.5 mi |
| Lift system: | 15 |
| Snowfall: | 206 inches/year |
| Web site: | Sugarloaf/USA |
- 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.
[edit] Mountain information
As of the beginning of 2007, there are 54 miles (87 km) of marked trails, and a total of 651 acres (2.6 km²) of developed trails. There are 1,400 acres of skiable acres boundry to boundry. The fifteen chairlifts can serve 21,180 skiers per hour. There are currently 134 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. The top of the mountain contains the snowfields a group of very difficult trails
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.
