 "Photo: Kate Olesin/Collegian")
Sugarloaf might sound like a name for a mountain that would ease the mind of any novice skier, but the second-tallest peak in Maine, at 4,237 feet, is definitely a challenge. The mountain is riddled with 133 trails; the longest is 3.5 miles from the summit to the base. Some lead directly down to the hotel or condo complexes beyond the lodge.
Sugarloaf is a morning resort. If you're looking to sleep in and hit the slopes later, this is not the place to be.
Activity starts early, with people putting on their gear around 7:30 a.m. to make the first lift up the mountain at 8:30 a.m. The lifts close for the day at 3:50 p.m., so to get a good amount of downhill action you have to start early.
So, bright and early, I began my novice skiing adventure. And the first thing I did after I rented my short, fat, beginner skis was to take a lesson.
Admitting to the staff members that I've lived down the street from a mountain for the last 21 years and only journeyed down its slopes a few times was difficult for me. But I knew I could live with it. I just had to be able to survive my downhill skiing vacation without receiving a concussion or crashing into a tree.
Knowing the basics of stopping and turning were the skills that I needed to brush up on to live through the day. The 90-minute Perfect Turn class that my sister and I participated in made us feel quite welcome and our instructor sent us off possessing a bit more confidence than when we first started.
And I didn't even fall once.
Weather and powder conditions are the main concerns that any skier has to worry about. That Saturday morning was a beautiful, sunny day to be out skiing, but the snow was grainy and there were icy patches that formed from the pouring rain that happened the day before. Considering the conditions, the mountain staff did a great job grooming the trails all weekend. At night if you looked up at the looming mountain, there were lights resembling UFOs on the trails. But most people on the slope were taking it slow, including myself. It just figures - the day we left the mountain a blizzard came through. But downhill skiing or boarding isn't all that Sugarloaf has to offer. Two words: turbo tubing.
Although it was closed when we tried to go, you can't get much better than tubing down four, 1,000-foot chutes on the side of a mountain.
There's also the "anti-gravity complex" right next to the entrance to the mountain, which offers an indoor skate park, trampolines, an open gym and climbing wall.
About a quarter-mile down the road is the Outdoor Center, which has an Olympic-sized outdoor skating rink, miles of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails.
My mother, sister and I braved classic style cross-country skiing, instead of the newer skate style, which has a sturdier boot that allows you to push off, much like ice skating, across the snow. Cross-country skiing is a great workout, especially when you get lost in the woods for a bit.
Taking a skiing vacation is all well and good, but after the lifts close and you see their chairs standing still against the mountain, what happens next?
Food and nightlife, of course.
We visited the Shipyard Brewhaus, complete with bar, fireplace and picnic tables, and their own Shipyard brand microbrews. The Rack, a local barbeque popular for music right off the resort property, has a variety of its own special barbeque sauces. The aptly named "Sweet Cheeks" has a sweet taste, but still gives the perfect barbeque kick that ribs deserve to be smothered in. The Steves were the band that graced the stage that night, and amid cheers of "R is for redneck" I ordered a Geary's Pale Ale. Brewed in Portland with a smooth and light fruity taste, it was definitely a great match to go with the sweet, saucy ribs. It is also sold in the Amherst area.
For those who want to relax and grab a drink after (or before) a day on the slopes, the Widowmaker Lounge is known for its hopping nightlife.
Mid-January doesn't particularly seem like the best time to go both skiing and swimming. After a long day at the mountain, though, that's all you may want to do for the rest of the evening. Many of the condo complexes have their own health clubs, and ours came complete with a pool, three hot tubs and a sauna.
The Fitness Center is the main complex for getting a good workout or even a soothing massage. The women's and men's changing room both have their own hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms. That's not to mention the pool surrounded by two additional indoor hot tubs. If you walk outside you can enjoy outdoor hot tubs, where you can bask in the hot water until you have to dash back inside in the cold - wet bathing suit and all. Realistically, for a college student, this is not a mountain you'll be able to take a day trip to. But the skiing season at Sugarloaf extends all the way into April, so it's a prime spring break vacation spot. The mountain itself is about a six-hour drive from Amherst into the Maine wilderness. Ski and Stay packages are the deal you should look for if you plan to take on Sugarloaf.
Buying your lift ticket online also saves you 10 percent. Having your own skis or board is a plus to help you save some money, although rentals aren't horribly expensive and the equipment is in great condition.
Kate Olesin can be reached at kolesin@dailycollegian.com
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