Small resort?!?!??!?! Tricia L must have been high off of cupcakes when she wrote her review. This is one of, if not, the biggest mountains that VT has to offer. And it will hold a permanent place in my heart as one of my favorite mountains in VT. Yes, I rate it above Stowe.
Stowe may offer more posh amenities and better chefs but you come to Sugarbush for the mountain. While they don't do as good of a job as Stowe when it comes to grooming, they make up for it in sheer variety of terrain. Yes, you come here for the natural stuff, no glitz no glamor. You can see the joy this mountain brings in the face of the faithful patrons who are ecstatic to have been able to dominate the elements. Keep in mind that this resort is not for the weak of heart. Some of the moguls here can be the size of entire runs in upstate NY. (just kidding Hunter/Windham, you guys are still good).
When it comes to amenities, don't get me wrong. Sugarbush is not shabby at all. They have a beautiful new base lodge with great service. Almost all the workers are genuinely kind, happy, and helpful. They seem to understand what a joy the place can bring and they want to take part in making that joyful experience possible for others. There are, for example, attendants who offer to carry your equipment. Also, there is a shuttle that takes you from your parking area to the mountain. The driver even reminds you where you have parked your car(which I forgot to take note of). It is really about the little things here. Stowe can be quite snobbish, and the attendants can be quite aloof. I don't blame them, they probably get a crap-load from management and the snobby patrons. (But the chefs at Stowe, however, are world class, and generally nice. )
Finally, (thanks for sticking with me), let's get to the huge terrain. For the Northeastern U.S., it's unbeatable. They have more than their fair share of glades and trails. They all intertwine to make exploring the mountain easy and fun. And the tiered lifts make it easier to separate some of the more advanced skiers from the beginner's crowd. This way, you don't run over some little kid who is trying to get better. So, while the lower lifts may be packed, the upper lifts barely have any lines. Furthermore, the lower lifts are mostly detachable quads. So even with longer lines, those lifts get you up the mountain pretty fast. I've never had a problem with lines (with the exception of heavens gate). A lot of ppl seem to want to access heaven, and I don't blame them.
Take a look at the trail map. With three major peaks and two mountains, who dares call this mountain small? There is even a lift that runs sideways to take you back and forth (and a shuttle bus). If the snow is not good on one side, I'm sure you can find the conditions worthwhile on the other.
http://www.sugarbush.com/reports/interactivetrailmap.asp
Beginners, take advantage of the first timer's package. You are restricted to Ski/Ride and Lincoln peak, but that's still plenty to take advantage of. $80 gets you gear+lesson+lift ticket. They teach you the basics, even down to putting on your boots properly. read more