Sugar Bowl is not as well known as other resorts around Lake Tahoe, like Squaw Valley, Northstar, and Heavenly, but that may be to its advantage. Personally, I’ve found throughout this tour that usually I enjoy visiting small resorts more than large ones because the atmosphere tends to be more friendly and homey and fresh tracks are easier to find.

I know that many other people feel the same way that I do. If the majority of skiers and snowboarders agree with me, then Sugar Bowl is a good contender for the title, Best in the West.

If here’s one thing that Sugar Bowl does well, it’s maintain an excellent on-hill experience. Sugar Bowl is a bit out-of-the-way. It’s a longer drive to reach Sugar Bowl than Squaw Valley or Northstar from the nearest airport and cities. So, the crowds at Sugar Bowl tend to be thinner and lift lines shorter than at other nearby ski areas. In fact, Marketing Director John Monsens even told me that Sugar Bowl keeps their lift ticket prices intentionally high to prevent the resort from ever getting too crowded and to maintain a top-tier experience for those who visit the hill.

This may sound like a strange strategy from a business point of view, but I was very happy with it.

Our first day in Sugar Bowl was two days after the last snow, yet we easily found a great steep run right beside the Mt. Lincoln Express that was basically untracked. Brian and I rode that run all day with out crossing another person’s tracks.  That kind of experience is virtually unheard of at larger, more accessible resorts.

Sugar Bowl is not without it’s drawbacks. It’s not as accessible as other hills in the area. Unless you stay in their on-mountain accommodations (which happen to be the only snowbound lodge in North America (there is no way in or out except for a gondola) you’re looking at a minimum 20-minute drive to get there. It’s also not as inexpensive as some other resorts, though it’s far from the most expensive I’ve been to.

But, are those drawbacks balanced by the on-hill experience that so many skiers and snowboarders visit Sugar Bowl for?

A lot of unpredictable factors have to come together to make a great ski trip. You have to have snow, meet the right people, and find the right spots on the mountain. You can’t predict those things, and nobody can guarantee them.

That being said, my experience at Sugar Bowl was among the best that I’ve had on the trip so far.

What do you think? Could Sugar Bowl be the best resort in the USA? Vote for your favourite ski area now!

The post Is Sugar Bowl the Best Ski Area in the USA? appeared first on XpatMatt.

We sat down with several locals and visitors at Sugar Bowl to find out what made the hill special to them. We found out that the lift lines are short, there’s a lot of snow, and the hill has a lot of history. It is, after all, home to the first chairlift in California.

We also asked the locals about where they liked to ski, snowboard, and eat, as well as what else is fun to do in the area. This is what we learned.

Sugar Bowl Micro Guide Part 1: The Hill

The Map

Below is an annotated map to show you where to find the best terrain for your riding style at Sugar Bowl.

Download a full-sized version of this map to your desktop or phone (6.2mb)

For the Hardcore

Serious powderhounds will want to head to either the Mount Lincoln Express or the Disney Chair, both of which access Sugar Bowl’s most serious terrain from opposite sides. From the Mt. Lincoln Express you get an excellent view of the Palisades, which will make even the most experienced ripper hesitate before dropping in.

For the Groomer Cruisers

Both the Crow’s Nest Double Chair which loads at the Village Lodge, and the Jerome Hill Express, which loads at the Judah Lodge, have a variety of fast blue groomers where you can get your carve on.

For the Park Rats

You’ll want to spend your day on the Mt. Judah Express lift by the Judah Lodge. Below and beside the Mt. Judah Express is an area they call The Switching Yard. It’s a series of parks all right beside each other, including one FIS super pipe.

For the Snowplowers

Sugar Bowl has two base areas and one beginner area at each. While Knob Hill by the Village Lodge is a good spot, I’d recommend heading over to the Judah Lodge, where there are two beginner-only lifts, as well as two other lifts that access lots of beginner and intermediate terrain.

Sugar Bowl Micro Guide Part 2: Where to Eat

Pianeta Cucina Italiana
High-class atmosphere, extensive wine list, and top-tier Italian food.
10096 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 9616
530-587-4694
View Map

T’s Mesquite Rotisserie
Amazing Mexican and BBQ and good prices. A favourite of locals and visitors alike.
901 Tahoe Blvd
Incline Village, NV 89451
(775) 831-2832
View Map

Moody’s
An upscale bistro with a unique menu, frequently featuring live music.
10007 Bridge St.
Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 587-8688
View Map

Cottonwood Restaurant and Bar
This historic restaurant and bar a permanent fixture in the North Lake Tahoe dining scene with a menu that mixes classic American favourites with unique takes on old dishes.
10142 Rue Hilltop Rd.
Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 587-5711
View Map

Blue Coyote Bar & Grill
Family sports bar with pizza, wings, burgers, and a full bar for the grown-ups.
10015 Palisades Drive, Truckee, CA 96161
530-587-7777
View Map

Sugar Bowl Micro Guide Part 3: What to do Off the Hill

The area around Sugar Bowl is remote and undeveloped, which makes it ideal for a variety of outdoors activities. Whitewater kayaking in the area is said to be amazing, while Donner Lake and Lake Tahoe are offer more relaxing environments for amateurs to enjoy the sport. Stand up paddleboarding is also very popular in the area.

On-snow kiteboarding and kiteskiing lessons are available in the winter, and the area is also excellent for kitesurfing in the summer.

Donner Memorial Park is an out-of-the-way park with numerous trails and roads for hiking and mountain biking.

The post Sugar Bowl Micro Guide appeared first on XpatMatt.

Sugar Bowl is only 1500 acres, but it feels much bigger — especially the area between the Disney Chair and the Mt. Lincoln Express, where there are cliffs, steeps, a gorgeous frozen waterfall, and chutes that rival extreme legends like Squaw Valley’s Pallisades and Jackson Hole’s Corbet’s Couloir.

The locals told us that they liked Sugar Bowl because of it’s homey atmosphere, short lift lines, and friendly staff. I liked it because Brian (of Exploring Elements) and I did basically one awesome powder run all day long on the first day and never crossed a track that wasn’t ours.

Here are some of the photos we took. Thanks to Brian for providing the photos of me (the snowboarder in the blue jacket and green pants). He also published his photos of Sugar Bowl.

The post Sugar Bowl Powder Porn appeared first on XpatMatt.

It was a serious powder day when we interviewed skiers and snowboarders at Sugar Bowl. Surprisingly, when we asked them what they liked about the resort, nobody even mentioned the snow (though it was fantastic).

Everybody did, however, mention the friendly atmosphere. A lot of people also liked the terrain.

I thought the terrain was magnificent.

Have you ever been to Sugar Bowl? Do you think it could be the Best in the West?

Cast your vote here!

The post Sh*t People Say About Sugar Bowl appeared first on XpatMatt.