The Brackett Basin Glade at Sugarloaf. Picture by Josh Christie
House is the place the center is. There’s no place like dwelling. Residence isn’t a spot, it’s a sense.
Clichés concerning the idea of “dwelling” abound, in fashionable tradition and on the decor flooding the digital cabinets of Amazon and Etsy. It’s one thing I’ve been occupied with quite a bit these days, as I put together to maneuver for the primary time in over a decade. The fun, comforts, and conveniences (and, sure, frustrations) I do know are being put apart for one thing new. It’s one thing new that’s solely about 20 miles up the highway, however nonetheless – change is difficult.
However past the 4 partitions of my residence, I’m considering of dwelling when it comes to the opposite regular locations in my life. And, this being a ski column, I’ve been contemplating the concept of a house mountain, a “third place” (past work and residential) that makes up a giant a part of your snowboarding life.
Now, the concept of a house mountain is fairly easy if you happen to’re fortunate sufficient to stay (or have a second dwelling) at a ski space. When you’ve received a cabin on Rangeley Lake or stay in Bridgton, your house base might be Saddleback or Shawnee Peak.
However, if you happen to’re the common skier logging lower than 20 days a season, possibly it’s a bit extra of a seize bag – you’ve received a pair week-long journeys to areas right here in Maine or additional afield, and your weekends are decided by the place the snow is huge, the crowds are small, or the offers are important. I grew up as one thing of a journeyman skier, with the primary 10 years of my ski life spent on the Camden Snow Bowl, Large Moose and in every single place in between.
The rise of the multi-resort passes – Vail’s Epic Cross, Alterra’s Ikon Cross, and the Indy Cross – additionally throws into flux the concept of the house mountain. Every go presents snowboarding at dozens of various areas, with a not-so-subtle incentive to go to as many alternative areas as attainable. The acquisition of a season’s go was once a strategy to align your self with a single mountain for the whole thing of a season, however the booming recognition of those passes recommend that many skiers are selecting selection over familiarity.
Snowfields and summit at Sugarloaf are proven from a distance. Picture by Josh Christie
And but. And but! Having a spot to name one’s personal has an plain enchantment. After my flirtatious first decade as a skier, I discovered myself going many times to Sugarloaf. (Granted, this began once I was 14 and beholden to my father, since I didn’t but have a driver’s license, however I digress.) I elected to enter the College of Maine’s Ski Industries Program in Farmington, principally as a result of there wasn’t a campus in Kingfield so it was the closest I may get to Slender Gauge. Regardless of being roughly equidistant from Saddleback, Sugarloaf, and Sunday River (and far nearer to Titcomb, Spruce Peak, and Black Mountain of Maine), Sugarloaf stored calling to me. It’s a connection that has continued to this present day, regardless of transferring additional and additional away from Maine’s western mountains.
The solar shines over Sugarloaf. Picture by Josh Christie
After I was within the Ski Industries program, prioritizing on-hill athletics over in-class lecturers, I used to place in over 100 days a season. At the same time as actual life has taken maintain, I handle about three dozen days a season, principally spent at Sugarloaf. By my depend, I’m closing in on 1,000 days skied at Sugarloaf.
It’s an understatement to say spending that a lot time at a spot impacts an individual. At this level, I’m pretty assured that there are trails at Sugarloaf I may ski with a blindfold on – I do know each roll on Tote Street, each transition and pitch change on Haul Again. By the point I cross the Carrabassett on Route 16, I’ve a spidey-sense of what the wind, climate, and situations will likely be once I get to the highest of Entry Street. To quote one other cliche, it’s usually stated that familiarity breeds contempt (and, granted, nobody complains a few mountain greater than its most diehard followers), however any complaints are outweighed by a deep affection for a favourite place.
To lean on one remaining cliché, statements about dwelling normally lean as a lot on individuals as place – your family and friends make a spot really feel like dwelling. It’s one other factor that’s undoubtedly true a few dwelling mountain. After I was rising up, I used to be at all times amazed by how usually my father bumped into individuals he knew, or who had widespread associates, when using up Spillway or Timberline. Now, as I head into my late thirties, I discover these connections are taking place for me. My previous boss, my legal professional, a not-insignificant variety of UMaine alums, all of them ended up within the Sugarloaf orbit as nicely. Each October the mountain hosts a Homecoming Weekend, and yearly it feels extra like I’m coming dwelling.
House is the place the center is. There’s no place like dwelling. Residence isn’t a spot, it’s a sense. And, if in case you have a house mountain, you may really feel it. Your coronary heart is there. And there’s no place prefer it.
Josh Christie is the writer of 4 books, most lately “Snowboarding Maine,” and co-owner of Print: A Bookstore, an unbiased bookstore in Portland. He additionally writes about beer, books and the outside.
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