Sugarbush ski resort , despite it's acquisition several years ago by the American Skiing Co., still retains some of its old style charm. The atmosphere is laid back, without any glitz, but neither is "the Bush" as locals call it, disheveled. One gets the impression that it is "cared for," that staff morale is good. There's plenty of skiing here for experts when there is enough snow, including off piste terrain. Of course, if you get into trouble because you've ventured into the Wild Side without a guide, you, or whoever is responsible for you, is likely to get a big rescue bill.

The area is scattered over three peaks; Lincoln, Castlerock and Mount Ellen. There are no restaurants at the top these peaks. As we said, Sugarbush is not studded with luxurious amenities. It is a skiers' mountain. The skiing is mostly for those of intermediate and expert ability. The runs are not wide, straight swaths, but more narrow and quite picturesque. Black diamonds are not difficult for even beginning intermediates, except if they are icy. You can easily tell where you are. The design is that good. In most cases the way up is in two stages, via high speed quads, except for Castlerock Peak which serves expert and somewhat exposed terrain.

The warning was plain the day we were there!

Ticket prices over the holiday period were $55.00. Why is it the occasional skier always gets dinged? Riding up in the lift, one of the locals expressed surprise at the price. "My cost at any Vermont mountain has never been more than about $15.00 per day," the fellow declared. Of course, this kind of price is only available to season pass holders who are also local residents and able to ski more frequently. There are other deals as well, but occassional skiers are unlikely to run into these promotions unless they take the trouble to seek them out. In this sense Sugarbush, in the hands of ASC, has become like an airline. When you ride up on a lift, you can expect each of your companions to have paid a different ticket price!

The swankiest restaurant at Sugarbush is the Mushroom Pub & Grill, we were told. It is not particularly swanky. Plastic tablecloths and and an obnoxious liquor advertisement display sit in one of its windows. You can expect to pay $10.00 for a veggie burger, a coke and a coffee. The part time help is courteous but not knowledgeable. Place settings did not include tea spoons leaving patrons to stir their beverages with forks! Still for the slight increase in price, the Pub & Grill is a better choice over one of the cafeterias. Here you will pay $3.25 for a soup, $4.00 for a pasta day special or a hamburger. Coffee is $1.50. A cashier at one of these establishments was unable to understand English. All in all we recommend "a brown bag lunch" as your best eating policy for 'the Bush.'

With a published ticket price of $55.00, one really expects something close to perfection. While Sugarbush is a great skier's mountain, the total package remains wanting in comparison with others in North America. In the space of an hour, we were thwacked twice in the thigh, while getting off the North Lynx Triple chair (poor design) . My companion had to endure an overflowing ladies toilet. Conditions were not great either. About an hour after the deadline had passed to turn in one's ticket, (the ASC's try before you buy program) the rain came. At first it was a drizzle and then a downpour. There was nothing to do but leave.

Timothy Palmer-Benson