CARRABASSETT VALLEY – The snow has melted and summer bulbs have began poking their green heads out of the dirt. So now that winter is officially over, how did the ski areas in Franklin County fare?

Well, despite the threat of war and a bad economy putting a damper on much of the season, ski mountains actually had above average attendance, thanks to a powdery push from Mother Nature.

“Overall, we view it as a very successful season,” said Cheryl Fullerton, communications manager for Sugarloaf USA, which closed for the season Sunday. “We got really good feedback and we were especially pleased because it was such a challenge.” She cited a poor economy, international conflicts and a frigid winter.

For most mountains in the area, the 2002-2003 season went much smoother than the previous year, when the ski season rolled in during the wake of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Despite the fact that the resort is a driving destination, and not very affected by slumps in air travels, Fullerton said current events do take their toll.

“After the last two years,” she said jokingly, “I can’t imagine next year can’t be easier. But overall, I know our retail folks are happy and this has been one of the best seasons in years.”

Sugarloaf reported strong season pass sales, and Fullerton said the big holiday weekends were very busy. The only thing that seemed to keep some skiers away was cold weather.

“Forecasters really scare people away, but you can bundle up and still enjoy the mountain. We are used to it in Maine,” she said.

At the other end of the county, Spruce Mountain in Jay was pleased to say it had a busy season as well. The small not-for-profit mountain is co-owned by the towns of Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls and run by the Spruce Mt. Ski Club, of which Rick Couture is president.

“Yes, we had a slightly above average season,” he said. “We made it right up to the last day (March 16) with excellent conditions. Everybody loved it. It was much better than expected.”

Couture said the key to the successful season was a push for heavy snowmaking at the onset of the season, and then letting the cold fronts just hold on to the base.

“The conditions were pretty consistent with those in past years. It was a solid winter. Financially, we are doing well,” he said with a chuckle. “We might even break even.”

Saddleback Ski Area in the Rangeley region and Titcomb Mountain in Farmington also had strong seasons, officials there said during the season.

Now the mountains are preparing for summer, and even next winter. At Spruce and Titcomb, general resort upkeep like brush clearing and lift maintenance will be completed over the common months. Meanwhile, Saddleback Mountain is still looking for a buyer before any major improvements are made.

At Sugarloaf, summer means one thing: golf. According to Fullerton, the Sugarloaf Golf Club is in the final phase this year of a multiyear $800,000 capital improvement project to the course, which included paving cart paths, improving drainage and rebuilding bunkers. The course is slated to open Friday, May 9.

In response to a demand for more beds on the mountain, several new condominium projects will also be done over the summer months by outside companies. Expected are at least 40 new units, near the bases of the Bucksaw chairlift and the Snubber chairlift, to be completed by the onset of next season.

“There were some good days,” says Jeremy Smith, a telemark skier from Farmington who just relocated back to the area from Colorado and hit the slopes of Sugarloaf and Saddleback. “The mountain was kind this year. For not much snow, this year was a great year to ski. It was packed.”

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

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