SAM Magazine, Carrabasett Valley, ME, April 8, 2008 -A series of avalanches in Sugarloaf's backside area on March 31 ran up to 200 feet wide and 200 feet long. The incidences were closed to the public, and the patrol was doing control work at the time.

"They were small slides, which we have seen before in this area when base depths are large and conditions are right," Rich Wilkinson, VP of operations at Sugarloaf, said. "Our primary focus is to keep our guests safe, which is why we wanted our patrollers out there checking the area before we let anyone else access it."

Sugarloaf has received over 200 inches of snow to date, and the night prior to the control work, six inches of snow fell with extensive wind loading of the area.

\