The fall season is in full swing here in Western Maine and we wanted to get out this weekend and take advantage of the colorful foliage. We decided to take a drive up to Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley and check out their annual Homecoming Weekend. This is a weekend filled with a schedule of events for everyone to enjoy. Before going to the mountain, we stopped at the Carrabassett Coffee Company in Kingfield and picked up some of our favorite coffee. They were open later than usual for the holiday weekend and we were in luck, because we usually seem to either make it right before they close or they are closed already. The smell of the coffee is always very welcoming when you get inside. Everyone was in bright spirits and we even got a tour of some of the day-to-day operations in the back. We were then on our way up to Sugarloaf.
When we made it to Sugarloaf, the parking lot close to the hotel was packed so we had to park in one of the lots pretty far away. This wasn’t a problem, because we got a ride from the bus. I’m sure this comes in handy when you are lugging a bunch of ski and snowboarding gear. Our first stop was the book sale offered by the Carrabassett Public Library. The book sale was held in the spruce room of the base lodge. There was a nice selection and we ended up leaving the sale with a few books. Next, we went upstairs to the Upcountry Artists Art Show. This show showcases some of the finest artists and craftsman of Western Maine. There were a bunch of wonderful items, from handmade jewelry and furniture to beautiful photography, artwork and crafts.
We then decided it was time to go on the scenic chairlift ride to the top of the mountain. We were able to take a few photographs before the sunlight disappeared and the clouds started to roll in. On the way up the mountain, the air was filled with a wonderful fragrance from the pine trees. The air temperature at the base was in the 50s and at the top, it was probably somewhere in 30s. The base elevation is 1417 ft and the top elevation is 4237 ft. Being this wasn’t my first fall chairlift ride, I brought my mittens just in case and I’m sure glad I did. It was pretty cold there and there was even a sighting of a few falling snowflakes. Anyway, we took a few photographs and we got back online to go down. The line was pretty long. A few brave souls hiked down, but we passed the time talking with a nice couple we met from Arizona. We all took the ride back down together. The only scary part of riding on the lift was when it had to make stops. As we were stopped and dangling in the air, the chair would continue to swing a bit. This only happened about three times or so. I don’t believe you have a chance to think about your ride on the lift during the winter. It is usually the one way up and the lift is going at a much faster pace. Anyway, we all made it in one piece and we had a great time soaking in the fall mountain views.
The Welcome Home Sugarloaf sign.
The base of Sugarloaf.
The base lodge at Sugarloaf.
The thirty person outdoor hot tub at the Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel.
The beach at Sugarloaf.
Pumpkins and Mums.
A parked Vespa scooter.
The Hunker Down and Restaurant Bar.
Flower-lined stairs.
Birchwood Interiors at Sugarloaf.
Standing on line at the base waiting to get on the chairlift.
Our scenic chairlift ride tickets.
A view from our ride up the mountain on the chairlift.
The fall canopy in Western Maine.
An autumn view on Sugarloaf.
A ski trail at the mountain.
A view of the mountains from the top.
A view from the top of Sugarloaf.
Afternoon clouds rolling in.
Visitors hiking down the mountain.
Here is a nice couple of fellow photographers we had met while waiting on line. We got to talk shop during our long wait and it made the time go by a little faster.
The line waiting for the chairlift ride back down to the base.
Riding down the chairlift.
Dramatic clouds in the sky.
Scenic October foliage.
A scenic mountain view.
A mix of pines and deciduous trees.
Almost back to the base.
Here are a couple of videos from on the way up and down from our scenic chairlift ride:
Back to the base.
A Corvette Z06 in the hotel parking lot.
After visiting Sugarloaf we decided to have dinner at one of favorite places in Kingfield called Longfellows. There was a short wait for a table, so I decided to take a few photographs while we waited. Our dinner was great as always and what a great finish to a wonderful day here in Maine.
Longfellows Restaurant in Kingfield, Maine.
Autumn decorations on Main Street.
A no ATV parking sign on Main St.
A Kingfield Art Walk sign.
A view of the Carrabassett River from Centennial Bridge.
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