Snow Patrol

SPOT TO SKI: SUGARLOAF

Elevation 1,700 to 4,237 feet; average snow depth 4 to 6 feet; average yearly snowfall 12 feet; skiers last year 20,000; season Dec. 15-April 30

For New Englanders who find the established ski centers a bit too busy on weekends, Sugarloaf Mountain, 17 miles out of Kingfield, Maine, provides a fine, uncrowded ski weekend. Just two years old, the 6,350-foot tandem T bars reach the Sugar-loaf snow fields, a timber-free area to which skiers have been climbing for years for alpine-type skiing. From the top T bar, the three-mile Tote Road carries intermediates down 1,900 vertical feet to the warming hut and cafeteria. For the good skier, Sluice and Narrow Gauge drop away fast and steep to the halfway station on the T bar (right) where they run out more gently to the mountain base. Tips: from Boston, it's 215 miles, 130 of them along throughways. There are some good buys in lodging available: Deer Farm Camps on the road to Kingfield offers large cabins for $8 with two meals; Herbert Hotel in Kingfield, $5, without meals; Sugarloaf Inn on the road to Kingfield (dormitory style), $6, two meals; Arnold Trail Inn at Stratton, $5, two meals. Full rental equipment and well-stocked ski store on hand. The ski school is headed by Bill Briggs.

AS OF FEBRUARY 10

Nothing is as changeable as the weather, so be sure to telephone resorts for latest reports

TD—top slopes, depth in inches; BD—bottom slopes, depth in inches; CR—ski crowd last weekend; SN—inches of snowfall last weekend

?EAST

Sugarloaf, Maine: Fast skiing on lower half of mountain, upper lift closed. Bright Norwegian sweaters setting new trend here. Ski school teaching Wedeln. TD 20-22, BD 6, CR 1,200, SN 8.

Lac Beauport, Que.: Best skiing of the season here, with powder snow the rule. TD 35, BD 30, CR 3,000, SN 4.

Mt. Tremblant, Que.: Skiing very good on Sissy and Ryan's Run after weekend snow. Quebec Kandahar here March 2-3. TD 9-36, BD 4-26.