Vermont Ski Resort News
From new ski lifts to wind turbines, from routine trail cutting to new cooperatively owned structures, Vermont ski areas have been busy these past few months preparing for the exciting winter sports season ahead. Here’s a look at what’s new for the 2009-2010 season.
ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN RESORT
Look for more snow this season, with the addition of two new air compressors to make snow and additions to the grooming fleet to smooth it all out. The resort is now affiliated with the InterContinental Hotel Group and its subsidiary Holiday Inn Club Vacations, which has the potential to attract more destination skiers.
BOLTON VALLEY
Speaking of going green, this place will generate about one-eighth of its electrical needs this winter with a new wind turbine electrical generator, a first for a Vermont ski area! If that wasn’t enough, two new SMI Polecat snowmaking fan guns will churn out the white stuff at the terrain park; 5,500 feet of snowmaking piping upgraded to increase water flow; and a Prinoth Bison grooming machine was added to the fleet. Last but not least, look for new tables and chairs in the cafeteria.
BROMLEY
After a busy summer entertaining visitors at their adventure park, with their new zipline, the mountain staff has been cutting the trails, checking the snowmaking lines, and greasing the lifts in preparation for the ski season and horse riding.
JAY PEAK RESORT
The big news here is the start of the Tram House Lodge in the base area. Open to overnight guests as well as day skiers and bikers, this new facility features an indoor fitness center, equipment rental center, restaurant, coffee shop and the Golden Eagle Bar, which offers views of the slopes from the front row seats.
KILLINGTON
The resort added more fuel-efficient snowguns to its existing arsenal, updated operating software on the Skyeship Gondola, and reseeded sections of the popular Great Eastern beginner trail. In Pico, the Upper Pike Trail has new snowmaking pipes and hydrants to ensure more efficient coverage.
CANADA OF THE MAD RIVER
Trail maintenance crews have been working over the summer on trail bridges and drainage systems. New bearings were installed in the Sunnyside Double chairlift’s bullwheel to keep it turning smoothly this winter.
MAGIC MOUNTAIN
The “Save Magic Mountain” signs are back in the City of Londonderry as the current owners partially transition to a Mad River Glen-style cooperative ownership arrangement. Three hundred thirty-three shares at $3,000 each are being offered to the public in exchange for 60 percent ownership of the ski area and voting rights. To reduce costs, the area will only operate from Friday to Monday and holiday weeks. However, after a large dump, management can open the area if six inches or more sinks and 50 percent or more of the terrain is skiable.
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SNOW BOWL
The best upgrade in the entire state happens here this season, with the opening of the $1.7 million fixed-grip triple chairlift at Worth Mountain. Middlebury College, which owns the ski area, had a choice: spend half a million to fix the existing 40-year-old double chairlift so it could pass state lift inspection, or bite the bullet and pick a new one. They wisely chose the latter.
MOUNT SNOW
Mountain crews have been hard at work adjusting the snowmaking system infrastructure and preparing shots for the freestyle terrain park on the Carinthian side. The resort is gearing up to host the Winter Dew Tour National Freestyle Finals in early February.
OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT
The entire mountain’s HKD snowmaking system was reconfigured to improve resurfacing turnaround time. A second 500-horsepower turbocharged Prinoth BR500 cleaning machine will be at work tilling and smoothing the trails this season.
Smugglers’ Resort
Full Nelson, a black diamond trail, extended from the middle of Sterling Mountain to the base area. If you’re one of those people who likes to keep track of vertical feet and ski miles on a given day, Smuggs will rent Flaik GPS tracking units to record your achievements. For beginning snowboarders, the new Burton Learn-to-Ride Center will be open to the public.
STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT
After last season’s spending spree at Stowe Mountain Lodge and Spruce Camp, and the financial woes resulting from the federal bailout of parent company AIG, the mood is somber here as potential resort buyers come to ” kick the tires.” That’s not to say skiing and horseback riding aren’t great. The resort’s infrastructure is in tip-top shape with employees waiting, ready to spin the elevators and pluck the snow once again this season.
STRATTON MOUNTAIN
A new adventure zone and four-lane tubing park with a lift will add a new spark to the Sun Bowl area. Guests can also cross-country ski, snowshoe, and arrange snowmobile tours from the Sun Bowl Day Lodge. Also look for a new Jib Park in Lower Middlebrook, a border crossing in East Byrneside, and beginner mogul areas on the White Birch and Daniel Webster trails.
SUGAR
More “official” wooded land, 75 acres or so, has been cut back, ready to welcome adventurous skiers and bikers this season, snow depth permitting. In the snow sports, après ski and ride school, students will be able to watch video clips of their classes online, with comments from the instructors.
SUICIDE SIX
Trails are cut, lifts are inspected, and everything is ready to go in December.