by Tim Jones
It's snowing up north as I write this.
Folks I know have hiked up and skied down at both Sugarloaf/USA
(207-237-2000; www.sugarloaf.com ) in
Carrabassett Valley, Maine and Sunday River (207-824-3000;
www.sundayriver.com ) in Newry, Maine.
That's all natural snow: No one has started making snow seriously, yet.
Expect
the New England ski season to kick off sometime soon. Bretton Woods
(603-278-3333; www.brettonwoods.com )
in Bretton Woods, N.H. is looking to open on November 4, weather permitting.
Killington (800-621-6867; www.killington.com)
in Killington, Vermont. will open as soon as they can lay down top-to-bottom
snow. Sunday river is eyeing November 10.
If you think that the resort or ski area you visited last season has been in
hibernation over the summer, think again. Snow sports playgrounds are constantly
improving the product they offer to attract your business. It's not surprising
that a lot of ski areas, after last year's disastrous snow year, decided to
upgrade snowmaking and grooming.
Here's just some of what you are going to see new when you head for the
slopes this season.
CONNECTICUT
Mohawk Mountain (800- 895-5222;
www.mohawkmtn.com) in Cornwall, Connecticut. is celebrating its 60th season
with an upgraded snowmaking system, Wifi access at the lodge alongand a new
Burton Learn to Ride Center.
Ski Sundown (860-379-7669;
www.skisundown.com ) in Canton Center, Connecticut has streamlined its snow
making system to get more of the mountain open earlier.
MAINE
Saddleback (1-866-918-2225;
www.saddlebackmaine.com ) in Rangeley, Maine has been on the grow in recent
years with a 44% increase in ski terrain and a new lift and stunning base lodge.
Shawnee Peak (207-647-8444;
www.shawneepeak.com ) in Bridgton, Maine has upgraded the Rabbit Run
Beginner Chairlift from a double to a triple and The Lil Pine Surface Carpet
Lift, has been lengthened by 15%.
Sugarloaf/USA (207-237-2000;
www.sugarloaf.com ) in Carrabassett Valley, Maine has a new experts terrain
park with new snowmaking along the lower section of the Superquad. They've added
25 new low energy tower guns to their snowmaking
Sunday River (207-824-3000;
www.sundayriver.com ) in Newry, Maine has revamped its base areas,
especially on South Ridge and Barker and has a new intermediate trail Barker
Mountain to improve skier traffic patterns on both Barker and Locke Mountains.
MASSACHUSETTS
Berkshire East (413-339-6617;
www.berkshireeast.com ) in Charlemont, Mass. has improved its snowmaking
system and done some trail work for the new season.
Blandford Ski Area (413-848-2860;
www.skiblandford.org ) in Blandford, Mass. check out the new carpet lift:
Peppermint Patty's Polar Xpress Carpet for Kids.
Catamount (413-528-1262;
www.catamountski.com ) in South Egremont, Mass. has replaced the Ridge
double with a new quad, has expanded its terrain park offerings and the Junior
Jib Park for kids and added new snowmaking guns on Turnpike and Colonel's Caper.
Ski Butternut ( 413-528-2000;
www.skibutternut.com ) in Great Barrington, Mass. has a new Ski Patrol
building at the top of the mountain to decrease response time should you need
help.
Jiminy Peak (1-800-882-8859;
www.jiminypeak.com ) in Hancock, Mass. has a new trail, "The Mogul Thing", a
wider and re-graded Left Bank trail, a new Burton Learn to Ride center, the new
Mountain Coaster will run all winter.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Bretton Woods (603-278-3333;
www.brettonwoods.com ) has expanded the Hobbits Children's Ski School and
Family Center, added new, more efficient, cleaner air compressors to the
snowmaking system, and put up new lights, flagging and a sound system in the
Lumber Yard terrain park.
Crotched Mountain ( 603-588-3668;
www.crotchedmountain.com ) in Bennington, N.H. has two new hike-to trails
yet to be named from the true summit of the mountain., additional lighting in
Love Park and on Meteor for the alpine race course, and 300 new, free "cubbies"
for gear storage in the base lodge.
Granite Gorge (603-358-5000;
www.granitegorge.com ) has two new Areco Super Snow Tower Fans and 7
state-of-the-art nozzles for their LP3 Gooseneck watersticks. Liftline and
Jumper trails have new snowmaking and lighting. And there's a new 30' diameter
Yurt for groups. Tubers will enjoy a new "Expert Thrill Hill" lane.
Loon Mountain Resort (800-229-5666;
www.loonmtn.com ) invested close to $500,000 on snowmaking improvements and
upgrades this season including 31 Ratnik guns, 10 new tower guns. The Loon
Mountain Terrain Park (one of five on the mountain) has new snowmaking and a
revamped 32-foot wallride, two new barrel bonks, and a 20 ft. down box.
Mount Sunapee (603-763-2356;
www.mtsunapee.com ) in Newbury, N.H. added snowmaking coverage on two more
trails, a unique meeting and function room and renovations to the Summit Lodge
highlight a $600,000 capital program at Mount Sunapee. This brings the total
capital investment at Mount Sunapee since 1998 to more than $15,000,000.
Snowmaking has been added to Elliot Slope and Portage trail for the 2006-2007
season.
Pats Peak (1-888-728-7732; www.patspeak.com
) Has upgraded their base lodge, and improved snowmaking, including fully
automatic SMI fan guns on the Hurricane Trail and two high capacity water pumps.
A new 500ft SunKid Wonder Carpet lift has replaced the old J-Bar. The Beginner's
Area has been reconfigured to provide more open terrain to learn on.
Ragged Mountain (603-768-3600;
www.raggedmountainresort.com ) in Danbury, N.H. can aford to rest on its
laurels, in the last three years they've added a new chairlift, five new trails
in Spook's Gorge, 60 snowguns in Big Rock Basin, and two new grooming machines
Tenney Mountain (603-536-4125,
www.tenneymtn.com ) has new owners and an upgraded snowmaking/grooming
system. The trail network includes new glades and new terrain park.
Waterville Valley (1-800-468-2553;
www.waterville.com ) has widened Tommy's World Cup and Upper Valley Run. The
unloading area for the Quadzilla quad chairlift has been expanded The snowmaking
system has 4 new fan guns. Also look for a new Burton Progression Park, and
Grenade Bomb Jib.
Whaleback Mountain (603 448-1489;
www.whaleback.com ) in Enfield, N.H. is continually reinventing itself as a
family area with a focus on kids who like to play in the park. Every week, all
season look for something different to huck, bonk or jib.
NEW YORK
Belleayre Mountain (845-254-5600;
www.belleayre.com ) in Highmount, New York. As this is written the towers
and terminals are in place and the cable is being strung for a new high speed
quad!
Gore Mountain (518-251-2411;
www.goremountain.com ) in North Creek, New York. Novices should note the new
"Ruby Run" trail off the Northwoods Gondola, the "Bear Cub Run" beginner trail
has been reprofiled to offer a more consistent pitch, and widened by 30 feet And
the Snow Train conveyor is 40-foot longer this season. Gore has also upgraded
snowmaking and grooming and it's NASTAR course.
Whiteface (518-946-2223; www.whiteface.com
) near Lake Placid, New York spent $5 million in capital improvements, including
snowmaking and grooming upgrades, trail re-contouring, and an expansion of the
Kids Kampus
Windham Mountain (800-754-9463;
www.windhammountain.com ) in Windham, New York boasts three new trails,
three new lifts, a new ice skating center and a new on-mountain restaurant / pub
Belleayre Mountain (845-254-5600;
www.belleayre.com ) in Highmount, New York is ponying up a new high-speed
lift and additional snowmaking. Look for a new base lodge starting spring 2007
Hunter Mountain (888-HUNTERMTN;
www.huntermtn.com ) in Hunter, new York has a new ticket center and has
Wi-fi in the upstairs of the Base Lodge There's also a new Park Bully grooming
the slopes this winter, and they've doubled their tubing park
VERMONT
Ascutney Mountain Resort(1-800-243-0011;
www.ascutney.com ) in Brownsville, Vermont turns 60 this year. They've added
new compressors and 100 new snowguns, and upgraded their grooming fleet. Look
for new trails on the mountain and a renovated resort village, refurbished
fitness center and a new spa.
Bolton Valley (1-877-9BOLTON,
www.boltonvalley.com ). Last year, Bolton added a brand new summit quad
chair. This year, they've got a Burton Learn to Ride Center for snowboarders and
a brand new progression terrain park.
Burke Mountain (802-626-3322;
www.skiburke.com ) has a new Snow Sports Learning Center, high speed
internet access in both lodges, and enhanced cell phone coverage in all areas of
the resort.
Jay Peak (800-451-4449;
www.jaypeakresort.com ).is developing access to the West Bowl for more
intermediate skiing/riding terrain.
Killington Resort (800-621-6867;
www.killington.com ).has made more than $1.5 million in resort improvements
this summer, including the opening of the Killington Grand Resort Hotel Spa and
continued snowmaking upgrades., designated family ski/snowboard zones, a Family
Adventure Center at the Snowshed Lodge (now with night tubing), and remodeling
at Pico Mountain.
Mad River Glen (802-496-3551;
www.madriverglen.com ) is spending about $120,000 this season just making
sure that nothing changes, ever. Good thing, too. This is the last season for
the old single chair before they spend $1.6 million on a "historic restoration."
Magic Mountain (802-824-5645;
www.magicmtn.com ) in Londonderry, Vermont has The completely renovated the
Inn on Magic Mountain, improved snow making and updated the Hokus Pokus Terrain
Park.
Middlebury Snow Bowl (802-388-4356;
www.middlebury.edu/~snowbowl )
in Hancock, Vermont. has done some major trail work, expanding and recontouring
two popular front side trails, Allen and Ross. New tower snowguns enhance
snowmaking on Ross
Mount Snow (1-800 245-7669,
www.mountsnow.com ) in Dover, Vermont. has installed the longest terrain
park (4940 feet) , in the East, and wi-fi access in the main base area.
Okemo Mountain Resort, (1-800-786-5366;
www.okemo.com ) in Ludlow, Vermont has added snowmaking on Big Bang and
Eclipse with 50 new HKD tower guns. They have four new Camoplast BR350 grooming
machines, an expanded water reservoir for snowmaking; and a new ice skating rink
and fitness and aquatic center at Jackson Gore.
Smugglers Notch (1-800-451-8752;
www.smuggs.com ) in Jeffersonville, Vermont. The popular Rum Runners' Trail
on Sterling Mountain has been widened and recontoured at its scariest spots. The
Morse Highlands Terrain Park has been moved to the Log Jam trail for a longer,
wider, and more hit-filled beginner run..
Stowe (1-800-253-4754; www.stowe.com ) in
Stowe, Vermont. Major changes include a new Poma ten-person standing gondola
transfer llft making it easy and convenient to get from Mount Mansfield to the
new base area and lifts at Spruce Peak.
Sugarbush (1-800-537-8427;
www.sugarbush.com ) in Warren, Vermont. is debuting a $60 million
state-of-the-art base village and hotel at Lincoln Peak adding slopeside lodging
and doubling the size of the main base lodge. Whew!
SAD PASSING
Powder Ridge in Middlefield, Connecticut has closed and the land is being
sold for development. Very sad. One more loss for New England skiing and riding.
If you want a glimpse of what once was, check out the New England Lost Ski Areas
Project ( www.nelsap.org )
PLAN YOUR VACATIONS NOW
The Internet has people thinking that you can always find great last minute
vacation deals. Unfortunately that isn't true with ski resorts and big school
vacations.
If you've got kids in school and want to ski on Thanksgiving weekend, the
week between Christmas and New Year's, ML King Day, or President's Week, start
planning right now. The longer you wait, the fewer options you are going to
have.
Tim Jones is founder and executive editor of EasternSlopes.com. He writes about outdoor sports and travel.
You can reach him at timjones@easternslopes.com
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