If you look at all that’s new on the slopes for the coming season, you’d never know that there’s been a recession that was supposed to hurt the ski industry. Take a peek and start salivating. Snow season is just a cold snap away . . . So, what will you see new on the slopes of the Green Mountain State once the green turns white? Take a look at what’s new in Vermont Skiing!
Ascutney Mountain Resort (1-800-243-0011) in Brownsville, Vermont has affiliated with the Holiday Inn Club to market their mountain as a vacation destination. Last year, Ascutney received town approval for its master development plan and big changes are in store for the future.
Bolton Valley (802)434-3444) in Bolton, Vermont. is extending snowmaking on the popular Cobrass trail that connects the main mountain with the Timberline area. And, they are retrofitting snow guns to improve efficiency. Making more snow with less energy is good. Speaking of energy, Bolton’s new wind turbine is up and running, near the Vista Quad lift. This thing will produce enough power to run between 30-45 households!
Bromley Mountain (800-865-4786) in Peru, Vermont, has completed a two-year, $1.1 million upgrade to its snowmaking system which has increased capacity by 30 percent.
Jay Peak (800-451-4449) in Jay, Vermont: will re-open the Tram Haus Lodge in February. It’ll have 57 unites: studios, and 1- and 2-bedroom suites, plus a new restaurant and bar (with actual windows and a view of the slopes!) and a rental, repair and demo center.
Killington (800-621-6867) in Killington, Vermont has more and better snowmaking in store for the season—as if they couldn’t blow more snow than anyone else already!
Mad River Glen (802-496-3551) in Fayston, Vermont, hasn’t changed anything,which is exactly the way it should be. The “new” single chair (now several years old) looks exactly like the “old” single chair and is still the single best chairlift ride in the world.
Magic Mountain (802-824-5645) in Londonderry, Vermont is attempting to follow Mad River Glen’s successful model by going co-op. If you’ve always wanted own a piece of your favorite ski area, you can at Magic. But they aren’t sitting around either. This season they’ve repaired and upgraded their snowmaking for more efficiency and added more gladed terrain for prime tree skiing. They’ll be open Friday-Monday for the ’09-’10 season.
Middlebury Snow Bowl (802-388-4356) in Hancock, Vermont, is right in the middle of replacing their 40-year-old Worth Mt. double chair with a Doppelmayr/CTEC fixed-grip triple. If you’ve never explored the Snow Bowl, this is obviously the year to do it.
Mount Snow (1-800 245-7669) in Dover, Vermont, was the first resort in Vermont to turn its lifts this season they’ve upgraded their grooming fleet and made improvements to their already-awesome snowmaking system. They’ve also taken the already-legendary Carinthia snow park to the next level.
Okemo Mountain Resort (1-800-786-5366) in Ludlow, Vermont, has pumped up its snowmaking and grooming this winter with the addition of a second Prinoth BR500 grooming machine, affectionately referred to as “The Beast,” which sports a 24-foot-wide tiller and a 20-foot-wide blade. They’ve also reconfigured the snowmaking system to enhanced resurfacing response time.
Pico (1-866-667-7426) in Rutland, Vermont, has also upgraded snowmaking with particular emphasis on Upper Pike, which completes years of improvements on this signature trail.
Smugglers Notch (1-800-451-8752) in Jeffersonville, Vermont. has extended the expert Full Nelson trail from above mid-point to the base on Sterling Mountain, which now has 12 expert trails on a supposedly “intermediate” mountain.
Stowe Mountain Resort (1-800-253-4754 ) in Stowe, Vermont, took a bit of a
breather this summer after completely revamping the entire Spruce Mountain area with new lifts, trails, snowmaking, base lodge and the most amazing luxury hotel at any ski resort in New England. They deserve the rest . . .
Stratton Mountain Resort (1-800-787-2886; ), in Stratton, Vermont has upgraded its freestyle terrain yet again with an “Adventure Zone” in the Sunbowl area (already home to the US Open Snowboarding Championships!) and a new Jib Park on Lower Middlebrook, Boarder-Cross on East Byrneside and beginner mogul areas on White Birch and Daniel Webster.
Sugarbush (1-800-537-8427) in Warren, Vermont, added 75 acres of new wooded terrain on both Mt. Ellen and Lincoln Peak for your woods-skiing pleasure.
Don’t take my word for it, get out and check all these improvements for yourself this winter. Winter’s too short! What are you waiting for?