What's New At Vermont Ski Resorts?

Since selling the village real estate in June of 2008, the Plausteiners have focused on managing the mountain operations and planning and designing the 10-year build out of the Ascutney Mountain Resort Master Plan. In the near future Steven and Susan will be announcing plans for the "Forest Preserve" - an eco-friendly development which abuts the largest contiguous parcel of protected land (5,000+ acres) in the state. Keep an eye on http://www.ascutney.com/, for all the latest.

Bolton Valley
This season, Bolton Valley is extending snowmaking on the popular Cobrass trail that connects the main mountain with the Timberline area and is retrofitting a number of its Ratnik snow guns to improve efficiency.

"We've upgraded and expanded our snowmaking capacity considerably during the past three seasons and this year is no exception," noted George B. Potter, Bolton Valley president. "We also are continuously looking at ways to improve our energy efficiency on a resort-wide basis and have been working with Efficiency Vermont to identify areas for improvement."

Bolton's Ratnik® brand snow guns and the accompanying snowmaking system were tested by Efficiency Vermont, which identified areas where greater efficiency can be obtained. Working with Efficiency Vermont and Ratnik, retrofits have been made to the guns, improving energy usage.

"We'll have a better idea of how much energy conservation results from the retrofits once the system is in operation," continued Potter. "But whatever efficiencies we gain are well worth the investment." Visit http://winter.boltonvalley.com/mountain/maps/.

Jay Peak
In February of 2010, Jay Peak skiers and riders will have a new spot to rest their tired legs. The Tram Haus Lodge at Jay Peak is scheduled to open its doors and will serve as the starting point for a number of facelifts planned for the next several seasons.

"While the new Tram Haus Lodge is small by industry standards - a mix of just 57 studio, 1 and 2 bedroom suites - it's a big step for us," said Vice President of Sales and Marketing Steve Wright. "Adding a new restaurant and a small coffee shop will be appreciated; a bar with actual windows will probably be a big hit as well." Wright is referring to the new bar inside the Tram Haus that, unlike its predecessor the Golden Eagle Bar, will have big views of the mountain. The Eagle, in comparison, had small views of a wall.

The Tram Haus Lodge will also house a rental, repair and demo center - providing one-stop convenience for families heading to the slopes.

In addition to the restaurant, bar, bakery and store, the Tram Haus Lodge will also include a fitness area with whirlpool, free weights and aerobic equipment. While the use of these facilities will be included in Tram Haus Lodge vacation packages, the amenities will be open to all resort guests, space permitting. "We want to make sure this updated version of Jay Peak is available to all of our guests, not just the ones staying in our new property," said President and Co-owner Bill Stenger. "The biggest part of our brand is skiing and riding and while that won't change, it will certainly be nice to look out at snow piling up with a Tram Ale in hand and a fire keeping us warm."

Killington
Numerous upgrades throughout the resort to the world's most extensive snowmaking system will offer deeper base depths on a number of trails for the 2009-10 season. Plus, Killington is purchasing additional Low Energy snow guns and fan guns to reduce energy consumption, while still pumping out enough snow to fill Giants Stadium - twice!

Mad River Glen
The Single Chair Capital Campaign reached its summit! A lot of people said it couldn't be done, but the Mad River Glen Cooperative smashed its fundraising goal by raising more than $1.7 million in donations to fund the historic restoration of the mountain's iconic Single Chair. This unique fundraising campaign was facilitated by partnerships with two non-profit groups, the Stark Mountain Foundation and Preservation Trust of Vermont. Their collaboration allowed Mad River Glen to raise tax-deductible charitable dollars to finance the project. The campaign will formally close in the Spring of 2010. With a nod towards Mad River Glen's egalitarian ethos everyone who donates, no matter the amount, will have their names added to an all donor plaque that will be installed at the base of the restored Single Chair.

Magic Mountain
The Magic Partnership, LLC: In an effort to save Magic Mountain and raise capital to invest in the infrastructure, the ski area has begun selling shares. For more details go to http://www.magicmtn.com/.

More efficient snowmaking: Magic Mountain continues to improve the snowmaking operations with increased efficiency through repaired snowmaking lines and increased capacity.

More glades: Magic continues to improve glade skiing options for the 09-10 season via increased thinning of off trail areas mountain-wide. While there aren't more marked glades on the mountain, the adventurous skier can follow the numerous tracks leading into the woods for prime tree skiing.

Middlebury Snow Bowl
The big news at the Bowl is that the 40 year old Worth Mt. double chair has been rpleaced with a Doppelmayr/CTEC fixed grip triple. This lift will cost $1,700,000, transport 1200/PPH, will load and unload, and travel the same line as the old lift. The Bowl has a mid-Nov. load test scheduled, so the new lift will be ready in plenty of time for the coming season.

Mount Snow
Mount Snow continues its emphasis on high quality snowmaking and terrain conditions with off season infrastructure improvements to its snowmaking system and additions to its fleet of groomers. This will help the mountain's 251 new-technology fan guns do what they do best, cover absolutely everything in sight with the fluffy white stuff we all love.

If you thought year one of Carinthia as a freestyle terrain park was a success wait until this season. With new features, curved rails and an entire year of the mountain's crew dreaming up new park layouts, Carinthia is going to take things to yet another level. While the smiles and raving of guests is enough to prove that this was a great move, there is one more major perk. Mount Snow has been chosen to host this year's finals of the Winter Dew Tour, February 4-7, 2010.

Okemo Mountain Resort
Okemo Mountain Resort continues its commitment to snowmaking and grooming this winter with the addition of a second Prinoth BR500 grooming machine. Okemo's first BR500 is affectionately referred to as "The Beast" by Resort operations staff. The 500-horsepower dual turbocharged behemoth is about eight feet wider and ten feet longer than the next largest model, the BR350. The Beast sports a 24-foot-wide tiller and a 20-foot-wide blade. With engineered efficiencies, additional width and an ability to travel at the same speed uphill and downhill, the newest machine in Okemo's grooming fleet will help fortify the resort's reputation for superior surface conditions.

Okemo is also reconfiguring its entire HKD snowmaking system with a focus on enhanced resurfacing response time. Although skiers and riders will take little notice, these behind-the-scenes operational improvements will be realized in greater productivity and efficiency.

The introductions that will make Okemo skiers and riders take notice this season are the new online-only deals and creative, money-saving programs for value-savvy snowsliders. Visit www.okemo.com/okemowinter/ratesandrentals/deals.asp for more information.

Pico Mountain
Snowmaking upgrades continue to improve Pico Mountain's overall efficiency in energy consumption and production. For the 2009-10 season, snowmaking pipe and hydrants have been replaced on Upper Pike, completing the final phase of a three-year replacement program on Pico's signature top-to-bottom trail.

Smugglers' Notch Resort
Smugglers' Notch Resort is adding yet another challenging and classic New England-style trail by extending Full Nelson from above mid-point to the base on Sterling Mountain. This bumps the count of expert trails on a mountain known for its intermediate terrain to more than twelve.

Together with Flaik GPS technology, Smugglers' is able to offer all students in Snow Sport University ski and snowboard camps (ages 3-15) a way to capture their on-mountain fun. The kids will be outfitted with Flaik GPS units that will track the miles, vertical and trails skied each day and cumulatively. Aprés ski, they can log on to review the data with friends and family to share their total on-mountain experience and plan exciting adventures for the next day. Rentals will be available for $19.95 per day with the same capabilities.

A new Burton Learn to Ride Center at Smuggs will provide the latest and greatest in specialized snowboard equipment that is geared to providing new riders, both children and adults, with a comfortable first time experience.

The Mountain Experience for adults at Smuggs returns by popular demand to bring back a great day-long mountain tour format to skiers and riders at level four or better. Explore Smugglers' three mountains while getting instructional tips from a mountain insider, one of the Resort's Snow Sport University professionals.

For more ‘what's new' details at Smugglers', visit www.smuggs.com/whats-new-winter.

Stowe Mountain Resort
Charm unique to Vermont, combined with a level of service and overall experience found exclusively at the world's top resorts, makes Stowe Mountain Resort a one-of-a-kind four-season destination. In a place where the history, community and landscape are legendary for hospitality and adventure, a nearly-completed ten-year master plan has elevated the Stowe brand to world-class status yet again.

The two newest components of the project that have touched guests in Stowe significantly this past year are Spruce Camp and Stowe Mountain Lodge. The Spruce Camp base lodge includes restaurants, a bar, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, rental shops, retail, guest services, event space and public lounge areas. Stowe Mountain Lodge, a hotel and spa that just celebrated its first anniversary, has already been recognized as one of the ‘greenest' and most luxurious mountainside accommodations in the world. For more information visit www.stowe.com/press_room/.

Stratton Mountain
In 2009/2010, expect to see some exciting new changes around the mountain, especially when it comes to freestyle terrain and the creation of an Adventure Zone in the Sunbowl area, already home to the US Open Snowboarding Championships and now site of the expert level terrain park and superpipe. Plus, the Coca Cola Snow Tubing Park; a four lane, 750 foot long, lift served park, snowmobile tours, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing all from the Sun Bowl with its full-service lodge. On the park and progression front, there's a new Jib Park on Lower Middlebrook, Boarder-Cross on East Byrneside and beginner mogul areas on White Birch and Daniel Webster.

Skiers and riders can also track vertical feet, clock speed, and find their friends and family members with the Flaik GPS tracking system, available for rent by the day, week or season and included with all Junior Ski School programs.

Sugarbush
What's new at the Bush? How about new terrain? Sugarbush spent the summer expanding and adding 75 acres of new wooded terrain at both Mt. Ellen and Lincoln Peak. The expansion is part of the resort's continuing effort to create new challenges and experiences for their guests as well as removing the "fear factor" from wooded skiing and riding; some of the new areas have gentle slopes and more space between trees.