Vermont Resort Improvements
Updates courtesy of Ski Vermont.com Director of Public Affairs Jen Butson for these updates.Okemo Mountain Resort
- New trails: Cut several years ago, the two trails will be finalized and opened to the public this season over on the Jackson Gore Peak area of the mountain.
- More Snowmaking: 80 new snowmaking guns will be added to the mountain's arsenal. In addition, Okemo is upgrading snowmaking systems on some of its most-skied trails and those that are traditionally the earliest to open.
- New Groomers: Okemo’s grooming fleet is the first in the East to include the new Prinoth BR500 grooming machine, 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. In addition, Okemo will be replacing three other machines with Prinoth BR350s, one of which will be outfitted as a park cat for grooming the terrain features in Okemo’s five ski and snowboard terrain parks.
- Laser Guided Pipe Monster: The resort will be using a laser guidance system similar to that used in summertime construction-site grading projects to cut and maintain their Superpipe this season, with the goal of delivering an even better pipe riding experience.
- Loading & Unloading Carpets: A carpet-style surface lift will ease loading for beginners riding the resort's Southridge Quad A this season, along with a first in the U.S. Unloading carpet at the top of the same lift.
- Parks & Pipes Makeover: Officials announced June 9th that the resort will dedicate the entire Carinthia mountain face to freestyle terrain parks when it opens for the 2008-09 season, transforming 95 acres of trails into a massive park system consisting of no less than 12 terrain parks. The resort's Superpipe will continue to call Carinthia its home as well. A snowskate playground, hikable park, beginners’ learning park and a skate ramp will surround the base area, while the base lodge itself will be renovated and outfitted with lounge areas, an extended outdoor deck with ample seating, counter seating along the windows, free wireless internet, flat screen televisions and outdoor fire pits.
- Moresnowmaking: 150 brand new fan guns, which produce high-quality snow even in marginal temperatures will be installed around the mountain, including in the Carinthia area, allowing the terrain parks to open earlier.
- New High-Speed Detachable Quad: Replacing the existing Skye Peak fixed-grip quad, the new Skye Peak Express will cut the ride time from 13 minutes to just under 5 minutes. The new lift will improve access to intermediate cruising terrain on Skye Peak, Bear Mountain’s premiere terrain parks and some of the best free skiing/riding trails and glades in the East. In addition to greatly reduced ride time, the new lift will be less susceptible to wind holds and delays in operation due to the slower loading and unloading speed offered by a detachable lift.
- Spruce Base Camp: New building includes skier services, restaurants, bars, rental shops, and indoor and outdoor fireplaces. Directly adjacent to the Over Easy transfer Gondola, which provides quick access to both Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak's slopes.
- More Gladed Terrain: A new glade, named Attitude, has been added to the 22% of gladed terrain on Madonna Mountain this off-season.
- Better for Beginners: The Hibernator Trail now offers beginners a direct line from top to bottom.
- New Trails: Six new glades and trails have been added to the popular Sunbowl area.
- New Groomers: A new Prinoth Sherpa Winch Cat has been added to the grooming fleet, allowing for better maintenance of steep slopes. In addition, a Prinoth BR350 terrain park cat has been added for more effective terrain park grooming.
Stratton Mountain Resort website
Mad River Glen- Renovated Bathrooms: Snowboarders aren't welcome (or even allowed) on Mad River Glen's slopes. Go use the bathrooms anyways.
- Lodge Expansion: The two-year old Gate House lodge will see a half million dollar expansion between September and December, with more room for eating, drinking and relaxing.
- Cat Skiing: With the addition of a 12-passenger Pisten Bully cat cab, Sugarbush becomes the only resort in the East to offer cat-skiing. Take the cat up to the top of Lincoln peak for a special meal at Allyn's Lodge, then follow it up with some full-moon snowshoeing or skiing. Come late March, the 'Bush closes down Mt. Ellen to everyone but the cat skiers.
- Lincoln Peak Village Phase II: Groundbreaking for Phase II of the Lincoln Peak Village is slated to begin in the spring of '09.
- More Snowmaking: Bolton Valley installed new snowmaking lines and added new fan guns for the upcoming season.
- New Groomer: A new Prinoth Bison snowcat joins the fleet to improve snow conditions.
- New Intermediate Terrain Park: Located on Lower Foxes Folly, the new park will offer progressive park features suited for learning.
- Burton Learn to Ride Program: Burke will become the latest Burton Learn to Ride resort in Vermont this season.
- More Snowmaking: $1 million dollar investment in high-efficiency HKD sv10 tower snow guns increase Bromley's snowmaking by 30%.
- New Groomer: A Prinoth BR350 groomer has been added to the fleet.
- New Ownership: Jay Peak was sold by MSSI to a group of local investors led by long time President and COO, Bill Stenger. Work continues on the construction of a new hotel at the Tram base, which will also contain updated skier service facilities.[/li
