Written By Heather & Greg Burke  Let’s
face it, new stuff is cool and ski resorts are no exception. As skiers
paying the big bucks – we want to be greeted with more than
enthusiastic attendants in bright uniforms as we enter the resort
parking lot. Like the excitement of unwrapping pretty packages under
the tree on a holiday morning, we want to unveil new lifts and trails
on the hill, new services in the lodge. We want to see the resort has
been investing in itself, while we were at the beach, or more likely -
at our desks earning pay so we can play come that first big snowfall.
Your first turns of the ski season are exciting; add speedy lifts and expanded terrain for an over the top experience! Fortunately, there is over $100 million worth of improvements at Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine resorts –considerable green spread around our white-covered peaks. That capital expenditure makes plunking down $30-$70 for a lift ticket much more palatable. Here are some serious upgrades to look forward to this downhill season: Wachusett opens the much-anticipated Vickery Bowl this winter, featuring two new trails to explore, to total 22. After a decade-long environmental review involving the Sierra Club and the Supreme Court, skiers and riders can finally enjoy eight new acres of terrain both day and night since lights have been added. Next year, Vickery Bowl will get a triple chair. For this season, a new Magic Carpet has been added to the Easy Rider beginner area. Visitors can expect more of the same great service and food in the expansive base lodge, which has garnered several recent awards. Wachusett in Algonquin means Great Hill – and for skiing in central Massachusetts, 1000’ vertical with two high-speed quads is great. Jiminy Peak, Massachusetts’ largest ski area with 1,150’ vertical, a six-passenger lift plus two quads, completes its $5 million master plan this season. With the finishing touches on Jiminy’s Village Center, Massachusetts now has a bona fide full service ski resort. The new Burbank Children’s Center and the Paul Major Welcome Center should make your stay at Jiminy more efficient and pleasant from arrival, to slopeside lodging check-in, to the all-important “kid drop off” at SKIWee, and ultimately hitting Jiminy’s slopes.  Gunstock
in New Hampshire, just over an hour from Lowell, has been a friendly,
scenic ski area since 1937 – with an awesome view of Lake
Winnipesaukee and the mighty Whites beyond. The only problem was the
slow fixed grip lift up the 1,400’vertical mountain. Gunstock spent
the summer, and $5 million, shaving seven minutes off your lift ride
time. A new high-speed quad now delivers you to the panoramic summit
in six swift minutes, down from a snail’s pace 13 on the old triple.
That triple chair moved to the Pistol area where snowmaking, a terrain park, and lights have been added. This eastern section of Gunstock was once a favorite amongst kids and will surely ramp up again with the relocated Blundersmoke pipe and park. Just an hour north of Lowell, Crotched is born again. After 14 defunct years, this 875’ vertical hill has reopen under Midwest management. Peak Resorts has jumpstarted this southern Granite State area with two quads, a triple and a double, a magic carpet, snowmaking and a brand new mountain lodge (amazing what $9 million will buy in this economy). If you thrive on night skiing, 100% of Crotched’s trails are illuminated. Get this – on Xtreme Midnight Fridays and Saturdays, Crotched stays open from 8pm to 3am. And our mothers said, “Nothing good ever happens after midnight.” These zany ski hours have been wildly popular in the Midwest –wonder how it will fly in early to bed Yankee territory. If you have teens, this is the place to keep them amused after dark.  Further
north in the White Mountains, Bretton Woods - New Hampshire’s largest
ski area - gets another new high-speed quad (the area’s fourth). The
new Rosebrook Summit Express introduces several upper end trails
including Bode’s Run – named for U.S. Ski Team star Bode Miller who
has been appointed Bretton Woods’ Director of Skiing. That celeb-status
alone should entice you to make tracks at this N.H. resort. Add in the
incredible views and the palatial lodging at the Hotel Mount
Washington, it should be on everyone’s list as a must ski and stay
this winter.Cannon, the state-owned ski area just past Franconia Notch’s no-longer Man on the Mountain, gets a new lift this season – thanks to the State’s profitable lease of Sunapee. Cannon has had a reputation as an expert mountain, with N.H.’s greatest vertical of 2,146’ and some steep fall line served by the aerial tram. With this year’s new novice Tuckerbrook quad, and seven mellow trails, Cannon should become a much more family friendly place. Cannon skiers and riders will also be greeted with a new Notch View Lodge, renovated from the Old Peabody building. In the Green Mountain state, Okemo launches the next phase of Jackson Gore - a separate mountain with a brand new base area, seven more trails served by a second high-speed quad (can you say $55 million?).  Okemo has been
family owned and operated for over 21 years, their service and snow
conditions continue to be top notch – therefore it’s a top shelf place
to stay and play. And with the addition of Jackson Gore it keeps
getting bigger and better. Okemo’s owners have made their Sunapee
lease a success in N.H., and just purchased Crested Butte ski resort
in Colorado.In Maine, new ownership means new life for Saddleback Ski Area in the Rangeley Lakes region. A Maine native purchased the sleepy ski area from its Massachusetts’ owner (after a quarter century of ownership) for more than the asking price of $7 million.  To
kick things off, Saddleback’s new owner reduced lift ticket prices
dramatically (from $49 to $35) and orchestrated serious trail
maintenance (fancy term for bush whacking). While there are no
glittery high-speed lift and lodges at Saddleback this season – this
rustic ski area is a gem that is about to be polished. You may want to explore this mountainous Maine spot, with the highest base elevation of any New England ski area and a vertical of 1830’. Or wait for Saddleback to shine with a slopeside hotel and terrain expansion in the vast and extreme 4,000’ Horn Bowl. Sunday River continues to spend dough on making and grooming the best snow. Last season it was a new arsenal of tower guns, to total 1,600. This winter, the River (local-speak) bolstered it grooming fleet with four pricey new Bombardiers, the ultimate corduroy creators. Call it sibling rivalry; Sunday River opened Nov. 10, the same day as Killington - notorious for being first to open in the East for four decades. It’s a healthy snow gun duel amongst these American Skiing Company resorts – and the skiing customer wins every time. So if you are looking for new, better, best, these are a few New England resorts worth the ride from Lowell. The important thing is to get out on our beautiful snow covered mountains and embrace winter – our indisputable longest season. Make it your favorite season with some invigorating snow sliding, whether its riding one board or two, at a ski resort near you. Wachusett Mountain www.wachusett.com Jiminy Peak Ski Resort www.jiminy.com Bretton Woods Ski Resort www.brettonwoods.com Gunstock www.gunstock.com Crotched Mountain www.crotchedmountain.com Cannon www.cannon.com Okemo Mountain Resort www.okemo.com Sunday River www.sundayriver.com Saddleback www.saddlebackskiarea.com |
