New England Ski Resorts upgrade for 2010

Will the downturned economy turn away downhill skiers? That’s what many resorts are wondering. In lieu of wringing their hands and fretting, they are lowering or holding prices while bolstering snowmaking to assure they meet their necessary winter numbers.

This is good news for skiers and riders in New England skiers. While you won’t experience a showering of new lifts, there are some significant improvements in snowmaking and a smattering of new trails at resorts in our region.

As for conditions, the superstitious skiers’ bible, the Farmer’s Almanac, is calling for a “cool and snowy winter,” with a blizzard by mid-February. Maine’s Sunday River opened earliest ever on Oct 14, and stayed open despite a warm November.

Here is a look around New England at what’s up at your favorite downhill resorts.

One of only two new lifts in New England this season is at Gunstock. The New Hampshire ski area overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee adds a fixed grip Quad to their “Gunshy” beginner terrain and expands this learning area with several new novice runs complete with snowmaking. I learned to ski at Gunstock, this ideal ski mountain just got better with these upgrades.

The other new lift is at 75 year old Middlebury Snow Bowl, a $1.7 million fixed grip triple replaces the four-decade old Worth Mountain double at this 1,050’-vertical historic ski hill and training ground for Middlebury College’s NCAA team.

Also in Vermont, Jay Peak will open their new Tram Haus Lodge this winter with lodging, dining, skier services, and a Tram Bar that is sure to be Jay’s après ski address.

You can own a little piece of Magic, Magic Mountain in southern Vermont is raising capital by selling $3,000 shares to the classic 1,700’ vertical ski mountain. Will it be the next co-op area like Mad River?

New glades grace the hillsides of Smugglers’ Notch and Sugarbush in Vermont, Ragged and Sunapee in New Hampshire, and Saddleback in Maine who now boasts the biggest glades - Casablanca is 44 acres of tamed wilderness.

Cannon has opened up skiing on the old Mittersill ski area, no lifts yet – just a bus ride back to the base but 86-acres of trails have been trimmed back for adventurous skiers. Wildcat now offers backside guided ski tours that end you in Jackson Village.

Sugarbush will continue to offer early morning cat skiing, the only cat skiing in Eastern U.S., taking you out in a luxury snowcat, The Lincoln Limo, for fresh tracks on Lincoln Peak and the Slide Brook area for $75.

Terrain parks have been amped up at Stratton, Wildcat, Pat’s Peak, and Mt Snow – where the Mountain Dew Tour finals will be hosted Feb. 4-7 in the Carinthia Park area.

Serious snowmaking upgrades have occurred at Vermont’s Bolton Valley, Pico, Killington and Okemo, Gunstock and Sunapee in New Hampshire, Maine sister resorts Sugarloaf and Sunday River, and Wachussett in Mass.

Sunday River is now the undisputed snowmaking super power and winner of the “cold war”– taking first to open bragging rights for the third consecutive year, and doing so at an unbelievably early Oct. 14. Bookending with sister resort Sugarloaf, Maine now hosts the longest ski season east of the Rockies. Killington used to wage this snow gun war to be first and last, but has backed down in recent seasons, even though they brought back their “Beast of the East” campaign.

As for new toys at ski resorts, Bolton Valley has a new wind turbine to provide the resort’s power – the first at a Vermont ski resort. Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts installed one back in 2007, and Wachusett added two to their summit this fall.

Bretton Woods now features the longest year-round canopy tour in the US, so take a break from skiing at this scenic mountain, and take to the skies zipping down 1,000’-vertical.

If you think skiing is a gamble, consider a ski trip over the border to Tremblant in Quebec. This popular ski resort in the Laurentians now has a slopeside casino on the south side, Versant Sud, connected to Tremblant’s charming village by gondola.

I suggest you sign up for “snow mail” from your favorite ski resorts. These frequent ski- emails alert you to significant snowfall, special events and last minute lift and lodging deals. The web is a winter lover’s friend. For example Wachusett skiers can pre buy lift tickets online this season for less than last year’s rates. The travel trend is to wait, web surf, and book late, so check the forecast, find the deepest snow and the best vertical value. See you on the slopes.