Article on Burke

[thetrailboss]

Burke, conversly, is barely on the map, brandwise. A new twist is that Smuggs is in a great location to take advantage of the increase in visitation by our neighbors to the north.

Not according to Ginn: :wink:

One of Vermont’s best-known ski mountains, Burke Mountain offers everything from classic runs and cross country trails to more modern options like a terrain park. Burke Mountain will also be home to Ginn Bridgemor™ Resort, a ski resort unlike any other in New England.

:roll:

 

[kingdom-tele]

In the hopes to lure more flatlanders then yes riv, a HSQ would be beneficial, but the current ride is 12 min ( of course depending on how many stops) which isn't to bad, if its a work out your looking for you could always skin up, I doubt anyone buying a multi million dollar 2cd or 3rd home really could care less about saving 5 min on the lift, isn't that the whole idea of bridgemore estates, settling into the NEK, the quiet way of life

I'm just jerkin your chain anyway riv, it won't matter what ginn does, when they put up the gates on the access road and make season passes 1,000 dollars we won't be riding any of the lifts

 

[thetrailboss]

In the hopes to lure more flatlanders then yes riv, a HSQ would be beneficial, but the current ride is 12 min ( of course depending on how many stops) which isn't to bad, if its a work out your looking for you could always skin up, I doubt anyone buying a multi million dollar 2cd or 3rd home really could care less about saving 5 min on the lift, isn't that the whole idea of bridgemore estates, settling into the NEK, the quiet way of life.

Don't get me started on the stops or the number of times that lift was slowed down last weekend...it drives me nuts :roll: If you can't ride the lift, don't ride it. Simple as that.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

And as to the NELSAP comment, I think that if it were not for BMA, or specifically one its major benefactors, then the mountain would be on NELSAP.

True but BMA said right from day 1 of ownership that they had no interest in owning/operating Burke and a couple of years into it they were ready to throw in the towel when Ginn rode in and saved the day. :wink:

 

[thetrailboss]

True but BMA said right from day 1 of ownership that they had no interest in owning/operating Burke and a couple of years into it they were ready to throw in the towel when Ginn rode in and saved the day. :wink:

Well, they owned Burke for more than a couple years...they ran it from 2000-2005. And the "benefactor" was buddies with Bobby Ginn, so he is the one who gets credit for bringing Ginn on board.

 

[deadheadskier]

Whatever happens, it will be interesting to see what Burke becomes. It probably has the highest average snowfall of any mountain within 3 hours of Boston, 2000 vert and great summer activities with Lake Wiloughby nearby. Those three attributes seem like its a good bet to be successful someday.

Do they have the water resources for extensive snowmaking during down years?

 

[thetrailboss]

Whatever happens, it will be interesting to see what Burke becomes. It probably has the highest average snowfall of any mountain within 3 hours of Boston, 2000 vert and great summer activities with Lake Wiloughby nearby. Those three attributes seem like its a good bet to be successful someday.

Do they have the water resources for extensive snowmaking during down years?

Thanks to the 1996 upgrades (a withdrawal system at the Passumpsic River and a pipeline to the mountain), they have MUCH more water than before, which was the small pond below the Quad. I am not sure what they are permitted to take though...

The big problem with water is the potable water that they need....as the original trailboss will tell you, last year the local paper reported how much water they would need for the condos, hotel, golf course, and this proposed waterpark.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Thanks to the 1996 upgrades (a withdrawal system at the Passumpsic River and a pipeline to the mountain), they have MUCH more water than before, which was the small pond below the Quad. I am not sure what they are permitted to take though...

I don't believe there is a set allowed gallon amount. I believe the amount they can extract depends on the current base river level at the East Haven stream gauge ( http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?01133000 ).
If the dam in E Burke is removed it will be interesting to see if it has an effect on the extraction point 1.4 miles upstream.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Whatever happens, it will be interesting to see what Burke becomes. It probably has the highest average snowfall of any mountain within 3 hours of Boston, 2000 vert and great summer activities with Lake Wiloughby nearby. Those three attributes seem like its a good bet to be successful someday.

Don't forget Mtn Biking. The Kingdom Trails have been growing as an attraction every year. Lift Served biking could really create an explosion of growth in this dept.

FWIW, as much as I hate to admit it, Burke does need the HSQ to the summit to get on the map as a true eastern destination resort (Riverc0il has already made this point pefectly).
If they put a lift in the East Bowl, I hope it is something like a double chair (see Castle Rock). I want to keep that side of the mountain at least a bit wild and wooly (the lift line wouldn't have to be as wide for a double as it would for a quad). A fast double would get you back to the top just as fast as traversing all the way back to the summit Quad and keep the traffic down on that part of the mtn . All the gappers can wait in the inevitable line to ride the high speed quad and run lap after lap on the groomers :lol:

 

[thetrailboss]

I don't believe there is a set allowed gallon amount. I believe the amount they can extract depends on the current base river level at the East Haven stream gauge ( http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?01133000 ).
If the dam in E Burke is removed it will be interesting to see if it has an effect on the extraction point 1.4 miles upstream.

Yeah that makes sense...probably the standard 'February Mean Level' or whatever it is....

And if that dam is pulled it will be interesting. IIRC Burke Mountain has a small dam or withdrawal channel on the side of the river...

 

[thetrailboss]

If they put a lift in the East Bowl, I hope it is something like a double chair (see Castle Rock). I want to keep that side of the mountain at least a bit wild and wooly (the lift line wouldn't have to be as wide for a double as it would for a quad). A fast double would get you back to the top just as fast as traversing all the way back to the summit Quad and keep the traffic down on that part of the mtn . All the gappers can wait in the inevitable line to ride the high speed quad and run lap after lap on the groomers :lol:

That's where the old Sherburne Double would have come in handy....or using the components to put a double in where the old Dipper Poma was would be great as well.

 

[from_the_NEK]

And if that dam is pulled it will be interesting. IIRC Burke Mountain has a small dam or withdrawal channel on the side of the river...

As far as I can tell, it is not really a dam or a channel. There is a concrete structure on the right bank of the river about 1.4 miles above the dam. There must be some pipes in there that suck the water out of the river as long as there is enough of it. You can see it if you kayak the river from E Haven to E Burke. If you want to access by vehicle the driveway is on your left .7 miles north of the mtn road on 114. There is also a building there that is likely a pumping station.
I do wonder where they are going to get all of the water they are going to need for their plans. They may have to put in their own water treament facility for potable water. I believe they have already made some pretty major upgrades to deal with waste water (I have heard these upgrades involve that old barn on the north of the mtn road they are turning into a palace). They have been moving forward with these base infrastructure improvements that are going to be needed before building any homes, condos, hotels, or water parks. Having this infrastructure in place early probably eases the future permitting process as well.

 

[the original trailboss]

That "old barn" is privately owned and has nothing

to do with Ginn. As to water, they purchased the so-called Burrington farm just north of East Burke village two years ago and have drilled several artesian wells there in anticipation of their REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT/whatever else they do. Current plans call for the Sherburne Lodge (area) to be renovated/replaced or ? and for the mid-Burke area to be pretty much privatized,although the base of the proposed HSQ would likely be sited just downhill from the current mid-Burke parking lot and so public access would make sense. Reality is I don't think they have finalized their plans for that location yet and no new lift will be built until they have a firm plan.

 

[from_the_NEK]

That "old barn" is privately owned and has nothing to do with Ginn. As to water, they purchased the so-called Burrington farm just north of East Burke village two years ago and have drilled several artesian wells there in anticipation of their REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT/whatever else they do. Current plans call for the Sherburne Lodge (area) to be renovated/replaced or ? and for the mid-Burke area to be pretty much privatized,although the base of the proposed HSQ would likely be sited just downhill from the current mid-Burke parking lot and so public access would make sense. Reality is I don't think they have finalized their plans for that location yet and no new lift will be built until they have a firm plan.

Thanks for clearing up the rumor about the barn. I thought the renovation was getting a bit fancy for turning it into a water treatment facility ;-) but I have yet to see what kind of permanent buildings Ginn is going to put up.

 

[the original trailboss]

I really don't think they have finalized details yet

but what they have done has previously been available for viewing at the office (that used to be the Old Cutter Inn). I could easily be convinced that they are slowly letting things out and watching for the reaction/responses so as not to p... everyone off with a bad idea but I am not sure of that. I am starting to hear lots of rumblings,though,about the size of their project...........................:smash:

 

[thetrailboss]

Nice avatar the original trailboss. See you tomorrow AM at MidBurke.....

 

[thetrailboss]

And don't I wish that this guy owned Burke....

Win where are you????

 

[thetrailboss]

I believe they have already made some pretty major upgrades to deal with waste water (I have heard these upgrades involve that old barn on the north of the mtn road they are turning into a palace). They have been moving forward with these base infrastructure improvements that are going to be needed before building any homes, condos, hotels, or water parks. Having this infrastructure in place early probably eases the future permitting process as well.

I was going to say from_the_NEK..that barn is going to be a B&B. Otherwise, that would probably be the nicest looking sh&t plant in the country! :lol:

 

[thetrailboss]

And this thread came to a halt...

Good skiing this weekend, despite the frequently stopping or slowing Willoughby Quad :roll:

A couple questions:

1. What "pre-approved trail work" is going to happen this season, if any? And

2. I heard some of the lifties saying that they were scanning tickets "because they want to know how many skiers use the lifts so that they could justify putting in a high speed quad next season." Any credence to that statement?