Berkshire East & Catamount: 3 New Lifts, Terrain Expansions

[tumbler]

So will one of the summit lifts get removed or will there be three lifts?

 

[urungus]

So will one of the summit lifts get removed or will there be three lifts?

One of the two older summit lifts will get moved to the new terrain pod they are working on, beyond Mohawk and down to the river. They are waffling on which of the two old lifts is going to get moved, they made an official choice (can’t remember which) which they backtracked from and the latest I am aware of they are still pondering which one to move. A lot of people (but not me) seem to hate the Summit Quad and hope it gets moved. Personally I like the loading and unloading sites much better on the Quad - try getting to Horace’s Grove from the Triple.

 

[Newpylong]

I think their plan was to move the Triple originally wasn't it? Musical lifts the Schaefer way lol.

 

[urungus]

I’ll believe it when there is an official announcement, but I talked to an electrician and two ski patrollers today at Berkshire East and they all said they are aiming to open the new chairlift tomorrow !!

They did a nice job of resurfacing the trails that were already open, Upper Comp looks like it is ready to be groomed out and opened, snowmaking has moved to Exhibition / War Dance / Katie’s Run

 

[jaytrem]

I think their plan was to move the Triple originally wasn't it? Musical lifts the Schaefer way lol.

I believe they're going to move the triple and then move the quad to where the triple is. ;-)

 

[Newpylong]

Oh boy haha.

 

[urungus]

What’s weird is that they haven’t mentioned the new chairlift on their social media feeds in weeks … you’d think they would want to generate some hype … saw several employees riding the new chairlift today, and snowmaking whales next to the new little connector trails at the summit, so even if it isn’t tomorrow morning it should be any day now. Can’t wait !!

 

[urungus]

Upper Comp open this morning. But new chairlift not open yet.

 

[SkiNewEngland.net]

The new high speed quad will open tomorrow morning. It was operating for employees/friends/family this afternoon as they made final preparations for tomorrow. The new lift changes the way the mountain skis and will be excellent for getting lots of midweek laps.

Berkshire East - December 23, 2023 - NewEnglandSkiConditions.com

 

[RH29]

The new high speed quad will open tomorrow morning. It was operating for employees/friends/family this afternoon as they made final preparations for tomorrow. The new lift changes the way the mountain skis and will be excellent for getting lots of midweek laps.

Do you know if the plans to add new terrain and relocate the triple or quad are still a go for next summer? I suspect it'll start to get very busy around the main base area with the new HSQ and would love to have that relief valve on busy days.

 

[SkiNewEngland.net]

Do you know if the plans to add new terrain and relocate the triple or quad are still a go for next summer? I suspect it'll start to get very busy around the main base area with the new HSQ and would love to have that relief valve on busy days.

Hearing the triple is still the most likely one to go, but unlikely in 2024.

 

[SkiNewEngland.net]

The new extension of Upper Competition, which will see snowmaking soon.

 

[urungus]

The new high speed quad will open tomorrow morning. It was operating for employees/friends/family this afternoon as they made final preparations for tomorrow. The new lift changes the way the mountain skis and will be excellent for getting lots of midweek laps.

It’s puzzling to me why there has been no official announcement / hype, this is a historic day for Berkshire East and yet it’s like they want to keep it a secret. Other ski areas, when they open a fancy new chairlift, have a giant paper banner that the first chair breaks through, souvenirs, snacks, refreshments, etc.

 

[Newpylong]

You think they'll make snow on whatever Upper Minnie Dole is now? I remember it having equipment but never being used.

Is it me or those different LP chairs than we're used to seeing on their HSQs?

 

[doublediamond]

Probably to keep egg off face in case something goes awry.

 

[RH29]

You think they'll make snow on whatever Upper Minnie Dole is now? I remember it having equipment but never being used.

Is it me or those different LP chairs than we're used to seeing on their HSQs?

They definitely made snow on upper Minnie Dole last year. The trail itself didn't have snowmaking, but it was close enough to Riva Ridge and the Summit that they must have dragged hoses and guns over.

 

[SkiNewEngland.net]

You think they'll make snow on whatever Upper Minnie Dole is now? I remember it having equipment but never being used.

Is it me or those different LP chairs than we're used to seeing on their HSQs?

Upper Minnie Dole is no longer a named trail. The very top is now named after longtime ski patrol director Ed Ralicki and currently has fan guns waiting to go. The portion that used to spur into Upper Competition is now basically Upper Competition, leaving only the spur back to the old trail. Grizzly is the dominant route now and has had SMI stick guns in use for a few years.

 

[drjeff]

Is it me or those different LP chairs than we're used to seeing on their HSQs?

granted neither view is really zoomed in, but if you take a look at the video Attitash posted on their social media yesterday of their GM riding Mountaineer and announcing its done, but they need more snowmaking still, the chairs look very similar. Guessing maybe a slight tweaking from L/P in whatever chair model both Attitash and Berkshire East got???

 

[SkiNewEngland.net]

More photos of the lift: December 2023 Lift Construction Roundup - NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com

 

[urungus]

More photos of the lift: December 2023 Lift Construction Roundup - NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com

Liking the wood incorporated into the terminals