Burke Announces HSQ and Other Improvements

[thetrailboss]

A good article and picture of the work:

http://caledonianrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=180&SubSectionID=778&ArticleID=68218

 

[riverc0il]

A good article and picture of the work:

http://caledonianrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=180&SubSectionID=778&ArticleID=68218

The resort has also cut five new trails and glades for intermediate and expert skiers including a terrain park trail.

Oops, not quite so good article. At least four of those trails were not "cut" but were already there and are just being added to the map. I don't count a lift install and then naming a new lift line as "cutting a new trail".

:-D

 

[WoodCore]

Was up riding the Kingdom Trails this weekend and took a drive up top to see the progress on the new lift. Looks like most of the tower footings are in place and the forms for the summit/base terminals are awaiting some concrete. The lift line is manicured in places but other spots need some serious help. Lots of work to do and a limited time to get it done! Things might get a little tight if the weather does not cooperate! Here's some pictures!

 

[thetrailboss]

Nice pics!

LSC TV had this short newsclip, with Dick Andross and the helicopter pilot: http://blip.tv/newslinc/construction-begins-on-hish-speed-lift-at-burke-5578350

 

[from_the_NEK]

Sweet pics! Looks like you hit the summit on Sunday. I was up Friday afternoon and these forms hadn't been done yet. Hopefully they get all the concrete done soon so that they can backfill before the ground starts freezing/thawing.

The lift line is manicured in places but other spots need some serious help.

The upper section of the life line (AKA "Upper Lift Line") is the intermediate section and it is nicely manicured. From the top of the Poma down is "Rerun" (Expert). It is rather "rough" in places :razz: .

 

[Magog Fishy]

Lots of work to do and a limited time to get it done! Things might get a little tight if the weather does not cooperate! Here's some pictures!
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Nice pics! Yeah, looks like they have a ton of work to do in the next month (2 months max).

 

[from_the_NEK]

Burke changed the main page background picture on their website to one that shows the wind turbine and the Willoughby Highlands in the background. However, it is a mirror image so the Mtns on either side of Lake Willoughby are backward :roll:. I can see why some one did it, since due to the layout of the website, the right side has a bunch of stuff in the way so the wind tower wouldn't have been very visible. However, IMO, it looks really silly.

Edit:Upon further browsing, I also thought the background picture for the subpages (a picture looking toward Franconia Notch) looked wierd as well. Sure enough, this one was also a mirror image! It isn't nearly as noticable as the one on the main page since the page content often covers up most of the picture but it is still ridiculous.

 

[thetrailboss]

Burke changed the background picture on their website to one that shows the wind turbine and the Willoughby Highlands in the background. However, it is a mirror image so the Mtns on either side of Lake Willoughby are backward :roll:. I can see why some one did it, since due to the layout of the website, the right side has a bunch of stuff in the way so the wind tower wouldn't have been very visible. However, IMO, it looks really silly.

That's what happens when you have someone from outside the area do your IT work.

 

[tarponhead]

ok, admittedly stupid-lazy question; when looking at Franconia Notch, in what direction is Jay and Stowe (which I should be able to see?). Just want to confidently point them out to my boys...
thx

 

[thetrailboss]

ok, admittedly stupid-lazy question; when looking at Franconia Notch, in what direction is Jay and Stowe (which I should be able to see?). Just want to confidently point them out to my boys...
thx

You mean when looking at Willoughby Gap?

If so, Jay Peak is just to the left. The very upper part of Mount Mansfield is further down the ridge. On a very clear day you can see Camel's Hump, MRG, and Sugarbush (both areas). And if you know where to look and it is really, really clear, you can make out a little bit of Killington. Burke was named by Native Americans to mean "mountain with the long view," or something like that. You can see a loooooonnnnggggg ways in all directions.

 

[Smellytele]

You mean when looking at Willoughby Gap?

If so, Jay Peak is just to the left. The very upper part of Mount Mansfield is further down the ridge. On a very clear day you can see Camel's Hump, MRG, and Sugarbush (both areas). And if you know where to look and it is really, really clear, you can make out a little bit of Killington. Burke was named by Native Americans to mean "mountain with the long view," or something like that. You can see a loooooonnnnggggg ways in all directions.

I hope one day to be there when I can just see more than 5 miles. Been 3 times and it was either snowing or socked in.

 

[from_the_NEK]

ok, admittedly stupid-lazy question; when looking at Franconia Notch, in what direction is Jay and Stowe (which I should be able to see?). Just want to confidently point them out to my boys...
thx

If you are looking at Franconia Notch, you are looking Southeast and the Vermont mountains you listed are behind you. Note that you have to make the short hike (250 ft) over to the fire tower at the true summit to see Franconia Notch.

Here is a map view of mountains you can see from Burke. Keep in mind the majority of Burke's ski trails face Northwest toward Willoughby Gap.

Here is Willoughby Gap (here you can see Owl's Head in Quebec just peeking/peaking over Mt Pisgah's right shoulder):

As Trailboss mentioned Jay Peak is a little to the left of Willoughby Gap.
In this first picture it is the faint mtn on the left horizon:

And is now almost directly behind the hill covered in wind towers

Mt Mansfield will be the only mountain looking west that has a white top:

 

[x10003q]

I hope one day to be there when I can just see more than 5 miles. Been 3 times and it was either snowing or socked in.

It is funny to read this as I have the same experience at Burke.

 

[tarponhead]

You mean when looking at Willoughby Gap?

If so, Jay Peak is just to the left. The very upper part of Mount Mansfield is further down the ridge. On a very clear day you can see Camel's Hump, MRG, and Sugarbush (both areas). And if you know where to look and it is really, really clear, you can make out a little bit of Killington. Burke was named by Native Americans to mean "mountain with the long view," or something like that. You can see a loooooonnnnggggg ways in all directions.

Yes, Willoughby Gap. My (very) bad. Thank you.

NEK, awesome pics! Very helpful

 

[from_the_NEK]

Looks like more concrete has been flown in.

 

[WoodCore]

Things are moving along on the lift install! Was up in the area over the weekend and the Leitner/Poma crew was out on the mountain working full bore over the holiday weekend!

Here's some pictures.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Things are progressing quickly up there. They put up a nicely produced new video with more concrete helicoptering.

 

[from_the_NEK]

I've also been messing around in Google Earth with what Burke would look like at full lift buildout (assuming the West Bowl is built out 50 years from now ).
The Purple lines are exisiting lifts.
Green and white polygons are where I would put trails (ignore the skinny white one that cuts across the East Bowl lift, it's the current East Bowl runout trail)

The Red lines are lifts that haven't been built yet. From left to right they are:

East Bowl lift (planned) - 1400 ft vert

Mid-Burke Express (under construction) - 1565 ft vert

West Peak lift (theoretical) - 1565 ft vert (the top 700 ft avg 48% slope [compare to the top 700 ft section of the Castlerock liftline is 44% :grin:]).

----Discuss-----

 

[jimmywilson69]

You've got a lot of time to play around in google earth, don't you?:beer:

I've done some of these things myself, but not to the extent that you have.

 

[from_the_NEK]

You've got a lot of time to play around in google earth, don't you?:beer:

I've done some of these things myself, but not to the extent that you have.

I like to mess around with it during my lunch breaks. What you see there probably took a total of 2 hours during various lunchs. :grin: