SKI Mag. + Vermont Ski News Reports on Additions to Ski Areas (and some INTERESTING info)

[thetrailboss]

SKI Mag. + Vermont Ski News Reports on Additions to Ski Areas (and some INTERESTING info)

I picked up the free monthly newspaper in EMS West Lebanon today....had some interesting talk about what was happening at ski area.

The Vermont Ski Area News reported that the improvements at Burke "were the result of capital infusion from Burke's new owners." :blink: Wonder who their sources were. They also commented that with another "HSQ Burke will be a competitive mountain" I don't measure mountains by the number of HSQ's...

SKI Magazine also reported on the improvements at Saddleback, Jay, and Stowe.

• 
  Jay Peak: more details came out about their work. Apparently both lodges will be renovated. Stateside WILL be getting a new HSQ--replacing either the Jet Triple or the Bonaventure Quad. I'm not sure which I prefer to be replaced...besides that, the Hotel Jay is being demoed and replaced by a new hotel with a massive indoors waterpark :blink: They are also planning on making that a 'village' area there with condos, etc. That should be interesting...Tram Haus Lodge will be renovated as well--long overdue. And despite what we've heard about the West Bowl, Stenger told SKI that "we will be installing two or three high speed lifts in the bowl" as well as a hotel (I think) with the back nine of the golf course.
  
  Saddleback: New hotel, wideneing of American from a narrow double diamond to an "intermediate trail" (sounds, um, interesting ). Talk about the resort is looking at the western side to develop instead of the eastern side....or vice versa...can't remember.
  
  Stowe: Talk was about the new "cottages" that are being sold for ONLY $1.3 mill each :roll: or the $350,000 "studios," but they did talk about the trail work...100 percent snowmaking at Spruce. But the new lift will end 200 vertical feet below the old terminal...that seems like a waste IMHO. :blink:

So this is what I've heard thus far...

 

[deadheadskier]

I've heard two reasons behind the lower lift at Stowe. The first is wind. Spruce is very mild in terms of wind compared to Mansfield - except for the top 200 verticle, which is nearly completely exposed. Far too many trees were cleared in the 60's to create a 'western' feel to the top of Spruce and the wind is so harsh the trees have never really grown back. 200 feet less in verticle and where it is positioned to the skiers left of the summit should drastically reduce wind hold. The second reason I've heard is to reduce access and expensive search and rescues in the Birthday Bowls on the backside of Spruce. From the old lift, they were pretty obvious on how to get to. The new lift will bring more skiers and will be lower than the main access point - reducing ill fated back country experiences by curious joe's who don't know where they are going and carelessly follow people into the woods.

The other assumption I have is environmental reasons. There wasn't a lot of land where the old lift dropped off. There would have needed to be significant alterations to the summit of Spruce to fit the larger unloading stations that detachables require. Considering that after the warming hut burnt down up on Spruce years ago and they weren't allowed to rebuild it, I'm assuming the mountain company didn't want to try and propose a major alteration to the summit as their permits would be denied.

The Good News - the top of Main Street and Smugglers run which you'll now have to hike to, is some of the sweetest skiing on Spruce on powder days. So fresh tracks will remain longer on these shots as now people will have to earn them.

 

[WWF-VT]

IMHO the lower lifts at Spruce are part of the "$30 million in improvements to the best intermediate terrain east of the Rockies" that Stowe touted in a recent press release.

It's less about skiing and more about real estate values "The new village will have a luxurious base lodge, outdoor ice-skating, performing arts center, restaurants, shops, private residences, a mountain links 18 hole golf course, and a five star Destination Resorts hotel and spa"

Would hate to have my destination resort experience ruined by the inconvenience of harsh winds at the top of the mountain!

Spruce Peak upgrade is all about competing with Stratton and Okemo not Jay and MRG

 

[awf170]

Re: SKI Mag. + Vermont Ski News Reports on Additions to Ski Areas (and some INTERESTING in

Saddleback: New hotel, wideneing of American from a narrow double diamond to an "intermediate trail" (sounds, um, interesting ). Talk about the resort is looking at the western side to develop instead of the eastern side....or vice versa...can't remember.

They, said west, but I thought it they were going to go east, the stuff east of the resort is way better looking cause its nice and steep. When I saw that thing about america i got pretty mad, I saw that trail this summer when I hiked saddleback and thought it looked awsome and I was defiantly going to ski it this winter :angry: