New York State is not only home to the most ski areas of any state (50), but also some of the best, which makes them particularly desirable this year when being outdoors – skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing –are some of the most healthful activities you can do, are driving distance accessible, and because you are staying within New York State, you don’t have to quarantine for 14 days on returning.
New York has been intense about COVID-19 protections, and has instituted regulations governing reduced capacity to afford social-distancing, mask-wearing (except for actively skiing or eating), instituting such things as cashless transactions, rules for riding the lifts, and limiting time in lodges and restaurants, and in some instances advance ticketing and reservations. But it also has meant pleasant modifications – more outdoor dining with heat, for example, plus cashless transactions.
But with the great demand for New York skiing, Scott Brandi, president of the NY Ski Areas Association recommends “Know before you go.” Check the sites in advance to check conditions and availability and book lift tickets and rental equipment in advance – for example, most holidays and weekends as well as season passes are sold out for ORDA areas but there may be availability for midweek visits (ISkiNY.com).
In just a few hours, downstate New Yorkers can be on the slopes in the Catskill Mountains, where three of the state’s most popular ski resorts are located:
Windham Mountain
Windham Mountain Resort, which began as a private club and preserves much of that same feeling, is a year-round destination in the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County, NY, less than three hours north of New York City, and now is part of Alterra Mountain’s IKON Pass program, which means passholders get priority in reservations during this period of on-mountain capacity restrictions.
Windham offers 1,600 vertical feet from a summit of 3,100 feet. Its 54 trails and six terrain parks provide 285 skiable acres, accessed by 12 lifts including a new high speed six-passenger detachable lift and two high-speed quads. Windham also offers night skiing on six trails (45 acres). In the last 3 years, the resort has spent $12 million to improve the guest experience and offers beginner packages, lodging, dining options, an Adventure Park, and full-service Alpine Spa.
Lift capacity out of the base area continues to increase at Windham. C Lift, a fixed grip triple chair serving beginner and intermediate terrain on the lower half of the West Peak has been upgraded with the relocation of the high speed quad.
A portion of Wildcat, a trail in the Wilderness Bowl area added in 2015, has been widened.
Improved snowmaking and grooming
A new European-inspired “Umbrella Bar” with room for 125 guests in enclosed, heated comfort is the centerpiece of a reenergized patio area.
A new a ski and snowboard simulator that offers guests the chance to ski or ride downhill race venues from around the world virtually while supporting the Adaptive Sports Foundation. This building will also house a new equipment valet and quick tune up station.
An upgraded booking system with new software that will allow guests to bundle lodging stays with lift tickets, lessons and rentals in one easy transaction.
An expanded Guest Services department and on-site call center.
Accommodations are plentiful in the area: Windham has renovated rooms at The Winwood Inn, a quaint lodging property in the village of Windham owned and operated by the mountain. The restaurant, Tavern 23, has also been “renovated and reinvented” and features classic American comfort food.
New: Whisper Creek condominiums, high-end ski-in/ski-out lodging located steps away from Whisper Run on Windham Mountain. Building amenities include heated pool and hot tubs, club room and fitness center, ski locker-room with boot dryers and heated parking. Units comfortably accommodate 8 – 10 people and are perfect for extended family gatherings, wedding parties and special events. Whisper Creek is a short stroll away from the Alpine Spa and the Windham Mountain base lodge and within walking distance of the Mountain Bike Park and Scenic Skyride in the summer. (518-734-3000)
Also, the historic Thompson House, literally around the corner, where we enjoyed our stay, has the charm of an inn with amenities of a resort (The Thompson House, 19 Route 296, Windham NY 12496, 518-734-4510, info@ThompsonHouse, www.ThompsonHouse.com).
Windham Mountain, 19 Resort Drive, Windham, NY 12496, 800-754-9463; to check conditions, call the Snow Report Hoteline 800-729-4766, info@windhammountain.com, windhammountain.com.
Hunter Mountain
Now part of Vail Resorts, Hunter Mountain, a legendary New York State ski resort and the closest major full-service resort to New York City, is also part of the EPIC pass, and among the COVID-19 precautions and protocols that limit capacity on the mountain, EPIC Pass holders get priority in making reservations.
Four separate mountain faces encompass a wide variety of terrain which caters to skiers and riders of all ability levels.
Fairlawn Inn bed-and-breakfast, Hunter, NY, the Catskills (c) Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Hunter rises from 1600 ft base to 3200 summit, a 1600-ft vertical drop, 320 skiable acres (expanded from 240), 67 runs (up from 59; 25% beginner, 30% intermediate, 30% advanced and 15% expert) ) serviced by 13 lifts (increased from 12). It offers 4 gladed areas, 4 terrain parks.
Hunter also has a 1000-ft long tubing hill, one of the longest in NY, with its own Magic Carpet surface lift.
In response to COVID-19, Hunter has “reimagined” the resort experience, consistent with the policies and programs across the Vail Resorts brand.
Skiers are encouraged to use their own vehicles as their personal base lodge, since capacity is restricted. Transactions will be cashless; face coverings required at all times except when actively eating (EpicMix app makes it easier to manage Time to Dine). On-mountain restaurants are open but not bars. The equipment rental process has been streamlined, with seamless online booking, complimentary delivery service (so you skip the rental shop altogether).
On-mountain accommodations include The Kaatskill Mountain Club at Hunter Mountain (condos) and Liftside and Pinnacle condos in the village. There are many nearby bnbs, inns, lodges.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Fairlawn Inn, just a quarter-mile away from Hunter’s entrance. The historic, Victorian inn has been restored with modern amenities while keeping the charm and character of the original property. It is operating now with strict COVID-19 safety protocols. (7872 Main St (Hwy 23A), Hunter NY 12442, 518-263-5025, fairlawninn.com).
About three-hours drive from New York City, Belleayre Mountain is the nearest of three ski areas owned and operated by New York State’s Olympic Regional Development Authority, and included on ORDA’s pass programs. The ski area has been dramatically improved, turned into a four-season mountain destination. Among the improvements, the first gondola in the Catskills.
Catskill Thunder Gondola at Belleayre.
What I love best about Belleayre is its natural separation of beginners (from the mid-mountain to the base, with long beginner trails) and more advanced skiers. It affords a 1404 ft vertical drop from a 3429 ft summit, 51 runs on 175 skiable acres (longest is 2.2 miles; 22% beginner, 58% intermediate, 10% advanced, 10% expert), serviced by 8 lifts. Intermediates will enjoy Deer Run, which meanders through a beautiful part of the mountain. The ski resort also features five glades, one terrain park, one progression park and one X-course. Cross-country skiers can enjoy 9.2 kilometers of ungroomed, unpatrolled trails.
There is no on-mountain lodging, but quaint inns and lodges nearby in Fleischmann’s, Pine Hill, Big Indian, Phoenicia, Shandaken and Margaretville (see www.belleayre.com/plan-your-visit/lodging/)
(Belleayre, Highmount, NY 12441, 800-942-6904, 845-254,5600, www.belleayre.com).
Family enjoys expanded outdoor dining at Greek Peak. The strong desire for outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, coupled with capacity restrictions, is encouraging visitors to discover more of New York State’s 50 ski areas. Areas have found innovative, pleasurable ways to adapt to the state’s COVID-19 requirements (photo provided by Greek Peak).
Skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing in the brisk fresh air of greater outdoors will be salvation to get through this dark winter of isolation. Fortunately, New York State, with 50 ski areas (more than any other state), is gearing up, putting in the protocols to keep everyone safe and healthy, doing what will be the safest and healthiest way to be active this winter. Just being outdoors will be a tonic for body and soul.
ISkiNY.com (Ski Areas of New York) is a sort of one-stop online place to learn about the various mountain resorts and ski areas and overall New York State policies to address (and contain) COVID-19. All areas are under capacity constraints (50% of their busiest day last season) and visitors must follow rules for wearing masks (an actual mask, not a gaiter) at all times except when actively skiing or eating. Most require or strongly recommend purchasing tickets online in advance (and are selling out because of limits) – even season pass holders, who have priority, may be required to make advance reservations. Also, areas are limiting time that can be spent indoors in the lodges (recommending using your own vehicle as a kind of base lodge), and with limited après-ski opportunities, are promoting day-trips to ski areas within driving distance. Fortunately, with 50 areas throughout the state, just about everyone lives within 2 ½ hours of a ski area and staying in-state means that New Yorkers won’t have to quarantine after returning from a long-haul ski trip. (See more at ISkiNY.com).
Because of reduced capacity and super-charged demand the best known, most popular full-service resorts like Whiteface (Lake Placid), Gore Mountain, Belleayre, Hunter (now part of Vail, on the Epic pass) and Windham (part of IKON pass), may well be at capacity especially for the holidays and weekends. So this will certainly be the season to explore some new ski destinations – areas, often that have been operating for decades, that are wildly popular with locals.
And with this incredible blizzard that dumped a huge base of snow, just about everywhere in the state has great conditions, in time for opening day.
All but the three ski resorts that are owned by New York State’s Olympic Regional Development Authority (Whiteface, Gore, Belleayre) and Hunter (now owned by Vail Resorts) are independently owned, many going back decades, and offer their own particular personality, character and sense of community. Most are ski areas, not full-service resorts, but that may be just the ticket this year, for a quick day’s getaway on the slopes, no need to hang around for après-ski.
All have made accommodations to keep as much outside as possible – ticketing (many are cashless, and require advance reservations), setting up outside warmers, limiting time inside for dining, encouraging people to use their own vehicles as their base lodge. But all of the areas have made marvelous accommodations and innovations to bring more activities outdoors, continue to offer ski school, snow tubing, added firepits and grab n’go food, to preserve the spirit and joy of schussing down the slopes.
“While our number one goal is to run a safe operation this season, it is also our goal to ensure that our guests do not incur any additional stress or inconvenience when they visit West Mountain”, said Spencer Montgomery, Co-Owner and Managing Member of West Mountain in Queensbury.
“Sure, things will be a little different operationally this year, but our staff is here to provide an enjoyable and stress-free environment. People have already been through so much this year; skiing and riding is a chance to simply enjoy being outdoors with friends and family.”
“We are looking forward to welcoming our guests this winter to enjoy the outdoors”, said Sara Montgomery, General Manager of West Mountain. “With so many families at home doing virtual learning this year, getting on the mountain and getting exercise will be a much-needed activity and escape!”
“Know before you go,” Scott Brandi, President Ski Areas of New York, recommends. Check ahead for conditions and availability.
Here are just a few of the ski resorts and areas to explore:
Greek Peak
Greek Peak’s night skiing. The resort has a 6,000 sq. ft. deck off its Trax Pub & Grill for outdoor dining (photo by Drew Broderick, Greek Peak)
The Greek Peak Ski Resort is a full-service, four-season resort and the largest ski area in Central New York. It has a 952 ft. vertical drop from a 2100 ft summit. It’s varied terrain (220 skiable acres) offers 56 runs (35% beginner, 29% intermediate, 27% advanced, 9% double-black diamond, 4 terrain parks and half pipe), serviced by six chair lifts and two carpet lifts; the longest run is 1.5 miles, plus night skiing. There’s also 8 km of Nordic terrain (natural, so depends on conditions) and snowshoeing.
The Adventure Center has a mountain coaster, guided zipline tours even in winter (by reservation), snowtubing (10-12 lanes).
Located in the Finger Lakes, Greek Peak offers an Adirondack-style lodge, Hope Lake Lodge (151 rooms, sleeping 4-10 people) as well as log home (sleeps 14, across from slopes), outdoor heated pool, indoor water park with wave pool (water slides and hot tubs are currently closed under COVID-19 regulations).
Open, all year, Greek Peak is already compliant with COVID-19 restrictions and made the adaptations.
Dining inside is limited to 50% capacity. Children’s programs are exclusively outside (no nursery); there are new family lessons
“We are already seeing new people, who want to get outside and want to learn to ski,” says Drew Broderick, VP of sales & marketing.
They’ve added food and beverage service outside, “fresh tracks” which is a ski in/out grab n go, adding menu items to the waffle shack and may add food carts.
Since being acquired in 2015 by John and Christine Meier, the resort has made more than $1.5 million improvements including adding a high-speed detachable quad, new groomers, snowmaking (78 guns added this year), the “Big Bear Activity Zone” at Cascades Indoor Waterpark, a 41,000 sq. ft. park with 500 ft. of slides, wavepool and hot tubs, open year round.
Privately owned and operated by the Vajtay family, Plattekill Mountain in the northwestern Catskills, with 38 trails and terrain, offers “authentic mountain experience.” Powder Magazine (Dec. 2018), described Plattekill as “The Alta of the Catskills.” It offers wide variety for skiers and snowboarders: 38 runs ranging from 2-mile long beginner cruisers to steep double black diamonds with 1100’ vertical from its 3500 ft. high summit, accessed by 4 lifts (20% easier, 40% intermediate, 20% black, 20% double black), a “natural terrain park” nestled in the woods between the Lower Face and Shredded Mozzarella trails. “Big mountain terrain, small mountain charm.”
New this season: widening, clearing beginner and intermediate trails; installation of new snowmaking pump to improve snowmaking; new wireless technology; new “Platty Shack” with outdoor deck for quick grab and go items; new ‘order online’ option in cafeteria; new online shopping for tickets and rentals eliminating lines at rental shop.
Catamount Mountain Resort is a four-season resort straddling the NY/Massachusetts border just about 2 hours from NYC. “With its sister resort, Berkshire East, Catamount is one fun mountain with some of the best steeps in southern New England and some of the best beginner and intermediate terrain.” Catamount has undergone a stunning transformation since the summer of 2018: new lift, new lodge, hundreds of new snow guns, four snow making ponds, miles of pipe, and countless other upgrades which make Catamount one of the best small ski areas on the East coast.
It has a 1,000 ft vertical from the 2000 ft summit, 38 runs on 133 skiable acres (40% beginner, 35% intermediate, 15% advanced, 10% expert); longest run is 2 miles, and intermediates get to ski 1.25 miles from summit to base on turnpike Upper and Lower Sidewinder; for advanced, the double black Catapult is the steepest trail in the Berkshires and its Upper/Lower Glade to Off Stage provides a half-mile of moguls; night skiing on 15 trails (more than 4 miles worth)
Catamount also boasts North America’s longest zip line, one of the largest aerial adventure parks on the East Coast.
Nestled at the foot of the Adirondack Mountains, conveniently accessed just off I-87, West Mountain towers over Glens Falls in Albany’s backyard, and with night skiing, is popular with people getting in a few runs after work.
Family-owned and operated, West Mountain continues to evolve to meet the needs of families as well as skiing and riding loyalists and year-round outdoor enthusiasts.
West Mountain offers a 1010 vertical drop from the 1470 ft. summit, 31 trails on 124 skiable acres (36% beginner, 55% intermediate, 9% advanced, one terrain park), accessed by four lifts, with night skiing on 105 acres. Also a tubing park with 10 lanes of tubing for all ages and abilities. 6-packs are for sale now that provide 6 tubing tickets, lift tickets or aerial treetop adventure tickets for the price of 5.
The mountain staff has been focused on creating new, safe and innovative operations and programs to run this season including: a new Freestyle Development Program; a new Alpine Racing Academy for U12+ athletes; Learn to Ski and Snowboard packages for youth and adult first-time beginners. During non-holiday periods, West Mountain will offer popular ticket promotions such as Monday and Tuesday 4-hour ticket specials and breakfast or lunch plus lift ticket specials.
West Mountain has introduced new programs this year including freestyle skiing (photo by FreesrideMedia for West Mountain)
The resort has been open throughout COVID-19 pandemic offering safe, outdoor and socially distanced activities. For this season, there are additional outdoor eating and seating areas, warming tents, grab-n-go food and beverage windows, additional outdoor restrooms and controlled capacity at the two separate base-lodge areas (Main Base Lodge and Northwest Base Lodge).
West Mountain, 59 West Mountain Road, Queensbury, NY 12804, 518.636.3699, WestMountain.com
Mount Peter
Mount Peter, set in picturesque Warwick Valley, is the oldest operating ski area in New York State, and one of only a few remaining family-operated ski areas in America. For more than 80 years, Mount Peter has been a wintertime destination for skiing or snowboarding on 14 expertly groomed trails, 600-foot tubing run (separate Little Tikes tubing for kids under 42”), and night skiing.
Bristol Mountain, in Canandaigua, opened for their 56th season of operation. Located in the Western Finger Lakes Region, it offers 38 trails on 138 acres of skiable terrain and a 1200’ vertical drop from a 2200 ft. summit, accessed by six lifts including two high-speed quads. The terrain accommodates all ages and ability levels with 32% reserved for beginner, 50% intermediate and 18% advanced, including 97% lighted for night skiing terrain and 97% snowmaking coverage; the longest run is 2 miles.
Bristol Mountain has a top notch learning center, as well as two terrain parks that cater to all ability levels and 3 km of Nordic trails.
Bristol Mountain’s North Star Village Townhouses offer affordable ski-in/ski-out lodging with built in deals with their Ski & Stay programs.
Located in the Western Finger Lakes Region, Bristol Mountain offers 38 trails on 138 acres of skiable terrain and a 1200’ vertical drop from a 2200 ft. summit, accessed by six lifts including two high-speed quads (photo provided by Bristol Mountain)
Capacity at the mountain will be monitored and limited on busy days or when the mountain has limited terrain (i.e. early season). Reservations will be required for card products and lift ticket sales but currently will not be required for season pass products that allow direct- to-lift access (picture passes).
Lodge capacity will be limited this winter. Guests are asked to limit their time in the lodges to 15-30 minutes to warm up and use the restrooms. The mountain requests that guests arrive prepared and use their vehicle as their base lodge.
Thunder Ridge Ski Area, located in Patterson, NY, may be the closest and easiest ski areas to reach from NYC, just 60 minutes drive from and accessible on Metro North (shuttle from Patterson train station). Thunder Ridge offers 100 percent snowmaking coverage on its 22 trails on 100 acres (40% beginner, 40% intermediate, 20% advanced, the longest run is 0.4 miles). A gentle mountain, it has a 500 ft drop from the summit at 1270 ft. Night skiing.
Holiday Valley, Ellicottville, NY (50 miles south of Buffalo) is Western New York’s largest year ‘round resort featuring 60 slopes and trails and features a mountain coaster (photo provided by Holiday Valley).
Holiday Valley, Ellicottville, NY (50 miles south of Buffalo) is Western New York’s largest year ‘round resort featuring 60 slopes and trails, 13 lifts, 3 base lodges, slope side lodging and dining, conference facilities, a tree top aerial adventure park and a mountain coaster, and 18 hole golf course.
Holiday Valley is in compliance with New York State’s COVID restrictions on operating the ski terrain and indoor services. Masks are required at all times except when skiing down the slope or while seated to eat or drink. Reduced capacity in the lodges and eating areas, as well as spacing in the lift lines and on the chairlifts will allow for proper social distancing. Advanced purchase of lift tickets online is encouraged, especially on holidays and busy weekends. Cleaning and sanitizing practices have been stepped up in the lodges, in the food service areas and in the restrooms. Guests are encouraged to limit their time spent indoors.
Holimont, nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, is a private ski area with member families from the United States and Canada. Non-members may use the facilities on non-holiday weekdays, and new members are welcome. It offers a 700 ft. drop from 2260 ft. summit, 55 trails on 135 skiable acres (25% beginner, 31% intermediate, 44% advanced, ), 3 terrain parks, longest run is 1.5 miles, (100% snowmaking)
Located near Naples, New York (near Rochester), Hunt Hollow Ski Club offers 400 acres of accessible winter recreation space. With an 825-foot vertical drop from a 2030 ft. summit, it offers 19 trails over 400 skiable acres (32% beginner, 21% intermediate, 37% advanced, 11% expert), accessed by a triple-chair, double-chair, T-bar and a surface lift service (100% snowmaking). There is night skiing. Also, 2.5 miles of Nordic trails and a terrain park.
by Karen Rubin Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com
With all that is impacting mountain resorts, from wildfires to COVID-19, the major ski resort companies are focusing on drive-markets and alleviating uncertainty with pass flexibility and refundability, as well as significantly changing mountain operations to incorporate the highest health protocols.
Here in the Northeast, Ikon Pass, the seasonal pass program of Alterra Mountain Company (most famous for Aspen and Snowmass mountains, but the owner/operator of 15 others and partnerships with dozens more around the nation and worldwide), is expanded with the addition of Windham Mountain, in New York’s Catskill Mountains, an easy drive from the New York metro and Long Island. This is in addition to Stratton, Sugarbush Resort, and Killington in Vermont, giving the Ikon Pass that much more value to Northeast skiers.
Alterra Mountain is not just prioritizing access for season pass holders in order to tightly regulate the number of daily lift tickets that will be available, but eliminating day tickets and walk-up window sales; the sale of some undated lift ticket products will be discontinued until further notice. While it is not instituting an advance reservation system at the 15 destinations that Alterra Mountain owns and operates, the dozens of partner resorts may have their own advance reservation protocols this season (check the sites).
“The pandemic has disrupted our lives in so many unpredictable ways,” Rusty Gregory, Alterra Mountain Company’s Chief Executive Officer, stated. “Medical professionals and scientists tell us that this constantly changing dynamic will likely continue until effective vaccines and therapeutics are developed and become available to the general public. Alterra Mountain Company and our destinations are committed to staying on top of the inevitable changes to come as best practices and health regulations throughout the two countries, six states, three Canadian provinces and 15 mountain communities in which we operate rapidly evolve. Our teams will communicate these changes to you as soon as possible so we can all adjust and plan accordingly.”
This year, to address the extraordinary conditions, Ikon Pass introduced Adventure Assurance, free for all passholders, designed to alleviate uncertainty and provide flexibility for the 20/21 passes.
Ikon Pass holders may elect to defer the purchase price paid for their unused 20/21 Ikon Pass to the 21/22 winter season. Or, if passes are used and there is an eligible COVID-19-related closure at any North American Ikon Pass destination, Ikon Pass holders will receive a credit toward a 21/22 Ikon Pass based on the percentage of days closed, more details below. Expanded Adventure Assurance coverage is free and included with every previously purchased 20/21 Ikon Pass and new 20/21 Ikon Pass purchases. (Details and terms and conditions at the Adventure Assurance Program page and Ikon Pass FAQ.)
“We understand that there is still pass holder uncertainty around winter 20/21, and we aim to offer Ikon Pass holders peace of mind and more time to make the best decisions,” said Erik Forsell, Alterra’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Pass holders can ski a little, ride a lot, or defer the purchase price of their unused 20/21 Ikon Pass, we’ve got them covered. We look forward to next winter, sweet days await us.”
Ikon Pass continues to expand access across North America with the addition of Mt. Bachelor in Oregon and Windham Mountain in New York for the 2020/2021 season, bringing the total number of destinations accessible on Ikon Pass to 43.
Ikon Pass holders will have access to seven days each at Mt. Bachelor and Windham Mountain with no blackout dates, and Ikon Base Pass holders will have access to five days each, with select blackout dates.
Just two and a half hours north of New York City, Windham Mountain boasts 285 skiable acres across 54 trails serviced by 11 lifts, six terrain parks, an award-winning snowsports school, Terrain Based Learning™, lodging, on-mountain dining, an Adventure Park, a full-service spa, and sunset skiing (on select nights during the season), all in a private-club like atmosphere. In summer, Windham offers the Windham Mountain Bike Park famous for its World Cup course and a three-mile-long beginner trail and Windham Country Club with an 18-hole public golf course.
The 43 destinations on the Ikon Pass span the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan and include such iconic mountain resorts as Aspen Snowmass, Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper Mountain Resort, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, and Eldora Mountain Resort in Colorado; Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain and Big Bear Mountain Resort in California; Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming; Big Sky Resort in Montana; Stratton, Sugarbush Resort, and Killington in Vermont; Snowshoe in West Virginia; Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain in Michigan; Crystal Mountain and The Summit at Snoqualmie in Washington; Tremblant in Quebec and Blue Mountain in Ontario, Canada; SkiBig3 in Alberta, Canada; Revelstoke Mountain Resort and Cypress Mountain in British Columbia, Canada; Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine; Loon Mountain in New Hampshire; Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico; Deer Valley Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton Resort, Alta Ski Area, and Snowbird in Utah; Zermatt in Switzerland; Thredbo and Mt Buller in Australia; Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Mt Hutt in New Zealand; Niseko United in Japan, and Valle Nevado in Chile.
Special offers are available at CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures, one of the world’s largest heli-skiing and heli-accessed hiking operations. For more information, visit www.ikonpass.com.
In addition to the 15 year-round mountain destinations, one of the world’s largest heli-ski operation and the Ikon Pass program, Alterra Mountain Company owns and operates a range of recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage, retail and service businesses out of its Denver, Colorado headquarters. For more information, visit www.alterramtnco.com.
Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass which gives access to dozens of resorts across the country and around the world including here in the Northeast, driving distance from New York, Long Island and the Boston metro markets – has always afforded value (paying for themselves in as few as four days of skiing). But beyond discounts and extra value, the Epic Pass this year affords membership status and priority to reserve time on the slopes in face of capacity restrictions.
And you can maximize the value by early-bird purchasing ahead of deadlines (the deadline for Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass has been extended to Sept. 17).
When you think about it, skiing is one of the best travel experiences for winter – you can’t think of a better place to socially distance and breathe fresh air or a better way to be active, get blood flowing and endorphins popping and adrenalin firing. Mountain resorts also afford many safe lodging options, including condos so you can prepare your own meals. What is more, there are many spectacular mountain resorts within driving distance.
“We are fortunate that our core experience of skiing and riding takes place outdoors, across huge mountains, offering fresh air and wide-open spaces for our guests. However, to help protect our guests, our employees and our communities amid this pandemic, some changes will be required this season,” Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz wrote guests. “It has been our goal to design an approach that can remain in place for all of the 2020/21 season. We do not want to be caught off guard or find ourselves needing to make reactionary changes. Striving for consistency will provide our guests, employees and communities with as much predictability as possible this season, which we believe is worth the extra effort.”
Key changes include:
Guests will be required to wear face coverings to get on the mountain and in all parts of resort operations, including in lift lines and riding in lifts and gondolas.
To maintain physical distancing on our chairlifts and gondolas, we will only be seating related parties (guests skiing or riding together) or: two singles on opposite sides of a four-person lift; two singles or two doubles on opposite sides of a six-person lift; or two singles on opposite sides of our larger gondola cabins.
Ski and ride school will be offered and on-mountain dining will be open, but with changes to help keep guests safe.
Mountain access will be managed to ensure guests have the space they need. As such, the Company announced a mountain access reservation system and limits on lift tickets to prioritize its pass holders.
“For the vast majority of days during the season, we believe everyone who wants to get on our mountains will be able to. However, we are not planning for the majority of days, we are planning for every day of the season,” said Katz. “We want to provide assurance to our guests that we will do our very best to minimize crowds at all times – be it a holiday weekend or the unpredictable powder day. We believe this approach will help ensure a safe experience for everyone, while prioritizing access for our pass holders.”
A key element is reducing and controlling capacity, so a new reservation system is being implemented, with priority for Epic Pass holders:
Pass holders will be required to make a reservation before arriving at the mountain.
Throughout the season, pass holders will be able to make as many week-of reservations as their pass type and availability allow.
The early season will be reserved for pass holders only. Vail will begin selling lift tickets Dec. 8.
In addition to week-of reservations, pass holders can book up to seven Priority Reservation Days for the core season (Dec. 8-April 4), or as many days of access as they have on their pass if less than seven.
The booking window for Priority Reservation Days will open Nov. 6 and will be exclusive to pass holders until Dec. 7.
As pass holders use their Priority Reservation Days, they can book new ones, maintaining up to seven (or however many days of access are remaining on their pass) at any time. In addition, pass holders can always make as many week-of reservations as they choose (or however many days of access are remaining on their pass).
Families will be able to book reservations together if they are in the same pass holder account.
While still subject to change, at this time Epic Pass holders will not need a reservation to access Vail’s partner resorts (Telluride, Sun Valley, Snowbasin, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, Hakuba or Rusutsu in Japan).
Lift tickets (including Buddy and SWAF tickets) will go on sale on Dec. 8, with sales limited based on the number of spaces available for any given day after the exclusive pass holder reservation period. This season, lift tickets will be sold with a reservation for a specific resort on a specific date.
Given the need to manage lift tickets sales, they will only be sold on Vail’s websites and through its call centers. No lift tickets will be sold at the ticket window in resort – you may only pickup your pre-purchased lift ticket at the ticket windows. Guests are encouraged to purchase in advance, though guests can purchase a same day lift ticket online or through call centers, subject to availability, and then pick up the lift ticket at the ticket window.
To make the reservation system as easy to use as possible, pass holders will be able to book reservations to any of the Vail resorts, and for all dates, on EpicPass.com. Booking a reservation will turn on pass access for that day, so there will be no need for pass holders to bring anything but their pass and access the mountain as usual.
To provide additional peace of mind, Vail is including Epic Coverage free this season for all pass holders. It allows for refunds: If pass holders are unable to book their preferred Priority Reservation Days during the initial booking window (Nov. 6-Dec. 7) and if they have not used their pass yet.
If there is a resort closure due to certain events such as COVID-19 during a pass holders’ initial Priority Reservation Days selected by Dec. 7. (There will still be an option for pass holders to choose to cover the core season instead.)
If pass holders experience an eligible personal event that prevents them from using their pass, such as job loss, injury or illness.
To give guests more time to consider the changes, the Company’s Labor Day deadline has been extended to Sept. 17, including the deadline to use pass holder credits from last season.
“There is no doubt this season will be different but we are committed to what matters most: working to protect our guests, employees and communities and doing everything we can to provide great skiing and riding all season long,” Katz said.
Ski Heavenly, Lake Tahoe (c) Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
To provide the safest experience for guests, Vail is implementing these procedures:
Physical Distancing on Chairlifts and Gondolas: To maintain physical distancing on chairlifts and gondolas, only related parties (guests skiing or riding together) or two singles on opposite sides of a four-person lift will be seated together; two singles or two doubles on opposite sides of a six-person lift; or two singles on opposite sides of our larger gondola cabins.
Physical Distancing in On-Mountain Restaurants: Vail will open all on-mountain restaurants this season, but to allow for physical distancing, the number of people will be restricted in accordance with public health requirements. Full-service, sit down restaurants will operate with reduced seating, spaced to enable physical distancing. At most of the large, quick-service restaurants, “scramble areas” will be reconfigured to have a cafeteria-style approach, where guest come in, go through a single line, and pass all the food options until they get to the cashier.
Food options in quick-service restaurants will be more limited this season, with just a handful of ready-to-go hot and cold options and no ability for any custom or special orders. Tables will be spaced in seating areas to allow for physical distancing while eating. There will also be as much outdoor seating as possible. Guest are recommended to avoid the peak lunch rush and encouraged to bring their own water, snacks and other food.
Packaged beer and wine will be available for sale at most of locations, but there won’t be full-service bars, on or off the mountain. All transactions will be cashless (unless required by local regulations).
Physical distancing in Ski & Snowboard Rental Locations: Guests and employees will be required to wear face coverings, and for the portions of the process that require close interactions with our technicians, our employees will take additional precautions, including wearing eye protection and gloves. Equipment will be fully sanitized between each guest use and rental delivery service expanded to provide enhanced options for guests to rent equipment outside of the store locations.
Health Screenings within Ski and Ride School: All employees will be required to undergo health screenings. “We are taking this same precaution with our ski and ride school participants, given that physical distancing may not always be possible during a lesson such as when the group rides lifts and gondolas or eats lunch together. With this in mind, all participants will be required to undergo and confirm an online self-health screening prior to arriving at the mountain for their lesson.”
Limiting class size of group and private lessons to a maximum six people. “While we plan to continue many of our season-long youth programs offered at many of our resorts, we will be suspending most other smaller specialty programs this winter.”
Lessons will need to be purchased in advance – no walk-up, day-of lessons will be available. A mountain access reservation will be included with the purchase of a ski school lesson. A lift ticket or eligible pass product will be required if the student will be riding a lift.
Next Steps: Each of the Vail resorts will continue to work closely with all local community stakeholders to ensure policies are aligned.
“Success for this season can only happen with close collaboration and partnership in each community. While we have designed our winter operating plan to comply with and at times exceed all known applicable laws, our operations will remain subject to the local regulations in each of our resort locations. These may change at any time, either ahead of or during the ski season. Resorts will have a dedicated page on each of their websites that will provide the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 impacts,” Katz wrote.
Epic Day Pass products offer up to a 50% discount off lift tickets. Find more details on Vail’s various pass products, reservation system, Epic Coverage and the new Epic Mountain Rewards program at www.epicpass.com.
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries operate 37 world-class mountain resorts and urban ski areas, including resorts that are driving distance from the New York and Boston metro areas: Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo in Vermont; Hunter Mountain in New York; Mount Sunapee, Attitash, Wildcat and Crotched in New Hampshire. Also, such renowned resorts as Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham in Australia.
Travel is vitally important to rejuvenating one’s body and soul,
not to mention providing life-enhancing experience, new learning and new
understanding; it offers a chance for bonding with loved ones, making new friends
and building new relationships. Concern for the coronavirus is causing many of
us to withdraw and miss out. But because travel offers a universe of
possibilities, there are options that might better suit the circumstances, and
many travel suppliers are doing their best to accommodate travelers and
alleviate concerns.
Many are waiving cancellation penalties, reissue and change fees
if destinations become impacted or allowing changes and rebooking for future
trips.
As a rule of thumb, we are suggesting people think Great Outdoors
where you can be active in clean fresh air and avoid crowds, density and
proximity. And if concerned about mass travel (even though airlines are doing
their level best to assure passengers of healthy environments), choosing
destinations that are within driving distance. Indeed, this is a great time to
enjoy spring skiing in the Northeast’s many world-class mountain ski areas and
resorts, from New England to New York State.
Resorts like Windham Mountain are being scrupulous about health
precautions, even limiting crowds to promote social distancing.
Also, look for deals as this season winds up: ski areas like Gore Mountain
are inviting people to pre-purchase next season’s passes at discounted prices
and have free skiing for the rest of the season.
By Dave E. Leiberman and Laini Miranda
Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com
This past Sunday, we were lucky enough to ski Windham Mountain in New York’s Catskills on a windless, bluebird spring-like day. After a few colder nights and some flurries during the week, every trail was covered by a snow pack that managed to maintain just the right level of softness, from our first run almost through to last chair. The combination of perfect weather, enjoyable snow conditions, great demo skis, and an idyllic lunch on the terrace picnic tables at the midmountain Wheelhouse Lodge made it a truly memorable ski day.
We woke up at 5:30am (which felt like 4:30 due to Daylight Savings Time) in the Manhattan Financial District, slid onto the FDR drive, grabbed delicious bagels on Route 4 in Jersey, and were at the Windham Demo Center next to the D lift by 9am. Whether you are in the market for new skis or just interested in cruising on the highest performance skis, renting from the demo center is an easy and worthwhile experience. Ideally positioned next to the D Lift, the Demo Center shack lets you ski in and out to test a range of top quality skis without losing any time on the slopes.
Like Nascar drivers at a pit stop, we popped in to swap skis a few times throughout the day, stepping our boots onto the platform for them to quickly change the bindings and send us on our way. Peter and Dave are extremely knowledgeable and set us up with Volkl Yumi’s and a gorgeous pair of Stockli Stormrider’s, a “Windham classic”. (The ski and boot package is $90 for the day). While the rental shop just a few steps away carries a great line of Rossignols (changed out every three years so that one-third of their fleet is always new), the Demo Center has a huge range of new season skis (Armada, Atomic, Blizzard, Dynastar, Head, Kastle, Nordica, Salomon, Stockli, Rossignol, Volkl, etc.). Our Rossignol Alltrack Elite 100 AT boots felt brand new too.
For a great start to the
day, we took Upper Wraparound (Blue) to Wolf’s Prey (Blue-Black), down to the
mid-mountain G lift (the East Peak Express Quad), which took us to a group of
nice wide Blacks. (East Peak also offers a leisurely 1.4-mile perimeter Green,
Wanderer, which we also enjoyed.) On soft snow, intermediate and advanced
skiers will enjoy skiing every level trail at Windham, and it’s easy to pop
between East and West peaks because everything converges to the same base. The
efficiency of the mountain’s design was also reflected in our chairlift wait
times, which ranged from zero seconds (most common) to a maximum of two
minutes. We loved zig-zagging from West Peak F lift (the Westside Six) to the
East Peak G. The slightly slower (and quieter) B Lift (the Wheelchair Double)
will take you to a series of fun double blacks on the West Peak, including the
long and windy Wide Connection to Upper Wipeout. Lower Wipeout will take you
through a lovely village of slope-side houses that will give you real estate
envy (5 home sites are still available to buy!
And at least one is available to rent on VRBO). The Whisper Creek ski-in,
ski-out condominiums are also available for sale or rent.
Windham started out as a
private club and continues to offer that ambiance. It is just the right size to
offer lots of variety in skiing, but compact enough to make you feel very
comfortable.
Windham offers 1,600
vertical feet from a summit of 3,100 feet. Its 54 trails and six terrain parks
provide 285 skiable acres, accessed by 12 lifts including a new high speed
six-passenger detachable lift and two high-speed quads. Windham also offers
night skiing on six trails (45 acres).
In the spirit of the
low-key social club vibe, Wheelhouse Lodge is a no-frills, mid-mountain dining
option with fantastic hearty chili, a new taco bar (open on weekends and
holidays), and an unbeatable view. On a warm sunny day like the one we had, a
lunch on the patio with almost 360 mountain views is hard to top.
In the last two years,
the resort has spent $12 million to improve the guest experience.
“In a time of
industry consolidation, strong, independent resort competition continues to
carve out unique guest-focused experiences and provide an alternative to
crowding and other downside impacts of acquisitions and mergers,” the
resort states. “A passion-powered outdoor community with the support of an
active investor group, Windham is well-positioned to continue offering a more
boutique and personal experience to skiers and riders in the Catskills. Windham
Mountain is a place to get lost and found again, to find stunning adventure
close to home, and to be reminded of how good it feels to be alive with family
and friends in the fresh air.”
Among the improvements
for this season, snowmaking was increased, which is reaping benefits for
keeping the base robust for spring skiing. There’s also a brand new, 33-foot
diameter European-inspired “Umbrella Bar” with an enclosed, heated dome in the
center of the reenergized patio area between the base lodge and the lift
lodging area. Other improvements include renovated rooms at The Winwood Inn, a
quaint lodging property in the village of Windham owned and operated by the
mountain; a newly renovated an reinvented restaurant at the inn called Tavern
23 (classic American comfort food); an upgraded booking system with new
software that allows guests to bundle lodging stays with lift tickets, lessons,
and even rentals in one easy transaction; and an expanded Guest Services
department and on-site call center.
A second new building
houses a unique ski and snowboard simulator that offers guests the chance to
ski or ride downhill race venues from around the world virtually while
supporting the Adaptive Sports Foundation. This building will also house a new
equipment valet and quick tune up station. Windham also offers Terrain Based
Learning™, beginner packages, an Adventure Park, and the full-service Alpine
Spa.
For experts only, the
Windham “First Tracks” program provides ultra-exclusive snow moments before
lifts open to the public every Saturday, Sunday, and Holiday morning, weather
and conditions permitting. This is a guided mountain experience for ages 14 and
up ($20 tickets, free for season pass holders). Call 518-734-4300 x1515 or
e-mail democenter@windhammountain.com
The Spring Daze Pass is available starting at $104. With this pass you’ll get unlimited skiing and riding from this Friday, March 13, 2020 to the end of the season. For current conditions, check the Mountain Report page or call Windham’s Snow Report Hotline at 1-800-729-4766.
Note: To insure the health and safety of
Windham’s guests in light of concerns over Covid-19 (coronavirus) and New York
State’s restrictions on large gatherings, Windham Mountain is limiting indoor
gatherings and augmenting food and beverage offerings on the patio area,
limiting the number of people in certain areas at one time and closing the
Alpine Spa and Children’s Learning Center for the remainder of the season.
In the summer months,
Windham Mountain Bike Park is famous for its World Cup course, but also features
a three-mile-long beginner trail. Windham Mountain Country Club is an 18-hole
public golf course with a private club atmosphere.
Aside from our relaxing mid-mountain lunch break and our occasional cycle through the demo center to try new skis, we skied through the day and were surprised that, on only a couple hours of sleep, we made it comfortably to the last chair. By 4:30 we were on the road to dinner in Albany, and by 5:30 we had apres ski drinks and appetizers in hand. It was a perfect day!
(Skiing weekends and holidays 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday 9am-4pm).
Travel Features
Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com
There is a special allure at Central Vermont’s Magic Mountain. On the one hand, the vibe is retro and frill-less, with two cozy double chairs (that founder Hans Thorner imported from Europe) and some free-spirited bluegrass/groovegrass playing through the speakers at the Black Line Tavern. On the other, it’s a quiet, nearly private skiing experience. Considering how rustic and unpretentious Magic Mountain is, this actually feels like the ultimate in luxury.
This past Thursday, we
had the pleasure of a Magic day trip. We hit the road from Schenectady at
6:45am, stopped as we approached the mountain area to pick up some delicious
breakfast sandwiches at Hapgood’s General Store in Peru, and were on the lift
with stress-free rental skis by 9:30. You park your car and walk to the lift in
a minute flat.
As we explored our first
run, one of a handful of long slopes carved 50 years ago to match the contours
of Vermont’s Green Mountains, we quickly realized that we have this enchanting,
snowy gem of a mountain to ourselves. It had just snowed, and because
Magic Mountain is only open Thursdays to Sundays, we were reveling in fresh
powder, laying down our own tracks.
Thorner was among the
first to bring skiing to New England. In the late 1950s, when he discovered
Glebe Mountain, he saw ridge lines and steep topography that reminded him of
his native Swiss Alps. Our new friend in the rental shop, Peter, who grew up in
Londonderry, made this sincere analogy: The major mountain resorts are “the
Porsche Cayenne or the Range Rover. Magic is the ‘61 Jaguar XKE that’s been
kept hidden away in a barn.”
This Thursday (for most
of the season, Thursdays have a special price of $29), we were amazed at the
quality of the powder we found. The slopes – there are 50 of them on 205
skiable acres, with a vertical drop of 1,500 truly vertical feet – carry across
the “Magic” theme with names like Sorcerer, Talisman (a favorite of Magic
regulars), Twilight Zone (a great glades trail with lots of snow), Broomstick,
and Slide of Hans (a punny tribute to Hans Thorner). Magic offers
boundary-to-boundary tree skiing and few distractions.
The runs are great,
especially for intermediate (13 trails) and advanced skiers (17 trails). There
are 11 glade trails, including some that are even welcoming for those who are
new to skiing through the trees. There are 13 easy trails, mostly in the center
of the mountain, and one terrain park. It’s also easy to cross between black to
blue to green on one long run if you go with a mixed-level group.
At the base, Black Line
Tavern is as laid-back as the rest of the mountain, with a friendly atmosphere
that feels like your neighborhood bar/restaurant. A song by Vermont acoustic
group Jatoba was playing as we strolled in for lunch. (A poster on the wall
listed them as one of the upcoming bands performing at the tavern.) The beef
chili was excellent, and the Korean BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich with fries was
also delicious.
Magic Mountain, which
remains fiercely proud in being independent and a throwback to Vermont’s ski
heritage, continues to make major investments in lifts and snowmaking, this
year spending $2 million in improvements to ensure an uncrowded, soulful ski
experience.
“Our future is as an independent,” owner Geoff Hatheway said at a recent Ski Vermont event told us. Hatheway purchased Magic four years ago, drawn by the community feel.
“The major investments
we are making in smoothing out some of the prior rough edges here are always
balanced by maintaining our unique ‘throwback’ character,” Hatheway said. “We
love natural snow here—it just skis better than man-made. So while we continue
to make major investments in snowmaking, lift service and grooming equipment,
we will let mother-nature do what she does best on our more advanced terrain.
Powder days are legend here and it’s why we have special openings when a storm
hits mid-week. It’s why we continue to expand the best tree-skiing in southern
Vermont. It’s why we’ve always supported uphill alpine touring. There’s truly
something for everyone here who is into the original feel and adventure of the
sport of skiing.”
In order to handle more
guests yet keep its lift line wait to under 10 minutes even during the busy
holiday periods, Magic is replacing its Black Double summit lift with a
fixed-grip Quad from base to summit to complement its Red Lift. The new Black
Line Quad was hoped to be completed for this season, but more likely will be
next season. With the addition of the new summit lift, Magic is adding another
double-diamond expert summit trail named Pitch Black. There is also a new East
Side glade created by the “Friends-of-Magic” work-crew this year.
In addition, Magic is
repairing a snowmaking pipe and re-energizing its Thompsonburg Brook pond to
better re-fill and supply water. They plan to expand snowmaking coverage to
over 50% of trails on both the East Side and famed expert West Side.
There is also a tubing
park that is open weekends.
Magic is a northern
Vermont mountain in southern Vermont, more challenging than its neighbors. But
a new mid-mountain chair improves access for intermediate and novice skiers
(there is no beginner trail from the summit, but a low-intermediate can take
the 1.6 mile trail from the top).
The plan is to “create a
future that harkens back to a golden age of skiing,” Hatheway, who brings a
background from marketing and advertising Internet and tech startups, said.
Asked how Magic can
compete against bigger resorts with bigger marketing budgets and seasonal
passes that span the globe, Hatheway pointed out, “We can appeal to the
‘uncommitted’ market. We have a passionate group of committed people, but there
is opportunity to peel off those who don’t want to commit to an $800 season
pass.”
Magic Mountain offers a variety of options on passes: Sundays only, Midweek, 18-29s, a Throwback Card ($149 gets you $29 tickets all season long). “These are crazy affordable but the skier makes some commitment. We try to be as creative as possible – we even have a holiday pass when others are blacked out elsewhere.” Skiers can also purchase discounted lift tickets on Liftopia.com.
“We hope you take the
road less traveled with us. It will never be perfect. But it will always be
authentic and interesting,” Hatheway said.
Bolton Valley Resort, which was re-acquired by the Des Lauriers family that founded the resort in 1966, is capitalizing on its strengths as it asserts its independence: night skiing until 10 pm and an innovative learn-to-back-country-ski program.
With the “Bigs” mountain resort companies taking over a significant number of New England’s major destination resorts, locking in loyalty to their brand, independents are capitalizing on their unique character and culture, their ability to offer value pricing, to be flexible and adaptive, and their appeal to the “noncommitteds” – those who still see the season pass as a barrier. They can offer their own pass, packaging and pricing deals. They also capitalize on their special character and ambiance.
Adam White, the Director
of Ski Vermont, sees only positives from the friendly competition between mega-resort
companies and independents. “Vermont’s resorts have invested more than $51
million, improving snowmaking across the board, every resort, every size. It
speaks volumes. It gives Vermont the ability to deliver a consistent product
regardless of Mother Nature, from Suicide Six to Mount Snow to Killington.
Every one is improving.”
As for Bigs versus Indies,
“There is reason to go to every area – all are different and have something to
offer. A parent with small kids may want a smaller, less chaotic, area where they
can have more control.”
Magic Mountain: Back to the Future
“Our future is as an independent.
For our future, we are looking to our past,” says Geoff Hathaway, Magic
Mountain’s president who acquired the resort four years ago.
How to compete against Vail Resorts’ Epic and Anterra Mountain Company’s Ikon
passes if you are an independent ski resort in Vermont? “We
can appeal to the ‘uncommitted’ market – we have passionate group of committed
people, but there is opportunity is to peel off those who don’t want to commit
to $800 season pass,” Hathaway says.
Magic Mountain offers a variety of options on passes: Sundays only, Midweek, 18-29s, a Throwback Card ($99 gets you $29 tickets all season long). ”These are crazy affordable but the skier makes some commitment. “We try to be as creative as possible – we even have holiday pass when others are blacked out elsewhere.” Skiers can also purchase discounted lift tickets on Liftopia.com.
“We make more opportunity to say “yes’ to a little bit of Magic.”
Magic Mountain, which remains fiercely proud in being independent
and a throwback to Vermont’s ski heritage, continues to make major investments
in lifts and snowmaking, this year spending $2 million in improvements to
ensure a laid-back, uncrowded, soulful ski experience. In order to handle more
customers yet keep its lift line wait to under 10 minutes even during the busy
holiday periods, Magic is replacing its Black Double summit lift with a fixed-grip
Quad from base-to-summit to complement its Red Lift. The new Black Line Quad is
expected to be completed by Christmas for the 2019/20 season. In addition,
Magic is repairing snowmaking pipe and re-energizing its Thompsonburg Brook
pond to better re-fill and supply water to its snowmaking pond in order to
expand snowmaking coverage to over 50% of its trails on both the East Side and
famed expert West Side. With the addition of the new summit lift, Magic adds
another double-diamond expert summit trail named Pitch Black. There is also a
new East Side glade created by our “Friends-of-Magic” work-crew this year.
Magic is a northern Vermont
mountain in southern Vermont, more challenging than its neighbors. The mountain
installed a mid-mountain chair improving access for intermediate and novice
skiers (there is no beginner trail from the summit, but a low-intermediate can
take the 1.6 mile trail from the top). Magic offers a 1500-ft vertical, 51
trails of which green are 25%, blue are 30%.
“There’s more Magic than ever to enjoy for the new ski and ride season.” (magicmtn.com)
Mad River Glen
Mad River Glen, the only cooperatively owned mountain open to the public, is dedicated to maintaining and preserving the “pure Vermont” ski experience and takes pride in consistently upgrading its infrastructure while maintaining an unchanged exterior.
“We take pride in
constantly upgrading while quietly remaining the same. We are still Mad River
Glen, just like 1948,” said Ry Young, head freeski team coach. Mad River Glen’s
trails were cut in the 1940s and 1950s, narrower, winding down the mountain
following the natural contours.
Mad River Glen has invested more than $5M in capital improvements.
Mad River Glen raised $5.5 million through donors to its nonprofit foundation
which will be spent next
summer on a Basebox and Patrol building
renovation.
There are no high-speed lifts at Mad River Glen – only fixed grip chairs (3 doubles and the last functioning single in continental US) – which limits uphill capacity.
Mad River Glen offers the most challenging and diverse
terrain in New England with an uphill capacity that guarantees low skier
density on the trails even on the busiest days. It is one of only three areas
in North America that still prohibit snowboarding. The trails were cut to
follow the mountain’s natural contours. Skiers can descend the entire 2,037′ of
vertical on true expert terrain with no run-outs, 1000 acres of inbound skiing and 1000 acres of back country
skiing; of the 52 trails, 25% are beginner but the majority of terrain is advanced.
There are no high-speed lifts – only fixed grip chairs (3 doubles and the last functioning single in continental US) – which limits uphill capacity.
There is a special camaraderie among the skiing
community, with its co-op ownership, non-commercial, family-friendly
atmosphere, dedicated staff, and – of course-the Single Chair, America’s
favorite ski lift.
You can also experience the mountain on snowshoes: join one of MRG’s staff Naturalists for a guided snowshoe trek tailored to your interest in the ecology and wildlife of Stark Mountain (Naturalist Programs). There is no on-mountain lodging, but plenty of inns and bnb’s in town. (madriverglen.com)
Bolton Valley Resort
Bolton Valley Resort, which was re-acquired by the Des Lauriers family that founded the resort in 1966, is capitalizing on its strengths as it asserts its independence: night skiing until 10 pm and an innovative learn-to-back-country-ski program (the DesLauriers are famous as pioneers in extreme skiing.)
The most visible improvement is the complete replacement and
upgrading of the night skiing lighting system (Bolton offers night skiing
nightly until 10 pm).
Besides
being one of the few places in New England offering night skiing,
Bolton opened an in-house backcountry-specific guiding and instructional program,
complete with top-of-the-line rental and demo fleets of alpine touring and
splitboarding equipment. This program makes Bolton Valley a premiere
destination for skiers and riders looking to move beyond lift service, as well
as cross country skiers looking to access more aggressive terrain. Explore
1,200 acres of high-mountain wilderness terrain while learning the ins and outs
of alpine touring, backcountry safety, and self-reliance.
But Bolton Valley has something that hardly any other mountain resort has: not just back country skiing on 1,200 acres of high-mountain wilderness, but an in-house backcountry-specific guiding and instructional program, complete with top-of-the-line rental and demo fleets of alpine touring and splitboarding equipment, offered every Saturday.
“The gear is different – you have to be able to unhook the heels and put on climbing skins; we rent all the equipment, demo gear and sell gear,” says Adam Des Lauriers. The program was launched two years ago. “It’s totally unique – more traditional ski areas don’t know how to deal with back country and uphill, even though it is the fastest growing segment.”
Building on its reputation for having some of the best and most accessible backcountry terrain in the Eastern US, this program makes Bolton Valley a premiere destination for skiers and riders looking to move beyond lift service, as well as cross country skiers looking to access more aggressive terrain. You can explore high-mountain wilderness terrain while learning the ins and outs of alpine touring, backcountry safety, and self-reliance.
How good do you have to be? “At least strong intermediate –we
take it slow. People are surprised when they can do it. It is scary to attempt
if you do it alone, but a mind-opening experience when you realize you can do
it.”
Bolton
Valley also has back country huts which can be rented through the Green
Mountain Club, the organization that runs the Long Trail,but accessed through
Bolton. “It’s a unique camping experience, just one mile from the base. You
wake up to fresh tracks, and get to do winter camping. It’s accessible, but
feels like being deep in woods.”
Bolton
Valley sits high in the Green Mountains of Vermont. The high mountain alpine
village is surrounded by 5,000 acres of wilderness. Bolton Valley offers 71
trails and glades for Alpine skiing and riding and 100 km of Nordic and
backcountry trails. Each year Bolton Valley receives an average of 312 inches
of snow.
All the
lodging, including hotel rooms, suites and condominiums are either ski in/ski
out or within a short walking distance of the lifts. Two restaurants, a
cafeteria, deli and general store are located within the village. After a day
on the slopes, walk over to the Sports Center, where there is an indoor pool,
hot tub and sauna, skateboard bowl and mini ramps, arcade games as well as an
open floor for basketball and other games. The Indoor Amusement Center offers
bouncy houses for kids who just want to keep moving.
Bolton Valley also offers a large Nordic center, an indoor skate park and indoor pool. The year-round resort, which is the neighborhood ski area for the city of Burlington and generations of Vermont skiers, offers tennis and ropes course, and expanding its mountain bike trail network, for summer. (www.boltonvalley.com)
Bromley Mountain
This year, Bromley resort has made a number of maintenance-related updates on and off the mountain. For those who rent equipment, there is an updated rental fleet to include some of the best equipment on the market for a more comfortable fit and smoother glide. On the mountain, crew continued their trail widening efforts. All-new park features satisfy a variety of rider abilities, green to black. Plus, Bromley is partnering up with Arena Snowparks to build and design parks (for the second year in a row) with the intention to produce one of the best family-friendly progression parks.
For après-ski entertainment, enjoy Bromley’s Wild Boar
Tavern (located at the base of the mountain) as well as expanded events
calendar with more free, family-friendly entertainment for everyone. Top off
your ski days with a scenic sleigh ride at beautiful Taylor Farm, take a stroll
through the sculpture garden at the Vermont Art Center, treat yourself to a
fabulous shopping experience at the Manchester Shopping Outlet center, all
within a 10-mile radius. (skivermont.com/bromley-mountain-resort)
Suicide Six Ski Area
Suicide Six Ski Area, which is owned by the historic, grand resort, the Woodstock Inn & Resort, remains independent but partners with 35 other quintessential resorts to create the Indy Pass. For 84 consecutive seasons, Suicide Six has offered its blend of exquisite service and personal touch, including the longest continually operating Ski and Ride School in the country. Here you’ll find stellar coaches, progressive terrain, and a warmth and care. The ski area is adding more terrain features and an entirely new park concept, as well as taking its snowmaking production to the next level with a focus on automation, efficiency and sustainability. Suicide Six is investing $250,000 into its snowmaking pump station with more efficient pumps, automation and instrumentation that provide lightning fast responses to changes in weather and conditions. Combine that with previous investments of over $400,000 the ski area has made in new snow guns, and the automation of the Face trail (its world-class racing venue), Suicide Six looks forward to a longer, more productive season with the highest quality snow.
Suicide Six, which is owned by the grand, historic Woodstock Inn, is one of the most family-friendly ski mountains.
The misnomered Suicide
Six (it actually is one of the most family-friendly ski mountains, with 24
trails – 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced), is focusing on family-friendly ski and stay
packages, where ski passes are included. The resort also makes it easy to
organize a private lesson for the family where the kids learn to ski and
parents learn how to continue to teach them.
The downhill ski area is owned by the grand,
historic Woodstock Inn which also
offers the Woodstock Nordic Adventure Center providing 30 kilometers of trails
to explore via cross country skis, fat bikes or snowshoes; a 10,000 sq. ft Spa;
and Woodstock Athletic Club, with indoor and outdoor tennis courts, racquetball
courts, a 30-by-60-foot heated indoor lap pool, a whirlpool, workout equipment
and steam and sauna rooms. Woodstock Inn
provides a free shuttle to the mountain (skivermont.com/suicide-six-ski-area)
Trapp Family Lodge
Trapp Family Lodge, Vermont
Situated on 2,500 acres in Stowe, Vermont, where it
specializes in cross-country skiing on 100 km of groomed trails, Trapp Family Lodge (yes, that Trapp Family of
“Sound of Music fame”) is a mountain resort that combines Austrian-inspired
architecture and European-style accommodations with the best of Vermont. The
Lodge offers stunning mountain views, old-world comforts, and impeccable service,
along with activities for every season, but it boasts being one of the first
American resorts built around cross-country skiing – the cross-country center
is more than 50 years old. Snowshoeing is also popular (equipment rentals
available). Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the meadows with stunning
views into the valley. Enjoy any number of tours to learn about the
history of the von Trapp family and lodge; how maple sugar is made; tour the
von Trapp Brewing’s state-of-the-art brewery on site; dine in the Bierhall to
sample the lagers and enjoy the authentic Austrian experience and cuisine.
There’s also ice/rock climbing, spa, pool, hot tub and three restaurants.
Cross-country ski three miles up to a cabin and enjoy hot soup. When you get
the urge for downhill skiing, shuttles are provided to nearby Stowe. (www.trappfamily.com)
Mountain Top Inn & Resort
Mountaintop Inn & Resort, Chittenden, Vermont (c) Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
Mountain Top Inn & Resort, set on 350 acres ringed by the Green Mountain National Forest, is breathtakingly enchanting, offers 60 km of groomed cross-country ski trails (snowmaking on a 2 km loop insuring optimal conditions); horse-drawn sleigh rides; a small old-fashioned (natural) skating pond; snowshoeing (twilight tours available); snowmobiling; spa; hot tub; fire pits; and the coziest fireplaces. It’s also a 30 minute drive to Killington Mountain for downhill skiing (shuttle transportation available, 8:30 am, returning 4:30 pm; reserve in advance). The most charming of inns offers 32 rooms plus 23 individual guest houses; dining at The Mountain Top Tavern (with 12 Vermont Craft Brews on tap) and fireside dining in the dining room.Downhill skiing at Killington and Pico is a short drive away. www.MountainTopInn.com.
Middlebury Snow Bowl
This season you will see a new Prinoth Groomer, upgrades to the Ticket counter including new transaction windows ad a new Point of Sale System, and a new season pass format. There is also the new Shared Parent Pass for families with kids that aren’t skiing yet (both parents ski on the same pass). What you won’t see, but will certainly experience, is the snowmaking pipe upgrades, summer trail work and lift work. (www.middleburysnowbowl.com)
Jay Peak Resort
Jay Peak is a quirky 800-bedroom, 3,100-bathroom, 217,800,000,000-square foot resort just two miles from the Canadian border offering multiple athletic pursuits across all seasons. Potential upsides include an indoor waterpark, ice arena, climbing center, movie theater, synthetic-turf athletic fields, multiple hotels, 5,000 acres of ski-and-ride terrain, and a staff of 1,500 Tier One professionals. Jay Peak has annual snowfall averaging 349 inches a season, still there is snowmaking on 80% of terrain. Jay Peak offers 385 skiable acres (100 acres of gladed terrain), a vertical drop of 2,153, 50 miles of trails 9 lifts accessing 81 trails (20% Novice, 40% Intermediate, 40% Advanced), for a total of 50 miles, the longest, Ullr’s Dream at 3 miles, and four parks (Rabbit Beginner Park, Family Cross, Jug Handle & Interstate ). (jaypeakresort.com)
Never content to rest on laurels, Vermont ski areas are constantly improving the guest experience. A big part of that comes via annual improvements and each year, the mountain resorts spend their off-seasons bettering everything from facilities, terrain and ticket/pass options to off-slope activities and amenities.
This year, guests from around the world will find $51 million in improvements, including snowmaking and grooming to virtually guarantee excellent conditions. The gains are throughout Vermont’s ski areas, but the growing number of major resorts that have come under Vail Resorts’ umbrella or Anterra Mountain, not only funnels money capital investment in infrastructure and gives the resorts a global profile, but gives resorts like Mount Snow, Okemo and Stowe (now part of Vail and Epic Pass) the ability to improve the guest experience through technology improvements as well as best practices in operating lifts, snowmaking, parking, ticketing, safety, efficiency and sustainability initiatives.
Here are the many ways in which skiing and riding in
Vermont will be better than ever this upcoming season:
Mount Snow Resort
Snowmaking improvements continue to be a priority at Mount Snow, which (along with Hunter Mountain in New York and 15 other New England and Mid-Atlantic resorts became part of Vail Resorts with its acquisition of Peak Resorts (and therefore included on the Epic Pass). This winter will see improvements to the Sunbrook Face as well as Carinthia Parks. On the Sunbrook side, the resort has added 7.2 acres of snowmaking as Little Dipper will now be connected to the Northeast’s most powerful snowmaking system. This change will allow Mount Snow to open this trail earlier in the season and keep it consistently covered throughout the winter. Sunbrook is a beloved part of the mountain and guests will be able to better take advantage of this area. In Carinthia, the resort is adding snowmaking to Fool’s Gold, which increasing snowmaking coverage by an additional 9.8 acres and allowing the ops crew to transform it into a park with small features. Beginner and intermediate park enthusiasts will have a place for building skills before they move onto larger features.
The Grand Summit, Mount Snow Resort, Vermont, now part of Vail Resorts (c) Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
These projects wouldn’t be possible
without the previous upgrades of the past three summers including the addition
of West Lake, Mount Snow’s 120-million-gallon snowmaking reservoir, as well as
new pump houses and pipes, totaling more than $30 million invested in
snowmaking. As the resort moves from 80% to 83% snowmaking coverage for this
winter, Mount Snow has its sights set on 100% coverage which could be
accomplished in the near future.
There is also snow tubing and snowmobiling. You can book a leisurely sunset tour to the summit of Mount Snow, or a trek across Somerset Reservoir through Snowmobile Vermont (book in advance, mountsnow.com/snowmobile). Unwind at Mount Snow’s Naturespa, located in the Grand Summit Resort Hotel, offering pure, natural and organic spa treatments, guided mountain treks, holistic health, and fitness specialties. (mountsnow.com)
Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe, which is now owned by Vail Resorts and is included on
the Epic Pass, now offers Epic Mix, which enables
skiers and riders to track their days and vertical feet skied,earn digital
pins, share photos, race against the pros and check real-time liftline wait
time using their RFID chip-embedded season pass or lift ticket.
Stowe has an inter-mountain transfer gondola connecting
its two mountain peaks, Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak. There are new high-speed
lifts on Spruce, new base facilities, gourmet restaurants. The Stowe Mountain
Lodge, a 312 room hotel and spa, is recognized as one of the greenest and most
luxurious mountainside lodgings anywhere. There’s also a new state-of-the-art
Performing Arts Center at Spruce Peak.
Stowe Mountain Resort is now part of Vail Resorts and included on the Epic Pass. (photo from Stowe)
New this winter atop the Mansfield
Gondola in Stowe is a resort inspired Maple Waffle Café. Located inside the
Gondola summit shelter, the new waffle experience is the perfect place to
warm-up with a delicious Vermont flavored snack. The new Whistle Pig Pavilion
adjacent to the outdoor skating rink at Spruce Peak delights skiers in the late
afternoon with gourmet tasters and whiskey toasts by the famous Vermont spirits
bottler. Stop in for a surprise and stay to sample their farm-to-table small bites
menu and the local beer and whiskey bar. “At Stowe, we are curating and
customizing on-mountain private experiences,” says Jeff Wise.
Stowe also offers an on-mountain
Kids AdventureZones, well signed areas that give kids and families the
opportunity to easily access gentle side-country areas and freestyle terrain
purpose-built for learning progression. (www.stowe.com)
Okemo Mountain Resort
Okemo Mountain Resort, which became part of Vail Resorts (and the Epic Pass) last year, has renovated its Summit Lodge and mid-mountain Sugar House with a $2 million infusion of capital. On the slopes, Okemo has secured its reputation for consistent and reliable snow quality and surface conditions through more upgrades to its snowmaking system. Installation of 5,000 feet of pipe completed a five-year project to replace main feeds to Okemo’s snowmaking system across the entire mountain. And this winter, skiers and riders will be able to experience the entire mountain in a new way with EpicMix, a free app that provides access to a variety of features from their mobile phones. They can check snow conditions and lift-wait times, view web cams and trail maps, track vert, earn digital pins, and even track Ski & Snowboard School progress and accomplishments.
Season pass introductions this
winter include a new Northeast College Pass that offers unlimited, unrestricted
access to Okemo and Mount Sunapee, in New Hampshire, as well as unlimited
access with holiday restrictions to Stowe. Also, Vail Resorts has launched Epic
Day Pass, allowing guests to ski world-class resorts for less than
lift-ticket-window prices.
One of our favorite New England ski mountains with its
long, scenic cruisers, Okemo also offers an assortment of activities for
families to enjoy together. For a thrill, try Okemo’s Timber Ripper
Mountain Coaster or go snow tubing down a specially groomed chute in the
Jackson Gore courtyard; skate at Okemo’s ice skating pavilion; rent a fat bike
for riding on snow; go snowshoeing; cross country skiing; work on your golf
game at Okemo’s indoor golf facility. Chill out with an after-hours snowcat
excursion to the top of the mountain, take a swim or soak in a hot tub at
Okemo’s Spring House Pool & Fitness Center.. Enjoy a massage or a facial at
the spa.
The Adventure Zone located in Okemo’s Jackson Gore area
offers year-round activities soar through the treetops on Sawyer’s Sweep
Zipline Tour or go off-roading on a Segway PT Tour; launch yourself into the
Amp Energy Big Air Bag; climb the climbing wall; putt Cal’s Miniature Golf
Course or challenge yourself on the 18-hole Disc Golf course.
A wide variety of trailside and mountainside lodging options provide great ski-in/ski-out convenience, but our favorite is Jackson Gore. (okemo.com)
Killington Resort
The “Beast of the East,” Killington is the biggest ski
resort in New England and has the longest season. A Powdr resort, Killington
and its sister resort Pico are both partnering in the IkonPass, allows 5-7 days on the pass. Killington offers the Beast 365 All-Seasons Pass gives
guests access to everything at Killington, all year long. It starts in summer
with unlimited lift and trail access for 30 miles of mountain biking, plus golf
course greens fees and access to the Adventure Center including zipline, ropes
course and a year-round downhill coaster; pass
holders also get access to discounts every month, that could consist of spa or
golf. Accommodations are mostly along the access road (though we adored our
stay at nearby Mountaintop Inn), and now owns the legendary Wobbly Barn
nightclub.
Killington offers Woodward, an experiential action
sports company on a mission to inspire next generation sports experiences
through intuitive programming and innovative environments. It’s where the most
passionate people come together to stoke new levels of growth, confidence and a
lifelong love of their favorite sports. Woodward at Killington is the East
Coast destination for action sports progression, providing mountain experiences
built to inspire and empower youth to reach their potential and experienced
athletes to take it to the next level. The Woodward experience at Killington
includes Woodward Mountain Park in the winter and then, when the snow melts,
the Woodward WreckTangle ninja obstacle challenge.
Killington offers seven distinct mountain areas including Killington Peak, the second highest point in the state at 4,241 feet and a vertical drop of 3,050 ft, and 212 trails and 1,977 of skiable acres including Pico. (killington.com)
Pico Mountain
Pico Mountain, which is Killington’s sister mountain, is undergoing major upgrades to its snowmaking system, which means guests will experience a better, more consistent and more reliable snow surface. Picohas a very different feel from its sister resort, Killington, just next door. A self-contained resort with slopeside lodging, Pico has 57 trails serviced by seven lifts, including two high-speed detachable quads, Its more intimate scale, gentle learning terrain, smooth cruisers and classically narrow New England steeps, that all that funnel to a single base make it ideal for families. Even the most selective skiers and riders will be impressed by Pico’s vertical drop of 1,967’ – taller than 80% of Vermont ski areas. (picomountain.com)
Stratton Mountain Resort
Last January’s Snow Bowl Express launch was a game changer, creating quick access to a blend of terrain from the legendary World Cup and tree-lined Drifter to a three-mile beginner run from the summit of southern Vermont’s highest peak. The new skier and rider is a focus this season with 12,500 feet of new snowmaking pipe, featuring the latest hydrant technology, for the learning zone. Plus, a one-acre parallel teaching area has been crafted to eliminate the fear factor as beginners build a foundation with basic skills, including stance and balance, before heading up the 550-foot covered carpet. Kids snowboarding has never been easier with the addition of a new Burton Riglet Park for 2019-20.
There’s lift-served snow tubing, moonlight snowshoe
tours, and 12 km of cross-country trails for skiing and fat biking. Unwind
with a massage from the Village Day Spa or enjoy a dog sled ride through
Vermont’s wooded terrain. Stratton’s Training and Fitness Center offers
Olympic-sized, salt-water swimming pool, cardio and weight room and the Cliff
Drysdale Tennis Center. Stroll through the Village to enjoy cafes and shops or
venture 20 minutes down Route 100 to Manchester for shopping at 40 designer
outlets.
Now part of the Alterra Mountain Company, Stratton is included on its Ikon Pass, now offering access to nearly 82,000 acres at 38 premier mountain destinations across the globe. (Stratton.com)
Sugarbush Resort
Sometimes it’s the little things that add up to a whole lot of change. Sugarbush has invested in a number of smaller projects this summer to improve the guest experience heading into the ski season. The Lincoln Peak Courtyard has been rebuilt with cobblestones, firepits, gardens, and bar tops. Two new EV charging stations are getting installed at Mt. Ellen for the electric car user looking to shred Vermont’s third-highest peak. Its focus on environmentalism is also demonstrated by donating 1% of restaurant receipts for Protect Our Winter, advocating for climate action, and is partnering with a Vermont business that builds solar arrays to generate 2.5 MW, enough to power Mount Ellen. Additionally, there is now snowmaking on a more opened-up Sleeper Road, and plenty of new infrastructure upgrades around the lodges and lifts.
Sugarbush is independent but has a partnership with the Ikon Pass (photo provided by Sugarbush)
Sugarbush also actively supports the community. “We’re big on the community. We have a nice base area
with restaurants, but we encourage guests to go to Mad River Valley. We
have shuttle bus through day til 5 or 6, and Saturday late to 2 am. We
encourage people to shop, eat, patronize the artisans,
An independent resort, Sugarbush is part of the Ikon Pass and
The Mountain Collective. “We can pivot faster
as an independent. We do specialty passes: for 20s, for 30s, Boomers (65+)
discounted Quad Pack- 4 lift tickets for $249 which are transferable.
Wynn Smith purchased
Sugarbush in 2001 (unfortunately, on September 10) and between 2004-2008, he
rebuilt the entire Lincoln Peak Village (Mt Ellen is old school). There is a
hotel, new lodge, two ski schools (one for adults, one for kids).
“We have the largest
detachable quad, the Slide Brook Express, in world – 2 miles – connecting Mt
Ellen & Lincoln Peak. You can ski the back country between and use a
shuttle bus or take the Slide Brook
Express back,” says John Blley.
Cabin Cat Adventures also offer a great way to experience
the mountain, whether it’s Allyn’s Lodge Fireside Dining at the top of Gadd
Peak, Cabin Cat First Tracks on a powder day or Sunset Groomer Rides to the top
of Lincoln Peak. Other activities available in Mad River Valley include
ice-skating, an Icelandic horse farm, a locally owned movie theater and cross
country skiing. (sugarbush.com)
Smugglers’ Notch Resort
Smugglers’
Notch Resort’s claim to fame is the total experience the resort offers. There
is probably no other ski resort that is so focused on family togetherness,
pioneering a vast array of activities families enjoy together as Smugglers
Notch. Families can vary their vacation days by joining craft sessions,
broomball challenges, scavenger hunts, snow cat tours, story times, and pool
games (included in their Smugglers’ vacation package). Smuggs has also
introduced S.T.E.A.M. activities that bring fun ways to explore science,
technology, engineering, arts, and math. “We’ve cracked
the code with new family
dynamics,” said Michael Chait. “Kids get to see their parents play… Family
programs touch on every family dynamic, from the new parent to the great
grandparent.”
FunZone 2.0 offers
26,000 square feet of indoor fun: an adventure center (laser tag,
climbing tower, giant slide), a café serving beer and wine, so parents can
relax while kids play. Outdoor activities include snowmobile tours through the
historic Smugglers’ Notch pass, and CatTrax heated-cabin snow cat rides to the
summits of Smugglers’ most popular peaks.
There’s so much to do, this is the ski resort you want to
stay longer at – not just ski and stay – 43 pages of activities in 7-day
period. Everybody has something even if they don’t ski. There are even
activity packages that don’t include skiing.
The condo-style accommodations provide plenty of space
for families to spread out, have meals and snacks in the condo (every condo has
a crock pot; there is a country store on the mountain with the essentials and a
grocery store 15 minutes away that you can shop at on the drive up).
Apart from its reputation as the most family-friendly ski resort anywhere, there is serious skiing to be had on three mountains: Morse (all green, so there is a natural separation of ability) while Madonna and Sterling are big, steep and deep; Sterling has a great variety of cruisers (great for intermediates) to bump up skill on short black. Madonna is the toughest, with some of the steepest trails (even a double-black) in the East, but there are also a couple of blues from top (Chilcoot and Drifter). (smuggs.com)
Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports serves
people with physical, cognitive and emotional/behavioral disabilities from
all over the world of all abilities
in three Vermont ski destinations during the winter:
Killington Resort and Pico Mountain in Killington; Sugarbush Resort in Warren;
and Bolton Valley Ski Area in Bolton (though with enough notice, programs can
be organized at other resorts as well). Summer programs are
provided state-wide. Many of the programs include environmental education, wellness,
and special programs designed specifically for veterans.
If a family member uses wheelchair, we can provide instruction. Scholarships are available for those for whom cost is a factor. The organization offers veterans programs all over the state – ski and snowboarding in winter, mountain biking in summer.
Vermont Adaptive is a nationally recognized organization
that empowers people of all abilities through inclusive sports and recreational
programming regardless of ability to pay. In addition to sports, year-round programming options
integrate environmental, holistic wellness, and competitive training
philosophies for people of all ages with cognitive, developmental, physical and
emotional disabilities.
“We are recognized nationally for our client-centered
programs and for providing access and instruction to sports and recreational
activities with the belief that these things provide a physical, mental and
social experience that is immeasurable in promoting self-confidence and
independence in an individual,” said Lexi Moore, team manager.
Vermont Adaptive offers the largest variety of program
opportunities and specialized equipment.
Vermont Adaptive promotes independence and furthers equality through access and
instruction to sports and recreational opportunities including alpine skiing,
snowboarding, and other winter sports; kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle
boarding, sailing, cycling, hiking, rock climbing, tennis, horseback
riding, environmental programs
and CORE Connections wellness retreats.
With nearly 400 active volunteers, plus generous partners and sponsors, and an amazing base of clients and friends, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports has been at the forefront of sports and recreation for those with disabilities for more than 30 years. (vermontadaptive.org)
The ski industry has done something very clever – much akin to the hotel and airline loyalty programs keep you within their brand. Two giants have emerged, through acquisition or operation of mountain resorts and through partnerships that give both global reach: Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass and Alterra Mountain Company’s Ikon Pass. This year, both have enhanced their programs with value, reach and even flexibility.
There are still programs that are more local and smaller scale like Liftopia and The Mountain Collective, and independent mountains have reacted with programs aimed at the “Uncommitteds” with extremely inexpensive pass programs or validity through holidays and peak dates when other passes may be blacked out.
But
hurry: the last date to purchase the passes is Nov. 24.
But
the passes only get you up the mountain. Organizing all the logistics and elements
of a ski vacation – from transportation, to accommodations, to rentals to
activities on and off the mountain, even choosing from among the hundreds of
choices the appropriate destination for a long-haul ski holiday – is the bailiwick
of a company like Ski.com.
Here’s
a rundown:
Epic Pass is Epic
No
question about it: Vail Resorts has stormed the entire East Coast ski market,
just this season adding 17 resorts in one fell swoop with its acquisition of
Peak Resorts, including such iconic destinations as Mount Snow in Vermont and
Hunter Mountain in New York to a list that already included Stowe and Okemo
Mountain in Vermont (and Okemo’s sister resorts, Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire
and Crested Butte in Colorado), Now add in Attitash Mountain
Resort, Wildcat Mountain and Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire and Liberty
Mountain Resort, Roundtop Mountain Resort, Whitetail
Resort, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Pennsylvania plus
seven more in the Midwest, all of which are included on this season’s Epic
Pass.
New for 2019/20 – The Epic Pass now offers access
to Sun Valley, Snowbasin, Rusutsu-Japan, and the 17 Peak Resorts ski areas,
including Hunter Mountain, New York and Mount Snow, Vermont. Also new for 2020:
Access Falls Creek and Hotham, Australia.
The 2019-20 Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Epic
Australia Pass and Military Epic Pass now include unlimited and
unrestricted access to each of the 17 newly acquired Peak ski areas, in
addition to the access provided to some of the world’s most well-known resorts
including Vail, Whistler Blackcomb, Park City and Breckenridge. Guests with an
Epic Day Pass are also able to access these 17 ski areas as a part of the total
number of days purchased. For the 2019-20 season, Vail Resorts will honor all
Peak Resorts pass products and continue to sell them through the fall. Current
Peak Resorts’ pass holders now have the option to upgrade to an Epic Pass or
Epic Local Pass.
Epic Pass™: For
$969 for adults and $509 for children (ages five to 12), the Epic Pass offers:
Unlimited,
unrestricted access to: Whistler Blackcomb, Vail, Beaver Creek,
Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar,
Kirkwood, Stowe, Okemo, Mount Snow, Mount Sunapee, Attitash, Wildcat,
Crotched, Hunter, Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Stevens
Pass, Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine, Mad River, Hidden Valley,
Snow Creek, Paoli Peaks, Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton, and Wilmot in North
America. The Epic Pass also includes access to Perisher, Falls Creek, and
Hotham in Australia.
Limited
access to partner resorts, including: seven days at each of Telluride,
Sun Valley, Snowbasin, and the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies; five
consecutive days at Hakuba Valley, Japan’s ten ski resorts; five consecutive
days at Japan’s Rusutsu Resort. The Epic Pass also grants limited access to Les
3 Vallées in France; 4 Vallées in Switzerland; and Skirama Dolomiti in Italy.
Epic Local Pass™:For $719 for adults, $579 for teens (ages 13 to 18) and
$379 for children (ages five to 12), the Epic Local Pass offers:
Unlimited,
unrestricted access to: Breckenridge, Keystone,
Crested Butte, Okemo, Mount Snow, Mount Sunapee, Attitash, Wildcat,
Crotched, Hunter, Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Stevens
Pass, Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine, Mad River, Hidden Valley,
Snow Creek, Paoli Peaks, Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton, and Wilmot.
Unlimited access
with holiday restrictions to: Park City,
Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, and Stowe.
10 total days combined
(with holiday restrictions) at: Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler Blackcomb.
Limited access to
partner resorts, including: two days (with limited holiday restrictions) at Sun
Valley; two days (with limited holiday restrictions) at Snowbasin; and five
total consecutive days with no blackout dates at Hakuba Valley’s ten ski
resorts in Japan; and five total consecutive days with no blackout dates at
Rusutsu Resort.
Military Epic
Pass™:For $159
for Active and Retired Military and their dependents and $559 for Veteran
Military and their dependents, the Military Epic Pass
offers:
Unlimited,
unrestricted access to: Whistler Blackcomb,
Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Park City, Heavenly,
Northstar, Kirkwood, Stowe, Okemo, Mount Snow, Mount Sunapee, Attitash,
Wildcat, Crotched, Hunter, Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost, Big
Boulder, Stevens Pass, Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine, Mad
River, Hidden Valley, Snow Creek, Paoli Peaks, Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton,
and Wilmot in North America. The Military Epic Pass also includes access to
Perisher, Falls Creek, and Hotham in Australia.
Epic Day Pass: Announced earlier this year as a
part of Epic for Everyone, the
Epic Day Pass provides unprecedented flexibility and season pass
discounts to guests skiing as little as one day.
With
the customizable pass, guests can unlock discounts of up to 50 percent off lift
ticket window prices by selecting the number of days they plan to ski or ride
– from one day to seven days – and whether or not to
add holiday access.
Use
the pass at any of the Company’s North American owned resorts, including
Whistler Blackcomb, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge,
Keystone, Crested Butte, Park City, and more, including the 17
new resorts. Those purchasing four or more days also get access to
Telluride, Sun Valley, Snowbasin, and Resorts of the Canadian Rockies as a
part of the total number of days purchased.
Alterra
Mountain Company’s Ikon Pass expands its offerings this season with the
addition of Zermatt in Switzerland (and the famous Matterhorn) and Arapahoe
Basin Ski Area in Colorado.
The
addition of Zermatt brings the number of destinations available to Ikon Pass
holders to 41 around the globe, across five continents, 12 states, 4 Canadian
provinces, for a total of 84,385 acres of skiing and 4,857 trails.
The
iconic Matterhorn towers over more than 3,500 acres (1,416 hectares) of terrain
that spans both Switzerland and Italy, offering Swiss hospitality coupled with
Italian lifestyle, in the highest skiable terrain offered in the picturesque
Alps. Connected lift service offers Ikon Pass holders access to Rothorn,
Gornergrat and the Schwarzsee-Matterhorn glacier paradise within the Zermatt
ski area, plus Cervinia-Valtournenche ski areas in Italy, collectively known as
Matterhorn ski paradise.
Ikon Pass holders will have seven-day access to Zermatt and the Matterhorn ski paradise network on the Ikon Pass with no blackout dates, and five-day access on the Ikon Base Pass, also with no blackout dates.
“The
Matterhorn is a true icon known around the world, so we are thrilled to have
Zermatt join the Ikon Pass community,” said Erik Forsell, Chief Marketing
Officer for Alterra Mountain Company. “Ikon Pass strives to continually offer
pass holders unique experiences in the mountains. Now they can experience
Zermatt’s glacier skiing, traditional Swiss fondue, plus its infamous European
après ski across two countries, on one pass.”
“Zermatt
and Matterhorn ski paradise are pleased to be the first European destination on
the Ikon Pass, and we look forward to offering our best Swiss quality and
Italian lifestyle to Ikon Pass holders everywhere. We are excited to share our
passion and devotion to skiing within the Ikon Pass community and its
impressive destination partners across the globe,” said Sandra Zenhäusern,
Director of Marketing, Zermatt Bergbahnen AG.
The Ikon Pass unlocks adventure with access to 41 iconic winter destinations across the Americas, Switzerland, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and is a collaboration of industry leaders – Alterra Mountain Company, Aspen Skiing Company, Boyne Resorts, POWDR, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Alta Ski Area, Snowbird, SkiBig3, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Taos Ski Valley, Sugarbush Resort, Zermatt, Thredbo, Mt Buller, Niseko United, Valle Nevado, and NZ Ski. Alterra Mountain Company honors each destination’s unique character and authenticity.
A-Basin
is located just 68 miles from Denver and boasts the longest season in Colorado,
many seasons running through the 4th of July. Affectionately known as “The
Legend,” A-Basin sits on the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains and
offers a high-alpine, big-mountain experience, paired with a laid-back
atmosphere. Its 1,428 acres of iconic terrain includes the East Wall and
Montezuma Bowl, plus The Beavers and The Steep Gullies, some of North America’s
newest terrain. The Beach, a stretch of prime real estate near the
lower-mountain chairlifts, transforms into a Colorado après tradition.
Ikon Pass holders will have seven-day access to A-Basin on the Ikon Pass with no blackout dates, and five-day access on the Ikon Base Pass, with selected blackout dates.
Alterra
Mountain Company’s Ikon Pass connects some of the most iconic mountains across
North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Chile, delivering
authentic, memorable snow adventures. The Ikon Pass unlocks access to a
community of diverse destinations to ski and ride, including Aspen Snowmass,
Steamboat, Winter Park Resort, Copper Mountain, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, and
Eldora Mountain Resort in Colorado; Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth
Mountain, June Mountain and Big Bear Mountain Resort in California; Jackson
Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming; Big Sky Resort in Montana; Stratton,
Killington and Sugarbush Resort in Vermont; Snowshoe in West Virginia; Boyne Highlands
and Boyne Mountain in Michigan; Crystal Mountain and The Summit at Snoqualmie
in Washington; Tremblant in Quebec and Blue Mountain in Ontario, Canada;
SkiBig3 in Alberta, Canada; Revelstoke Mountain Resort and Cypress Mountain in
British Columbia, Canada; Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine; Loon Mountain in
New Hampshire; Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico; Deer Valley Resort, Solitude
Mountain Resort, Brighton Resort, Alta Ski Area, and Snowbird in Utah; Zermatt
in Switzerland; Thredbo and Mt Buller in Australia; Coronet Peak, The
Remarkables, Mt Hutt in New Zealand; Niseko United in Japan, and Valle Nevado
in Chile. Special offers are available at CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer
Adventures, the world’s largest heli-skiing and heli-accessed hiking operation.
Alterra Mountain Company is a family of 14 iconic year-round destinations, including the world’s largest heli-ski operation and the Ikon Pass. The company owns and operates a range of recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage, retail and service businesses. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Alterra Mountain Company spans six U.S. states and three Canadian provinces: Steamboat and Winter Park Resort in Colorado; Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain and Big Bear Mountain Resort in California; Stratton in Vermont; Snowshoe in West Virginia; Tremblant in Quebec, Blue Mountain in Ontario; Crystal Mountain in Washington; Deer Valley Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah; and CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures in British Columbia. Also included in the portfolio is Alpine Aerotech, a worldwide helicopter support and maintenance service center in British Columbia, Canada. Alterra Mountain Company honors each destination’s unique character and authenticity and celebrates the legendary adventures and enduring memories they bring to everyone.
With the global reach of Epic Pass and Ikon, the whole world is now the skiers’ oyster, encouraging more and more people to venture to Europe, Asia and Australia for an entirely different downhill experience.
The passes create new incentives for season-pass holders to go further afield from their “local” or familiar mountain, even “shopping” for where the best snow may be or novel activities, amenities, vibe or ambiance. This makes the services of a travel agent with particular expertise in mountain resorts to assist with the logistics (air, car rental, lodging, even rentals, etc.) more in demand. SkiCom, a travel agency/broker specializing in skiing and mountain resorts, brings that expertise cultivated over 50 years, especially when venturing to more off-the-beaten track, even exotic or remote destinations, out of your comfort zone, where help with lodgings, transportation, and non-ski or après-ski activities brings extra value.
Ski.com’s
65 mountain travel experts live and breathe ski culture. They are ski and
snowboard enthusiasts who know the intimate details about each resort because
they’ve been there, and done that.
These experiences allow them to accurately determine
which resort(s) and accommodation(s) is perfect for each customer, based on
their interests and budget.
Another benefit of
using a ski specialist to help coordinate a long-distance vacation is
mitigating the cost. With the rising cost of skiing, “people want to make sure
they’re receiving more value for the higher cost,” says Dan Sherman, Ski.com chief marketing officer. “This is where Ski.com can help. In addition
for being able to hunt for the best price, we really excel by matching people
with the vacation components that are right for them. Also, not too long ago,
all you needed for a successful ski vacation was a hotel, a chairlift and a
bar. Now, resorts offer world-class amenities, spas, dining, improved family
and ski school facilities and additional on- and off-mountain activities.”
Founded in 1971 in the heart of Colorado ski country, Aspen-headquartered Ski.com is one of North America’s largest providers of mountain vacation packages and an industry leader in online travel technology. Ski.com is actually an amalgam of some of the most famous names in ski travel companies: beginning as Aspen Ski Tours, which became Ski.com in 1999; the company over time acquired Lynx Vacations, GoWest Tours, Adventures on Skis, Sportours, AnyMountain Tours, and Rocky Mountain Tours. The company has booked travel for more than one million skiers and riders.
Ski.com specializes in booking custom ski vacations at more than 120 of the most popular ski resorts and heli- and cat-skiing destinations in North America, Europe, Japan and South America, with relationships with more than 120 destinations worldwide and over 4,000 properties worldwide. It is a one-stop shop for custom ski vacation packages that can include everything from discounted lift tickets, lodging, flights, equipment rental, ground transfers, lessons and off-mountain activities (such as dogsledding or nordic skiing).
Visit Ski.com (you can do an on-line chat with a specialist) or call 800-908-5000 or 970-429-3099.
No question about it: Vail Resorts has stormed the entire East Coast ski market, just this season adding 17 resorts in one fell swoop with its acquisition of Peak Resorts, including such iconic destinations as Mount Snow in Vermont and Hunter Mountain in New York to a list that already included Stowe and Okemo Mountain in Vermont (and Okemo’s sister resorts, Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire and Crested Butte in Colorado), Now add in Attitash Mountain Resort, Wildcat Mountain and Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire and Liberty Mountain Resort, Roundtop Mountain Resort, Whitetail Resort, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Pennsylvania plus seven more in the Midwest, all of which are included on this season’s Epic Pass.
Epic Pass already provides access to some of the biggest names in skiing – Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Keystone in Colorado, and Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood, in Lake Tahoe, Calif., Park City, Utah, Whistler BC– as well as its partnerships with resorts in the Alps and Japan, even Perisher in Australia when it is summer in North America. The Epic Pass offers unlimited, unrestricted access to all of Vail Resorts’ owned and operated mountain resorts plus additional access to partner resorts around the world including Telluride, Sun Valley, Snowbasin, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, Hakuba Valley Japan, Verbier, Courchevel. (For more information: www.epicpass.com)
What is more, innovations in Epic Pass allow for more flexibility.
The
New Epic Day Pass Makes Skiing and Riding More Accessible and Affordable: New for the
2019-20 season, Vail Resorts launched the Epic Day Pass, which provides all skiers
and riders with the value and flexibility traditionally available only to
season pass holders. The Epic Day Pass is a first-of-its-kind customizable pass
for skiers and riders who may not need the unlimited access offered by
traditional season passes, with discounts up to 50% off of lift ticket window
prices and as low as $109 for one day of skiing at any of our North American
resorts. Guests can lower their cost per day by adding more days and selecting
the number of days they plan to ski or ride – from one day to seven days – and
whether or not to add holiday access.
Other
innovations company-wide:
Emma:
A Digital Mountain Assistant at Your Fingertips. Last season Vail
Resorts introduced Emma, the Epic Mountain Assistant, to help guide guests
visiting select Vail Resorts destinations. Using artificial intelligence and
natural language processing, Emma has the ability to answer a wide range of
guests’ questions in real time through SMS text. She transforms the guest
experience by offering on-demand information on everything from grooming, lift
line wait times, and parking, to recommendations on rentals, lessons, and
dining options. Through machine learning and data analysis, Emma will be even
smarter for the 2019-20 season. She’s available at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge,
Keystone, Park City, Whistler Blackcomb, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. More
information can be found at www.EmmaIsEpic.com, or text 77477.
In
2017, Vail Resorts launched Commitment to Zero, the company’s
industry-leading sustainability goal. The company pledged to achieve a zero net
operating footprint by 2030 across all of its resorts through (1) zero
net emissions by 2030 with 50 percent progress toward this goal by 2025, (2)
zero waste to landfill by 2030 and increasing waste diversion to 50 percent by
the end of 2020, and (3) zero net operating impact to forests and habitat.
More
new developments at Vail Resorts:
COLORADO
Snowmaking
upgrades at Vail Mountain that will allow for more diverse terrain to be
open earlier. This is the largest snowmaking expansion project in Vail
Mountain’s history!
Snowmaking
upgrades at Beaver Creek, which will ensure more reliable early-season
terrain in a key learning area of the upper mountain, with the goal of
top-to-bottom skiing on opening day. Additionally, a newly remodeled
village will welcome families for one-of-a-kind events and experiences
throughout the season.
Transformation
of the Peak 8 base area at Breckenridge, which entails new escalators that will
connect the street and plaza levels; a new skier services headquarters
(pass/ticket sales, ski school, retail/rental, etc.), as well as an ice rink,
coffee shop and new town transit stop. And there’s more to come with a
four-star hotel under development. Also, Gravity Haus Breckenridge will
open this winter, replacing the Village Hotel at the base of Breckenridge’s
Peak 9. The appeals to outdoor enthusiasts through ongoing programming and
amenities that include Dryland Fitness, a sports recovery center,
four lanes of duckpin bowling, and a co-working space.
Snowmaking
upgrades at Keystone Resort that will position the resort to be one of the
first in the country to open this season! Alongside neighboring Breckenridge,
the two Summit County resorts will offers guests one of the longest ski seasons
in the country, with skiing and riding operations planned to kick off at
Keystone in October and run through Memorial Day at Breck, as weather and
conditions permit.
New
Teocalli Lift at Crested Butte, a fixed-grip quad lift, replacing a
fixed-grip double. The upper terminal will also be slightly realigned closer to
the top of the Red Lady Express Lift, improving egress to Uley’s Cabin and the
base area.
In
addition, Telluride has a
partnership arrangement to be on Vail’s Epic Pass, whereby those with a full
Epic Pass can get up to seven days, and those with a basic pass can ski four
days. Getting to Telluride from New York is easier with a new Saturday flight
on American from LaGuardia (Dec. 21-April 4) in addition to daily nonstops from
Newark on United (Dec
19-Jan 5, Feb 15-Apr 2).
The
new Over and Out Lift,
a fixed grip quad lift will transport guests from the bottom of the Tombstone
Express Lift to the top of Sunrise Lift on the front side of the mountain. As
the name suggests, this lift will provide a quicker, more direct route for
skiers and riders to access Canyons Village from the center of the resort. Steps
from the Tombstone Lift, the new on-mountain dining restaurant,
Tombstone BBQ, will replace the moveable food truck with a permanent
structure that includes seating for up to 50 guests, a beer bar and a full
kitchen to allow for the use of reusable serve ware.
Heavenly
is the only ski resort in North America to span across two states, allowing
skiers and riders to experience the best of both California and Nevada terrain,
all on one mountain. For guests who like to take enviable Instagram pictures,
they can do so next to on-mountain “Welcome to California” and “Welcome to
Nevada” signs, all while capturing the beauty of Lake Tahoe in the backdrop.
Meanwhile, off-mountain, you get to frolic in the yin-yang of Nevada casinos
and nightlife and the laid-back wholesomeness of California.
Northstar is partnering
with internationally acclaimed restaurateur, Michael Mina, to unveil the newBourbon
Pub Northstar, opening in winter 2019. Bourbon Pub Northstar will offer
upscale pub food to the après ski crowd with starters such as truffle tater
tots, mesquite grilled steaks, and fennel stuffed salmon.
Explore
37 miles of groomed trails at Kirkwood’s Cross Country and Snowshoe
Center on skis, snowshoes…and now fat bikes! Diverse terrain and modes
of exploring are available for all ability levels making Kirkwood’s Cross
Country and Snowshoe Center a perfect spot for winter family adventures that
can include everyone – even the dog.
The
Roundhouse Umbrella Bar and new 60-seat patio offers a chance
to raise a glass among the clouds at the front of the Roundhouse Lodge
year-round.
Check
out the Cloudraker Suspension Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in North
America at
the top of Whistler Mountain, 7,160 feet above sea level. Spanning 426.5 feet
from the Peak to West Ridge, the Cloudraker Suspension Bridge brings
sightseers, hikers and mountain bikers to the Peak for an unparalleled view of
the Whistler Valley and Black Tusk, in Garibaldi Provincial Park.
Whistler
Heli-Skiing is the pinnacle of Whistler’s skiing experience. For guests
looking to take their experience to the next level, Whistler Heli-Skiing has
what it takes to go the extra distance. With exclusive rights to 432,000 acres
of big mountain terrain that includes 173 glaciers and 475 trails, Whistler
Heli-Skiing offers a variety of packages for everyone, from strong intermediates
to seasoned experts. Whistler Blackcomb
offers some of best snow in North America. Last year, Vail invested $66 million
in upgrading lifts. A new activity is Vallea
Lumina, a nighttime interactive walk in the rainforest, which had been
offered only in summer, being offered in winter for the first time (www.whistlerblackcomb.com).
NORTHEAST
Improvements to Okemo’s on-mountain lodges, The
Sugar House Lodge and Summit Lodge will be completed in time for the
2019-20 season. Both lodges will receive upgrades including new
culinary concepts and menus, as well as a new interior look and feel.
Stowe
is one of Vermont’s most celebrated locations for foodies – from farm
fresh meats, cheeses, produce, heirloom grains and local craftsmanship. Stowe’s
creative and eclectic collection of spots to eat span many cultures and dining
experiences, from breweries and restaurants like the new Von Trapp Bier
Hall, to on-mountain fine dining at the Cliff House, Stowe’s attention to
quality is exceptional.
New
for 2019-20 season, Mount Sunapee is launching EpicMix. Skiers and
riders can download the free EpicMix app to access a variety of features from
their mobile phones to check snow conditions, view webcams and trail maps, earn
pins and track their Ski & Snowboard School progress. After a great day on
the mountain, you can even share your achievements on Facebook and Twitter.
In addition operating 37 world-class mountain resorts and urban ski
areas Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels
under the RockResorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson
Hole, Wyo.
