Ascutney Mountain Resort's Weekly Blog
What's New!
We are open from the top again and have a special Season Passholder Appreciation Day on 1/4/09!
Now that the temperatures have stayed cold for the last week, we have opened the top of the mountain again. Cloudspin is open from the top of the Snowdance Triple chair lift and more terrain is expected to open throughout the weekend. We are also continuing to make snow and will do so as long as the temperatures stay cold.
We want to remind everyone that tomorrow (1/4/09), is our Season Passholder Appreciation Day. Come join us as we celebrate our most loyal guests, the Season Pass Holders, with this special day. Giveaways, discounts and an apres ski party from 2 pm - 4 pm in the new Polar Bear Pub, located on the 3rd Floor of the Base Lodge.
In case you haven't heard, the new Polar Bear Pub is located on the 3rd Floor of the Base Lodge and offers a sit-down dinning experience with great homecooked pub fare with a wide selection of wine, spirits and beer. Open Thursday - Sunday and Select Holidays. For more information, please call 802-484-7711 ext. 3165.
Snowmaking has resumed!
The warm temperatures we had this last week might of been a blessing to some, but to others like myself who wait all year for winter, we weren't happy at all. The warm weather seems to be behind us and we are moving forward with our snowmaking. The weather looks to be cold for the next 15 days with the exception of one day, but with New England that can change any minute. We are expected to get some snow fall tonight after the dusting we got last night and with the snowmaking on-going we look to re-open the upper portion of the mountain. So let's all take a minute and look to the sky and hope the Snow Gods bring us plenty of new snow and that the temperatures stay cold enough to continue to make snow for the next two weeks. I will keep you updated on the weather as it becomes available to me. Remember....THINK SNOW!
We are skiing & riding off the Top!
It's official...we are skiing & riding off the top of Snowdance Triple Chair Lift. I guess after my personal story of First Tracks from yesterday, everyone else wanted to join in all the fun!
First Tracks on Un-Touched Terrain!
Yesterday was a day I will remember for the rest of my life. It had been snowing all night and day and the Mountain had gotten over 14" of new snow and I was asked if I was interested in joining Ski Patrol Director Jack Deslandes and others for a special First Tracks run from the top of the mountain. Of course I said yes, as I had never had the opportunity of taking first tracks, let alone taking first tracks on untouched terrain.
Everyone met at the bottom of the Snowdance Triple Chair Lift at 1:15 pm and Jack began to go over a few basics, making sure everyone who was going on this run were experts. I had the opportunity to take up the first chair with Jack and as we got up to the first tower, we started talking about the route we were going to take to get down. As I turned around to look at the rest of the group getting on the chair lift, I realized that this was going to be a great run, as we had about 30 people going up.
We got to the top of the Snowdance Triple Chair Lift and Jack informed me that we might need to take care of the exit ramp off the lift, because the Upper Mountain hadn't been open yet to the public and the ramp might need to be leveled off. As we exited the lift, the ramp was fine and we ended up in knee-deep powder trying to get out of the way of the rest of the group that was joining us. We waited for everyone to get off the lift and got a quick briefing from Jack, as he decided to take us on the Upper Exhibition trail to cut over through the woods to get to the top of Touch-N-Go.
We headed down Upper Exhibition to the entry of the woods and had to go over the water pipes for snowmaking and then make our way through the woods to Touch-N-Go. As I stood there looking down on Touch-N-Go I was truly amazed. This opportunity had never come before and Jack informed me to go for it. I took off and took my first turn in knee-deep powder and couldn't believe for the first time in my life, I was doing this. I got about 200 yards down the trail and set-up to take pictures of the rest of the group. I radioed to Jack and told him we were all set and then out of no where, Jack and about 6 others came over the crest of Touch-N-Go and it looked perfect. The snow was flying all around everyone, as they took their turns. As more and more people followed, I was showered in powder as everyone skied past me. I put my camera away and put my gloves back on and skied down to the rest of the group. Smiles from ear to ear is all that could be seen. Everyone in the group was having the time of their life and I had the privilege of joining them.
We got to the bottom of Touch-N-Go and Jack decided to take us down Terminator to cut over to Escape Chute. Again, even more knee-deep powder on untouched trails. As we began down Terminator, I realized that this is what every skier lives for; a day of untouched, knee-deep powder skiing. We finished Terminator and headed through Escape Chute to Screaming Eagle. Once again, untouched knee-deep powder. We cut through the tree line of Screaming Eagle to Easy Rider and ended our run at the Base Lodge.
I took off my skis and headed into the Base Lodge, realizing what I had just done. Everyone who had just joined us on the run were hanging out in the Base Lodge talking about the run we just took. Immediately someone said to me that "We have to do this again", as the radio communication to Jack was the same.
I personally want to say a special Thank You to Ski Patrol Director Jack Deslandes and his staff for taking time out of their day to take up a group of people who were really appreciative for what they did. I will forever remember taking my First Tracks at Ascutney Mountain Resort with such great people. Thank you to everyone who joined us and keep an eye out for the next time this might happen.
Below, please find a slide show that I took on this amazing First Tracks run with some really great people. Again, Thank you Jack for doing this!
Powder Day!
It has been one great day after another at Ascutney Mountain Resort this week! With the snow that we got last night and today, plus the snow that's predicted for tonight and tomorrow, everyone's in for a Great Day of Skiing & Riding!
Lift Tickets are only $40.00 today (12/20/08). So Come on Out for a Great Day of Skiing & Riding!
Pictures from Opening Day!
As you can see below from the picture's, we've had some great snowy conditions all day.
Lift Tickets are just $20.00 today (12/17/08), So Come On Out For A Great Day Of Skiing & Riding!
We Are OPEN!
Due to the warmer temperatures we have recently gotten during this last few weeks, our planned opening date had been postponed a few times, but WE ARE OPEN TODAY!. Snow making has been on-going at Ascutney and with the new Snow Mother Nature brought us, we open today with 2 Trails and 1 Lift, with $20.00 Lift Tickets! So Come on out for a Great Day of Skiing & Riding at Ascutney Mountain Resort!
Young & Mini Olympian's On Snow Training & Hiring has been rescheduled!
Sean Graves has just informed me that this weekend's Young & Mini Olympian's on snow training session (12/6/08 - 12/7/08) and next weekend's Young & Mini Olympian's job fair (12/13/08 - 12/14/08) has been rescheduled. The new dates for the Young & Mini Olympian's on snow training will be Saturday 12/13/08 & Sunday 12/14/08 and the Young & Mini Olympian's job fair will be Saturday 12/20/08 & Sunday 12/21/08. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Young & Mini Olympian's Program Director by email.
More Snowmaking going on at Ascutney!
As you can see from the pictures below, Snowmaking is on-going here at Ascutney Mountain Resort.
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Be sure to check the below blog as another piece of the picture has been revealed.
Mother Nature helps out for Holiday Weekend Snowmaking!
We hope that everyone had a safe and enjoyable Holiday weekend! Everyone seems to be gearing up for a great skiing & riding season and the same can be said for our Ascutney Mountain Resort staff. The staff was busy over this Thanksgiving Weekend as we fired up our snowmaking equipment to make snow on the Mountain in hopes of opening on December 6th.
Be sure to check back this week for some exciting news as we slowly unveil the pieces of the picture below to announce our new addition to Ascutney Mountain Resort.
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Let's hope Mother Nature continues to be cold and snowy for an exciting winter season at Ascutney Mountain Resort.
Ascutney Staff Heading To Boston
Ascutney Mountain Resort staff is heading to the Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo at the Bayside Expo Center, Halls A & C located at 200 Mt. Vernon Street, Boston, MA 02125. For more information please call (617) 474-6000. Be sure to stop by the Ascutney Mountain Resort Booth #93 and say hello. We are offering two show specials at the Ski & Snowboard Expo which include our new Super Saver Card, which is valid for 5 days of skiing & riding and a discount on lodging for ski & stay packages. These discounts will only be available at the Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo for this weekend.
Hope to see everyone out at the ski show and think snow!
Ascutney & Harpoon Team up for Pub Crawl
Ascutney Mountain Resort and Harpoon Brewery have teamed up again for our Annual Pub Crawl. Come on out and talk to Staff members from Ascutney Mountain Resort about the up coming season and enjoy the local flavor of Harpoon Beer on Tap as we visit 9 local Restaurants and Pubs in the Upper Valley Area. Be sure to sign up at each location for a chance to win Lift Tickets, Season Passes, Harpoon Glasses, Pub Crawl T-Shirts and more.
Pub Crawl Schedule
11/12 - Margaritas Restaurant in Lebanon, NH from 5 - 7 pm
11/13 - Ramunto's Restaurant in Claremont, NH from 6 - 9 pm
11/14 - Skunk Hollow Tavern in Hartland Four Corners, VT from 6 - 9 pm
11/15 - Benning Street Bar & Grill in West Lebanon, NH from 8 - 10 pm
11/17 - Fire Stones Restaurant in Quechee, VT from 6 - 8 pm
11/19 - Salt Hill Pub in Lebanon, NH from 6 - 9 pm
11/20 - Bentleys Restaurant in Woodstock, VT from 6 - 8 pm
11/21 - Salt Hill Pub in Newport, NH from 6 - 8 pm
11/22 - Windsor Station Pub in Windsor, VT from 6 - 8pm
On another note, the Ski Instructor Refresher course was a success and Dan Knapp informed me that the Ski Instructor's are excited for the upcoming winter season.
Chefs Kim & Sue Laware have been busy working in the Base Lodge preparing the cafeteria for the upcoming season. Be on the look out for a great change to the base lodge this up coming season. Without giving too much away...the Polar Bear is back at Ascutney. More to come on that topic at a later date.
We hope to see everyone out at the Pub Crawls this year and if you can't make it, we will see you on the mountain.
Only a few more weeks until the 08-09 Season
Ski School Director, Dan Knapp is counting down the days for this weekends Ski Instructor Refresher Course, which will take place on November 8th at 8am at the Ascutney Mountain Resort Base Lodge. Any one interested in attending this year's Refresher Course, who hasn't contacted Dan Knapp, can call Trisha at 802-484-3108 to inquiry about attending.
Ascutney Mountain Resort Base Lodge is in the process of being painted. Painting has been on going for the last two weeks and will continue for another two weeks. While this is on going, we will also have our carpets cleaned at the Base Lodge.
Kim & Sue (Our Base Lodge Chef's) have been busy finializing a menu for the Base Lodge for the up coming season. We should have the opportunity of sitting with Kim & Sue this week to take a closer look at their menu and plans for the winter season.
SKI & STAY PACKAGES AVAILABLE!
Limited Ski & Stay Packages are now available at Ascutney Mountain Resort for the upcoming 08-09 season. For more information on our Ski & Stay Packages, Click Here!
Be sure to check back later this week, as we get the chance to talk to Kim & Sue about the Base Lodge menu and what they have planned for this winter.
Ski Instructor Refresher Course Planned for 11/8
We had a great turn out for the Ski Patrol Refresher Course on the weekend of Oct 24th. Be sure to check out the attached pictures below of fellow Ski Patrollers and The West Windsor Fire Department Members as they trained on Lift Evacuation.
Dan Knapp is making final arrangements for the upcoming Ski Instructor Refresher Course which is scheduled for November 8th at 8 am. If you are interested in join Dan and his team as an Instructor for the 2008 - 2009 winter season or if you would like more information on the Ski Instructor Refresher Course, please email Dan by Clicking Here.
Cell Phone Service has arrived. Gone are the days of "Can you hear me now"! Ascutney Mountain Resort completed our Cell Phone Service project this last week and now anyone visiting Ascutney this year will have cell phone service.
Next week... Feature on Kim & Sue, Ascutney Mountain Resort's Base Lodge Chef's!
One on One with New Ski School Director Dan Knapp!
I had the pleasure of sitting with new Ski School Director, Dan Knapp yesterday as we talked about his background and experiences in the Ski Industry. Having the pleasure of knowing Dan for the last three years here at Ascutney Mountain Resort, I was amazed at how much more there was to know about Dan and his career.
Dan started his career in the early 70’s at Ascutney Mountain Resort as a Ski School Instructor under the direction of Marshall K. Doughty, the Ski School Director at the time. It was during this time that Dan realized his passion for Great Customer Service, as he quickly became the most requested Ski Instructor, winning awards during his last two years at Ascutney as the most requested private Ski Instructor. After starting out at Ascutney Mountain Resort Dan decided to try the west and moved to Colorado.
During his time in Colorado, Dan got involved in the Freestyle Skiing Circuit and started a career out of it. He spent 13 years on the Freestyle Pro Circuit traveling all over the US and competing in many Freestyle events. From 1978 to 1982 Dan became the Aspen Colorado Freestyle Director, in which he designed the Freestyle jumps and helped move the Freestyle sport by being one of the first to design the dual course freestyle competition, which later became the format for Freestyle Skiing during the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
As our conversation continued I was amazed at how poised Dan carried himself in telling me all of the things that he has done throughout his career, as Dan informs me that he was featured in a Seven-Up commercial and how he had done stunt work on the James Bond film series for skiing. After his work as the Freestyle Director, Dan became the Ambassador for Aspen Mountain hosting such programs as the World Cup, Men’s & Women’s Giant Slalom and Downhill, the many Winter Carnivals and Extreme Skiing Events.
After being away for over 25 years, Dan decided to return home where it all started to help in running the Ski School Program in which he got his start. Dan is currently looking forward to the upcoming winter season as our new Ski School Director and he will be hosting a Ski School Instructor Refresher Course on November 8th at the Ascutney Mountain Resort Base Lodge starting at 8 am. For more information, email Dan Here.
If you would like to join Dan Knapp and be part of his Ski Instructor Team for this Season, you can email Dan Here.
Dan Knapp accepts New Ski School Director Position!
It’s official! Dan Knapp, Ascutney Mountain Resort’s Ski School Instructor has accepted the position of the Ski School Director and for once in my life, I am at a loss for words. As I am sitting here this morning and writing this blog I am finding it hard to come up with the proper way to pay homage to someone with such a lengthy and illustrious career, such as Dan Knapp’s has been.
I am scheduled to sit with Dan this afternoon in hopes of getting a little more information and background on his personal career, which all started here at Ascutney Mountain Resort back in the early 70’s when Dan was just a Ski School Instructor under the direction of Marshall K. Doughty, the previous Ski School Director in the 1970’s.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for the full story of Dan’s background in the Ski Industry, as I try to do my best and paint a visual story from his Career and what has taken him so long in returning to Ascutney Mountain Resort where it all started.
- Brandon Stevens – Marketing & Sales Manager
Another Season is Upon Us!
These last few weeks have gone by faster than expected and with each day more projects are completed. Between October 12th to October 16th, the Forestry Services Company has been busy cutting out all the brush from the trails in preparing them for the upcoming winter season. We ask that those of you who will be on the mountain hiking, to please use caution and avoid the areas that are currently being worked on.
Jack Deslandes has scheduled his annual Ski Patrol Refresher Course, which is now scheduled for October 24th & October 25th. For more information on the Annul Ski Patrol Refresher Course, please email the Mountain Manager.
Paul White & Ethan Dunican have finished changing the blades on the Snow Tiller and have joined up with Eric Fletcher and the rest of our Lift & Snow Making crews to continue working on the Lifts at Ascutney Mountain Resort in preparing our Lifts for our annual safety inspections, which will be on-going until November 15th.
With the new winter season upon us, more changes have been made. In order to make the season pass process more convenient, The Season Pass Office, which was traditionally in the Hotel Lobby, has now been moved to the Ascutney Mountain Resort Base Lodge for the up coming winter season. This will allow you to pick up your passes and head right out to the slopes. The season pass desk will be open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday November 8th and Saturday November 22nd prior to opening and every day from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm once we open for the season. Thank you for all your support and understanding as we look forward to seeing you on the slopes again this year.
Enjoy your fall and think snow, it’s right around the corner.
More Going on at Ascutney!
As most of us are gearing up for the great skiing & riding that will take place this winter at Ascutney Mountain Resort, Ski Patrol Director - Jack Deslandes, is planning our annual Ski Patrol Refresher Course which will take place this month. Meant to be a refresher course for our active Ski Patrol here at Ascutney Mountain Resort, this year Jack will be joined by the local West Windsor Fire Department during this day long course that plans to cover the importance of life-saving techniques to keep our visitors to Ascutney Mountain Resort Safe throughout the winter season. For more information on the Ski Patrol Refresher Course, please email the Mountain Manager. As plans are being finalized for our Ski Patrol refresher course, our annual safety inspections for all lifts are currently going on and will continue until November 15th, 2008. These inspections run annually to ensure proper working conditions on all lifts at Ascutney.
As you can see below, Paul White our Lift Operations Manager & Ethan Dunican have been busy changing out the old blades on our Snow Tiller Unit.
As you can see from the pictures, these blades usually only last one to two seasons.
FYI:
Starting on Monday, October 13th (The Last Day To Get Extended Savings on Season Passes), the Forestry Services Company will be at Ascutney Mountain Resort with their trail crew removing all the brush out of the trails for this up coming winter season. We ask that those of you who will be on the Mountain Hiking (on October 13 & 14), to please be careful and use caution while hiking on the mountain due to the equipment they will be using.
Fall Means Winter Preparation is in Full Swing!
Ascutney Mountain Resort has recently hired Paul White as the new Lift Operations Manager and Eric Fletcher as the new Snow Surfaces Manager. Currently both are working on completing the lifts and trail maintenance with our lift operations and maintenance staff in preparing the lifts and trails at Ascutney Mountain Resort for the 2008 - 2009 Winter Season. We have also taken our Snowmaking equipment which produces 95% snowmaking coverage at Ascutney Mountain Resort and energized and tested our snowmaking equipment to insure proper working conditions.
Another exciting addition to Ascutney Mountain Resort is our addition of High-Speed Wireless Internet & Cell Phone Service for our guest. As most of you know, when visiting Vermont’s Beautiful Mountains Cell Phone Service & Internet Service is usually something we all tend to miss! During the month of September we contracted Fusion High-Speed Wireless Internet provider to equip the Ascutney Mountain Resort base lodge with WiFi Capabilities to allow Ascutney Mountain Resort guest the ability to connect to Fusion’s High-Speed Internet Service for a small fee. Not only have we gone Wireless for Internet Service but Cell Phone Service is being addressed too. Gone are the days of “Can you hear me now?”. During the next few weeks Ascutney Mountain Resort will have Cellular Phone service for our guest visiting this year, by adding a satellite service to our base lodge which increases the signal for Cell Phone providers to allow our customers the ability to make calls while visiting Ascutney Mountain Resort this 2008 - 2009 Season.
Stay Tuned For More Of Ascutney Mountain Resort's Weekly Blog.
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