Ascutney Mountain Resort's Weekly Blog
2/5/10 - Welcome to the weekend! We are starting off on a very laid back foot with Chad Gibbs in the Polar Bear Pub beginning at 3:30. His is the perfect music to kick back to, relax and bid farewell to the work week. Specialty drinks can help too. The fun starts tomorrow at 8:30am when the lifts start running. The PBP opens at noon, the Rip Zone Rail Jam at 3:30 and Mike Benoit & Friend will be playing in the pub until close. We will be running 5 lifts including the Northpeak Express and will be skiing on 32 trials. Be sure to check out the POD to see just how nice the conditions are heading up Lower Snowdance. We are happy to welcome back moderate temperatures for the weekend and the only thing missing is the 2 feet of snow that will soon be consuming Washington, DC!!!!!
2/3/10 - I didn't have a chance to write yesterday so I will report today what I was told by Ski Patrol yesterday - the skiing is GREAT! Don, who is the head of our Ski Patrol stops in daily with pictures and gives me the scoop on conditions. The snowmaking continues and while there were guns running on Village this morning the majority of the snow being blown the last few days has been on the east side. If you take a look at Tuesday's "Picture of the Day" you can see just how much snow they've made on Buttermilk and have been just as busy on Honeybee. I'm hoping to get out tomorrow and will give the Sunrise Double a try - not being a "powder hound" I like to wait until things are nicely groomed!
The groundhog saw his shadow yesterday - 6 more weeks to play!
What a day - who could have possibly predicted that given the rain storm early in the week that we would have this amount of snow and conditions this great only 5 days later. All I can say is "hats off" to our stellar snowmaking team and groomers. They have been working around the clock to restore the mountain to the fabulous skiing we have today - thanks guys!!! It was a bit quiet around here this morning but the beautiful sunshine is drawing people out and there is a nice little crowd at the base of the Village Triple. I have the results of the Rip Zone Rail Jam from last week - congratulations to Max (8 + under), Scott (9-14) and Matt (15-30). Great job - I hope we will see more of you out there this afternoon. For those of you who are more inclined to be a spectator there is no better place to watch the Rail Jam than the Polar Bear Pub.
If you are on our email list keep an eye our for a special "Sun-day" offer which will arrive this afternoon!
Winter has returned to Ascutney! What a pleasure to look out the window and see snow covered slopes again! Our snow guns were poised and ready to go just the moment the temperatures dropped enough and have been running every since. I've had fun today watching the groomers pushing around all the snow that has already been created and have decided that Snow CATS are just about the coolest thing around. They remind me a bit of a Praying Mantis with the plow on the front and the tiller on the back and MAN, can these things move the snow! The guns have been running on Village, mid-station, Upper Snowdance, Cloudspin and the top of Upper Exhibition. They will continue to run around the clock with a few gravitating over to the East side this evening. It is going to be cold tonight- so cold that we will be able to get the tower guns going as well - all of which means lots and lots of snow for the weekend! In addition to all the snow that we've made Mother Nature is throwing some big, fat, flakes of natural snow our way with an expected total of 3 inches.
We are looking forward to a great weekend of skiing and will start a bit early with our new FRIDAY FUN RACE which will take place on Screaming Eagle from 12:30 - 2:00. Just a $2 donation to the Ascutney Mountain Race Program will buy you as many timed runs down the course that you are able to take. The brain child of race coach Bill Toof the funds raised will go towards much needed equipment for the team. Sign up is at the Ski School desk in the Base Lodge or, for late arrivals, at the start.
Friday at noon the Polar Bear Pub opens serving their usual delicious tavern fare and at 3:30pm local favorite Carlos Ocasio will start singing the blues. Saturday morning the lifts will start running at 8:30am with the Northpeak Express, Sunrise Double, Village, Novice and the Wonder Carpet taking you anywhere on the mountain you'd like to go. Have a seat in the PBP when it opens at noon and enjoy the music of Chad Gibbs starting at 3:30pm. Also at 3:30 the Rip Zone Rail Jam commences in the Rip Zone Terrain Park. I was disappointed that we had no takers for the 30+ division - not even the person who suggested we add it - but will keep it in for another week just in case all of the 30+ skiers had to be home early last week. All in all - it adds up to another great weekend of fun - we hope to see you out on the slopes!
Yikes - a little rain anyone?? Like most of the northeast we experienced a rather soggy Monday but what a difference 24 hours makes! The sun is shinning here and the temperatures remain in the mid-30's. We are taking it easy today - recovering from the storm - and are running only the Snowdance Triple to mid-station to start the day. As the day warms we will open to the top and will continue to add back terrain as the conditions allow. Our plan is to baby the snow - it's too soft to put out the CATS without tearing things so we will wait and, outside of a quick turn on Lower Exhibition and the Plunge, we will leave the snow alone until it sets up tonight and we can really make a different. We are hoping for snowmaking temperatures tonight and will get the snow blasting just as soon as we are able. Tomorrow will be a very different day and we are looking forward to a great weekend!
Happy Saturday! Moderate temperatures, glorious sunshine and, as if it needed to get better, the
We are coming into another weekend of terrific weather and started off today on a great note by hosting our first "Friends of Harpoon" day of the season. FOH get lift tickets for 1/2 price and have a special après ski party in the Polar Bear Pub from 4:00 - 6:00pm with lots of great giveaways. If you're not yet a Friend of Harpoon and would like to become one visit Harpoon Brewery website at www.harpoonbrewery.com. Also today Director of Racing Bill Toof introduced a new weekly FUN RACE which will take place every Friday on Lower Eagle. More information will be posted on the website in the coming week. The Polar Bear Pub opened at noon and a crowd is gathering already for great food and our musical guest Victor Paul.
My apologies for falling down on the job in regards to the results of our first Rip Zone Rail Jam last Saturday. In the 8 & under division Tanner Graves jumped to victory. For those 9 -14 Cael Schwartz was the winner and Zach Becker came out on top in the 15+ division. Congratulations to you all and we will hope to see you out there again tomorrow!
Saturday morning the lifts start running at 8:30pm and we are hosting the 2nd of our Rip Zone Rail Jam series at 3:30pm and have added a new 30+ category. The Polar Bear Pub opens as usual at noon serving lunch & dinner and we are happy to announce that local musicians Adam McMahon & Tad Davis will be making their first ever PBP appearance.
We weren't able to do much in the way of snowmaking this week due to the warm temperatures but the guns were fired up last night into today on Buttermilk and Honeybee. Big excitement!!!! The
New snow and sunshine - hard to think of a more magical combination! We are skiing on 6 inches of new snow and I've got to say - there are some very happy skiers out there! We have enjoyed one of the nicest Martin Luther King weekends in recent history and this brilliant Monday is the perfect note to end a pretty perfect weekend! I say end but that won't happen until the lifts come to a close at 4pm this afternoon. Meanwhile, there is still lots of great skiing to be had and if you'd like a little excitement head over to Screaming Eagle and watch the the McBrine division racers coming down the course. Cheddar had a great turnout for his Cheddar's Happy Hour last night and while the kids were dancing, face painting and having pizza the grownups were in the Polar Bear Pub enjoying great food, music and the Torchlight Parade. We will be hosting our next Cheddar's Happy Hour and Torchlight Parade on February 14th as part of our President's Week Celebration. It doesn't appear that temperatures will drop enough for us to make snow this evening but our groomers will be out in force grooming all the usual suspects and creating lots of beautiful corduroy.
What a day! Brilliant sunshine and temperatures in the 40's - very nearly the perfect day. It was a great start to the holiday weekend and while the mountian is closing down for the night the Polar Bear Pub on the 3rd floor of the Base Lodge is just getting started. Chad Gibbs is playing and if you've never had a chance to hear him play you've missed out on a wonderful young talent. We had a great turnout for the Rip Zone Rail Jam (I'll let you know the results tomorrow) and the Cats are out on the hill getting things put back in shape for tomorrow. They will be grooming on Cloudspin, Dipsy Doodle, Cruise Control, Flyaway, Lower Exhibition, Otter's Slide, Plunge, Ravern's Pass, Upper Snowdance, Gateway, upper Blind Faith, Bright Side, Duck Soup, Easy Rider, Little Eagle and the Mini Olympian Park. Bright and early groomers will also get out and groom out the Rip Zone Terrain Park.
Both Sunday and Monday we will be hosting McBrine Division races - fun to watch over on Screaming Eagle - and our friendly mascot Cheddar the Mouse will be hosting his own Cheddar's Happy Hour at 5:30 in the Base Lodge. Great fun for children 4 - 12, Cheddar leads the kids in dancing, games, face painting, crafts and serves a great pizza and snacks to boot! Once the kids are settled in Mom & Dad can head upstairs to the Polar Bear Pub for a little "alone" time . The PBP is also the best place in town to catch the Torchlight Parade that takes place at 6.
Another great day out on the slopes with the ski hill full of school groups and adults who were lucky enough to get out of work to start the long weekend early. We are skiing 53 of our 57 trails and will be running 5 lifts inlcuding the Quad all weekend. Snowmaking closed down late yesterday due to the warm temperatures but will resume on Monday (if conditions allow) and our groomers are out on the hill as I write this getting the mountain ready to open bright and early tomorrow at 8:30 am. Skiing is great on groomed and natural trails alike but, if you are like me and prefer groomed surfaces, the Cats will be running tonight on Cloudspin, Dipsy Doodle, Cruise Control, Flyaway, Lower Exhibition, Mirage, Otter's Slide, the Plunge, Raven's Pass, Upper Snowdance, Gateway, Blind Faith (the upper portion), Bright Side, Duck Soup, Easy Rider, Little Eagle, Mini Olympian Park and the Rip Zone Terrain Park. Prepare yourself - skiing this good just might be addictive!
OK, I should be telling you all about the great events that are happening this weekend but I've got to start with the 2 amazing runs I took off the quad this afternoon. It was such fun - Gateway was as good as I've ever skied it - tons of snow and beautifully groomed (just the way I like it!), Cloudspin was great from top to bottom - again, tons of new snow and corduroy all the way. I went straight down to mid-station then cut across to Buttermilk which was also very nicely groomed. When I skied Buttermilk last week it was still in its natural state which was still nice, in fact, I'm not sure which way I like it better. My second trip down I took my very first run EVER on Heavenly Dash. I must say I was a little intimidated at first - it's a bit narrow at the top - but a few quick turns and I was soon on another nice, wide open trail that offers a bit less pitch than Gateway on my way to Upper Snowdance. Last year I had a major yard sale on US and was a little dubious but tried it anyway and it was great! Went from there onto Raven's Pass and then home by way of the Plunge.
Now - the weekend! We are starting out on Friday night with Victor Paul in the Polar Bear Pub. The Pub opens for lunch at noon all weekend and the entertainment begins at 3:30pm. Saturday kicks off the first of our 2nd annual Rip Zone Rail Jam which starts at 3:30pm in the
A nice burst of sunshine later in the day and wonderfully moderate temperatures combined to make it a great day out on the hill. Fairly quiet but that allowed our ski school instructors and members of ourski patrol to get out and play which is exactly what they did! I was told by one of our long-time patrollers (grinning from ear to ear) that skiing Sidewinder today was as much fun as it's ever been - lots of nice, soft bumps all the way down to Mayday. Technically challenging but obviously a total blast for someone who is a good skier. Everyone is loving having the quad running - even someone who skis as slowly as I do can get two runs in at lunchtime! Heavenly Dash is open ( I mistakenly left it off the snow report this morning) and has been groomed out and is a great alternate route down from the top.
The holiday weekend is just days away - keep an eye on the blog tomorrow for all the details!
Light snow has been falling all day and while I must admit to missing the sunshine, almost as much of an elixir for the spirit is watching all the school children out on the hill today. A total of 120 students were here for their weekly ski lesson and watching them carve an S down the hill behind an instructor is a sight to behold!
We are entering into another great winter weekend and the Polar Bear Pub is open for lunch each day starting at noon with live entertainment starting at 3:30. You can enjoy the musical stylings of Victor Paul today starting at 3:30 and Carlos Ocasio (a personal favorite!) Saturday from 3:30 - 7:30pm.
The big excitement of the weekend is that we are firing up the QUAD - Yahoo! I haven't been up there myself but am told that the amount of snow they've created is almost overwhelming! They've been pushing it out for the last few days but making more at the same time. Can't wait to get up there and make first tracks on Gateway!
Hope to see you out there this weekend!
Took my first run of the year today - the combination of blue sky, gloriuos sunshine and great snow finally drove me out of my office. The conditions were great - I only had time for one run so I chose Cloudspin to mid-station then over to Buttermilk. There was so much snow everywhere and it was pure bliss - from the nicely groomed Cloudspin to the natural state of Buttermilk - the skiing was just plain great. We are hoping to get the Quad running on Friday or, at the latest, Saturday - tons of snow is waiting up on Gateway and the guns are still pumping away there and on the top of Blind Faith. Great fun - I need a nap!
Good news!!! The rumors are true!!! There will be a rockin' New Year's Eve Party this evening starting at 7 in the Polar Bear Pub. Kim & Sue are cooking up a delicious Italian Buffet which will be served from 7 - 9 .The music starts at 8pm and continues on into 2010! Please join us to ring in the New Year Ascutney style - and many thanks to those ladies from Connecticut who gave us the little "kick" to get this party started!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
The vacation week is in full swing and it's been great fun to see a nice crowd out on the slopes! It's also a great time for those of us stuck indoors to catch up with old friends and to make new ones as they come in to pick up their season passes and pose for our sp camera! Both our ski schools were out in full force today - the learning area was full of happy new skiers working on their turns.
Cheddar will be hosting his first Cheddar's Happy Hour of the season on Wednesday, December 30th at 5:30 in the Base Lodge. At this two hour party our cheese-loving mascot will be joining kids 4 - 10 in some wild dancing, face painting, games, coloring and karaoke pausing only for delicious pizza, snacks and a movie. Please stop in at the YO's desk in Cunningham's or call 3174 to reserve space today. While the kids are enjoying Cheddar's it's a great time for parents to settle in at the Polar Bear Pub to watch our 1st Torchlight Parade of the season. The parade starts at 6 and guest are invited (at the discretion of Ski School Director, Eric Hanson) to participate. If you interested in being part of the parade please see Eric at the ski school desk in the Base Lodge.
There is a rumor circulating that we are having a major New Year's Eve celebration in the Polar Bear Pub on December 31st - stay tuned for to the blog for updates !!
Wishing a joyous Christmas to all - from the Ascutney Mountain Resort family!
Christmas is just around the corner and for those of you who are looking for last minute gift ideas it's not too late to get an Ascutney Super Saver Card! The perfect gift for the skier on your list and, for that special someone who may already have a season pass - how about an Ascutney Mountain Resort Gift Card? Available in any amount starting at $20 this gift card can be used at any AMR outlet; ski school, Polar Bear Pub or the Base Lodge Cafeteria. Quick and easy with NO wrapping required! Give us a call today!
THINK SNOW!
Outside of catching a piece of the big storm coming up the coast, I can't think of a way to improve on the weather we've had in the last few days. The te
mperatures have been PERFECT for making snow and it is such fun to see the massive amounts of snow the guns have been able to produce! We are opening to the top tomorrow with Cloudspin and will be adding more trails over the next few days. The problem is not lack of snow - it's having the time to get it pushed out! Our snowmaking crew has done a phenomenal job and a big "Hats Off" to our six South African students who, despite never even having seen snow before their arrival, have been a very vital part of our efforts.
We are looking forward to a great Christmas and Vacation week - THINK SNOW!
THANK YOU MOTHER NATURE!!! What more can I say?? The excitement is nearly palpable as we watch the inches from this most welcome winter storm begin to mount! The snow began in the early morning hours and as we approach mid-afternoon it is still coming down so hard it is difficult to make out the second lift tower on the Village Chair from my office in the Bennington Building. We are already way beyond the 6" mark with local predications of nearly a foot of snow before the storm ebbs. Stay tuned for updates on a trail count for opening day!
Crisp, seasonal temperatures moved in on Saturday and Mother Nature gave us a welcome boost with a few inches of natural snow. This allowed our snowmaking team to spring into action and, after running all night, our snow guns are still pumping out snow at 2 pm ! We are announcing a tentative opening date of this Saturday, December 12th - so keep an eye on the website for updates.
AS ALWAYS - THINK SNOW!!!!!!