What’s New on the Slopes of New York State, Pennsylvania
Plattekill Lodge
Resorts all over the USA were busy all summer upgrading lifts and new terrain, including more snowmaking to extend the season. Here’s what skiers and riders can look forward to in New York State and Pennsylvania this season, including new resort names, new ownerships and new season passes.
In alphabetical order by state, since that’s the only fair way. See you on the slopes!
New York State
Hunter Mountain
Trent Poole is the new Vice President and General Manager of Hunter Mountain Resort. He assumed the role on October 30 replacing long time executive Russ Coloton.
A new six-person high-speed fixed-grip lift will replace the old Broadway quad for the 2024/25 season, offering quicker access up the mountain. The old quad will be moved to replace the even older two-person fixed-grip E lift. This means increased uphill capacity on the front side. It’s also the first major infrastructure upgrade since Vail Resorts purchased Hunter a couple of seasons back.
Plattekill Mountain
The last remaining family-owned operation in the region, fiercely independent Plattekill will be open again weekends only this season, plus holiday Mondays, for skiing, riding and tubing. A season parking pass is $325 for a guaranteed spot close to the base area. A season ski/snowboard pass provides free or discounted skiing at 25 partner areas nationwide.
New Name for Windham Mountain
Windham Mountain is no more. The Catskills resort has rebranded and renamed itself Windham Mountain Club, in an effort to market itself as the upscale alternative to nearby Hunter Mountain, and reflecting its original history as a private club. Despite the “club” name, the rebranded Windham will remain open to the public and continue to be a member of the Ikon Pass.
There is also a new requirement for two-day Saturday and holiday Sunday ticket reservations, starting January 2024. The new club name also reflects the private membership club ($175,000 fee) on the premises, with access to the golf course and other amenities.
Whiteface
The biggest project of 2023 adds a new detachable quad lift from the Bear Den Learning Center to just beyond the Legacy Lodge at mid-station. Named The Notch, it’s the only one of its kind in the East. It’s actually two lifts in one that operate seamlessly together, so riders can unload onto the Boreen trail or continue farther uphill to access other trails and the Legacy Lodge.
The Notch will help skiers and riders at the Bear Den access additional beginner and intermediate terrain while also providing access to upper mountain lifts and advanced terrain, while also reducing traffic on other lifts and trails.
Pennsylvania
New Owners for Camelback, Blue Mountain Resort
The two resorts have been sold to KSL Resorts, and become part of the Ikon pass. Both resorts are within two hours of New York City or Philadelphia, making them an easy daytrip or longer for more than 26 million people.
Camelback Resort, in Tannersville, is the largest ski mountain in the Poconos. With 166 skiable acres and 850 vertical feet, and a wide variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities it is an ideal environment to learn the sport. Camelback takes great pride in its 60-year history of creating the ultimate guest experience.
Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton boasts the state’s highest vertical – 1,140 feet – and one of the largest snowmaking systems on the East Coast, providing the longest ski season in the Poconos.
For the 23/24 season, Ikon Pass holders get seven days each at Camelback and Blue Mountain Resort with no blackout dates. Ikon Base Pass holders get five days at each destination, with select blackout dates. Both destinations also are available on the Ikon Session Pass. Exclusive member benefits also include Ikon Pass First Tracks, Ikon Pass Travel and a Protect Our Winters membership.
What’s New in Maine, New Hampshire This Season
If you like to ski or ride in the northeast, you’ll have lots of new lifts, new terrain and upgraded amenities to explore and enjoy this season at downhill and XC resorts in Maine and New Hampshire. There’s even a brand new pass for uphillers in New England.
In alphabetical order, by state, since that’s the only fair way. See you on the slopes!
Maine
Saddleback
The resort has joined Uphill New England
This is a brand-new collective mountain pass whose members gain access to 12 ski resorts and uphill trails in MA, VT, NH, and ME. Cost is $185. There’s also a new high-elevation restaurant, perched at 3,620 feet, with both a full-service restaurant and a ski-up bar. The resort also added 50 new snowguns and upgraded electrical water connections for more efficient snowmaking.
Sugarloaf The resort is adding 120 acres of new terrain with 12 new trails at the West Mountain area. It’s the largest expansion in more than 40 years and further cements its position as the largest ski resort east of the Rocky Mountains.
New Hampshire
Attitash Mountain Resort
The new high-speed 4-passenger The Mountaineer is set to open in mid-December. It replaces the Summit Triple, and is expected to reduce ride time by more than half, increase uphill capacity and improve the flow of traffic in the base area. The new lift follows the replacement of the East and West Double-Double with the Progression quad, which opened last season.
Bretton Woods
In preparation for its 50th Anniversary season, the iconic resort has improved snowmaking and grooming on its 100km Nordic trail network.
Cannon Mountain
The NH State-owned destination has upgraded snowmaking on Upper Ravine, Lower Cannon, and Gremlin trails, for more consistent season-long use. Also, the Middle Ravine and Turnpike trails have been widened to provide more room – and therefore safety – for skiers and riders
Cranmore Mountain Resort
The new Fairbank Lodge, named for the resort’s owner, offers an expansive food pavilion, retail shops, locker rooms, a slopeside bar and condominiums. It’s part of an ongoing upgrade to the base area, which includes a new base lodge for the Mountain Adventure and Tubing Park, and biking center in non-snow months.
Gunstock Mountain Resort
There’s a new rental building near the Learning Center, so guests no longer have to wait in line at the ticket office to receive their rental contract. Additionally, Gunstock is paving its main parking lot to maximize space and improve visibility.
King Pine Ski Area
The “Cubby Tow” rope tow lift has been replaced with a new Sunkid moving carpet lift. A new Prinoth Husky snow groomer will be used to improve conditions on the Purity Spring Resort XC & Snowshoe Reserve Nordic trail network, the Pine Meadows Tubing Park and add more lanes for greater capacity. There also a new rooftop deck off the main base area lodge Evergreen Room for additional outdoor seating.
Loon Mountain Resort
The new South Peak expansion adds eleven trails and one four-person chairlift, Timbertown Quad, increasing the area’s skiable terrain to more than 400 acres. The new lift is one-half mile from Maine Street and less than two miles from Interstate 93. It opens in December 2023.
The 30 acres of new terrain includes two tree skiing areas, which cater to beginner and intermediate levels. More than 60 percent of the new terrain is green level, with the remainder rated more difficult. With a vertical drop of 2,190, Loon has the longest runs in New Hampshire. There’s also state-of-the-art snowmaking on the new terrain.
Mount Sunapee
The South Peak is being revitalized with New Hampshire’s only ski-through lighthouse, inspired by Lake Sunapee’s three iconic lighthouses. Interactive signage which will create what the resort describes as “a photo moment” to memorialize your visit.
Pats Peak Ski Area
There’s a brand new Race Training Area with snowmaking, lighting for evening training sessions, and a specially designed smaller trail in the woods near the training lanes for intensive grills. The Alpine Training Center, a hub for more than 150 Pats Peak Ski Team Racers, received an interior facelift with new furnishings and lighting, and energy efficiency upgrades.New LED lighting on the East Wind trail will improve night skiing visibility. The system works with reduced power consumption, so it minimizes the area’s carbon footprint without compromising the quality of illumination.
Also, active and retired military and their dependents ski free any day between opening day on Dec. 15 and Dec. 24.
Waterville Valley Resort
There’s a brand new outdoor deck off the popular Freestyle lounge, with al fresco dining, and a firepit for apres ski. Its location is ideal for parents and grandparents to watch as the kids learn to ski or ride on the Pasture Carpets. Waterille has built a new Ski Patrol and sled garage at the summit, adjacent to the top of the Northside lift, and upgraded employee housing to attract and keep employees, including international employees.
Wildcat Mountain
New this year is the Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket available at all Vail Resorts destinations, allowing users to store their Epic Pass or lift ticket on their phone for touchless lift access. The system also is available at Mount Sunapee, Attitash Mountain Resort and Crotched Mountain resort. Wildcat also has replaced the Peabody Pedestrian Bridge, which connects the base lodge to the slopes.
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Homage to My Ski Mentor, Dick Butler
Dick Butler
I started skiing about 50 years ago, when I was 26 years old and worked in an architectural office with a few people who skied. Colleagues Duane Snyder, David Sofer and Dick Butler were all avid skiers, so, I heard a lot about skiing in the office.
As winter approached there was more and more talk of going skiing. I had never had the opportunity to ski before getting out of college, although I wanted to. Then, one time I went to a small area called Rock Candy Mountain in Spiegaltown, NY, with some friends from college, where I basically taught myself to ski. Not well, of course, but I could get down the hill, however long it took.
I started talking about going skiing with Dick and others in the office. They gave me old leather boots and wood skis with cable bindings. I thought I was doing pretty good when Dick took me to Killington. I stayed on the snowshed area all morning and believed I was ready to go up to the top of Rams Head.
What a humbling experience that was. It took me two hours to get down, between the skis releasing and my falling down more than I want to admit. Dick was patient and supportive each time.
For the next 45 years, I skied following Dick Butler as my mentor. We skied all over the world together.
About 10 years ago Dick, two of his nephews and I were at Killington together. He said he wasn’t feeling well, and not to tell his wife, Pam. His cancer was catching up to him. He had skied just two runs and could not do any more. I took him back to the condo and watched him sleep the rest of the day.
Dick Butler passed away later that year. It was a great loss for all including myself, since I lost both a great friend and my skiing mentor. For years, I would mimic how he skied by following him, trying to match him turn for turn. He could tackle just about any kind of terrain with grace and grit. Now, I could only visualize him ahead of me in my mind. It wasn’t the same.
As a member of NASJA, while we were skiing at Sierra at Tahoe area, we held a moment of silence for Dick at a lunch on the rooftop of the upper lodge at the 360 Smokehouse BBQ. A beautiful piece was written and read by Dave Sartwell, a fellow writer. There wasn’t a dry eye on that roof deck including other diners who were not part of our group.
I carry Dick’s ashes with me in my ski jacket every time I ski, so he is still skiing with me. That will always be with me. And to let my dear friend know that there is skiing in heaven. His other ashes have been spread over Gore Mountain by his longtime friends Larry Estil and David Sofer, who I mentioned at the beginning of this article.
I am still listening to his instructions. “Big toe, little toe, face downhill and let the skis turn by themselves”. He is gone but never has left my side.
Perhaps you also have a similar friend and ski mentor.
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