Ski the East

Sunday River to Re-Open For Mountain Biking

In 1991, Sunday River was one of the first ski areas to open a summer Mountain Bike Park, and ran it until 2003. New owners re-opened it starting in late summer of 2007. Now the Sunday River Mountain Bike Park is set to open for a full season on Friday, June 27. Mountain biking and scenic chairlift rides will be available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Columbus Day Weekend.

A fleet of new Kona downhill mountain bikes will be available for rent, with front suspension models also available. All rider services and tickets will be available at the South Ridge Lodge with lift service on nearby North Peak. Full details are available at Sunday River.com.

Downhill mountain bike trails including Grease Monkey, Moose Tack, Tombstone and the Crater Trail wind their way down from the summit of North Peak. In total, Sunday River will offer 20 miles of trails at varying levels of difficulty with lift service on the Perfect Turn Express Quad.

In addition to mountain bikers, the lift will also be open to foot traffic seeking to view the Mahoosuc Mountains up close during summer and fall foliage season. Visible from the summit are Sunday River's Aurora Peak and Jordan Bowl, plus Old Speck Mountain, which towers over the Sunday River Valley at a peak elevation of 4,170 feet. A resort shuttle service will be in operation accommodating foot traffic and bicyclists. The resort shuttle will service both Resort Hotels as well as area tourist attractions including the covered bridge in Newry.

Trails and lift service is available Friday - Sunday 10am - 4pm. No trail access is allowed Monday - Thursday. All rider services and tickets are available at South Ridge Lodge. Mountain Biking Season Passes are available for $249.

Warm Weather Fun at Many Ski Areas

Now that we have passed the unofficial start of the summer season keep in mind that there are a lot of things to do at many of our eastern ski resorts that are offering warm weather activities. Hiking, mountain biking, golf, tennis, swimming, and adventure and summer camps for kids of all ages are some of the possibilities.

If you are looking for some activity to fill a weekend or summer vacation day keep your favorite ski area in mind. The more we can support them in the off season, the more they are going to put into their winter operations.

So, starting this week I will be posting "What's Happening" at various areas that are carrying year round activities. I hope you find this helpful and do give our areas a visit during the summer - you really will be amazed to  see how different that double black trail looks when it's all green...

Summer Hike Up Whiteface Mike Doyle

Jiminy Peak Adventure Park Opening this Weekend

Jiminy Peak Mountain Adventure Park opens for the season this weekend. The Park will be open Memorial Day Monday, 11 am – 6 pm. New for this summer is the Kids Zone featuring the new Spider Web and Rope Adventures as well as a new miniature golf course, the Ponderosa Playground and Bounce House. And of course the Park features summertime favorites like the Alpine Super Slide, Mountain Coaster and more.

Monday, Memorial Day will be also be a special E-Coupon Day. Go to jiminypeak.com to sign up for a Buy One Get One Free Full Day Mountain Adventure Park Pass e-coupon. A variety of ticket options are available, view a full price list and more attraction information at jiminypeak.com

USSA Honors Stratton's Lindsey Jacobellis

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association's (USSA) honored Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) as the USSA Snowboarding Athlete of the Year. A versatile competitor, Jacobellis took World Cup podiums in both SBX and Halfpipe in the 2008 season. A veteran of U.S. Snowboarding, Jacobellis' stats for the season are a testament to her true athleticism and driving willpower to be the best in the world.

The Olympic silver medalist took four World Cup wins and seven World Cup podiums to finish second in the SBX and overall standings. Jacobellis also solidified her reign as queen of the SBX course when she won the X Games.

Bromley Brings in Camelback GM

Richard Wiseman, formally General Manager of Camelback Ski Area in Pennsylvania is set to take over as President of Vermont's Bromley Mountain.  John Cueman, Bromley president since 1984, will assume a new position as Vice President of Real Estate Planning for Bromley.

Wiseman began his career in the ski industry in the early 70's when he purchased Otis Ridge Ski Area in Western Massachusetts. He worked at Stowe for three years and became the Vice President of Mountain Operations at Mountain High, in California before returning east to Camelback in 1993.

photo of Bromley Mountain by Mike Doyle

Time For Tuckerman's?

If you check the latest photos on tuckerman.org it may seem like a great weekend ahead, that is if the rain expected for tomorrow doesn't continue during a freeze cycle. 

Everybody heading out to ski or ride should check both the Weekend Update and the Latest Avalanche Advisory . The Weekend Update will be there tomorrow and a new Advisory will also be up in the morning. Be sure to read the advisory all the way through as it also contains warnings as to terrain and trail conditions.

Have fun and don't forget to drop a donation for the ski patrol...

All Quiet on the Eastern Front

The last chair to load this afternoon closed out a record-breaking season today at Sugarloaf making it the last resort to close on the east coast. Sugarloaf began the season on November 9 and continued without interruption through today, providing six full months of skiing on Maine's second tallest peak.

Sugarloaf received nearly 100 inches of natural snow by January 1 and finished the season with 224 inches, including eight inches last Wednesday. $5 million worth of summer investments are planned, including additional enhancements to its snowmaking and resort facilities.

photo copyright Sugarloaf Resort