The owners of Berkshire East are announcing they will purchase Catamount Ski Area, joining together two long-running independently-owned Western Massachusetts ski areas. The sale is to close this May and the deal will call for the Catamount management team to remain in place for the upcoming year, according to the announcement made Tuesday. "Our experience at Berkshire East has proven that it is possible to transition a ski area in the Berkshires to a dynamic, adventure-based, four-season resort with world class mountain biking and zip lining," Jon Schaefer, owner of Berkshire East said in a press release. "It is our intent to introduce most of these activities at Catamount within the next two years." Berkshire East has been growing for a decade following the closure of Mount Tom in Holyoke, improving snowmaking and upgrading the lodge and chair lifts. Key in its expansion has been a sizable increase in summer operations that include the zip lining, white water rafting, one of the … [Read more...] about Owners of Berkshire East to purchase Catamount Ski Area
Ski areas
Abundant snowfall meant a banner year for northern Idaho ski areas
A skier at Brundage Mountain Resort. The resort typically gets about 330 inches of snow per season, but got only 250 inches this winter, said Brundage President and Managing Director Bob Looper. File photo. Low snowfall early in the season in the Rocky Mountains cut down on skier visits this season at many western resorts. But northern Idaho had a banner season, thanks to record-setting snow, and Schweitzer Mountain saw record skier visits over the season. “Schweitzer and Lookout Mountain and Silver Mountain had a great season,” said Bob Looper, the president of the Idaho Ski Areas Association. Schweitzer usually gets around 300 inches of snow per season, but got 450 inches this winter, and still has a good covering of snow now. So does Brundage Mountain near McCall, where Looper is president and managing director. But Looper said Brundage is closed because Treasure Valley skiers put their ski and snowboard equipment away for the season when the weather warmed up in the … [Read more...] about Abundant snowfall meant a banner year for northern Idaho ski areas
Five Vermont ski areas remain open for season, finding upside to this never-ending winter
Share This Story! Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about Facebook Email Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Five Vermont ski areas remain open for season, finding upside to this never-ending winter Resorts from Jay to Mount Snow find a silver lining in the never-ending winter cloud that's been hanging over Vermont well into spring Sent! A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Join the Conversation To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Subscribe Today Log In Subscribed, but don't have a login? Activate your digital access. Brent Hallenbeck, Free Press Staff Writer Published 6:21 p.m. ET April 19, 2018 CLOSE University of Vermont alpine team's Laurence St. Germain briefly sat in the No. 1 slot after her second slalom run Sunday at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup in Killington, Nov. 26, … [Read more...] about Five Vermont ski areas remain open for season, finding upside to this never-ending winter
State approves Bogus Basin ski area snowmaking plan
Deciding whether or not to buy a season pass at Bogus Basin ski area outside Boise might get easier in future years. Idaho on April 17 approved a plan by Bogus Basin Recreation Association officials that involves building a water-storage dam and putting in underground pipes to make artificial snow for consistent pre-Christmas openings for skiers and snowboarders. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and four other members of the Idaho Land Board voted 5-0 to allow the work on land the state sold to the ski area 45 years ago. The sale included a requirement for state approval of erosion control and re-vegetation for significant projects. “We’re very excited about the development at Bogus Basin,” General Manager Brad Wilson told the Land Board. Bogus Basin officials have said snowmaking likely wouldn’t happen until the 2019-2020 season. The area draws about 500,000 visitors a year. “They happen to be a ski resort on the edge of a very arid region,” said … [Read more...] about State approves Bogus Basin ski area snowmaking plan
Idaho OKs Bogus Basin ski area plan involving snowmaking
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Deciding whether or not to buy a season pass at Bogus Basin ski area outside Boise might get easier in future years.Idaho on Tuesday approved a plan by Bogus Basin Recreation Association officials that involves building a water-storage dam and putting in underground pipes to make artificial snow for consistent pre-Christmas openings for skiers and snowboarders.Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and four other members of the Idaho Land Board voted 5-0 to allow the work on land the state sold to the ski area 45 years ago. The sale included a requirement for state approval of erosion control and re-vegetation for significant projects. × Advertisement “We’re very excited about the development at Bogus Basin,” General Manager Brad Wilson told the Land Board.Bogus Basin officials have said snowmaking likely wouldn’t happen until the 2019-2020 season. The area draws about 500,000 visitors a year.“They happen to be a ski resort … [Read more...] about Idaho OKs Bogus Basin ski area plan involving snowmaking