Massachusetts ski areas improve services and accessibility in 2009-2010

Butternut, Great Barrington

Capital Improvements
-- 120 new, 18-foot, tower model snowguns and more than a mile of new piping to the mountains will greatly expand Butternut’s snowmaking arsenal this year. This investment means more snow faster.
-- New equipment in the rental inventory includes more than 1,000 sets of new Rossignol rental skis, 300 new Burton Learn-to-Ride model Snowboards, and 3,200 boots. In addition, the rental shop was overhauled for faster delivery. In the overhaul Butternut added new boot and ski storage rack. The boot racks all have built-in dryers.
-- Revisions to the three carpet lifts will offer a better learning environment and enhanced lesson flow in our beginner area. -- New narrow track grooming machine enhances the tubing lanes in our Tubing Center.

Programming
-- Children’s instructional programs will now be offered seven days a week. These include SKIwee for skiers ages 4 to 6 years, Adventurers for skiers ages 7 to 13 years, and miniRIDERS for snowboarders ages 7 to 13 years. In the past these were available only on weekends and holidays.

Bargains
-- First-Timer Learn-to-Ski or Learn-to-Snowboard package -- This package, for $70, includes a lift ticket, rental equipment, and a learn to ski or snowboard lesson for first-timers. This package is available every day this winter, including weekends and holidays. But as a way to promote the start of winter we will be offering this same $70 1st Timer package for just $25.
-- Discount on First-Timer Learn-to-Ski or Learn-to-Snowboard package – This package is available for $25 from opening day (tentatively scheduled for November 27) through December 22.
-- Butternut also is offering a $70 Return to Learn package – This package, for $70, is offered only to skiers who wear a First-Timer Learn to Ski or Snowboard specially marked lift tickets from a visit earlier in this season.

Catamount, South Egremont

Bargains
-- Catamount, founded in 1939, celebrates its 70th anniversary this season with free lift tickets from opening day to December 20 for people born in 1939. Also from opening day through December 20, junior lift tickets are $19 and adult lift tickets are $39.
-- On Mondays from January through March, lift tickets on Mondays are $19.39
-- A Learn to Ski program, for a fee of $25 from Monday through Friday, offers a lift ticket,equipment rental, and one or two lessons. Return to Learn also offers a discounted package for three days of skiing.
-- People age 80 and older can ski for free all season

Capital Improvements
-- Catamount has added 200 new pairs of skis and snowboards, as well as new helmets
-- A new water pump will increase snowmaking capacity, and two new Snow Cats will improve grooming
-- About 300 snow guns have been rebuilt to allow an energy reduction of 80 percent to produce the same output.

Jiminy Peak, Hancock

Capital Improvements
-- Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort will feature two new novice runs for the 2009/2010 winter season. Mountain crews at Jiminy Peak spent the summer cutting a new trail and re-working an existing one. Deer Run is a brand new trail, rated green, and is Jiminy’s 45th trail. It is located between Upper Slingshot and Willie’s Gulch on the western side of the mountain. John Hancock, a favorite at Jiminy for natural snow conditions, has been re-worked into a green run from top to bottom, being widened in addition to evening out the fall-line.
-- Snowmaking has been added to both trails increasing coverage on the mountain from 93 percent to 96 percent. Lighting was also added to John Hancock, expanding the night trail count to 21.

Wachusett Mountain, Princeton

Bargains
-- For the 2009-2010 season, Wachusett skiers and snowboarders can purchase lift tickets online at a lower rate than they were available last season, with these features:
Guests will receive a $5 discount off each adult ticket purchased, provided it is bought at least 24 hours in advance. The $5 online discount will allow ecommerce purchasers to buy lift tickets for only $49 during Peak Season. During Prime Season, online tickets will cost only $44. During Spring Season, online tickets will cost only $41. Wachusett is also eliminating the online sales cutoff so guests can purchase their lift ticket up to the time they leave their house.
 -- Season Passes
 -- Gift Cards available in any denomination
 -- Beginner Learn to Turn Packages
 -- VIP Parking
 -- Rental Equipment

Capital Improvements
-- One of the most historical structures on Wachusett Mountain, Bullock Lodge, will officially reopen its doors this winter after a 50-year hiatus. This will provide skiers and riders with a chance to stop on mountain for refreshments for the first time ever at Wachusett. The Bullock Lodge Cider House at Bullock Lodge will be operated by The Red Apple Farm from Phillipston, Massachusetts. serving hot and cold apple cider, hot cider donuts and assortment of specialty items.
-- Wachusett added 42 new HKD tower-mounted snow guns to its arsenal. These new guns will replace the ones on the Conifer Connection trail from the summit. -- For this winter, Wachusett has also replaced the snowmaking pipeline on the Upper Smith Walton trail. The new pipe will provide for improved snow output on the steep pitch of the popular advanced trail.
-- The snowmaking advances are coupled with Wachusett’s acquisition of a new Winch cat to significantly improve the mountain’s grooming capability in three critical areas, Upper Smith Walton, Upper 10th Mountain, and Upper Conifer Connection.