News from our members
What’s New This Season at Wachusett Mountain!
PRINCETON, Ma. – Even though the 2015-2016 season has been underway for almost 1 month, few skiers or snowboarders have had a chance to see some of the improvements mad at Wachusett Mountain for this winter. Here’s a look at some of the changes:
- New State-of-the-Art Covered Carpet Lifts – The Easy Rider Carpet has been replaced by a state-of-the-art “covered” carpet. Beginner skiers and snowboarders can now ride the 500-foot protected from the elements. The 300-foot Ollies Lift has also been replaced this season.
- New Terrain Park Location – Wachusett’s award-winning terrain park is being moved this season from Look Mom to Hitchcock Trail. It will continue to feature a wide variety of jumps, rails and boxes. A smaller progression park will remain on Frannie’s Folly Trail. Wachusett is also partnering with Clif Bar this season as the presenting sponsor of the mountain’s Air Bag. The bag will open sometime in January to sharp new grapics from the popular energy bar.
- New Maple Room – This new larger Mountain Suite Option will quickly become one of Wachusett’s most popular meeting rooms. The Maple Room combines the previous Cedar, Elm/Fir Suites into a well-appointed function space that can easily accommodate more than 100 guests. Improvements were also made for Black Diamond Restaurant patrons – providing them with new rest rooms adjacent to the restaurant, as well as access to the outdoor deck for food & beverage service.
- New Night Ticket and College Pass Programs
o “Late Shift” Night Ticket – new night ski ticket from 7-10 p.m. for only $47 Sunday to Thursday night and $50 Friday and Saturday night.
o New College UPASS “3-Peat” Card – College students who do not purchase a UPass season pass still have an opportunity to purchase 3 days/nights of skiing or riding anytime for only $139.
- New Members of the Wachusett Team
o Kevin McDonald, 62, is Wachusett’s new Ski Patrol Director and Risk Manager replacing long-time director Mike Halloran. McDonald, a retired Worcester Firefighter and former member of the Worcester Police Department, has been an active patrol member since 1968 when he began as a junior patroller. He has previously work on the patrol as a Hill Captain and member of the Professional Day Patrol. McDonald is an EMT and has also earned several commendations during his career as a patroller and firefighter. He lives in Douglas, Ma. with his wife Carol and has 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren.
o Bill Lawton, of Princeton, Ma., is the new Volunteer Patrol Director. Entering his 40th year on the Wachusett Patrol, Lawton brings a wealth of experience, dedication and knowledge to the position. He has served as Hill Captain, was a previous Patroller of the Year and has been an OEC instructor and currently serves as EMARI Assistant Regional Director.
o Charlie Rabe, 33, of Stow, Ma. is the new “Comp” Team Coach. Formerly the Xtreme Team, the Comp Team provides training to kids to compete in freestyle events. Rabe is in his 7th season at Wachusett working as an instructor and trainer. He has also worked as head coach of the Boston University Snowboard Team.
- New Expanded Parking Lot – Wachusett guests will notice significant improvements this winter to the mountain’s lower Number 2 & 3 parking areas with new grading, landscaping and additional spaces
Wachusett Welcomes The Holiday Week with Tons of Activities, a Colder Forecast (and, oh yes, skiing!!)
PRINCETON, Ma. – Despite one of the warmest Decembers on record, Wachusett Mountain has operated for 12 days of skiing and riding since first opening on November 28. As it now enters the popular Christmas/New Year’s Holiday Week, the central Massachusetts mountain is looking for the arrival of colder temperatures to allow snowmaking efforts to kick into high gear.
“This has been a challenging start of the winter for resorts throughout the northeast,” said President Jeff Crowley. “While we would have loved to see a more traditional start, under the circumstances, we’re proud of the effort our snowmaking and grooming crew has made to give us any skiing at all.” While the number of operating days and the terrain has been limited so far this season, the long range forecast calls for more consistent colder temperatures to return to the region in early January, allowing Wachusett Mountain to crank up its snowmaking arsenal expanding coverage. Even with one of the warmest Christmas days on record and a slow start to the holiday week, Crowley added “Once we get temps into the mid-twenties, we’ll be able to open new terrain quickly.”
Meanwhile, Wachusett has put together an expanded list of activities for the Christmas Holiday Week to help entertain its skiers and snowboarders. Activities even include non-traditional winter events like hikes to the Bullock Lodge Cider House, Scavenger Hunts and Frisbee. The higlight of the week will be the mountain’s traditional New Year’s Eve Celebration including a fireworks display. (See attached schedule). For the latest updates or to see daily video snow reports, visit www.wachusett.com.