Press Kit

News from Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce - November 4, 2016

Contact:  Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331, PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org

Mt Washington Valley Ski Resorts & XC Centers usher in the 2016-17 ski season with capital improvements and new programs

North Conway, NH – It won’t be long before the temps will drop, snowmaking will commence and happy skiers and riders will once again hit the trails for the 2016-17 ski season.  With an above-normal snow predication for this winter, Mt Washington Valley’s ski resorts and XC Centers are poised for a booming ski season and plenty of happy skiers on the trails. 

In an informal survey of Mt Washington Valley’s ski resorts and XC Centers, it became clear that millions of dollars have been invested in new technology to allow snowmaking and snow management to become more efficient, powerful and eco-friendly. Skiers will be treated to expanded trails, guest infrastructure and guest services improvements at Mt Washington Valley’s 13 ski resorts and XC Centers.

Here’s a rundown of what’s new at Mt Washington Valley’s ski resorts and XC Centers for the 2016-17 ski season.

At Black Mountain, 52 new next-gen low-energy snow guns have been added along with the installation of a state-of-the-art snowmaking control system to increase efficiency in creating snow to carpet the trails. Additionally, a new snow groomer and tractor have been added to the grooming fleet. Skiers will also delight in the new mid-mountain cabin offering up hot food and beverages on weekends and holidays.

At Bretton Woods Ski Resort and Bretton Woods XC Center nearly $500,000 has been invested over the summer to increase snowmaking operation efficiency.  This will allow expanded terrain throughout the season. In addition, investment in the alpine and Nordic grooming fleets will result in even better snow management than previous years. A new Pisten Bully PB400 Alpine Groomer joined the Bretton Woods Snow Quality fleet. And this year Fat Bikes will be available for rental along with dedicated trails for winter biking.

In September, Cranmore Mountain Resort broke ground on Phase One of Kearsarge Brook Condominiums at Cranmore. This is the first phase of a $50 million development that will transform the resort into a vibrant mixed-use community with year-round residences and expanded base facilities. When the project is completed, six new buildings and a total of 106 condominiums will have been added to Cranmore's base. The first two buildings will be residential, while the third and fourth will replace existing base lodges with 45,000 square feet of new lodge space. Phase One of Kearsarge Brook Condominiums now under construction is located at the base of the ski area's South Slope, and will offer up 18 two- and three-bedroom residences when completed next year.

Additionally, having been recognized in the past for its sustainability practices, Cranmore will be one of the first ski resorts East of the Mississippi to add an electric/diesel driven snow cat to its grooming fleet. Built by the German company Kassbohrer, Pisten Bully’s “Green Machine” 600E+ is the world’s first groomer with a diesel- electric drive. One of the most significant advancements in snowgrooming technology over the past two decades, the 600 E+ uses a diesel engine to drive two electric generators which power electric motors that turn the tracks and the snow tiller. On its trip downhill, the electric energy created from the breaking effect of the electric drive motors is used to power the snow tiller, while the engine idles.  Cranmore has also installed two Tesla and two Hybrid vehicle-charging stations at the resort to further support the resort’s sustainability efforts.

Great Glen Trails has invested in improvements to increase terrain during early and low snow seasons. An expanded snowmaking system will maximize efficiency. Plus, two trails were reconstructed to allow them be opened earlier in the season. The addition of a second snowmobile for early season and low snow grooming will add to the center’s ability to offer cross country terrain as early as possible this year.

Jackson XC Center is in the midst of a $600,000 capital campaign. Six kilometers (4 miles, 3 trails) of new trails were added over the summer in the largest trail expansion/improvement project in the Jackson XC Center’s history.

King Pine Ski Area has taken advantage of the off-season maintaining a fully functioning lift infrastructure comprised of three triple chairs, two surface lifts and a snowtubing tow and has also renovated the "Milt's Place" base lodge situated near by to the base of the Black Bear triple. King Pine has also been servicing its efficient, modern snowmaking system during the off-season so that the ski area can be 100-percent open early and throughout the season to accommodate its many ski school and race programs, night skiing and guests staying slopeside at Purity Spring Resort.

Attitash Mountain Resort has installed more than 1000 feet of new high-pressure, low-e gun friendly snowmaking pipe on Pinball Alley while also widening and re-grading the trail. This snowmaking and trail improvement makes for an easier connection for guests of all abilities to travel from trails at Attitash’s Bear Peak to its’ main mountain. Additionally, Attitash’s Abenaki Park Crew will introduce a beginner elements area creating three tiers of progression through the Abenaki Parks: beginner at Bear Peak Base, progressions at Kachina Park, and large features on Myth Maker. This means freestyle terrain will be available for all levels. This winter, guests at The Attitash Grand Summit Hotel will notice a number of upgrades to the property and accommodations. Exterior improvements have been made to the building’s entryway, walkways, and driveway. Additionally, new carpets and furniture have been added to in the rooms, and the pool entrance received an update too.  

Guests at Wildcat Mountain will notice a few new additions to their visits during this 2016/17 winter season. Wildcat Mountain has spent the past two summers working to enhance its glades, clearing over 180 combined acres to enhance tree skiing and riding across the mountain. All glades noted on the Wildcat trail map have now been maintained to USFS guidelines.

Shawnee Peak's ski season is kicking off with a number of capital improvements including extensive facility renovations and the purchase of the latest snowmaking tech to lengthen the season. The ski area's rental shop has received a complete renovation and expansion with a new layout and a modern storage racking system. Plus the repair shop offers up new state-of-the-art tuning machines. Shawnee's snowmaking abilities also received a significant boost with the installation of HKD Klik hydrants on the Pine Slope, which will help open and shut the trail faster, and a generator and fan gun have been placed at mid-station, allowing snow maintenance teams to open top-to-bottom terrain much sooner.

To learn more about Mt Washington Valley’s 13 ski resorts and XC Centers, simply visit www.SkiMWV.com.  To plan your ski getaway this winter, go to www.MtWashingtonValley.org or call 800-367-3364 (800-DO-SEE-NH).  And to learn more about vacations in New Hampshire, go to www.VisitNH.gov.

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 Photos available from Marti Mayne, PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org or visit the MWVCC Online Flickr photo library for photos from past ski seasons.  Photo shown provided by Attitash Mountain Resort.