Section Contents - Quick Links to Articles

• 1 - The OKEMO REVIEW for WHAT'S NEW in WINTER 2008

• 2 - at ELK - THE LEGACY of GREAT SKIING CONTINUES

• 3 - OKEMO HAS GREAT DEALS ALL SEASON

• 4 - BELLEAYRE MOUNTAIN BEGINS BUILDING A NEW BASE LODGE

• 5 - MOUNT PETER - ALWAYS THE FRIENDLY ONE

• 6 - PLAY & STAY SLOPESIDE at HUNTER MOUNTAIN

• 7 - HUNTER HAS NEW WORKSHOPS & WINTER CAMPS THIS SEASON

• 8 - WINDHAM'S SNOW IS SCIENCE AND ART

• 9 - STAY in LEHIGH VALLEY, PA and SKI the MOUNTAINS

• 10 - BLUE MOUNTAIN SKI AREA CELEBRATES 30 YEARS

• 11 - SHAWNEE MOUNTAIN HAS $2 MILLION in IMPROVEMENTS

• 12 - CAMELBACK IMPROVES for 2007-08

• 13 - SEVEN SPRINGS ADDS HIGH-SPEED SIX-PACK and MORE for 2007-08

• 14 - HIDDEN VALLEY UPGRADES 2007-08 WINTER SEASON

• 15 - WHITEFACE RANKED SECOND in EASTERN U.S. by SKI MAGAZINE READERS and THIRD IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

The OKEMO REVIEW for WHAT'S NEW in WINTER 2008

LUDLOW, VT – It is said that success is a journey, not a destination. Therefore, it is no surprise that improvements slated for this winter at Okemo Mountain Resort continue to focus on the snow and ways for resort guests to enjoy it.

Snowmaking

With 97 percent of its terrain equipped with snowmaking capabilities, Okemo is focusing this year on making snow more efficiently. The resort is exploring viable ways to make snow at closer-to-freezing temperatures, allowing the resort to open more lower-elevation terrain earlier in the season. Thirty new HKD tower guns, designed to project snow with pinpoint accuracy, will be installed in areas like narrow slopes and real estate access trails requiring focused, directional throw.

Okemo will also be testing a variety of new snowmaking guns on its Open Slope, just above the Clock Tower base area. Skiers and snowboarders will be able to sample the snow from guns produced by Snow Economics, with four different configurations. The guns feature adjustable water flow levers, nozzle versatility and new valving technology. Okemo will add 15 of the HKD’s premiere snow guns to the arsenal as demos. This will enable the toprated snowmaking team of the resort to have a chance to thoroughly test the newest technology, providing feedback to further develop this specialized snowmaking equipment.

Grooming

Okemo’s reputation for grooming excellence continues this winter with the introduction of another new grooming machine. Last year, four new Prinoth B350 grooming machines, one outfitted with a Sherpa overhead winch, were introduced to upgrade the fleet of nine machines. This year’s upgrade will ensure that the mountain is groomed out with those wide ribbons of corduroy for skiers and riders who love to make tracks on the near-seamless carpets of snow Okemo is so famous for.

Terrain Variety

This winter, the operations team at Okemo will be devising ways to create more terrain variety on alpine trails. “A lot of the excitement of skiing is terrain change,” says Vice President of Mountain Operations Barry Tucker. “We’re planning to build more character into some of our trails.” The resort will allow a few of the more difficult trails to take on characteristics that are more natural by grooming less often.

Some trails will receive some extra grooming attention to create gradual swales with subtle fluctuations that will make the snow surface more interesting. On the Lower Tomahawk trail, a FamilyCross park will offer intermediate skiers and riders a chance to enjoy a playful assortment of big bank turns, rollers and snow mounds as they wind their way down the trail. For more adventurous snow sliders, Okemo features six terrain parks. They range in difficulty from the introductory Hot Dog Hill to competition- worthy Nor’easter and the Dew Zone, as well as the SoBe Superpipe, the longest superpipe in the east with 18- foot-high walls.

Surface Lift

A new 400-foot surface lift will offer additional access to the newly extended and re-graded Bright Star Basin beginner trail at Jackson Gore. In addition to serving as an access lift for owners and guests of Jackson Gore’s new Adams House and Bixby House, the new magic-carpet style lift will open up more teaching terrain for beginner skiers and snowboarders at Jackson Gore. A long and wide trail, with a 10 percent grade, serviced by two novicefriendly surface lifts, creates an optimal learning environment.

Slope-side Lodging

Okemo Mountain Resort was one of the first ski areas to develop ski in/ski out slope-side lodging in 1961. An American Indian name, Okemo means “all come home,” and with the completion of the Bixby House, 28 families will have a new, slope-side vacation residence to come home to this winter. The Bixby House, slated for occupancy starting in December 2007, is the first of two whole-ownership buildings that are part of Jackson Gore’s Phase II development plan. The 84,000-square-foot layout will include 28 elegantly appointed residences, heated underground parking and owner locker rooms.

In spring 2006, plans for the Bixby House and Coolidge House debuted in a successful real estate selection event that witnessed a commitment of $32 million at pre-construction prices, in just over four hours. Residences varying in size from studios to three-bedrooms sold for $378,000 to $2.181 million.

Base Lodge Retro Revisited

Forty years after it was built, the base lodge at Okemo is receiving a retro re-do. What is old will be new again as the circa-1968 base lodge gets outfitted with some fresh, stylin’ colors, new carpeting, and Formica countertops. Okemo owner Diane Mueller is the mastermind behind the base lodge retrograding. Skiers and snowboarders who thought they would never live to see avocado green again are in for a hip trip down Memory Lane.

Snow Tubing

Although Okemo started offering snow tubing with a soft launch during the middle of the season last winter, this year marks the official introduction of inflatable, snow-sliding fun at the Jackson Gore base area. Three contoured lanes of totally tubular delight are accessed by the 400-foot-long Stargazer Carpet surface lift. Snow tubing is available starting at 3 p.m. on weekends and during holiday periods. Inflatable snow tubes are available for rent at the Jackson Gore Mountain Services Center.

For more information about Okemo Mountain Resort, please call 1-800-78-OKEMO (786-5366), or visit www.okemo.com.

at ELK - THE LEGACY of GREAT SKIING CONTINUES

NION DALE, PA — It all started in 1959, when a mountain became a new recreation complex for skiing. Elk Mountain, as it was named, started out with only a handful of trails. Today Elk Mountain Ski Resort has evolved into a sprawling 27 trails and some of the most challenging terrain in Pennsylvania. During its opening year, Elk featured a small base lodge (now the picnic lodge), a 2,200-foot T-bar and several slopes. There were also some rope tows and a small warming hut built a few years earlier by the Scranton Ski Club.

The first Hall Double chairlift was installed in 1961, heralding the development of five expert trails and various intermediate trails from the top. Elk’s first expert trail, completed before the chairlift itself, was host to the 1960 Pennsylvania State Championships. Enthusiastic competitors and gatekeepers actually walked to the summit from the top of the T-bar to run the race.

A year later in 1962, snowmaking was installed and a new A-frame base lodge was built. Skiing at Elk got a lift - quite literally - with the installation of a beginners J-bar in 1964 and a dåouble chairlift from the lower parking lot to the top of the mountain in 1965. The original T-bar was replaced with a chairlift in 1969, and the J-bar was retired for a double chairlift in 1973. Skiers saw Elk in a whole new light when, in 1966, lighting was installed on the East and West slopes for night skiing. Lighting was installed along three summit trails in 1972. Now a number of trails are lit for night skiing, including the entire beginner area.

Elk Mountain continued to build on that legacy of great skiing when last season it upgraded its snowmaking ability by adding tower mount snow guns on the Tecumseh trail. Additional guns were also placed on Stomping Grounds Terrain Park. These guns helped to ensure better coverage in the challenging 2007 ski season.

From the upgraded and resurfaced parking lots to the more than 1,000 Norway and White Spruce trees that were planted slopeside, your Elk experience is always a pleasant and environmentally friendly one from arrival to departure.

First-time skiers, established skiers, or snowboarders looking to learn or fine-tune their skills can do so with a lesson from a member of the Elk Mountain Ski School.

The school is a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and utilizes the American Teaching System. With a staff of over seventy-five trained instructors, Elk has a program and the staff to meet your individual needs.

Class sizes are limited to provide a quality experience. Lessons may be sold out during busy periods. Details are available at the ski school desk.

The perfect time to learn to ski is while you are young, and the staff wants to make your child’s skiing experience fun. They offer programs that allow parents to enjoy themselves while children learn to ski with confidence.

BABY-SITTING Baby-sitting services are offered at Elk Mountain on an hourly basis. Because availability is limited, reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance. Children must be at least two years old and toilet trained.

PRE-SCOUTS, SCOUTS AND RANGERS Elk Mountain offers a “Scouts” program for children ages 3-12. Scouts enables children to learn to ski with emphasis on fun. Scouts is available through the Ski School. Categories are broken into: Pre-Scouts (Ages 3-4), Scouts (Ages 5-7), and Elk Mountain Rangers (Ages 7-12).

Elk Mountain also offers a racing program, mogul clinics and special Women’s Day programs for first time through expert. Seasonal programs are offered for Freestyle, Adult Ski Improvement and Junior Racing.

A Holiday Camp will be held in late December. Additional information is available by calling the Elk Mountain Ski School.

The Elk Mountain Junior Racing Program has produced racers who have excelled at Eastern regional races. The Cruisers Program has produced many excellent young skiers and most continue through to the Junior Racing Program. Most of the coaching staff have USSCA levels I, II or III, PSIA certification levels I, II or III equivalent.

JUNIOR RACING Elk Mountain’s Junior Racing is a program geared for young skiers (8-19) who can comfortably ski the entire mountain, including all black diamond trails. Offered during Christmas Camp, weekends or as a full season program, this program allows the participants to ski/train with the same coaches over the duration of the program.

This format assures continuity and allows progress to be monitored closely. Training is available at recreational and competitive levels.

For program participants, additional gate training will be available on Tuesday and Thursday nights at an added charge. In addition to skiing skills development, agility drills, racing techniques and course tactics, participants will learn ski tuning, equipment maintenance and take part in various camp activities. Video sessions with critique by the coaches will be integrated into the training.

CRUISERS (JUNIOR RACING DEVELOPMENT) Elk Mountain Cruisers is a program geared for youngsters ages 6 through 12. Offered as a Christmas Camp, weekend training or full season program, children who ski blue square trails can enjoy a challenging ski experience, improve their technique and build self-confidence. Five hours of supervised skiing and coaching instruction daily promotes learning in an exciting and unhurried environment. Skiing with the same instructors the entire season on a variety of trails allows children to develop their skills while making new friends who share their same interest in skiing.

ADULT SKIING IMPROVEMENT Adult Skiing Improvement is a learning experience for strong adult skiers. The program is offered on Saturdays and Sundays, from January - through February (excluding holidays); 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m (2-1/2 hours per day). This will allow the participants to ski and train with the same coaches over the duration of the entire program, providing continuity and learning in a relaxed, unhurried environment. There are a minimum number of participants required for this program. If minimums are not met, the program may be cancelled.

For more information, please call Elk at (570) 679-4400 or find them on line via an easily found link on the home page of www.skiernews.com. You can log on directly to www.elkskier.com.

OKEMO HAS GREAT DEALS ALL SEASON

LUDLOW, Vt. – There are many ways to save on skiing and riding at Okemo Mountain Resort. From daily offerings to special events to season-long savings, Okemo has a great deal designed to fit every ski trip budget.

Try Before You Buy

The snowmakers and groomers of Okemo have got the mountain covered. Every morning the first hour of lift operation is free, allowing Okemo skiers and riders to check it out before they purchase a lift ticket. Try Before You Buy is valid midweek, non-holiday from 9 until 10 a.m. and on weekends and holiday periods from 8 until 9 a.m. Convenient base area ticketing locations are located at the Okemo Clock Tower base and Jackson Gore base areas.

Frequent Skier Flex Card

Okemo has flexible savings all season long for frequent skiers. When skiers and snowboarders purchase an Okemo Flex Card, they save 50 percent on weekday, non-holiday (Monday through Friday) single-day lift ticket rates. In addition, they save 25 percent on weekend and holiday single day lift ticket rates; and 50 percent on single-day lift ticket rates on all weekends in November and April, plus select weekends in January and March. Discounts also apply to single day, full day, afternoon half-day and Sunday Solution morning lift tickets. On all midweek, 50-percent savings days, Flex Card holders also save $10 on a Group Lesson or Adventure Clinic. They also save $10 on a Ski Demo at the Okemo Snow Sports Shop; and $10 on High-Performance Ski Rental Package (skis, boots, poles) at the Okemo Express Rental Shop. Flex Card holders also receive Email notification of special deals throughout the season. In addition, as a bonus, Okemo Flex Card benefits are available at Mount Sunapee Resort. Moreover, Flex Card holders can present their card at the Crested Butte, Colo., lift ticket office to receive 20 percent off multi-day lift tickets all season long. The Flex card is $99 for adults, $89 for young adults and seniors, and $79 for juniors and super seniors.

Okemo 8-Pack

The resort offers eight days of skiing and riding for the price of seven. The cost for adults is $518; young adults/seniors $441; and juniors/super seniors $336. The Okemo 8- Pack is a pre-purchase of eight unrestricted, single, full-day lift tickets for the price of seven. The 8-Pack is valid every day of the season with no restrictions, and it is transferable between family and friends. It may be applied toward the purchase of one or two tickets per day.

Okemo 12-Pack

Twelve days of skiing and riding for the price of ten is quite a bargain. The cost for adults is $740; adults/seniors $630; and juniors/super seniors $480. The Okemo 12-Pack is a pre-purchase of 12 unrestricted, single, full-day lift tickets for the price of ten. The 12-Pack is valid every day of the season, with no restrictions and it is transferable between family and friends. It may be applied toward the purchase of up to three tickets per day.

The College Card

Full-time and part-time college students will save 50 percent on the price of a full-day adult lift ticket during weekdays and $15 on weekends and holidays. By presenting a valid college ID from an accredited college, community college, or university at the Okemo Mountain Services Center, students can save all season long. Best of all, the College Card is valid at both Okemo and Mount Sunapee. The College Card is the same price as an adult, one-day lift ticket and includes free skiing or riding on the day of purchase. Since the price is based on a given day’s lift ticket price and is therefore variable, the best time to purchase a college card is early in the season when tickets are offered at a rate according to available terrain.

Three Great Mountains and One Great Ticket

When skiers and riders purchase a minimum three-day lift ticket or lodging/ticket package, they can ski one day during the life of the lift ticket at either Mount Sunapee or Stratton Mountain. By presenting a valid three-day (or longer) Okemo lift ticket to Guest Services at either Mount Sunapee, N.H., or Stratton, Vt., the guest receives one complimentary lift ticket for that day.

They Don’t Call It “Ultra” for Nothing

When it comes to season passes, the Ultra Pass at Okemo covers it all – including this winter’s Colorado ski trip. Skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the slopes every day at Okemo, Mount Sunapee, Stratton and even Crested Butte, Colo., with no restrictions for only $1,399 for adults. It is like getting four season passes for the price of one – with added benefits at Okemo. Additional Ultra Pass privileges include $15 off group lessons, morning specialty clinics, and full-day highperformance rentals and ski/snowboard demo packages. Firsttrack fanatics will especially enjoy early access benefits that include 7:45 a.m. lift access on weekends and holidays at Okemo and Stratton.

In addition, save 15 percent on lodging accommodations with Crested Butte Mountain Resort Properties when booked through Crested Butte Vacations. Call 1-800-341-5431.

Okemo Skier and Rider Appreciation Days Are Back – Just $39

Skiers and riders of all ages can enjoy an entire day on the slopes at a special discounted lift ticket rate on select Thursdays in November, December and March for just $39; and in April for just $29. The dates are Dec. 6, 13, and 20, 2007; March 13, 20, 27, 2008; and April 3, 10, 2008.

Active Duty Military Discount

Okemo offers a military discount for United States military personnel who are on active duty and their immediate families. When active members of the armed services show their active duty ID at the Mountain Services Center, they receive: 50 percent off full-day lift tickets, Monday through Friday, non-holiday; and $15 off full-day lift tickets, weekends and holidays

January Tribute - U.S. Military Veterans, Fire, Police and Ambulance Personnel

Okemo pays tribute to the United States Military veterans, police officers, firefighters and ambulance personnel every Tuesday and Thursday during the month of January 2008, with a special half-price discount on lift tickets. They must show their ID card/badge and a photo ID at the Mountain Services Center at the Okemo Clock Tower base area or the Jackson Gore base area. Qualified personnel will receive 50 percent off the price of an adult full-day, full price lift ticket. The dates are Tuesday, Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29; and Thursday, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. It is Okemo’s way of saying “thank you” for all that our civil servants do.

Ladies’ Days – Calling all OKEMOMMAS!

Tuesdays are officially Ladies’ Days at Okemo. All ladies can ski and ride all day on select Tuesdays for just $39. The savings continue with a group lesson for just $25. It is better than a day at the spa or a clearance sale. Girlfriends, sisters, mothers and grandmothers will enjoy a ladies’ day out on the slopes Dec. 4, 11, 18; Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29; and March 4, 11, 18, 25.

Sunday Solution Morning Half-Day Lift Ticket – Vermont’s Original Morning Ticket

This package at Okemo is a popular solution for weekend warriors who want to head for home early, but still want to ski without paying for a full-day lift ticket. The cost is adults (ages 19-64) $63; young adults/seniors (ages 13-18 and 65- 69) $52; juniors/super seniors (ages 7-12 and 70+) $41; and children 6 and under ski/ride for free every day. The package is offered from 8 a.m. through 1:30 p.m. As a bonus, Monday Solution Morning Half-Day Lift Tickets will also be offered on these Mondays: Dec. 31, Jan. 21, and Feb. 18.

For more information about Okemo Mountain Resort, please call 1-800-78-OKEMO (786-5366), or visit www.okemo.com.

BELLEAYRE MOUNTAIN BEGINS BUILDING A NEW BASE LODGE

HIGHMOUNT, NY – It is an exciting time to be a part of the Belleayre experience, and the buzz around the mountain has never been greater. The resort is focused on providing the best experience possible. This year, it will begin construction on a new base lodge and improve an older one. The new quad lift will be in full swing, and friendly instructors are ready to improve your skills. All of this is, along with unbeatable deals and a variety of lodging and is close to home in the wilderness of the Catskill Forest Preserve.

This season Bellayre will break ground on a new base lodge loaded with amenities. The lodge is scheduled to be completed in 2009. The resort is also investing $10 million into upgrading the existing Discovery Lodge.

The 2007-08 season will mark the first full season for the new high-speed detachable Super Chief quad that whisks skiers to the summit in 5 minutes. More than twice as fast as the lift it replaced, it allows you to get in twice as many runs a day at Belleayre ~ that is, if your legs can handle it!

The closest major ski area to the NY Metro Region, Belleayre is only two hours away, in the heart of the Catskill Mountains. Imagine a magical place of quaint mountain villages, filled with a variety of Bed & Breakfasts and Inns, and a wide selection of restaurants and resorts, from family-style to four-star. It also has the best deals such as Kids Ski Free and Stay Free at participating establishments and midweek packages starting from $49 per person, double occupancy.

Beleayre Mountain is home to the highest skiable peak and the longest skiable trail in the Catskill Mountains. Located in a “snow hole” that creates localized weather, it is famous for both the quality and amount of snowfall. Therefore, whether you are into groomers, bumps, glades, the terrain park, or you are just learning to ski, Belleayre has something for you.

By choosing Belleayre as your place to learn or advance your snowsports ability, you will have access to our highly trained PSIA/AASI certified staff of instructors. Whether you are putting equipment on for the first time or mastering the moguls, Belleayre has an instructor to help you to progress to the next level.

Belleayre values its customers and makes every effort to make skiing more affordable. In this day of hyper-expensive lift tickets, it offers a Customer Appreciation Day every month when lift tickets are just $15. In addition, during the Winter Festival Week from January 28- February 1, it offers $10 lift tickets all week. These are just some of the deals that make Belleayre the mountain that gives skiers and riders the best bang for your buck.

Late in the nineteenth century, New York State became one of the first states to recognize the importance of preserving the wilderness for future generations to enjoy by creating the Catskill Forest Preserve. In 1947, the people of New York passed a constitutional amendment by referendum to bring a ski center to the slopes of Belleayre Mountain. For nearly 60 years, it has been carefully balancing the desires of snowsports enthusiasts with the sensitive needs of the environment. Operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a yearround outdoor recreation area, today Belleayre Mountain is a gateway to the majestic Catskill Mountain Range, proudly showcasing the wilderness of New York State. The goal is to bring you exceptional snow, with no glitz or glamour, fuss or frills.

Bellayre invites you to get back to the heart of skiing and experience for yourself what makes Belleayre unique. Be a part of the Belleayre Buzz!

Check the website at www.belleayre.com or log on to their website via an easily found link on the home page of www.skiernews.com.

MOUNT PETER - ALWAYS THE FRIENDLY ONE

WARWICK, NY –Since 1936, people have been turning to Mount Peter for winter fun. With more than 50 skiable acres, Mount Peter, “The Friendly One,” is the oldest operating ski area in New York State. With 95 percent snowmaking and more than 70 years of experience, they are always coming up with new ways to make winter everyone’s favorite season.

In the past few years, Mount Peter has quadrupled their snowmaking, added a new chairlift, and renovated the lodge and customer service. All of this means better snow, less wait and fewer hassles when you get there.

There is always something going on at Mount Peter. Events such as Firefighters’ Family Day, Women’s Weekend, the Pig Roast and Spring Rally really bring some excitement into the season.

If you would rather enjoy the slopes when there is less action, visit Mount Peter for mid-week solitude. Take in the views from the top of the mountain, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and carve some leisurely turns. They promise not to call your boss.

Mount Peter has all the amenities necessary for a great day on the slopes, with a full service cafeteria and tavern. The resort also has a beautiful pavilion that sits on the base of the hill with the best burgers around from the Hot Spot Grill. You can get your shaped skis or snowboard in the rental shop, pick up the hat you forgot in the retail shop, and you are on your way.

For beginners, Mount Peter offers free Beginner Ski and Snowboard Lessons on weekends and holidays. Both children and adults can enroll in the Multi-Week Ski and Snowboard Program. The Mountain School at Mt. Peter is a highly professional PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) and AASI (American Association of Snowboard Instructors) Certified Program. Instructors are trained by a Level III Director and Level III Technical Director and by other various PSIA certified trainers. This means Mount Peter’s instructors are always on the cutting edge of teaching, and they offer all levels of ski and snowboarding instruction. For the advanced skier or snowboarder, upper level group lessons or private lessons are a great way to learn and perfect new skills. The resort offers many clinics throughout the season that specialize in balance, edging and rotating, and carving gorgeous turns.

Mount Peter’s Race Center is one of the best in the region. Have your child join the race program and watch them develop skills you never thought possible. Their race staff is fun, fast and friendly.

For those who like a challenge, trails like Dynamite and The Wild West can keep the accomplished skier or snowboarder on their toes. Moreover, for those who want to learn how to catch a little air, Mt. Peter has a terrain park just for you. It is a great place to learn some tricks and hang out with friends.

Mount Peter is easy to get to and hard to leave. With history, great snow, and professionalism at its best - they have what it takes to make you love winter.

Please visit www.mtpeter.com by using an easily found link on the home page of www.skiernews.com.

PLAY & STAY SLOPESIDE at HUNTER MOUNTAIN

HUNTER, NY – Hunter Mountain’s slope-side lodging facilities will be offering Play & Stay packages for the 2007-08 season. The specials include a $89 per person, per night stay at the renowned Kaatskill Mountain Club, and a $99 per person, per night stay at Hunter’s Liftside Condominiums. Both packages include lift tickets and are available Thursday through Sunday.

Hunter Mountain’s Kaatskill Mountain Club is a ski-in, ski-out luxury hotel located on the slopes of the resort. The hotel offers Van Winkle’s Restaurant, fitness center, full-service spa, sauna, steam room, two outdoor hot tubs and heated pool, a game room and many more amenities.

The Kaatskill Mountain Club is a quarter- share property. Most rooms are fully equipped with kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms. The hotel has made a name for itself since its opening in 2005 and guests return time and time again for the unique food at Van Winkle’s Restaurant and its outdoor heated pool, open all winter long.

The Liftside Condominiums are conveniently located immediately below the Kaatskill Mountain Club along the slopes of Hunter Mountain. These condominiums offer one-, two- and three-bedroom units with full kitchens, private entrances, living rooms and ski-in, ski-out access. Guests who stay in the Liftside Condominiums are entitled to use the spa, fitness club and pool at the Kaatskill Mountain Club.

For more information on Play & Stay specials, please contact the Kaatskill Mountain Club at 800-HunterMtn or visit the website at www.kaatskillmtnclub.com. Online booking is available. Restrictions apply.

Hunter Mountain Offers New Products

HUNTER, NY – Hunter Mountain will be offering a variety of new programs and products for 2007-08 ski season, including a transferable season pass, gift cards, charging ability on season passes and more.

The TRANS-FER-ABLE season pass is a completely transferable season pass that can be shared among colleagues, friends or family. People can swap the pass among a group and ski different days and times, all on the same season pass.

This season, Hunter Mountain will be offering gift cards, redeemable at its dining locations throughout the resort, the Sports & Expeditions Center, Board Room, and the Kaatskill Mountain Club and Learning Center. Instead of guessing what a loved one wants as a gift, pick up a gift card and let them choose.

Season passes for 2007-08 will also be equipped with charging ability in order to make the purchasing process more efficient and less time consuming. Instead of digging through your pockets or locker for your wallet, simply add credits to your season pass and swipe it.

“We’re pleased to offer so many new things this season at Hunter,” says Danny Picket, ticket sales manager at Hunter Mountain. “There are great values and lots to choose from for any skier or rider.”

For further information on these programs and products, please visit the website at www.HunterMtn.com or call 800-HunterMtn.

Bring in Spring at Hunter Mountain!

(March 8, 2008) At Hunter, They couldn't be happier that spring is arriving. March is a month filled with great deals, beautiful weather and great conditions. We've got a number of great opportunities for all of you to take advantage of...check out the many events and specials below for your chance to ski, ride and save big in the spring!

Daylight Savings Special

Ski or Ride until 5! Remember getting an extra hour to ski or ride last year? Well, that special offer is back, and begins March 14. Hunter Mountain will be open until 5pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the end of the season*, starting Friday, March 14! Spend some extra time in the late daylight hours you miss so much in the winter, and spend it here at Hunter!

March Into Spring Pass -- Ski until closing for $149!

Our new March into Spring Pass is just what its name implies... a season pass valid during March, and extending into spring! This is an unlimited pass, valid every day from March 1st through the end of the 2007-08 season. This pass is ideal for someone who's new to the sport, is having a great time, and wants to ski or ride more this year. We don't think we need to say much about the price... if you have the time and the commitment,this pass is a no-brainer.

Have a Pass Somewhere, Anywhere? Ski at Hunter!

Do you have a pass to another mountain? Would you like to spend a day at Hunter? March 30 is the day to do it! Anyone with a 2007-08 season pass to any mountain in the world is eligible for a free day of skiing or riding at Hunter Mountain on March 30, our Any Mountain Season Passholder Day!

March Mountain Madness has Arrived!

Tons of savings for skiing & riding, lodging, retail, entertainment and more!

MARCH MOUNTAIN MADNESS is here!! In the month of March, Hunter and Windham team up with area businesses: hotels, restaurants, retail outlets and entertainment venues to offer big discounts to our spring skiers, riders and area visitors.

With lodging as low as $56 per person , and retail, food and entertainment discounts on top of that, don't miss this excellent opportunity to ski and ride for cheap in the northern Catskills! For more information, visit the website at marchmountainmadness.com or greenetourism.com.

HUNTER HAS NEW WORKSHOPS & WINTER CAMPS THIS SEASON

HUNTER, NY – The workshop and winter camp opportunities of Hunter Mountain will be expanding in 2007-08, following tremendous interest in the specialized workshops last season. These camps and workshops are available in one-, two-, or three- day sessions held over weekends. They will span through the winter, starting in November and ending in late March.

Hunter Mountain is pleased to provide the opportunity for a group of four or more to request a custom workshop if the desired one is not offered. Workshops and camps offered by Hunter Mountain for this season include Women’s Indulgence Camps, Snowboard Park & Pipe Workshop, Slalom Workshop, Fall Race Camp and Moguls & More.

Workshops and camps are available for skiers ages 18 and over, unless specified otherwise. The camps are held on a number of diverse weekends, providing people many opportunities to sign up.

”Our camps and workshops provide a unique way to learn with a group of friends or the chance to meet new ones, with a focus on specific skill sets,” says Jen Schmidt, who coordinates the winter camps and workshops. “It’s a great way to become a better skier or rider, and develop expertise in a special area of interest.”

While the camps and workshops cater to moguls, slalom, and park and pipe, Hunter invites guests to book their own custom workshops.

For further information, including dates, ages and existing camp/workshop information, or to register for a workshop or winter camp, please contact Jen Schmidt at 1-800-HunterMtn x2278 or by e-mailing jschmidt@huntermtn.com.

Please also visit their website at www.HunterMtn.com for further information on their winter programs.

WINDHAM'S SNOW IS SCIENCE AND ART

WINDHAM, NY – The 2006-07 winter season began with a wet start – December rains and balmy southern breezes. But record temperatures couldn’t keep Windham from getting a head start on their competitors in snowmaking. With over 40 years of offering world-class manmade snow to their guests, Windham knows a thing or two about snowmaking. So as other mountains were drowning their sorrows in the warm and wet beginnings, Windham had opened 33 trails, five parks and the Pipe at 91 percent capacity by February 1, 2007.

Being able to produce snow in the face of adversity started with the philosophy of the resort’s previous owners, Snow Time, Inc. When Snow Time purchased Windham in 1981, the resort had a very modest snowmaking system. They immediately made a massive $3.5-million capital investment in snowmaking – the equivalent to over $8 million today.

The project occurred rather serendipitously at the same time that Dan Frank came on as general manager. Since that first major investment, Dan estimates that Windham has spent an average of half a million dollars a year improving its snowmaking – addressing everything from pipes and hydrants to incorporating the advantages of an array of snow technologies.

Snowmaking has evolved from its early forms, yet some advantages keep certain technologies from becoming obsolete. In the 1960s-70s, most manmade snow came from conventional air and water guns. These guns use compressed air at high pressure to combine air and water in a mixing chamber and then blast out snow. The old guns are inefficient from an energy standpoint, but have a great temperature range in which they can operate – from 32 degrees and below.

From the mid-’70s to the early ‘90s, fan technology took over the industry. This technology uses a huge amount of air at low pressure, which is created by the fan and a very small amount of high-pressure air. Although are much quieter and more energy efficient than conventional guns, they have a much smaller temperature range in which they can perform. Windham Mountain went from two fan guns in 1982 to 150 on the mountain today.

In the mid-’80s, the resort hired a company to make guns that were of its own design. The company would fabricate some of the parts and the resort would do the final assembly on the premises. “This method was very innovative at the time because as long as there was power up-trail you could move them trail to trail across the mountain, or focus on areas that needed more attention,” Dan says. “Our goal has always been to keep supplementing and get many guns on the mountain so it would be possible to make snow in as many places as we could at once.”

From the mid-’90s to present, more emphasis has been placed on purchasing more efficient air-free guns that use less energy but operate in an even smaller temperature window than fan guns.

The latest leap in snowmaking innovation has been automation. Linking snowmaking systems to computers helps Windham make better use of the windows in which this equipment can operate. The technology allows the guns to monitor the temperature and humidity at any given time and maximize the output of the gun. Adjustments that would require a worker to return to a gun every two hours, the computer can do in seconds. Windham has 25 computerized guns that provide a higher quality and quantity of snow.

“It takes us approximately 4-6 hours to go from completely idle to 100 capacity. With computerization you can do it in 10 minutes,” Dan says.

The combination of automation and efficiency are essential to the future of snowmaking. Although an expensive endeavor, and a tremendous long-term investment, it allows the resort to take advantage of every snowmaking opportunity. That’s why Windham employs a hybrid system that incorporates all technologies that can help the team take advantage of each system’s strong points at any given time.

The importance of air

When the system is running full bore, it is an impressive sight. But laying down all that snow would be impossible without what many consider the lifeblood of the system.

“In snowmaking, air is the name of the game. The more air you have the better – that’s the way it’s always been,” says Darrell Morrison, who has run Windham’s snowmaking system since 1985. Since he came aboard, Darrell has overseen almost every flake that the mountain has produced.

“I didn’t have any snowmaking experience and was trained on site in just a few days,” Darrell recalls. “I came on right when it was time to test the system before the season to locate any broken hydrants or other problems. I remember wondering what I got myself into because the noise of the compressors is deafening and it scared the heck out of me.”

Train car size air compressors working in unison generate the thunderous noise in the compression room. Windham uses an arsenal of four diesel and five electric air compressors that all run on between 650 and 800 horsepower.

The output of the air compressors generates such a great deal of heat that Windham personnel found an energy-conscious way to use the heat in the resort’s base lodge. “We essentially harness the heat produced by the snowmaking systems’ electric air compressors,” explains Darrell. “This technique satisfies almost 75 percent of our heating needs in an average winter.”

There is a rigorous maintenance schedule to adhere to in order to keep the compressors and other components of the system in peak condition. Every season, the compressors are inspected and tuned – with some compressors undergoing a complete overhaul.

Nelson Armlin, Windham’s mountain manager last winter, estimates that Windham’s snowmaking system typically runs 1,100 hours in a season. “The small window for snowmaking creates a heavy concentration of work in a short period of time,” he says. “From November to April, the team works between 85-90 hours a week, more than double the average person’s work week.”

Nelson feels that staff and equipment set Windham apart from other mountains. “Windham Mountain has always been at the forefront of incorporating the latest snowmaking technology,” he says. “Running this equipment with a staff that works so long and hard is why we were able to do so much with so little last year. Our guys did a really good job of getting us open quickly and taking advantage of the windows that they had. Other mountains in the East that relied more on natural snow are now scrambling to update their systems to avert warmer weather and declining snow fall.”

Dan Frank adds that another reason that Windham was ahead of the pack last year is because the resort dedicated more resources to snowmaking. “Just as some businesses share the philosophy that when business softens you have to spend more on advertising, in our business it means instead of cutting back on snowmaking we spend more,” Dan explains, “We purposely went out and dedicated more resources to our snowmaking to make up for the shortage of good weather. By the time mid-season came around, we were ahead of the group.”

Snow as an art form

Snowmaking is an ever-evolving science; some even call it an art. Every mountain has access to the same equipment, but there are ways to maximize your efforts.

If snow is pushed out too early, the water comes to the surface and freezes. If snow has time to cure and set up, it is far more durable – making it less susceptible to being skied off.

“Snowmaking is a little like baking in an oven with an inconsistent thermostat,” Dan says. “You set it at 350 degrees, but if the temperature only gets to 200, everything is undercooked and if it goes to 500 degrees, everything is overdone. There’s no manual on finding the right balance. It requires constant tinkering and adjustments that can only be learned from experience.”

Judging by comments from guests, it is a delicate balance that Windham has mastered. Find out more about Windham by calling (518) 734-4300 or by logging on to www.windhammountain.com.

You can also log on to their website via an easily found link on the home page of www.skiernews.com.

STAY in LEHIGH VALLEY, PA and SKI the MOUNTAINS

Double the fun with a Lehigh Valley Ski & Stay Package Easy to do and much easier than making the trip back after your big day on the slopes

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA – The Lehigh Valley is located an hour and a half west of New York City and less than an hour north of Philadelphia. Skiers from a wide Mid- Atlantic region can quickly and easily reach the area for a day, weekend or week of outdoor winter activities.

Friendly Ski and Stay Packages

Ski & Stay packages let snow lovers ski, snowboard or tube the slopes at Bear Creek Mountain Resort or Blue Mountain Ski Area and then relax overnight in accommodations at local hotels and inns. Rates for the 2007-08 ski season will be available at www.lehighvalleypa.org in November and include overnight accommodations and a voucher for skiing, snowboarding or tubing at either mountain. Travelers can also log onto the site for complete package details and to request a free Ski & Stay brochure.

Experience Bear Creek

With 22 trails and a vertical rise of 510 feet, Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie, Pa., offers lighted trails at beginner, intermediate and expert levels. The Burton Learn to Ride Center teaches novices how to snowboard. Skiers can relax in the spacious lodge or get a bite to eat at The Mountain Eatery or The Grille at Bear Creek. New this fall at Bear Creek Mountain Resort is an 80,000-square-foot facility that includes 65 new hotel rooms, additional banquet facilities, corporate meeting space, two executive board rooms, a full service deli and an outdoor pool with entertainment deck.

At the end of a hard day on the slopes, visit the new 6,000-square-foot Spa at Bear Creek Mountain Resort, featuring four massage rooms, a manicure/pedicure area, a full service salon and a steam room. Swedish, hot stone, couples and tandem massages will be offered. Other services will include manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, light therapy and hair treatments.

All the Fun of Blue

Blue Mountain Ski Area in Palmerton, Pa., offers 30 trails for all ability levels and 14 slides for snowtubing. Home to the highest vertical drop in the state (1,082 feet), Blue Mountain opens the season with a new trail between Paradise and Razor’s Edge. Razor’s Edge, a double black diamond trail, is a recent addition to the mountain and has its own automated snowmaking system.

For snowboarders looking to try a few new tricks, check out Blue Mountain’s two recently upgraded terrain parks. Sidewinder Park has been widened and new snowmaking was installed last season. Choose from long trails, wild jibs, table tops, and cheese wedges that float you to perfect landings and even a bankable school bus! Terrain Run is smooth and mellow, especially for beginners. Terrain Run and Sidewinder Park combined make for one of the longest terrain parks in the Poconos and can be enjoyed by skiers and riders of all levels. Blue Mountain also holds Nastar Races every Thursday night and Sunday afternoon.

For more information on Ski & Stay Packages or to request a Lehigh Valley Map & Guide, call 1-800-747-0561 or visit the official tourism web site of the Lehigh Valley at www.lehighvalleypa.org.

You may also log on to their website via an easily found link on the home page of www.skiernews.com.

BLUE MOUNTAIN SKI AREA CELEBRATES 30 YEARS

PALMERTON, PA — It all began when Ray Tuthill, an avid skier who took many ski trips out West with his family, dreamed of having a ski area close to home. At this time Ray was the owner of the Riebe Construction Company and wanted to create work for his employees during the winter months.

In 1962, Ray and Diane Tuthill bought 50 acres of land on the very top of Blue Mountain, just east of Little Gap. Ten years later they were able to purchase 223 additional acres, which would make it possible to construct ski trails from the top to the bottom of the mountain.

Studies were made, designs were created and construction started on Dec. 22, 1977. Little Gap Ski Area opened with a small ski lodge, one chairlift, a T-bar lift and four trails. Artificial snowmaking was an essential part of the operation and this was accomplished using portable air compressors.

In 1985, the ski lodge at the summit was tripled in size, the Main Street chair was installed and Lazy Mile trail was built. During this same year Bruce Ebert became Ray Tuthills partner.

At about this same time a study was done by marketing students at Lehigh University. The students reported that many skiers never tried Little Gap because the name made the ski area sound like a small mountain. With the highest vertical, Little Gap was certainly not small and by this time had the potential to be a major player in the Pocono ski market. To correct this image problem the name became Blue Mountain Ski Area in 1988.

In 1988 an expert trail was added to the east. It was called The Challenge and it ran straight down the mountain from the top to the bottom. This trail, the first double diamond in the area, attracted the best skiers. A new 4000-foot-long double chairlift was installed to service this new trail. In 1992 the Chaplinsky farm was bought. With this purchase came land on the east side of the ski area as well as a great deal of flat land in the valley. It opened the possibility of further growth. This year the Challenge Lift was extended to the valley, giving Blue Mountain the highest vertical in Pennsylvania at 1082 feet.

In 1994 a high speed detachable quad lift was installed running from the valley to the top of the mountain. A year later a 6000-foot-long trail, Paradise, was built for all levels of skiers. A temporary lodge was built in the valley due to the overcrowding in the Summit Lodge.

In 1996 snowtubing was introduced so that non-skiers could also enjoy winter fun.

On Presidents Day in 1997 snowboarders were finally invited to join skiers on the mountain. A snowboard Half-Pipe and Terrain Park were added for the 1998-99 season.

In 2003, the long awaited Razors Edge trail was open for skiing and snowboarding. This double diamond trail is currently one of the most popular trails in the Pocono region. Also this same year there was a major expansion on the Valley Lodge, which included doubling the size of the Rental Shop and Cafeteria.

The high-speed detachable six-passenger lift, installed for the 2006-07 season, replaced the Challenge Chairlift. Blue Mountain was the first Ski Area in Eastern Pennsylvania to install a six pack lift. Now skiers and snowboarders will be able to spend more time on the trails and less time waiting in lift lines.

Work on a new trail has been started and will be open for skiing and snowboarding for the 2008-09 season.

Some of the features currently found at Blue Mountain are 130 skiable acres with 30 trails of varied and scenic terrain, nine lifts, a Half-Pipe, computerized snowmaking, two full service Rental Shops and three Learning Centers. Terrain Run and Sidewinder Park, when combined, create the longest terrain park in the region.

All were all saddened by the death of Ray Tuthill in May 2007. Throughout the years, Ray Tuthill was very fortunate to have some very loyal employees to help run the operations of Blue Mountain Ski Area. Some of them worked at the mountain since the day it first welcomed skiers. The loyal employees will continue to keep Blue Mountain operating as if Ray were still alive.

To learn about all of Blue Mountain’s special events, weekly programs, pricing discounts and conditions please log on to their website at www.skibluemtn.com. You also can easily find a link to Blue on the right side of the homepage of www.skiernews.com.

SHAWNEE MOUNTAIN HAS $2 MILLION in IMPROVEMENTS

SHAWNEE-ON-DELAWARE, PA – In preparation for its 33rd ski season, Shawnee Mountain is pleased to announce details of a major construction project and equipment purchase that will yield $2 million in improvements for the coming 2007-08 winter snowsports season. Following a three-year permitting process, construction began this past April. All phases of the project will be completed by early November in time for the annual start of snowmaking operations.

Snowmaking Pond Dredging and New Retention Dam

After removing the pedestrian footbridge and after construction of a temporary bypass channel for the Shawnee Creek, over 40,000 cubic yards of earth have been removed from the 6-acre pond at the base of Shawnee Mountain. At the same time, a new 260- foot concrete retention dam with a 150-foot spillway was built, replacing an older earthen dam. Consequently, snowmaking water storage capacity will reach 12.5 million gallons – an increase in storage of 500 percent.

New Footbridge

Shawnee Mountain installed a new woodenplanked steel pedestrian footbridge over the snowmaking pond in the same location as the older bridge. The new bridge provides easy access from the parking lots to the base area facilities and ski lodges.

New Beginners Area and Learning Center

Most of the 40,000 cubic yards of fill was hauled to, spread, aerated and compacted on the Little Chief and Little Brave Slopes. This created a much larger, flatter and wider beginners area for novice skiers and snowboarders and a contoured learning center designed exclusively for ski and snowboard lessons. Two aging beginner chairlifts were replaced with two new carpet conveyor lifts. The new carpet lifts have proven to be very beginner and child friendly. The new Beginners Area and Learning Center will have a new lighting system for night use and new energy efficient tower snow guns.

Tubing Park Extended

The resort used additional earth from the dredging project in the Pocono Plunge Snow Tubing Park to extend the landing and run out area of all five tubing chutes by 50 feet.

New Grooming Machine

Adding to an already impressive grooming fleet is the purchase of a new Piston Bully Grooming Machine, complete with flex tiller and specially designed Terrain Park blade.

More Rentals

As part of a multi-year program to upgrade its massive rental shop, Shawnee Mountain has purchased 600 new pairs of Elan Shaped Skis, 250 new Rossignol Snowboards and 800 new pairs of Salomon Ski Boots. The Shawnee Mountain Rental Shop, which is the largest of its kind under one roof, is able to outfit over 4,000 skiers and riders.

Shawnee Mountain is located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania just off Exit 309 of Interstate 80.For general information call 570-421-7231.

For lodging information, call 800-SHAWNEE (Shawnee Inn), or 800-POCONOS (visitor’s bureau).

Or visit Shawnee Mountain on-line at www.shawneemt.com or the regional site www.poconoski.com, where on-line booking links are available.

You may also log on to Shawnee’s website via an easily found link on the right side of the home page of www.skiernews.com.

CAMELBACK IMPROVES for 2007-08

Spring Into Savings Daylight Savings Means Savings at Camelback!

(March 7, 2008) TANNERSVILLE, PA – Beginning Sunday, March 9th, Camelback Ski Area will introduce a special Daylight Savings Package with significant savings for skiers and snowboarders. Day lift ticket hours will be extended from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., resulting in five additional hours of fun on the slopes at the same cost of a regular day ticket.

Beginning Sunday, March 16th, operating hours will change from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a discounted Daylight Savings lift ticket of $9.99 good from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Lessons and rentals will also be offered for only $9.99!

“Because Day Light Savings starts early again this year, Camelback can offer skiing later into the early evening, but not be required to turn the lights on, thus using much less energy,” says Craig Low, Camelback’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “This savings can be passed onto our guests in the form of a greatly reduced lift ticket for the afternoon. It’s the best of both worlds. We are open to ski and ride, and can offer great conditions at a convenient time while using much less energy.” ###

TANNERSVILLE, PA – Camelback is investing over $1.25 million in improvements for this winter. It will invest approximately $150,000 to upgrade the snowmaking system, including the purchase of the Polecat for the bottom of the Terrain Park.

On the Oak Grove Halfpipe, Camelback plans to raise the lights on the east side for better visibility. Installation of two 650-foot handle tows for the Rhodo Terrain Park and the Oak Grove Halfpipe began this fall.

Upgrades for the Tubing Park include the installation of a Magic Carpet conveyor along with the addition of two single chutes and one family chute, raising the count to 14 chutes. The grounds around the ticket office and fire pit will be paved, making it cleaner and easier to walk around.

Camelback has continued its tradition of having the best rental equipment available for their guests with the addition of 550 pairs of replacement skis for the Rental Shop and approximately 200 Burton snowboards. They will also purchase 30 pairs of ladies progression boots, which will offer a boot specific for women in the shop this year.

Wednesday will be Ladies Day at Camelback. Women will be able to purchase a Ski or Snowboard Lunch package for $41. The package includes a day or twilight lift ticket and a lunch voucher for a Caesar Salad and drink in the Eastside Bistro from 11 am to 1 pm. In addition, there will be a free clinic for women at 10 a.m. on Wednesday for tips on skiing and snowboarding with one of the resident pros.

Camelback will now offer a Military Discount all week long. All of the men and women who serve our country will be offered a discount Monday through Friday, nonholiday. Patrons can present their current military ID at any ticket window and receive a discounted lift ticket or lesson package.

The food venues and their menus at Camelback are getting a facelift this winter. Camelback has invested over $400,000 on improvements to its restaurants and cafeterias. Camelback has always prided itself on top quality food for its winter, summer and special-event guests. The result will continue that tradition with a fresh look in the variety of food venues. Head Chef Gary Alsberge will dazzle you again with mouthwatering old favorites and tantalizing new creations.

For more info, you may also log on to Camelback’s website - www.skicamelback.com - via an easily found link on the right side of the home page of www.skiernews.com.

SEVEN SPRINGS ADDS HIGH-SPEED SIX-PACK and MORE for 2007-08

CHAMPION, PA — Seven Springs will once again this year continue to have more of what skiers love at the mountain resort. A new, highspeed six-passenger lift is adding to the North Face experience. This new lift will transform a 12-minute lift ride to a mere four minutes.

Massive Hotel Renovations

Additionally, the most extensive project at Seven Springs is the refurbishment of all of their 418 rooms. The renovation brings flat screen TVs, new wall treatments, new beds, bedspreads and linens.

Terrain Park Upgrades

For those skiers and snowboarders who enjoy terrain parks, there will be all new rails and boxes this year. There is also an expansion of The Spot area with the addition of an urban specific park.

The snow tubing park adds a lift with the completion of the Magic Carpet to get you quickly back to the top of the tubing hill to keep the thrill almost continuous and effortless.

In recent years, Seven Springs upgraded its ski experience in a variety of ways. Here is more of what makes Seven Springs a great place to visit.

Recently added to Sunset Park were more advanced features, including a curved “C” rail and a state-ofthe- art Zaugg half-pipe groomer. Popular in Western resorts, the Zaugg helps create a half-pipe that is 40 feet to 50 feet wide with sloped sides that skiers can go up, over and back across.

More Snowmaking More of the Time

Skiers on every slope will experience the benefits from past extensive upgrades to Seven Springs’ snowmaking equipment. With the touch of a button, new radio-controlled automatic snowmaking equipment blasts snow onto the Stowe, Avalanche and Goosebumps slopes. The automated equipment, with manual override, has a continuous string of guns from the top to the bottom of the mountain.

“We can make greater amounts of snow in less time since the automated equipment eliminates the need to manually turn each snow gun on and off,” Barron said. He added that the state-of-the-art equipment would free up manpower. This permits the staff to concentrate on grooming other slopes, bringing the entire snowmaking capability to a new level.

Seven Springs Mountain Resort, located in Champion, Pa., is Pennsylvania’s largest ski and year-round resort, and was recently rated No. 1 in the mid-Atlantic region by readers of SKI magazine.

Located within 200 miles of the major metropolitan areas of Baltimore, Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C., Seven Springs is easily accessible from either exit 91 or 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

You can also easily log on to their website from a link on the right side of the homepage of www.skiernews.com.

Or, for more information on Seven Springs, visit www.7springs.com or call 1-800-452-2223.

HIDDEN VALLEY UPGRADES 2007-08 WINTER SEASON

Enhanced skiing and new dining and retail amenities among improvements at popular family resort

HIDDEN VALLEY, PA — Imagine unlimited skiing and snowboarding on miles of trails and slopes in the Laurel Highlands. Add to it the comforts and amenities of a quaint mountain resort surrounded by state forests and parklands. Welcome to Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort. A popular Mid-Atlantic destination for generations, Hidden Valley is under new ownership. That is good news for new and longtime patrons of the secluded 1,500-acre property tucked away in Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains.

New Owners Take Charge

Buncher Resort & Hospitality Group, LLC, has exciting plans for Hidden Valley over the next three to five years. After closing on the property Aug. 31, the Pittsburgh-based owners are moving swiftly to ready the resort and slopes for families and skiers to enjoy in the 2007-08 winter season. Bill Doring, vice president and treasurer, who heads up the project and is an avid skier and snowboarder, says Buncher is committed to the project long term.

“Our vision is to return Hidden Valley to its glory days, as a premier family resort, and ensure a high standard of operation with amenities that cater to families and the residents of Hidden Valley. It’s an exciting era in the resort’s more than 50-year history,” Doring adds. “We’re just getting started.” At press time, Buncher was scheduled to unveil its master plan later in the month.

What’s New for the Season

What’s new for ski season? The ski lodge and facilities will sport new roofs, new decks, carpeting and paint, the exterior a soft gray hue with Wedgewood blue trim. The resort’s iconic clock tower is being restored. The roads and parking lots are being upgraded, and new lighting, signage and a wireless Internet system are being installed. Resort rental properties will be spruced up. Hidden Valley offers a variety of lodging, including condominiums, townhouses and singlefamily homes, and new development is planned in the near future.

The grounds have been meticulously groomed and vegetation cut back on slopes and trails that scale to the resort’s highest 3,000-foot elevation. Buncher is boosting snowmaking capacity on the mountain, adding state-of-the-art equipment by way of 30 automated snow guns and two groomers to ensure optimal skiing conditions. Other enhancements include new chairs for the dual triple lifts. Add to that a fleet of new rental equipment includes skis, snowboards, boots, poles and bindings from top makers such as Elan skis, Atomic snowboards and Solomon boots. New web and mountain cams will capture the activity on the slopes.

Season Pass Values

Value is a hallmark of Hidden Valley. New family ski passes offer the best value for the season. Plus season ski pass holders can also enjoy thrilling snow tubing sessions at Outback Park and other perks like complimentary tickets for a full day of skiing and snowboarding, and snow tubing sessions for friends.

Look for new retail and dining amenities, too. A ski shop on the ground level of the lodge will house the latest gear for winter sports and recreation. In food and drink, John Harvard’s will bring delicious brew house classics to two prime locations at the resort. John Harvard’s Express at the ski lodge offers quick bites like burgers, sandwiches and wraps, gourmet pizza and a kid’s menu to power up for the slopes. At Outback Park, the adjoining property on Rt. 31, a full-service John Harvard’s restaurant will operate yearround. It will serve up hearty fare from its bistro menu like old-fashioned chicken pot pie, backwoods Louisiana smothered fried chicken and ranch sirloin steak. The resort’s main eatery famous for breathtaking views of Hidden Valley slopes has a new menu and new look.

There is also a new café on site which is perfect for warming up and après ski. For more information or for season passes and lift tickets, please visit www.MyHiddenValleyResort.com or call (814) 443-8000.

You can also link to their site from an easily found link on the home page of www.skiernews.com.

WHITEFACE RANKED SECOND in EASTERN U.S. by SKI MAGAZINE READERS and THIRD IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

Olympic sites also give Whiteface/Lake Placid No. 1 off-hill rating

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – The survey is complete and the numbers are in as resorts prepare for the 2007-08 winter season. According to a record-setting 7,000 readers of SKI Magazine, Whiteface in Wilmington, N.Y., accompanied by nearby Lake Placid, ranks second among resorts in the Eastern United States and third in Eastern North America. An independent research firm conducted the survey. On average, the respondents skied 23 days last winter. Readers of SKI also ranked the region tops in North America for off-hill activities.

The Whiteface / Lake Placid region, which hosted the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, Winter Goodwill Games and continues to conduct many World Cup competitions, is highlighted in the October issue of the publication. Additionally, a feature on Adirondack skiing – touting both Whiteface and Gore Mountains –appears in the same issue. Only Mont Tremblant, Que., in the top spot and Smuggler’s Notch, Vt., second, stood ahead of Whiteface / Lake Placid in the SKI survey.

From 2000-03, Whiteface held the top spot in the Eastern U.S. In 2003-04, Whiteface was ranked seventh; in 2004-05, it improved to sixth.

In the highlights of the 2008 report, the 225-acre mountain was ranked 10th in terrain variety, fourth in challenge, and fourth in lifts. Moreover, it was ranked third in dining, third in après ski, seventh in family programs, third in scenery and sixth in overall satisfaction.

For the 15th consecutive year, the Whiteface / Lake Placid area graded tops in off-hill activities in North America, thanks to its menu of Olympic-style sports. Bobsled and luge rides, ice skating, cross country skiing, ski jumping, World Cup events, hockey, figure skating, shows, and concerts complement the skiing and snowboarding.

“These experiences continue to differentiate Whiteface / Lake Placid from other resorts,” said Ted Blazer, President and CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), in Lake Placid, which operates all ORDA venues, including Whiteface. “The venues are offered not only to the world-class athlete but to the recreational visitor as well.

“We thank the survey respondents for considering us so highly,” continued Blazer. “Ultimately, those who read publications such as SKI are among the most passionate and savvy skiers and boarders. Making them happy gives us the impetus to advance our resort experience.”

Added Whiteface General Manager Jay Rand, “Whiteface management and staff will continue all efforts to maintain our status as a premiere resort. It is these types of surveys and guest feedback from the most astute skiers and riders that will enable us to provide the best experiences possible in the future.”

To that end, Whiteface has currently embarked on another round of upgrades. For the upcoming winter campaign, visitors and residents will see further improvements in snowmaking capacity and grooming. Air compressors and snow guns are being changed over to incorporate environmental sustainability with eco-friendly, low-energy, high-output equipment.

Mountain management has also succeeded in recent years in bringing more water to the snowmaking intake, thus running more guns at one time. In addition, the grooming fleet has increased over the past several seasons with four new cats thus enabling the mountain staff to better farm this new-found, additional snow.

Patrons of Kids Kampus, growing in popularity in recent years for the self-contained nature of its operation, will now benefit from an expansion for children and families. The advantages are evident, particularly during holiday periods. In addition, a new, 350-car parking lot opened last winter near Kids Kampus.

In the midst of the coming season, Whiteface will celebrate its 50th anniversary in January 2008 and will mark the occasion with weekend celebrations into March.

Upcoming winter events include World Cup mogul skiing in January, followed by World Cup snowboarding (parallel giant slalom and snowboardcross), Masters ski races and the North American Alpine Series Finals, all in March.

Looking beyond 2007-08, Whiteface is currently moving into its next frontier: Lookout Mountain. Located to the northeast of The Slides, Lookout Mountain will open in December 2008. It will have a 1,600-vertical-foot expert run, a 2,200-vertical-foot intermediate trail, a new triple chair starting just below the first pitch on Easy Street, snowmaking and another 55 acres of glades. This will increase the skiable terrain from 18 miles to 21.7 miles. The state-mandated ceiling at Whiteface is 25 miles.

If you would like to enjoy the Olympic Region experience complete with on and off snow activities, then you can view web cams from five locations and up-to-date weather by logging on to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com