Wachusett Mountain (ski area)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wachusett Mountain Ski Resort | |
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| Location: | |
| Nearest city: | Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Vertical: | 1,000 ft (309 m) |
| Top elevation: | 2,006 ft (611 m) |
| Base elevation: | 1,006 ft (302 m) |
| Skiable area: | 105 acres (43 hectares) |
| Runs: | 22 |
| Longest run: | 7,050 ft (2,149 m) |
| Lift system: | 1 rope tow 3 magic carpets 2 triple chairlift 2 high speed quads |
| Terrain parks: | Half Pipe Alpine Park Racing venue |
| Snowfall: | 100 in (254 cm) |
| Snowmaking: | 100% |
| Night skiing: | 81% (18 trails) |
| Web site: | http://www.wachusett.com |
Wachusett Mountain is a ski resort located on Mount Wachusett in the towns of Princeton and Westminster in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It has 22 trails serviced by 7 ski-lifts, including 2 high-speed chairlifts and 3 children-friendly magic carpet lifts and also has 2 Triple Chairlifts.
Wachusett Mountain appeals mostly to commuting skiers from the nearby major cities of Boston, and Worcester, Massachusetts, as it provides a shuttle service to and from a major MBTA Commuter Rail stop in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
Wachusett Mountain has 100% snow-making capacity. Additionally, Wachusett Mountain has night-skiing on most of its trails.
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[edit] History
The first ski trails were cut into Mount Wachusett by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Those trails were called Pine Hill trail and Balance Rock. Today skiers can still ski down the upper and lower half of Balance rock. The middle section closed in the 1980s. During World War II, the 10th Mountain Division trained at Wachusett. There is now a plaque at the summit commemorating this. The first lifts installed were a T-bar in 1960 (the Oxbow T-Bar) and in 1962 (the West T-Bar). At the time, the West T-Bar was the longest T-bar in New England, measuring a total of 3,800 feet (1,160 m). [1]
In 1969, Ralph Crowley was granted a lease for a 450-acre (1.8 km²) parcel of land on Mount Wachusett by the state to operate the ski area. In 1982, a major expansion was completed which included the construction of the base lodge.
[edit] Mountain Info
The resort features 22 trails, ranging in difficulty from easiest (green circle) to most difficult (black diamond). Amidst these trails is a half-pipe, terrain park, and a racing venue. The two high-speed chairlifts (Minuteman and Polar Express) service the two main peaks. Two additional 3-person chairlifts (Manadnock and Vickery Bowl) service the remainder of the mountain. Two magic carpets service the mountain's training slopes.
In 2006, the National Ski Patrol named Wachusett Mountain Ski Patrol as the best Large Alpine Patrol in the country.[1]
The base lodge has recently been expanded, and is now nearly 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m²). It contains public areas, a cafeteria, The Black Diamond restaurant, and private suites, which are available for daily rental.
The resort includes nearby Wachusett Village Inn which provides overnight accommodations, as well as a health club and pool. A shuttle service connects to the ski area during the winter season.
[edit] Trails
| Easier | More Difficult | Most Difficult |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 11 | 4 |
[edit] Lifts
| Lift Name | Vertical Rise | Length | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polar Express Quad | 944 ft | 4,307 ft | high speed quad |
| Minuteman Express Quad | 600 ft | 3,516 ft | high speed quad |
| Monadnock Triple | 230 ft | 2,340 ft | fixed grip triple |
| Vickery Bowl Triple | 279 ft | 1,500 ft | fixed grip triple |
| Easy Rider | 36 ft | 350 ft | magic carpet |
| Pony Lift | 29 ft | 350 ft | handle tow |
| Ollie's Carpet | 18 ft | 200 ft | magic carpet |
| Polar Kids | 9 ft | 100 ft | magic carpet |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Outstanding Award Winners. National Ski Patrol, Eastern Division. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- Massachusetts - Resort Info & Mountain Stats
- Skilifts.org - Wachusett Mountain, MA
- Wachusett Mountain - Vickery Bowl & Magic Carpet
