What's New For Winter 2024-25

The land of south-facing slopes and flat-rate tickets, Bromley Mountain enters this season with more ways to make skiers smile on sunny runs down the mountain. This summer Bromley continued to make upgrades to its snowmaking, with a new and improved pipeline on their lower mountain. Skiers can expect more consistent conditions on return to the base area, most notably on Lower Thruway and Lower Boulevard.

Bromley also enters the season with several new s\now guns, a new haul rope on East Meadow Chair, and a schedule of live music on holidays and nearly every weekend throughout the season.

Don’t let the laid-back vibe at Jay Peak fool you; this is a ski area with plans. Jay recently announced its Mission Affordability Program, an initiative that has begun freezing and reducing prices for a number of resort amenities—which the ski area will continue to add to throughout the 2024-25 season. 

By reducing the final list price, combined with new programs and deals, will give more skiers, riders, and their families the opportunity to save a bit more at the end of their vacation or day trip.

Switching it up from its early-opening announcements, Killington launched into the news early this season with the bombshell announcement of its change ownership. Joining the ranks of Vermont’s independently-owned ski areas, Killington was purchased from POWDR by a group of local investors this fall. The new ownership pledges to continue to operate Killington and Pico as they have been--and make major investments in the skier experience over the coming years.

Equally exciting are the details of those investments: $30M in capital investments will be made over the next two seasons, including improvements to lifts and snowmaking. For the 2024-25 season, visitors of Killington and Pico can experience the output of nearly 500 new snow guns across Killington and sister resort Pico (totaling 1,000 at the project's completion), as well as four new fully-automated fan guns installed at the bottom of the area's signature run, Superstar. 

The overall two-year project will consist of a low energy snowmaking investment totaling in 1,000 new low-energy HKD Tower and Fan guns, the replacement of the Superstar Express Quad to a high-speed six-pack (expected to happen summer 2025), a Skyeship Gondola revitalization including all new gondola chairs (116 in total) expected to be installed summer 2025, and a new gondola storage barn in Northbrook to be constructed in future years. Killington also has planned investment in mountain bike trail expansions. 

Mad River Glen comes into the 2024-25 season ready to get planks on snow. Big updates include a complete overhaul of the area’s snowmaking pump coupled with a new variable drive system for the Sunnyside Double. The ski area will also debut a new mid-station, thanks to SkyTrac (slated for completion Fall 2024), which will open up more early-season terrain when there's a greater reliance on manmade snow. In the heart of winter, the new station will also offer an easier avenue to Birdland’s green and blue trails for beginner and novice skiers.

Lift lines at Magic? Not if the new Black Summit Quad has anything to do with it. After its official unveiling in February 2024, the fixed-grip quad is primed for its first full season of operation. Combined with a daily 1500-lift ticket cap, Magic remains focused on its retro vibes and old-school ski experience.

Magic’s retro vibe stops at snowmaking however, as the ski area eyes earlier-season openings with the purchase of 50 new snow guns. Over 35 improved-efficiency HKD fixed tower guns will blanket key high-use trails off the mid-mountain Green lift, including the main race trail. The addition of over a dozen very light, mobile snow guns ("baby" Ratniks), will also add new snowmaking cover to the expert Black Line and Witch trails under the new quad.  

This year also welcomes in the aptly-named  Throwback Card, offering 25% off every day online ticket prices and a free ski day on your second visit for just $99.

The 2024-25 season marks 70 years of operations for the legendary Mount Snow—offering generations of skiers and riders a place to learn skills and experience thrills at one of Vermont’s most iconic mountain destinations.

More high-number bragging rights come with the 83% concentrated snowmaking power Mount Snow brings to its terrain via over 900 high-output, energy-efficient snow guns. With sate-of-the-art technology and the east’s most powerful snowmaking system, Mount Snow has greater control over snow quality and consistence, providing optimal coverage for skiers and riders, even when natural snowfall is light.

Mount Snow has also announced its My Epic Gear program, making premium gear available slope-side for just $50. Managed through the My Epic app, My Epic Gear is available for the whole family (ages 3 and up) across Stowe Mountain Resort, Okemo, and Mount Snow.

With 98% snowmaking coverage, there’s no mystery behind Okemo’s draw for skiing and riding families across New England. With advance, energy-efficient tower-gun technology and a fleet of modern snow groomers, Okemo stands ready to provide family fun quickly and efficiently. This season Okemo will also be unveiling winter favorites, including ice skating, the Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster and Gore Snowground.

Okemo has also announced its My Epic Gear program, making premium gear available slopeside for just $50. Managed through the My Epic app, My Epic Gear is available for the whole family (ages 3 and up) across Stowe Mountain Resort, Okemo, and Mount Snow.

A local favorite and excellent place for lessons, Pico Mountain will be making snow with numerous additional fixed, low-energy snow guns across the mountain. This follows the previous season’s complete overhaul of the Pico’s pump house, which increased their snowmaking capacity by 30% (up an additional 800GPM to 2400GPM). For skiers and riders that means making snow faster, over a larger area, with less energy.

With a community as strong as its commitment to skiing, Saskadena Six will welcome the first flakes with fresh revisions to lifts and snowmaking. The area’s main quad, Chair One received a revised unload zone over the summer, lessening the unload slope and increasing safety and flow. Saskadena also added several low-e snow producers to its snowmaking system as part of its ongoing sustainability efforts.

Easy Mile, a signature, round-mountain green loop trail was widened in several key areas, alleviating potential congestion on the area’s beginner-friendly slopes. More challenging terrain, like Porcupine, also received a refresh.

Despite diligent efforts by staff and maintenance crews, Saskadena’s double chair, Chair Two, will not run during the 24-25 season. S6 continues to work with an engineering firm on long-term options that could include restoration of the near 50-year-old chair, or replacement with a new lift. Chair Two terrain can still be access via the Gully trail or Duane’s Drop, the new intermediate trail Saskadena debuted for the 2023-24 season.

Stowe recently announced its My Epic Gear program, making premium gear available slopeside for just $50. The program gives skiers and riders all the benefits of gear ownership with more choice, lower cost and no hassle. The My Epic Gear membership provides access to more than 60 of the latest ski and snowboard models from 13 leading brands.

Managed through the My Epic app, My Epic Gear is available for the whole family (ages 3 and up) across Stowe Mountain Resort, Okemo, and Mount Snow.

Quick and efficient snowmaking is the goal for every ski area—but it’s a special focus for a mountain with as many sustainability efforts as Stratton. The ski resort recently announced $20M in improvements over the coming seasons, with $2M earmarked for its powerful snowmaking system.

Following last year’s successful implementation of 70 HKD KLIK snowmaking hydrants on Sun Tanner and Polar Bear the mountain is installing another 160 HKD KLIK hydrants on Frank's Line, Mikes Way, West Meadow, Drifter Link and Old Log Rd. Twenty-five HKD Impulse low-energy, high-performance tower snow guns will find a permanent home on Mike’s Way this season, replacing the manual process of bringing ground guns to the trail for snowmaking. The resort also replaced snowmaking pipe on Lower Standard and 1500 feet of snowmaking pipe on the access road, assuring reliability in transporting water uphill from Stratton’s two large snowmaking reservoirs.

A new Prinoth Bison X is also being added to Stratton’s 11- machine grooming fleet, making it the fourth Prinoth snowcat purchased in the last 4 years as the resort continues to implement the newest technology and efficiency standards.

Lift modernizations are also underway for Ursa (Fall 2024) and American Express (Spring 2025).

Sugarbush’s big news for this season is the much-anticipated opening of the new Heaven’s Gate Quad. This high-speed, fixed-grip lift will provide a reliable summit experience at Lincoln Peak, as well improved wind resistance and higher running speed. Prioritizing the Sugarbush experience, designers also spaced chairs to maintain the same uphill capacity, ensuring skiers and riders will enjoy the same downhill experience the area is known for.

Then new lift comes just in time for Sugarbush’s Descent To Rise Above challenge, a skiing initiative to reach a billion vertical feet skied as a collective Sugarbush community. If the community meets the goal, Sugarbush will donate $50,000 to NFI, a New England nonprofit specializing in the healing of mental and emotional trauma. 

Mount Ellen also received a number of snowmaking upgrades, including new mid-station pumps and new infrastructure on Inverness.

The newest member of the Historic Hotels of America, Trapp Family Lodge celebrates its 75th in operation this season. Already a leader in the XC ski community, Trapp Family lodge is one of only a handful currently utilizing snowmaking to expand its season and supplement natural snowfall. 

Infrastructure projects this summer expanded the range of the area's oscillating fan gun, as well as the adoption of the Nordic Pulse app to provide real-time grooming updates for the Lodge's passionate ski community. 

The final destination for most skiers, the Trapp Family Bierhall starts of winter season with new chef Josue Chanduvi, who works with local farmers to source the Bierhall's many dishes, from chicken to beef, pork, micro greens, brats, and more.