I am starting the post with a “feel good,  I can’t wait to ski photo”. Just because we all need to know we can get out in the snow and woods soon.

A new option this year:

Cliff and I set this up last week. Online ticket sales.  You can buy online or on site at the outdoor ticket window. We will also be able to process tickets sales in the parking lot. We are working hard to keep everything as safe as possible. You now have the option that you are comfortable with.

If you buy a day pass or rental online bring the email on your phone or print it out and we will give you a ticket.

If you but a season pass online, I will send you an email asking for your name or names and mailing address and then I will send you a pass with your name on it.

And onto the weather FORECAST. And we all have to remember it is just a forecast. But if we get enough snow we will have something open to ski on as soon as we can. (Hopefully Sunday). Nothing like committing to a building project in December to guarantee a snow event.

Our Covid Life, getting ready for you to ski. Safely.

A new groomer. You may have mistakenly thought we have a new garage table, used for our garage Thanksgiving. But, really we have a new Ginzu groomer. That may not mean much to a lot of you, it means the world to Ian and Jonathan, the groomers. It is a smaller version of the Ginzu groomer Ian pulls behind the Ranger. The Smaller version can be pulled with the snow machine. If all these names of equipment do not mean much to you, know it all means a lot to Ian. It means more options and better skiing!

And right onto the next project. The Covid Shed. Ian and Chuck are working on the site prep.  We received a grant from the State of Vermont to build a Covid Shed. It is a large shed with 3 open bays. We will be putting some benches in the shed. It will be one more option of socially distanced space to put on your boots or get yourself organized. If your car isn’t cutting it for you this space will be open, dry and airy. Out of the wind but not heated.

This was day 3 of site prep. Ian, this time working for/as Rugg Valley Landscaping, and crew put in 3 longs days and we are ready to build. Andy is running the compactor. The base is amazing. And compacting the base was as satisfying as vacuuming a really dirty floor when you have bare feet.

The Covid Shed location required a little trail moving. This at the bottom of the Peregrine behind the barn, coming down into the field. We took some trees out at the corner and removed years of piled rocks. (Piled there to get them out of the way of  different projects of the years.) Ian widened the culvert giving us more room at the bottom of the hill. The trail will then either go right into the field, and back toward the parking lot. Or left to head around the Peregrine again, or maybe the Chickadee.

This is the site at the end of Sunday, day 3. Grass seed thrown on the soil around the edge. Hay on top of the dirt and grass seed.

Now onto the building. We bought an “Equipment Shed” from Jamaica Cottage Shop. Ian will pick it up on December 8th is South Londonderry. The folks at Jamaica Cottage Shop went above and beyond to get the kit together with very short notice. We found out we received the grant on Monday, November 23rd.

The building will come in 3 bundles, with pages of building plans. We have help to build it, and we rented a telescoping fork lift to help make the project go faster and be safer. Especially now that there will be snow on the ground.

And talking about snow on the ground. If we get skiable snow this weekend, we will open. It doesn’t sound like enough snow to make the skiing really good. But this year, we all need to be outside, fresh air and exercise, the cure for almost everything.

Here is the yearly season pass offer. If you choose to get a season pass this is how we envision the Covid-19 protocol: Buy the pass. (Send a check to the address below.) The first day you ski, fill out the season pass contact info form. After that initial first ski, each day you ski you then sign in on the daily season pass log. We will keep your contact info for the season.

• We are following State of Vermont Covid-19 protocols. This list of protocols are for all skiers.
• Please stay home if you are sick.
• Use the state map of approved counties. Quarantine if necessary.
• You will be asked to affirm, on a piece of paper (we have to keep for 30 days), that you are from a green county, or have followed the State of Vermont quarantine policy. This form will include your contact info. If you do not have a season pass, you will do this every time you ski.
• A mask is required at the parking lot/base area and if you aren’t able to maintain safe distance from other people.
• Warming room will be closed. Plan on changing in your vehicle.
• We will be selling tickets/rentals thru a window, credit card, cash or check. If you only need a trail pass, it can be purchased from the parking lot attendant with cash or check.
• And expect changes and refinements to the system. Thanks!