Mad River Glen - New Mid-Station For Sunnyside Chair
The Mad River Glen cooperative has been successful in bringing snowmaking back to the 2,300’ elevation level on the trails accessed by the Sunnyside Chair. The new mid-station will enable us to access the man-made snow when the top of the lift is not skiable due to low natural snow. The trails highlighted in yellow all have snowmaking and can reasonably expected to be open by the December holiday period. The mid-station will provide easier access to the Birdland Lift and easier access to beginner terrain. The mid-station also opens up future possibilities in the Birdland area.
New haul rope (cable): The current haul rope is reaching the end of its useful life. While it is still safe and usable our rope inspector has informed us we should consider replacing the rope in the next 2-3 years. A new haul rope will ensure the long-term functionality of the lift.
New low voltage control system: A new low voltage control system, in combination with the new drive system (2023) and communications line (2022) will ensure the long-term functionality of the lift as well as bring the lift up to current codes. The new low voltage and drive will also give our lift operators more options in how they operate the lift including variable slow speeds, slow buttons at all stations and other enhancements.
Project Financials:
The total project budget, as authorized by the Cooperative Board of Trustees, is not to exceed $850,000.00. The project will be funded through a mix of charitable giving, in conjunction with the Stark Mountain Foundation, and the cooperative capital reserves. The approximate costs of the project components are;
Mid-station- $185,000, new haul rope- $130,000, low voltage control system- $225,000, project installation- $250,000, miscellaneous expenses- $60,000.
Strategic questions
Q: What is the main benefit of the Double mid-station?
A: The idea behind the mid-station started during management discussions about what we could do to access all the man-made snow we have from the “Kay’s Grove” area (the row of fir trees above the Birdcage between Lower Gazelle and Chipmunk/Lower Panther) on the double down to the base area during periods of low natural snow on the upper mountain. Most years there is at least a period of the winter we have great manmade snow and no way to access it. We are relegated to skiing just Lift 4 while we have multiple trails with full coverage on man-made snow from the mid-station area down to the base. The mid-station will allow us to ski on that snow when the top of the mountain is closed. This is especially noticeable in the early season and during the Christmas holiday. Adding the mid-station will give us 2 lifts and more than double the terrain when the upper mountain is closed.
Other benefits include easier access to the Birdland Lift, easier access to beginner terrain and enabling future possibilities for the Birdland area. Easier access to beginner terrain is a substantial benefit that will enhance the skiing experience for many user groups. This includes beginners, kids programs and anyone looking to cruise consistently groomed terrain without having to navigate the terrain at the top of the double. Ask any ski instructor how hard it is to graduate skiers off Callie’s Corner to the main mountain and they will tell you it is a large jump to either the Sunnyside Double or Lift 4. Having the option of getting off at mid-station and accessing either the Birdland Lift or the groomed lower mountain double terrain is a significant improvement to the skiing experience.
This project is also more than just a mid-station. The project includes replacing the haul rope and a new low voltage control system. The current haul rope is reaching the end of its useful life. While it is still safe and usable our rope inspector has informed us we should consider replacing the rope in the next 2-3 years. A new haul rope will ensure the long-term functionality of the lift. A new low voltage control system, in combination with the new drive system (2023) and communications line (2022) will ensure the long-term functionality of the lift as well as bring the lift up to current codes. The new low voltage and drive will also give our lift operators more options in how they operate the lift including variable slow speeds, slow buttons at all stations and other enhancements.
Q: How is this project strategic to the Cooperative? (What parts of the Strategic plan does it address?)
A: This project directly addresses three of the strategies in the Strategic Plan.
First, given that it enables us to ski more of the mountain during low natural snow periods, it’s a direct hit on our first strategy, which reads,
Expand skiing opportunities at Mad River Glen
As climate change marches forward and erodes our natural snowpack, the Cooperative needs to find new ways to provide consistent access to skiing on the main mountain
Second, given the benefits to learners and ski programs, the Double mid-station also addresses the fifth strategy, which reads,
Provide accessible starting points
Encourage customers and shareholders to share the Mad River Glen experience with others, in order to market beyond the iconic (but exclusive) “SKI IT IF YOU CAN” bumper sticker so we are accessible to a wide range of skiers and communities
And finally, given the appeal to pass holders, ski clubs and homeowners, and the families in programs who drive much of the activity at the mountain when weather and conditions are not ideal, the double mid-station also is well-suited for the sixth strategy:
Nurture durable Mad River Glen communities
Foster formal relationships with the advocates in communities who drive deeper engagement at the mountain and beyond
Q: When this project is complete, will it generate new revenue?
A: Yes, although additional revenue is not the primary reason for adding the mid-station. We do believe we will sell more day tickets when the upper mountain isn’t open if we have more than just the Lift 4 (Practice Slope) trail pod open. The primary benefit to the revenue picture will be the added assurances for passholders and other product/stakeholders (Stark Mountain Cards, ski club members, 2nd home owners) that the mountain will have skiing beyond Lift 4 when the upper mountain is closed. Skiers can buy passes and book their vacations knowing that even when the upper mountain is closed there will be skiing off 2 lifts and a greater variety of trails.
Q: What part of the skiing experience will we upgrade next, after the Double mid-station?
A: Adding the Sunnyside Double mid-station opens up possibilities for the Birdland area. With easier access to the Birdland Lift we have the opportunity to consider expanded operations of the Birdland area. This could include expanded snowmaking and/or more operational days. We can also look to expand snowmaking to more trails that would be accessible from the mid-station. There are hurdles to overcome and strategic decisions to make to accomplish any of these ideas, but having the mid-station allows us to consider these options.
Q: We’ve had a Double mid-station before and abandoned it. How is this time different?
A: The old mid-station was used as a loading station to ski the upper mountain when there was only snow above the ~2,300’ “Flurry Line”. Back then skiers would lap the upper mountain and then ski a path (one wouldn’t really consider it a skiable trail) down Bunny that was shoveled in by ski patrol and mountain operations. Snow patterns have changed since then and we very rarely see those types of patterns. We also have brought snowmaking back to the 2,300’ level so there is always a viable path all the way to the base. The new weather patterns have resulted in no skiable snow on the upper mountain but cold enough temperatures to make snow from the mid-station to the base. In addition to snow patterns changing, we also see changes in our business that we need to accommodate. For example, our business has shifted from day tickets to season passes, and our kids ski programs fuel much of the early season activity and revenue at the mountain. Both of these changes bring expectations of the skiing experience that the previous incarnations of the double mid-station were not designed to meet.
Q: How many operators will the Double mid-station add, and can we staff it?
A: Vermont Tramway regulations require lift stations to be staffed when the lift is operating. The mid-station will have an operator at all times so it will add 1 lift operator. We will have to have an operator at the top of the lift even when we are only open from mid-station to the base. Yes, we will be able to staff it and will budget accordingly.
Q: Will the summit of the Double require an operator even if the mountain is closed above mid-station?
A: Yes, see above.
Q: How much does the Double mid-station project cost, and how will we pay for it?
A: The project budget is $850,000. The approximate costs of the project components are; mid-station – $185,000, new haul rope – $130,000, low voltage control system – $225,000, project installation – $250,000, miscellaneous expenses – $60,000. The project will be funded through a mix of charitable giving in collaboration with the Stark Mountain Foundation, and the cooperative capital reserves.
Q: Why don’t we just put snowmaking to the top of the double or to the Single mid-station?
A: Primarily because we simply don’t have enough access to water to make that much snow. Gaining more water is prohibitively expensive (in the millions of $$’s) and we don’t have any good ways to access water or places to build a pond. We also recognize that many of us much prefer natural snow and adding snowmaking to the upper mountain would have an adverse effect on the skiing experience throughout the entire season. Finally, there are significant costs and permitting concerns when considering snowmaking to either summit.
Q: Why don’t we add another lift from somewhere lower on the mountain that goes to Birdcage or somewhere else in Birdland
A: We considered many options when trying to solve the “how do we access the man-made snow from Kay’s Grove to the base” problem. A new lift would cost considerably more to install and operate. A new lift would also negatively impact the skiing experience by increasing skier density and creating a new lift line cut through treasured natural and gladed areas. None of us considered cutting a lift line through the Ice Palace or neighboring areas as a viable option. The base area is also very tight as it is and we couldn’t find a good spot to place a new lift base station.
Skiing experience questions
Q: Where on Gazelle will the mid-station be?
A: The mid-station will be located very close to the old mid-station in the flattish area at the top of what is informally called “Kay’s Grove” which is the row of fir trees above the Birdcage between Lower Gazelle and Chipmunk/Lower Panther. We have roped off the location and shape of the mid-station which you can view when riding the Sunnyside Double or skiing through the area. The roped off area will remain for the rest of this season so skiers can see for themselves where it will be and how it will affect the skiing experience. (Note: due to adverse weather we had to take the ropes down. They will be going back up shortly)
Q: How will skiers get around it?
A: Skiers will ski past the mid-station on Lower Gazelle to the skiers’ right of the mid-station. If skiers want to get over to Chipmunk/Lower Panther they will ski above it to the skiers’ left or go around under it.
Q: How does the mid-station change the skiing experience where Chipmunk, Porcupine, and Lower Panther interact with Gazelle?
A: While the mid-station will create an area to ski around, we don’t believe it will have a large impact on the skiing experience. We encourage everyone to go ski by the roped off area and experience the impacts for themselves.
Q: Will we need to add or change any Double Lift Towers?
A: The mid-station will include the addition of two towers at the mid-station itself. Additionally, the sheave trains (the lines of wheels on the towers) of the towers immediately above and below the mid-station will be modified to adjust for the altered loads on the towers.
Q: Will the structure look like the Single mid-station, with live edge siding and a shed roof?
A: The structure itself will be a wood structure with an operator station that will come prebuilt from the contractor. We will modify it to fit in with the character of the mountain. This will include a shed roof and likely T-111 or clapboard siding. The base station of the Sunnyside double is clapboard and the summit is T-111.
