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Wachusett Mountain (ski area)
Encyclopedia
Wachusett Mountain is a ski resort
in 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 3 high-speed chairlifts
and 3 children-friendly magic carpet
lifts and also has 1 Triple Chairlift.
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 stop
in nearby Fitchburg, Massachusetts
.
Wachusett Mountain has 100% snow-making capacity. Additionally, Wachusett Mountain has night-skiing on most of its trails.
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 3800 feet (1,158.2 m). http://www.wachusett.com/mtninfo/default.cfm|1
In 1969, Ralph Crowley was granted a lease for a 450 acres (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.
Stands of old growth hardwood forest on Mount Wachusett became the object of a court ruling in favor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in joint contract with the ski area regarding plans for a ski slope expansion into an environmental buffer zone around the old growth stand. The old growth forest contains trees over 350 years old; the buffer zone contained mature trees about half that age. The Sierra Club
and other conservation organizations criticized the ruling and two members of Earth First!
staged a sit-in
protest by climbing into the crowns of several of the trees in the area slated to be clear cut. As of 2007 wording on the website of the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area included strong language prohibiting skiers and snow boarders from entering the old growth area: "Anyone found entering old growth areas will have their lift ticket revoked. Subsequent offenses will be subject to fines."
The resort features 22 trails, ranging in difficulty from easiest (green circle) to most difficult (black diamond). Amidst these trails is a terrain park
, and a racing venue. The two high-speed chairlifts (Minuteman and Polar Express) service the two main peaks as well as a brand new high-speed lift for the beginner area (Monadnock Easy-Rider Express) One additional 3-person chairlifts (Vickery Bowl) service the mid-mountain area. 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.
The base lodge has recently been expanded, and is now nearly 50000 sq ft (4,645.2 m²). It contains public areas, a cafeteria, The Black Diamond restaurant, and private suites, that are available for daily rental.
The resort includes nearby Wachusett Village Inn which provides overnight accommodations. A shuttle service connects to the ski area during the winter season.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
in located on Mount Wachusett
Mount Wachusett
Mount Wachusett is located in the towns of Princeton and Westminster in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It is the highest point in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River. The mountain is named after a Native American term meaning "near the mountain" or "mountain place". The mountain is a...
in the towns of Princeton
Princeton, Massachusetts
Princeton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States.It is bordered on the east by Sterling and Leominster, on the north by Westminster, on the northwest by Hubbardston, on the southwest by Rutland, and on the southeast by Holden....
and Westminster
Westminster, Massachusetts
Westminster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 7,277.- History :Westminster was first settled in 1737, and was officially incorporated in 1759....
in Worcester County
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. It has 22 trails serviced by 7 ski-lifts, including 3 high-speed chairlifts
Detachable chairlift
A detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the...
and 3 children-friendly magic carpet
Magic carpet (ski lift)
A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill...
lifts and also has 1 Triple Chairlift.
Wachusett Mountain appeals mostly to commuting skiers from the nearby major cities of Boston, and Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, as it provides a shuttle service to and from a major MBTA commuter stop
Fitchburg (MBTA station)
Fitchburg is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Fitchburg Line, located at 100 Main St., Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and is the northern terminus for Fitchburg Line trains...
in nearby Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
.
Wachusett Mountain has 100% snow-making capacity. Additionally, Wachusett Mountain has night-skiing on most of its trails.
History
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the 10th Mountain Division
10th Mountain Division
The 10th Mountain Division is a light infantry division of the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. It is a subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps and the only division-sized element of the U.S. Army to specialize in fighting under harsh terrain and weather conditions...
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 3800 feet (1,158.2 m). http://www.wachusett.com/mtninfo/default.cfm|1
In 1969, Ralph Crowley was granted a lease for a 450 acres (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.
Stands of old growth hardwood forest on Mount Wachusett became the object of a court ruling in favor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in joint contract with the ski area regarding plans for a ski slope expansion into an environmental buffer zone around the old growth stand. The old growth forest contains trees over 350 years old; the buffer zone contained mature trees about half that age. The Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
and other conservation organizations criticized the ruling and two members of Earth First!
Earth First!
Earth First! is a radical environmental advocacy group that emerged in the Southwestern United States in 1979. It was co-founded on April 4th, 1980 by Dave Foreman, Mike Roselle, Howie Wolke, and less directly, Bart Koehler and Ron Kezar....
staged a sit-in
Sit-in
A sit-in or sit-down is a form of protest that involves occupying seats or sitting down on the floor of an establishment.-Process:In a sit-in, protesters remain until they are evicted, usually by force, or arrested, or until their requests have been met...
protest by climbing into the crowns of several of the trees in the area slated to be clear cut. As of 2007 wording on the website of the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area included strong language prohibiting skiers and snow boarders from entering the old growth area: "Anyone found entering old growth areas will have their lift ticket revoked. Subsequent offenses will be subject to fines."
Mountain information
Terrain park
A terrain park is an outdoor area that contains terrain that allows skiers and snowboarders to perform tricks. Terrain parks have their roots in skateparks and many of the features are common to both. One of the first in-bounds terrain parks was the "Snowboard Park" built in 1990 at the Vail...
, and a racing venue. The two high-speed chairlifts (Minuteman and Polar Express) service the two main peaks as well as a brand new high-speed lift for the beginner area (Monadnock Easy-Rider Express) One additional 3-person chairlifts (Vickery Bowl) service the mid-mountain area. Two magic carpets
Magic carpet (ski lift)
A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill...
service the mountain's training slopes.
In 2006, the National Ski Patrol
National ski patrol
The National Ski Patrol is the largest winter rescue organization in the world. It was founded in 1938 by Charles Minot Dole, at the urging of Roger Langley...
named Wachusett Mountain Ski Patrol as the best Large Alpine Patrol in the country.
The base lodge has recently been expanded, and is now nearly 50000 sq ft (4,645.2 m²). It contains public areas, a cafeteria, The Black Diamond restaurant, and private suites, that are available for daily rental.
The resort includes nearby Wachusett Village Inn which provides overnight accommodations. A shuttle service connects to the ski area during the winter season.
Trails
| Easier | More Difficult | Most Difficult |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 11 | 4 |
Lifts
| Lift Name | Vertical Rise | Length | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polar Express Quad | 944 ft | 4,307 ft | high speed quad Detachable chairlift A detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the... |
| Minuteman Express Quad | 600 ft | 3,516 ft | high speed quad Detachable chairlift A detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the... |
| Monadnock Express Quad | 230 ft | 2,340 ft | high speed quad Detachable chairlift A detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the... |
| Vickery Bowl Triple | 279 ft | 1,500 ft | fixed grip triple Chairlift An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs... |
| Easy Rider | 36 ft | 350 ft | magic carpet Magic carpet (ski lift) A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill... |
| Ollie's Carpet | 18 ft | 200 ft | magic carpet Magic carpet (ski lift) A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill... |
| Polar Kids | 9 ft | 100 ft | magic carpet Magic carpet (ski lift) A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill... |