Mad River Glen hand mowing season got underway yesterday with a scything crew laying down ferns and shrubs under their iconic single chair. The “mow some grass, earn your pass” program last ten days, at the end of which participants will be rewarded with a full season ski pass and cash.
“Mowers heading up Chute for day 2 of 10 using scythes to lay down the ferns and shrubs. By the end of the 10 days this hard working crew will have earned themselves a full season pass for the 2024/25 ski season, a more intimate knowledge of the terrain and some cash!”
The Vermont ski resort uses a traditional tractor mower on their beginner and intermediate terrain but goes old school on steeper terrain with workers lined up shoulder-to-shoulder hiking uphill while swinging ancient implements.
“Mow crew starts on Monday! A seasonal milestone and reminder that winter is coming.” –Mad River Glen
Mow Some Grass, Earn Your Pass
Mow some grass, earn your pass! Mow crew is the best way to get an intimate look at all of the nooks and crannies of Stark Mountain, burn some calories and make new ski buddies. At the end of the 10 days of work you’ll have earned some cash for your pocket and a full season’s pass for the upcoming winter.
A little run down on how we mow our trails… We use hand scythes to cut the grass, ferns and shrubs on the steepest slopes here at Mad River Glen. Most of the beginner and intermediate terrain is mowed with a tractor, mow crew steps in to finish off the areas the tractor can’t go.
We mow and move in a line shoulder-to-shoulder hiking up the trails as we go. It can be tough work but the camaraderie makes it so much fun! Truly, it is rewarding and at the end of the 10 days, you’ll have a full season ski pass and some cash in your pocket. Not only that but you will likely have learned something about the terrain you didn’t already know and you’ll have gained a couple of new ski buddies.
The day begins at 7:00 am and we mow until about 3:00 pm with many short breaks in between. A backpack with a hydration pack is highly recommended and you should also pack yourself enough food to get you through the day. There will be water stations along the route to refill your containers and likely a ride down on the chairlift at the end of the day to ease the knees.
Most people wear pants and long sleeves to fend off bugs and protect them from the sun but a few hardy folks go shorts and tees, everyone wears hiking boots – no exceptions. We will provide the scythe, a pair of work gloves, a sharpening stone/tools and water.
If you’re interested in joining the mow crew this fall please send an email to ry@madriverglen.com.
Details
Start: September 9 @ 7:00 am
End: September 20 @ 3:00 pm