Arguably the biggest offseason project in Vermont’s ski industry is happening at a place that many people haven’t even heard of. The Middlebury Snow Bowl in Hancock, Vermont is undergoing major changes this summer. This includes a new Skytrac quad chairlift, lights for night skiing, and the addition of a new beginner trail, which is located by the conveyor lift.
The biggest project of the bunch is definitely the replacement of the Sheehan double chairlift with a fixed-grip quad. The new chairlift, like its predecessor, will service easy, intermediate, and advanced terrain. The lift will have approximately 44 chairs, increasing the uphill capacity by 20% compared to its predecessor. More chairs could be added in the future. According to Middlebury Snow Bowl, the chairlift will have a ride time of around six minutes.
This lift replacement will pave the way for night skiing, which will also be introduced during the 2023-24 season. The trails that will have night skiing are Lang, Cameron, and Kelton, which are highlighted in the photo below.
Middlebury’s latest video update shows a helicopter installing the new lift towers. It puts into perspective how challenging putting in a new lift is, even for a smaller project like this. Cheers to the beginning of a new era at the Middlebury Snow Bowl!
Image/Video Credits: Middlebury Snowbowl
