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Wachusett Mountain Ski Area
Princeton, Massachusetts
| Overview |
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Wachusett Mountain: Summit Area | Vickery Bowl
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| Summit Area - 1983 - Open |
The 2010 Wachusett trail map showing the Polar Express lift area |
The second and perhaps most dramatic phase of the major expansion at Wachusett was rolled out for the 1983-84 season.
After operating for over two decades as a small to mid-sized surface lift area, Wachusett built the first phase, a two chairlift expansion in 1982-83. The second phase, for 1983-84, involved growing the ski area by over 400 vertical feet with a new triple chairlift.
In addition to providing lift service to the historic Balance Rock Trail, the expansion also opened additional intermediate and expert terrain. A new Doppelmayr triple chairlift was installed, measuring 4,400 feet long by 950 feet vertical, and terminating just a bit below the summit of Wachusett Mountain.
In 1994 the triple chairlift was replaced with a new high speed detachable quad. The first in Southern New England, the Polar Express would measure 4,307 feet long by 944 feet vertical.
The 1982-83 Wachusett trail map showing the proposed summit area expansion
The Polar Express Quad (2003)
The Polar Express Quad (2002)
The Polar Express Quad (2006)
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| Vickery Bowl - 2003 - Open |
The 1994-95 Wachusett Mountain trail map showing proposed new trails
The 2007 Wachusett trail map showing the Vickery Bowl |
Being one of the busiest ski areas in all of New England, Wachusett found itself in dire need to expand. Many obstacles stood in the way, however, such as the fact that the ski area was on state forest land and that there was old growth forest to contend with.
Originally proposed as "Alpine Park," the new area would have been composed of two relatively long trails and a lift. Old growth forest was discovered on the upper portion of this area in 1995, however, resulting in a severe roadblock.
Wachusett was able to finally move ahead with a scaled back project in 2003. The project hit yet another snag on August 1st, as two members of Earth First! climbed and camped out in two trees. Facing a clearing deadline, the ski area eventually started to cut down the adjacent trees in September, thus ending the standoff.
Now dubbed the Vickery Bowl, the new complex partially opened in 2003-2004 with the Frannie’s Folly trail. In 2004-2005, a used 1,500 foot long triple chairlift was installed, serving Frannie's Folly and another new trail, Piece of Cake.
The top of the Vickery Bowl Triple (2006)
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| Resources |
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Wachusett - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com
Wachusett Mountain Ski Area - official site
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| Feedback |
Do you have any additional information about Wachusett Mountain Ski Area?
Last updated: December 20, 2010
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