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Ascutney Mountain
Brownsville, Vermont
| Overview |
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Ascutney: West Slope Area | Summit Area | Sunrise Mountain | Village Area | North Peak
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| West Slope Area - 1962 - Open |
1962-63 Ascutney trail map showing the new West Slope area (right)
The 2006 Ascutney trail map showing the renamed West Slope as Terminator |
After having operated for over a decade, the ownership of Ascutney had successfully acquired hundreds of acres of land for expanding the then-small ski area. After a few changes in ownership, the area was nearly doubled in size by the 1962-63 season, as the West Slope and two trails above it were cut, served by a T-Bar. The T-Bar at the time featured three unloading stations, allowing for various abilities (expert by the top of it) to dismount at their comfort level.
The T-Bar was removed sometime in the early 1980s. The West Slope is now known as Terminator and the two trails above it have been known as 9 Lives (later Terminator) and 10 Lives (later Gun Barrel).
Terminator, the former West Slope (2004)
A concrete footing from the former West T-Bar (2004)
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| Summit Area - 1963 - Open |
The 1968 Ascutney trail map |
After years of operating as a small area and experimenting with small, ill-fated Larchmont chairlift, the owners of Ascutney obtained the funding to take the ski area to the next level. After acquiring hundreds of acres of additional land, plans were put in place to a sizable expansion.
In addition to a new base lodge, two new lifts were installed for the 1963-64 season, including a new Hall double chairlift. Climbing 1,430 vertical feet over the course of 4,700', the new chairlift opened hundreds of vertical feet and 19 new trails. The second lift, a 576 foot long Hall T-Bar, serviced an upper mountain novice/intermediate area, accessible via a mid station on the new chairlift.
While the T-Bar would eventually be removed prior to the opening of the Sunrise area, the double chairlift remained in place for two decades. It would be upgraded for the 1986-87 season to a CTEC triple chairlift.
The 1998 Ascutney trail map
The Snowdance Triple bottom terminal (2004)
The Snowdance Triple mid station (2004)
The Snowdance Triple top terminal (2004)
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| Sunrise Mountain - 1970 - Open |
The 2006 Ascutney trail map showing the Sunrise Mountain area |
In effort to improve access to beginner and intermediate terrain, a new Hall double chairlift was installed on the east side of the area in 1970. The 1,947 foot long, 434 foot vertical lift provided access to existing terrain, reducing crowds on the summit lift (which had a mid station previously serving the area).
The top terminal of the Sunrise Double (2006)
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| Village Area - 1984 - Open |
The Village Triple (2005) |
After picking up the bankrupt ski area in 1983, a group known as Summit Ventures, Inc. started a 10 year ski area and real estate development plan.
In 1984, a sizable novice area was built below the existing Ascutney ski development. A new CTEC 2,170 foot long by 280 foot vertical triple chairlift ("Village") was installed, complete with a bridge over Ski Tow Road, connecting the new village development with the main mountain. In addition, a 76 vertical foot, 905 foot long new CTEC triple chairlift ("Novice") was installed, serving a wide open beginner slope.
In addition to the two lifts and three new beginner trails, a base village, including a pool, tennis courts, eateries, and hotel, was opened.
The debt from this development eventually contributed to the three season closure after the winter of 1989-90.
The Village area as seen on the 2006 trail map
The Novice and Village triple chairlifts (2004)
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| North Peak - 2000 - Open |
The 2004 Ascutney trail map showing the North Peak area
The 2006 Ascutney trail map showing the North Peak area |
Chronically in financial trouble, another attempt was made to launch Ascutney into the class of the major resorts in its region. A five year expansion plan was started in 1995, culminating in 2000 with the expansion above the Summit Triple, thanks to an agreement allowing for expansion into the state forest.
Known as the North Peak area, a new Garaventa CTEC detachable quad chairlift was installed, increasing the advertised vertical drop of the ski area by nearly 300 feet to 1,800 feet (including the lower mountain novice area). The quad itself was 5,365 feet long, climbing 1,673 vertical feet.
Five new trails were originally advertised, however only four would be opened initially (a short connector would be added a few years later). A longer proposed trail remained on the trail map for about half a decade, prior to being removed. It is not known if there are any plans to attempt to build this trail.
Though the quad provided a dramatically faster ride than the summit triple, it also increased operating costs dramatically. As a result, it has sometimes been closed during non-peak periods.
In February of 2012, it was announced that the high speed quad had been purchased by Crotched Mountain.
The top terminal of the North Peak Express (2005)
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| Resources |
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Ascutney - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com
Ascutney Mountain - FranklinSites.com Hiking Guide
Mount Ascutney - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
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| Feedback |
Do you have any additional information about Ascutney Mountain?
Last updated: February 3, 2012
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