For Immediate Release
Contact: Nick Noyes (413) 743-4500 ext. 223 toll-free: (866) 444-1815 ext. 223
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www.berkshires.org
Berkshire Ski Resorts: Accessible, Affordable and Diverse
THE BERKSHIRES, MA—Location. Location. Location. Ok, those are three good reasons to visit Berkshire County for skiing but there are plenty of others. Location is a big incentive because the Berkshires is the closest, most accessible major ski region for many visitors. Also, the county is situated in one of the world’s most scenic resort areas, amid beautiful rolling hills and pastoral New England scenery. Off the slopes, skiers aren’t trapped in a tangle of expensive ski towns. Instead, travelers can explore a variety of surrounding towns, each with its own particular charm and attractions.
Next to location, variety might be the most important basis for visiting the Berkshires for a ski adventure. Families, singles, experienced skiers and novices can select areas that cater specifically to their needs and abilities. All Berkshire ski areas are full service facilities, providing both ski and snowboard rentals.
The largest ski and snowboard resort in southern New England, Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort (413-738-5500/800-882-8859/www. jiminypeak.com) in Hancock offers slope-side lodging, a high-speed six-passenger lift, excellent children’s programs and incredible snowmaking. This winter season, much of Jiminy’s power will come from Zephyr, Jiminy’s 1.5 MW GE wind turbine, which was completed over the summer.
Jiminy’s Mountain Adventure Park features the new Alpine Super Slide as well as the Mountain Coaster, the first of its kind on the East Coast and only the second in the nation. In winter, the Mountain Coaster operates on weekends and holidays. The Village Center at Jiminy Peak includes retail shopping, dining and a café with WiFi access.
Accommodations include Jiminy’s all-suite Country Inn and mountainside condominiums. Special lift and lodging packages are available. Online vacation planners will appreciate the resort’s comprehensive e-commerce section for lodging reservations, ski and snowboard school programs, children’s programs and discount offers.
Ski Butternut (413-528-2000/SkiButternut.com), Great Barrington, is a family-friendly Berkshire resort, with 22 trails; ten lifts including three quad chairlifts; and one of the region’s best terrain parks. All trails funnel to the same base area, so family groups won’t get separated. A great mountain for first-timers, Ski Butternut also presents plenty of challenge for advanced skiers. The resort offers some softer trails from the summit, allowing most beginners to enjoy the views from the top during their first day on snow. The mountain’s five-Lane Tubing Center, continues to receive rave reviews. Ski Butternut’s already powerful snowmaking system received a massive upgrade—in the form of a new pump house installed over the summer—which will increase water flow from 1800 to 4200 GPM (a 233% increase). The water will be pushed through more than 150 snow guns, which blanket 100 percent of their 22 slopes and trails. The area offers rentals, group and private lessons plus the region’s largest children’s program, with lessons for beginners to racers. Eight kilometers of cross country trails with rentals and lessons are also available.
Ski Butternut partnered with 40 lodging properties to offer weekend “Ski & Stay” packages, which range from extraordinarily economical to incredibly indulgent. In addition Midweek Ski & Stay packages, including lift ticket and a room, start from $45 per day. Notable deals include $20 lift tickets every Monday through Thursday (excluding holiday periods); an affordable “$65 per day Learn to Ski or Snowboard packages; online specials; and extremely low-cost season passes, priced from $69 for kids to $229 for adults.
Catamount Ski Area (413-528-1262 / 800-342-1840/catamountski.com) in South Egremont features more than 30 trails and terrain park areas accessed by four chairlifts, including the Ridge Quad to the summit. The mountain's 1,000 foot vertical serves a fabulous variety of terrain with 98% of the skiable acreage covered by snowmaking. Night skiing is offered Wednesday through Saturday.
Base area amenities include equipment rentals, two lodges, a retail store, the Fall Line Tavern and the Children’s Playroom. Catamount has added 30% more snowmaking capacity for the 2007-2008 season. The Meadows area at Catamount, with the Meadows Triple Chairlift, comprises six Green Circle "easier" trails, perfect for families and children exploring the mountain. Combined with three other adjoining easier trails, Catamount offers the most beginner terrain in the region. The Snowsports Learning Area is excellent for first-timers and beginners. The 300' Wonder Carpet surface lift is as easy to use as a moving sidewalk and perfect for young children.
Catamount also offers terrific cruising terrain, including a two-mile run and several one-mile runs, ranging from "easier" to "most difficult." For experts, there's Catapult, one of New England's steepest trails. The Catamount Terrain Park for snowboarders and freestylers features 2,000 feet of jumps, rollers, rails and boxes. There's also a 400 foot halfpipe, the Junior Jib Park and bordercross terrain. The Snowsports School offers private and group lessons and “Learn To” packages daily. A children's program runs weekends and holidays for youngsters ages 4-12. Catamount's $20 daytime lift ticket is available Monday through Thursday(non-holiday). Two-day midweek non-holiday ski and stay packages start at just $55 daily per person based on double occupancy.
Four years after it opened in 1932, Bousquet Ski Resort & Summer Family Fun Center (413-442-8316/bousquets.com) in Pittsfield became the first ski area in the world to offer night skiing. In 1956, it became one of the first two resorts to install snow making equipment. Today, Bousquet offers 21 trails almost evenly divided by ability level, which are served by two double chairs and three surface lifts. Most of the terrain is available after dark, so the mountain hums day and night to the sound of happy kids and adults. You’ll find kids laughing and learning in Bousquet’s Ski School, a fixture since 1935, while adults are preparing to hit the gates in a night racing league.
Bousquet, with 750 feet of vertical, has some nice long runs available—in particular the intermediate duo of Main Street and Russell Slope from the summit. The toughest pitches are off the top of the longer of the two doubles, while beginners have the terrain off two of the three surface lifts all to themselves. At the base, guests will find a large lodge with a big second-level deck, a lounge, rental shop and ski shop. Bousquet also offers four or five tubing chutes and their easy-to-ride Magic Carpet provides a child friendly lift up the tubing hill.
Berkshire County offers plenty of activities off the slopes, too. From world-class museums and historical sites to a considerable assortment of dining and lodging facilities, outlet shopping and antiques dealers, the Berkshires gives ski visitors a full winter’s worth of places to go and things to see. For complete Berkshire County information, call 866-444-1815 or visit berkshires.org.
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