A Day On The Slopes At Wachusett
For those of us who have grown up in New England, there are several local advertising jingles that we are sure will stick in your brain forever. One such jingle is that of Wachusett Mountain ( we know you are singing it in your head right now, so did we). Wachusett is one of the longest continuously owned and operated ski areas in New England and have been a frequent destination for many snow sports enthusiasts over the decades. We recently had a chance to take part in a media day at Wachusett and got to learn a little more about their operations and how they are preparing so that they can remain a fixture of New England for decades more to come.
If you are like us, you are probably wondering how any of the ski areas here in New England even have any snow after the incredibly mild winter we have had. Luckily, as we found out from the media day event, Wachusett is heavily invested in manufacturing snow in as big a volume as they can, whenever they can. They have a unique situation where because of the abundant supply of town water available to them, and the investment they have made in their snowmaking equipment that they are able to produce a tremendous amount of snow whenever the weather conditions permit it. In addition to their snowmaking capability, they are also able to deploy their grooming capabilities more efficiently with GPS mapping of the mountain, which allows them to know exactly how deep their snow base is and move snow around the mountain to give guests the best runs possible. These investments also help Wachusett prepare for the impacts of climate change, ensuring that they will be able to keep snow on the slopes for decades to come.
Wachusett runs eight (8) lifts servicing twenty-seven (27) trails with a summit elevation of 2006 feet. It is one of the closest locations to Metro Boston that you can get on the slopes, being just over an hour from Boston. The MBTA commuter rail also services the mountain from North Station, with a “ski car” that allows riders to store their ski or snowboard gear for the ride to Wachusett Station, with a complimentary shuttle service taking you from the station directly to the mountain. All of this makes it one of the most accessible mountains in New England and makes it much easier to have an impromptu snow day without the need for a great deal of planning or long travel times. In addition to the proximity Wachusett offers, it is also a great location for new riders and parents with children. Wachusett offers a learn to ski or snowboard package that gives people new to the sport great value for money. A one day package runs $94 and includes lift ticket, equipment rental and a 1.5-hour group lesson. You can upgrade to a three lesson package for $194 that can be used on non-consecutive days, making it a great deal for anyone wanting to get into snow sports over the course of a season or parents looking teach their little ones about the fun of riding.
The mountain offers a number of food and beverage options with a food court, several restaurants and lounges, and even a wine bar for some apres ski action after the day on the slopes. One of our favorite options though was the Bullock Lodge Cider House, which was built in 1930 and serves up warm apple cider alongside apple cider donuts in a cozy wood cabin atmosphere with a warm fire, for a perfect end of day treat located just off one of the trails.
All of this makes Wachusett Mountain the perfect snow day getaway for anyone looking for a fun-filled day on the slopes without the headaches of planning or long travel times. Make sure to book online though, as lift tickets are discounted online when purchased the day before!
