Middbrief: Students flock to Snow Bowl

With the first week of Winter Term well under way, the Middlebury College Snow Bowl began experiencing traffic as students pulled out their skis and snowboards and headed to the mountains.

Many students have been buying season passes, with more than 200 sold before the first snow. On busy days, up to 1,400 people take on the trails.

Last Saturday, Jan. 2, the Snow Bowl opened up all 17 of its trails. Peter Mackey, Snow Bowl manager, explained that there had been enough natural snow for all the trails to be opened. The trails at the back of the mountain are made up of heavily wooded areas that rely on natural snow rather than snow makers to cover them.

Despite the first snow coming later than usual, the Snow Bowl has experienced a good winter so far and overall has received about the same amount of snow as in years past.

A new addition to the Snow Bowl this year is the Worth Mountain chairlift, at the base of the Allen trail. The old chairlift was over 40 years old, and the administration decided that a new one was needed.

Three people can sit together on it at the same time, and it can take up to 1,200 people to the top of the mountain each hour.

The chairlift itself is a little less than 4,000 feet long and has a vertical rise of 850 feet. Clearly visible from the snow lodge, the new chair lift has been very popular and has been functioning well.

While many Middlebury students come to the College already knowing how to ski and snowboard, a large number take introductory lessons at the Snow Bowl. Susan Davis, director of the Ski School, said most people who sign up for lessons have never skied or snowboarded in their life, and there are some who have never seen snow before.

About 30 students each year learn at the Ski School for a Winter Term physical education credit, taking at least four hour-long classes during the month. By the end of the sessions, almost everyone is able to traverse the mountain. This year, more skiers than snowboarders signed up for lessons.

With the extra free time Winter Term has to offer, many students go to the Snow Bowl each day. The last shuttle buses that leave the Snow Bowl at 4 p.m. are often packed.

“The Snow Bowl has an amazing community feel,” said Emma Loizeaux ’13. “It’s a good getaway from the school and campus, and it’s great to get out there with everyone and have fun.”