• Snowmaking

SAM Magazine—Beaupré, Quebec, Dec. 12, 2022—A gondola cabin fell from the haul rope of the Mont-Sainte-Anne (MSA) L’Étoile Filante gondola before operating hours on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 10. No one was injured in the incident. The resort has been closed since Saturday, and an inspection is ongoing.  “A full inspection procedure ...

• Resort Development
• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Lakeshore, Calif., Dec. 9, 2022—China Peak Mountain Resort has been sold to Mountain High Resort and Dodge Ridge, Calif., owners Invision Capital and Karl Kapuscinski, Mountain High president and CEO. Former owner Tim Cohee will remain general manager "for the foreseeable future" and also be involved in shaping the guest experience...

• Lifts

In SAM’s Snow People, we highlight recent personnel moves that have been made in the mountain resort industry. From resort hires, promotions, and retirements to supplier news, awards and obits. We celebrate the people that make this industry thrive. PEOPLE STEVE DUKE, CRESTED BUTTE, CO Steve Duke was named director of mountain operations at Cr...

• Lifts

So far, the early 2022-23 ski season is a tale of inches and feet: Feet of snow and earlier than planned openings in the West; mere inches of snow in the East and delayed openings. Stowe Mountain Opening Day As colder temps settle in later this month, the East hopes to catch up. And everybody is looking forward to a good holiday period, especiall...

• Resort Development
• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Nov. 29, 2022—The Indy Pass has added four Northeastern Alpine and Nordic ski areas to its 2022-23 lineup, making for 21 total participating ski areas in the Eastern region this year to date.  Included are Peek'n Peak in New York and Tussey Mountain, Pa., on the Alpine side, and cross country areas Catamount Outdo...

• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., Nov. 28, 2022—An estimated 37,000 spectators descended on Killington Resort this weekend for the sixth annual Killington Cup, a women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup event. The resort’s new K-1 base lodge also made its debut over the weekend, opening to an eager public.  The record-breaking crowds began arriving on ...

• Lifts
• Ski School

SAM Magazine—Boston, Mass, Nov. 23, 2022—After a two-year Covid delay, the Snowbound Expo debuted in Boston this past weekend, Nov. 18-21, drawing 20,000 skiers and riders from around New England. The reimagined version of the longtime event included dozens of speakers, hardgoods and softgoods retailers promoting their newest wares, a learn-to...

• Resort Development

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Nov. 22, 2022—Vail Resorts released its 2021-22 EpicProgress report last week, detailing strides the company made last year towards its goal of a zero net operating footprint by 2030.  The company is “ahead of schedule,” according to the report, achieving 100 percent renewable electricity across its North A...

• Safety

SAM Magazine—West Bolton, Quebec, Nov. 22, 2022—Former Mont Glen owner Peter White and his company Optikinvest Inc. could not secure the financing to re-acquire the ski area, and it has been purchased by another unnamed buyer who reportedly plans to keep Mont Glen private as it has been for the last 15 years. White entered into an agreement to ...

• Area Management
• Ski School

SAM Magazine—Eden, Utah, Nov. 17, 2022—Utah’s Powder Mountain has appointed Kevin Mitchell as its new general manager. Mitchell assumed the role Nov. 7, after serving as GM of California’s Homewood Mountain Resort for a decade. He replaces former GM Mark Schroetel, who moved to the tech industry after eight years at Powder Mountain.  “O...

• Lifts
• Safety

SAM Magazine—Petaluma, Calif., Nov. 17 2022—Ski California debuted an updated digital version of its Mountain Safety Guide earlier this week, Nov. 15. Designed by the association and its member resorts in California and Nevada, the new version is a play off the group's existing Mountain Safety Guide, and will serve as a comprehensive tool to ed...

• Area Management
• Grooming
• Trail Maintenance

SAM Magazine—Stowe, Vt., Nov. 16, 2022—Lodging in Western mountain destinations wrapped up the summer season with mixed results, and on-the-books occupancy for November through April is down 4.8 percent year-over-year, according to the latest Market Briefing by DestiMetrics, part of the Business Intelligence division of Inntopia.  But the aver...

• Lifts
• Ski School

SAM Magazine—Ashland, Ore., Nov. 16, 2022—Andrew Gast will join Mt. Ashland, Ore., as the nonprofit ski area’s new general manager beginning Dec. 21. Gast currently serves as the chief business officer for Southern Oregon University in Ashland. He succeeds Hiram Towle, who led Mt. Ashland for eight years and is now the GM of another nonprofit...

• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., Nov. 15, 2022—The Indy Pass has added Colorado resorts Echo Mountain and Granby Ranch to its roster for the 2022-23 season. The coalition now has four partner areas in Colorado, including Sunlight Mountain and Bluebird Backcountry, and is up to 121 downhill and Nordic resorts total across the U.S., Canada, and Japan...

• Resort Development
• Grooming
• Trail Maintenance

SAM Magazine—Bend, Ore., Nov. 10, 2022—Powdr-owned Mt. Bachelor in Oregon will install a new wood energy facility to provide heat for four of its base area buildings using a modern biomass boiler fueled by the byproducts of NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act)-approved forest management and wildfire fuel reduction activities within the surr...