As the Mad River Glen Cooperative Board and Management seek to meet its strategic goals of expanding skiing opportunities, and preserving and protecting the skiing experience we have concluded that renovating the Sunnyside Double Chairlift, including adding an unload mid-station, is needed. The project will include adding an unload only mid-station in the flats above the birdcage near the site of the old mid-station, replacing the haul rope, and replacing and upgrading the low voltage control systems. These elements, when combined with the drive system work completed in December 2024 will ensure that the Sunnyside Double Chairlift serves the cooperative for many more years.
New mid-station: The cooperative has been successful in bringing snowmaking back to the 2,300’ elevation level on the trails accessed by the Sunnyside Chair. The new mid-station will enable us to access the man-made snow when the top of the lift is not skiable due to low natural snow. The trails highlighted in yellow all have snowmaking and can reasonably expected to be open by the December holiday period. The mid-station will provide easier access to the Birdland Lift and easier access to beginner terrain. The mid-station also opens up future possibilities in the Birdland area.
New haul rope (cable): The current haul rope is reaching the end of its useful life. While it is still safe and usable our rope inspector has informed us we should consider replacing the rope in the next 2-3 years. A new haul rope will ensure the long-term functionality of the lift.
New low voltage control system: A new low voltage control system, in combination with the new drive system (2023) and communications line (2022) will ensure the long-term functionality of the lift as well as bring the lift up to current codes. The new low voltage and drive will also give our lift operators more options in how they operate the lift including variable slow speeds, slow buttons at all stations and other enhancements.
The total project budget, as authorized by the Cooperative Board of Trustees, is not to exceed $850,000.00. The project will be funded through a mix of charitable giving, in conjunction with the Stark Mountain Foundation, and the cooperative capital reserves. The approximate costs of the project components are;
Mid-station- $185,000, new haul rope- $130,000, low voltage control system- $225,000, project installation- $250,000, miscellaneous expenses- $60,000.
Upon spending approval by the Cooperative Shareholders at the April 6th Annual Meeting, we plan to complete the project by December 1, 2024.
A: The idea behind the mid-station started during management discussions about what we could do to access all the man-made snow we have from the “Kay’s Grove” area (the row of fir trees above the Birdcage between Lower Gazelle and Chipmunk/Lower Panther) on the double down to the base area during periods of low natural snow on the upper mountain. Most years there is at least a period of the winter we have great manmade snow and no way to access it. We are relegated to skiing just Lift 4 while we have multiple trails with full coverage on man-made snow from the mid-station area down to the base. The mid-station will allow us to ski on that snow when the top of the mountain is closed. This is especially noticeable in the early season and during the Christmas holiday. Adding the mid-station will give us 2 lifts and more than double the terrain when the upper mountain is closed.
Other benefits include easier access to the Birdland Lift, easier access to beginner terrain and enabling future possibilities for the Birdland area. Easier access to beginner terrain is a substantial benefit that will enhance the skiing experience for many user groups. This includes beginners, kids programs and anyone looking to cruise consistently groomed terrain without having to navigate the terrain at the top of the double. Ask any ski instructor how hard it is to graduate skiers off Callie’s Corner to the main mountain and they will tell you it is a large jump to either the Sunnyside Double or Lift 4. Having the option of getting off at mid-station and accessing either the Birdland Lift or the groomed lower mountain double terrain is a significant improvement to the skiing experience.
This project is also more than just a mid-station. The project includes replacing the haul rope and a new low voltage control system. The current haul rope is reaching the end of its useful life. While it is still safe and usable our rope inspector has informed us we should consider replacing the rope in the next 2-3 years. A new haul rope will ensure the long-term functionality of the lift. A new low voltage control system, in combination with the new drive system (2023) and communications line (2022) will ensure the long-term functionality of the lift as well as bring the lift up to current codes. The new low voltage and drive will also give our lift operators more options in how they operate the lift including variable slow speeds, slow buttons at all stations and other enhancements.
A: This project directly addresses three of the strategies in the Strategic Plan.
First, given that it enables us to ski more of the mountain during low natural snow periods, it’s a direct hit on our first strategy, which reads,
Expand skiing opportunities at Mad River Glen
As climate change marches forward and erodes our natural snowpack, the Cooperative needs to find new ways to provide consistent access to skiing on the main mountain
Second, given the benefits to learners and ski programs, the Double mid-station also addresses the fifth strategy, which reads,
Provide accessible starting points
Encourage customers and shareholders to share the Mad River Glen experience with others, in order to market beyond the iconic (but exclusive) “SKI IT IF YOU CAN” bumper sticker so we are accessible to a wide range of skiers and communities
And finally, given the appeal to pass holders, ski clubs and homeowners, and the families in programs who drive much of the activity at the mountain when weather and conditions are not ideal, the double mid-station also is well-suited for the sixth strategy:
Nurture durable Mad River Glen communities
Foster formal relationships with the advocates in communities who drive deeper engagement at the mountain and beyond
A: Yes, although additional revenue is not the primary reason for adding the mid-station. We do believe we will sell more day tickets when the upper mountain isn’t open if we have more than just the Lift 4 (Practice Slope) trail pod open. The primary benefit to the revenue picture will be the added assurances for passholders and other product/stakeholders (Stark Mountain Cards, ski club members, 2nd home owners) that the mountain will have skiing beyond Lift 4 when the upper mountain is closed. Skiers can buy passes and book their vacations knowing that even when the upper mountain is closed there will be skiing off 2 lifts and a greater variety of trails.
A: Adding the Sunnyside Double mid-station opens up possibilities for the Birdland area. With easier access to the Birdland Lift we have the opportunity to consider expanded operations of the Birdland area. This could include expanded snowmaking and/or more operational days. We can also look to expand snowmaking to more trails that would be accessible from the mid-station. There are hurdles to overcome and strategic decisions to make to accomplish any of these ideas, but having the mid-station allows us to consider these options.
A: The old mid-station was used as a loading station to ski the upper mountain when there was only snow above the ~2,300’ “Flurry Line”. Back then skiers would lap the upper mountain and then ski a path (one wouldn’t really consider it a skiable trail) down Bunny that was shoveled in by ski patrol and mountain operations. Snow patterns have changed since then and we very rarely see those types of patterns. We also have brought snowmaking back to the 2,300’ level so there is always a viable path all the way to the base. The new weather patterns have resulted in no skiable snow on the upper mountain but cold enough temperatures to make snow from the mid-station to the base. In addition to snow patterns changing, we also see changes in our business that we need to accommodate. For example, our business has shifted from day tickets to season passes, and our kids ski programs fuel much of the early season activity and revenue at the mountain. Both of these changes bring expectations of the skiing experience that the previous incarnations of the double mid-station were not designed to meet.
A: Vermont Tramway regulations require lift stations to be staffed when the lift is operating. The mid-station will have an operator at all times so it will add 1 lift operator. We will have to have an operator at the top of the lift even when we are only open from mid-station to the base. Yes, we will be able to staff it and will budget accordingly.
A: Yes, see above.
A: The project budget is $850,000. The approximate costs of the project components are; mid-station – $185,000, new haul rope – $130,000, low voltage control system – $225,000, project installation – $250,000, miscellaneous expenses – $60,000. The project will be funded through a mix of charitable giving in collaboration with the Stark Mountain Foundation, and the cooperative capital reserves.
A: Primarily because we simply don’t have enough access to water to make that much snow. Gaining more water is prohibitively expensive (in the millions of $$’s) and we don’t have any good ways to access water or places to build a pond. We also recognize that many of us much prefer natural snow and adding snowmaking to the upper mountain would have an adverse effect on the skiing experience throughout the entire season. Finally, there are significant costs and permitting concerns when considering snowmaking to either summit.
A: We considered many options when trying to solve the “how do we access the man-made snow from Kay’s Grove to the base” problem. A new lift would cost considerably more to install and operate. A new lift would also negatively impact the skiing experience by increasing skier density and creating a new lift line cut through treasured natural and gladed areas. None of us considered cutting a lift line through the Ice Palace or neighboring areas as a viable option. The base area is also very tight as it is and we couldn’t find a good spot to place a new lift base station.
A: The mid-station will be located very close to the old mid-station in the flattish area at the top of what is informally called “Kay’s Grove” which is the row of fir trees above the Birdcage between Lower Gazelle and Chipmunk/Lower Panther. 
We have roped off the location and shape of the mid-station which you can view when riding the Sunnyside Double or skiing through the area. The roped off area will remain for the rest of this season so skiers can see for themselves where it will be and how it will affect the skiing experience. (Note: due to adverse weather we had to take the ropes down. They will be going back up shortly)
A: Skiers will ski past the mid-station on Lower Gazelle to the skiers’ right of the mid-station. If skiers want to get over to Chipmunk/Lower Panther they will ski above it to the skiers’ left or go around under it.
A: While the mid-station will create an area to ski around, we don’t believe it will have a large impact on the skiing experience. We encourage everyone to go ski by the roped off area and experience the impacts for themselves.
A: The mid-station will include the addition of two towers at the mid-station itself. Additionally, the sheave trains (the lines of wheels on the towers) of the towers immediately above and below the mid-station will be modified to adjust for the altered loads on the towers.
A: The structure itself will be a wood structure with an operator station that will come prebuilt from the contractor. We will modify it to fit in with the character of the mountain. This will include a shed roof and likely T-111 or clapboard siding. The base station of the Sunnyside double is clapboard and the summit is T-111.
A: No, the mid-station will be an unload only mid-station. Technically we could prohibit unloading and make it loading only for a period of time but we aren’t looking at doing that as part of our operational plan. A mid-station like the Single (unload and load from the same spot) is not an option. It is complicated enough as a single chair and would be a nightmare trying to move 2 people out of the way and 2 people into position in a short period of time.
A: The operational plan is to allow unloading at any time conditions allow. While there could be times unloading is prohibited, we don’t envision it happening often.
