Courtesy of Saddleback

Beginning in July, Saddleback is launching a Summer Country Music Concert Series.  The concerts will be held in the Base Lodge with seating for 200 people.  Tickets will be sold online atwww.saddlebackmaine.com , at the new Guest Service Center on Main Street or at the Base Lodge.  Hal Ketchum is scheduled for July 25, Suzy Bogguss for August 20 and Asleep at the Wheel for September 3.  On concert nights we will offer pre-concert dining by reservation from 5:30-7pm.The menu will feature Saddleback Country Style Barbecue.  For reservations call 207-864-5671.

We have partnered with the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center to host this year's Romp.  The Rangeley Oquossoc Mountain Pursuit Triathlon is scheduled for Saturday, September 5.  This year's course will include a ½ mile swim starting at the Town Park in Rangeley, a 22 mile bike ride from Rangeley to Oquossoc and up to the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center yurt and a 4.5 mile run on the RLTC trails to the Base Lodge on Saddleback Mountain.  You can register to participate as an individual or as a team at www.saddlebackmaine.com.  Food, drinks and music will await participants and spectators at the Base lodge following the race.   Plans are proceeding for the development of an RV park on Saddleback Mountain.  The park will include up to seventy five sites with electrical, water, and sewer hook ups.  The sites will be located on land currently used by the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center and have access to Saddleback Lake.   Construction is slated to begin in the fall pending LURC approval.  In the meantime, Saddleback is installing six RV sites in Lot 1 on the mountain, with water, electric, and access to a dumping station.  These sites will be available beginning in mid-summer and will be offered year-round.  They will provide an additional lodging option for guests to the Rangeley Lakes Region.   The Guest Services Center on Main Street will be opening in late May.  If you have a business or service that you would like to promote please contact Kara Wilson.  She is putting together a comprehensive list of activities, lodging, dining and services to offer to visitors at the Guest Services Center and the Base lodge.   This summer watch for the Saddleback Moose Bus.  We plan to offer free guided moose tours by bus two nights a week.   The bus will board at the Guest Services Center, head out Route 16 to spot moose and return to Rangeley.

Snowbird Extends Ski, Ride Season Through June 14
summer activities, including new gemstone mine, open june 13
 
 
Snowbird, Utah – Utah’s longest ski and snowboard season just got longer at Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort. Resort officials announced
today the Utah resort will be open for skiing and riding on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) through June 14, conditions
permitting. The extension marks 200 days of skiing and riding for the 2008/09 season, one day short of Snowbird’s record 2004/05
season when the Little Cottonwood Canyon resort stayed open for 201 days and closed on July 4.
 
“We’ve experienced another incredible year of snowfall at Snowbird, especially in March and April,” said Snowbird President
Bob Bonar. “Our snowpack is in great shape for this time of year and we’re excited to be able to extend our ski season well into June.”
 
Snowbird is currently offering skiing from the Tram, Little Cloud and Mineral Basin Express on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and
Memorial Day. Starting May 29, Snowbird will have the Tram and Little Cloud open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at a
reduced ticket price of $49 (sold at the Snowbird Tram ticket office, entry 2). At this time, Snowbird is expected to close on
June 14. The Utah resort will reevaluate opening for additional weekends after June 14, to be determined by weather and
snow conditions. Snowbird has received 621 inches of snowfall this season, well above the resort’s average of 500 inches annually.
 
Daily summer Tram operations for foot passengers begins Friday, May 22, with operating hours from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Summer activities including the new Wasatch Mining Company Gemstone Mine, Peruvian Chairlift and Tunnel,
Alpine Slide, four-station climbing wall, ZipRider, Bungy Trampoline, Mechanical Bull and Inflatables, are scheduled to
begin Saturday, June 13. Hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except for the Peruvian Chairlift and Tunnel
which closes at 5 p.m.) and activities may be limited due to heavy snowpack. Horseback and ATV tours are tentatively
scheduled to begin Fourth of July weekend, conditions permitting.
 

SATISFACTORY RESULTS FOR THE CHARLEVOIX’S LE MASSIF

Charlevoix, April 15 2009 – Last Monday, skiers and riders came out in good numbers to enjoy carving their last few turns of the 2008-09 season at the Charlevoix’s Le Massif. Between December 6 2008 and April 13 2009, the ski area has offered 114 days of sliding, generating around 5% fewer skier visits than the record set the previous year.

These results are perceived by upper management as being positive given the 21% growth rate observed at the close of the 2007-08 season. "Although the holiday season was quieter due to a bout of rain and a power outage which affected the entire Charlevoix/Côte-de-Beaupré grid, natural snow accumulations from December to February combined with fresh marketing strategies made it possible to redress earlier setbacks in the ensuing months," explained Pierre Raymond, the ski area’s general manager.

Established Facts at the Heart of the Numbers

"At a time of economic instability, we are heartened to know that Le Massif’s clientele is loyal," states Raymond with pleasure. "The mountain’s natural strengths along with the sustained efforts of its employees once again confirm Le Massif as a choice destination among those who are passionate about slide sports and original happenings," said the ski area’s general manager. "Major events like the Great Horned Owl, the Massif Open Rossignol and Quebec March Break largely contributed to maintaining last year’s strong numbers, as we saw Saturday February 21 when a new record was set at over 5,000 skier visits."

Exceptional Coverage, Right to the End…

Despite certain caprices on Mother Nature’s part at the start of the season, this ski area renowned for its abundant snowfalls has retained its average annual record with a total of 639 cm on its seasonal precipitations chart – 85% of which fell between December and February. Beyond the 40 cm of fresh snow preceding its last weekend of operations, a mid-February blizzard which buried Le Massif’s trails under 95 cm in only 48 hours will be long remembered.

Tomorrow’s Le Massif

Other areas may be shutting down for the season, but at Killington Resort the snow is falling, the lifts are spinning and we’re heading right into May with spring skiing and riding! Mother Nature has already graced us with more than 280 inches of snowfall this season, and combined with the World’s Most Extensive Snowmaking System, our trails are buried deep with the white stuff and ready for spring. Yep, Superstar trail alone is covered with up to 10 feet of snow!