We recently sent out the press release listed below, detailing the
various on-mountain improvements that we have made for the upcoming
2007-2008 winter season. They're certainly all good enhancements in
their own rights, but I'm most excited by the new Motherlode Meadows
area that was recently created in the area between Lower Single Jack
and Ford Country. Our summer trail crew and mountain ops team went in
and created a fantastic new area that's kind of gladed and kind of trail, be sure to check it out this winter! Here's the scoop:
Utah's Park City Mountain Resort has invested nearly $5 million in improvements for the 2007-08 ski and snowboard season, including brand new terrain, a redesigned trail map, a new heated resort plaza, installation of Fast Tracks lanes at King Con lift, expanded snowmaking and environmental initiatives.
“Our focus is to help our guest utilize the entire mountain and challenge themselves, regardless of their ability level,” said Peter Curtis, president and general manager of Park City Mountain Resort. “Our overall objective is to have people leave Park City Mountain Resort feeling a sense of satisfaction from their skiing/snowboarding experience. The improvements that we’ve made for the upcoming season definitely fit this goal, especially the new Motherlode Meadows terrain and the redesigned trail map.”
The resort has dramatically changed the landscape between Single Jack and Sunnyside runs by glading the diseased aspen trees while leaving the pine trees intact, creating a different environment and providing a challenging experience for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. This area will be called Motherlode Meadows. In addition, the resort has added a new run off of McConkey’s lift, bringing the total run count to 106. The new trail, named Georgeanna after an old mining claim located in this area, will extend from the top of Tycoon to the bottom of McConkey’s Bowl, providing low-intermediates an easier way down from McConkey’s lift.
The resort will showcase its new terrain in an innovative trail map that will debut this coming season. The new trail maps utilize color-coded mountain areas that highlight seven unique “zones” around the mountain, displaying the amount of terrain for all ability levels in each “mountain zone.”
Park City Mountain Resort is also outfitting the King Con lift with Fast Tracks for quicker access onto the mountain. Fast Tracks, a shortcut through the lift lines for those purchasing a Fast Tracks upgrade to their lift ticket or season pass, is currently available at PayDay, Eagle, Bonanza and Silverlode lifts.
Park City Mountain Resort has completely renovated its plaza with a snow-melt system and new concrete flooring. In an effort to remain environmentally sustainable, the resort is using a boiler that is 98 percent more efficient for heating the plaza floor. As well, the ski area is looking into different options, including planting trees, to offset the carbon output produced by the heated walkway.
In another environmental initiative, Park City Mountain Resort is working on a lighting retrofit using energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), more energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs and electronic ballasts in the corporate offices, the maintenance buildings and the resort lodge. This retrofit will reduce the resort’s lighting energy use by 50 percent, officials say.
“Our resort is committed to becoming more environmentally sustainable, whether that is through purchasing wind power, changing our light bulbs to CFLs or educating our employees and the community about what they can do to help,” said Curtis. “We will continue to implement new environmental initiatives throughout the year, leading the way for other Utah resorts.”
The ski area has recently acquired 20 new low-energy tower guns and six new low-energy fan guns that will provide increased efficiency and output while utilizing less energy. The resort has also purchased three new snowcats including a winch cat, all of which will be operated with bio-diesel fuel and are more fuel-efficient than previous snowcat models. With the purchase of the new, more powerful winch cat, the ski area will be able to groom at least three to five "Signature Runs" per night in comparison to the two to four Signature Runs that were groomed each night last year.
Glad to see Ford Country is still an area of regard. It will always be Ford Country to me... particularly after the Chevy sponsorship era is over. Although I believe the name was meant to attract a visit from President Ford back in the 70's... perhaps take away some of Vail's glory regarding Ford's skiing preferences. The area should be lots of fun with a lot of that aspen regrowth removed. Fool's Gold? I hope the name gets reverted to it's historic original as soon as Chevy departs.
Eric replies:
Greg, thanks for the note - I'm pretty sure that the original Ford was a miner who had a claim in that area (I wasn't working here when the 'rename' occurred so I can't lend any insight there), although your info sounds quite plausible as well! I still can't wait to get out and 'product sample' this re-worked area.
Posted by: Greg Friedman | November 07, 2007 at 09:24 AM
Hey, when do you guys usually start to make snow? ?
Eric replies:
Eric L, we plan to start making snow about 1 month prior to our scheduled opening day, November 16 this season, conditions permitting.
Posted by: Eric L | October 11, 2007 at 04:50 PM
In 1999/2000 you had great T-shirts for the fist ski day. Are you going to give out shirts this year?
Eric replies:
Dave, no T-shirts planned at this point, but I'll be sure to pass on your feedback to the powers-that-be!
Posted by: Dave Stephens | October 09, 2007 at 08:39 PM