Mt. Ascutney in Brownsville, Vermont, will return to life this winter with a new rope tow and backcountry skiing.
A community group called Mt. Ascutney Outdoors / Ascutney Trails has been brush cutting on some trails and they recently installed a new rope tow to service three novice trails. They will also offer backcountry skiing trails to those who want to climb uphill to earn their turns on steeper terrain.
Did you learn to ski at a small ski hill? Or how about on a rope tow? That's how I started my lifelong addiction to skiing. I remember it was a major victory as a little kid to ride the rope tow alone for the first time. And I recall that my knitted mittens got completely shredded! (Tip: Wear leather work gloves!)
Mt. Ascutney Resort closed in 2010 after some rough financial years of operation. Since that time local residents, business owners, mountain bikers, hikers and skiers have been working with the Trust for Public Land to purchase the land so it could be used for recreation.
A <link https: www.facebook.com events _blank external-link-new-window external link in new>1960s retro ski wear dance will be held on December 12, 2015, in Brownsville as a fundraiser for this community ski hill.
Recent articles about Ascutney Trails
The Mountain Times
http://mountaintimes.info/skiing-returns-to-its-roots-at-mt-ascutney/
The Vermont Standard
<link http: www.thevermontstandard.com old-school-skiing-coming-to-ascutney _blank external-link-new-window external link in new>www.thevermontstandard.com/2015/11/old-school-skiing-coming-to-ascutney/
Community ski hills in Vermont
Ascutney Trails joins a handful of other small community, nonprofit or volunteer-run ski hills in Vermont. The list includes:
- Ascutney Trails community ski hill in Brownsville, Vermont
- Cochran's Ski Area in Richmond
- Hard'Ack ski hill in St. Albans
- Living Memorial Park community ski hill in Brattleboro
- Northeast Slopes in East Corinth
They are listed on our <link internal link in current>Vermont Ski Resorts page with links to more information or snow reports.
Photo: The Ascutney Trails rope tow is installed by volunteers in early December 2015. Photo courtesy of the Ascutney Trails Facebook page.
