Regional ski areas upgrade for season.(Sports)

Byline: TIM JONES - Special to the Times Union

Many ski areas, after last year's disastrous snow year, decided to upgrade snowmaking and grooming. Here's just some of what you are going to see new when you head for the slopes.

Massachusetts: Berkshire East (413-339-6617; http://www.berkshireeast.com) in Charlemont has improved its snowmaking system and done some trail work for the new season. Blandford Ski Area (413-848-2860; http://www.skiblandford.org) in Blandford has a new carpet lift: Peppermint Patty's Polar Xpress Carpet for Kids. Catamount (413-528-1262; http://www.catamountski.com) in South Egremont has replaced the Ridge double with a new quad, has expanded its terrain park offerings and the Junior Jib Park for kids and added new snowmaking guns on Turnpike and Colonel's Caper. Ski Butternut (413-528-2000; http://www.skibutternut.com) in Great Barrington has a new Ski Patrol building at the top of the mountain to decrease response time should you need help. Jiminy Peak (800-882-8859; http://www.jiminypeak.com) in Hancock has a new trail, The Mogul Thing, a wider and regraded Left Bank trail, a new Burton Learn to Ride center, and the new Mountain Coaster, which will run all winter.

New York: Belleayre Mountain (845-254-5600; http://www.belleayre.com) in Highmount. The towers and terminals are in place and the cable is being strung for a new high-speed quad. Belleayre is ponying up a new high-speed lift and additional snowmaking. Look for a new base lodge starting in the spring. Gore Mountain (251-2411; http://www.goremountain.com) in North Creek. Novices should note the new Ruby Run trail off the Northwoods Gondola, the Bear Cub Run beginner trail has been reprofiled to offer a more consistent pitch and widened by 30 feet, and the Snow Train conveyor is 40-foot longer this season. Gore has also upgraded snowmaking and grooming and its NASTAR course. Whiteface (946-2223; http://www.whiteface.com), near Lake Placid, spent $5 million in capital improvements including snowmaking and grooming upgrades, trail re-contouring, and an expansion of the Kids Kampus. Windham Mountain (800-754-9463; http://www.windhammountain.com) boasts three new trails, three new lifts, a new ice skating center and a new on-mountain restaurant. Hunter Mountain (888-HUNTERMTN; http://www.huntermtn.com) has a new ticket center and has Wi-fi in the upstairs of the Base Lodge. There's also a new Park Bully grooming the slopes this winter, and it has doubled its tubing park.

Vermont: Ascutney Mountain Resort (800-243-0011; http://www.ascutney.com) in Brownsville turns 60 this year and has added new compressors and 100 new snowguns, and upgraded its grooming fleet. Look for new trails on the mountain and a renovated resort village, refur bished fitness center and a new spa. Bolton Valley (877-9BOLTON, http://www.boltonvalley.com). Last year, Bolton added a new summit quad chair. This year, there's a Burton Learn to Ride center for snowboarders and a new progression terrain park. Burke Mountain (802-626-3322; http://www.skiburke.com) has a new Snow Sports Learning Center, high-speed Internet access in both lodges, and enhanced cellphone coverage in all areas of the resort. Jay Peak (800-451-4449; http://www.jaypeakresort.com) is developing access to the West Bowl for more intermediate skiing/riding terrain. Killington Resort (800-621-6867; http://www.killington.com) has made more than $1.5 million in resort improvements this summer, including the opening of the Killington Grand Resort Hotel Spa and continued snowmaking upgrades, designated family ski/snowboard zones, a Family Adventure Center at the Snowshed Lodge (now with night tubing), and remodeling at Pico Mountain. Mad River Glen (802-496-3551; http://www.madriverglen.com) is spending about $120,000 this season just making sure that nothing changes. This is the last season for the old single chair before it spends $1.6 million on restoration. Magic Mountain (802-824-5645; http://www.magicmtn.com) in Londonderry has renovated the Inn on Magic Mountain, improved snowmaking and updated the Hokus Pokus Terrain Park. Middlebury Snow Bowl (802-388-4356; http://www.middlebury.edu/snowbowl) in Hancock has done some major trail work, expanding and recontouring two popular front side trails, Allen and Ross. New tower snowguns enhance snowmaking on Ross. Mount Snow (800-245-7669, http://www.mountsnow.com) in Dover has installed the longest terrain park (4,940 feet) in the East, and wi-fi access in the main base area. Okemo Mountain Resort (800-786-5366; http://www.okemo.com) in Ludlow has added snowmaking on Big Bang and Eclipse with 50 new HKD tower guns. It has four new Camoplast BR350 grooming machines, an expanded water reservoir for snowmaking; and a new ice skating rink and fitness and aquatic center at Jackson Gore. Smugglers Notch (800-451-8752; http://www.smuggs.com) in Jeffersonville. The popular Rum Runners' Trail on Sterling Mountain has been widened and recontoured at its scariest spots. The Morse Highlands Terrain Park has been moved to the Log Jam trail for a longer, wider, and more hit-filled beginner run. Stowe (800-253-4754; http://www.stowe.com) has changes including a new Poma 10-person standing gondola transfer lift, making it easy and convenient to get from Mount Mansfield to the new base area and lifts at Spruce Peak. Sugarbush (800-537-8427; http://www.sugarbush.com) in Warren is debuting a $60 million state-of-the-art base village and hotel at Lincoln Peak adding slopeside lodging and doubling the size of the main base lodge.

Regional ski areas upgrade for season.(Sports)

Byline: TIM JONES - Special to the Times Union

Many ski areas, after last year's disastrous snow year, decided to upgrade snowmaking and grooming. Here's just some of what you are going to see new when you head for the slopes.

Massachusetts: Berkshire East (413-339-6617; http://www.berkshireeast.com) in Charlemont has improved its snowmaking system and done some trail work for the new season. Blandford Ski Area (413-848-2860; http://www.skiblandford.org) in Blandford has a new carpet lift: Peppermint Patty's Polar Xpress Carpet for Kids. Catamount (413-528-1262; http://www.catamountski.com) in South Egremont has replaced the Ridge double with a new quad, has expanded its terrain park offerings and the Junior Jib Park for kids and added new snowmaking guns on Turnpike and Colonel's Caper. Ski Butternut (413-528-2000; http://www.skibutternut.com) in Great Barrington has a new Ski Patrol building at the top of the mountain to decrease response time should you need help. Jiminy Peak (800-882-8859; http://www.jiminypeak.com) in Hancock has a new trail, The Mogul Thing, a wider and regraded Left Bank trail, a new Burton Learn to Ride center, and the new Mountain Coaster, which will run all winter.

New York: Belleayre Mountain (845-254-5600; http://www.belleayre.com) in Highmount. The towers and terminals are in place and the cable is being strung for a new high-speed quad. Belleayre is ponying up a new high-speed lift and additional snowmaking. Look for a new base lodge starting in the spring. Gore Mountain (251-2411; http://www.goremountain.com) in North Creek. Novices should note the new Ruby Run trail off the Northwoods Gondola, the Bear Cub Run beginner trail has been reprofiled to offer a more consistent pitch and widened by 30 feet, and the Snow Train conveyor is 40-foot longer this season. Gore has also upgraded snowmaking and grooming and its NASTAR course. Whiteface (946-2223; http://www.whiteface.com), near Lake Placid, spent $5 million in capital improvements including snowmaking and grooming upgrades, trail re-contouring, and an expansion of the Kids Kampus. Windham Mountain (800-754-9463; http://www.windhammountain.com) boasts three new trails, three new lifts, a new ice skating center and a new on-mountain restaurant. Hunter Mountain (888-HUNTERMTN; http://www.huntermtn.com) has a new ticket center and has Wi-fi in the upstairs of the Base Lodge. There's also a new Park Bully grooming the slopes this winter, and it has doubled its tubing park.

Vermont: Ascutney Mountain Resort (800-243-0011; http://www.ascutney.com) in Brownsville turns 60 this year and has added new compressors and 100 new snowguns, and upgraded its grooming fleet. Look for new trails on the mountain and a renovated resort village, refur bished fitness center and a new spa. Bolton Valley (877-9BOLTON, http://www.boltonvalley.com). Last year, Bolton added a new summit quad chair. This year, there's a Burton Learn to Ride center for snowboarders and a new progression terrain park. Burke Mountain (802-626-3322; http://www.skiburke.com) has a new Snow Sports Learning Center, high-speed Internet access in both lodges, and enhanced cellphone coverage in all areas of the resort. Jay Peak (800-451-4449; http://www.jaypeakresort.com) is developing access to the West Bowl for more intermediate skiing/riding terrain. Killington Resort (800-621-6867; http://www.killington.com) has made more than $1.5 million in resort improvements this summer, including the opening of the Killington Grand Resort Hotel Spa and continued snowmaking upgrades, designated family ski/snowboard zones, a Family Adventure Center at the Snowshed Lodge (now with night tubing), and remodeling at Pico Mountain. Mad River Glen (802-496-3551; http://www.madriverglen.com) is spending about $120,000 this season just making sure that nothing changes. This is the last season for the old single chair before it spends $1.6 million on restoration. Magic Mountain (802-824-5645; http://www.magicmtn.com) in Londonderry has renovated the Inn on Magic Mountain, improved snowmaking and updated the Hokus Pokus Terrain Park. Middlebury Snow Bowl (802-388-4356; http://www.middlebury.edu/snowbowl) in Hancock has done some major trail work, expanding and recontouring two popular front side trails, Allen and Ross. New tower snowguns enhance snowmaking on Ross. Mount Snow (800-245-7669, http://www.mountsnow.com) in Dover has installed the longest terrain park (4,940 feet) in the East, and wi-fi access in the main base area. Okemo Mountain Resort (800-786-5366; http://www.okemo.com) in Ludlow has added snowmaking on Big Bang and Eclipse with 50 new HKD tower guns. It has four new Camoplast BR350 grooming machines, an expanded water reservoir for snowmaking; and a new ice skating rink and fitness and aquatic center at Jackson Gore. Smugglers Notch (800-451-8752; http://www.smuggs.com) in Jeffersonville. The popular Rum Runners' Trail on Sterling Mountain has been widened and recontoured at its scariest spots. The Morse Highlands Terrain Park has been moved to the Log Jam trail for a longer, wider, and more hit-filled beginner run. Stowe (800-253-4754; http://www.stowe.com) has changes including a new Poma 10-person standing gondola transfer lift, making it easy and convenient to get from Mount Mansfield to the new base area and lifts at Spruce Peak. Sugarbush (800-537-8427; http://www.sugarbush.com) in Warren is debuting a $60 million state-of-the-art base village and hotel at Lincoln Peak adding slopeside lodging and doubling the size of the main base lodge.