Stratton Mountain What’s New For Winter 2022-2023?

Welcome back to our 62nd winter on the slopes. We’re excited to show you what we have been working on in the offseason, but most importantly to get back to what we love most about winter, skiing and snowboarding. Check out the details below to find some of our most recent updates and additions around the resort since we last saw you.

Let’s Winter.

On Mountain

Over 500 working hours have been dedicated to the Stratton Glades. This project has cleared out branches and debris from many marked mountain glades for a better riding experience and an earlier opening. In addition to the glades, a significant amount of brush has been cleared from marked trails as well to require less initial base depth to open trails early season.

Stratton Mountain is continuing its annual investment in snowmaking infrastructure upgrades including a new switchgear in the Energy Center for increased power transmission, new pumps, motors, valves and hydrants as well as snowmaking pipe replacements and maintenance. 48 HKD SV10 R5 tower guns were installed to replace older tower guns. This makes snowmaking more energy efficient in key parts of the mountain.

A new Prinoth Bison XW Stage 5 snowcat has been purchased for winter 22-23. This versatile winch snowcat joins the powerful pack of ‘cats leading the charge in east coast grooming. The Bison XW comes complete with 3,300 ft of winch line, boasting an impressive 10,600 lbs. of pull force, allowing cat drivers to clip in and lay down the perfect shoulder-to-shoulder corduroy on the steepest of Stratton’s trails in variable conditions. This machine meets with highest emissions standards in the world: Euromot Stage V. The Caterpillar straight-six engine produces 422 hp/310 kW and an impressive maximum torque up to 1,900 Nm while an exhaust treatment system with SCR catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter reduces emission to a minimum. These upgrades make the Bison XW the cleanest snow groomer in its class.

Lessons

Next Step lessons include; one half-day group lesson, ski or snowboard equipment rental, priority access to lifts during the lesson, and a full-day lift ticket. Next Step Lessons are for those new to the sport but have already been on snow once or twice before. Lessons begin with a refresher on your equipment and answer any questions that participants may have. We focus on teaching proper techniques for getting on and off the lift, and how to navigate the mountain in a safe and controlled way. Lessons will hit the trails once the group is comfortable with basic skiing techniques, and explore variations in terrain that unlock new abilities while focusing on fundamentals like controlling your speed through turn shape and safe stopping techniques. Next Step Skiing is geared toward beginner skiers and snowboarders that are ready to experience the mountains to their fullest and are ready to break through to the next level. Take the Next Step, and let the good times ride.

Activities

New additions have been made at the Coca-Cola Tube Park including the all-new Coca-Cola Snack Shack. The new building will serve snacks and refreshments to those enjoying the Coca-Cola Tube Park when it is open. In addition to a new building, new lanes are being added as an upgrade in grooming equipment will allow the Tube Park to grow from 4 to 6 downhill tubing lanes.

Events

Stratton Mountain and East Street Archives join to celebrate the history, tradition and progression of a sport that got its start right here at Stratton, Vermont, with an event that brings the community together through snowboarding and creativity. HOMESICK makes its debut March 24-26. Three days of competition for all ages and abilities, art, photography, speaker series, vintage board swap, and more.

This new event will be a homecoming for the Who’s Who of Snowboarding, led by Olympic Gold Medalist Ross Powers, who still calls Stratton home, along with today’s leading athletes like Zeb Powell and amateurs, young and OG, to compete where it all began.

Check out Stratton Park’s Pop-Up Series Rail jams on the Event Calendar. This series of four events will take place once a month through the season and are free to enter.

Village

A new climbing gym is coming to the Stratton Village mid-winter in conjunction with Eldorado climbing. Eldorado climbing is a premier climbing & bouldering design company out of Colorado. The gym’s two-story rock walls will let you harness your new curiosity for a crag, or show off the possibilities on a multi-pitch. The gym will feature walls up to 25 feet in high, with 15 self-belay harnesses and bouldering options. The new climbing gym will be located in the Stratton Village, between the Welcome Center and Mad Coffee Roasters.

Stratton Training & Fitness Center

The Stratton Training and Fitness Center has updated its equipment just in time for ski and snowboard season. Experience all new cardio equipment including new treadmills, StairMasters, bikes, rowing machines and dumbells. Equipment upgrades aren’t the only new thing to hit the gym though. Check out the Stratton Training and Fitness Center page to view a full schedule of offerings including yoga, tennis, pickleball, massages and more.

Apps & Technology

The Stratton Mountain Mobile App has received some off-season updates including a new parking feature to show you parking lot levels and availability on busy weekends. Be sure to download the Stratton App, or go in and make sure you have the most up-to-date version. Switch on Push Notifications and automatic updates to make sure you never miss a beat on the latest from the mountain.

Enjoy contactless payments including Apple Pay and Google Pay at various shops and restaurants around the Village. New credit card terminals all you to tap your phone or credit card for payment.

Parks

A new Terrain Park is being added on Beeline. Expect this trail to be the home of a medium-sized jump line for quick progression laps right off of the American Express chair.

It’s with open arms and a 18′ zaugg that we welcome back a halfpipe. Expect to ride a half pipe in Big Ben this winter once the main park opens in Sun Bowl.

Sustainability

Eight new Stage 2 EV Chargers will be added to Lot 1, closest to the access road. This will bring the resort’s total EV Charger count to 11. Chargers will be available on a first come first serve basis for those driving electric vehicles this winter.

The MOOver will be returning for winter 22-23 as a free public transit system. The MOOver connects Stratton Mountain Resort to the Manchester area, with a daily shuttle service increasing mountain access. Three new public resort transportation buses and two new shuttle buses for the Black Bear Lodge have been purchased to enhance inter-resort travel. Public transportation reduces the number of individual vehicles on the road thus total emissions from traveling.

BioCoTech BIOSPEED composting machine will be on the resort as of spring 2023. This machine shortens the cycle of obtaining usable organic compost material from Food scraps. In addition to reducing our carbon footprint, this new technology will have a direct mutual benefit to the resort and community stakeholders.

Building Insulation Audit; Stratton has commissioned a building envelope analysis of 3 additional structures. A similar study was completed 2 years ago before the reinsulating of the Stratton Mountain Club. These studies provide a detailed analysis of each structure’s overall condition. Using techniques from blower door testing to infra-red imaging. This data will be used to help formulate the best way to improve the structures’ ability to regulate temperature and in turn lower utility usage.

Plastic Film Recycling; Stratton will continue its partnership with the NexTrex plastic film recycling program. This program allows anyone from businesses to individuals to divert plastic films from their waste streams. Most plastic films are non-recyclable and end up in a landfill. This program provides an avenue for this material to be repurposed into usable material for production. Stratton aims to continuously improve its ability to divert more plastic film from its waste stream.

Compressor Regulation; Last season Stratton completed an audit of our snowmaking system to identify areas for improvement. Compressor regulation would improve the efficiency of the air system by ensuring the balance of the load between air compressors. This will reduce the wear on the compressors as well as reduce the electric consumption necessary to operate them.

Check out Stratton’s sustainability timeline on our Fresh Tracks web page.