Berkshire East Ski Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Berkshire East Ski Resort |
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Lodge and Summit triple chairlift in 2007
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 Berkshire East Ski Resort
Location in Massachusetts
Berkshire East Ski Resort
Location in the United States
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| Location | Charlemont / Hawley, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Greenfield |
| Coordinates | 42°37′15″N 72°52′37″W / 42.62083°N 72.87694°W |
| Vertical | 1,180 ft (360 m) |
| Top elevation | 1,700 ft (520 m) AMSL |
| Base elevation | 520 ft (158 m) |
| Runs | 45 |
| Longest run | 2.5 miles (4 km) |
| Lift system | 4 chairs: (2 quads, 1 triple, 1 double) 2 surface lifts |
| Snowmaking | 100% |
| Website | berkshireeast.com |
Berkshire East Ski Resort is a fun ski area located in the Berkshires mountains of Massachusetts, United States. It's a great place for downhill skiing and snowboarding. You can find it on Mount Institute in the towns of Charlemont and Hawley.
Contents
History of Berkshire East
Starting as Thunder Mountain
Skiing on Mount Institute began in the mid-1950s. A man named Arthur Parker opened a small ski area with a rope tow (a simple lift that pulls you up a hill). It only stayed open for one short season.
After that, Parker worked to get people to invest in a bigger ski area on the same mountain. In 1961, the first double chairlift was put in place. Another double chairlift was added in 1962.
In the late 1960s, new owners took over. They changed the name of the ski area to Berkshire East.
Becoming Berkshire East Ski Resort
The new owners faced some challenges. By 1975, Berkshire East was having financial trouble and its lifts were old. But then, new management took over. They started making many improvements to the resort.
They added new chairlifts, including a Hall double chairlift in 1978. Another lift, an SLI, was also added in the late 1970s.
In 1995, an older double chairlift was replaced with a newer triple chairlift. In 2003, another old double chairlift was replaced with a modern quad chairlift.
A "magic carpet" lift was added in 2008. This is like a moving sidewalk that helps beginners get up a gentle slope.
By 2008, Berkshire East had 45 trails and five lifts. It was also the only public ski area in Franklin County.
In 2010, an older double chairlift was replaced with a new triple chairlift.
Powered by Wind Energy
A really cool thing happened in 2011! Berkshire East added a large wind turbine. This made it the first ski area in the world to get all its power from renewable energy right there at the resort!
In 2014, the main Summit Triple lift was replaced with a brand new SkyTrac quad chairlift. This new lift moves faster and has a special moving carpet to help skiers load onto the chairs easily.
Skiing and Snowboarding Trails
Berkshire East has about 1000 feet of vertical drop. This means the difference in height from the top of the mountain to the bottom is 1000 feet. It has about 200 acres of skiable land.
The resort offers trails for all skill levels:
- Beginner runs: 30% of the trails are for new skiers.
- Intermediate runs: 35% are for those who are getting better.
- Advanced runs: 30% are for experienced skiers.
- Expert runs: 5% are for very skilled skiers.
Berkshire East is known for having some challenging expert trails!
Chairlifts at Berkshire East
- Summit Quad Chairlift: This lift takes you to the top of the mountain. It serves trails for all skill levels, from easy beginner areas to tough expert runs. It has a loading carpet to help you get on quickly.
- Mountain Top Triple Chairlift: This lift also goes to the top of the mountain. It serves the same trails as the Summit Quad. It's often used during busy times or early/late in the season.
- Wilderness Peak Quad Chairlift: This lift serves easier trails on the west side of the mountain. It's great for beginners and intermediate skiers.
- Top Notch Double Chairlift: This lift serves a gentle slope perfect for beginners.
- Bobcat Magic Carpet: This is a moving carpet lift for the very easiest beginner slope.
Making Snow
Berkshire East can make snow on all of its trails! This is super important for having good snow conditions, even if natural snowfall is low. The resort uses special fan guns to create snow.
Ski Racing
Berkshire East has a strong history of ski racing. Many successful racers have trained and competed here. These include high school champions and even members of the United States Ski Team.
The resort often hosts important ski races. These include slalom and giant slalom championships. It's also a place for ski mountaineering races.
Other Fun Activities
Berkshire East offers more than just skiing and snowboarding!
In 2007, they opened a snow tubing slope. You can slide down the hill on a tube, and a magic carpet lift brings you back up!
In 2009, they added zip lines, creating a business called Berkshire East Canopy Tours.
Berkshire East Canopy Tours is one of the biggest zip line companies in North America. It has almost 4.5 miles of zip lines! Two of its zip lines, X1 and X2, are among the longest in the United States. They are about half a mile long and nearly 200 feet above the ground!
In 2013, Berkshire East got approval to build the longest Alpine Coaster in North America. This is like a roller coaster on the mountain, with a mile (1.6 km) of steel track.
The new mountain coaster was built in the summer of 2014. That fall, they also started building a new downhill mountain bike park. So, there's fun to be had all year round!
