land & people - owning ascutney
Spring/Summer 2017
"Jim Lyall is heading up Mt. Ascutney again, and I'm trying to keep up........." Read more here
THE EAGLE TIMES - A LONG TIME COMING. DEconstruction of former ski lodge begins
February 8th, 2017
"WEST WINDSOR — Town officials and members of nonprofit Ascutney Outdoors braved the snow Tuesday morning to watch as crews began to demolish the vacant fire-damaged former base lodge at Ascutney Mountain Resort to make way for a proposed multi-use facility." Read more here
THE VERMONT STANDARD - ascutney outdoors draws crowd at meeting
January 27, 2017
"On Sunday, Ascutney Outdoors (AO), a nonprofit organization formed in 2015, held a meeting at Story Memorial Hall in West Windsor for the community to ask questions about what AO has accomplished regarding Mount Ascutney and what they have planned for the future of the ski area. About 85 concerned citizens attended." Read more here
Ascutney Outdoors Acquires Burned Ski Lodge
December 18th, 2016
We are thrilled to announce that Ascutney Outdoors (AO) has just completed the purchase of the burned-down base lodge from MFW Associates, and is taking on the responsibility for asbestos remediation and demolition of the building.
The purchase is a giant step towards our goal of bringing back recreation to Mount Ascutney and economic vitality to the village of Brownsville. The demolition will remove a blight from our community, and the site provides the perfect location for a future ‘Ascutney Outdoors Center’, a multi-use activities and events space. The building we envision will become the public face of AO and serve as a hub for all of our activities: community events and gatherings, conservation and educational programs, arts and music events, and, of course, our awesome biking, hiking, skiing and other affordable recreational pursuits.
Read our formal Press Release here
FREESKIER MAGAZINE - Green Mountain Movement: The story of Vermont’s growing backcountry scene
November 21, 2016
In the birthplace of modern American skiing, die-hard locals are returning to the good old days. Read more here
GEARJUNKIE - ‘Shut Down’ Ski Town Makes Comeback With MTB Trails
November 17, 2016
A ski resort shuts down. A town begins to fade. But resurgence is seen when a dedicated group of bikers moves in to build trails and encourage riders to try a new experience in the Northeast. Read more here
VT Ski & Ride - Vermont’s Growing Backcountry
November 17, 2016
Last year, residents in the town of West Windsor voted to approve a measure purchasing the former Ascutney ski area and adding it to the town forest. The area that had already been a popular destination for mountain bikers will once again attract skiers, thanks to the work of Mount Ascutney Outdoors, the nonprofit created to manage the area’s recreation assets. Read more here
the ski diva - BLOG POST Interview with Laura Farrell
November 15, 2016
How a Community Saved a Small Ski Area: Mount Ascutney, Vermont Read more here
Vermont public radio - ON POINT INTERVIEW WITH wintry mix's ALEX KAUFFMAN
November 2, 2016
Local Vision And A Rope Tow: Mount Ascutney, Once Shuttered, Gets New Life. Read more here
wintry mix podcast - Episode 34
October 24, 2016
There are plenty of well equipped New England ski areas including Saddleback, The Balsams and Tenney that haven't stayed open consistently. Ascutney had been dormant since 2010, but thanks to land grants and community spirit there's a new future of recreation on this historic ski mountain. Listen here.
SKI MAGAZINE - ROPED IN
October, 2016
Skiing is about a whole lot more than sliding down a snowy mountain. It always has been. And it always will be. For recent proof, head to two tiny communities in southern Vermont, tucked in tight by the New Hampshire border.. Read more here.
Vermont life - the comeback trail
Autumn Issue, 2016
Ascutney Ski Resort collapsed in 2010, but enterprising townspeople decided that the mountain wasn't going anywhere. Read more here.
Interim Warming hut and ACTIVITIES hub
August 27, 2016
The old 'Mouse House' was on the move this weekend! We're excited to have it relocated to the base of the Rope Tow so that it can be cleaned up and used as an interim informational building, activities hub, gathering place and warning hut for the winter.
BACKCOUNTRY MAGAZINE - MT ASCUTNEY SUCCESSFULLY CONSERVED
June 1, 2016
Back on course: Despite a funding hurdle, Vermont's Mount Ascutney is successfully conserved. Interview with Kate Wanner from the Trust For Public Land. Read more here.
STio - small town triumph: ascutney mountain
April 15, 2016
Sixty-four year old Laura Farrell is a firecracker. If she were to write a resume, it would include the bullets: Founder and Director of Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, Founder of the Vermont 100 Ultrarun and Vermont 50 Ride and Run, Coach, Mom, Ultrarunner, Skier, Hiker, and lover of animals. She’s spent her career removing barriers—both physical and financial–to recreation. Click here to read the full article.
THE VERMONT STANDARD - ASCUTNEY OUTDOORS, ROPE TOW DEDICATION
February 10, 2016
Members of Ascutney Outdoor and guests met at the site of the new rope tow on Mount Ascutney for the dedication. Lack of snow prevented the Winter Fest that was planned from happening earlier in the day. Nancy Nutile-McMenemy Photos. Click here to view image gallery.
ROPE TOW DEDICATION & CONSERVATION CELEBRATION
February 6, 2016
MT ASCUTNEY SKI AREA - Although the poor winter conditions on the hill forced us to cancel our inaugural Winterfest, we are so glad we were still able to hold our Rope Tow dedication and conservation celebration ceremony on Saturday February 6th, slopeside at Mt Ascutney Ski Area. It was a wonderful ceremony, and our very special thanks goes to the community of West Windsor, The Trust for Public Land, The Upper Valley Land Trust and the Ely & Howland families for your support.
THE VERMONT STANDARD: WEST WINDSOR TAKES BACK IT'S COMMUNITY MOUNTAIN
February 5, 2016
BROWNSVILLE — Warmer than- average temperatures may have canceled the inaugural Winter Fest at the newly created nonprofit ski hill at Mount Ascutney, but they won’t dampen the spirits of community members, organizers and mountain enthusiasts Saturday. Click here to read the full article.
THE VERMONT STANDARD: ROPE TOW PHOTO GALLERY
February 4, 2016
Visitors and residents enjoyed the snow-covered mountain with use of the new rope tow to get them up the hill at Mount Ascutney. Images courtesy of Nancy Nutile-McMenemy. Click here for image gallery.
SKIMAG.COM: NEW ENGLAND CLASSICS POISED TO REOPEN
February 3, 2016
There's still no word on a Saddleback buyer, but Tenney and Ascutney have bright futures under new management. Click here to read the full article.
ROPE TOW OPENS FOR THE 2015/2016 SEASON
January 16, 2016
Mother Nature gave us some fresh snow for the first day of the season, Saturday January 16th, 2016. It was a truly wonderful day to see the community out enjoying lift-served skiing on Mt Ascutney again. A big thank-you to all of those involved in making this project possible.
See some photos capturing our great first day here
The Vermont Standard: "West Windsor Celebrates Resort land Acquisition"
December 23, 2016
WEST WINDSOR - A pop-up tailgate party was held Tuesday as folks gathered to celebrate the nearly two years of trying to acquire and protect the 468 acres of the former Ascutney Mountain Resort." Click here to read the full article.
THE VALLEY NEWS: "ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN SKI TRAILS SOLD, CONSERVED"
December 16, 2015
"Brownsville — The Trust for Public Land on Tuesday announced that it has finalized the purchase of 470 acres of the former Ascutney Mountain Resort, a key milestone in West Windsor’s efforts to keep attracting outdoor enthusiasts to the former ski village." Click here to read the full article.
The vermont standard: "Old school skiing coming back to mt ascutney"
November 12, 2015
"The first rope tow in America was set up on Gilbert's Hill in Woodstock back in January of 1934, so it seems appropriate that our area, home to that and many other early ski hills, is going to have another one soon." Click here to read the full article.
The Valley News: "Skiing Could Return to Old Ascutney Mt. Resort"
October 14, 2015
"The former Mount Ascutney Resort will likely become part of the West Windsor Town Forest this December — which could mean a return to organized skiing on its trails as soon as this winter." Click here to read the full article.
WCAX: "Mt Ascutney resort poised for a comeback?"
October 2, 2015
"It's been 5 years since skiers hit the slopes at Mt Ascutney. Now volunteers are hopeful they'll be able to get the resort's finances back on track and people back on the trails". Click here to read the full article.
Addison independent: "Comeback Mountain"
September 21, 2015
"In 2010, Mt Ascutney shut down it's lifts. Now. thanks to a group of locals, it is on it's way to becoming one of Vermont's hottest destinations for mountain biking and back-country skiing." Click here to read the full article.
SnoCountry.com: "Vermont Town Appoints Steering Committee to Manage Ascutney Trails"
July 21, 2015
"The Town of West Windsor, Vermont, Selectboard has approved the creation of a steering committee that will establish Mt. Ascutney Outdoors, a non-profit group that will manage and maintain the assets and recreation opportunities of the West Windsor Town Forest." Click here to read the full article.
BACKCOUNTRY MAGAZINE: "vermont town raisin money to RESURRECT ski area"
June 3, 2015
Residents of the eastern Vermont town of West Windsor are looking to bring back the former Ascutney Mountain Resort. The ski area went bankrupt and shuttered in the summer of 2010, but it could be turned into a community recreation area if the town can raise the $900,000 necessary to buy the property from its owner, MFW Associates." Click here to read the full article.
BACKCOUNTRY MAGAZINE: "ASCUTNEY ASCENSION"
May 19, 2015
"In 2010, after more than six decades in operation, central Vermont’s Ascutney Mountain Resort stopped spinning its lifts. The existing infrastructure was left to rot and rust, the trails have grown into a mangled mess of brush, and the closure dealt a serious blow to the area’s economy. Now, a group of impassioned townspeople, skiers and mountain bikers are working to buy back and revitalize their ski hill. And backcountry skiing and riding is part of their plan." Click here to read the full article.