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The replacement of the Sunnyside Double Chair and clean-up from January’s ice storm will highlight a busy Summer on the mountain. Demolition of the existing lift has already begun and construction of the new lift will begin in June. The project should be completed by the end of July. The new double chair will stand in the same place as the one being replaced. All of the line equipment including the towers, tower bases, chairs, sheave assemblies and return station will all be replaced. The existing drive station, built in 1982, will remain. The new lift will have115 chairs and have an uphill capacity of 1,200 skiers per hour, the same as the old one. The lift will be manufactured and installed by Garaventa-Ctek for a total cost of $600,000. The replacement cost will be paid for with a combination of operating profits, share sales and bonds.

Clean-up from this Winter’s ice storm will also be a major focus of attention this Summer. A full time work crew has been hired to lead the clean-up operation. This crew will be augmented with the regular mountain staff and by Co-op volunteers. Freelance cutting on the mountain is strictly prohibited. If you are interested in volunteering your efforts contact the Co-op office for information.

Roughly 80% of what came down in the storm was branches and limbs. The work crew will clear the downed debris and the many "widowmakers". The crew will focus their efforts on the trail system, gladed bands and then the woods. Just like a fire, the ice storm was natures way of thinning our forest. The goal of the clean-up effort is to work with nature to rejuvenate the forest. Debris will be dragged to low areas where it can decompose naturally. Many large trees were uprooted in the storm causing erosion problems which will also need to be addressed. With the help of dedicated volunteers and the trail crew nature will bring the forest (and the skiing) back to or better than ever.

Due to the lift construction and ice storm clean-up this Summer’s calendar of events has been reduced. The parking lot and base area are needed as staging areas for the construction projects making events difficult. The exception will be the Mad River Glen Co-op’s Independence Day BBQ on Sunday July 5. Event planning will focus on events for the 50^th Anniversary season and for the Summer of 1999.