Magic Conditions

Greetings from Londonderry,

We've had two seasons in two weeks. First one was cold and snow-filled and this week was 70s and summery. Now it looks like it's changing over to a more traditional late fall weather pattern with cooler gray skies and a chance for some snowmaking temps by next week!

This leads me to where we are today. Because in fact, we can, and do need to, make some sacrifices to take care of our fellow citizens and hopefully go skiing this winter which is important for our bodies and souls. The pandemic is raging right now across the country and we need to get every one wearing a mask in public, keeping 6' distant in public, washing hands, and limiting social gatherings. This is as true in Vermont as it is in states next to and south of us. Cases are currently growing in Vermont and it's not due to an influx of tourists. No ski resorts are even open yet and this is a down-time for travelers to the state. As our Governor here has stated, this internal-to-Vermont COVID spread shows we are not immune from following all the state health protocols despite our very positive situation versus the rest of the country. We are all tired of this virus, but it is not tired of us. So we need to refocus our collective efforts as we approach the holidays.

Besides trail clearing on both Heart of Magician and Pitch Black this week, we are finishing a full repair of the electric line with pedestals moved back to trail's edge for fan gun snowmaking. The "good" weather allowed some final painting of the Quad base terminal and our crew continues to make progress on chair reconstruction in the parking lot. While we expect to start making snow next week for a day or two, there has yet to be a consistently cold pattern in southern Vermont, therefore our current 12/5 opening date may shift, if necessary, to 12/12 to insure we have enough terrain to open safely.

Online purchasing and reservations, for everything from day tickets, lessons, rentals, and indoor dining tables during ski days, is in its final stages and we should go live on our website with the new platform by 11/23 for any day this season. Inventory will be limited as a result of COVID so advanced planning is recommended. But given current out-of-state travel restrictions requiring a 7-day quarantine with a negative COVID test, we don't expect to reach our day-ticket limit (just 1,100 tickets) too often.

Every one here is working hard to get ready for the ski season and I thank our dedicated crew so much for the extra work in preparing Magic during these difficult times, plus the patience and perseverance that will be needed by our faithful skiers and riders this season.

Be well, stay safe, and think snow!

- Geoff
Geoff Hatheway, Magic Mountain
Where skiing still has its soul.
 
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Magic with a few inches of snow this last week.

Greetings from Londonderry,

It's time. Time to get this ski season started at Magic.

The plan is to open on Thursday 12/17 into the weekend. While we aren't making snow right now with warmer temps once again, we should get enough down with colder weather next week to open the Green Lift to the mid-mountain. A pond-full of snow has been blown on Wand (which gets a lot of sun, traffic, and has the rocky work road) to last into April. The crew started on Carumba/Lower Red Line on Tuesday afternoon but lost temps Wednesday morning. More needs to be done there and in the terrain park, but we should be in good shape by Thursday. Next week we will also be working our way down from the summit on Upper Magic Carpet and then Medium. Once completed the crew will head down Lower Magic Carpet for an easier way down off the Green Lift. All of that should be ready by December 24th, along with blowing in the beginner area carpet lift for learn-to-ski lessons.

But for next week, we start at Green Chair ("blue square" level skiing only), and get the legs and mind ready for ever more challenging terrain as mother-nature hopefully ups her game soon! Big shout out to our crew who has been battling the marginal temps and doing the best they can, to blow as much as they can, whenever they can!

All daily lift tickets and reservations (Indy Pass, Rentals, Lessons, Lodge Dining, Uphill AT) can all be accessed here and from our website for the season.

Magic Ticket/Reservation Store

For our season pass holders, everyone will need to sign a required one-time attestation form saying you will adhere all season to the Vermont state travel and quarantine rules. These can be filled out and signed at the pass holder check-in/ticket window, but to save time, you can go here, print it out and bring it with you to the window already signed for your first visit to Magic or email it to us in advance. Pass Holder Attestation Form

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Snowmaking completed on Wand this week.

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Carumba into Lower Redline started.

Snowmaking has also targeted the base area for lift access and the new lighted terrain park. The Night Park will make its debut on Friday afternoon/eve Dec 18th. New features are being worked on and our park crew is excited to build the park set-up over time, but get it launched on Friday. The lights will be shining and the new Take Out window and outdoor heated tent should be ready to go!

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Night Park Tickets are just $29, must reserve online as limited capacity

For opening day, you will notice a lot of new signage and set-ups to keep each other safe during this ongoing Covid pandemic. Please familiarize yourself with our operating plans which are detailed at the bottom of this email. Come prepared and try to stay patient. It's a learning experience for all of us, but keep in mind, it's all about getting out there to ski and ride on this awesome throwback mountain. Enjoy it.

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New Pass Holder Check-in Window

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New Day Ticket Pick-Up Entry from Drop Off parking

On the Quad front, Pfister Mountain Services will be here this weekend to start installing all the chairs on the line! They are now back and we hope to move aggressively to get this lift finished and tested early in the New Year for all of us to enjoy for peak ski season! On the not-as-great news front, the 300 pump motor for the lower snowmaking loop I told you about last week is in for major repairs ($11K worth of re-winding), but should be back here by end of next week ready to aid our snowmaking efforts. That hurts in a season chock full of new hurdles, but machines break and that's just part of the ski business. We'll be "pumped' when we see snow fly out of guns on Show Off and Hocus Pocus soon!
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Sharon has been busy fulfilling online orders for the holidays out of Magic Merchants. She says she'd like to be even busier with all the new Magic gear she has in stock. So, please, help her out!!!

Magical Gifts for the holidays

The spacious Black Line Tavern is open by reservation from 4-10p tonight and Friday as well as 12 Noon to 10pm Saturday. Besides the new winter menu, Chef Chris has a Korean Puled Pork special. Call 824-5645 x112 for reservations or email BLT@magicmtn.com. We have our big HEPA air purifiers going and plenty of spacing in our large BLT area.
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It looks like there may be a good Northeast set-up for some storms due to high latitude blocking--something missing for much of last year (I pretend to be a meteorologist, but mostly I just pray). Our real meteorologists at Empire Weather, who live in a sealed, unheated compartment below the rental shop during the winter, say next week is looking "interesting". Well, we are opening...

Think Snow and be well!

- Geoff
Geoff Hatheway, Magic Mountain
 
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Toby Fitch captures Magic's beauty this week in classic black & white

Greetings from Londonderry,

Thank you to all who were here for opening week after a blanket of 25-30" of snow covered Magic in a matter of 13 hours. From 1-3', then 6-12", to a blockbuster storm with all the right banding over our area snowing at a rate of 3" per hour at times. Lots of smiling faces and tired legs in classic powder and packed powder conditions, with the whole mountain including all treeskiing accessible. Attendance was down dramatically through the weekend versus our normal big powder days because the storm was a bit of a last-minute surprise up here, so we know many are following Vermont's travel and quarantine guidelines.

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Opening day 1st Chair A Deep Mystery

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The Hallows captured by Stefan Beaumont


All our safety protocols worked pretty well--a bit of tweaking here and there-- but almost every one did a great job as guests and employees all got comfortable with a new system. Thank you! But, one important reminder: face coverings/masks with holes for the nose and and tinier ones for the mouth are not approved for Covid safety. Also, neck gaiters must be double layered or folded over twice, or have a mask on underneath the gaiter. Please come to Magic with the appropriate face coverings for everyone's safety, including yours.
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Operationally: This coming week we are open Thursday, closed Friday for Christmas, and then back open 12/26-1/3. The new night park will not be open Friday, but then open Saturday the 26th at 4-7p right straight through the holiday week. This being Vermont, we are already seeing signs that we are in for another storm. Unfortunately this one comes Thursday night into Friday mid-day and brings quite a lot of r**n and warm 30-50 mph winds. A veritable snow killer. There could be some back-end snow, but that tends to be minimal with these storms. Temperatures do crash back down Friday afternoon/night to the high teens which will ice things up, so please plan on a delayed opening on December 26th (10am at the earliest) as we assess the storm damage across the mountain and potential icing on lifts. We will be making snow Christmas night (thank you snowmakers!), as we try to recover as quickly as possible. If you want to grab all the terrain that is now open with these great conditions, you’ll want to be here THURSDAY before the storm hits starting late Thursday afternoon.

Now for the good news: longer range another storm, this one snow, is in the forecast for next week (Tuesday/Wednesday)–a long way out but hopefully that will get us back on all cylinders again. And the pattern looks good into January for cold and possible snow storm set-ups. Online ticket purchases and Indy Pass reservations can be made via our tickets page. All tickets must be purchased in advance online in our tickets store due to COVID-19 safety restrictions. No walk-up tickets sold at ticket booths. Pass holders must check-in at outside ticket window for their tickets. Masks on when not skiing or eating/drinking–also masking includes the lift lines and base area/parking lots.
 
Greetings from Londonderry,

Our team has been hard at work with spring projects as Magic and the rest of Vermont has been turning green.

The weather has been getting hotter, almost as hot as as our Early Bird spring pass sale which ends soon at midnight of June 15th when our season pass prices make their first increase. As you know, we are limiting pass sales this year to just a 5% increase over last year to control traffic and keep our less-crowded, freer ski experience alive and well. (Even with the new Quad coming on line for this season.) We are now ahead of last season's record season pass sale volume by 75% as of this same date. We still have plenty left, but there's no doubt we will meet our sales limit at some point well before the ski season starts. Thank you to all who are making Magic home at some point this winter.

Magic Season Pass Sale

And remember to include a new photo when you purchase so we can have your pass ready for mailing or pick-up.

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The Magic Mountain National Disc Golf course has already opened a little ahead of schedule. It's in great shape and is a fun way to get outside on the mountain with family and friends. Disc Golf season passes are only $100 for adults ($250 for a whole family) and can be purchased here.

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Disc Golf is a beautiful game at Magic Multi-band VT Roots Roadshow 8/7

The Tavern re-opens with its summer menu on July 1st for Thursday-Saturday dinners, plus Saturday lunch and new Sunday brunch! With our new Tavern mini-split air system, the inside restaurant/bar space is going to feel a lot more refreshing during the hot summer months. It sounds like all Vermont Covid guidelines will be dropped in two weeks as Vermont is approaching 80% fully vaccinated. Live music concerts will return, along with our huge Independence Day weekend celebration starting with Londonderry fireworks show here and live band on July 2nd, and our own "mini-works" and live acoustic music on July 4th. Should be a lot of fun! And it's only the beginning as our first multi-band concert is August 7th called Vermont Roots Roadshow--and their first stop is at Magic and we are making it a free show to usher back the good times!
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Did I mention there's a lot of work going on? Here's a picture sampling of just some of the projects--which also includes snowmaking system testing by Matt, Don and Rusty (both 300 and 400 lines got an initial testing with some leaks found and this will be ongoing over a number of weekends to insure the system is 100% for November start-up); lift maintenance with annual NDT ongoing for Red and Green Chairs by Travis and Brownie; water bar and summit road excavating work by Kyle; and Pfister Mountain Services refurbishing newly sourced sheave assemblies/wheels for eventual installation on Quad towers per revised engineering specs this summer.

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Kyle makes access to Quad towers. Matt welding new beginner area pipe. Don/Bubba trim sides of Trick and work on snowmaking guns there.

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Magic is in the SKI Mag! Click the pic to read the story as we've tried hard to keep this sport more affordable for all skiers and riders. Not just those already committed to skiing 20+ days a year, but to those who ski less or are just taking up the sport. There's no doubt it's an expensive sport but we try to offer a variety of passes to fit different needs and every day online tickets that need no discount because they aren't over $100 (or even $200+!). We need to be more inclusive, not less!

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Memorial Day weekend is upcoming, so please come out and enjoy the mountain if you are in the area for disc golf or hiking. The Tavern is closed until July 1.

This upcoming Monday, we remember and give thanks to all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It's a solemn day of remembrance and gratitude. Too much has happened over the last year with Covid, and the death and sorrow it brought to so many families, plus the disruption of every day life, not to step back and appreciate what we can do together, rather than apart. The sense of team work, duty and sacrifice for others is so prevalent in the men and women who have served and serve now in our military. And, we've seen it in action from our healthcare workers and our emergency responders over the last year. Caring more for others than one's self. Willing to do whatever it takes for your fellow soldier, your patient, or for the country and community at-large--many complete strangers. While we don't want to have tragedies of war or pandemics define our existence, these tragedies can shine a light on how we can rise to the challenge and be there for others as a community. Too often we focus on what divides. But I like to think what unites is far more powerful in the end. And, Memorial Day is a perfect time to reflect on that. And appreciate that.

We thank you for being a part of our caring community over this last, very trying year-- making it so welcoming to all and fun for so many despite the challenges. From all our staff here at Magic, have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

- Geoff

Geoff Hatheway
Magic Mountain. Where skiing still has its soul.
 
I have to get to Magic!
I saw this yesterday. Apparently it is in response to Mt. Snow's announcement that a lot of their parking lots are now going to be pay lots on weekends and holidays. There's Vail for ya! WTF?
 
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