thePULSE
LuAnn Thibodeau
When you think about winter, does skiing and snowboarding come to mind? I know that I can hear the Wa-Wa-Wachusett jingle in my head. Wachusett Mountain is definitely a great place for skiing and snowboarding, and it’s close by. Their slogan, “Mountain Fun…Minutes Away”, is most surely true. On a recent afternoon, the parking lots were not filled, and grass was visible on all of the sides of the mountain. But alas, that will soon change.
Located off Route 140 near the Princeton/Westminster town line, at 499 Mountain Road in Princeton. If you want GPS directions, use 41 Mile Hill Road, Westminster, MA 01473. Wachusett is only twenty minutes from Worcester and just over an hour from Boston. In fact, Ski Magazine readers voted it New England’s most accessible ski area. Wachusett Mountain offers something for everyone- from the beginner in skiing or snowboarding, to those at the expert level. And for those who don’t do either, great dining is available.
Wachusett has lessons available, offered by well-trained instructors. Beginners, groups, advanced, and private lessons are some of the options. And there are also instructional kids programs for ages 4 and up.
No snow in the area yet? Not a problem at Wachusett. They have state of the art snowmaking systems, and the trails have a twice a day grooming that provides the best possible conditions. The season is scheduled to open on November 24th, and lots of great things are on the agenda.
In the month of December, MTNSIDE Demo Day will take place on the 9th. Sales staff and brand representatives will be on hand to help you to customize your experience and try out the latest equipment. On the 17th, it’s The Polar Express Holiday Celebration. There will be holiday treats, crafts, and more. The day starts at 11 am, with a screening of the movie The Polar Express. On the 19th and 20th, there will be Wachusett Race League Pre-Season Clinics. And the month (and year) will end with the New Year’s Eve Celebration on the 31st.
Skiing and snowboarding are available by day and by night. Lift tickets are broken down into 4 sessions. Session 1 is from 7:30 am to 11:30 am on weekends and holidays, and 9 am to 12:30 pm on weekdays. Session 2 is from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm weekends and holidays, and 12:30 pm to 4 pm weekdays. Session 3 is from 4 pm to 7 pm, weekdays, weekends, and holidays. And Session 4 is from 7 pm to 9:30 pm, weekdays, weekends, and holidays- from December 25th through March 11th. Rate information is available @ wachusett.com. Group discounts are offered for groups of 15 people or more, 6 years and older.
Now what if your company wants a place to have a business meeting? Or perhaps you want to have another type of small gathering? Well, Wachusett is the perfect place. The Slope Skyboxes provide the perfect venue, and the sales department will help you to create the perfect event. Email sales@wachusett.com for details.
There is so much to do at Wachusett, and you’ll want to return again and again. With a 2,006 ft summit elevation, a 1,000 ft vertical drop, 27 trails, 8 lifts, and 100% snowmaking, a great day or evening always awaits. You can check out even more @wachusett.com. And happy skiing and snowboarding.
