Last Saturday, I spent a day at Mount Abram and was rewarded with some good skiing. I wanted to see how things were going under the new management that is now in its second season.

One change that’s hard to miss is the giant array of solar panels that stretch across the low end of the parking lo,t using the southern exposure to maximize the capacity of the system. These panels will reduce the cost of power to the area.

One of the first things I noticed was a new ticket building near the old ticket location — which is now being used as retail space for the Sports Haus ski shop — a branch of that popular Bridgton shop that also has a location at Shawnee Peak. It may not seem like a big change, but skiers gained more space inside the base lodge when the shop moved into the new space. This is one of those small investments that adds valuable space where it’s needed and the extra room inside the base lodge was obvious.

Out on the mountain, the evidence of the snowmaking improvements were obvious. A year ago, in the early season, the only way to get back from West Side was to take the trailer hauled behind a tractor. Last weekend, even after all the warm weather, it was smooth skiing down Lower Easy Rider to the main base area. Mount Abram’s West Side is one of the better learning areas anywhere. Every run is only slightly pitched so any level skier can easily control their speed. When we took our youngest grandchild there two years ago, she had been skiing with her parents on a leash. On those runs I let her go by herself, and she control ed her speed easily on the gentle pitches. The fact that the area is off by itself without the better skiers coming through and intimidating the newbies, creates a near perfect learning environment. And, as always I ran into veteran instructors I have known for years, still happy to be adding new skiers to the slopes.

Over on the main mountain, skiers were heading all directions off the top, with good snow on the familiar advanced runs down the center and intermediate runs that circle the perimeter of the area. On a run down Dudley, I watched a handful of ski patrollers practicing and couldn’t help taking some time to watch for a few minutes as they worked their way down the mountain. It was obvious that some veteran patrollers were coaching some newer members in handling a rescue sled, something quite common but more likely to seen at an area the size of Mount Abram rather than a mega resort.

While these were not members that I knew, they recognized me, and I wound up in conversations about patrolling. It’s been a long time since I used to coach newer patrollers, and a lot has changed, but the basics are still the same. Ski patrollers must be strong skiers, but running rescue sleds calls for a solid snowplow and sideslip and the ability to transition from snowplow to sideslip while between the handles of the sled. It takes practice to master handling a sled, and it’s always reassuring to see them working at it. I was also reassured to see that they had a patrolman skiing around West Side. Although a patrolman can get to the top of the beginner area from the summit in a couple of minutes, skiers, especially new skiers, like seeing patrollers around.

The subject of ski patrol at Mount Abram reminds me of my next most likely visit to the area. Feb. 21, is the date of the annual Gilpatrick-Fitch Memorial Race and Auction. Dave Gilpatrick was a neighbor when I lived in Paris, and I knew Sandy Fitch well from patrol activities when I was at Sunday River and she was at Mount Abram. Dave and Sandy were two of the most devoted patrollers anywhere, and they were taken from us way too young. It is fitting that this event is in their honor and it’s a good reason to mark your calendar to ski Mount Abram on Feb. 21.

After checking out the ski conditions, I stopped by the offices to meet and talk with general manager Dave Scanlon, now in his second year at the area. I remarked how good I found the skiing and he explained how the area’s investment in snowmaking was paying off. He noted a significant increase in pumping capacity that has allowed the snowmakers to operate several times as many guns at one time. In addition, the area has purchased more high efficiency guns that will produce more snow while using less air.

All those compressors we see at a ski area are providing the air for snowmaking, and it’s the most expensive component in the process. It’s an oversimplification, but turn more water into snow with less air and the area gets a lot more snow out of its snowmaking budget. The increase at Mount Abram allowed the area to do a lot more once good snowmaking temperatures were sustained.

The result of the improvements is conditions are in top shape and getting more snow for the money relieves pressure on ticket prices. Scanlon noted that he gets a lot of questions about when the area might get a new lodge, replacing the temporary structure now in use. He points out that without producing quality skiing, there would be no need for additional lodge space. From the runs I skied it seems the first part of the equation is in place. All that’s needed now is for skiers to discover the improvement in conditions. See you on the slopes.

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