Sunday River Ski Resort has unveiled their newest lift. The $7.2 million Chondola is a combination of an eight passenger gondola and six passenger chairlifts that transport skiers and riders from the South Ridge Base Lodge to the Peak Lodge on North Peak in just seven minutes. It is part of $14 million capital improvements at the resort. It is the first of its kind in the northeast.

The new lift is 5,994 feet long and will carry 3,200 skiers and riders an hour in just seven minutes. The gondolas transport eight passengers and the chairlifts carry six.

If I could find my shovel, I'd dig myself out from the blizzard we received over the weekend. What a fantastic dump of white 'gold', and it all happened on the first day of winter.

From the most northern parts of Maine slopes of Lonesome Pine trails to the southern ski areas that include Powderhouse Hill, snow reports have recorded more than three feet of powder! Eustis, in Carrabassett Valley reported 42 inches.

There's a new Chondola in ski country
Sunday River Ski Resort has unveiled their newest lift. The $7.2 million Chondola is a combination of an eight passenger gondola and six passenger chairlifts that transport skiers and riders from the South Ridge Base Lodge to the Peak Lodge on North Peak in just seven minutes. It is part of $14 million capital improvements at the resort. It is the first of its kind in the northeast.

The new lift is 5,994 feet long and will carry 3,200 skiers and riders an hour in just seven minutes. The gondolas transport eight passengers and the chairlifts carry six.

On Saturday nights the Chondola will transport diners to the North Peak Lodge for an elegant dinner. In the summertime, the lifts will transport hikers and mountain bikers. The Peak Lodge will also be used for weddings and special events.

There was a huge display of fireworks followed by several dignitaries who were on hand for the grand opening ceremonies. They included Dana Bullen, General Manager and Marvin Collins, both of Sunday River, Stephen Kricher, President of Boyne Eastern operations, Governor John Baldacci, and Byron Carlock, President and CEO of CNL Lifestyle.

Night skiing and riding
Skiers and riders can also take advantage of 12-hour skiing and riding at Sunday River. Lights have been added to trails from the South Ridge Lodge area to the North Peak Lodge. Skiing and riding can be done on Dream Maker and Escapade on North Peak and on Broadway, Sundance, Express Lane and Who-Ville on South Ridge trails.

"This is the day we have all been waiting for," Dana Bullen, said General Manager of Sunday River. "The Chondola accommodates both skier and snowboarders and can handle much more volume."

Now is the time to get those skis and snowboards out and enjoy some great skiing and riding over the holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year … and we'll see you on the slopes!

Ski and ride safely. Use your head and don't forget to wear a helmet.

Traveling through an ice storm to go skiing isn't exactly my idea of much fun. But getting through the worst of it in New Hampshire, and arriving at Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, things changed for the best.

There was plenty of snow as we headed up the mountain from the Jackson Gore Inn for first tracks early Saturday morning, and although a brisk wind with chilling temps, had some of the chairs swinging, the snow conditions were fantastic.

Santa Claus is working with two ski resorts, Sugarloaf and Sunday River, offering guests different gifts every day through Christmas.

How about lift tickets beginning at just $29! From kids to seniors, everyone wins during the Christmas holidays.

The promotion of events is already in progress.

Winter is here. The days are shorter and the nights colder and longer. The mountains are covered with a good blanket of snow and it's time to get out your ski and snowboard gear and head to the slopes.

Powder alert
The western mountains of Maine are supposed to get a good dump of maybe 14 to 18 inches of powder tonight and tomorrow, just in time for a great weekend of skiing and riding.

Well I did it. I goofed! Not all that bad, but it was a typographical error on my part. In Friday's Blog, I wrote that the Snowfields at Sugarloaf were open. I received some information from the resort stating that the 'summit' was open, you know, the top of the rock, that 4,237 foot triangle shaped landscape that can be seen and recognized from many, many miles away.

Speaking with Ethan Austin, Sugarloaf's public relations manager on Saturday, he informed me of an important note, that it was just the 'summit' that was open, not the 'snowfields!'

I took my first turns on Saturday and skied as many trails as my legs could stand, top to bottom. I kept looking up at the snowfields along with other skiers, but didn't see any skiers or riders making tracks off the snowfields. Now I know why. Austin did say that it might not be too long before they are open.

Buckle your boots and get on the boards boys and girls and get up to Sugarloaf where you can get some high altitude skiing and riding this weekend.

Over two feet of natural snow has fallen over the past eight days. And with some enhanced snowmaking, skiers and riders can get to the 4,237 foot summit to enjoy some of the season's earliest and best conditions ever in the snowfields.

A Fireside Chat hosted by the Farmington Historical Society was held last Monday evening at the Ski Museum of Maine in Farmington. Megan Roberts, director of the Ski Museum welcomed more than 30 people who attended the hour-and-a-half program. Scott Andrews a long-time ski journalist from Portland and board member of the Ski Museum of Maine narrated the presentation.

WinterKids helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through fun and outdoor winter activity.

"At WinterKids, I am enthusiastic about creating a world where all of our children can enjoy a snowy day with healthy physical activity in the beautiful outdoors," said Fran Mullin, Executive Director in a prepared statement. "I hope you will join the fun!"