Brattleboro, a small town in southern Vermont, not far from major mountains including Stratton, Mount Snow, and Okemo. Unfortunately, like many mountains have over the past 10 years, the mountains near Brattleboro are becoming increasingly inaccessible to those who can’t shell out big bucks for an season pass. Add in the cost of rentals and lessons (if you’re just starting out), the winter sport comes with a hefty price tag. Families in Brattleboro and other rural parts of Vermont are finding it harder and harder each year to put their kids in skiing or snowboarding lessons.
Enter the Brattleboro Ski Hill
Literally a hill, Brattleboro Ski Hill has just one T-bar lift, two runs and a few small park features. Run 100% by volunteers this small but mighty ski hill is providing their community an opportunity to get outside and enjoy skiing for just $5 dollars a day.
The volunteer board is out helping to run the hill daily, making snow, grooming it, and fundraising so they can keep their operations going strong. They’ve partnered with local mountains to bring in instructors one night a week to teach lessons, something that would normally be out of reach for many families these days.
I spent an afternoon at Brattleboro Ski Hill talking with a few of the volunteers who make this community pillar possible. While we were chatting a man walked by and informed us he and his wife had driven up all the way from Connecticut for the day. “You can’t beat a five-dollar lift ticket” he said, “my wife is just learning and we don’t want to pay $100+ for her to spend all day on the bunny hill.”
Board member Todd Fahey told me while it is primarily the local community they see out on the hill every day, they have seen people visit from as far as Virginia to take advantage of the $5 lift ticket.
“It gives kids a place to go in the winter, it gets them outside, gets them moving” Todd said, “and parents feel good about letting their kids come here, it’s a safe place.”
Local high schoolers can earn volunteer hours at the ski hill by helping load the lift or working as ski patrol. It gives teens a way to stay engaged with the community throughout the long winter months. The high school woodshop even built and donated a couple of small box jumps to build out the park section of the ski hill.
While skiing has skyrocketed in popularity the last few years, so have prices. Daily lift tickets are on average $100+, rentals can run you another $100 for the day, and a half day group lessons costs around $130. Just a day trip can cost over $300 for a single person, never mind if you have a family or need to book lodging for the weekend to make it a multi-day trip. Brattleboro Ski Hill is committed to keeping skiing affordable while providing a valuable community gathering place. It is inspiring and speaks to the true nature of skiing. It is not about the fancy resorts, the over the top après, or amenities, skiing is about getting on the mountain and getting to enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature with your community.
Learn more about Brattleborro Ski Hill and find out how you can support their mission to keep skiing accessible in Vermont, here.
