Mountain Mechanics 2015

Top of the tram at Cannon Mountain

Mountain Mechanics is back for round two during Project Week! Students will be exploring the essential question:

What does it take for a ski resort to be profitable and functional throughout the year, and what goes on 'behind the scenes' at ski resorts that allows people to enjoy such a wonderful experience?

Students will travel to Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH to meet with Brian Norton, Loon's terrain park manager, to see how park features are made and hear about sponsorships that make Loon's park one of the best in the country. 

Next, the crew travels a little further north to Cannon Mountain at the top of the Notch in Franconia, NH to learn how grooming and snowmaking operations work at their resort (and maybe even drive a snowcat!). 

On Wednesday, you will find our shredders in Vermont, where they will stay overnight at Jay Peak. There, they will meet with the CEO of Jay Peak, Bill Stenger, to hear more about the successful visa program that has helped to build an indoor waterpark, several lodges, an expanded mountain, and an indoor skating rink. 

After two days of riding in the powder, Mountain Mechanics will make its way back to NH. A little closer to home in Danbury, NH, the group will visit Ragged Mountain Resort to hear about ski patrol and riding safely on the mountain. 

Each day they ride, students will have an opportunity to take pictures and videos of their day and interview resort employees about their specific duties and how they contribute to the resort as a whole. Students will also contribute to this blog as the week goes on.

With less than three weeks still to go and nearly 3 feet of fresh snow around New Hampton's campus, the Mountain Mechanics group will meet to discuss what to bring in terms of gear and attitude, safety tips, and specifics for our days at each mountain. The snow continues to fall here as we tune up the skis and boards and get pumped for another great Project Week in the pow!