Mid-November is a crucial time for ski areas on the east coast, when temperatures that allow for snowmaking windows are closely monitored, staff hirings ramp up, and the finishing touches are made for the season.
All of that was in jeopardy at western Massachusetts’ Ski Butternut when a wildfire in Great Barrington threatened the Berkshire County forest. Smoke could be seen over the mountains that surround the small hill, and a National Guard helicopter dipped into the Butternut snowmaking pond to grab water to fight the blaze.
The helicopter filled its 300-gallon bucket over and over again, and doused the flames. Butternut employees turned on the snowmaking system to soak the area with water and mitigate the fire risk. Staff members pulled all-nighters to keep eyes on the progression of the wildfire.
Butternut’s marketing director Dillon Mahon told The Berkshire Eagle’s Mike Walsh that the staff was at the ski area the entire time.
"We were here the whole time," Mahon said to the Eagle. "By the end of the day, you could see flames up on the ridges, we had people here all night monitoring. By Wednesday, bunch of fire companies on sight cutting fire breaks. Later in the afternoon, the basin filled with thick smoke after the wind shifted. A wild day, smoky base area, couldn't see building to building."
Photo: Ski Butternut
Then three days later, the blaze came to an end, and the first snowflakes of the year started to fall, something that Mahon told the Eagle was a “weird conclusion to it all.”
That was on November 18. Fast forward to December 6, and 6” of snowfall overnight led to Butternut’s opening day. Eight trails are open and the ski area has a base of 12-24 inches. An opening day sponsorship from L.L. Bean has enabled the ski area to offer $25 tickets. It’s one of the few times that the ski area has been able to open up for the season in the early days of December in the last decade or so.
Butternut is not only celebrating the start of its season, but the opening of a new bar that pays homage to its founder. Channing’s will be located in the upstairs of the Upper Lodge, and feature a full bar specializing in local craft beer, wine, and cocktails. It will host weekly live music, and hold up to 100 people.
The bar is named after founder Channing Murdock, who founded Butternut in 1963.
“Channing was not only the founder but also a hands-on ski area operator and proud member of the Great Barrington Community,” Butternut said in a Facebook post. “He was responsible for taking the ski area from a few humble rope tows to the renowned mountain destination it is today.”