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The Past
1998-1999
A major event shocked the Massachusetts ski industry in 1998 - the popular Mt. Tom ski area shut down and liquidated. Berkshire East made its first purchase of Mt. Tom equipment, acquiring a fleet of new Areco snow cannons and a modern fleet of Rossignol rental skis.
Snowmaking crews absolutely buried some trails during the 1998-99 season. In fact, the snow on upper Flying Cloud was piled up higher than some of the tower snowguns! Though the last day of the season was at end of March, there were still significant patches of snow on the mountain well into the spring.
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The huge base on Flying Cloud in the spring of 1999
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Wilderness Peak, July 1999
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As the 1999 off-season rolled around, there were some rumors being spread about more skiable terrain being added. Sure enough, locals spotted a new trail creeping up from the old Little Beaver complex. While this trail wouldn't be completed that summer due to lack of adequate equipment, four new trails were opened.
Beast, a radical double diamond trail, was finally added to the map after a few seasons of unofficial status. Two glades, Horace's Grove and Tomahawk, were cut. Finally, a small new Outback trail, Snowdance (not to be confused with Snow Dance in the old Little Beaver complex), was cut to facilitate another addition - night skiing on Outback and War Dance.
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Continue to 2000
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