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The Past
2002-2003
After the poor winter of 2001-2002, off season expansion was expectedly low key. While other ski areas did little more than general maintenance, Berkshire East still kept moving forward, focusing on improving snow conditions.
Two Bombardier snow cats were added to the fleet and the snowmaking system was once again upgraded. In addition to that, "Kenny's Condo" was torn down and replaced with a new, larger summit ski patrol building.
Cold temperatures allowed for a strong start of the season, thanks to the expanded snowmaking system. The first "Skiing with Santa" (complete with a visit from the Grinch), event was held on December 22, dazzling kids of all ages.
As is the trend, the March skiing was amongst the season's best.
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Roy confronts the Grinch after "Skiing with Santa", December 2002
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The West Quad, October 2003
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Two years after being cut, it was time to put the Upper Exhibition lift line to use. After forty-one years of service, the Mueller double chairlift was removed during the 2003 offseason. Its replacement, a Borvig-Leitner fixed grip quad chairlift, came from the defunct Berthod Pass ski area in Colorado.
Due to lackluster snowfall and temperatures in late fall/early winter, the new chairlift didn't open until December 27, 2003. The addition was immediately noticed - families could now enjoy the west side of the mountain, including the Roundabout trail, day and night via a spacious chairlift. In conjunction with this, the West Lodge was renovated and opened for the first time in nearly a decade.
Abundant natural and manmade snow allowed for tremendous late season coverage all the way up to closing day on March 28, 2004.
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Continue to 2004-2005...
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