Hermon Mountain owner says season off to a great start

HERMON – If it’s a cold winter day and cabin fever is starting to set in, consider skiing or snowboarding to help remedy your situation.

“You’re outdoors, seeing scenery,” said Bill Whitcomb of Hermon Mountain.

Being atop a mountain affords a person the opportunity to “see long distances, and the winter season,” said Whitcomb. This winter, with the snowstorms and cold weather, Hermon Mountain’s season is in good shape.

“It’s been a great start,” said Whitcomb. With snow fresh from storms, “people come out of the woodwork” to ski.

“It’s like pulling a plug in a sink. It’s excellent,” said Whitcomb.

Those who come to the ski area, Whitcomb said, “can choose to exhilarate themselves” by going fast down the mountain, or “choose pretty trails, and see the scenery. “The exercise is a plus,” he said.

When he was younger, Whitcomb would head out “to find jumps and get big air,” he explained, but as he’s gotten older, “that doesn’t do it for me anymore.”

Two of the 18 years Whitcomb has operated the facility, Hermon Mountain has opened on Dec. 1. This year the season started Dec. 6, on manmade snow. Whitcomb said there have been great temperatures, and great snowmaking early.

Yes, there have been a couple of rains, too, he said, the second of which “slowed us a few days. Other than that, it’s been straight ahead.”

In fact, the snow from the last snowstorm has stayed the same because of the cold temperatures the area has experienced recently.

When there is lots of rain, Whitcomb said, employees will “get the [snow] guns out” and put down new snow.

To attract more people, the mountain added a tubing park for this year. Those who’ve tried it are having a great time sliding down hills in an inner tube, similar to those pulled behind boats in the summer.

“Everybody loves to go sliding, tubing,” Whitcomb said. A lift hauls participants to the top of the mountain.

“It’s really neat, something the whole family can do,” said Whitcomb. “Adults, grammies and grampies.

With the lift at the mountain, those who want to can let the lift do the run to the top of the hill.

“As a kid, you’d have the energy to run to the top of the hill,” Whitcomb said.

For the typical season, Whitcomb said, “We try [to open] the first of December, and go to the last weekend of March.” The facility never closes because of lack of snow, he explained, but “people are done [with skiing] at the end of March.”

Tickets for ages 12 and under are $10, half-day; $14 full day; ages 13 and up, $12, half-day; $19, full day. Tubing is $10, half-day. Hermon Mountain offers equipment rentals and group and private lessons. Hours: 3-9 Monday through Wednesday, 3-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and holidays, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 848-5192.