On Patrol: 30 Years at Burke

Intro and Interview by Alex Kaufman l STE Online Editor

Even with a 2000+ foot vertical drop, a well known ski academy, a longtime role in ski business education and alongside some of the sickest mountain biking this side of Whistler, Burke Mountain has been the Northeast Kingdom's "other ski area" for a long run, even more so since Jay Peak started blowing everyone's mind with investments and progressive marketing. Much of that has to do with the fact that Burke's ownership has been a revolving door, keeping momentum in any direction from being sustainable. Some ski areas flourish thanks to a steady hand at the helm, others do their best accomodating whomever is writing the checks that year, then start over. It's a vastly different situation.

And here's Burke again with new ownership. This time feels different. Both as an observer and from the folks who call the region home. As has been widely reported, the small team behind Jay Peak have come to town. There's a track record to view and NEK rooted folks behind the wheel. 

There may be more (and bigger) news to come, but to start getting us all reacquainted, I caught up with their longtime Patrol Director John Worth. Regardless of investments and press releases, what makes the skiing matter is the heart and soul of the local communities, the people who live and breathe the mountain operation day to day and the fun we all get to share when we're there. That's why we work to bring you the local stories and people you don't get otherwise. Want aggregated press releases or reposted edits? Go everywhere else. - AK

   

"Growing up my family vacationed in Fairlee so I always loved Vermont.  In 1981 I started at Lyndon State College (LSC) in the Ski Area Management program.  Those college years were all about skiing as much as possible all over Northern New England.  I also started working full time as a patroller at Burke in 1982."

"Burke Mountain and LSC have had a good working relationship as long as I have been here.  LSC students always make up a large percentage of Burke's winter work force and many like myself, have stayed on and moved into management positions.  Years ago I felt that Burke sometimes used Interns and Practicum classes as a way of getting menial work done inexpensively but that is no longer the case."  

"I enjoyed my Ski Area Practicum class the most because it introduced me to all the different managers and allowed me to experience working in every department at Burke.  It was also a class that taught me that I did not want to work in many of those departments."

"In 1982 Burke Mt was a much different place.  One Hall double chair to the summit and another at the lower area. The Poma only went up half as far as it does today.  There was snowmaking only on Upper Willoughby and the Training Hill and corduroy grooming surfaces had not yet been invented.  Even before tillers became common, Burke's grooming quality was second to none.  They did an amazing job with Tuckers, Thiokols, rollers and powder-makers.  Skiing in the woods was officially against the rules but people were quietly hand trimming there secret woods stashes.  Some of these stashes later became sanctioned glades on the trail map.  Most of the trails were more narrow and winding then but Burke has done a nice job of preserving many of those old trails with the East Bowl trail being the best example."

"It was always -30 with 12 feet of snow.  Not really.  I am sure that scientifically the winters are getting warmer but I do not believe we are getting less snow.  I remember ski seasons in the 80's with no snow and we just experienced one of the snowiest winters on record two years ago."

"I believe I have worked for eight different owners at Burke.  One owner was German and said he wanted to build a brewery replica of the Nachuanstein Castle.  Another season the Bank of New Hampshire decided they would manage Burke themselves after a foreclosure.  They did not know what could be so difficult about running a profitable ski area.  By the end of that season they were ready to give it away."

"I love the glades at Jay Peak.  There is lots of variety, great steeps and more snow than at Burke.  There is also more traffic and the trails you end up skiing when not in the woods are, in my opinion, nicer at Burke.  Burke's glades are very well managed and maintained and seem more friendly to most skiers and riders.  Many of the glades at Burke are lower angle and hold snow very well.  There will also be a number of awesome new glades on the Burke trail map this season."

"My summers are very exciting these days.  I manage my business, East Burke Sports and the Mt Bike scene created by Kingdom Trails is unbelievable.  Mt Bike visits are now over 60,000.  East Burke Sports serves this clientele with rental bikes, repairs, clothing, accessories and trail info.  The lower chair serves the Bike Park at the mountain and there is over 100 miles of the best single track you will find anywhere.  I also work part time as Trail Designer for Kingdom Trails, laying out new trails and rerouting or upgrading existing trails.  And I get to ride.  Alot!"

"I think people in Burke are guardedly optimistic and excited about the new owners.  You will hear lots of "I'll believe it when I see it" which is to be expected when you have seen so many failed owners and development plans.  In my opinion we now have the most capable owners in Burke's history.  They have a unique source of capitol, a history of successful ski area development and experience in the Canadian market.  They are already addressing Burke's two biggest problems, lack of beds and inadequate snowmaking."

"Skiing would be a much safer sport if everyone skied in control and were aware of their surroundings."