Bolton, VT – The fall foliage is only just starting to reach its full glory in northern Vermont, but managers at Bolton Valley Resort are already focused on winter. The ski area has announced plans to increase early-season snowmaking and will also offer more night skiing in 2016-17.

The mountain will be bringing in an additional air compressor for one month starting in late November. The additional equipment will allow the snowmaking crew to increase the number of snow guns they can have online at one time. Mother Nature will still have to cooperate by providing cold temperatures, but the increased firepower will allow Bolton’s operations team to make more snow when conditions permit. Ultimately this will allow for more trails to be opened more quickly at the beginning of the season.

“The addition of the new air compressor will allow us to make snow at both the peak and the base of the mountain at the same time,” says Harold Herbert, mountain manager at Bolton Valley. “This will allow us to offer more trails to guests for early season skiing and riding.”

The extra compressor will only be on site for one month, but it will pay benefits throughout the season. “The ability to cover more trails early in the season moves up the timeline for every other trail on the mountain,” Herbert continued.

Skiers and riders will have more time to enjoy all the snow with expanded night skiing hours this winter. Night skiing will be offered five nights per week this season, up from four nights per week last season. Night skiing will also run until 10 p.m. each night it is offered, two hours later than last season.  As in the past, lift tickets will be valid from the time of purchase until lifts close that day. This means that Tuesday through Friday a full day lift ticket will get skiers 12 hours of skiing and on Saturdays guests will be able to ski for 13 hours, from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.