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The 2020 Highland Training Guide
School’s out for the summer, which means it’s time to focus on bikes. Is there a technique you’ve been struggling to master? A trail or feature you’ve vowed to cross off your bucket list this season? Did you just pull your bike out of the basement for the first time in years, and now you need a hand brushing off the cobwebs? We’re here to help. Highland Training has a variety of programs available for riders of all ages and ability levels. If you love to ride, we can help you to do it better! Keep reading for an overview of everything we’re offering this season, from the classic introductory Find Your Ride to our brand-new advanced Progression Sessions. If you’ve ridden at Highland in the last ten years, odds are you’ve heard of our Find Your Ride program. The Find Your Ride is an all-inclusive package catering to anyone…
Park Report: June 2020
Hard to believe it’s already June. Though we got off to a bit of a late start this year, now that we’re back on the mountain it feels like we never left. It took us those first few days to get comfortable, but our COVID-19 response measures are running smoothly. We can’t thank the Highland Family enough for your efforts to help us keep everyone safe. Remember to check our How-To Guide before you visit to stay up-to-date with how operations have been adjusted. Trail Crew has been hard at work getting the mountain dialed in for the season. Cat’s Paw and Hellion were both treated to a full, top-to-bottom hand-rebuild this year for the first time in a long time. We aren’t 100% open yet, but we’re moving steadily in that direction. Conditions have been consistently dry: yesterday we finally saw a bit of rain which…
Introducing “Thursduro” | Another Night of Uphill Access
Last Wednesday marked the most popular Wednesduro that Highland had ever seen. We assumed it was just a fluke: the season was delayed, we’ve all been cooped up at home—no wonder everyone jumped at the first chance to ride. This week, we figured, would be quieter. We were wrong! We’re stoked to see this much interest in riding Wednesduro. Starting next week, we will be introducing a second night of uphill access every Thursday: “Thursduro,” if you will. Everything you love about Wednesday, now offered twice a week. Passes are limited and must be reserved online in advance. Let’s get out there and earn those turns! How early can I arrive? You can check in and get your wristband as early as 4:00pm. Uphill riding opens at 5:30pm. Do I need to reserve a spot online if I have a season pass? No, you do not. I have a Wednesduro…
2020 Opening Weekend | The Details
Hello Highland Family, We’ve been laying low for the last week while we waited for finalized approval to open the park at the end of May. Good news: we have approval! We are officially moving forward with opening the park to 2020 season pass holders on May 27th and to the general public on May 28th, with some restrictions. New guidelines will be in place across the mountain in light of COVID-19. Please read all of the following information closely so that you are aware of exactly how Highland operations will be adjusted this season. (We’ll also be keeping the Highland How-To Guide updated with any and all changes.) On Wednesday, May 27th we will be open to current season pass holders only. You must have a season pass to ride. Season passes can be purchased online here. Starting on Thursday, May 28th, we will be open to the public,…
Parking Lot Policy Update
Good afternoon Highland Family! We hope you’re doing well and enjoying the spring weather. We’re sure that you, like us, are all itching to ride. Our team is continuing to meet weekly to plan for the year amidst the persistent uncertainty of the coronavirus. We’re taking this opportunity to evaluate our operations and raise our standards for the future. As we gear up for what is certainly going to be an unusual season, we would like to make you all aware in advance of a couple of new policies: First, Highland does not have the facilities in place to support camping. We are aware that in the past, some riders have chosen to take advantage of our open lot and stay overnight in their vehicles or tents. In an effort to maximize the steps we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our community, this cannot continue. We…
The Push for Sustainability at Highland
Sustainability has always been one of the core values of the Highland Trails business. Maintaining the land we ride on requires planning and careful attention to detail, and it’s something we pride ourselves on. Highland’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond our work on the trails. In recent years Highland has partnered with CLIF to ramp up sustainability efforts in other areas of mountain operations. With CLIF’s support, we’ve been able to implement incremental changes around the park that address our environmental impact day-to-day. Our first target was plastic bottle waste. As mountain bikers, we drink a lot of water. Single-use plastic water bottles are notorious for having a short frame of usefulness and a long-lasting breakdown period. The CLIF water station, located at the base of the lift, provides fresh potable water for refilling your reusable bottle. Similarly, we installed a water fountain in the lower level of the lodge….
Park Report | April 2020
April is here! In the midst of this unprecedented time, it’s comforting to observe the sort of changes we know to expect: grass getting greener, frozen dirt thawing into mud, and that classic New England spring weather that is consistent only in its inconsistencies. (These photos are from Monday. Yesterday, it snowed. In two days it will be sixty degrees again.) Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Opening Day has been postponed until Thursday, May 28th. We’re as disappointed as you are to be missing out on those first few weekends of spring riding, but it’s a sacrifice we’re willing to make for the safety of our community. 2020 won’t be the season we expected, but we’re determined to still deliver the best season we can. Our team is working on creative ways to add value in this unusual situation, and we hope to have some good surprises to share…
