Another park report means we’re another month closer to opening! We rang in February last weekend with the annual Winter Woolly, which in addition to being an absolutely wild day of lift-accessed fat biking also marks the approximate midpoint of the off season. We’re in the home stretch now, folks!
The 2021 Winter Woolly brought the most enthusiastic crowd of fat bikers we’ve seen yet. The day was packed with chaotic laps, huge laughs, and all-around good times. Whoever thought that lift-accessed downhill fat biking was a good idea…we salute you. We’re already looking forward to the next one.
While the DH trails are once again closed until opening day, don’t forget that our XC network is free and open to the public seven days a week. We’ll be grooming what we can as conditions allow. Stop by for some laps Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and you can warm up with a beer in the Highland Pub when you’re done. (Our sources tell us that noodle bowls are back for this weekend’s specials menu. Get after it.)
For Winter Woolly race results and the full event recap, read more here.
Prep for the 2021 season is ramping up all around the park. The crew in the bike shop took in their first shipment of bikes a few weeks ago and are now hard at work building up this year’s rental fleet. First on the list: the 2021 Scott Ransom 920, which will be serving as our dedicated Park Ready bike for the Find Your Ride program. The Training Department and the bike shop agree: this is definitely the sickest Find Your Ride bike we’ve ever had.
We understand that if you’re on our mailing list, odds are you’re also already on a bike. But you know what they say about assumptions, so we do feel bound to tell you: if you (or a friend!) have been looking into trying out lift-accessed mountain biking this year, look no further than the Find Your Ride program. A discounted package specifically designed for riders who are new to lift-accessed downhill riding, we’ll set you up with everything you need for a fun and progression-filled day on the hill.
Those of you who were at the Winter Woolly will already have had the chance to check out the first phase of our backyard improvement projects. For starters, the back deck has been resurfaced to no longer resemble the hull of a haunted pirate ship. We’re looking forward to plenty of warm summer nights spent taking in this view and christening those boards.
Meanwhile, we put a few more finishing touches on the Exit 19 bar. These new windows give us some better versatility in configuring the bar setup, but more importantly allow us to securely close down the interior every night, making the whole system much more efficient. Expect to see even more action from the backyard bar and grill this summer.
Next up in the backyard, we’ll be working on converting and beautifying the two storage containers that are already in place as stage one of the bike shop expansion project. They may not look like much now, but exciting things are coming.
In sadder news: as many of you know, Rye Airfield closed its doors for good early this year. It’s always tough to lose such an incredible spot, but we’re grateful for the rich cache of great times and wild memories that we get to hold on to. The Highland crew was on hand to assist with the breakdown, and some salvaged materials have since made their way from Rye to Highland. In time, we’ll be giving a few pieces of Rye Airfield history a second life here at the mountain—stay tuned.
That’s what’s new for now! Don’t forget to mark your calendars for our 2021 Opening Day: Thursday, April 29th. (Season pass holders, your opening day is Wednesday, April 28th.)
Be excellent to each other, and we’ll see you soon!
Don’t miss out!
- We’re hiring across all departments for the 2021 season. Come be a part of the Highland team!
- Kids Camp enrollment is now open! New dates have been added for 2021. Full-day and half-day programs available for kids ages 6-14.
- Join us for the Women’s Gravity Weekend, June 26-27! Start your season off right with a weekend devoted to solidifying your skills and building community.
