Hard to believe that it’s already November, but man, those end-of-season trail conditions don’t lie. We’ve seen just about every kind of weather we could expect over the last several days: we just keep spinning the wheel of fortune and hoping for the best. As a general rule this time of year, runs are faster in the morning while the ground is cold. (Lines also tend to be shorter early in the day while most people are still hiding under their blankets.)
There are only two weekends left to squeeze in some 2020 laps before we close on the 15th. Please review our COVID-19 guidelines ahead of your visit and remember that day passes must be reserved online in advance. Saturdays and Sundays will sell out, so don’t hesitate!
We will be open from 9am to 4pm on Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. As a thank you to those who have served, anyone who presents their valid military ID, veterans ID, or official discharge papers (DD214) at the Welcome Center will ride for free. This day only, veterans and active duty military are not required to reserve their passes online in advance.
In a normal year this would be around the time we start hyping up our annual S’Ender Bash, when the Highland Family comes together to celebrate the season, get a little rowdy, and raise funds to support spinal cord research at Wings for Life. It should come as no surprise that we will not be hosting an end-of-season blowout party in 2020, but we weren’t about to take the year off from fundraising. Between September’s Accomplice screening and last weekend’s Halloween Hellion race, the Highland Family managed to raise more than $4,000 to be donated to our friends at Wings. Special thanks is due to everyone who participated in those events and supported the cause, despite the unusual year! (Find your race results here)
Meanwhile, progress continues on Lower NE Style! Here’s a look at what trail crew was up to today:
We can’t wait to be able to send the finished product with all of you!
Considering a 2021 Season Pass? Time is running out to take advantage of early bird savings: prices go up on November 16. Season Passes are valid for the remainder of 2020 and all of 2021. Season pass holders are not required to reserve day passes in advance.
Purchase your season pass online before the season ends and enjoy free shipping on any and all Highland apparel and accessories in your cart. Don’t miss your chance to save!
(Pro Tip: Whether you’re an avid weekday rider or a weekend warrior, it takes approximately eight visits to break even on a season pass.)
Have you seen the latest episode of Highland Is Home? This month, we highlight the myriad ways you can ride your bike at Highland. Local shredders Wayne DeVingo, Anthony Lombardi, Kyle Matzke, Dustin Iverson, and KaJay Rooke show off their style, hitting everything from hardcore New England tech to the slopestyle course. Check it out!
We’ll be keeping busy through the winter with general mountain improvement projects. Additionally, the Highland Pub will be open 11am-8pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays beginning on November 20th, so you’ll never have to go too long without your Highland pizza fix.
Thank you all so much for an incredible 2020 season! At the beginning of the year we weren’t sure whether we’d be able to open at all, but as soon as we were able to make it work you all showed us just how much being able to get out on our bikes this year was worth. Let’s enjoy these last few days on the hill!
