Okemo Foregoes Spring Skiing Ops, Begins Construction on 2021-22 Lift Projects

Okemo’s last operating day for the 2020-21 season was yesterday. The Vermont resort forewent spring skiing operations this season to facilitate the quick installation of two new chairlifts for next winter.

The first chairlift, a high-speed six-pack at Jackson Gore, will replace the Quantum Four bubble lift in the same alignment. This installment will provide higher capacity for this popular area.

For the second installation, the Quantum Four will be relocated to replace the Green Ridge Triple. The new Green Ridge bubble quad will essentially follow the same alignment as the outgoing lift, but the resort will create a new cutoff from the Mountain Road trail to allow access to the loading area.

Our Take

With these upgrades, Okemo is effectively killing two birds with one stone: annoyances with the Jackson Gore bubble lift, and crowding problems on the main face. The relatively recent Quantum Four upgrade has received criticism due to a slower running speed than the bubble-less Jackson Gore Express it replaced in 2015. In a sign that the old lift left a sour taste in many mouths, Quantum’s six-pack replacement will not have bubbles. We do imagine some returning visitors will be disappointed with the lack of cover on the new lift, but the faster speed and higher capacity should help.

The new Green Ridge lift will just be the Quantum Four relocated. While we imagine the relocated lift will still have the same speed constraints as the outgoing setup, it will be replacing an old, very slow triple chair and will certainly be considered an upgrade. But more importantly, the new Green Ridge chair will receive a direct connection from Mountain Road, allowing those coming from Jackson Gore to easily ride straight to Okemo’s main summit without taking a second lift or going all the way down to Sunburst Six. This upgrade means that Sunburst will no longer be the only high-speed route to the summit, which should provide much needed crowd relief in the area.

While these installations meant that Okemo had to close a couple weeks early this spring, we expect the net benefits from these upgrades to substantially outweigh the handful of lost late-season days. We’ll know for sure next season, when we stop by Okemo to re-evaluate the overall experience.

Considering a trip to Okemo next season? Check out our comprehensive mountain review.