To Wet Your Whistle

Six-packs mean instant fun. And they’re popping up throughout Eastern ski areas.

Stratton Mountain

will unveil two high-speed six-pack chairs this winter. The first runs from the Sun Bowl base lodge to the top of the Sun Bowl; the second runs from the top of the first to the summit. The results: a combined eight-minute ride to the summit, the relocation of the Sun Bowl quad to provide lift service for the beginner terrain in Sun Bowl, and the convenience of slopeside parking. At

Seven Springs Mountain Resort

in Pennsylvania, a six-pack replaces the Tahoe quad, and a fixed-grip quad replaces the #7 lift. A learn-to-ski conveyor was installed, and the tubing park will be upgraded. Access to the Lost Boy, Little North Face, and Turtleneck trail networks will also be improved. At

Ragged Mountain

, the only six-pack in New Hampshire replaces the Summit double on the main peak.

Other mountain improvements:

MAINE

Sugarloaf/USA
Snowmaking upgrade on lower east side; new trail on west side to provide a beginner run from summit to base.

Sunday River
Season-long superpipe; more tower guns.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

The Balsams
Glades and terrain park expansion.

Black Mountain
Fifteen additional acres of glades, including expert terrain in Lostbo Glade and expansion of the cliff-topped Carter Notch; improved base lodge; race-hill upgrade.

Bretton Woods
Thirty additional acres of expert glades in Rosebrook Canyon.

Loon
New Burton learning center; K2 Snowcycles hit the Adventure Park.

NEW YORK

Holiday Valley
Two new quads, one at Yodeler and one replacing the Morning Star triple chair; 25 percent snowmaking increase; more slope lighting.

Hunter Mountain
Terrain park to double in size; new learning center to house ski and snowboard school, rentals, and children’s facilities.

Whiteface
Base-lodge expansion will bring ski school, ticketing, and guest services to ground floor; new trail connector from Upper to Lower Thruway (an effort to draw a World Cup GS race).

PENNSYLVANIA

Blue Mountain
Valley Lodge expansion.

VERMONT

Ascutney
Expansion of kids’ zone, featuring a magic carpet and a kids’ lodge; new trails and increased snowmaking.

Mad River Glen
New sheave linings on Single Chair so grease won’t drip on you (that’s what they said); new(er) groomer; improved ventilation in Basebox Lodge restrooms.

Sugarbush
Castlerock double chair replaced — same uphill capacity and speed, should open around Christmas — halfpipe and terrain park relocated from Mount Ellen to Lincoln Peak; Mount Ellen’s upper mountain, including North Ridge Express and Summit quads, to open earlier.

WEST VIRGINIA

Snowshoe Mountain
New indoor aquatic center in the village (opening in late November or early December); intermediate trails widened; increased snowmaking.

QUEBEC

Mont Tremblant
New beginner area at the South Side base with two magic carpets and two acres for beginners; earlier snowmaking; new 6,600-square-foot rental shop.

Mont-Sainte Anne
Enlarged terrain park with permanent ski-snowboard cross; new park for kids; new singletrack cross-country trail; new bar at the base.

Stoneham Mountain
New superpipe; new base restaurant; enlarged tubing park.