Snow-Filled Season for Blue Hills Ski Resort

Gary Vanasse knows a thing or two about the B He started working there as a high school student in 1977, when the Egon and Zimmerman Ski-School was running the slopes. Vanasse began working at Blue Hills full time as a college graduate in 1982, and is currently the assistant general manager.

 “I’m a typical New Englander," he said. "I love skiing in cold, hard weather….nothing is more fun for me than skiing in a big snow-storm."

He described the way in which the appeals to a variety of skiers.  It appeals to the “hearty skiers” like himself, the “sun-lovers” who come to enjoy the slopes on sunny days and the “spring skiers” who love to hit the slopes on warmer days when the snow is slushier and easier to handle.

Thanks to man-made snow, Blue Hills is able to extend their season. “We start making snow in mid-December and keep it going through early February,” he said. It creates “…better skiing conditions and a longer season by covering a larger area of the mountain."

 An interesting fact about man-made snow is that it’s roots can be traced to Blue Hills, as it was one of the first resorts in the U.S. to make its own snow.  The Larchmont Engineering Company helped pioneer the concept and used it at Blue Hills over half a century ago.

The Blue Hills Ski Resort has remained a true “locals’ paradise”, as it sees the vast majority of its enthusiasts hailing from the South Shore area. It opens at 2:00 p.m each weekday, to cater to the “after-work” skier and the large “learn to ski” after-.school program it operates from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. on weekdays.  “Mountain  Munchkins” as young as four-years-old are welcome to participate, Vanasse said.

While can learn to ski and snow-board at Blue Hills, the resort also offers several special programs for children that blend the beauty and nature of the Blue Hills Reservation with more traditional “learn to ski” lessons.  One such program is the “Mountain Patrollers Club," which is an all-day, five-Saturday session that takes junior skiers on ski-training and mountain adventures. Group activities include exploring the science of snow-making, hiking to the weather observatory atop the mountain and learning about meteorology and protecting the environment. Special talks are given by outdoor naturalists from the nearby

For children who are interested in the rapidly growing sport of snow-boarding, the Blue Hills Ski Resort operates a “train park," which is a specially designed snow-boarding facility where instructors can teach members of the “Shred Academy” how to handle the terrain, master jumps and other snow-boarding techniques.  Don’t forget slope-side manners, Vanasse said. The Shred Academy is also big on teaching “park etiquette.”

As the snow continues to pile high, adventurous locals can head to Canton’s very own ski resort.