Wednesday, August 1, 2007

I'm Digging It!







Okay ... I am not personally digging it, but 11 archaeologists from the University of Vermont Consulting Archaeology Program have spent the last two weeks excavating an area at the entrance to Okemo's Jackson Gore and they have come to a conclusion that Paleoindian nomads who roamed the area 11,000 years ago, returned to this spot repeatedly over the course of a decade or more. In addition to thousands of pieces of spear tip fragments, the group found two in-tact spear points!


In the course of planning a new nine-hole golf course at Jackson Gore, Okemo Mountain Resort has underwritten excavation of an area, first identified as a Paleoindian artifact site in 1999.

Paleoindians were the first Native Americans to appear in North America about 500 years after the glaciers receded. They are thought to have been a nomadic people who traveled in small extended family groups. Evidence shows they were superb at stone tool manufacturing, but preferred to make their spear heads (this was prior to the invention of bows and arrows) of stone indigenous to areas now known as northern Maine and Pennsylvania.

The big mystery is - how did the stone from so far away end up at Jackson Gore - through trade or did the natives travel that extensively in their nomadic lifestyles?

Okemo’s Jackson Gore seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of a people who appear to have preferred high, sandy terraces and large river valleys, according to Project Supervisor Jess Robinson. “This must have been an exceptional place,” he said, “one of fine east/west access or perhaps an established travel corridor for game and hence, natives."




It was pretty cool to touch, and hold in my hands, stone tools crafted 11,000 years ago by people visiting this area. Cheers!

Monday, July 30, 2007

Clouds part for Jackson Gore Music Series


Pie Boys Flat took the stage last Friday as thunder rumbled in the distance. The sky's looked threatening, the rain was surely falling in Belmont and Mount Holly, but we decided an outdoor music festival should be held outdoors! The unique sounds from the NYC based band rocked the slopes at Jackson Gore until 9pm, and by that time the sky's had cleared leaving a great night for stargazing.

Those who agreed with my weather forecast enjoyed a beautiful evening on the lawn, great food from the BBQ, and a perfect summer evening.

This week the stage will once again come to life with the unbelievable voice of Skyla Burrell and the Skyla Burrell Blues Band. Again, I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't rain - so come on out and enjoy the show! Skyla's music is listed in the Jackson Gore Music Series page at Okemo.com.

More Snow Early!

Good news!

I just heard that thirty new HKD tower guns designed to project snow with pinpoint accuracy will be installed on the mountain this coming season. This will enable us to open trails like Sachem and Kettlebrook ~ where more focused snow blowing is required ~ even earlier. Yahoo!


Plus - we'll be offering up a "taste test" of sorts with a variety of new, highly efficient snowmaking guns on the lower mountain. Come sample the snow from guns produced by Snow Economics, with four different configurations. Did you know that things like adjustable water flow levers, nozzle versatility and new valving technology all contribute to the texture of the snow? The goal is to be able to produce more snow at closer to freezing temperatures. Our snowmaking gurus will be testing about 15 of them so that they can decided which are the best to invest in for next year.

What it means for you is more snow and more trails early... I say that's pretty good news on a Monday morning! Don't ya think?