The AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge was designed to provide a method for our forum members to get official answers to skiing-related questions directly from a ski area representative. Ray Augustyn, Director of Marketing of Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall, Connecticut, took the AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge and provided the following responses on 11/11/2004:

---

Greg: Some Northeast mountains such as Loon use standard grooming equipment to “make” very evenly spaced mogul fields on intermediate terrain. Jiminy Peak is also planning to offer “man-made” moguls this season. Does Mohawk have the capacity to do this and is it something you’ve considered?

Ray Augustyn: We have the capacity to offer “man-made” moguls on our more advanced terrain (i.e. Wildwood), weather conditions permitting. It is possible for it to occur elsewhere and we leave them if the condition allows.

Greg: Can you briefly chronicle the history of snowmaking and Mohawk’s contribution to the technology?

Ray Augustyn: Walt Schoenknecht, founder of Mohawk Mountain, invented snowmaking at Mohawk in the winter of 1948. The method is currently being used at winter resorts worldwide.

Greg: Are there any terrain expansion plans for the 2004-2005 ski season? If so, what types of trails will be added?

Ray Augustyn: There have not been any terrain expansion plans for this season.

Greg: Do you have any plans to open a forum or chat room on your website? Do you read web forums like AlpineZone.com? If so, do you ever want to reply to posts about Mohawk or other ski areas?

Ray Augustyn: Currently, we do not have any chat rooms available through our website. We are, however, updating our website so that our guests are able to retrieve a multitude of information regarding our area, rates, and conditions easily. If they would like to make comments concerning the area, they can send us an email (also conveniently available through our website).

MrMagic: Could up please tell me a little about the tornado that ripped though the area and how it affected the lifts and the mountain? Can you still see the damage today?

Ray Augustyn: In 1989, our mountain was left devastated by a sudden, unexpected tornado. The affects will always be evident since a large amount of our foliage was lost in the incident.

MrMagic: Have you thought about or planned to expand night skiing?

Ray Augustyn: Unfortunately, there are restrictions in place by the state which do not allow us to expand night skiing.
During the ski season the Wildwood trail usually has moguls on it from the top almost down to the triple chair. This makes the skiing at

loafer89: Mohawk a lot more interesting. Do you plan to extend this feature to other trails on the mountain?

Ray Augustyn: No… please refer to the answer for question number one.

loafer89: Are there any plans to pave the parking lot? The mud/ice is annoying and dangerous.

Ray Augustyn: We do not have any plans to pave the parking lot at this point.

loafer89: The upper part of Route 100 never seems to be opened. Is this part of the trail abandoned?

Ray Augustyn: The upper portion of the trail is not as functional because of the position of the lift towers.

loafer89: Are there any plans to replace/upgrade any of the lifts?

Ray Augustyn: We do not have a definite time frame but upgrades have been happening over the past few years and we will continue this process in years to come.

---

To view forum comments on this Challenge and the Challenge Results, please visit the following page: