This page on Hogback is "flagged" for major revisions, so stay tuned. We have lots of historical and recent imagery.

The Hogback Mountain Conservation Alliance is working hard to purchase the land and preserve it from development. Their goals are to allow public access (non-motorized) such as hiking, etc. To support their efforts, please visit www.hogback.org.

Hogback mountain, located in Marlboro, Vermont, is located about 16 miles west of Brattleboro, Vermont. The mountain opened in 1946 and closed in 1986 (the Colorado Skier Newsletter). The area has a rich history, considering that it opened right after World War II and was open up to just a decade ago.  Hogback offered a variety of slopes and trails over several mountain faces. 

1946
(The Colorado Skier Newsletter)
Hogback mountain opens for the 1946-1947 season, with a rope tow and T-bar lift.

Hogback mountain't trail map as it appeared during its first year in 1946-1947.

1947-1948
(Vermont Life Article by Frederick F. Van De Water)
The following is a direct quote from the 1947-1948 article.

"Sixteen miles to the west of Brattleboro, over the Molly Stark Trail to Bennington, the former town's most impressive contribution to winter sport is growing on the ridge of Hogback Mountain. The hill, with an elevation of 2100 feet, lies well within Vermont's area of greatest snowfall. An average of 120 inches is laid down upon it each winter"

"Here a T-bar lift has been constructed, with a capacity of 900 skiers an hour. Novice, intermediate, and expert trails have been created and yearly are being improved"

"The broad, white pathways, curving downward almost a mile through darkling evergreens, may appear perilous to the unitiated but even the most precipitous is not dangerous for the average, competent skier. The sponsors of Hogback hold to the belief that the most fun for the least injury is a praiseworthy goal. They are moving intelligently toward it. New trails and a larger schooling area have been provided this year. Further improvements are planned for subsequent years."

"Skiers will be flashing down the Ripperoo and other ominously named runs on Hogback in increasing numbers this winter.  Others less venturesome will be thronging to the Brattleboro and Vernon rope tows."

Skiers riding up the new T-bar at Hogback during its first season.

.
Skiers near the base "lodge" sometime in the late 1940's

1957-1958
(Vermont Life Article)

Hogback is described as a "family" mountain, with a wide variety of trails. It has a lift capacity of 4080 skiers per hour, with 1200 skiers per day average. There was a weekend bus service from Brattleboro to Hogback for just $1.00. Wonderful spring skiing can also be found with its northeast exposure. Season tickets were $40.00 for an adult. Hogbacks Razor Back trail is described as a decent expert trail. Vertical drop was 460 feet.

1962
(Vermont Life Article)
Hogback is now the "short ski" center of Vermont skiing.

The Alpenglow Restaurant at Hogback in 1962.
From this postcard, Dec. 30, 1962.  -"Hi. Sun is out bright today, when they plowed the road last nite (after we were in bed) they plowed us out a place to put the car, too, in the yard.  Very nice, what? We're in the car now going to town then up to Hogback, supposed to get to -15 tonite. Brrrr. Love, BA"

1964
(Eastern Ski Map)
Lifts: Pomalift, T-bar, 2 rope tows.
3 slopes, 11 trails.
Ski school, 3 packers.

1966
(America's Ski Guide)
Vertical drop is now 500 feet (could be rounded from the earlier 460 feet).

1968
(Unknown Ski Guide)
Exposure: NE to SE
Lifts: 3 T-bars, Pomalift, Rope Tow
Trails--11, Slopes--3
Ski School
Rates: $5.00 adult weekend, $4.00 weekday
Operates daily.

1969
(Vermont Life article, by Michael W. Seely)

You can see a new T-bar on the right in 1969. This is visible today right on Route 9. The picture on the right is the exact same spot taken in December 1998.  This is near the number 20 in the trail map from the mid 1970's (below).

"Hogback considers itself the biggest little area in New England. Its a good place for the skiing family, with one of the most exciting views in New England."

"Largely the personal venture of Harold and Arnold White when it began in 1946, the ski complex is now owned by a local corporation headed by John L. Dunham. There are about 90 shareholders, most of them reside in nearby Brattleboro.

"Dunham thinks that the smaller areas definitely have something unique to offer the family."

" ' There is a more pleasant atmosphere, with none of the Coney Island effect that apparently applies to some of the larger areas', he remarked. 'We're a family area where everyone is most friendly. We have a long list of season ticket holders who are here each weekend. At Hogback, everyone seems to know everyone else.' "

"If business is prospering here it's for good reason: 13 trails, ranging from a few hundred feet to half a mile, are serviced by five lifts, including three T-bars. The daily weekend charge is $6.00 for adults, and $3.00 for juniors. The capacity for each lift is about 1,000 skiers per hour, insuring very short lift lines, even on peak weekends. In addition, a ski school staffed by six instructors offers instruction in American Technique."

1973
(Ski Guide to the Northeast)
Base elevation: 1900 feet
Exposure: North and Southeast (another area whose exposure changed!)
Features: Area operates daily, ski shop, area restaraunt, snack bars, rentals, warming huts, 4 lifts (4 T-bars) with 4,300 per hour capacity, 13 trails, parking for 500 cars. No snowmaking or night skiing.
Rates: Weekday and weekend, $6.00 adult, $4.00 junior. Season: $75.00 adult, $50.00 junior.

Mid 1970's
(Thanks to Ed Leary for providing this brochure with a trail map from 1975-1976)

This was the trail map from the mid 1970's all the way through the mid 1980's

This trail map was likely used all the way until they closed in the spring of 1985.  You can see that the ski area was quite well developed, with several different exposures and many trails.  Notice that there is no number 8 or 9 trails...this were likely closed for some reason, maybe erosion.  However, you can see where they were on the map, right above the number 10 trail (Basin Trail).  The trail map shown at the top of this page is the far left area on this map.  Lift #5, the Meadow T-bar, was the original T-bar.  All of the trails from the mid 1940's are still there on this trail map.  The rope tow from the mid 1940's was near the 13 in the above map.  Another T-bar was installed sometime between 1965-1970 right next to the Meadow T-bar.  You can view lift #17, the Whiteway T-bar at the bottom of this page.

Here's some snippets from their brochure:

"Our latest snow grooming equipment works daily to assure Hogback skiers the best of surface conditions at all times."
"Snow and fun you can easily afford"

Rates:
Weekends-Adults all day $7.00, mornings $5.00, afternoons $5.00.
Children-All day $5.00, mornings and afternoons $4.00.
Weekdays-Adults $5.00, Children $4.00
Season tickets: $90.00 adults, $170.00 man and wife, $65.00 children, $260.00 family

How you really ski for less at Hogback:
1. Avoid lift line waiting.
2. Parking much closer to slopes is easier for all.
3. Join smaller, intimate ski classes.
4. Find food more sensibly priced.
5. Avoid traffic jams.
6. Discover more scenic trails and slopes.

1979
(Eastern Ski Map)
Althought this Ski Map says 14 trails, there was really only 12.  This is one example of how sometimes ski guides are out of date years afterwards.
Lifts: 4 T-bars
3 Slopes, 11 Trails
Ski school, packers, 500' VD

1981-1982
(Brochure thanks to Ed Leary)
There were very few changes from the brochure during the mid 1970's.  However, here are some tidbits:

Lift rates for weekends: $12.00 adult all day, $9.00 half day.  Children $9.00 all day, $7.50 half day.
Weekdays: $7.50 adults, $6.50 adults.
Gift shop info:
The very best Vermont products-cheeses, maple syrup and candy, wooden saladware, ceramic pottery and carvings.
Gifts and souvenirs from England, Scandanvia, Bali, Mexico, and Latin America.
Large selection of beautiful deerskin-gloves, shoes, wallets, and even key chains.
Skiers will enjoy are large selection of skiwear, gloves, socks, hats, mittens and gloves.
Large jewelry department.
Write for free brochure.

1986
(Colorado Skier)
Hogback closes for good (although....)
(Rutland Herald--October 10, 1986, by Ann Marie Christensen)

"Insurance Costs Sink Ski Area"

The following are clips from this article that explained why the area closed.

"Liability insurance has claimed its first victim in the ski industry, Hogback Ski Area off Route 9 in Wilmington."

"Carter Chamberlain, Hogback's accountant, said Thursday that the cost of liability insurance would amount to more than the small ski area took in last year. 'We're a small family area and only took in $60,000 to $70,000 last year', he said. 'If we wanted good coverage it would cost over $100,000.' "

"This would be the first time that the area didn't operate since in 1947. Hogback had the most reasonable prices in the state, White said. Last year adults could ski for $10.00, the cost for children was $8.00, and anyone could ski for $5.00 midweek. The ski area offered free lessons and skiing to children in the Marlboro Elementary School and the Halifax school."

"The ski area, which relies solely on natural snow, has been for sale for several years. It was sold to a lawyer from Texas five years ago, but White said he had to take it back."

Early 1990's
A major development is planned for Hogback mountain. Unfortunately, the townspeople didn't agree, so it never went through. They cited Mount Snow as an example not to follow.

1997
(AP)
Ascutney mountain planned to sell stock to reopen Hogback as a family ski area, but nothing happened.

HOGBACK MEMORIES
Scott Cole has some great memories of Hogback that he shared with NELSAP:
"I though I would share a few quick thoughts about my skiing experience growing up at Hogback Ski Area in Marlboro, Vermont-from 1968 on.
In all of Vermont's ski history, I truly believe that there couldn't have been a better family mountain to grow up skiing at than Hogback Ski Area in Marlboro. It is still there, but has not been operating for some 20 years. 
One mile away. That's how far my family's old VT farmhouse was. It would have been child abuse if my parents did not haul all five of us kids up there to ski over the years. It was in our back yard. The ski area covered some 500 + acres  on 12 or 15 trails spread out with 4 T-Bars and two rope tows. We knew all the lift operators, ski shop workers, cafeteria workers not to mention knowing all of the trails and the little nooks and crannies of that mountain. We were in our own "ski fantasy" world while there playing on the hill. Trails like Bobcat Alley truly had bobcats on it and you had to race down it for fear of being eaten alive. The Great White Way was the biggest and widest trail in the world, or so we thought when you are only 7 or 10 years old. I clearly remember tower four, riding up the Practice Slope Tee bar, you could catch some big air if there was a good bump in the track going up. Those T- Bar springs were powerful and we were little. Our parents had no worries about all five of us careening all over that mountain. We knew where the lunch bag was and our parents knew everybody at the area. 
The world in Marlboro VT in the late sixties and early seventies was different. Kind of like a Norman Rockwell painting, serene safe, comforting, fun.   Arnold White, who owned the Mountain, must have given the five of us thousands of pieces of bubble gum out of his jar on the counter to keep us happy over the years. Not to mention the bottom less cups of coco that were passed our way. Everyone looked after you there. 
Not only was Hogback the best family mountain, it was the community's mountain as well. Outing clubs from Brattleboro came up to ski there, the local Marlboro School was given free rein of the mountain for the entire school on Fridays during the winter-including rentals if needed.
Not only did this awesome family mountain serve all the local VT families well as a place of recreation; it also produced some exceptional ski racers. The likes of Sally and Sue White (Arnold's daughters), and the Mumford's, Kim, Boomer and Peter turned out to be high caliber racers at the college, national and world circuits. 
One of my sisters and I went back to Hogback a few winters ago and trekked over the trails on our backcountry skies. The over grown trails, the signs, the lodge are all still there, so were all those memories. Thank you Hogback Ski Area/mom and dad/Arnold White for giving us those memories at such a great old VT ski area. 

Today
(from personal tour March 1998)
Amazingly, the ski area is in relatively good shape. One T-bar still remains standing, this on the western edge of the area. The base building to this is still standing as well. As to where the picture in 1969 was taken, that T-bar was removed. The bridge you can see skiers crossing is still there however. Very little tree growth has taken place, a combination of the higher altitude and colder weather.

The first aid building in March, 1998. You may be able to read the "Hog ack" sign above the garage door.

The only T-bar still standing.  This is the Whiteway T-bar.  The trail to the right is the Molly Stark.

The Alpenglow Restaurant Building (now a gift shop) in December, 1998.

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