Waiting on Winter Magic

As we officially turn the page from fall into the hopeful beginnings of winter, I can’t help but feel that familiar excitement building. The air is colder, the days are shorter, and every little breath of cold air that drifts across Buck Hill feels like a promise of what’s to come.

I’ve been praying — and fully expecting — a great winter of snowfall. Yes, we’re starting off a little slow, and Mother Nature seems to need a gentle nudge to get things moving. But we’re hopeful that once she cracks the door open, the floodgates will follow. And when they do, winter will arrive with all the magic we love: the sound of kids clicking into skis or strapping into a snowboard for the first time, the hum of chairlifts, the glow of night skiing, and that unmistakable energy that fills this hill.

Behind the scenes, our small year-round team has been working nonstop to get Buck Hill ready for the moment winter truly arrives. With more than 500 seasonal staff members set to return soon, it’s this core crew that carries the early load — tightening bolts on lifts, checking and repairing snowguns, walking the hill for safety, servicing the snowcats, organizing race day logistics, prepping ski school, dialing in new rental equipment, flushing out any foreseeable issues with our ticketing systems, and getting Buck ’54 and the Chalet ready for the winter rush. It’s a lot of hands-on work handled by a small but incredibly dedicated team, and every hour they put in now is what allows us to flip the switch and welcome everyone back the second temperatures cooperate.

One thing we never take for granted is the simple truth that every time someone walks through our doors or steps foot on this hill, a core memory has the chance to be made. It might be a child linking their first turns (Ski Lessons), a parent watching their kid ride the chairlift alone for the first time, a family sharing hot chocolate after night skiing, or an adult returning to a place (Season Passes) that brings back their own childhood. Winter and snowfall bring their own kind of magic, but the magic of those moments — when a memory clicks into place and you can almost see it happen — is something entirely different. Sparks fly, hearts open, and we’re reminded how special it is to be in a place where those memories are made every single day. We feel truly blessed to play even a small part in that story for so many families.

Here’s to cold(ish) nights, snowy days, and a season filled with joy, adventure, and a whole lot of Buck Hill magic.
See you on the hill soon,

Stay Rad – Keep the Stoke,

Nate Birr
President | COO