RUMFORD — Black Mountain Ski Resort has announced it will open for the season Monday, Dec. 26. 

The projected trails to be open are Ellis, Aroostoock, Magalloway, Upper Sunday, Upper Androscoggin, Lower Androscoggin and  Kennebec trails. Through Monday, Jan. 2, the hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Trail expansion at Black Mountain has resulted in more than 5 miles of new backcountry skiing and riding. These trails are a mere 900-foot jaunt from the main lift. The Angry Beavers, a local group of volunteers, cleaned up the glades, generating 3 miles and more than 26 acres of skiable glades with 90 percent being accessible by chairlift. 

Six hundred feet of snowmaking pipe was recently donated to the resort for future snowmaking on the Allagash Trail. 

Black Mountain’s alpine racing program expanded this year to include racers ages 2 through 6. In the Never Ever Program, youngsters will get their first experience ski racing. The program will focus on the basic fundamentals of ski racing in a kid-friendly way.

Black Mountain has teamed up with Mountain Valley High School to form a Ski Patrol Apprenticeship. This program will prepare students to become certified by the National Ski Patrol. Upon completion of the program, participating students will hold certifications in CPR, lift evacuation, on-hill orientation, tobogganing, snowmobile support and first aid/aid room. The curriculum is based on national and local protocols for the certifications. 

Students were selected by faculty at Mountain Valley High School through an application process. Requirements included the student maintain RSU 10 academic eligibility standards, be an avid skier or snowboarder, be responsible and demonstrate the ability to work independently, be in good standing within the Black Mountain community and have a positive attitude and good people skills. Students were required to provide one letter of recommendation from a non-family member and have signed parental approval.

Upon its success, Black Mountain hopes to grow the program to include other area schools. The program runs the entire second trimester. Students meet at Black Mountain every Friday and will earn one elective credit that can be applied toward graduation.

FMI: skiblackmountain.org.

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