CT’s Mohawk Mt Turns 60
A northwestern Connecticut ski and snowboard hill, Mohawk Mountain was and is a skiing pioneer
Mohawk Mt. Was the site of early snowmaking experiments and remains today, in its 60th season, the closest big hill skiing and snowboarding to Hartford and New York City.
It was in 1947 when a skiing visionary named Walt Schoenknecht set out to create the first ski resort in his home state of Connecticut on Mohawk Mountain.
The site he chose is in Cornwall, set amidst northwest Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills.
Mohawk Mountain celebrates its 60th birthday this winter.
Mohawk is not only Connecticut's oldest and largest ski area, but it’s still family run and welcoming families with a smoke and alcohol-free policy.
One year after Schoenknecht started Mohawk, he assured the success of the sport even when Mother Nature was stingy with the snow. He pioneered the first experiments in making snow.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Snowmaking revolutionized the ski industry, allowing earlier openings, later closings, and ski able terrain even in snow less winters.
In the beginning, Schoenknecht harvested ice from local lakes and bought more. He harvested and purchased some 500 tons, then bought an ice crusher.
He spread the resulting flakes on Mohawk's trails, but found that ice melts too quickly.
On to the next step: combining water, pressure, and the natural cold air. When tiny water droplets were blown into the cold air, they froze, producing—voila!— manmade snow.
Schoenknecht went on to build Mount Snow in Vermont, but his snowmaking exploits have continued to develop and they still pay dividends today at Mohawk Mountain.
With two dozen trails covered by snowmaking, a terrain park, 12 trails lit for night skiing and riding, expert grooming and six chairlifts, Mohawk offers the closest thing to a big mountain experience for skiers and riders from metropolitan areas like New York City and Hartford.
Mohawk offers 107 skiable acres on 950 scenic acres of state forest. Half the mountain is rated intermediate, 20 percent expert. The longest trail is 1.25 miles. Thirty percent is set aside for beginners, who have their own lift, the Wonder Carpet.
The homey base lodge houses all skier services including a ski shop. With its warm stone fireplace surrounded by antique skis and sleigh, the lodge is a nice place for a steaming cup of hot cocoa or lunch at the cafeteria or on the deck.
Mohawk’s Pine Lodge has been remodeled for a more leisurely dining experience among the evergreens.
Cross-country skiing is available in nearby state-run Mohawk State Forest when snow cover allows.
The nearby town of Cornwall is the home of a famous covered bridge, shops, cafes, and galleries. Within 25 minutes or less of the ski area, are at least, a dozen country inns, lodges and B&Bs. And, ski-and-stay packages, offering one free lift ticket with each night’s stay, are available at several inns.
For complete winter package information, visit www.litchfieldhills.com.
