Friends of Oak Hill Newsletter – 2026 Mid-Winter Update
- Feb 10
- 4 min read
Dear Oak Hill Community,
It’s been a full and energizing six months at Oak Hill Outdoor Center, marked by incredible natural snow that has made this one of the most memorable winters in recent memory. We’re excited to share many updates with the winter season in full swing.
The weekly Snow Happenings bulletins have taken the place of longer newsletters this year, but we thought it was time to provide a full summary of the season.
From Fall Preparations to a Snow-Covered Dream
As the leaves fell in autumn, the Oak Hill community kicked off the season with strong volunteer engagement and early trail preparations. Annual volunteer work days brought many hands together to complete summer trail and lodge prep, including staining woodwork and organizing the new race and event shed — all contributing to smoother operations this winter.
Our snowmaking team put down a tremendous base during the cold stretch in early December that carried us through a variable late December and early January when other venues struggled. Aside from a short session in mid-January to cover a few thin patches and prepare for race season, that early artificial snow — followed by Mother Nature’s own — should carry us through March on the Silver Fox trail system. With expert grooming and lighted trails during both morning and evening hours, activity has been steady at the Center.
Garipay Snowmaking Pilot Update
As you may recall, we planned to run a pilot snowmaking project on the Garipay Field plateau this season. The project was delayed by late delivery of the snow gun and a part for the hot box (a device used to prevent the above ground portion of pipe from freezing). Ultimately, strong natural snowfall eliminated the need for extensive snowmaking on Garipay, and a decision has been made to postpone the pilot until next season, when we hope to lay down a durable early base on the plateau that will give the younger Ford Sayre skiers and all Beginners alike a place to learn and help relieve crowding pressure on the stadium.
Community and Youth Programs
Oak Hill continues to be a hub for youth and after-school ski programs, with hundreds of young skiers on the trails most afternoons of the week. The team at Oak Hill is dedicated to getting even more youth on skis and the equipment loan and lease programs have supported first-time skiers and helped broaden participation. A generous grant from Killington World Cup Foundation has recently added to the fleet of skis, lowering the bar for first timers to try out the sport.
The Masters Club has exceptional leadership and coaching this year, teaching brand-new skiers basic skills, while also giving longtime Nordic skiers the chance to hone their technique.
Events, Races, and Trail Use
This season has been rich with events, from Deck the Hill, a social community event held on December 24th to community race nights every Wednesday. In addition, Oak Hill has already hosted Dartmouth Carnival on Jan. 30 and 31 and the Silver Fox Trot just this past weekend. Coming up shortly are the Eastern Cup on Feb. 14–15, NHIAA State Championships on Mar. 3, and U16 Easterns on Mar. 13–15.
Race schedules and trail closures have been communicated proactively through weekly bulletins to help all users plan their visits and keep OHOC members skiing even when the race loop is in use.
Summed up best by BKL lead coach, Jay Davis, “It has been a remarkable winter for our BKL skiers, from the gentle trails and "powder plunges" of Garipay and the Golf course, to the glorious chaos of 4:00 in the afternoon at Oak, to the post-practice magic under the lights with familiesk skiing together. Add to that the opportunity to ski next to national-level skiers at their JNT practice, or watch some of the best-in-the-country racers at Carnival and Eastern Cup, and it's hard to imagine a better place to be a kid finding their love of skiing."
Facilities, Sustainability, and Infrastructure
Behind the scenes, Oak Hill’s facility improvements and operations continue year-round:
Stairs! Now you can walk with ease from your car in the paved lot up a lovely flight of stairs to the ski stadium. Many children are still choosing to fly straight down on their skis, but when the spring thaw arrives, we think everyone will welcome a less muddy — and less exciting — route.
Lodge enhancements now include security and remote access upgrades to balance safety with community openness. The lodge has become very popular, and during the recent Silver Fox race, skiers enjoyed Olympic Winter Games viewing between events. One small skier noted, “This is a sick set-up!” Stay tuned for many more exciting enhancements to come.
A growing retail and rental offering in the Welcome Center now includes snacks and basic Nordic ski accessories to better serve skiers on busy days.
Ongoing work continues to track and share the clean energy production from Oak Hill’s solar array, which has generated nearly 40,000 kWh of clean power.
A brand new trail from the Ray School down to Storrs Pond is giving children easier access to after-school activities and providing all skiers with a less treacherous route from Garipay toward Oak Hill. A skier from UVM at Carnival noted, with envy, that Oak Hill is one of her favorite courses and that Dartmouth skiers have the easiest and closest trail access around. Hanover may be one of America’s most ski-able towns!
Thank You
Oak Hill is truly a community effort. Thank you to our groomers, volunteers, donors, program leaders, and everyday users who make this place so vibrant. Your support — whether through your time, your donations, or simply showing up to ski — is what keeps Oak Hill strong.
Please consider volunteering for upcoming events - we need you to make these run smoothly!
See you out there,
The Friends of Oak Hill Board
