Peru, Vermont - July 30, 2009
The ski slopes are bare and the temperatures hot-- perfect conditions for sledding at Bromley Mountain.
"People come to Bromley for the alpine slide, they really do, that is the signature ride for us," said Rich Wiseman, the president of Bromley Mountain.
Bromley's alpine slide is 33 years old, making it the oldest track in the entire country.
"It's great for families," said Jenny Conklin, of Richmond, Va. "It's one of the best things for families to do around here."
And at two-thirds of a mile in length, it's also one of the longest.
Adventure seekers fly down the mountain, some topping speeds of 40 miles an hour.
"You could say it's like bobsledding," explained John Bleh, of Bromley Mountain. "How often do you get to do something like this?"
Jenny Conklin first came here as a 12-year-old. She's now back with her father and three daughters; a family tradition spanning three generations.
"This is my second time," said Molly Conklin. The first time was a little scary. "I started crying," she admitted.
For Molly, the second time was a piece of cake. And I figured if a 6-year-old could do it-- so could I. I stepped up to the easiest of the three tracks with a camera mounted on my sled hoping not to record a crash, but instead my triumphant run down the mountain.
"Here goes nothing," I said as I took off. "Wish me luck!"
"It's great because you can control the speed but it's so exciting. And when you get up on the walls you can really fly down," Jenny Conklin said. "It seems a lot faster than it is probably. It doesn't look as fast as when you're on the chairlift but when you're going down you're flying."
But the slide at Bromley isn't the only ride that's bound to get your heart racing. The Sun Mountain Flyer is the mountain's newest attraction. Built at a cost of about $1 million, the zip rider is unique in that you're strapped into a seat.
"Actually the worst part is when you're on the tower," Wiseman said.
There are only two other rides like it in the northeast; less than ten in the world.
"The wind is in your hair and you're just going so fast and you're above everyone and you can twist around. It's just a really fun experience," said Jack Bird of San Francisco.
"When you look at it from outside the chair you think it's a little slow, but when you're in there it's oh snap!! It goes pretty fast," said Nick Bird of San Francisco.
Both rides prove that you don't need snow to have fun on a ski slope.
Summer fun in full swing on Bromley Mountain.
And if you want to try either the slide or the flyer out for yourself both can be done for about $40. Bromley Mountain is open 7 days a week, weather permitting.
Click here for more information on those rides.
Keagan Harsha - WCAX News
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