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The ski area went out of business in 1986.  By 1992 the slopes were beginning to revert to forest, creating valuable early successional habitat.  But today, almost 30 years later, the new growth is no longer young.  The former ski slopes are not much different from the older forest around them.  We'll be opening up the five major ski slopes, one every two years, to restart the clock on forest regeneration and recreate the valuable young-growth habitat.

ESH - Early Successional Habitat - is an early stage in the regeneration of forest after a field is abandoned or a forest is disturbed (by fire, flood, storm, or human intervention).  The dense young growth that rapidly fills the opening provides vital food and shelter for a wide variety of birds and animals.  Some species, like the woodcock and the ruffed grouse, are currently in decline because this type of habitat is fast disappearing throughout the northeast.  Learn more about the project to regenerate ESH on Hogback by browsing these pages.

The ESH Project at Hogback Mountain Conservation Area

 

Webmasters:  Bob Anderson + Diana Todd

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