New Brunswick ski hills see changes for season

Three ski hills in New Brunswick will boast something new this season asPoley Mountain opens with a new lodge whileCrabbe Mountain and Mont Farlagneareopening under new ownership.

Almost a year ago,Poley Mountain'sfuture looked uncertain, when its chalet went up in flames at the start of ski season.

Now,with a much bigger and more modern facility,the hill is ready to start making snow this weekend.

Next week, staff will be ready to move into thenew chalet.

Bill Anderson, the ski hill's general manager, says he'slooking forward to the move.

"It's just finishing touches now, our furniture's arriving tomorrow, we hope it all comes on the truck. That's one of the thingsyou never know until it gets here," said Anderson.

"We're getting really close to being open."

It's a different kind of season at Crabbe Mountain.

There is not enough show yet to open the slopes, but new ownership means Jordan Cheney, thegeneral manager at Crabbe Mountain, said heis keeping busy with upgrades.

"We've got aupgrade this year. We're out getting ready for snow-making currently and we should be ready to fire up here in the next week or so," said Cheney.

Edmundston's Mont Farlagne is also under new ownership.

Local investors havemadeimprovements to the ski lodge and widenedtrails aspart of a plan to increase sales of season passes.

Mont Farlagne is slated toopen in early December.