The Lyndon Outing Club has closed down for the year due to a mechanical problem.
With a lot of wintry weather of late, the club has missed out on a lot of events because of a broken T-bar.
The club’s T-bar, which is a popular attraction for visitors, has had problems this season. A piece that involves the cable on the T-bar needs to be replaced, said Sue Teske, Lyndon Outing Club vice president.
The T-bar system brings skiers and snowboarders from the bottom of a mountain or hill to the top. The mechanics of a T-bar are similar to the workings of a chain on a bicycle. A metal cable is strung along various wheels and when it is operating, the cable constantly moves, pulling riders up the hilly slopes.
A big event put on every year by the club is called the Annual Snowflake Festival. This year, the problem with the T-bar caused cancellation of various events during the festival, which also resulted in lower attendance for the festival altogether.
“Also, because the T-bar wasn’t working, we had so few people coming that we just had to close for the season,” Teske said.
Teske stood up on Town Meeting day on March 1 and thanked the community for its support and shared the news of the closing.
Club president Robert Poulin said that he feels the Lyndon Outing Club has been an important part of the community for generations, and he hopes the community will help it to sustain in the future.
Teske is optimistic that the Lyndon Outing Club will be up and running in the future.
“We do intend to fix the T and continue as always,” she said, adding the club is working on some different fundraisers to help raise money.
Teske didn’t have a dollar amount to go along with the mechanical issues, but said, “People can always help by making a donation.”