Vermont ski area Mad River Glen is offering workers who scythe undergrowth on their ski slopes for 10 days a free 24-25 season pass and an unspecified amount of cash.
The ski centre has been recruiting staff to take on the task, scheduled for 10 days in September. The scything day begins at 7:00 am and the mowing continues until about 3:00 pm, with "many breaks."
"We use hand scythes to cut the grass, ferns and shrubs on the steepest slopes here at Mad River Glen. Most of the beginner and intermediate terrain is mowed with a tractor, mow crew steps in to finish off the areas the tractor can't go. We mow and move in a line shoulder-to-shoulder hiking up the trails as we go. It can be tough work but the camaraderie makes it so much fun!" a spokesperson for the centre said.
Mad River Glen celebrated its 75th season last winter. It is home to one of North America's few remaining single-seat chairlifts and is also famous as one of just three ski areas that still ban snowboarders from their slopes. This led to snowboarders responding on social media that they'd like the job but wouldn't be able to use the pass.