Hidden among the hills and mountains of southern Vermont are the remnants of sixty former ski areas, their slopes returning to forest and their lifts decaying. Today, only thirteen remain open and active in southern Vermont. Over investment, local competition, weather variation, changing skier habits, insurance costs and just plain bad luck caused these ski areas to succumb and melt back into the landscape. From larger ski areas like Snow Valley and Maple Valley, to Clinton Gilbert's farm in Woodstock, where the very first rope tow began operation in the winter of 1934, these once popular ski areas left an indelible trace on the hearts of their ski communities and the history of southern Vermont.   In this presentation, Jeremy Davis, creator of the New England Lost Ski Areas Project examines the role that these ski areas played in the development of the sport that is so critical to Vermont. Historical and contemporary photos and maps, personal stories, and the ski areas that have survived will all be featured.