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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Ski Season Officially Cool in New Hampshire

This story was Published in Foster’s Sunday Citizen
Published: December 1998

By Heather Burke
In a state that recently declared skiing as its “official sport”, skiers and riders should expect great things in the first “official” season. Of course this also happens to be the last season of the first century of downhill skiing in the White Mountains, the very birthplace of skiing in our nation. So what’s in store for this centenary season? Here are a few acclamations: New Hampshire’s largest ski resort Attitash has a new high-speed quad on the lower mountain of the Attitash side, to complement all the recent expansion over at the Bear Peak side of this expansive ski area featuring 13 lifts and 60 trails. If you’ve driven thru Crawford Notch of late, you can not have missed the massive new Skier Development Center, planned to host Ski School and children’s programs. Attitash continues to offer their “Smart Ticket”, a pay per run system. For first timers, Attitash has a great 2-day Lodging and Learn to Ski or Ride package starting at $99 per person. From the largest to the oldest (since 1935) is Black Mountain, just down the street from Attitash in Jackson. This classic New England ski area adds 3 trails and 2 glades this season in addition to last year’s 25-acre expansion. Black’s $20 midweek ticket is a bargain for 38 trails and 4 lifts; weekend tickets are $32. Best bet for families has got to be Bretton Woods, noted for excellent children’s programs, perfectly groomed gentle terrain and stunning vistas of Mount Washington. This year the Family Learning Center debuts a new beginner double chair, replacing a T-bar and improving the already impressive uphill capacity with 7 lifts accessing 33 trails. More advanced skiers and riders can explore 100 acres of newly opened glades on the West Mountain, all part of the future expansion of Bretton Woods. Wildcat Mountain continues to receive so many accolades from all the ski publications for its scenery of Mt. Washington and Tuckerman’s Ravine. The first Monday of each month, skiers and riders can take in the awesome views for a $19 ticket aboard the longest high-speed quad in New Hampshire (new last season). Wednesdays two people ski for the midweek $39 lift ticket price; weekends and holidays are $46. Wildcat continues to earn its reputation for having the wildest double diamond steeps and glades, but with 43 trails to choose from families can enjoy the tamer lower mountain trails at Wildcat too! Loon and Waterville Valley have long been the hub of New Hampshire skiing in the I-93 region. This year they are pairing up with sister area Mt. Cranmore in North Conway to offer the “Vertical Value” frequent skier and rider program: buy 5 lift tickets at any Booth Creek resort and receive a 6th day free, thereafter a free ticket is earned after every third visit! To be eligible you must become a Vertical Value member for $9.95, which is also good at their 5 western ski areas. Multi day tickets at New Hampshire’s Booth Creek areas will be interchangeable as well. Further north on I-93, Cannon Mountain continues to offer the most vertical in the state at 2146’, (some statistics don’t change). Cannon has some challenging and incredibly scenic skiing on 40 trails and 6 lifts, including the only aerial Tram in the Northeast. Arguably the best deal this season, Two for Tuesday and Thursday for $28. New this year, Superbowl Sunday will be a two-for day at the weekend ticket price of $39; with an evening game, you can have your skiing and football too! December 9 & 10 are Insider Demo Days, a great opportunity to ski, try the latest demos, and have lunch all for just $14 with an advance ticket purchase! In its third year of a major growth streak, skiers and riders at Ragged Mountain will enjoy a new 1,500-foot triple chair servicing beginner terrain, as well as three new trails, bringing the total to 7 lifts and 35 trails. And to improve the skier’s base lodge experience, a 15,000 sq. ft. Barn lodge has been classically designed a la New England with white clapboards, a cupola and silo for aesthetics. (2002 note: Ragged added a six-passenger high-speed chairlift to totally upgrade the base to summit lift system.) “Tenney continues to make good skiing cheap”, comments Joel Bourassa, G.M. for Tenney Mountain in Plymouth. A $17 midweek lift ticket for 4 lifts and 33 trails is indeed a great deal, weekends are $32. Skiers and riders will enjoy increased snowmaking as well as an expanded base lodge featuring a grand fireplace at Tenney this year. Gunstock is a long time favorite of families in the Lakes Region, because of its long cruising trails from the summit overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and the spectacular White Mountain range in the distance. This year Gunstock expands its Base Lodge and makes improvements to the popular Thrill Hill Ski Park. The Noon Groom and Two for Tuesdays are traditions skiers and riders will be pleased to see return this year. Way up north in Dixville Notch (but well worth mentioning) is the landmark resort destination for 133 years, the Balsams Wilderness. The Balsams offers the ultimate in posh winter getaways with a 5-Day Ski and Stay for the 98/99 season starting at $105 per person per night inclusive of the American Plan with full breakfast and dinner, and cross country and alpine skiing as amenities for their pampered guests. Although there is no El Nino in the forecast for the upcoming winter, the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a strong snow year. And thanks to the industry’s very progressive snowmaking, New Hampshire’s mountains are sure to be White this winter. So get out there and take advantage of these great deals at some outstanding ski mountains, it could be your last chance in the 20th century.
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All Photography by Greg Burke


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