Attitash in January

[hammer]

Just got a weekend reserved at the Attitash Mountain Village for this coming January...1BR unit. Got it as a short-term exchange through my timeshare so the out of pocket expenses are much lower. Plans are to drive up on Friday, ski at Attitash on Saturday (because it's right there), and ski at a different place for 1/2 day on Sunday before driving home.

• Has anyone been to the hotel? Online reviews I've read are mixed...hope it will be OK for 2 nights.
• Has anyone been to Attitash in the past year? Is there a reasonable amount of novice to lower intermediate terrain?
• Any suggestions on where to go skiing for a half-day on Sunday?

Thanks for any input/advice.

 

[thetrailboss]

1/2 day on Sunday: check out Black Mountain.

 

[playoutside]

With the need for novice/intermediate terrain, I'd head to Cranmore for your halfday.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Been there --------------------- i agree if you need novice terrain head to Cranmore

 

[Puck it]

What do you want to know about Attitash? I skied there this past year for the first time in a number of years. Which way are your heading home? Down 16 or 93?

 

[hammer]

1/2 day on Sunday: check out Black Mountain.

That was my first thought...

What do you want to know about Attitash? I skied there this past year for the first time in a number of years. Which way are your heading home? Down 16 or 93?

Terrain variety for abilities from upper novice to upper intermediate, any other bits of advice.

Not sure how we'll be heading home yet...have to get over to I-93 at some point.

 

[Puck it]

That was my first thought...

Terrain variety for abilities from upper novice to upper intermediate, any other bits of advice.

Attiash has some easy trails off the summit. The terrain is probably mostly intermediate. There are steep sections near the summit chair, but they are usually groomed. An upper immediate should be able to handle the two groomed double blacks of the summit. Tim's Trauma and Idiot's option are the only trails that are not groomed of the summit. Grand Stand is left to bump also but that is down lower. On Bear Peak, Mythmaker is bumped up but has a groomed section. All of the others are groomed. Avenger is a fast trail that is great to rip and you can fly on it. The glades are exceptional at Bear. Also, check out the house at the bottom of the Abenaki when you are there. 1.3 million. Who would pay that at Attiash?

Not sure how we'll be heading home yet...have to get over to I-93 at some point.

Where do you live? I live off 93 and try to avoid 16 at all costs. I go to Attiash up 93. If going home that way. I would hit Cannon or Bretton(if you want some easier)

 

[hiroto]

[*]Has anyone been to Attitash in the past year? Is there a reasonable amount of novice to lower intermediate terrain?

We spent last couple Xmas vacation at Attitash.

We like the place but it is not a good place for novice. There are no easy long run on the mountain beyond "the learning center" trail. Top part of green trails off double-double are relatively steep and narrow and would be classified as blue on many other mountains.

It would be marginal for lower intermediate. All the blues are relatively steep and many include pretty steep intimidating section. You really need a solid intermediate skill to enjoy many part of the mountain and be able to go back and force between Attitash and Bear mountain.

 

[Puck it]

We spent last couple Xmas vacation at Attitash.

We like the place but it is not a good place for novice. There are no easy long run on the mountain beyond "the learning center" trail. Top part of green trails off double-double are relatively steep and narrow and would be classified as blue on many other mountains.

It would be marginal for lower intermediate. All the blues are relatively steep and many include pretty steep intimidating section. You really need a solid intermediate skill to enjoy many part of the mountain and be able to go back and force between Attitash and Bear mountain.

An upper intermediate should be able to handle anything on the two except for the natural trails. An upper novice should be fine with the two blue trails off the summit (Saco for Attitash and Wandering Skis off Bear). There are a couple moderatle steep sections on these but they are not very long(50 - 100ft in length).

 

[hammer]

Where do you live? I live off 93 and try to avoid 16 at all costs. I go to Attiash up 93. If going home that way. I would hit Cannon or Bretton(if you want some easier)

Near Nashua, so I'd most likely go 302 back over to I-93 south to avoid N. Conway.

I'm leaning more towards Black at this point...other ski areas don't offer 1/2 day tickets for Sunday AM and I'm not too crazy about paying over $60 for a morning of skiing.

We spent last couple Xmas vacation at Attitash.

We like the place but it is not a good place for novice. There are no easy long run on the mountain beyond "the learning center" trail. Top part of green trails off double-double are relatively steep and narrow and would be classified as blue on many other mountains.

It would be marginal for lower intermediate. All the blues are relatively steep and many include pretty steep intimidating section. You really need a solid intermediate skill to enjoy many part of the mountain and be able to go back and force between Attitash and Bear mountain.

An upper intermediate should be able to handle anything on the two except for the natural trails. An upper novice should be fine with the two blue trails off the summit (Saco for Attitash and Wandering Skis off Bear). There are a couple moderatle steep sections on these but they are not very long(50 - 100ft in length).

Thanks for the inputs on Attitash...good thing is that the "novices" in the family do have some experience, and the one I'm most concerned about doesn't like skiing all that much, so location (i.e. being able to go back to the room and chill) is more important.

Is Attitash still relatively uncrowded on non-holiday weekends?

 

[thetrailboss]

Another option would have been Bretton Woods, which is not too far, but requires a drive through the 'Notch. But they are too expensive for what you are looking for. They have the intermediate/novice terrain you seek.

And I will concur with the assessment of Attitash as a steep mountain. The last time I skied there was in 2001, but man was the main mountain steep.