Balsams Grand Resort teams up with ski industry legend Les Otten

[ThinkSnow]

The big difference in my opinion to make or break this, will be the draw of the non-ski season. That was always stronger up there in the previous Balsams eras. That is what will make or break this, more than the ski draw.

There currently is a network of trails for hiking and XC skiing, golf course needs to be spruced up, and then there's the possibility of mountain biking and water sports for the off season.

 

[AdironRider]

That golf course is top shelf when they are on top of maintenance. One of the better mtn courses in the country IMO.

 

[ss20]

Should we contact Snowlover to ask about who gets more snow?

 

[snoseek]

They get somewhere between saddleback and jay for snow. I would guess 250ish...but its more aboutnsnow retention than actual snowfall and its cold as hell up there. Almost too cold.

 

[steamboat1]

They get somewhere between saddleback and jay for snow. I would guess 250ish...but its more aboutnsnow retention than actual snowfall and its cold as hell up there. Almost too cold.

Jeeze it's not that far from Sunday River or Wildcat. You make it sound as if you were traveling to the Antarctic or something. Not to mention base & summit elevations aren't to high.

This is what we're talking about.

 

[snoseek]

Whole different world up there

 

[deadheadskier]

Whole different world up there

+1

Well over an hour North of Wildcat. Much colder than anywhere else in the state. Anyone who lives in NH and watches the weather daily for the state knows this.

 

[SIKSKIER]

You guys just making up snowfall totals?I found this 74 year snowfall chart and it says that area recieves 100 inches a year.
http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?nh2023

 

[SIKSKIER]

I also found one with 90 i/y.Then I find this that says 250.Which is it?
http://www.nhliving.com/skiing/balsamswilderness/

 

[SIKSKIER]

Just found a few more with 275.

 

[Tin]

It doesn't matter to me if they get 100" or 400", the drive for 1000' of vert and even 1400' after phase 1 is not worth it. Even the final project at 2000' of vert from the East Dixville summit looks to have more of a pod-like complex that it would be impossible to really have more than ~1600' from. Why drive the extra hour when Wildcat has a true 2000' with a fast quad?

 

[xwhaler]

It doesn't matter to me if they get 100" or 400", the drive for 1000' of vert and even 1400' after phase 1 is not worth it. Even the final project at 2000' of vert from the East Dixville summit looks to have more of a pod-like complex that it would be impossible to really have more than ~1600' from. Why drive the extra hour when Wildcat has a true 2000' with a fast quad?

Because Balsams is a grand resort experience with a ton of amenities---Wildcat is an awesome ski mtn but offers nothing once the skis come off at the end of the day.

 

[ss20]

It doesn't matter to me if they get 100" or 400", the drive for 1000' of vert and even 1400' after phase 1 is not worth it. Even the final project at 2000' of vert from the East Dixville summit looks to have more of a pod-like complex that it would be impossible to really have more than ~1600' from. Why drive the extra hour when Wildcat has a true 2000' with a fast quad?

E a
Low vert never hurt Sunday River's popularity. I don't really look at vertical as my go-or-no-go stat. I like acreage and trail milage stats. But living in CT I do 60% of my skiing at hills with less than 1500' vertical so that might have something to do with it.

 

[ThinkSnow]

Don't look at vertical either, albeit my home mountain is Sugarbush with the biggest vertical in New England, so other areas vertical doesn't matter much.

 

[steamboat1]

Don't look at vertical either, albeit my home mountain is Sugarbush with the biggest vertical in the east, so other areas vertical doesn't matter much.

That would be Whiteface

 

[ScottySkis]

That would be Whiteface

+420 up Whiteface is bites vertical .

 

[ThinkSnow]

Correction made. Still doesn't matter.

 

[steamboat1]

Been to Balsams several times during Presidents week (typically coldest time of the year). Never had a problem with cold. Quebec City on the other hand has been cold during the same time period.

 

[ThinkSnow]

QC certainly can be cold-- that's what Caribou is for.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Don't look at vertical either, albeit my home mountain is Sugarbush with the biggest vertical in New England, so other areas vertical doesn't matter much.

That would be Killington and Sugarloaf before the Bush.