Black Mountain (NH) anyone?

[billski]

Never been to Black though I skied in the area many, many times. Anyone skied there who care to share perspective? Seems to be about a 1000-footer, probably catering to the more casual skier/boarder, or the grade schoolers on holiday. You can literally walk downtown to North Conway, probably even in your boots, it's so close. Kinda like a Pat's Peak?

 

[eatskisleep]

Are you thinking of Cranmore (referring to the walking distance reference).

I love Black, when it gets the snow. When Black has snow, it is a great mountain. There is even some good Expert stuff there. Great for a beginner powder skier, or a person who wants to find untracked three days after a storm. There is something for everyone at Black, really. The trails are all relatively skinny, and they have a old feel to them. There are no high-speed lifts, but I kind of like it that way, it gives you a chance to relax between runs.

Give Black a shot, I find the best time is usually February there.

 

[riverc0il]

I regret to say I have only skied one day at Black Mountain, NH. Truly a great mid-sized mountain and horribly under rated. This should be a good year for them if things keep going as they do not have the best snow making so the natural snow really helps them. Southern exposure makes for sunny days but tough snow retention. Views of Mount Washington off the summit are phenomenal. Love the pub and lodge. Extremely friendly employees and guests. Some nice short expert shots including a few trees. Really interesting terrain features and narrow trails. Not walking distance to North Conway but only a short drive up the road.

When conditions are right, I would say that Black is one of the best family mountains I have ever been to and definitely recommend it to skiers of all levels for a cheap, fun, and uncrowded alternative to the other mountains in the Whites.

 

[ckofer]

It has a great old school feel about it. Run like a family-owned mountain. I swear the same person runs up and down the steps to tend both the ski rentals and the burger grill. This is a good thing.

 

[eatskisleep]

Truly a great mid-sized mountain and horribly over rated.

I'm not sure I follow this comment... You mean underrated as a ski area? I don't think I have heard too too much praise for Black being the best mountain ever, so I don't really see it being overrated.

 

[riverc0il]

Jeez, thank you. Editing original post....

 

[snoseek]

Good place to go after a storm on a busy weekend or holiday week. watch out for the barbed wire if skiing in the trees.

 

[eatskisleep]

Jeez, thank you. Editing original post....

:beer:


Maybe Black will get a great kick off to the season with the possibly storm this weekend...

 

[xwhaler]

Skiied Black yesterday...absolutely incredible. Yesterday was their first day opening up terrain above the surface learning lift.
They had the summitt double running to 3/4 of the way up to the mid-station. Groomed out a black and a blue from that point but everything else was un-touched. Very few people there...we were one of maybe 20 skiiers on the hill. Of the 20, Id say only 5 or 6 were non-families not on the learning trail.

We "opened" the moutain for the season so to speak (the 5 or 6 of us) dropping into the fresh powder....no ropes were up so we just went wherever we wanted in the central part of the mtn. They received 12-14" from Sunday's storm but we were ripping through all the snow that they had received since November. We were in kneep-deep un-tracked powder all day long with some drifts approaching waist level. Some of it was pretty tough to ski though as we encountred some problems with lack of pitch...the trail itself would have been steep enough w/o all the snow but getting through 2 feet of un tracked was tough on the flatter parts.
As I said, yesterday was the first day that they had the chair running for the season so we were the first people on the trails since they closed last year!

As has already been mentioned, Black Mtn really is a hidden gem....the staff are all really friendly and proud of their mountain....I had been there as a kid but not for the past 10 years. There are no glitzy high speed quads or fancy base lodges, but if you want an experience that hearkens back to classic New Englad skiing, give Black Mtn a shot.
Truly an incredible experience yesterday. We couldnt go to the top yesterday but they have some steep pitches up there....1,150 ft vertical...not huge but definately some fun stuff for advanced skiiers/riders.

They have so much snow there, the powder should last a while (if when they groom out the runs)

 

[frozencorn]

That's good to hear. I learned to ski at Black way back when, on the bunnies, but haven't skied there in 20 years easy. Got a free day there though as part of the ski and ride card, so I look forward to re-visiting.

 

[xwhaler]

Yep....my buddy and I used the ride and ski free day yesterday. They hadn't heard of it actually when I presented the card but didnt have a problem issuing the ticket.

 

[billski]

Skiied Black yesterday...absolutely incredible. Yesterday was their first day opening up terrain above the surface learning lift.
They had the summitt double running to 3/4 of the way up to the mid-station. Groomed out a black and a blue from that point but everything else was un-touched. Very few people there...we were one of maybe 20 skiiers on the hill. Of the 20, Id say only 5 or 6 were non-families not on the learning trail.

We "opened" the moutain for the season so to speak (the 5 or 6 of us) dropping into the fresh powder....no ropes were up so we just went wherever we wanted in the central part of the mtn. They received 12-14" from Sunday's storm but we were ripping through all the snow that they had received since November. We were in kneep-deep un-tracked powder all day long with some drifts approaching waist level. Some of it was pretty tough to ski though as we encountred some problems with lack of pitch...the trail itself would have been steep enough w/o all the snow but getting through 2 feet of un tracked was tough on the flatter parts.
As I said, yesterday was the first day that they had the chair running for the season so we were the first people on the trails since they closed last year!

As has already been mentioned, Black Mtn really is a hidden gem....the staff are all really friendly and proud of their mountain....I had been there as a kid but not for the past 10 years. There are no glitzy high speed quads or fancy base lodges, but if you want an experience that hearkens back to classic New Englad skiing, give Black Mtn a shot.
Truly an incredible experience yesterday. We couldnt go to the top yesterday but they have some steep pitches up there....1,150 ft vertical...not huge but definately some fun stuff for advanced skiiers/riders.

They have so much snow there, the powder should last a while (if when they groom out the runs)

THIS IS A TRIP REPORT!

That's great, thanks for the info. These reports are great, they serve to inspire other to venture into the unknown and try some unknowns. There is a lot of great skiing in the northeast - all over the place. I'm thrilled to see some reportage on less-popular areas. Another gem, send them some of our business, keep 'em going.

 

[deadheadskier]

That's good to hear. I learned to ski at Black way back when, on the bunnies, but haven't skied there in 20 years easy. Got a free day there though as part of the ski and ride card, so I look forward to re-visiting.

If the ankle is mended, I plan on using my free ticket there next Monday.

 

[tomlane]

A couple of my friends went there yesterday and reported good conditions with no wind. Many of the other areas had wind problems.

I have been there several times - it is a nice little mountain with some fine twisty trails and some glades. They do not seem to do much snow making so you need to wait for a natural dump BUT if its a powder day do you really want to go to such a small mountain? The price is good so I would recommend the mountain for beginners, if it is windy elsewhere it can be good for even an expert. They do have a nice bar and friendly people area plus. It is also good for families that want to avoid the crazy baselodge scene at the large resorts.

 

[billski]

A couple of my friends went there yesterday and reported good conditions with no wind. Many of the other areas had wind problems.

I have been there several times - it is a nice little mountain with some fine twisty trails and some glades. They do not seem to do much snow making so you need to wait for a natural dump BUT if its a powder day do you really want to go to such a small mountain? The price is good so I would recommend the mountain for beginners, if it is windy elsewhere it can be good for even an expert. They do have a nice bar and friendly people area plus. It is also good for families that want to avoid the crazy baselodge scene at the large resorts.

I have found one BIG reason to go to a smaller mountain on a powder day: EVERYONE is going toe the BIG places. You will have the small place nearly to yourself. If you want to get first tracks or fresh tracks, you have a better chance of getting them at the small place. I got first tracks at 10am at BE and was still finding new lines at 3. Shorter for sure, but I didn't have to queue up for a line at 7:30am. It all depends on what you are looking for.

 

[deadheadskier]

BUT if its a powder day do you really want to go to such a small mountain?

I'm with Billski on this one. I made the choice last Sunday to ski Shawnee instead of Sunday River banking that there would be nobody there and there wasn't. Fresh tracks all day long

Would I have enjoyed a bigger mountain more? Perhaps, but it would depend on the crowds.

 

[tomlane]

I have found one BIG reason to go to a smaller mountain on a powder day: EVERYONE is going toe the BIG places. You will have the small place nearly to yourself. If you want to get first tracks or fresh tracks, you have a better chance of getting them at the small place. I got first tracks at 10am at BE and was still finding new lines at 3. Shorter for sure, but I didn't have to queue up for a line at 7:30am. It all depends on what you are looking for.

For the Mount Washington Valley I like Wildcat on a Powder day - it is big mountain with over 2000 ft of vertical and lines are usually fine. They have a lot more options for powder runs and you can find untracked sections late into the day if you know where to look. I still go to Black on occasion and think it is a fine mountain. I should admit that I usually get a pass for Wildcat which makes the decision a little easier.

 

[billski]

For the Mount Washington Valley I like Wildcat on a Powder day - it is big mountain with over 2000 ft of vertical and lines are usually fine. They have a lot more options for powder runs and you can find untracked sections late into the day if you know where to look. I still go to Black on occasion and think it is a fine mountain. I should admit that I usually get a pass for Wildcat which makes the decision a little easier.

I'm off to black mt. thisFriday, and I'm not telling anyone :roll: