Crotched - 3/17/2006

[57stevey]

Date(s) Skied: 3/17/2006

Resort or Ski Area: Crotched (West/Bobcat/Onset)

Conditions: Machine groomed LSGR

Trip Report:

Well, Crotched was kind enough to offer free lift tickets this week for various counties and Friday was mine, so I decided to go see what had been done with the place since my last visit in '89. Drove right up to the snow and parked! I had heard about the lodge and such so I was prepared, can't say it was homey but it worked OK on this slow day. I can see how it might be a PITA hauling stuff up and down on a busy day, but, it is what it is. The conditions were good all things considered... groomed LSGR with a little refrozen crud on the edges was the order of the day. All trails were covered well from side-to-side with the exception of the short run under the double, which was open and theoretically skiable, but you wouldn't want to. There were few people out at least until the schoolkids arrived, so everything held up well. The terrain itself is not very challenging... kids were straightlining the "blacks" as I was leaving... certainly nothing on the order of Hurricane or FIS at Pat's. As I recall, the aspect I enjoyed most about the 80's incarnation was being able to ski back and forth between East and West, and of course that is missing now. Still I think they have a good product that a lot of people will enjoy, their rental setup in particular seems to be excellent. The drive thru Precioustown is another story however... I can get to Pats 15 mins quicker, Ragged or Sunapee for about the same, or 10e for an extra 15 mins. This makes Crotched a tough sell for old-school me. (Based on this day, I am revising my thoughts about 10e in a more positive light.)

A few pics... http://www.picturehosting.org/gallery.php?u=ssslapierre&g=Crotched-3-17-2006

 

[thetrailboss]

Yes, it is in a weird location. Despite the minor drawbacks (lodge, terrain uniformity), I hear many good things (no crowds, snow cover, service, price, etc). I think it has been very successful. Compared to Pats? Well, Pats has been there a million years and has nice facilities and service. Good access.

 

[mckay]

My opinion of Crotched vs. Pat's, in my limited experience, is that Pat's has steeper terrain, but much shorter runs. Others I've talked to agreed with this. Pat's has a little bit less verticle and steeper trails which translates to much shorter runs and loooong runouts. I actually timed some run/lift cycles at Pat's. It took 3 minutes for an intermediate like myself to make a run down the blue trails at Pat's and 9 minutes to ride the lift back to the top. The last half of every run is almost completely flat. For me, that got old real quick. At Crotched, there is fun terrain right down to the lifts.

I think Pat's is the better place for families and for young people who are learning to ski. I also think the lodge at Pats is far superior to the one at Crotched. Pat's even has tubing for those who don't wish to ski. And, as mentioned, Pat's definitely has steeper terrain. I think Crotched offers a lot more time actually skiing. As for kids straightlining down the blacks at Crotched, I think that has more to do with the slowness of the groomed granular they have right now than the ease of the trails. Nobody was straightlining those trails a month ago when it was packed powder and ice.

 

[mckay]

Oh, and what is Precioustown? Is it Peterborough?

I take Rt. 31 from downtown Wilton (right off Rt. 101w) to the center of Greenfield. In Greenfield take a right either before or after the classic NE white church. Both roads take about 10 minutes to get you to the mountain. It's about 25 minutes from Wilton, a little quicker than staying on 101 to Peterborough.

 

[57stevey]

Oh, and what is Precioustown? Is it Peterborough?

I take Rt. 31 from downtown Wilton (right off Rt. 101w) to the center of Greenfield. In Greenfield take a right either before or after the classic NE white church. Both roads take about 10 minutes to get you to the mountain. It's about 25 minutes from Wilton, a little quicker than staying on 101 to Peterborough.

Precioustown = Francestown ;-) You know, the folks that don't want the East side reopened.

Not sure where your directions are starting from, I came up from Salem through MHT - Bedford - Goffstown - New Boston - Francestown.

 

[RISkier]

I think I've gotten lost everytime we've gone to Crotched. Seems the route we end up taking is different everytime. I'll blame my navigator since she's not here to defend herself. I do like the general lack of crowds and the snowmaking. But I've gotta think the location is going to be a problem for Crotched. Even though it's 20+ miles further to Sunapee, travel time is approximately equivalent for us. And while Sunapee is often criticized becasue the terrain isn't very diverse I think it offers a lot more diversity than Crotched. I love the snowmaking at Crotched, and we'll no doubt go there now and again when conditions else where look sketchy, but if we're going to drive nearly 3 hours we're more likely to go to Sunapee or Gunstock for day trips.

 

[mckay]

Steve, I live in Milford. Crotched is only 25-30 minutes away. Lucky me. I did that drive through Goffstown and New Boston a few days ago and found it to be pretty crummy. I work in Manchester and went straight from work. Crotched advertises that it's only 23 miles from Manchester, but the drive was a good 45 minutes, even starting from the West Side. Not fun. I think some people from Mass. come up through Nashua, 101a to 101w.

RISkier, I think Sunapee is way way better than Crotched or Pat's. If I was driving up from RI I would most definitely go to Sunapee or some other place further up. I agree the location is tough for Crotched. I went there about 15 times this year and not once did I have to wait more than 1 minute in a lift line.

I hit Crotched today and I had a little chat with the guy at the rental counter while he was adjusting the bindings on my daughters little tiny skis. He told me he thought today might be the last day of the season, the employees hadn't been told yet. That's a pity because the conditions were excellent today. I thought they must have gotten some snow, but no. He said they were anxious to get started on some improvements like opening up the top of the mountain and opening a new lodge! They have a nice little cape-style building that they use as ski school headquarters. He said they were going to turn that into another lodge.

As someone who just took up skiing this year, is totally hooked, and already has a season ticket for next year, I was really glad to hear that they are moving forward with improvements.

 

[hammer]

I think some people from Mass. come up through Nashua, 101a to 101w.

The last time I went I drove Rt. 101A to 13 N through Mont Vernon and on the Francestown Turnpike. Seemed to be the shortest distance but the turnpike has some nasty frost heaves and I wish the speed limit was higher...

In any case, I have a hard time getting from the MA/NH border to Crotched in anything under an hour.

RISkier, I think Sunapee is way way better than Crotched or Pat's. If I was driving up from RI I would most definitely go to Sunapee or some other place further up.

I'd agree that Sunapee has more to offer than Crotched, but the weekend crowds can be a bit of a PITA and the lift tickets are at least $10 more than Crotched. I would also tend to go to a bigger place if I was coming from RI, though...

 

[mckay]

Yes Hammer, 13n in Milford is just about the same time as taking 31 from the next town over - Wilton. I live in Milford, but near the Wilton line. Taking 31 is about 5 minutes faster for me. I think I have seen where some people take 101w to Peterborough because the directions are simpler and the roads are nicer. Also, Rt. 13n in Mont Vernon takes you up a big steep hill that can be dangerous if the roads are even a little icy. 101w does that too right were Temple Mountain ski area was. Rt. 31 has no big hills, but it's very hicky and a little depressing.

 

[Angus]

I live in metrowest and go rt 3N to 101AWest to 122 thru Amherst slow down - cut through downtown to New Boston Rd which comes out on rt???, go left and then take Francistown Turnpike. Door to door 80 minutes - but those Amherst cops are tough downtown so watch out!

I really like Crotched compared to WaWa because you get in more runs. Sunapee is obviously bigger/more diverse, etc. but if I had to bring a 4-7 year old beginner/novice. Crotched would be clear choice. I've used crotched as a early season, "get the legs underneath me" type place or a 1/2 day with the kids - "get outside and enjoy the fresh air" kind of place. i also did that midnight madness thing last year and found it to be fun but watch out the next morning - you're wiped out!

never skiied Pats but from conversations with locals, they echo the comments of steep and long run out and seem to like crotched more.

speaking with someone from the ski area earlier this winter, he indicated that the parent co. had said that if they met some visitor/tixs targets they'd extend the summit chair lift this year. looks like the trail restoration has been done already. from an earlier post, I also noted that I hiked up there over thanksgiving and found the south side of the hill - left looking up the hill to be all surveyed out in the woods.

I skiied a 1/2 day saturday and was pleasantly surprised by conditions, no lift lines and a substantial snow pack. small enough that I'm comfortable letting my 9 year old ski by himself while I watch my 4 year old and we ski the summit lift - good deal.

 

[mckay]

Angus, those Amherst cops are the worst! Kind of funny how everyone has there own way to get there.