Gunstock Season Pass?

[hammer]

I spotted this article and confirmed that Gunstock is still offering season's passes for $299:

http://news.alpinezone.com/14836/

This is somewhat cheaper than the $499 Granite Pass (Attitash/Crotched) that I was considering, but it only covers one ski area.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I've been to Gunstock a few times and thought it was a nice place with a good amount of intermediate-friendly terrain, and $299 sounds like a really good deal for a season pass, but I'm still not sure...

 

[bobbutts]

When do you normally go out skiing?
Personally I wouldn't nail myself down to Gunstock all year every time, so the Granite Pass seems better. Really depends on how many days you get out and if they are weekends only.

 

[hammer]

I've been able to get out 10 - 12 times a season so far (a real slacker, I know), and it's mostly nights and weekends. In the past, I've picked up the SkiNH passes at a variety of places and I was able to get in a number of nights at Pats Peak using the AZ discount.

A season's pass has a lot of appeal because it may prompt me to get out more than a dozen times or so a season, but overall I just want to get the best value. That may very well be the SkiNH passes again, but I'm not sure at this point.

With winter extending into April, I wish I could have gone out this weekend instead of thinking about next season...:???:

 

[RISkier]

To me you just have to ask yourself how many times am I likely to get there? I really thought about a Crotched pass a couple of years ago. But even though it's a good deal, I live far enough away that at best, I'd save no more than a day ticket or two. and I knew it would limit our flexibility. But, if you're close enough to get there most weekends, and perhaps some night skiing it seems like a very good deal. I like Gunstock. I'm not sure they're really agressive with snowmaking early in the season, and they close earlier than some, but it's a fun place.

 

[MadPadraic]

I had a season pass to Gunstock, Cannon, and Mt Sunapee this year. Its a fun place, but my one major warning is that they aren't aggressive in opening up for night skiing. I spent five nights there this year, and twice they called last chair well before closing; one time it was 75 minutes before closing they other it was about 15 minutes early, which is two runs if you tuck it. Sometimes they wouldn't open for night skiing at all (typically on a Monday, the website would give you warning that morning). Also, the chair that accesses the black runs (at night) was only open one night that I was there. They ended night sking some time in mid march, IIRC. (By comparison WaWa kept it till the sweet end).

The good things about Gunstock are 1) The view at sunset. 2) They have a legal glade that isn't on the trail map. 3) The view during the day. 4) Some sort of steep stuff and fun glade areas near the top. 5) The view 6) The terrain park looks great.

The bad things 1) not open enough at night 2) lack of a coffee bar

The crowd is pretty different from the "destination" resorts as well.

 

[thetrailboss]

Seems like a good deal, only drawbacks are: short season, not much snowmaking done in a bad winter. If you take those minor downsides, it is a good deal. Crotched and Pat's do more in terms of snowmaking, but have similar length seasons.

 

[threecy]

I'd say out of the mid to small sized mountains in New Hampshire, Gunstock has the best variety of terrain...I'm actually considering that pass - 299 is a steal for any ski area, nevermind a decent sized one with a high speed quad and night skiing.

 

[thetrailboss]

I'd say out of the mid to small sized mountains in New Hampshire, Gunstock has the best variety of terrain...I'm actually considering that pass - 299 is a steal for any ski area, nevermind a decent sized one with a high speed quad and night skiing.

Yes, two very big plusses. When you add in the nights, you have the option to get a lot of skiing in. That was a big asset with Pats Peak...night skiing meant that there was more flexibility.

 

[orsonab]

Couldn't resist....

I have three small budding skiers with little patience for long car trips and live in Southern NH so my choices are limited to family-friendly areas below the Whites and this seemed like a great deal. Though I love Pats Peak (which is where we had passes this year), the Gunstock pass is the same price as Pats for twice the size of ski area in terms of vertical drop, acreage, etc. Hopefully next winter will be much more snowy so the snowmaking ability of the resorts will not be as important as this season but for $300 I could live with a few day trips to other resorts early in the season if Gunstock is slow on the snowmaking.

 

[MadPadraic]

I have been a pass holder there for the past 3 seasons and I have not seen much in the way of improvements since the HSQ was installed. It is not that they are not aggressive about snow making, it is the aging equipment. Compared to Crotched's modern snow making system, Gunstock snow making equipment is outdated and seriously needs to be upgraded to modern technology.
The night OPS at Gunstock is in need of some serious rethinking. I would put lights and snow making back on Stonebar. Speaking of upgrading, the lighting at night needs some serious improvement on the Phelps/Tiger side of things.
I believe they are county operated, still a government operation so that might explain some of the operating philosophy.
The past couple of seasons I have noticed a turn down in the park set up. This season they did try to put a new coat of paint on things, renaming programs, offering more on Saturday night. As in any business, if your not constantly improving it will appear you're moving backwards as everyone else moves by you while you are standing still.
Gunstock does not lack for skiers on the weekends. Gunstock does seem to have a dedicated multi state following and on the weekends is very crowded at the base but it is only the HSQ that puts people on the top of the mountain.
I was not planning on renewing my pass for next season until the $299 deal came out. If the pass price was over $400 I would have looked else where or just stayed with only the Peaks Granite Pass. Gunstock's limited night Ops would be the main consideration in my decision not to renew for a given price.
I do enjoy riding the trails and the views at Gunstock. Night riding from the HSQ would be a dream and I bet the view at night from the top would be something else too.
Gunstock has wonderful potential to be developed but is held back because it is government operated. I would tell Gunstock to share the vision for the area.

I have to agree with you that night ops need rethinking. Some of it is as simple as running the tiger chair much more often instead of pistol, even if this makes them move the park towards tiger--or expand the phelps park. There are other anoyances too. For example, they put up ropes and barriers at the bottom of ramrod, tiger, and ricochet that extend well into flat land, and force you to hike back to ramrod. This obviously makes sense on race night, but its a major pain to navigate on other nights.

Don't get me wrong, I like Gunstock, but their unreliable night operations were enough disuade me from buying a season pass next year.

 

[thetrailboss]

I have three small budding skiers with little patience for long car trips and live in Southern NH so my choices are limited to family-friendly areas below the Whites and this seemed like a great deal. Though I love Pats Peak (which is where we had passes this year), the Gunstock pass is the same price as Pats for twice the size of ski area in terms of vertical drop, acreage, etc. Hopefully next winter will be much more snowy so the snowmaking ability of the resorts will not be as important as this season but for $300 I could live with a few day trips to other resorts early in the season if Gunstock is slow on the snowmaking.

Welcome to the boards, orsonab. Maybe you and Hammer can get some folks together for a day or two...

 

[MadPadraic]

I have three small budding skiers with little patience for long car trips and live in Southern NH so my choices are limited to family-friendly areas below the Whites and this seemed like a great deal. Though I love Pats Peak (which is where we had passes this year), the Gunstock pass is the same price as Pats for twice the size of ski area in terms of vertical drop, acreage, etc. Hopefully next winter will be much more snowy so the snowmaking ability of the resorts will not be as important as this season but for $300 I could live with a few day trips to other resorts early in the season if Gunstock is slow on the snowmaking.

The upper lodge at Gunstock is sometimes completely overrun by coolers. I find it terribly frustrating, but its probably great for families. Also, if "family friendly" means "designated slow skiing trails" (as in a previous thread) the night trail that they opened first this year fit that description. Their ski school has a good rep too.

Guess what would be even more family friendly? Running the Tiger chair until 10pm every night! (I'm not sure the logic here, but I know it must be so).

 

[AdironRider]

If your above an intermediate skier/rider Gunstock will not suffice as your primary mtn. I had the Gunstock/Cannon/Sunapee pass this year for while I was home on breaks and got only 3 days at Gunstock in, the rest were at Cannon. Cannon does a great job at keeping prices down, has bar none the best terrain in NH, and is easily accessible (its right up 93). Even in the worst storms the roads are at least managable as they have to keep the highway clear for the truckers going through the notch up to VT.

However, Gunstock is a fun hill. It has some amazing views of Winnepesaukee, has some decent (albeit very short) steeps of the Tiger chair, and the high speed quad really allows you to get alot of runs in. Sounds to me that if you arent planning on getting out more than 10-12 times it would be sufficient, but dont count out the Cannon pass if you need a challenge.

 

[hammer]

I think I'm a solid intermediate...I can usually handle all of the groomed trails at Sunapee without problems but I can't do bumps yet.

On my last trip to Gunstock I went on a few of the blacks...IIRC they were about as difficult as the blacks at Sunapee. I wouldn't be terribly challenged if I went on a regular basis but I don't think I'd be bored.

Cannon seems like a good option if I wanted more of a challenge but I've never been skiing there and it's just over 2 hours one way, which is long for regular day trips, especially with a family.

Thanks to everyone for their input. Still thinking about this one...the breakeven point is around 6 trips but I'd have to get at least 8 - 10 trips to Gunstock next season to make it worthwhile. Not sure if I want to make that commitment...

 

[MadPadraic]

I think I'm a solid intermediate...I can usually handle all of the groomed trails at Sunapee without problems but I can't do bumps yet.

On my last trip to Gunstock I went on a few of the blacks...IIRC they were about as difficult as the blacks at Sunapee. I wouldn't be terribly challenged if I went on a regular basis but I don't think I'd be bored.

Cannon seems like a good option if I wanted more of a challenge but I've never been skiing there and it's just over 2 hours one way, which is long for regular day trips, especially with a family.

Thanks to everyone for their input. Still thinking about this one...the breakeven point is around 6 trips but I'd have to get at least 8 - 10 trips to Gunstock next season to make it worthwhile. Not sure if I want to make that commitment...

I tend to think that Upper Recoil is the best trail at either Sunapee or Gunstock, but my memory may be faulty because I spent more time early season at Gunstock and late at Sunapee. Hotshot at Gunstock is more or less comparable to Lynx and Chewbacca at Sunapee.

As far as Cannon goes, I find that coming from the South on I93, Cannon is only 25 minutes further than Gunstock. Of course, this may reflect my tendency to go fast on highways and obey speed limits on secondary roads; Cannon is literally an exit off of I93. I also realize that 25 minutes times 2 is almost an hour total...

You owe it to yourself to visit Cannon once directly following a heavy snow. (and PM members of this board for trail specifics when such an event will occur).