Need advice from NH AZers

[highpeaksdrifter]

Kicking around an idea with friends I ski with. Instead of going West for a week this Feb. we where thinking of doing a northern NE tour. Probably hit Jay first, work our way through NH, then up to Sunday River and Sugarloaf. None of us have ever skied in NH before. Based on the recommendations of Oil and others gonna hit Cannon for sure. What else should we hit in NH. All are expert skiers and hope to hit six different mountains.

 

[thetrailboss]

Wow. Well what do you like to ski? Give me some help here...

Hit Burke, Jay, Cannon, maybe Wildcat, etc. Your comments may also lead me to suggest Loon, The Balsam's (which is in the general area) or maybe even B Woods.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Wow. Well what do you like to ski? Give me some help here...

Hit Burke, Jay, Cannon, maybe Wildcat, etc. Your comments may also lead me to suggest Loon, The Balsam's (which is in the general area) or maybe even B Woods.

Myself and group like trees, bumps, steeps, pow when we can get it. To give you a point of reference you are familiar with we love Castlerock. Thanks.

 

[NHpowderhound]

Cannon and Wildcat for sure! Give me a PM if you decide to hit them and I will hook you up with some "stuff" to check out. If you like steep and trees then those are the two best in NH without a doubt. I just hope you 'Facers dont get discouraged at our teensie 2000' verts. :wink: Cannon and the 'Cat have some of the best views in all of New England and maybey North America IMO. Wildcat will give you phnomenal views of Mount Washington including Tuckermans,Gulf of Slides, and Huntington Ravine. Cannon stares straight at Mount Lafeyett, the Franconia Ridge and Walker Ravine.
If steeps,trees and bumps are your preference then I'd reccomend staying away from Loon,Waterville and Bretton Woods. All have some of the above but not nearly the quantity and quality of Cannon and Wildcat. But those two mountains are very weather dependent. If the weather is junk then the others(Loon,WV&BW) may be a good option just to get some turns in. Bretton Woods is pretty mellow but they do have some glades and great views. And they also have perhaps the best record in New England for spinning lifts during inclement weather. Loon and Waterville are kings of the blue squares. I find I get very board real quick with those two particular hills. Nothing against them or those who ride them. But IMO a real strong skier will not find much challenge at those mountains. If you like to carve blues and brutally groomed blacks then they are a good choice.
Anybody willing to skin, or is this just lift serviced trip?
((*
*))NHPH

 

[riverc0il]

cannon, wildcat, and sugarloaf are the required items for a white mountain adventure looking for challenging runs full of trees and bumps. though the trees at cannon proper require a good snow year to be decent, otherwise they are mostly crap. if you want to see some of the goods off cannon proper, i'll extend the same offer NHPH did above. wildcat has a killer view of... hey, what time are you planning this trip? any time in the spring time means tucks should be mandatory too. and the loaf is just the loaf, period.

if you name your favorite terrain as castlerock, you may find yourself board at the river. there are some nice lift lines and trees on the oz/jordan area, but it's mostly short vertical on groomers that feel similar.

in summary, i would opt to get all the driving done first and do two days at the loaf, next at wildcat, then cannon, burke, and finish at jay. you'll cut a straight line all the way across four states. sounds like a sweet road trip, do it up

 

[riverc0il]

you'll need lodging too. if you like cheap, $15 hostel in gorham north of wildcat will service your wildcat day and it's about an hour to cannon:
http://hikersparadise.com/

an excellent place to stay under an hour from wildcat, cannon, and burke is dunroamin inn in whitefield. a little out of the way and no ski & stay for cannon or wildcat, but a fantastic inn and great rates.
http://www.dunroamininn.com/

grandpa grunts outside of jay is damn cheap with bunk bed style lodging. gets more of a college crowd but i found it quite mid-week. sugarloaf you might as well go all out and go for slope side :beer:

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Anybody willing to skin, or is this just lift serviced trip?
((*
*))NHPH

Lift serviced. Thanks for the advice.

 

[riverc0il]

forgot to add saddleback. haven't skied it personally but i know people who have and it has received rave reviews from people who ski what i like to ski.

 

[awf170]

you'll need lodging too. if you like cheap, $15 hostel in gorham north of wildcat will service your wildcat day and it's about an hour to cannon:
http://hikersparadise.com/

Are you sure it is still $15 i remember driving by this summer and thought it was more. Might be mixing it up with some other places that were more money though...

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

in summary, i would opt to get all the driving done first and do two days at the loaf, next at wildcat, then cannon, burke, and finish at jay. you'll cut a straight line all the way across four states. sounds like a sweet road trip, do it up

Yeah, the more I think about it, it does sound pretty sweet. I was skeptical when it was first suggested cause I was thinking out West, which still could happen. Either way I don’t think I can go wrong. BTW I guess Tucks is out cause it’s the 3rd week in Feb. Thanks Oil.

 

[NHpowderhound]

HPD wrote

BTW I guess Tucks is out cause it’s the 3rd week in Feb.

Oh contriar! Third week in Feb and things should be getting real good! REAL good!
((*
*))NHPH

 

[riverc0il]

but the avi danger is much higher before the spring. i don't think i would do mid-winter at tucks without getting some avi knowledge and gear.

 

[Birdman829]

Wildcat (best views in New England by a bunch), Cannon, and Waterville Valley have probably the best terrain. i would also check out Gunstock for some great views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

 

[awf170]

Wildcat (best views in New England by a bunch), Cannon, and Waterville Valley have probably the best terrain. i would also check out Gunstock for some great views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

waterville valley? been there once and hated the place. Am i missing something? Looks pretty lame to me

 

[riverc0il]

waterville valley? i don't think HPD would find what he's looking for at WV or gunstock.

 

[awf170]

waterville valley?

waterville valley?

lol

 

[NHpowderhound]

Birdman wrote

i would also check out Gunstock for some great views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

But thats about all you'll get at Gunstock. Not much to offer in the way of glades bumps or steeps. In fact I think they only have one poor excuse for a glade. And with a 1400' vert I wouldnt reccomend going out of your way from Lake Placid to give it a visit.
((*
*))NHPH

 

[Birdman829]

waterville valley? been there once and hated the place. Am i missing something? Looks pretty lame to me

Probably. If Waterville doesn't have the third best terrain in NH, then I don't know what does.

NOTE: Loon doesn't count because it's a zoo. That place is unskiable on weekends.

 

[riverc0il]

loon definitely has better terrain than WV and is a great place to ski mid-week. last time i was at WV mid-week it wasn't much better. i'd pick ragged and black mountain hands down over WV for terrain. given BW's expansion for glades (haven't skied them yet), they could probably give WV a run for the money as well. i wouldn't even put WV in NH's top five for lift serviced terrain. just my opinion though.

 

[NHpowderhound]

Not a big fan of Loon personally but I have to agree with Rivec0il that Black,Ragged and only recently Bretton Woods, has more to to offer in the form of bumps,steeps and trees than Waterville Valley. Black mountain is a fun and VERY laid back area. Dont be in a rush to get to the top 'cuz I think they have the slowest lifts in the state. But thats ok because it keeps the place from getting skied out by 11:00.

But anyplace can still be fun with some good comraderie :beer:
((*
*))NHPH