Need advice from NH AZers

[Geoff]

If you like Castlerock, you'll like Sugarloaf. You won't find anything in New Hampshire with that kind of pitch. New Hampshire also sits in the rain shadow of the Green Mountains so you only get half the snowfall of the North/Central Vermont resorts. Sugarloaf at least averages 220" or so. Most places in New Hampshire are more like 125" to 150". In good snow, everybody's good. In lean snow, you're often better off sticking to Vermont and Maine.

 

[Vortex]

Town and country motor inn in Gorham is a nice central place to stay. Pool Hot tub Rest Entertainment and reasonably prices. Close to Sunday River close to Wildcat. Not to far to Cannon either. My choices in order would be Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Cannon, then wildcat. According to you perameters. I would still give Loon a try if you were going mid week non holiday, You get great vertical and fantastic views.
Waterville's base village is great place to hang out and I really think some of the terrain on the Sunrise chair is very challenging, but the wooded areas are not. I'm closer to Waterville than Loon. I go to Waterville for off hill activites and ski Loon. In my opinion Loon takes alot more bashing than it deserves. If you Choose Loon, Waterville or SR I could help with some more info via PM.

 

[stomachdoc]

One thing to note about Waterville if you haven't skied there in a while is that they are no longer "grooming the heck" out of the expert trails; 2 of the 4 expert sunnyside trails are now ungroomed (Lower Bobby's and Ciao)and have great bumps and are real steep. Absolutely worth a stop there mid week; have lunch at the "Schwendi Hutte" at the top for great views and awesome fondue......

 

[dmc]

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.

I'm planning another early Tucks trip - hopi9ng for Feb,March,Apr and May... Last March we backed off because of severe wind loading...
But had a blast skinning, hanging with Seth and riding the Sherburne Trail...

 

[kickstand]

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.

hell, I'd take Attitash over Waterville. Kind of surprised no one has mentioned it as a possibility for hpd's trip. Cannon and Wildcat are hands down better than Attitash, but Attitash does have some decent bump runs. If hpd is on a tight schedule, I'd skip Attitash, but it could make for a nice "mellow" day sandwiched in with skiing SR, Wildcat, Cannon and anyplace in VT.

 

[DJAK]

Kick has a point. And that way you could go to the Red Parka. Def a place you should hit up while in the White Mtns.

I didn't believe it either until people showed me, but there are lots of glades up there that are unmarked. And glades at ski areas where people don't ski glades are a good thing.

 

[Greg]

And glades at ski areas where people don't ski glades are a good thing.

I've heard this argument used for Okemo too. Apparently, Okemo has some great glades that don't see much use since the majority of the mountain's clientele like the groomers. I can't vouch for this claim's accuracy...

 

[dmc]

And glades at ski areas where people don't ski glades are a good thing.

Also glades at ski areas that dont actually have marked glades too!

I'm against marking glades... I'm selfish like that...

 

[WICKEDBUMPER]

And glades at ski areas where people don't ski glades are a good thing.

I've heard this argument used for Okemo too. Apparently, Okemo has some great glades that don't see much use since the majority of the mountain's clientele like the groomers. I can't vouch for this claim's accuracy...

pretty accurate. its not Jay or anything but they can hold their own.

 

[kickstand]

Kick has a point. And that way you could go to the Red Parka. Def a place you should hit up while in the White Mtns.

I didn't believe it either until people showed me, but there are lots of glades up there that are unmarked. And glades at ski areas where people don't ski glades are a good thing.

yeah, the Parka is worth hitting up. There are a whole bunch of others, too, but I don't want to hijack the thread. PM me if interested.

djak, I may have to hit you up for a tour or at least some pointers. I noticed some unmarked stuff back in March, but not as much as I thought I would see and I'm there 3 out of every 4 weekends or so.

 

[NHpowderhound]

BobR wrote

Town and country motor inn in Gorham is a nice central place to stay. Pool Hot tub Rest Entertainment and reasonably prices. Close to Sunday River close to Wildcat. Not to far to Cannon either

Excellent reccomendation. The Town And Country in Gorham is a nice place thats very affordable. I'd reccomend eating in town thogh as I'm not a big fan of $20+ steak dinners. It's location is prime for hitting Wildcat and Cannon.
I have to agree with Riv that Sunday River may not hold what you're looking for. Oz is the exception. But it's short vert makes it less desierable to me personally. You'll also burn precious time lift hopping and traversing just to get to Oz. I'd personally spend an extra day at any of the resorts I mentioned before.
Definately make sure you hit the 'Loaf. Maybey K2Trav can help you out up there.
((*
*))NHPH

 

[dmc]

I'd reccomend eating in town thogh as I'm not a big fan of $20+ steak dinners. It's location is prime for hitting Wildcat and Cannon.

I like Mr Pizza in Gorham... Good steaks... And beer...
The first place I go after coming down from Tucks..
Well - I do take a shower first...

 

[NHpowderhound]

DMC wrote

I like Mr Pizza in Gorham... Good steaks... And beer...
The first place I go after coming down from Tucks..

Give the Fortune Cookie a try! They welcome stinky hiker/skier/boarder types.
((*
*))NHPH

 

[dmc]

DMC wrote

I like Mr Pizza in Gorham... Good steaks... And beer...
The first place I go after coming down from Tucks..

Give the Fortune Cookie a try! They welcome stinky hiker/skier/boarder types.
((*
*))NHPH

ummm... Yeah... I hate that place...

I really don't fit in there too well.. Besides - by the time it's hoppin... I'm asleep...

 

[awf170]

Kick has a point. And that way you could go to the Red Parka. Def a place you should hit up while in the White Mtns.

I didn't believe it either until people showed me, but there are lots of glades up there that are unmarked. And glades at ski areas where people don't ski glades are a good thing.

yes but attitrashs problem is that they dont get any snow, with a summit only 300 ft higher than wildcats base, i bet they dont even get half the snow of wildcat.

 

[Rushski]

Key point to all the WV talk: Not worth their time for a week's trip to do Waterville Valley. No trees and only a couple true expert trails. It's not that great or I'm extremely bored by it, considering I've skied it way too many times.

Stick to the big ones of the East. 'Loaf, River, Jay, Stowe, Killington (weekday), Cannon and maybe a wildcard like Smuggs or MRG.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

You are all a great deal of help and I appreciate the time you took to make the replies. Looks like Cannon and Wildcat for sure.

 

[Birdman829]

hell, I'd take Attitash over Waterville. Kind of surprised no one has mentioned it as a possibility for hpd's trip. Cannon and Wildcat are hands down better than Attitash, but Attitash does have some decent bump runs. If hpd is on a tight schedule, I'd skip Attitash, but it could make for a nice "mellow" day sandwiched in with skiing SR, Wildcat, Cannon and anyplace in VT.

I'm not a big fan of Attitrash so I wouldn't recommend it. The only reason I ski there is coz' I have an ASC pass. Someone earlier did mention Ragged though, and that is an area I like. Pretty easy terrain on the main mountain, but that Six Pack is awesome. And there are a couple steep trails on that second peak along with some nice glades.

 

[riverc0il]

i wouldn't recommend attitash either. again, i wouldn't put attitash in NH's top five despite it having more acres and verts than places like black and ragged. i only skied attitash once, but it was more than enough for me.

mr. pizza in gorham rules! tuckerman ale on tap and the food is fantastic.