Ski Ward 12-02-08

[loafer89]

Area skied: Ski Ward, Massachusetts

Date skied: December 2nd, 2008 from 5:00pm - 7:15pm

Surface conditions: Eastern packed powder aka frozen granular and loose granular

Weather: mostly cloudy, 42F at 5:00pm, 33F at 7:15pm

Warren and I made our first trip ever to Ski Ward as this is the next to last ski area in Massachusetts that I have not skied at, the other being Blue Hill.

This is a small place with a triple chair that services a vertical drop of 200' and is the smallest ski area in terms of vertical drop that I have ever been to. That said we did have fun and the lift tickets where priced at a two for one deal for $25 which is hard to beat.

Only one trail was opened today and that was White Out which we took 16 runs down during the course of the night. Winter's Magic was the other top to bottom trail that had snow on it, but was closed due to developing bare spots due to this week rain.

There where about 30 people on the hill when we left which is probably a good turnout for a night with very firm snow conditions. Warren and I skied on the same part of White Out all night long trying to losen up enough snow to make the skiing a bit smoother as the trail had groomed frozen granular snow on it.

We will go back this season as it's only a 45 minute ride from my house and the tickets are cheap with the 2 for 1 deal for $25 every wednesday and saturday night throughout the ski season.

 

[deadheadskier]

I owe my addiction to the sport to Ward Hill, it's where I learned 25 years ago. I wonder when they put the triple in. Back in the day they had a Double and T Bar going to the summit, which they ran regularly, also had a wicked fast rope tow to the summit they fired up occasionally and a handle toe going about a 1/4 the way up.

 

[loafer89]

I owe my addiction to the sport to Ward Hill, it's where I learned 25 years ago. I wonder when they put the triple in. Back in the day they had a Double and T Bar going to the summit, which they ran regularly, also had a wicked fast rope tow to the summit they fired up occasionally and a handle toe going about a 1/4 the way up.

They now have a Partex Triple Chair with nice cold plastic seats. The T-bar is still there but it has no snow under or near it. The handle tow is there and my son rode it to ski the beginner area and ride every lift opened.

 

[deadheadskier]

I looked at the trail map and it looks like the triple is where the double was. Over to lookers left on the opposite of the trail the t bar goes up is where the rope tow was, but that appears to be tubing now.

Our favorite thing to do as kids was to see what chair number we were on and how much we could beat it down the hill by after we got it.

I'm glad Ward has been able to make over the years. I'm sure many thousand skiers since my childhood have gotten their start there as well.

 

[loafer89]

I see in the webcam that the hill is getting some snowmaking this morning. Good for them as they could use more base.

 

[AMAC2233]

If you liked Ski Ward, you would like Blue Hills a lot I think. I'm a little biased since I spent a lot of my younger years there...Friday/Saturday nights and snow days as a little kid,..but the view of Boston and surrounding area is great and the night skiing is fun too. I always loved the warm vibe of the place. Haven't been since the new management took over, but it looks like they mean business. Just my opinion. The place doesn't get much attention on these boards. Kind of out-of-the-way from CT though, especially with traffic on the Pike and Route 128.

 

[skiadikt]

it's great to see people skiing the local hills.

 

[thetrailboss]

Ski Ward put the Triple in either 2003 or 2004. I skied there in March 2005. Cute place.

 

[loafer89]

If you liked Ski Ward, you would like Blue Hills a lot I think. I'm a little biased since I spent a lot of my younger years there...Friday/Saturday nights and snow days as a little kid,..but the view of Boston and surrounding area is great and the night skiing is fun too. I always loved the warm vibe of the place. Haven't been since the new management took over, but it looks like they mean business. Just my opinion. The place doesn't get much attention on these boards. Kind of out-of-the-way from CT though, especially with traffic on the Pike and Route 128.

Blue Hills is the last public ski area that I have not skied in Massachusetts, so that is next on our to ski list to finish the state. It's a 90 mile drive to Blue Hills and I think we may ski there during Christmas Vacation this year.