Vacation in N -Conway

[golfngord]

I will be in North Conway from March 13 -19 and I am looking for some boarding suggestions/lift deals.
If anyone cares to offer their opinions it will be appreciated.
I expect to go to Wildcat on Tues but my 14 y/o is scared of the hill.Does it offer enough blue skiing to keep a person interested,(she thinks she will ski onto the road or into the lake).

mmmmmmmm-:beer:

 

[thetrailboss]

Personally, I have not had great experiences at Attitash. Black Mountain is a gnarly local place with lots of blues, great old fashioned terrain, friendly folks, and good prices. Hit that. I'd also suggest Cranmore (right in town) for another day...nice place...much improved since my last visit. Some nice intermediate terrain. Shawnee Peak might also be another place to try for blue terrain. 8)

Wildcat does have some easier terrain, so be sure to hit that.

If you need more, make the drive to the 'River for some great intermediate cruising terrain...a little more than an hour from Conway.

You're in a great place for skiing and riding! Enjoy! :wink:

 

[Paul]

You could also hit the other side of Mt. Washington and go to Bretton Woods. They have probably the best groomed trails in the area, lots of good Blue and Green runs. The only problem is they can be a little pricey ,but, you get what you pay for...

Where are you staying in N. Conway?

 

[Vortex]

Cranmore is nice there will be very few crowds except on Sat same as everwhere else. The kid tickets are 29 teens and adults 39 I believe. Probably good for 1 day only. Kind of small. I was there last week had a great time. I go for a few days every year. It is set up for kids and learning to ski IMO. www.cranmore.com The park has some nice areas for beginner and int also. Tubing is availible also. Highly recomended fun place.
Edit just saw TB post... Mid week Black has a 69 dollar 2 adults 2 kids ski deal also. Black gets alot of sun in the spring try www.skinh.com

 

[Talisman]

Is your daughter confusing Wildcat with Cannon? I wonder this because Wildcat has no lake at the bottom of the hill.

I would recommend Wildcat for intermediates, just remember to get there early as the upper trails can get firm with skier traffic. The some of the lower trails at Wildcat accesible from the triples don't see much skier traffic and hold their grooming longer. Attitash has cruisers but can get skied off quickly. As others have mentioned Bretton Woods isn't a long drive and has lots of low intermediate and beginner terrain that may be an ego boost.

I have never skied Black or Cranmore. If I was making the choice of driving to Shawnee or Sunday River, i would pick Sunday River every time unless it was for night skiing.

 

[dl]

Attitash

I'm a regular at Attitash so I'm a bit biased but I can say that we have friends up every weekend and they are constantly saying how friendly everybody was, how good this skiing was, etc.

Attitash seems to have done as well or better than many NH mountains this winter with regards to snow. The past 4 weekends have been sweet.

In regards to the other areas, the views from Wildcat (on a clear day) can't be beat and there is definitely some easier terrain though it's limited compared to Attitash, Cranmore, Black and Bretton Woods.

You can save a few dollars if you stick to one mountain but you might have a better trip if you try several. Keep in mind you can buy multi-day tix that work at both Attitash and Sunday River.

 

[awf170]

for a upper begginer/ lower intermidiate wildcat is the best just because of polecat. It is by far the best green in NE, IMO

 

[riverc0il]

i strongly recommend black mountain in jackson, NH right up 16 from north conway for what you are looking at. black mountain offers really cheap skiing with a family feel, the trails are classic new england with lots of character, you'll have the hill to yourself mid-week, and the views are fantastic. especially if you're 14 y/o is scared of steeper stuff, black is a good alternative to wildcat.

though wildcat isn't too steep, it really doesn't offer a lot for a developing skier besides a 2000+ vertical drop green circle that in places skis above a beginner level and the polecat area *yawn* black mountain has enough variety to be fun and exciting to most people and you can't beat the prize.

now that i'm done beating my black mountain drum, i second what talisman mentioned in that you're 14 y/o sounds like she has wildcat confused for cannon. cannon has the lake, there is no lake at wildcat. also, cannon has a tougher reputation as a tougher mountain, though tuckerbrook area really took a lot of bite out of cannon for beginners.

my final suggestion if you do go to wildcat, go on wednesday, not tuesday. wednesday is their two-fer day which will save you big bucks. try black tuesday and wildcat wednesday maybe?

 

[golfngord]

Yup,I confussed Wildcat with Cannon.I am hoping that Cannon is OK for an intermediate boarder and she can overcome her fear of swimming in the Cannon pond mid March.
I do enjoy all your opinions.
As for now my tenative plan is
Black-Monday
Cannon-Tues
Bretton-Weds
Waterville-Thurs
unknown for Friday.
I would like to get to Sunday River but the cost with a 30 percent exchange makes it quite costly for 3
Keep your info comming.
I am staying at CrownRidge in N-Conway.

 

[riverc0il]

tuesday at cannon is twofer day, so is thursday. if she's affraid of the pond, just don't take her lakeside. tuckerbrook is a great area plus the eaglebrook triple for mellower trails. you can access the summit via the two quads for cruising. thursday is also a two-fer if you have to change plans.

cannon and waterville (especially waterville!!) are both a haul if you're staying in north conway. perhaps stay in north woodstock for cannon and waterville for two days then move over to north conway for the other two? that's a butt load of driving considering you're lodging in the mountains. bretton is also closer to north woodstock than north conway i think. bretton and cannon may have some combo deals, can't remember for certain, i know they have a combined pass.

 

[Vortex]

If you choose the Waterville and Loon area send me a Pm. I am there every weekend. Parkers motel is a nice place to stay if you are considering Cannon and Loon. Beacon resort is nice if you want all the amenities. I checked Greg's lodging lincs, I have not been there, but Indian Head resort is always spoken of highly also.
The ride across the Kanc is nice, but if in NorthConway ski over there. I stayed at the Green Granite Hotel last week, right next to shopping ie food and Berverage a movie theater alot of rest close. Nice Pool Decent Hot tub. The Suites have a sink fridge and Microwave and Hot tub in Bathroom. Also nice wide open common area availble with TV and card table areas and small library.
Cannon has the best deals on my side of the Kanc. I think Black and Cranmore are a good value as previously stated on the other side. I can get to Bretton woods from Campton in 45 min probably about 1/2 hrish from Woodstock. Less time than North Conway.

 

[thetrailboss]

I would like to get to Sunday River but the cost with a 30 percent exchange makes it quite costly for 3
Keep your info comming.
I am staying at CrownRidge in N-Conway.

I met a lot of Canadians at Sunday River...would ask if they take money at par like Burke and Jay do :wink: