Waterville....

[ckofer]

I find it interesting how seldom the place is mentioned here. There are smaller places that get more attention. I can hardly remember the last time I went there either. Just sayin'.....

 

[thetrailboss]

I've never been to WV.

 

[MichaelJ]

I like it there. It's a small mountain but manages to pack in a good punch. It's not a great place for beginners, as there's a pretty big jump from the learning area to the trails which are primarily blues, but by the same token it's great for intermediates, I think. It's not a place for trees, though, and the upper mountain can get windblasted since it's so wide open. I also like that the trails have a lot of variety, and aren't just big cruisers. I'm looking forward to returning sometime to hit up the expert terrain (I haven't been in a while).

Heck, I went there once during a Thursday blizzard and had a blast, especially up on that upper mountain where it was just piles of ungroomed bliss. And how can you go wrong with a Schwendi Hutte!

 

[AMAC2233]

Funny, I just skiied there today. The place was downright EMPTY.

But, I will say this. Although I have a Threedom Pass, I seldom ski there. I usually ski at Loon because it's easier to get to, it has better "flow," the runs (seem) longer, and the terrain is more challenging. Waterville doesn't have all that much character in my opinion. I mean, realistically, they should have about 35 trails. For example, the "Northside" area (skier's left) could be a nice cruising area. However, Waterville has to go in and cut about 10 trails from what should be 5.

Just my personal feelings about the place.

 

[orsonab]

It does seem to get bypassed - too small to be a "destination" area, too far to be a quick daytrip with the kids? I do notice that a lift ticket is only $1 this April Fool's Day....

 

[hiroto]

I find it interesting how seldom the place is mentioned here. There are smaller places that get more attention. I can hardly remember the last time I went there either. Just sayin'.....

I was thinking of the same. Before I had family, my primary day trips were either WV or Cannon. It was back when the HSQ went all the way to the top of the mountain and frequently on wind hold. Currently it is not of my favorite since they don't have much choice for beginner - easy intermediate trails good for my daughter.

 

[hrstrat57]

I like it there. It's a small mountain but manages to pack in a good punch. It's not a great place for beginners, as there's a pretty big jump from the learning area to the trails which are primarily blues, but by the same token it's great for intermediates, I think. It's not a place for trees, though, and the upper mountain can get windblasted since it's so wide open. I also like that the trails have a lot of variety, and aren't just big cruisers. I'm looking forward to returning sometime to hit up the expert terrain (I haven't been in a while).

Heck, I went there once during a Thursday blizzard and had a blast, especially up on that upper mountain where it was just piles of ungroomed bliss. And how can you go wrong with a Schwendi Hutte!

Spot on.

Used to spend a lot of time there in my "free" skiing as a ski instructor days....haven't been in years. I do remember it sick crowded at times.

Blacks from mid mtn near the hut skiers right I recall as my favorites...Gemma I believe the name of the trail I recall being my fav.

Put that on the gotta get back there soon list:beer:

Place skis good.

 

[deadheadskier]

The common complaint I hear about Waterville is that it gets skied off very quickly. I haven't skied there in over twenty years, but I remember going one spring day as a kid and LOVING the bumps on True Grit and Lower Bobby's.

I was planning on actually going this year. I had a twofer from going to the Warren Miller film. Oddly it 'expired' on February 8th, which I found strange. I never made it in time. After reading here that they were empty today, I bet they wish they kept that voucher usable until the end of the season. Half revenue on a ticket is better than no revenue this time of year when the place is empty.

....maybe next year.

 

[davidhowland14]

I'll be there on Friday. Hopefully Lower Bobby's won't firm up too much. I'll bring back a TR with pics.

 

[Rushski]

When I was a young and just started driving, I skied there a lot. True Grit and Bobby's Run are decent trails, though the mountain in general has no real smooth flow to it - like someone else said...

 

[hammer]

Currently it is not of my favorite since they don't have much choice for beginner - easy intermediate trails good for my daughter.

That's the main problem that I've had...kind of tough to justify taking the whole family there when only two of us can ski trails off of the main HSQ.

 

[Vortex]

I use to go there around 10 times a year when I had a threedom, just to change it up. I liked to ski the North chair. Usually very few people over there.


In the spring this is really a nice place.(Sunrise Chair) Decent pitch on some of the upper mountain and alot of fun as it corns up. Best part of this area is the base village. This place has family written all over it.

We use to drive into town and watch the fire works or take a sleigh ride. The candy store is a don't miss for the kids.

Nice thinig is its one base area. Nice destination area for families. Easy access to the Boston market. The kids will love the parks, plus they have a parks lift. Well run mountain. Can't change the fact that its not enough for me to be an every weekend local. Day trip and vacationers I think would really enjoy trips here. Alot to do for non skiers. All on a shutte system. Hard core propbably would not satisfied after 1/2 to full day.

 

[ckofer]

It seems that Mondays & Fridays are two for one anyhow.

I was planning on actually going this year. I had a twofer from going to the Warren Miller film. Oddly it 'expired' on February 8th, which I found strange. I never made it in time. After reading here that they were empty today, I bet they wish they kept that voucher usable until the end of the season. Half revenue on a ticket is better than no revenue this time of year when the place is empty.

....maybe next year.

 

[riverc0il]

Don't let the lack of attention on AZ fool you, Waterville is a very well traveled mountain being a straight shot up I-93 from Metro Boston and just under two hours from the city. When heading north, lots of cars take that exit off I-93. Tons of condos in that area between the Waterville Estates and the Waterville Resort not too mention cheaper hotel options nearby. For a mountain that claims 2000 vertical feet, it does not ski that big and my experiences from years ago is that the place gets pretty crowded. Haven't skied there in a long time though.

I disagree with the assessment that Waterville does not have good Beginner terrain. They have a High Speed Quad that services strictly beginner terrain which is fairly uncommon and makes for a good beginner area. Views of the Sandwich Range, Tripyramids and Oceola range are pretty good.

Waterville used to be a really good deal when they offered the $39 any day lift ticket (just six years ago, if I recall?). Now they are up to upper $61. Personally, I would rather be skiing Cannon or Wildcat for that kind of money as that is not a good value. Especially considering how often High Country is off line and even when it is online, that lift is deathly slow and the terrain from that lift is rather limited and is the only way they are able to claim their 2k vertical. Just not my kind of mountain.

Bob R provides a stellar summary much less biased than my own

 

[Vortex]

I discussed coming full time to Waterville this year with Loons price increase. I wanted my kids in a seaosnl program and talked to stomoachdoc on this he is probably the best source for this area. I like the region better in the summer than the Winter. With Loon joining the Boyne family I hit the jack pot. Anyone that want a family local and ease of trek for distance and comfort of a community. This is the place. It does not need us to be successful.

 

[stomachdoc]

Thanks for the plug, BobR!

I've owned a condo at Waterville for 4 years and it's been my home base for 6 years. "Different strokes for different folks;" we have 3 kids (age 12, 7 and 7) all of whom have been through the superb seasonal ski program at WV. That program echoes what we like best about WV, a really nice community of people who enjoy not only the mountain, but the great town and the fact that it is a bit off the beaten path with no traffic lights, fast food, etc. Our kids travel between the mountain and our condo on the shuttle system by themselves and we know they are completely safe. My wife and I are avid nordic skiers as well (well, as avid as you can be when you are in your 40s and have a bit of a gut) and WV has a SUPERB nordic system. Summers are great, with a phenomenal tennis center, 9 hole golf course, hiking, lift-served mountain biking, etc.

The mountain is not without its limitations; they are permitted to put in several more lower-intermediate trails on the peak to skiers right from valley run (green peak), but it's unlikely that will happen as there is no developable real estate on the mountain (as opposed to Loon). The jump from the very nice, protected beginner areas (Lower Meadows and Pasture/J-bar) to Valley Run to the Northside is considerable and is tough for some. The mountain has been run very nicely over the past few years by Tom Day and they have cut some nice glades (and finally have been able to use them this year) but all of us would love some new terrain. Like any mountain, you learn to beat the crowds when they are there.

All of us who frequent A-Z know that one size doesn't fit all......WV has had a great season with very strong skier volume. If you haven't been recently, check it out. I'll be at the Schwendii Hutte having fondue, homemade soup and a fresh cookie!!!!

 

[hammer]

I disagree with the assessment that Waterville does not have good Beginner terrain. They have a High Speed Quad that services strictly beginner terrain which is fairly uncommon and makes for a good beginner area. Views of the Sandwich Range, Tripyramids and Oceola range are pretty good.

Maybe you haven't had to be restricted to beginner trails for a while...:wink:

The area served by the Quadzilla HSQ (1 - 2 trails) gets old fast...in addition, many "average skier" families end up crowding on that trail and a wide, relatively mellow trail becomes a little trickier to handle (human slalom gates).

I'm looking forward to returning to WV once the whole family can appreciate more of the mountain...in the meantime, there are plenty of other ski areas that better suit us.

 

[MichaelJ]

I'll be there on Friday. Hopefully Lower Bobby's won't firm up too much. I'll bring back a TR with pics.

Forecast has 6-12" falling on Friday ... I hope it's heaven for you!

 

[ctenidae]

My wife and I skied there once. We know we did, but we can't remember anything about it.

 

[Angus]

WV was a place I skied 30 years ago and I just remember lines. I hadn't been back until last year at the end of march before we got the big snows. My son and I ultimately ended up skiing Bobby's Run and True Grit the entire day. It was the only thing that was very interesting and skiable - it softened up in the sunshine while the rest of the mountain was icy, hardpack. The nordic ctr is suppose to be excellent.