Looking to take my oldest son skiing this Saturday leaving from Nashua. Last year we conquered Pat's Peak and he was very comfortable with all the trails so looking for something with more variety. Bretton Woods seems so far away for a day trip so maybe Sunapee or Waterville?
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Where to get the most intermediate trails?
- Thread starter NHDad
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WakeboardMom
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Bretton Woods isn't really too bad for a day trip...around 2.5 hours or so. I think you'd enjoy it. There aren't a lot of steeps, but there's a fairly good variety of terrain. Ragged would be another good option. Gunstock is an easy drive as well and I bet your son would have fun there.
(I've never been a big fan of Waterville, but I'm sure others here can tell you why you'd like it.)
Of those choices, I'd say Sunapee. Most of Sunapee is not that steep and the views are enjoyable. Plus Sunapee has great grooming and snowmaking.
hammer
Active member
Sunapee, Ragged, or Gunstock would be good options. Bretton Woods is nice 2.5 hours one way is a bit too long for a day trip, and Waterville is a bit steep for anyone below upper intermediate IMO. I also liked Loon the one time I went but the crowds...
RISkier
Active member
My view on Sunapee is that it would be great terrain wise but the last few times I've been there on a weekend it's really been a mad house. BW would also be very good terrain wise. There's mellow terrain off every lift and the only place I've ever seen crowds get really annoying is on the Bethlehem Quad and the main trails it serves. Some of the blues off the Zepher (e.g., Coos Caper and the trails in that vicinity) are nice, winding, pretty trails that seem to be under utilized. I'd say Mt. Snow would also have great terrain for you but Saturday crowds can get pretty heavy there as well.
awf170
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Bretton Woods is only 2 hours from Nashua. Not a bad day trip at all, IMO. So I would suggest that.
RISkier
Active member
I've not been to Sunapee since year before last. Last time we were there it was a nice Sunday. Good weekend skiing day but not a holiday. That day the lodges were packed, the lift lines on the main lifts were long, and the slopes were busy. The Ridge trail which is the easiest blue from the summit gets especially busy. We skied mostly off the North Peak triple and tended to stay on the blacks to avoid crowds. Haven't returned since. I think it would be great for you on a weekeday. At Mt. Snow the main lifts get busy but you can get away from the crowds easier. It's often good strategy to avoid the "easiest" trails from any lift. E.g. the greens from the summit of Mt. Snow can be really busy, but all of the blues on the front face are really quite mellow and you can get away. We started skiing about 8 years ago and loved BW. Greens and gentle blues from every lift. Not many flat spots. Just mellow skiing that's really nice for novices and early intermediates. Very nice views as well. Except for the main base area I've never seen it really crowded. Sundays are usually less crowded than Saturdays.
billski
Active member
Sunapee has an overwhelming teenage contingent. Not judging. If you need space, BW is better. Been too long since I've been at Gunstock.
Having done the BW drive one week ago, it's much easier and faster than most people thing. For some odd reason people think they have to go up through North Conway to get to it. Well, maybe the Manie-iacks
Having done the BW drive one week ago, it's much easier and faster than most people thing. For some odd reason people think they have to go up through North Conway to get to it. Well, maybe the Manie-iacks
Ragged has good intermediate terrain, though not as much of it as the other mountains. The Pros would be less crowds, easy commute, probably cheaper lift tickets.
I'm a pass holder there and really don't have any complaints as far as a great place to go on the weekends when other places seem to get more mobbed. I certainly would love if they had a bit more challenge available consistently....read moguls, but overall I really like it there.
I'm a pass holder there and really don't have any complaints as far as a great place to go on the weekends when other places seem to get more mobbed. I certainly would love if they had a bit more challenge available consistently....read moguls, but overall I really like it there.
billski
Active member
Tip: Once you get your short list, pull up a trail map for each area. The trail configurations can make or break your day, depending on what you are looking for. Sometimes you find yourself on the same one or two trails all day. Other times you find yourself doing a really long runout. Other trails may empty into busier areas, or beginner areas that you'd rather avoid.
I'm at a point where I view ski areas a little like tools: pick the right tool for the job. Every area has it's strengths and weaknesses. Be clear on what you'd like to do. You can have a helluva lot of fun on a small hill if you're advanced, or a big hill if you're a beginner by making sure you pick a mountain with a layout you can take advantage of.
I find that generally skiing on blues to be a mixed bag. When they're good, they are very very good, but degrade quickly on a busy day. They usually are the most heavily traveled and tend to get scratchy first. Solving this problem requires getting there early, or going to any area with a ton of usable blues, or going to an out of the way mountain.
You didn't ask, but some days, blacks are easier to ski than scraped off high traffic blues.
Now, mix this in with weather and snow/base condition, stir, pray to Ullr and you have an answer.
I'm at a point where I view ski areas a little like tools: pick the right tool for the job. Every area has it's strengths and weaknesses. Be clear on what you'd like to do. You can have a helluva lot of fun on a small hill if you're advanced, or a big hill if you're a beginner by making sure you pick a mountain with a layout you can take advantage of.
I find that generally skiing on blues to be a mixed bag. When they're good, they are very very good, but degrade quickly on a busy day. They usually are the most heavily traveled and tend to get scratchy first. Solving this problem requires getting there early, or going to any area with a ton of usable blues, or going to an out of the way mountain.
You didn't ask, but some days, blacks are easier to ski than scraped off high traffic blues.
Now, mix this in with weather and snow/base condition, stir, pray to Ullr and you have an answer.
playoutside
New member
Sunapee -- a good variety of blues, can be quite crowded on weekend (esp Saturdays), the lodge will always feel more crowded than the trails; the quad can have long lines, but rarely at other lifts. An advantage for a newer skier is the area that is just for beginners (mostly green, but a nice warmup for a noob), separate and no fear of crazies zooming by. Also, Sunapee has a Sunday afternoon ticket for NH residents. Sunday afternoon tends to be the least crazy part of the weekend. Sunapee does a great job with grooming, so it makes for very predictable snow conditions.
Ragged -- fewer trails, but some real nice cruising intermediates. Less congestion on the trails, so less risk of someone zooming past a newer skier and spooking them.
Mt Snow/Okemo -- both have some great intermediate runs, but I wouldn't torture a newer skier with the weekend crowd at either. Both do a really nice job with grooming. I'd strongly recommend blue runs at these during the week.
Cranmore -- haven't skied this as much, but it has nice blues and in my experience has less crowds on the weekend
Ragged -- fewer trails, but some real nice cruising intermediates. Less congestion on the trails, so less risk of someone zooming past a newer skier and spooking them.
Mt Snow/Okemo -- both have some great intermediate runs, but I wouldn't torture a newer skier with the weekend crowd at either. Both do a really nice job with grooming. I'd strongly recommend blue runs at these during the week.
Cranmore -- haven't skied this as much, but it has nice blues and in my experience has less crowds on the weekend
billski
Active member
+1 I was there just before Christmas. A great confidence building area for the developing intermediate recently graduated from greens. Honestly, it was designed for learning how to ski.
jrmagic
New member
I agree with that assessment. Of the 2 I think Mt. Snow has the better intermediate runs with Okemo winning out a little on the grooming though I havent been to either one in 2 years. Mid-week you can defintiely pile up some vertical if that is what you want to do. Bromley is also a decent choice for what you want to do. It does get crowded on the weekend but not nearly as much as the other 2.
NH Dad,
Glad you had fun at Ragged, remember Gunstock is a short drive from Nashua, plus we have night skiing so you dont have to rush out in the morning. During vacation week we have tons of activities as well, including fireworks during the week. We also have some great deals as well. http://www.gunstock.com/tickets_passes/ticket_deals/
Glad you had fun at Ragged, remember Gunstock is a short drive from Nashua, plus we have night skiing so you dont have to rush out in the morning. During vacation week we have tons of activities as well, including fireworks during the week. We also have some great deals as well. http://www.gunstock.com/tickets_passes/ticket_deals/
WakeboardMom
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At some point, someone in this thread said they thought 2.5 hours to BW was too long for a day trip. I disagree. Especially if you're offering Cranmore as a day trip...based on his criteria, I think he'd be better off at BW.
^^ I think Gunstock is a great option for a day trip outta Nashua. ^^
Can't wait to hear his report about Ragged. I bet they had a great time.
I put a write up in the trip reports board. We had a good day but I was disappointed that Easy Winder, the long 'flat' trail I thought my son would enjoy as we returned to skiing from a year lay off, was only accessible via a black diamond. And the trails are marked terribly. If you don't have the trail map memorized you hit a fork in the road with two signs, a blue and green. No arrow saying which trail is which. Other than that I'll be going back. No lines, friendly staff and some fun slopes.
I think Bretton Woods is our next trip. Once I save up the $$. LOL
I think Bretton Woods is our next trip. Once I save up the $$. LOL
was a portion of blueberry patch closed? That's a green run from the 6 pack that runs right into Easy Winder
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