Which NE mountains might have the least crowds on the Fri/Sat before Presidents Day?

[Paul]

Re: Change of plans....now it is Feb 24-26th

Ok, change of plans here.

Now we're traveling up from Philly on Thu Feb 23rd to ski 3 days. Staying in the North Conway/Bartlett area near where I stayed last March so I'm pretty familiar with the deal there. Haven't locked in the condo yet but there seems to be decent availability for about $150 a night.

We're flying back from Manchester NH Sunday night at 8pm so (I'm thinkin) we'll probably ski on Sunday at either BW or Cannon and then hop on the highway south.

Which leaves Fri and Sat up for grabs.
I'd love to go back to Wildcat perhaps Friday and wherever is least crowded in that area on Saturday.

Try Black Mtn of New Hampshire, in Jackson. Shouldn't be too crowded.

Oh, and

 

[Breeze]

Re: Change of plans....now it is Feb 24-26th

Ok, change of plans here.

Now we're traveling up from Philly on Thu Feb 23rd to ski 3 days. Staying in the North Conway/Bartlett area near where I stayed last March so I'm pretty familiar with the deal there. Haven't locked in the condo yet but there seems to be decent availability for about $150 a night.

Pat, I don't know what your schools in the Philly area schedule for school vacations, but I HOPE you know that that weekend is the tail end of the GINORMOUS President's Week vacation period when all of Maine, Mass, CT, RI, VT and a good bit of NH are out of school.

I'd say firm up your condo plans ASAP if you like the price and location. You'll have LOTS of company that weekend no matter where you go, but at least nail down the lodging... the price for that week is usually set in stone and availability typically dries up quickly.


Breeze

 

[riverc0il]

patricsaint, here is how i would play it: black mountain will be the least crowded mountain in that area and is a very charming mid-sized mountain that is a lot of fun. i would do black mountain on saturday which will likely be the most crowded day of the weekend. wildcat would be good for friday. BUT keep plans open to switch wildcat to saturday if high winds or bad weather are in the cards for friday. you'll want to plan on wildcat for your best weather day to decrease chances of a wind hold and increase chances of catching the best views in the east. cannon on sunday is a good bet as cannon will not be too crowded (relatively) and is only just over an hour from manch. BW is another half hour on top of that, i can't vouch for the crowd factor at BW but i suspect more than cannon. you could still do the kitty cat or black on sunday and make an 8pm flight, just plan on leavingthe ski area around 2pm insead of staying till close like you could at cannon.

 

[patricsaint]

patricsaint, here is how i would play it: black mountain will be the least crowded mountain in that area and is a very charming mid-sized mountain that is a lot of fun. i would do black mountain on saturday which will likely be the most crowded day of the weekend. wildcat would be good for friday. BUT keep plans open to switch wildcat to saturday if high winds or bad weather are in the cards for friday. you'll want to plan on wildcat for your best weather day to decrease chances of a wind hold and increase chances of catching the best views in the east. cannon on sunday is a good bet as cannon will not be too crowded (relatively) and is only just over an hour from manch. BW is another half hour on top of that, i can't vouch for the crowd factor at BW but i suspect more than cannon. you could still do the kitty cat or black on sunday and make an 8pm flight, just plan on leavingthe ski area around 2pm insead of staying till close like you could at cannon.

Sounds like a good plan. I skied that area but not Black Mtn previously and I do have a soft spot for smaller areas. Was able to catch the Cat on a good weather day last March....my life was nearly complete.
One other complication is gonna be rental skis/boots for one of our party. Would there be a decent place on the way up on Thursday afternoon? Obviously we'd have to take that way back also to return them on Sunday.
This trip is awful complicated.

 

[Paul]

patricsaint, here is how i would play it: black mountain will be the least crowded mountain in that area and is a very charming mid-sized mountain that is a lot of fun. i would do black mountain on saturday which will likely be the most crowded day of the weekend. wildcat would be good for friday. BUT keep plans open to switch wildcat to saturday if high winds or bad weather are in the cards for friday. you'll want to plan on wildcat for your best weather day to decrease chances of a wind hold and increase chances of catching the best views in the east. cannon on sunday is a good bet as cannon will not be too crowded (relatively) and is only just over an hour from manch. BW is another half hour on top of that, i can't vouch for the crowd factor at BW but i suspect more than cannon. you could still do the kitty cat or black on sunday and make an 8pm flight, just plan on leavingthe ski area around 2pm insead of staying till close like you could at cannon.

Sounds like a good plan. I skied that area but not Black Mtn previously and I do have a soft spot for smaller areas. Was able to catch the Cat on a good weather day last March....my life was nearly complete.
One other complication is gonna be rental skis/boots for one of our party. Would there be a decent place on the way up on Thursday afternoon? Obviously we'd have to take that way back also to return them on Sunday.
This trip is awful complicated.

If your first stop is Black Mtn. Stop at Joe Jones in N. Conway for your rentals. Its one of the better places.

 

[kickstand]

One other complication is gonna be rental skis/boots for one of our party. Would there be a decent place on the way up on Thursday afternoon? Obviously we'd have to take that way back also to return them on Sunday.
This trip is awful complicated.

depends on what you are looking for in your rental equipment. If you are looking for something relatively high-end, stop at Joe Jones. Probably your best bet. If you are looking for beginner's equipment, continue on 302, like you are going to Attitash, and hit Heaven's Ski Rental. $10/day gets you boots, skis and poles. Best deal going for people who wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

 

[riverc0il]

given your need to utilize i93 for both the trip up and the trip down, i highly recommend a shop in either lincoln or off either the waterville or tenney exits. no specific shop recommendations here, but that will give you the most flexability in what ski areas you do on each day.

then again, you might want to consider what time the shops need the skis back by. if the shops close up at 4pm, you'll need to more closely match up your sunday ski trip with the shop location. personally, i am all about flexability and maximizing ski time in the preferable condtions for the day. but then again, i am a day tripper so ymmv.

 

[patricsaint]

given your need to utilize i93 for both the trip up and the trip down, i highly recommend a shop in either lincoln or off either the waterville or tenney exits. no specific shop recommendations here, but that will give you the most flexability in what ski areas you do on each day.

then again, you might want to consider what time the shops need the skis back by. if the shops close up at 4pm, you'll need to more closely match up your sunday ski trip with the shop location. personally, i am all about flexability and maximizing ski time in the preferable condtions for the day. but then again, i am a day tripper so ymmv.

Good point and that was exactly my concern. We should be gettting in to Manchester about 1pm on Thu which would give enought time to get the 3 day rental that day. We'd just have to ensure a Sunday return. I'll google some ski shops in Lincoln.