Bretton Woods -Ski Season Is Here!

PHOTO: A Snowboarder having a fine first day on the slopes at Bretton Woods. The ski season in New Hampshire opened last week at Bretton Woods! It looked and felt like winter. Bretton Woods is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Bretton Woods Homecoming Weekend is November 24-26th–events include the Annual Brewfest and the new Warren Miller film hosted by Dan Egan. Learn more at BrettonWoods.com. Congratulations to Bretton Woods–Ski Magazine readers have once again chosen Bretton Woods for the Best Snow and Best Grooming in the East.

by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer

Tuesday, November 14th was opening day at Bretton Woods. This day officially kicked off the resort’s 50th anniversary season. Bretton Woods was the first resort to open for the season in New Hampshire, a feat they have accomplished many times. Thank you hardworking Snowmakers!
An email the night before announced their opening day. I wasn’t able to make the first bell at Bretton Woods because I had a dentist appointment. I got there as soon as I could, driving straight from the dentist to Bretton Woods.
I heard there was a good crowd competing for the first chairlift ride but many had already left for the day by the time I got there at Noon. I added my canned goods to the big pile of food donations when I picked up my pass. Omni Resorts’ annual “Say Goodnight to Hunger,” food drive supports local food pantries and ticket buyers were rewarded with a discount for their contribution.
My friend Barb met me and we skied a few runs together. The Zephyr high-speed quad was the only lift running and the trail beneath it, Range View, was covered wide with snow from the lift to the far edge to the snow guns. The top half of the mountain was in a cloud and the visibility wasn’t good. But the snow was great. I loved the feeling of my skis making turns on the snow while gravity sped me down the slope.
The temperature was just below freezing and we were bundled up to stay warm. It felt like winter. Barb and I giggled on the chairlift when she said her nose was cold.

I made 15 runs and tired myself out in three hours. My friend Barb lasted about an hour. This was a good start but it will take a few more outings to get my ski legs strong. There were lots of smiles on everyone’s faces enjoying opening day. Visit BrettonWood.com for current snow conditions and upcoming events.

New England Firsts:
A small ski area in Massachusetts, Ski Ward, opened in mid October with one slope serviced by their magic carpet claiming honors as the first to open in North America. I don’t think anyone saw that coming but fun for them for pulling it off and with $5 lift tickets.
Vermont’s Killington opened at the beginning of November. They first opened the top of their mountain for skiers and snowboarders with a ride up the gondola and a walk down to the top of the Upper Great Northern. A gondola ride was required to get back to the base. Killington is making all the snow they can to cover the Superstar Trail where they’ll be hosting the Women’s World Cup Skiing on the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Maine’s Sunday River opened the same day as Bretton Woods.
More resorts will open by Thanksgiving and as cold nights continue my fingers are crossed that Mother Nature will show some support for early December snow for all New England resorts big and small.

More Good Stuff:
Bretton Woods celebrates its 50th, Crotched Mountain its 60th and Mount Sunapee celebrates its 75th Anniversary this season. White Mountain Nordic, WMNordic.com, is celebrating its 40th anniversary too.
Loon is opening a new lift and new trails on South Peak with loading at the Escape Route ParkingmLot. The Timbertown Quad-chairlift has a loading carpet that will serve a mix of new blue square and green circle gentler slopes in addition to providing access to the Pemi Base Camp/Lincoln Express Quad.
Cranmore Mountain Resort is opening their new big base lodge this season.
Attitash has replaced the Summit Triple with a new high-speed Quad lift that will reduce the ride time by more than half to just six minutes and it will increase carrying capacity.

After a brief scare, Black Mountain in Jackson plans to open this season and has a new General Manager, Gareth Slattery. His experience as a patroller and risk manager includes 17 years at Cannon and The Yellowstone Club.
New Hampshire’s resorts have made major capital improvements. Projects range from snowmaking to base lodge improvements and new grooming equipment. There is a lot to look forward to experiencing this winter.
Have Fun.