It’s Snowtime!

by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer

We aren’t buried like we were last year at this time but we have received some natural snow. Add to that the many cold nights that have been perfect for blowing man-made snow. Now lots of trails are covered and ski areas are open all over New England.
Killington was first to open, next was Sunday River and then Bretton Woods. Followed closely by Loon Mountain, Wildcat and Cranmore. Cranmore celebrated its earliest opening on record! By Thanksgiving more New Hampshire resorts will begin spinning their lifts.
There are many choices for season passes this season. New Hampshire resorts have early bird pricing that is going to expire soon but you can still find deals but don’t wait too long. New this year is the Indy Pass for $199, two lift tickets to 34 independently owned resorts dotted all over the United States. Indy Pass ski areas in New England: Pats Peak in NH, Berkshire East & Catamount in MA and in VT in are Bolton, Magic & Suicide Six.
Other big news: Peak Resorts is now Epic, yes that means Wildcat, Attitash and Crotched have joined the Vail family. Also Alterra (IKON pass) has bought Sugarbush, VT.

The White Mountain Superpass, the price goes up on December 1st, includes Cannon Mountain, Waterville Valley, Bretton Woods and Cranmore. Cannon Mountain and Bretton Woods continue to offer their joint mid-week Bold & Beautiful Pass.
There are also special deals available for the Military and for college students at many resorts.
If a season pass doesn’t seem to fit there are plenty of 2-fer-1 deals and New Hampshire day discounts at a good handful of resorts in Vermont. Of course never buy a ticket at the window because it is a lot less expensive to purchase your ticket on-line early on at your favorite resort’s website.
I have hit the slopes a few days this month. I made it to Sunday River in Newry Maine for the day after their opening day for top to bottom skiing on Barker Mountain. Jeremy and I were waiting in the lift line ten minutes before the lift opened and we were sitting on the chairlift in no time for our first run of the season. Each lap on the mountain the lift line grew longer. It was a nice cold sunny morning and people were ready to ski. We heard that the lift line the previous day was over 40 minutes. We never waited more than maybe 15 minutes. We skied the first two hours straight and had enough when it appeared the lift line was going to be half an hour wait. People were still arriving at 10 am. The snow conditions were fabulous and well worth the trip.

Bretton Woods was the first to open in New Hampshire and they held their annual “Say Goodnight To Hunger” food drive. They opened at noon on a Wednesday and for the donation of a non-perishable food item they gifted a lift ticket to you. We were glad we heeded their warning to wear goggles and dress for skiing under active snow-guns. Yes, it was like skiing in a blizzard on the Range View Trail and there was no view. In fact the snow guns were blasting snow so hard it was difficult to see at times. Just the same we were delighted to be skiing and on the cold new soft powder it was easy to make turns.

We watched the Bretton’s Woods’ new 8-person gondola spin and carry workers to the top to continue the construction of the new summit lodge. We learned that it was going to be open the next day.
I went back the next morning. By the time I got to the lift at the gondola I wasn’t first in line. This was the grand opening for skiers and riders and there were others that wanted to be the first to ride the new lift. The Zephyr Quad opened maybe even a few minutes before 9 am but the gondola wasn’t quite ready, it ended up being about 15 minutes late. To my surprise the people in front of us decided not to wait and they went to the Zephyr Quad leaving Cort and I at the front of the line.We were the first skiers to enter a gondola cabin and ride to the summit. The next gondola was filled with just as excited snowboarders.

The new gondola cars are a thing of beauty–lovely glass cabins with green metal trim and inside are front and back bench seats for four people across with plenty of room. This lift is quick five minute ride that is warm and comfortable and will be a real extra treat on cold days.
The snow-guns were turned off on the open trails and snowmaking continued on other trails. It was nice to see the mountain view along with seeing where I was going. The snow conditions of packed powder were super fun. I skied the morning and that was plenty for legs.
I am looking forward to more snowfall.
Have fun.