Not Giving Up on Snow!
by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer
The chairlift bullwheels at some of the ski areas have stopped spinning for the season. The smallest ski hills that rely on natural snow shut down a couple weeks ago. A few more ski areas stayed open until the first of April. But don’t fret there are still resorts open and it remains to be seen just how long this snowsport season is going to last.
I went skiing yesterday. I went skiing today and I plan on going tomorrow. As long as I can find snow I am going to keep having fun!
Pats Peak’s last day was the first of April and this isn’t the first time the ski area closed for the season while still having one hundred percent of their trails open. The school programs and race leagues finished up weeks ago and now they will start their busy wedding season.
The skiing and snowboarding is still very good but the crowds have dwindled. I guess the kids big and small are riding bicycles and playing ball now. Only the die-hard snowsports fans continue to hit the slopes come April. And that is too bad because hitting the slopes with suntan lotion on your nose is more fun than having frost bite your nose! If you want to learn to ski it is a fine time to take a lesson.
Ragged Mountain and Crotched Mountain finished up their season on Easter too. Mount Sunapee is looking to finish up on April 8th. SkiNH.com, click on conditions to see an up-to-date rundown of who and what is open.
Nordic trails in the woods are holding up and cross-country ski areas are working to stretch their season.
Charlie and I have been putting Pats Peak’s snow to good use after work. We have plenty of time before it gets dark to skin up the mountain and ski back down. We have enjoyed some nice sunsets from the slopes of Twister.
The previous week I visited for my first time Mt. Eustis in Littleton. The community ski hill has a rope tow and a small warming hut with a nice deck. All run by volunteers. The sun was bright and the snow was soft and bare spots were just beginning to show through.
Everyone there knew this was the last day of the season and a lot of people had come out. The price of a lift ticket was a donation.
There is a grand view that will fill your eyes from their slopes of the Presidential Mountains all surrounded by the many peaks of the White Mountains. After every rope tow ride I stood at the top soaking in the view while I rested my arms. Hanging on to a rope tow as it pulls you up is a workout. My arms tired out long before my legs.
A return visit to Mt. Eustis next season for night skiing is definitely on my list of fun things to do.
We had a super morning at Loon. A friend and I both skipped out of work for the morning. We were in line at the gondola before 9 am when the lifts opened. We were treated to an early opening which afforded us to be able to get in an extra run.
We skied like mad men for three hours straight, skiing all over the mountain. At first the snow was firm like winter conditions due to the previous nice cold night. Then the temperature rose and the snow softened up and we were able to make big hero turns in the groomed snow. On a few trails they let the bumps form on one side of the trail and they became soft and fun to ski.
At noon we dashed back to our cars and headed to work. A half a day of work is better than none—I mean a half a day of skiing is better than none. Well, even hiking for one run is fun.
Think Snow!
Amy Patenaude is an avid skier/outdoor enthusiast from Henniker, N.H. Readers are welcome to send comments or suggestions to her at: amy@weirs.com.
