Resolve To Make It A Fun Winter!

PHOTO: My ski pal Doreen and I have resolved to ski more together in 2024! We both have no excuse to ski at least one morning a week. We have gone together once already and we skied under the snow guns at Pats Peak. For snow conditions visit SkiNH.com

by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer

I am convinced that winter is too short. I know that my parents and some of my friends would disagree with me about the length of winter but they know there are many fun things to do when the weather is cold and snowy.
The New Year is here and even with the slow start to snowy winter (Come on Snowmiser let loose a big storm already) there still are a lot of resorts open for skiing and snowboarding.
Have you made your New Year’s Resolution yet? It isn’t too late! Why not make your resolution to make your winter more fun. Choose to do something more that you love or choose to try something new.

Just Do It More
Ski or snowboard–Buy a season pass, join an adult race league team and or plan a weekend of skiing and riding at a “new to you” resort. Ski New Hampshire has 32 alpine and Nordic members resorts. Have you been to all of them yet? SkiNH.com.

Do It Better
If you ski or snowboard, do it better–get coached, take a lesson. The world’s best giant slalom racers and cross-country ski sprinters work hard to improve their technique by spending hours working with their coaches and practicing. You can be coached too. Snowsport professionals at your local resort offer lessons and programs for everyone from novices to experts.
Gunstock’s Ladies Love Winter is a two day program offered in January and March for women to learn new techniques and confidence. Pats Peak offers Adult Clinics on Fridays and the program includes five Fridays good throughout the season. Jackson XC offers private beginner and advanced lessons that include rental equipment and a trial pass.

Share The Fun
Take someone to the slopes. I am sure you have a good friend or a family member who has never been to a ski area or a Nordic center. Give them a hand, make sure they’re dressed properly in warm layers. Loan them your old goggles and a pair of good wool socks and sign them up for a “learn to” program. Go with them, show them what a friendly place a ski area can be if you give it a chance. And after the outing you can introduce them to the Apres Ski Fun.

Snowtubing
When was the last time you went sliding down a snow covered slope? Snowtubing is fun and takes no special skills. If you can sit on a chair you can snowtube. Pats Peak, King Pine, Cranmore, Bretton Woods, Gunstock, Loon. Some resorts offer night sessions.

Winter Fat Tire Biking
Fat tire bicycles look like mountain bikes with big fat low pressure tires that can travel over snow and mixed conditions. Their special tires provide great traction. Bretton Woods and Waterville Valley’s Adventure Center rent fat tire bikes and have lots of trails designated for fat bike use.

Snowbikes
If you don’t want to pedal but want the thrill of going downhill on a bicycle, ski-bikes are for you. The ski lift will carry you up to the top of the mountain and you can share the slopes with skiers and snowboarders. Loon rents Sno-Go ski-bikes. Pats Peak rents Snowbikes. Advanced reservations are required. It does feel like riding a bicycle.

Snowshoeing
Check out your local ski resort or Nordic center. I know that many of the resorts rent snowshoes right next to their skis and snowboards and have snowshoe-only trails in the woods next to their slopes. Nordic Centers rent snowshoes and have snowshoe-only trails. Yes, they give snowshoe lessons too if you want someone to show you the ropes.

Ride A Lift To The Summit
Do you want to know how it feels to stand on top of a mountain in winter without having to climb the mountain or slide back down? Even if you don’t want to try snowsports you can ride a resort’s lift to the summit. Cannon Mountain’s Aerial Tramway welcomes all to buy a round trip ticket to the top of Cannon Mountain. The Tram Summit Lodge is heated and is home to the Cafe 4080’ (Cannon Mountain’s summit elevation is 4080’) and the bar boasts the highest beer-taps in New Hampshire. Bretton Woods’ gondola will whisk you to the top and access to their Rosebook Brook Lodge. The Rosebrook Lodge opened for its first season ‘21, it is the nicest summit lodge in the Northeast and it has all the amenities–restaurant/bar and cafe.
Loon Mountain offers round trips in its gondola too. All three of these mountaintops have grand mountain vistas and will have you coming back for more.

Funspot!
On your way home from the mountains don’t forget to swing by Funspot at the Weirs. The world’s largest arcade has video games, old and new, bowling and their DA. Long Tavern which serves up great chicken tenders and pizza along with your favorite craft brews. I love meeting up with friends there for Apres ski.
Happy New Year and have fun.