More and better trails enhance New Hampshire ski areas in 2008-2009

Loon Mountain -- Lincoln
Loon will open two new trails on South Peak, adding 14 acres of terrain. Skiers and riders will see spectacular views of Franconia Notch and the town of Lincoln as they approach the steeps of Loon's first double black diamond, Rip Saw. From Boom Run, Ripsaw starts steep and ends with classic twists and turns before connecting with Cruiser. Escape Route, an intermediate trail, provides access from Cruiser to the South Peak parking area.

Loon is making it easier for first timers to get up the hill with the installation of a new carpet lift to replace the lower of two handle tows on Sarsaparilla. Once new skiers and riders master the carpet, they can graduate to the handle tow, located on the upper Sarsaparilla trail. Snowboarders and free skiers will find about ten new rails to complement the 65 existing rails, jibs, and jumps. The new rails will benefit all ability levels and be placed in Loon's six terrain parks, including the new Brookway Extension Park and the Loon Mountain Park.

Loon's White Mountain Adaptive Snowsports School, which provides lessons for people with disabilities, is getting a spacious 4,800-square-foot new home. Twenty new fan guns, 50 new tower guns, and two new groomers will add firepower to snowmaking system and grooming efforts. Wrapping up the improvements for 2008-2009 is a new boot and ski system from Head for the resort's fleet of rental equipment. This new system will streamline the set-up process and get guests out on the hill faster. Also new this season: rental equipment reservations will be available online or by calling 1-800-229-LOON.

Bretton Woods -- Bretton Woods
Resort guests this winter will find a new spa and conference center. The Kinderwoods Playground has been expanded with the installation of a rope tow and sledding hill, fire pit and new playground equipment. The entire fleet of rental equipment has also been replaced with state-of-the-art skis and snowboards. Also new for this year will be seasonal rentals of high-end demo equipment. Guests can also enjoy year-round Canopy Tours, consisting of 1,000-foot descent utilizing zip-lines, suspension bridges, and hiking trails.

Cranmore Mountain -- North Conway
Cranmore is adding several new trails to bring the total to 50 trails. Tommy's Trail is an intermediate trail off of East Slope, Oompah Flats is a connector trail between Artist Fall's and South Slope, Roundabout is an intermediate trail off Snowtrain, and Gibson Chutes is a new gladed area off of Gibson. Cranmore has refurbished 13 fan guns and is introducing two new tower guns and a dedicated fan gun for terrain park snowmaking. New events this season include the Crantastic New Year’s Eve party, offering an all-ages night of skiing, riding, snow tubing, live music, family entertainment, fireworks and more from 2 p.m. until midnight. Also Snow Train Weekend from January 9-11 will be filled with train rides on the Conway Scenic Railroad, skiing, food, live entertainment and music. The Cranmore Family Fitness Center now features an indoor Fun Zone with a giant inflatable bouncy house, 65-foot two-person obstacle course and other fun activities for all ages. Also offered will be dodge ball, floor hockey, pre-school nook with games and activities and more. The Fun Zone will be open Saturday nights and holiday weeks throughout the winter season from 4:30-9 p.m. with a sneak preview on November 28-29.

Cannon Mountain -- Franconia Notch
Cannon is adding six additional glades and a new trail for the winter. One of the additional glades and the new trail will be located in the Tuckerbrook Family Area, bringing the total in this area to 14 trails and glades. The additional glades, including four expert and one intermediate glade, will be located on the upper mountain. Cannon also will name some existing trails, making the mountain easier to navigate. A new grooming machine has been added to the grooming fleet as well.

Granite Gorge – Keene
Granite Gorge is making major upgrades to its snowmaking system, which will reach the summit of the mountain, and lighting to the summit. Three new trails are being cut as well, including Glider (a beginner's area), a traditional trail, and another area to be called Patriot Glades. Guests will also have an option for valet parking as well as an all-new rental equipment facility.

Great Glen Trails -- Pinkham Notch
The snow tubing hill has been expanded to three times its original size with a much longer run out. The expanded hill will be able to accommodate twice as many tubers. Great Glen Trails is one of the only cross country ski areas in New England with snowmaking and it will now cover an additional one-half kilometer. Great Glen Trails is also adding a new Nordic-specific grooming machine. The heart and soul of Great Glen Trails is the trail system. Forty kilometers of trails specifically designed for cross country skiing—the trail system is world class. With monikers including Great Grumpy Grade, Hairball Passage and Fuzzbuttom Brake, the trail names alone are worth the visit.

Crotched Mountain -- Bennington
A variety of improvements have been made at Crotched, including the addition of snowmaking capacity, trail re-grading, rebuilding and expanding the base lodge deck, and overhaul of all of the tillers in the grooming machines. A new area of glades has been cleared and named Solstice Glades.

Mount Sunapee -- Newbury
Mount Sunapee will kick off the season with a free one-day introduction to skiing/snowboarding. From opening day at the South Peak Learning Area through Wednesday, December 24, 2008, beginner skiers or snowboarders ages 8 and older will receive a free package including a two-hour group lesson, ski or snowboard equipment for the day, and an all-day lift ticket to the South Peak Learning Area. More efficient snowmaking production tops the list of capital improvements at Mount Sunapee. Thirty new snow guns will be in place for winter.

Pats Peak -- Henniker
Pats Peak is adding to its snowmaking system, which will cover 100 percent of the area. New for this winter are 14 tower guns, eight fan guns, and a high-capacity water pump. All terrain will be available for night skiing with the addition of lighting to Tornado Trail. A new gladed area is being cut between the East Wind and Duster trail. The rental shop has 200 new pairs of skis and bindings, 300 pairs of ski boots and 150 snowboards. Improvements are also being made to the ticketing system, base lodge, seasonal lockers, and food service.

Wildcat Mountain -- Pinkham Notch
Wildcat is working on adding several items in its relocated terrain park, with the addition of several boxes and rails to offer progression elements for skiers and riders. The ZipRider zipline will have four cables for riders who want to fly through the air at up to 40 mph. Indoors, the base lodge will be receiving new carpet, improvements to the bar, and fresh paint. On the hill, new snow guns will help reduce environmental impact as well as energy costs. Other environmental efforts include a vegetation restoration project in Mountain Jag glade.

Dartmouth Skiway -- Lyme Center
The Skiway blasted and regraded 200,000 square feet of its International Ski Federation competition slalom and giant slalom trials in order to meet suggested upgrades. Recreational guests will also be able to enjoy the widening of the trails along with expanded snowmaking including three new fan guns, rebuilt pumps, and drainage. Rental equipment is being upgraded.

Jackson XC -- Jackson
A new International Ski Federation-eligible competition course has been built. The work will add to the Wave Trail and the new, even trail surface will allow for skiing with minimal snow pack. This new trail will allow the area to host high-level national and international competitions.

Eastman Cross Country Center -- Grantham
A new back country trail is now open that connects the golf course with John Glenn's trail.

Waterville Valley -- Waterville Valley
Eighty-five new energy efficient tower guns will give Waterville Valley 25 percent more snowmaking power. Skiers and snowboarders will find more terrain opening earlier than usual, including Exhibition Park and Lower Meadows learning area. A new snow cat has been added to Waterville Valley's grooming fleet to expand nightly grooming. To enhance Waterville's glade skiing and riding, the resort has thinned tree-skiing entrances, exits, and lines down Old-T Trees and Psycho Glades. Snowboarders will get a new lineup of rails and boxes. An enhanced online e-commerce system will allow guests to make reservations prior to arrival, including snow sports and packaging options with tickets, rentals and lessons.