New Hampshire Ski Areas
Here’s a look at some of the enhancements that guests will enjoy in the Granite State in the 2011-2012 ski and snowboard season:
Attitash Mountain Resort, Bartlett
The snowmaking system at Attitash has been upgraded from diesel to electric compressors in order to reduce the amount of energy necessary to make snow. On the mountain glades were thinned on both Attitash and Bear Peak mountains. In the Attitash lodge, Ptarmigan’s Pub will re-open this season, and bathrooms have been renovated. Information: 603.374.2368 or visit www.attitash.com/
Black Mountain, Jackson
New air compressors have been added to the snowmaking system, increasing capacity by 35 percent. The Sugarbush trail has been landscaped and widened. Areas of the base lodge have been renovated, including bathrooms, flooring in guest services, a locker room, the third floor eating area and the bar and dining area at Lostbo Pub. Information: 603.383.4490 or visit www.blackmt.com/
Cranmore, North Conway
After spending $6 million last summer, more improvements are underway. Forty new high-efficiency snowmaking tower guns have been added. A Prinoth Bison Groomer has been added to the grooming fleet. Improvements have also been made to the base lodge, rest rooms, and food and beverage facilities. A substantial investment to upgrade rental equipment has also been made. Information: 603.356.5544 or visit www.cranmore.com/
Crotched Mountain, Bennington
The fleet of Head ski and snowboard rentals has been expanded to ensure plenty of inventory and the most current equipment for guests. There will be many new elements in this winter’s terrain parks, as well as an all-new park for freestyle program participants. Information: 603.588.3668 or visit www.crotchedmountain.com/
Granite Gorge, Keene
A major base lodge addition includes an expanded ticketing, rental and apparel area; new bathrooms; and a new kitchen and dining area. The Lookout Lounge, with a full liquor license, features an all-weather deck overlooking the mountain. New computers have been installed to improve customer service. On the hill, significant trail work has been completed with several trails being expanded and trees being removed. Additional snowmaking has been added to the Sunset Trail and two new snow guns have been added to the fleet. The new Bag Jump is an inflatable landing area that allows skiers and riders to launch and land softly on the bag. Information: 603.358.5000 or visit www.granitegorge.com/
Gunstock Mountain Resort, Gilford
Gunstock spent $2.1 million on improvements over the past year, much of it on summer activities. Among the summer improvements that skiers and riders will also enjoy are the Big Air Bag Jump which allows adventurous skiers and riders to get a feeling for catching big air while enjoying a soft, safe landing on the bag. The newly installed Zip-Tour will also be available for winter guests. Information: 603.293.4341 or visit www.gunstock.com/
Jackson XC, Jackson
Guests at Jackson XC will find 1.7 kilometers of new trail on the Ellis River Corridor along with one kilometer that was rebuilt over the summer months. Information: 603-383-9355 or visit www.jacksonxc.com/
King Pine and Purity Spring Resort, East Madison
Major improvements to the snowmaking system included conversion to electric power in order to reduce the amount of energy necessary to make snow. Information: 603.367.8896 or visit www.kingpine.com/
Loon Mountain, Lincoln
Two new trails have been added to the terrain at South Peak. Snowmaking and grooming improvements continued last summer with the addition of 100 new tower guns on the main mountain, 67 new tower guns on South Peak, and a new Bison X grooming machine. The ski patrol will also enjoy a new summit patrol building. Information: 800.229.5666 or visit www.loonmtn.com/
Mount Sunapee, Newbury
A new glade trail, Beck Brook Glades, has been cut, bringing Mount Sunapee’s total to nine gladed trails. Snowmaking has been added to the Outer Ridge Trail, which provides an alternate route off the Upper Ridge Trail. The mountain has also become a Burton Learn-To-Ride Center, which includes a full complement of Burton rental equipment designed to make learning to snowboard easier for guests. Information: 603.763.3500 or visit www.mountsunapee.com/mtsunapeewinter/index.asp
Pats Peak, Henniker
Guests will benefit from snowmaking upgrades at Pats Peak with the addition of eight fan guns, two turbo fans, and 3,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe. The Pats Peak Rental Shop is now a Burton Learn to Ride Center with 150 new kids and 200 new adult beginner snowboards. All guests needing rentals will enjoy 250 new pairs of Dalbello Ski Boots. The Bear’s Club Kids Program now has its own fleet of rental ski, snowboards and boots so families can bypass the rental shop. The terrain parks have expanded with the addition of a progression park for newcomers to the sprot. A new Freestyle Camp is scheduled for vacation periods. Other improvements include renovated bathrooms in the Sleigh Room. Information: 603.428.3245 or visit www.skinh.com/ski-resorts/pats-peak.aspx
Ragged Mountain, Danbury
Snowmaking and grooming improvements lead the list of this year’s improvements, with the addition of 90 high efficiency, low-energy snow guns and a new Prinoth grooming machine. To feed the additional snow guns improvements have also been made to the water delivery system. Raggged is a new Get Ragged Frequent Skier Card that can save skiers 50 percent midweek and 25 percent on weekends and holidays. Prices start at $59 for adults and $49 for teens, juniors and seniors. Information: 603.768.3600 or visit www.raggedmountainresort.com/
Wildcat Mountain, Pinkham Notch
Base lodge upgrades include restroom renovations and improvements to the main deck. The ticketing system now allows for a seamless connection for guests between Wildcat and nearby Attitash Mountain Resort. On the mountain, work continued on the snowmaking system including replacing older pipes. Information: 603.466.3326 or visit www.skiwildcat.com/