Statistics aside, nothing beats Cannon in mid-January, with sun glinting off the blue sheets of "packed powda," 40 mph wind at the top, temps in the single digits and lodges that are pleasantly mid-70s decor. It is just a unique aesthetic that non-New Englanders just can't appreciate..
I'm biased because I grew up skiing at Gunstock every weekend and I agree with everything you said about Cannon. I guess skiing has always attracted people of a higher income but something about it in NH still feels like an activity available for everyone. I lived in TX briefly and the people would talk about going to Jackson Hole or Breckenridge and it made me feel odd. Spending all that money to go ski somewhere fancy when the bunny hill at most areas was probably all they could handle technically.
as a New Hampshirite, I get it. We aren’t competitive with Vermont and Maine. I ski gunstock and wildcat a lot. Even though we don’t have the best mountains they are still pretty fun to ski. Anyways thank you for posting a video about New Hampshire, I’ve been waiting for this one!
I miss the old Wildcat Gondolas. I remember ski days where you took them, not because they were any good, but to get out of the -10 degree air being blasted at you on the chairs. (^_^) Bretton Woods needs a cheap nearby ski dorm/hostle. I think that's the one thing that defined where my friends would go when we were younger. Could we get a cheap place to sleep nearby.
The reason New Hampshires tallest mountains aren’t ski resorts is because most of them are in protected national forrest areas, and also having a ski resort on any of the presidentials would not work super well because of the weather conditions and high wind speeds near mt Washington
Most of Colorado skier is our protected national forest as well so what’s your excuse for that? It’s bull crap, the answer is there’s no lodging and there’s no air ports to receive travelers. This is New Hampshire’s problem. They don’t want to spend any money on infrastructure because they are run by conservative governors who don’t give a damn about tourism.
Glad to see NH skiing get some love (sort of). The "charm" of NH in my opinion are all the little ski areas peppered around the state. Just near Hanover/Lebanon are the Dartmouth Skiway, Whaleback, and Storrs Hill - all of which are little gems and even now are pretty affordable. Learned how to ski at those three places and feel comfortable tackling pretty much anywhere now, even in my old age.
Personally I can’t speak for others but The Whites is where I turn for skiing. You can literally ski on 6 mountains all within an hour radius of each other. Love the Mt Washington Valley
id rather have a 6/10 mountain, with low tourism, and iffy conditions, than an 9/10 mountain with, consistent conditions, and massive tourism. doesnt matter how nice the place is if the main lift is an hour wait, and the trails are so packed you cant even carve.
I've got 4 ski resorts (WV, Cannon, Loon and Tenney) all within 30 minutes of my cabin, (and BW is 45 minutes away), and rarely, if ever, am I waiting more than 5 minutes for a lift. 75% of the time I'm jumping right on.
I would say Waterville is the biggest "resort," not in terms of size, but it is the only mountain with a true resort/ski town built around its base (yes, I'm excluding Loon and Lincoln as Lincoln wasn't purposefully built for a ski resort). Plus, they are expanding an extra 140 acres and 15 new trails with a new base, which will make them the second largest resort behind Bretton Woods with Waterville being closer to Boston, I see them becoming the premier resort for NH.
It's good but they just aren't built to handle the crowds with a single high speed quad (might be a 6-person now tho, it's been a while since I've been)
@@Strategic_Reformer That's true for sure, but with the new expansion they will be adding it will add another base to start from so crowds will spread out even more. Plus there is the valley run quad which runs to mid mountain allowing you to take the sunnyside triple (which will be replaced soon) to the top.There also is the Green Peak triple, which could possibly be replaced as well, but in the new expansion, they are putting in a chondola and presumably another qaud or 6 pack, which will undoubtedly increase uphill capacity immensely. Not only that but they are planning on replacing 3-4 of their pre existing lifts but from what I can find they currently can do just under 18,000 riders per hour but are adding 11,000 with all the new lifts.
Two Words... SKI CLUBS. Best thing I ever did was Join the Brettl-Hupfers ski club in Bartlett, NH. Gives me a place to sleep, socialize safely with transportation to other ski club social events(which are numerous), a warm fire, a group of friends spanning all ages and being a part of New England ski history. There are more than 20 active clubs in the Conway region alone. If you haven't looked into the ski clubs in the Conway/white mountain area you are missing out. Even if it means just visiting for an event. If it's not your thing at least you got to go skiing with a cheap place to stay. I go up and hike in the summer whenever I want with no extra expense. All of my bedding and toiletries are right there next my bed which is one of 55.
Sounds great, thanks for letting us know! I've always skied alone for the most part cause my dad can't anymore and none of my friends do, this would be a great way to change the experience
I’m in the Littleton area and just getting back into skiing. I’m sure a google search would produce some results but might mean a bit of digging and weeding through, so is there a main site for these ski clubs? Thanks!
As a Cannon local, you are overlooking it. The front five are some of the steepest trails on the east coast. DJ’s is the hardest trail of the east coast due to the bad conditions and the rocky steep descents. We have unmarked trails and powder stashes still days after storms. Our ski towns may be bad but our mountains are steep rugged and difficult.
Have you ever been on that unmarked trail off of the saddle that ends up in one of the marked glades by hardscrabble? I’ve tried the other unmarked stuff but I’ve never tried that one or the the ones by kinsman
@@jackthielman8528 I have not but I might check it out, there are some nice unmarked glades off the saddle, I know the one of the backside and the one that shoots into pony express (or the trees on barons)
"DJ’s is the hardest trail of the east coast due to the bad conditions and the rocky steep descents": If you want bad conditions and rocky steep descents, why don't you try Tuckerman's in August?
You haven’t seen agony at Sunday River or white nitro at sugarloaf or white heat at Sunday River. These trails are the steepest on the east coast. Also the Casablanca glades at saddleback are the real deal!
I am more than happy to travel from Toronto to North Conway. Two great ski options on Epic (Attitash and Wildcat) close to town with affordable food and accommodations (with many options) especially compared to on the mountain places. Also with a water park in North Conway (kahuna laguna that reopened in May) it is great apres ski for kids. The outlets might work for some too! Lastly, depending on the conditions climbing Tuckermans is an option too!
Live in Hampshire. I run a gauntlet of stowe, wildcat, and other epic pass mountains all winter. I usually decide the night before. Sunapee is good for kids since they ski for free and the cafe has cheap food 😊.
So a note on the tree-spacing and boundary to boundary point you made at about 4:30 I can't speak for Vermont, but I know that in Maine a lot of unofficial glades you will find in boundary-to-boundary areas (especially at Sugarloaf and Sunday River) are mostly not natural glades. Many little lines are cut by locals in the summer. I know of dozens of such glades/zones/lines between the aforementioned Maine mountains. I've heard that this is the case in Vermont too, I've heard of such terrain in and around Jay Peak. These zones and lines can be popular because they are often cut much tighter and more aggressively than resorts will make official glades. In New Hampshire, many of the states best ski areas are entirely on US Forest Service Land: Bretton Woods, Wildcat, Attitash, and Loon. Cannon is partially on USFS land, the rest is NH State Parks. Cutting boundary to boundary unofficially, or thinning out woods, is SUPER illegal on Forest Service land. Resorts in Maine and VT can tolerate it, mountains in NH can't. On top of that, at least when I visited in 2022, Loon would pull your pass for skiing off designated trails, in boundary to boundary terrain (cringe).
You got some right, some wrong. Yes…in Vermont, there is a lot of out-of-bounds terrain that has been “helped” by skiers trimming open lines through the trees. Most of these lines are quite tight and require the ability to make quick turns and handle variable snow, and many of us spend most of our ski days in these areas. Buuuttt,…there are SIGNIFICANT penalties for taking part in this illegal cutting if you are caught…big fines and possible jail time (if the cutting is egregious enough) since many of the resorts in northern VT are on public, state land. And, while a resort can have its own policy regarding skiing “off-trail” while still within resort boundaries (most say it’s OK these days) the state has protected skiers right to leave the resort and ski out-of-bounds.
There’s definitely more of a boundary to boundary culture in Maine. Even resorts without explicit boundary to boundary policies don’t get too upset as long as you’re not ducking. Cutting is quite rare within boundaries but there’s a good amount of side country cutting actually - even at smaller resorts like Pleasant. Some of the most fun terrain I’ve skied!
Living in far northern NH, Coos County, I hear more and more chatter about The Balsams in Dixville reopening. They have approval for a gondola from the hotel to the Wilderness ski area and a ski bridge over Rte 26 back to the hotel. Talking to local friends in Colebrook they know one day it'll reopen, but they don't know when. There is also a Canadian firm that is going to reopen passenger train travel from Montreal to Boston this rail line would travel to North Stratford 15 minutes south of Colebrook 30 minutes from Dixville then turn northwest toward Montreal. They are saying there is going to be a train station in North Stratford, which is odd since it's the poorest town in NH, but perhaps they are anticipating the reopening of The Balsams. That's what I know and thought I'd mention it.
I'm afraid the Balsams expansion is never going to happen. There are too many things working against it. Les Otten has tried for over a decade to stir up investors for the project, and hasn't managed to land any major investment.
You hit it at the end. NH resorts are great for Boston. But the rest of the NY, PA, NJ, CT all have VT as closer and like you noted, VT has Killington as a destination. Loon is expanding, has Cannon to ski nearby and Lincoln as a town. Attitash got a new fast lift to the peak and has Wildcat nearby to ski and North Conway is a cool town. However, if you are driving from anywhere but Boston, VT is closer. And if you are flying, you just go west at that point.
Nice presentation. Very true about the lack of infrastructure and ski towns in NH. Some great mountains there though. It will be interesting to see if Balsams gets off the ground and what impact it will have on north country skiing.
I was hoping that Delaware North (Jeremy Jacobs' company) getting involved in the work would make it go better and/or faster. I haven't heard much since then.
For an advanced rider who loves Snowbird.Cannon is awesome and keeps me on my toes. Very fast mountain. Probablly the best views in the whole east coast IMO too. The people at the ski museum are really nice.
Went there once and can confirm. Terrain and conditions were great. You get off the highway and pull into the parking lot, which is very convenient. Went on a weekday and it was empty. The only problem is that it is so far north, had to drive past a number of other ski areas to get to it.
@@cvn6555 It works well for me doing trips i can hit a resort a day to break my drive up. and cannon I was able to say at the same spot and go to Loon as well. Pretty cheap area if you want it to be for just hardcore riding and no luxury. i will split my trips into sleeping in my car as much as possible to save money but I have to stop somewhere every few days to shower. whoa that trip I Did Greek peak>Stratton>KIllington>Cannon>Loon>Wildcat>(tuckermans abort mission)>Saddleback>Sugarloaf>sunday river>Jay>Stowe>Sugarbush>killington>home... I try to avoid I-95 and the turnpike but I-87 is great for ski bumping, especially in the high peaks area of New York the rest stops are really good.
I lived in the North Conway area for a few years, learning how to ski when I moved there. Lift tix didn't break the bank (especially the pass you got for working in the area! 200 bucks for 5 trips to 6 area resorts for the winter). I could get up at 7:30 and be waiting for the lifts to activate at 8:30. Hardly ever did I wait for a chair more than a minute or so. I would take 15, 16 runs by noon or so and be tired, that's when the crowds got there. I moved to Denver a few years ago and was excited about skiing here. But dealing with traffic on 70, the insane prices, and the huge lines even an hour or so after opening, I quit. Yes the CO powder was cool and often Wildcat was a sheet of ice and you'd just skid down, but that doesn't make up for saving a week's worth of pay just to go for a day. I'm glad I learned to ski, I do miss the quaint (yes, will use that word) NH resorts. The expense and aggravation out here made me an ex-skier.
I learned to ski in NH as a Sixties teenager. Commuting day trips to Crotched and Gunstock the routine. Cranmore had best grooming after an overnight rain. Waterville Valley offers best complete village resort experience with excellent snow, snowmaking, black diamonds reachable by Ski93. Ski free or die!😊
You missed the iconic Mount Washington Hotel Bretton Woods for a unique and special accommodations. Appreciate you highlight the long planning for the Balsomns, hope it comes together
Living in Massachusetts and having skied Mount Sunapee and Loon Mountain "a lot" in my younger days, you pretty much hit the nail on the head with your points.
Bretton Woods holds a special place in my heart as that's where my wife and I first skied. The day before our wedding we took our adult kids there for a day, (from previous marriages). Bretton Woods, although not tough, has the best snow as Mt Washington wrings out moisture on the west side in Crawford Notch and it snow a few inches a day quite frequently and it is more powdery too.
I broke my ankle on Attitash. I hit the lodge and tell my wife, "I think I broke my ankle", she said "you're kidding?", I said no and at lunch we were off to the North Conway hospital where they confirmed a fractured ankle. Then like an Idiot we had a military hop out to the Sierras that I wasn't going to pass up two weeks later and reinjured it at Kirkwood. I had to spend the next day gambling in Nevada while buds skied Heavenly. Decades later, major arthritis, but i wouldn't change a thing.
Welcome back for another winter season of videos! May I suggest an upgrade to your microphone and/or acoustical environment (room, padding) for this year? It would make a big difference for your overall video quality.
Great video and very informative. Wow! Those snowfall totals are pathetic. I lived in Albany for 4 years, skiing quite a bit in NY, VT, and even western Mass. Looking back, I kinda wondered why I never went to NH. This pretty much explains everything. Keep up the good work! 👍🏼
NH's snowfall totals are lower, but those totals he showed look like they were from "Onthesnow" and on that site I've found totals lower for many ski areas I have looked up in the west and east. Just do an annual snowfall search for a ski area and then compare it to Onthesnow. I have no idea where that site gets totals from. Also VT gets more snow but it is exaggerated. For example, they've been keeping track of the snow on Mt. Mansfied since 1954 and the avg is around 235" but what does Stowe say they get??? 300+". And yeah for those who didn't know Stowe is on Mt Mansfield. A few years ago while working at Cannon I went to Smuggs and Stowe in the same season and they didn't have much more snow.
Mostly a Maine skier now but I have to agree that VT resorts exaggerate snowfall pretty badly. Most times I go to ski VT, even in storm/powder conditions, I find equal or less base depth than Sugarloaf/saddleback and less new snow accumulation than the resort claims. When it starts warming up, VT seems to melt out much quicker as well
Wildcat doesn't have the capacity or on-mountain facilities like Stowe, Sugarloaf, Killington or even Stratton. Yes Wildcat Does have some awesome skiing & riding, but a majority of people that ski there are day trippers, only skiing for one day and then leaving/going home. Cannon is also like this as well. Planning a vacation around an area like Wildcat ( or Cannon ) is a bit more difficult for the average skier and rider than you'd think.
@@tucker.84 I always had day tripped living only an hour away in Maine. Surprising that North Conway doesn't have more of a ski town vibe. Is it known more for outlet malls? I always drive west side road to avoid route 16 so I rarely know what's happening on the strip.
@@teleguy5699 North Conway is more famous for its quintessential New England buildings and small shops, and there's even a train station from the 1800's that is still in operation as a scenic railway as well. North Conway does have Cranmore (a ski area in operation since the 1930's), but the ski area is not what made the town famous. It's an all-season destination town that is more famous for its vibe.
I was an avid skier in the 80s and 90s. Living just north of Boston, NH was my #1 ski destination for a day trip. Cannon Mountain and Wildcat were the best bang for your buck on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 2 for 1 deal. I’m pretty sure it cost around $14 for an all day ticket. ( give or take depending on the year.) Those are the biggest vertical drops in the state. Great era for affordable skiing. Cannon Mt. after a dumping is some of the best skiing in the East.
As someone who grew up skiing in the northeast, but currently lives in Japan, this video made me really appreciate what I have now. Most of the resorts out here get NH’s annual snowfall in a week’s time 😮 But all that time I spent on the northeast slopes made a much better skier
I also grew up on the Ice Coast, super happy to live in Colorado where I have incredible conditions and resorts to choose from. Including nearby states of Utah and Wyoming. The best thing about learning on the ice coast is you can ski anything after progressing there.
I’m 38. I’d say 99% of my skiing to date has been in NH. Mostly Attitash/Bear, Wildcat, Bretton Woods, Sunapee, Gunstock, Cannon. Mostly because of the convenience of shooting up 95/16 and being there in 2 hours. It’s been a love/hate relationship. The one thing I want is more snow! We’ve had some pretty tough years recently. But, when it’s good, it’s GOOD. When it’s not so great, it makes the runs more technical and challenging. But sometimes I just want to cruise and not worry about my edge catching a rock or an ice field. Ahhh, good ole northeast skiing, haha
Wildcat is my favorite New England mountain, most similar to out west if you can catch it on a pow day it’s pretty epic, about 3 hours 1 way from around Boston, never hit maine mountains or jay peak or anything because they’re too far for a day trip. Loon is also great. Breton woods has the omnia hotel near by which is fun for a long weekend trip and has a cool historical vibe. Crotched is a great little local hill and midnight madness on the weekend is a local crowd favorite. Plenty of great mountains in NH, don’t skip it!
Crotched is my home mountain, I freaking love it. I agree Wildcat is a great mountain, but it is dependent on having good natural snow days, their lifts frequently shut down due to win too, but it has some nice terrain.
On the plus side for NH skiers, if you grow up skiing some of the most difficult lift serviced terrain in North America, thinking in particular of tight, icy, rocky glades and sleep, icy moguls. Makes switching to softer conditions easier than it is vice versa. Powder skiing is a very different style, but im happy to be going from ice to pow rather than the other way around.
Right? I live in Maine and skied both states extensively. First trip to Alta, Utah and ready to attack a black diamond run I was pleasantly surprised to be able to grab an edge and no chatter on the steeps. Made it seem like a blue back home.
If you like skiing in condo backyards and strip malls and extreme prices go to Vermont. If you prefer the outdoor experience to be in a National Forest go to New Hampshire......PS no sales tax in NH
The best location for a new ski area in NH is Mt. Blue north of the Appalachian trail, east of the Benton trail. All of the land is National Forest, not a wilderness area, or a scenic area. Close to I-93, over 3000' vertical, over 4500' summit. The high-elevation northeast-facing terrain would hold snow, and be leeward of the prevailing winds.
Sure. The top is owned by Dartmouth and they already have a ski area, and is close enough to the Appalachian Trail you'd run into all sorts of issues there. Otherwise, people would throw an absolute fit. But go on.
As a Boston area resident, I appreciate your honest reviews of North American and world ski resorts. What New Hampshire lacks in skiing, it makes up for in hiking. The best eastern skiing is in Vermont.
Issue 1: snow. We're done here. I've been skiing around New England for over 25 years. Snow is the issue. Smaller, less crowded resorts in NH are still great though! N. Conway has a great trifecta of Cranmore, Attitash, and Wildcat all within 30 minutes. Stay in Jackson for slightly less expensive rooms, pick a mountain in the morning, and have a different experience every day. 3 days at Wildcat, Attitash, and Cranmore will feel better than spending 3 days at the bigger mountains in Vermont and Maine outside of Killington + Pico in terms of variety and fun. The top of Wildcat and Attitash especially have great views of the white mountains and i think you can see the presidentials from both of them.
I hope NH stays the way it is. Soul of NE skiing. Cannon is the Jackson Hole of the East. Demanding runs, steep. The best alpine views and situation in Franconia Notch. You forgot all the accessible skiing with Mittersill next door. I'd take Cannon any day. On a good day you can get big vertical lapping the tram especially midweek. Plus the smell of wood smoke and wet wool in the base lodge.
Other than Loon, the ski resorts in NH are less crowded than the VT ski resorts. Who needs a special ski town. Everything is more crowded and more expensive at the destination ski town.
I don’t think you will but I’d love to see a video on magic mountain VT it’s a great little mountain I know you guys have it on your website but I think having it in video format would be epic
I've said it before I'll say it again, NH has better mountains for hiking VT has better mountains for skiing. There are 22 mountains higher in NH than the tallest mountain in VT. That being said I learned to ski in NH and still love to come back. Personally I think out of all of the North East, NH ski resorts have the most scenic views.
I've done daytrips to Wildcat and Cannon. I'm 20 minutes from Stowe and Sugarbush. It was worth it but a long day round trip. Accommodations to overnight? Have never looked into it.
SNOW, that's the main reason. When resorts were initially developed man made snow was basically science fiction and it seems early on it was easier to build a ski resort. Also despite Boston being close the vast majority of Ski resorts in New England were started by people from the greater NYC area. Most Vermont ski towns were basically repurposed rural towns which is where the charm comes from. As for the Balsams if there was a person who could make it happen it is Les Otten, I still remember the "Canyons" in Park City basically appearing overnight and he built Sunday River and was part of the Killington build out.
We have skied Waterville, Sunapee, Cannon, Dixville Notch (The Balsams), Bretton Woods, Storr's Hill, Whaleback and Loon in the state of NH. In the right conditions, Sunapee, Cannon, Loon and Waterville all offer a whole lot of skiing adventure with breathtaking vistas and trails of all stripes, along with some of the amenities one expects at a major ski area. Cannon is narrow, steep, twisty and challenging in my memory, along with possessing unforgettable views of the White Mts. We have skied Loon in an epic snowfall, magical, right in the heart of the White Mts. The White Mt. views at Waterville are hard to beat as it resides at the head of a vast valley surrounded by multiple 4000 footers. Sunapee has a lot of lift capacity and a wide variety of trail grades along with an expansive view to the Whites, the Greens, Cardigan and Kearsarge while overlooking beautiful Lake Sunapee to the north. There is plenty of skiing in NH.
Wildcat should absolutely be on a list of some sort. The scenic views the remote old school vibes and legendary steeps of ice just across from tucks... yall just don't know...
Waterville used to be the Cat’s Meow from around here in Mass, though that was 40-50 years ago. NH tended to be preferable for Boston area skiers because it was a somewhat shorter drive than either ME or VT, which of course it always will be with the exception of some southern VT locales. But the mindset sort of persists that “heading west” to ski isn’t really on the radar, it’s going north instead.
Snow, snow, snow…only 4 Eastern ski resorts get over 300” per year…Stowe, Jay, Smuggs, Bolton Valley. Every resort in NH gets around 200” or less. But Cannon on a powder day? Hangs with best…
I wouldn't believe all those totals I just said above you can search the annual snowfall for Mt Mansfield and then compare that to what Stowe says they get. Yes powder days at Cannon are good when they come and I can tell you for sure that they will be even better this year after working on the trails this summer. We cleaned up lots of glades and I cut so many banks on the lower mt.
@@eedom69 I am a National weather service spotter and you are right. Take ski mountain snow reports with a grain of salt. Do they ever get less that 8 inches? Snow this Thanksgiving in 2 days. Wait for the inflated holiday reports. ❄
I am pretty sure when comparing highest ski mountains, as mentioned earlier, Mt. Mansfield is Vermont's highest peak. Mt. Mansfield is also home to Stowe, making Stowe, not Killington VT's highest ski resort. Killington has the acreage, Stowe the altitude.
I love that super long green trail from the top where you can just cruise down that long trail. I 90% skied diamonds, but something about that trail enticed me. Some places you had to CC ski it got so flat.
There are a bunch of fun ski areas in NH, especially Cannon and Loon and Waterville valley, and i use to always prefer skiing at Wildcat Mt. which is about an hr drive away from my place, because the mtn is tall with a solid 2,000 ft vert and has a nice continuous steep pitch all the way down and the summit lift was also very fast, maybe the fastest running chairlift ive ever been on and ive been on most !?.... plus the view of Mt Wash. and Tuckerman ravine that faces directly across the way is beautiful, but since Vail bought it and instantly doubled the lift pass prices a few yrs ago i never went back to ski there again....
everything said here is not false. however, how many times you gonna go to the vt resorts on your pass? Go to nh - its beautiful. And the resorts like wildcat (surprising they still run it this way but not so much now that Ive seen how they run Kirkwood CA) are skiers mountains. No Posh BS just how I personally like it, and less crowds. Yes the VT resorts including Sugarbush are awesomer, but its not like you'll have a bad time in nh unless you go when conditions are complete @ss
Wildcat I always loved skiing there. Especially Spring skiing. I love rustic ski areas. Mt Abrams and Saddleback in my home state of Maine for instance.
During the last recession it flipped. NH was seeing more visitation at a time when the economy was weak and Maine had just increased the amount of tolls and tolling. It has since recovered but likely as we head into similar conditions the flip will happen again.
Putting together a Peak House to my home mountain? That'll be amazing! I hope I can make it onto the slopes when you're in town in the Valley! I'd love to meet up if my schedule allows.
New Hampshire skiing as good as Vermont full stop. Loon, Wildcat, Attitash, Cannon…..many others as well. A beautiful day at Loon is unforgettable. Great trails. So it’s probably a matter of taste.
The thing about New Hampshire is that no single resort "has it all" but they are all super unique and packed with charm and character. If you're operating out of North Conway, you can ski challenging natural terrain all day at wildcat today, they head over to Bretton Woods for perfectly manicured groomers tomorrow, and then hit Cranmore for great family vibes the next day... but you're just not going to get all that in one place. A "destination trip" may not be a strong prospect in New Hampshire, but a _roadtrip_, or series of hops around to various resorts from a central hub like Lincoln or North Conway, can be very rewarding.
They had sick parks like 20+ years ago. I went once like a few years ago and they had a lot of rails and stuff and I liked their older parks better. But Loon is the most popular place in NH for parks. The pitch of Loon is fun and rolly too.
@@Chikov2 I believe it. Think they had something to do with some of the Superparks for snowboarding in the past. When I went there once in 2021 they had some big step down jumps that looked scary to me. Last season I worked in Cannon's park. We had quite a few jumps, but maybe not that big. Think our biggest one from lip of the take off to the start of the landing was maybe 28-29 toe to heel steps in my size 8 boots. I've seen some videos of Killington's peace park that looks cool and the Stash wood park that I'd like to ride.
Bretton woods actually averages over 250 inches of snow each year that was just last year‘s pattern and we have a new resort opening in Pittsburgh New Hampshire re
I wondered that as a young kid myself. I always wanted to go to places like Attitash, but we'd always end up going to Mt. Snow, Okemo, Stratton, etc. Then I realized it would take us 4 or 5 hours to get to the spots in NH that I wanted to go to, compared to the 2-2.5hrs it took to get to the places I mentioned in VT(we lived near Hartford, CT.)
can you Make a Video on the Most exciting Lift and Terrain Expansions opening winter 24/25 Like you have done in the past! love those Videos! Love Peak Rankings
It’s pretty simple, VT and ME have bigger resorts than NH. But if you’re in the Boston area then NH mountains are closer. It’s all just about your location and how far you’re willing to drive. If the driving distance isn’t an issue then obviously people are going to pick the bigger resorts.
As a NH native and lifelong skiier, this is fine by me! Everyone please continue to crowd VT and Maine 🤙🏻
Agreed, but I'm un-ironically planning to move to New Hampshire from New Jersey soon. 🤣
I couldn’t say it better
Statistics aside, nothing beats Cannon in mid-January, with sun glinting off the blue sheets of "packed powda," 40 mph wind at the top, temps in the single digits and lodges that are pleasantly mid-70s decor. It is just a unique aesthetic that non-New Englanders just can't appreciate..
Thats why i luv cannon its got grit and character. I spent 15 ski seasons at vail beaver creek but always missed the untamed feeling of cannon.
@@diver3444 Arrowhead feels most like "home" in NH.
I'm biased because I grew up skiing at Gunstock every weekend and I agree with everything you said about Cannon. I guess skiing has always attracted people of a higher income but something about it in NH still feels like an activity available for everyone. I lived in TX briefly and the people would talk about going to Jackson Hole or Breckenridge and it made me feel odd. Spending all that money to go ski somewhere fancy when the bunny hill at most areas was probably all they could handle technically.
@@riftvalley21 i ski gunstock and cannon on alternate weeks being almost 78 i get to ski both areas for less than $100 for both passes.
Don’t forget about Cafe 4k
Love Wildcat! The view into Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines never gets old. Can be windy and cold but I have had many wonderful ski days there.
Shh don't tell anyone how good Wildcat is!
I'm with you. Aside from Killington, Wildcat tops the vast majority of New England ski resorts.
as a New Hampshirite, I get it. We aren’t competitive with Vermont and Maine. I ski gunstock and wildcat a lot. Even though we don’t have the best mountains they are still pretty fun to ski. Anyways thank you for posting a video about New Hampshire, I’ve been waiting for this one!
Wildcat is so slept on. Best glades in the state, (especially if you know about Thompson Brooke)
We aren’t competitive at all going to vt or me is def the best choice
Huge Cat guy
@@rivergewehr4817 SHHHHHHHHHHH! no one knows thats why they are the best!
I miss the old Wildcat Gondolas. I remember ski days where you took them, not because they were any good, but to get out of the -10 degree air being blasted at you on the chairs. (^_^)
Bretton Woods needs a cheap nearby ski dorm/hostle. I think that's the one thing that defined where my friends would go when we were younger. Could we get a cheap place to sleep nearby.
The reason New Hampshires tallest mountains aren’t ski resorts is because most of them are in protected national forrest areas, and also having a ski resort on any of the presidentials would not work super well because of the weather conditions and high wind speeds near mt Washington
The interesting thing is even the trail from the hermits hut on Mt washington to the parking lot has almost 2k in vertical
Yes, as the video says.
Many if not most ski areas in the west are substantially in NF lands leased
8:14
Most of Colorado skier is our protected national forest as well so what’s your excuse for that? It’s bull crap, the answer is there’s no lodging and there’s no air ports to receive travelers. This is New Hampshire’s problem. They don’t want to spend any money on infrastructure because they are run by conservative governors who don’t give a damn about tourism.
Glad to see NH skiing get some love (sort of). The "charm" of NH in my opinion are all the little ski areas peppered around the state. Just near Hanover/Lebanon are the Dartmouth Skiway, Whaleback, and Storrs Hill - all of which are little gems and even now are pretty affordable. Learned how to ski at those three places and feel comfortable tackling pretty much anywhere now, even in my old age.
We always loved the affordability. You could spend $120 on a pass at Killington or $65 at Waterville Valley.
I grew up skiing in New Hamspshire , many cool mtns to ski.
Same here but it’s the worst skiing ever definitely not worth the trip
@@mattjax16yet everyone comes 🤷♂️🤔
Personally I can’t speak for others but The Whites is where I turn for skiing. You can literally ski on 6 mountains all within an hour radius of each other. Love the Mt Washington Valley
was going to comment something similar, 5 mins to Attitash, 20 to wildcat, 20 to cranmore, 35 to bretton woods, from my families condo in glen
id rather have a 6/10 mountain, with low tourism, and iffy conditions, than an 9/10 mountain with, consistent conditions, and massive tourism. doesnt matter how nice the place is if the main lift is an hour wait, and the trails are so packed you cant even carve.
Jay peak is the best of both worlds
I've got 4 ski resorts (WV, Cannon, Loon and Tenney) all within 30 minutes of my cabin, (and BW is 45 minutes away), and rarely, if ever, am I waiting more than 5 minutes for a lift. 75% of the time I'm jumping right on.
@@bimmersbbws6863 hey dude nh skiing sucks no one should come here idk what ya on about lol
@@mattjax16 nice try. already booked the flight.
100%!
I would say Waterville is the biggest "resort," not in terms of size, but it is the only mountain with a true resort/ski town built around its base (yes, I'm excluding Loon and Lincoln as Lincoln wasn't purposefully built for a ski resort). Plus, they are expanding an extra 140 acres and 15 new trails with a new base, which will make them the second largest resort behind Bretton Woods with Waterville being closer to Boston, I see them becoming the premier resort for NH.
It's good but they just aren't built to handle the crowds with a single high speed quad (might be a 6-person now tho, it's been a while since I've been)
@@Strategic_Reformer That's true for sure, but with the new expansion they will be adding it will add another base to start from so crowds will spread out even more. Plus there is the valley run quad which runs to mid mountain allowing you to take the sunnyside triple (which will be replaced soon) to the top.There also is the Green Peak triple, which could possibly be replaced as well, but in the new expansion, they are putting in a chondola and presumably another qaud or 6 pack, which will undoubtedly increase uphill capacity immensely. Not only that but they are planning on replacing 3-4 of their pre existing lifts but from what I can find they currently can do just under 18,000 riders per hour but are adding 11,000 with all the new lifts.
Two Words... SKI CLUBS. Best thing I ever did was Join the Brettl-Hupfers ski club in Bartlett, NH. Gives me a place to sleep, socialize safely with transportation to other ski club social events(which are numerous), a warm fire, a group of friends spanning all ages and being a part of New England ski history. There are more than 20 active clubs in the Conway region alone. If you haven't looked into the ski clubs in the Conway/white mountain area you are missing out. Even if it means just visiting for an event. If it's not your thing at least you got to go skiing with a cheap place to stay. I go up and hike in the summer whenever I want with no extra expense. All of my bedding and toiletries are right there next my bed which is one of 55.
Sounds great, thanks for letting us know! I've always skied alone for the most part cause my dad can't anymore and none of my friends do, this would be a great way to change the experience
Amen buddy!
In the PNW independent ski schools are another option. Some provide a place to sleep for part-time instructors, etc.
A Makusue members agree.
I’m in the Littleton area and just getting back into skiing. I’m sure a google search would produce some results but might mean a bit of digging and weeding through, so is there a main site for these ski clubs? Thanks!
As a Cannon local, you are overlooking it. The front five are some of the steepest trails on the east coast. DJ’s is the hardest trail of the east coast due to the bad conditions and the rocky steep descents. We have unmarked trails and powder stashes still days after storms. Our ski towns may be bad but our mountains are steep rugged and difficult.
Have you ever been on that unmarked trail off of the saddle that ends up in one of the marked glades by hardscrabble? I’ve tried the other unmarked stuff but I’ve never tried that one or the the ones by kinsman
@@jackthielman8528 I have not but I might check it out, there are some nice unmarked glades off the saddle, I know the one of the backside and the one that shoots into pony express (or the trees on barons)
"DJ’s is the hardest trail of the east coast due to the bad conditions and the rocky steep descents":
If you want bad conditions and rocky steep descents, why don't you try Tuckerman's in August?
You cant do tram laps of Tucks. DJ's is a blast, and well worth the effort if you have ability.
You haven’t seen agony at Sunday River or white nitro at sugarloaf or white heat at Sunday River. These trails are the steepest on the east coast. Also the Casablanca glades at saddleback are the real deal!
I am glad NH does not compete with the other states, lift lines are too long as it is!
😂 I was going to say, as someone who lives on the border of NH, I don’t think they WANT to compete. NH is incredibly unwelcoming compared to VT.
@@peep3616 Just to Massholes.
I am more than happy to travel from Toronto to North Conway. Two great ski options on Epic (Attitash and Wildcat) close to town with affordable food and accommodations (with many options) especially compared to on the mountain places. Also with a water park in North Conway (kahuna laguna that reopened in May) it is great apres ski for kids. The outlets might work for some too! Lastly, depending on the conditions climbing Tuckermans is an option too!
@@ernestdunphy7027 lol that’s been shut down for years now and so has the red jacket inn after a fire. Been a few years I’m guessing?
@@mattjax16 Check your info...
Live in Hampshire. I run a gauntlet of stowe, wildcat, and other epic pass mountains all winter. I usually decide the night before. Sunapee is good for kids since they ski for free and the cafe has cheap food 😊.
So a note on the tree-spacing and boundary to boundary point you made at about 4:30
I can't speak for Vermont, but I know that in Maine a lot of unofficial glades you will find in boundary-to-boundary areas (especially at Sugarloaf and Sunday River) are mostly not natural glades. Many little lines are cut by locals in the summer. I know of dozens of such glades/zones/lines between the aforementioned Maine mountains. I've heard that this is the case in Vermont too, I've heard of such terrain in and around Jay Peak. These zones and lines can be popular because they are often cut much tighter and more aggressively than resorts will make official glades.
In New Hampshire, many of the states best ski areas are entirely on US Forest Service Land: Bretton Woods, Wildcat, Attitash, and Loon. Cannon is partially on USFS land, the rest is NH State Parks. Cutting boundary to boundary unofficially, or thinning out woods, is SUPER illegal on Forest Service land. Resorts in Maine and VT can tolerate it, mountains in NH can't.
On top of that, at least when I visited in 2022, Loon would pull your pass for skiing off designated trails, in boundary to boundary terrain (cringe).
You got some right, some wrong. Yes…in Vermont, there is a lot of out-of-bounds terrain that has been “helped” by skiers trimming open lines through the trees. Most of these lines are quite tight and require the ability to make quick turns and handle variable snow, and many of us spend most of our ski days in these areas. Buuuttt,…there are SIGNIFICANT penalties for taking part in this illegal cutting if you are caught…big fines and possible jail time (if the cutting is egregious enough) since many of the resorts in northern VT are on public, state land. And, while a resort can have its own policy regarding skiing “off-trail” while still within resort boundaries (most say it’s OK these days) the state has protected skiers right to leave the resort and ski out-of-bounds.
Loon is the fucking worst
There’s definitely more of a boundary to boundary culture in Maine. Even resorts without explicit boundary to boundary policies don’t get too upset as long as you’re not ducking. Cutting is quite rare
within boundaries but there’s a good amount of side country cutting actually - even at smaller resorts like Pleasant. Some of the most fun terrain I’ve skied!
Living in far northern NH, Coos County, I hear more and more chatter about The Balsams in Dixville reopening. They have approval for a gondola from the hotel to the Wilderness ski area and a ski bridge over Rte 26 back to the hotel. Talking to local friends in Colebrook they know one day it'll reopen, but they don't know when. There is also a Canadian firm that is going to reopen passenger train travel from Montreal to Boston this rail line would travel to North Stratford 15 minutes south of Colebrook 30 minutes from Dixville then turn northwest toward Montreal. They are saying there is going to be a train station in North Stratford, which is odd since it's the poorest town in NH, but perhaps they are anticipating the reopening of The Balsams. That's what I know and thought I'd mention it.
I'm afraid the Balsams expansion is never going to happen. There are too many things working against it. Les Otten has tried for over a decade to stir up investors for the project, and hasn't managed to land any major investment.
How’s the snowfall up there compare to the whites just wondering
@@benlichtman8033 I'm not exactly sure, but I know Pittsburg NH tends to get get more snow being further north.
You hit it at the end. NH resorts are great for Boston. But the rest of the NY, PA, NJ, CT all have VT as closer and like you noted, VT has Killington as a destination. Loon is expanding, has Cannon to ski nearby and Lincoln as a town. Attitash got a new fast lift to the peak and has Wildcat nearby to ski and North Conway is a cool town. However, if you are driving from anywhere but Boston, VT is closer. And if you are flying, you just go west at that point.
Exactly.
Nice presentation. Very true about the lack of infrastructure and ski towns in NH. Some great mountains there though. It will be interesting to see if Balsams gets off the ground and what impact it will have on north country skiing.
I was hoping that Delaware North (Jeremy Jacobs' company) getting involved in the work would make it go better and/or faster. I haven't heard much since then.
@@counterfit5 All ski areas would benefit and the employment. Truly a gem area re. scenery.
For an advanced rider who loves Snowbird.Cannon is awesome and keeps me on my toes. Very fast mountain. Probablly the best views in the whole east coast IMO too. The people at the ski museum are really nice.
Went there once and can confirm. Terrain and conditions were great. You get off the highway and pull into the parking lot, which is very convenient. Went on a weekday and it was empty. The only problem is that it is so far north, had to drive past a number of other ski areas to get to it.
@@cvn6555 yeahh. I'm from Baltimore. I have to drive past quite a few ;]
@@cvn6555 It works well for me doing trips i can hit a resort a day to break my drive up. and cannon I was able to say at the same spot and go to Loon as well. Pretty cheap area if you want it to be for just hardcore riding and no luxury. i will split my trips into sleeping in my car as much as possible to save money but I have to stop somewhere every few days to shower. whoa that trip I Did Greek peak>Stratton>KIllington>Cannon>Loon>Wildcat>(tuckermans abort mission)>Saddleback>Sugarloaf>sunday river>Jay>Stowe>Sugarbush>killington>home... I try to avoid I-95 and the turnpike but I-87 is great for ski bumping, especially in the high peaks area of New York the rest stops are really good.
Cannon sucks. They say it has 90 trails but that's cause every time there is a turn, it's considered a new trail.
@@Chikov2 97 trails + glades i believe it. Deer Valley sucks.
Can't wait for a Pat's Peak video :D
Best place to learn!
Best place to ski that is still independent and family owned. .
Pat’s peak is the best
Would be better if they payed their employees competitive rates
@@Samdaws If you don't know paid vs payed, you probably deserve the rate you're at! Live free or die!
@@Druezy my bad for having a typo on youtube, but i wouldnt say that i deserve a bad rate for that 🤣
I lived in the North Conway area for a few years, learning how to ski when I moved there. Lift tix didn't break the bank (especially the pass you got for working in the area! 200 bucks for 5 trips to 6 area resorts for the winter). I could get up at 7:30 and be waiting for the lifts to activate at 8:30. Hardly ever did I wait for a chair more than a minute or so. I would take 15, 16 runs by noon or so and be tired, that's when the crowds got there.
I moved to Denver a few years ago and was excited about skiing here. But dealing with traffic on 70, the insane prices, and the huge lines even an hour or so after opening, I quit. Yes the CO powder was cool and often Wildcat was a sheet of ice and you'd just skid down, but that doesn't make up for saving a week's worth of pay just to go for a day. I'm glad I learned to ski, I do miss the quaint (yes, will use that word) NH resorts. The expense and aggravation out here made me an ex-skier.
I learned to ski in NH as a Sixties teenager. Commuting day trips to Crotched and Gunstock the routine. Cranmore had best grooming after an overnight rain. Waterville Valley offers best complete village resort experience with excellent snow, snowmaking, black diamonds reachable by Ski93. Ski free or die!😊
Love it, Crotched must have been a cool place back then too
You missed the iconic Mount Washington Hotel Bretton Woods for a unique and special accommodations. Appreciate you highlight the long planning for the Balsomns, hope it comes together
Yoo I love all your vids your are the goat of ski reviews
Living in Massachusetts and having skied Mount Sunapee and Loon Mountain "a lot" in my younger days, you pretty much hit the nail on the head with your points.
Loon is one of my favorite mountains I've ever been to
Loon is great when there's snow and you can actually go in the glades and unmarked trails.
Bretton Woods holds a special place in my heart as that's where my wife and I first skied. The day before our wedding we took our adult kids there for a day, (from previous marriages). Bretton Woods, although not tough, has the best snow as Mt Washington wrings out moisture on the west side in Crawford Notch and it snow a few inches a day quite frequently and it is more powdery too.
I grew up skiing Sunapee. It’s nice because it’s bust from the Boston crowd but not as busy as the Vermont resorts with the heavy tourism crowds.
I grew up skiing on Attitash.. while not the largest, their grooming was always top notch. And a great view of Mt Washington
I broke my ankle on Attitash. I hit the lodge and tell my wife, "I think I broke my ankle", she said "you're kidding?", I said no and at lunch we were off to the North Conway hospital where they confirmed a fractured ankle. Then like an Idiot we had a military hop out to the Sierras that I wasn't going to pass up two weeks later and reinjured it at Kirkwood. I had to spend the next day gambling in Nevada while buds skied Heavenly.
Decades later, major arthritis, but i wouldn't change a thing.
Because it’s real jeans and bag lunch skiing, Cannon and Wildcat are the real raw deal. Ice Ice Baby!
That's the life I knew. I loved it. My hips won't let me get out anymore. Maybe on the greens and blues, but I lived for the diamonds. Loved Wildcat.
Welcome back for another winter season of videos! May I suggest an upgrade to your microphone and/or acoustical environment (room, padding) for this year? It would make a big difference for your overall video quality.
The video at 14:15 is not shot in New England. It is the deck of the Goldminer's Daughter lodge at the Wildcat base of Alta in Utah
Great video and very informative.
Wow! Those snowfall totals are pathetic.
I lived in Albany for 4 years, skiing quite a bit in NY, VT, and even western Mass. Looking back, I kinda wondered why I never went to NH. This pretty much explains everything.
Keep up the good work! 👍🏼
Thanks Scott!
NH's snowfall totals are lower, but those totals he showed look like they were from "Onthesnow" and on that site I've found totals lower for many ski areas I have looked up in the west and east. Just do an annual snowfall search for a ski area and then compare it to Onthesnow. I have no idea where that site gets totals from.
Also VT gets more snow but it is exaggerated. For example, they've been keeping track of the snow on Mt. Mansfied since 1954 and the avg is around 235" but what does Stowe say they get??? 300+". And yeah for those who didn't know Stowe is on Mt Mansfield.
A few years ago while working at Cannon I went to Smuggs and Stowe in the same season and they didn't have much more snow.
Mostly a Maine skier now but I have to agree that VT resorts exaggerate snowfall pretty badly. Most times I go to ski VT, even in storm/powder conditions, I find equal or less base depth than Sugarloaf/saddleback and less new snow accumulation than the resort claims. When it starts warming up, VT seems to melt out much quicker as well
This title has to be clickbait. You didn't mention Wildcat at 0:18... I ski'd 36 inches of fresh powder last season...
wildcat is great, it would definitely be competitive if it was bigger.
Wildcat doesn't have the capacity or on-mountain facilities like Stowe, Sugarloaf, Killington or even Stratton. Yes Wildcat Does have some awesome skiing & riding, but a majority of people that ski there are day trippers, only skiing for one day and then leaving/going home. Cannon is also like this as well. Planning a vacation around an area like Wildcat ( or Cannon ) is a bit more difficult for the average skier and rider than you'd think.
@@tucker.84 thats why its better.
@@tucker.84 I always had day tripped living only an hour away in Maine. Surprising that North Conway doesn't have more of a ski town vibe. Is it known more for outlet malls? I always drive west side road to avoid route 16 so I rarely know what's happening on the strip.
@@teleguy5699 North Conway is more famous for its quintessential New England buildings and small shops, and there's even a train station from the 1800's that is still in operation as a scenic railway as well. North Conway does have Cranmore (a ski area in operation since the 1930's), but the ski area is not what made the town famous. It's an all-season destination town that is more famous for its vibe.
I was an avid skier in the 80s and 90s. Living just north of Boston, NH was my #1 ski destination for a day trip. Cannon Mountain and Wildcat were the best bang for your buck on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 2 for 1 deal. I’m pretty sure it cost around $14 for an all day ticket. ( give or take depending on the year.) Those are the biggest vertical drops in the state. Great era for affordable skiing. Cannon Mt. after a dumping is some of the best skiing in the East.
Yes! Send all of the Boston people to VT.
I live in New Hampshire, and I actually live near a ski resort. Competitive? Probably not. But it's still a ski resort.
I'd totally visit the Balsams. Does Les Otten still have the magic to make it happen? Sunday River is my favorite on the east.
As someone who grew up skiing in the northeast, but currently lives in Japan, this video made me really appreciate what I have now.
Most of the resorts out here get NH’s annual snowfall in a week’s time 😮
But all that time I spent on the northeast slopes made a much better skier
I also grew up on the Ice Coast, super happy to live in Colorado where I have incredible conditions and resorts to choose from. Including nearby states of Utah and Wyoming. The best thing about learning on the ice coast is you can ski anything after progressing there.
@@climbingcue truth
I’m 38. I’d say 99% of my skiing to date has been in NH. Mostly Attitash/Bear, Wildcat, Bretton Woods, Sunapee, Gunstock, Cannon. Mostly because of the convenience of shooting up 95/16 and being there in 2 hours. It’s been a love/hate relationship. The one thing I want is more snow! We’ve had some pretty tough years recently. But, when it’s good, it’s GOOD. When it’s not so great, it makes the runs more technical and challenging. But sometimes I just want to cruise and not worry about my edge catching a rock or an ice field. Ahhh, good ole northeast skiing, haha
Wildcat is my favorite New England mountain, most similar to out west if you can catch it on a pow day it’s pretty epic, about 3 hours 1 way from around Boston, never hit maine mountains or jay peak or anything because they’re too far for a day trip. Loon is also great. Breton woods has the omnia hotel near by which is fun for a long weekend trip and has a cool historical vibe. Crotched is a great little local hill and midnight madness on the weekend is a local crowd favorite. Plenty of great mountains in NH, don’t skip it!
Crotched is my home mountain, I freaking love it. I agree Wildcat is a great mountain, but it is dependent on having good natural snow days, their lifts frequently shut down due to win too, but it has some nice terrain.
On the plus side for NH skiers, if you grow up skiing some of the most difficult lift serviced terrain in North America, thinking in particular of tight, icy, rocky glades and sleep, icy moguls. Makes switching to softer conditions easier than it is vice versa.
Powder skiing is a very different style, but im happy to be going from ice to pow rather than the other way around.
I own land 10 minutes from Cannon Mountain and there’s plenty of powder days
Right? I live in Maine and skied both states extensively. First trip to Alta, Utah and ready to attack a black diamond run I was pleasantly surprised to be able to grab an edge and no chatter on the steeps. Made it seem like a blue back home.
@@robertdillon9989 unfortunately I live near Boston so no powder days for us 😔
If you like skiing in condo backyards and strip malls and extreme prices go to Vermont. If you prefer the outdoor experience to be in a National Forest go to New Hampshire......PS no sales tax in NH
You just haven’t been to the right areas in VT
It’s so funny because NH is all strip malls hahah and VT banned billboards
@@billycarleton7646 So did Maine.
Honestly Cannon, Waterville, and Bretton woods are great places to ride.
We used to ski at Wildcat when I was a kid. Skiing was great there.
This was great, thank you!
The best location for a new ski area in NH is Mt. Blue north of the Appalachian trail, east of the Benton trail. All of the land is National Forest, not a wilderness area, or a scenic area. Close to I-93, over 3000' vertical, over 4500' summit. The high-elevation northeast-facing terrain would hold snow, and be leeward of the prevailing winds.
Sure. The top is owned by Dartmouth and they already have a ski area, and is close enough to the Appalachian Trail you'd run into all sorts of issues there. Otherwise, people would throw an absolute fit. But go on.
@@ofsevit Dartmouth owns the area to the south of the summit, but not to the north.
As a Boston area resident, I appreciate your honest reviews of North American and world ski resorts. What New Hampshire lacks in skiing, it makes up for in hiking. The best eastern skiing is in Vermont.
Issue 1: snow.
We're done here.
I've been skiing around New England for over 25 years. Snow is the issue. Smaller, less crowded resorts in NH are still great though!
N. Conway has a great trifecta of Cranmore, Attitash, and Wildcat all within 30 minutes. Stay in Jackson for slightly less expensive rooms, pick a mountain in the morning, and have a different experience every day. 3 days at Wildcat, Attitash, and Cranmore will feel better than spending 3 days at the bigger mountains in Vermont and Maine outside of Killington + Pico in terms of variety and fun.
The top of Wildcat and Attitash especially have great views of the white mountains and i think you can see the presidentials from both of them.
I hope NH stays the way it is. Soul of NE skiing. Cannon is the Jackson Hole of the East. Demanding runs, steep. The best alpine views and situation in Franconia Notch. You forgot all the accessible skiing with Mittersill next door. I'd take Cannon any day. On a good day you can get big vertical lapping the tram especially midweek. Plus the smell of wood smoke and wet wool in the base lodge.
Other than Loon, the ski resorts in NH are less crowded than the VT ski resorts. Who needs a special ski town. Everything is more crowded and more expensive at the destination ski town.
Most of the Vermont resorts do feel very touristy
I don’t think you will but I’d love to see a video on magic mountain VT it’s a great little mountain I know you guys have it on your website but I think having it in video format would be epic
Come to Mt. Washington Valley during the winter vacation weeks and I believe you will find your answer.
I've said it before I'll say it again, NH has better mountains for hiking VT has better mountains for skiing. There are 22 mountains higher in NH than the tallest mountain in VT. That being said I learned to ski in NH and still love to come back. Personally I think out of all of the North East, NH ski resorts have the most scenic views.
I've done daytrips to Wildcat and Cannon. I'm 20 minutes from Stowe and Sugarbush. It was worth it but a long day round trip. Accommodations to overnight? Have never looked into it.
NH has some pretty good lift serviced ski areas. But, pound-for-pound, 16 miles of oceanfront provide numerous, high quality surf spots.
It was great to ski with you at tux! Hopefully I’ll see you again this spring:) Btw I loved the video!
Great content, I hope the channel grows in 2025, we also need a review of Sugarloaf and the new expansion next year.
Seems like every mountain you listed is jam-packed every weekend. The North Conway might be the best in New England and is busy most of the year.
SNOW, that's the main reason. When resorts were initially developed man made snow was basically science fiction and it seems early on it was easier to build a ski resort. Also despite Boston being close the vast majority of Ski resorts in New England were started by people from the greater NYC area. Most Vermont ski towns were basically repurposed rural towns which is where the charm comes from. As for the Balsams if there was a person who could make it happen it is Les Otten, I still remember the "Canyons" in Park City basically appearing overnight and he built Sunday River and was part of the Killington build out.
I heard he was in on that. His records prety good but he needs a highway to pullit off.
Is he still alive? He is a legend for Sunday River. I love that mountain. He owned part of the Sox for a while.
Love skiing!!⛷️
Vermont for skiing, New Hampshire for hiking. Balance.
Wildcat on a powder day is insanely good ! Killer glades
As a new Hampshirite- all this is true and I still prefer wildcat to anything in Vermont besides Mad River Glen
We have skied Waterville, Sunapee, Cannon, Dixville Notch (The Balsams), Bretton Woods, Storr's Hill, Whaleback and Loon in the state of NH. In the right conditions, Sunapee, Cannon, Loon and Waterville all offer a whole lot of skiing adventure with breathtaking vistas and trails of all stripes, along with some of the amenities one expects at a major ski area. Cannon is narrow, steep, twisty and challenging in my memory, along with possessing unforgettable views of the White Mts. We have skied Loon in an epic snowfall, magical, right in the heart of the White Mts. The White Mt. views at Waterville are hard to beat as it resides at the head of a vast valley surrounded by multiple 4000 footers. Sunapee has a lot of lift capacity and a wide variety of trail grades along with an expansive view to the Whites, the Greens, Cardigan and Kearsarge while overlooking beautiful Lake Sunapee to the north. There is plenty of skiing in NH.
It's fair criticism. I'm happy here as a skier with a bunch of interesting options within an hour for day trips though.
Wildcat should absolutely be on a list of some sort. The scenic views the remote old school vibes and legendary steeps of ice just across from tucks... yall just don't know...
Shhh don't tell people how good Wildcat is!
Waterville used to be the Cat’s Meow from around here in Mass, though that was 40-50 years ago. NH tended to be preferable for Boston area skiers because it was a somewhat shorter drive than either ME or VT, which of course it always will be with the exception of some southern VT locales. But the mindset sort of persists that “heading west” to ski isn’t really on the radar, it’s going north instead.
What is the town shown at 12:05?
Snow, snow, snow…only 4 Eastern ski resorts get over 300” per year…Stowe, Jay, Smuggs, Bolton Valley. Every resort in NH gets around 200” or less. But Cannon on a powder day? Hangs with best…
I wouldn't believe all those totals I just said above you can search the annual snowfall for Mt Mansfield and then compare that to what Stowe says they get. Yes powder days at Cannon are good when they come and I can tell you for sure that they will be even better this year after working on the trails this summer. We cleaned up lots of glades and I cut so many banks on the lower mt.
@@eedom69 I am a National weather service spotter and you are right. Take ski mountain snow reports with a grain of salt. Do they ever get less that 8 inches? Snow this Thanksgiving in 2 days. Wait for the inflated holiday reports. ❄
Thank you for not going. Less people on slopes
Learned to ski at wild cat. Loved it steep and icy. I had the need for speed
I couldn’t agree more after growing up in Nh I didn’t realize how bad it is until I skiied other places in college def worth going to VT or Maine
I am pretty sure when comparing highest ski mountains, as mentioned earlier, Mt. Mansfield is Vermont's highest peak. Mt. Mansfield is also home to Stowe, making Stowe, not Killington VT's highest ski resort. Killington has the acreage, Stowe the altitude.
Nothing beats Wildcat in the northeast when it’s deep. Bless that place
I love that super long green trail from the top where you can just cruise down that long trail. I 90% skied diamonds, but something about that trail enticed me. Some places you had to CC ski it got so flat.
There are a bunch of fun ski areas in NH, especially Cannon and Loon and Waterville valley, and i use to always prefer skiing at Wildcat Mt. which is about an hr drive away from my place, because the mtn is tall with a solid 2,000 ft vert and has a nice continuous steep pitch all the way down and the summit lift was also very fast, maybe the fastest running chairlift ive ever been on and ive been on most !?.... plus the view of Mt Wash. and Tuckerman ravine that faces directly across the way is beautiful, but since Vail bought it and instantly doubled the lift pass prices a few yrs ago i never went back to ski there again....
Balsams would be awesome, Sunday River is a wicked long drive too
everything said here is not false. however, how many times you gonna go to the vt resorts on your pass? Go to nh - its beautiful. And the resorts like wildcat (surprising they still run it this way but not so much now that Ive seen how they run Kirkwood CA) are skiers mountains. No Posh BS just how I personally like it, and less crowds. Yes the VT resorts including Sugarbush are awesomer, but its not like you'll have a bad time in nh unless you go when conditions are complete @ss
Wildcat I always loved skiing there. Especially Spring skiing. I love rustic ski areas. Mt Abrams and Saddleback in my home state of Maine for instance.
During the last recession it flipped. NH was seeing more visitation at a time when the economy was weak and Maine had just increased the amount of tolls and tolling. It has since recovered but likely as we head into similar conditions the flip will happen again.
Putting together a Peak House to my home mountain? That'll be amazing! I hope I can make it onto the slopes when you're in town in the Valley! I'd love to meet up if my schedule allows.
New Hampshire skiing as good as Vermont full stop. Loon, Wildcat, Attitash, Cannon…..many others as well. A beautiful day at Loon is unforgettable. Great trails. So it’s probably a matter of taste.
You guys want to put some snow on that ice?
The thing about New Hampshire is that no single resort "has it all" but they are all super unique and packed with charm and character. If you're operating out of North Conway, you can ski challenging natural terrain all day at wildcat today, they head over to Bretton Woods for perfectly manicured groomers tomorrow, and then hit Cranmore for great family vibes the next day... but you're just not going to get all that in one place. A "destination trip" may not be a strong prospect in New Hampshire, but a _roadtrip_, or series of hops around to various resorts from a central hub like Lincoln or North Conway, can be very rewarding.
Loon is awesome! Have you seen it's terrain park. Definitely the best in New England.
They had sick parks like 20+ years ago. I went once like a few years ago and they had a lot of rails and stuff and I liked their older parks better. But Loon is the most popular place in NH for parks. The pitch of Loon is fun and rolly too.
@@eedom69 They have huge jumps now, bigger than Killington and Sunday River.
@@Chikov2 I believe it. Think they had something to do with some of the Superparks for snowboarding in the past. When I went there once in 2021 they had some big step down jumps that looked scary to me. Last season I worked in Cannon's park. We had quite a few jumps, but maybe not that big. Think our biggest one from lip of the take off to the start of the landing was maybe 28-29 toe to heel steps in my size 8 boots.
I've seen some videos of Killington's peace park that looks cool and the Stash wood park that I'd like to ride.
I am not counting on The Balsams opening any time soon. That has been on the drawing boards for AGES
Bretton woods actually averages over 250 inches of snow each year that was just last year‘s pattern and we have a new resort opening in Pittsburgh New Hampshire re
Bretton Woods has great snow. Crawford Notch has it's own climate.
I wondered that as a young kid myself. I always wanted to go to places like Attitash, but we'd always end up going to Mt. Snow, Okemo, Stratton, etc.
Then I realized it would take us 4 or 5 hours to get to the spots in NH that I wanted to go to, compared to the 2-2.5hrs it took to get to the places I mentioned in VT(we lived near Hartford, CT.)
The north side of Mt Adams / King Ravine is perfect for a 4K vertical ft resort to be developed. You would need a tram for the summit.
It would be nice if you had captions showing what resorts are being shown in each of your clips.
I snowmobile in those mountains around Colebrook and can say during a good year they get a ton of snow!❄️
Excellent. I’ve wondered about this.
I grew up in NH. Skiing there is not for everybody but I love it.
If you hit Cannon right it is a winter wonderland!
Nah. Skiing is terrible in NH. Stick with going to Vermont 😉 (shhhhhhhj)
Aren't NH ski areas state run?
Or owned?
Croched mountain stays open to til 3amish
can you Make a Video on the Most exciting Lift and Terrain Expansions opening winter 24/25 Like you have done in the past! love those Videos! Love Peak Rankings
Be on the lookout later this year!
@@PeakRankings ok! Can’t wait! I bet DV will make the list with the initial lifts and runs debuting this winter head of schedule! Love the channel!
wildcat mentioned!!!
It’s pretty simple, VT and ME have bigger resorts than NH. But if you’re in the Boston area then NH mountains are closer. It’s all just about your location and how far you’re willing to drive. If the driving distance isn’t an issue then obviously people are going to pick the bigger resorts.
Decades ago there was a proposal for a ski area on the northern side of Mt Waumbek, but nothing became of it.
Good vid bro. NH is lit. Except cannon, nobody go cannon
Try going on a powder day