NSBS Day 2: Attitash

Pat Rips a Groomer at Bear Peak

Perhaps I need to adjust The List parameters to include more than one visit. My first visit to Attitash, during the now defunct ASC regime, was less than impressive. But that visit was a free ski day during early season with only a quarter of the mountain open. I hardly gave Attitash a fair shake yet still relegated the mountain to the second tier of homogenized resorts. Today I dined on crow and it tasted great!

The morning began with a massive carboload buffet at the Grand Summit. A leisurely slope side start is an unusual luxury experience for this deal hunting day tripper. I can see the attraction of using a slopeside hotel as home base for several days of skiing. For simplicity and relaxing without worry during a ski trip, it is hard to beat. Sitting here totally disconnected from my world is a great feeling. Some people cruise to an island. This is my cruise–my island is a mountain.

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First Turns of the Season at Attitash??

Steve Doing Early Season Patch Skiing at Attitash

Already four days behind last season’s epic start, I had resigned myself to no October turns for the first time in three seasons. After a massive snow making push by seven New England ski resorts this past weekend, I was chomping at the bit to boot up and make some turns. Attitash posted some impressive pictures and video of their snow making efforts using their new line up of SMI Polecat Fan Guns. Unfortunately, the man made white gold fell on unfrozen ground which quickly melted out the snow and any chance for top to bottom turns.

On this day before my twenty-ninth birthday, I find myself one year older but no less the wiser when it comes to pursuing skiing adventures and the pursuit of turns the hard way. After jetting out of work an hour early, I pointed my car north and drove up through Franconia Notch and the down through Crawford Notch. Driving past Bretton Woods en route to Attitash, I was dumb founded by the lack of snow. While I figured Bretton Woods used the snow making more for publicity than anything substantial, I held out hope that Attitash would have the real deal. Stepping out of my car and gazing upon Roland’s Run was disheartening but I was not about to let any amount of grass between snow patches get in the way of my first turns of the season!

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Attitash, NH

Friday December 6th was Free Day at Attitash. I had requested the day off from work before I even knew of the event. Serendipity. I planned a cheap ski weekend around the Attitash Free Day. After driving up to Attitash and skiing for free, I would crash at the Hiker’s Paradise in Gorham, NH for only $15 and then hit Cannon Mountain on Saturday to use my $20 coupon. Two days of skiing and lodging for only $35… sweet!

The Free Day and recent snowfall in Boston Metro brought the crowds. I was amazed at how many people made it up for a Friday. But free skiing is free skiing! I encountered attitude everywhere and witnessed kids acting like babies, skiing/riding with complete and total disregard for others.

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