Cranmore Mountain - Where We Have Season Passes
Written: Jan 06 '07 (Updated Nov 05 '09)
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Pros: location, small and family oriented, tubing park, good attention to conditions
Cons: warm weather for 2 years straight, gets crowded during events
The Bottom Line: A nice place for families with all skiing abilities. There's something for everyone and non-skiers can keep track of the rest of the family very easily.
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| AliventiAsylum's Full Review: Cranmore |
We moved up to New Hampshire in a large part to be closer to skiing for the family, and so far our first two winters here have been quite mild. Tomorrow it will be 55 degrees out, in contrast to about three years ago when it was forty below this same week. Now, who doesn’t believe in global warming?
You might ask yourself what that has to do with Cranmore Mountain ski area aside from the conditions. Well, Cranmore Mountain is dedicated to running an eco-friendly operation. They are the first ski area to be operating on a biodiesel program for their snow grooming fleet (http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1183). That’s called putting your money where your mouth is, especially when your operation banks on weather conditions to operate.
Located in the scenic town of North Conway, New Hampshire, Cranmore Mountain is easy to get to. As you drive through town going north, it’s on the right and you can’t miss it. In fact, when I turn out of my development about seven miles to the south at night I can see the lights from their night-skiing, snow-making, and grooming activities. It’s very easy to find if you are heading into the area.
When fully operational, Cranmore Mountain has 40 trails serviced by 9 lifts, including a high-speed quad. The entire mountain can be serviced by the snowmaking, so generally some terrain is operational, these past two years not withstanding. Last year they managed to have all of the trails except for those on the East Slope open for the entire winter. This year, with the very mild weather and lack of snow, they have so far been averaging about 10-15 trails. Their snowmaking does a good job in the face of adversity that has been an issue all over the northeast. In previous seasons when we have traveled here, the mountain has been fully open all the way from Christmas through to the middle of March.
The crew at Cranmore Mountain does a great job keeping the mountain in shape. Grooming is done nightly, as is snowmaking if necessary. The last two seasons, it’s been necessary. That fact that it’s supposed to be 55 today and they are keeping so many trails open is a wonder to me. The conditions are terrific when it’s cold, usually groomed packed powder. In warmer conditions it’s usually loose granular. This year there have been many bare spots so we have cautioned the kids about scoping out the terrain on their first couple of trips down a trail.
Cranmore Mountain boasts 200 acres of skiing terrain with the longest run coming in at just about a mile. The summit height comes in at just 2000 feet. 36% of the trails at Cranmore Mountain are considered to be novice trails. 44% are intermediate and only 20% are advanced. There are six glades for skiing among the trees, but overall this is a resort that is friendly to people who are not expert skiers, but ski recreationally a few times a year.
There is a terrain park and when the snow is good, they do a terrific job with it. Last winter I sat on the deck of the main lodge many an afternoon and watched the skiers and boarders come down the mountain through the park. It was very entertaining. There are rails, boxes, and jumps galore.
There are two tubing hills at Cranmore Mountain, an upper hill and a lower hill. We tried both last winter and prefer the lower hill. That’s a good thing since that’s all that’s been open so far this year. The rope tow with that works very well and I felt secure sending my 5 year old up alone in a tube last year. At the end it’s a bit bumpy, but not too bad. We had a lot of fun here. Make sure the nets are up at the end of the hill! Last Christmas Eve I witnessed a gaggle of teens go over the end and toward the parking lot. They do let you tie tubes together and go down in groups.
Night skiing is offered on Saturday nights until 9 PM, plus Wednesday nights during Christmas week and President’s week. There are usually a lot of other activities going on as well for both children and adults.
There are plenty of places to buy food, but it’s very expensive. We usually try to pack a lunch. The food is typical cafeteria style with burgers, pizza, fries, etc. Zips pub serves drinks, including Rumpleminze which I love to get when it’s cold.
The children’s program is offered on various levels for full or half days. My kids all ski with friends and in the ski program at their schools, so we haven’t had to avail ourselves of the lessons offered at any of the areas anymore. Rentals are available, but I find it better to rent in town as it’s cheaper and more efficient.
Crowds can be a problem, especially on weekends when there are special events. The mountain isn’t large and it is a rather condensed area. The outside area has a lot of nice ambience, though. I can go up on the top deck of the main lodge and sit in an Adirondack chair to scope out the skiers coming down. I generally can see the kids when they come through on their way to the lift for the next trip up with no problem. There are also a couple of fire pits to warm up next to as well as some old skimobile cars, which is how skiers used to get up the mountain here. And yes, I did ride the skimobile back when I was a teenager.
Lift tickets for the 2006-2007 season are priced as follows: Adults (ages 19-64): $47; Teens (ages 13-18): $36; Kids/Seniors (ages 6-12 and 65+): $26; Kids 5 and under are free. If you stay at lodging in the area many offer discounted tickets on weekends and ski and stay packages throughout the week. Tubing runs $23 for an all-day ticket or $18 for 2 hours.
I always feel safe when my kids ski at Cranmore Mountain. The slopes are monitored and it seems as if the wild ones are watched. We have only had instances of unchecked behavior during the most crowded times, and when we found a ski patrol we were asked to point out the offender and the situation was taken care of. They really dedicate themselves to being family-friendly and making the slopes safe for all.
I sure hope we get more snow this season so my kids get more use out of their ski passes! But even if this season turns out to be a dud, I would purchase season passes next year without hesitation to Cranmore Mountain. Sooner or later we have to get a killer winter again!
Website: www.cranmore.com
Phone #: 1-800-SUN-N-SKI
Other sites to see in New Hampshire:
Attitash Bear Peak Ski Resort ~ Bretton Woods Ski Resort ~ Canobie Lake Park ~ Franconia Notch State Park ~ Kancamagus Highway ~ King Pine Ski Resort ~ Loon Mountain Ski Resort ~ Madison Boulder Natural Area ~ Mount Washington Cog Railway ~ North Conway, NH ~ Polar Express Event ~ Shawnee Peak, Bridgeton ME ~ Six Gun City ~ Story Land ~ Whale's Tale Waterpark ~ White Lake State Park ~ White Mountain National Forest ~ Wildcat Mountain
Some places to stay in New Hampshire:
Attitash Mountain Village - Bartlett NH ~ Comfort Inn & Suites - North Conway NH ~ Hampton Inn - Concord/Bow NH ~ Yankee Clipper Motel
Places to eat in New Hampshire:
Bea's Cafe, Conway NH ~ Cafe Noche, Conway NH ~ Decades Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Delaney‘s Hole in the Wall, North Conway NH ~ Harts Turkey Farm, Meredith NH ~ May Kelly's Cottage, North Conway NH ~ Merlino's Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Moat Mountain Smokehouse, North Conway NH ~ Muddy Moose, North Conway NH ~ Peach's Restauran, North Conway NH ~ Red Parka Steakhouse & Pub, Glen NH ~ Yankee Smokehouse, West Ossipee NH
Books about the area:
Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide ~ 50 Hikes in the White Mountains
© 2007 Patti Aliventi
Recommended:
Yes
Level of Experience Needed: All
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Member: Patti Aliventi
Location: Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
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