Replying to Mt. whittier
hey i was wondering if any had heard of backcountry skiing at mt. whittier...i thought it was closed...and i was trying to look up some info on it and this is what i found
Mountain Madness Adventure Center West Ossipee •
1000' vertical.
Specs: 1 Lift: Snowcatgondola. Uphill Capacity: 8-10/hr. Terrain Mix: 0-0-100. Longest Run: 4,000'. Season: January - March.
The SKInny: This "ski area" is aptly named. Located on what was known as Mt. Whittier Ski Area, and home of the now-defunct Whittier Gondolas summer attraction, Mt. Madness is a quirky operation catering to motocross, ATVs, snowshoeing, adventure climbing...they will enable you to participate in virtually any outdoor activity you're willing to pay for. As for skiing, the snowcat will take you up the mountain (actually Mt. Nickerson, Whittier is a different peak nearby) and then you can ski down the disused ski trails. It's purely a backcountry ski experience; there is no grooming other than the cat track, no snowmaking, and the old trails are overgrown and not maintained. Add in the fact that Whittier was always known for having "no easy way down" from the summit, and you can imagine that this is not for the average recreational skier. It's worth looking into, if only because Mountain Madness has what is arguably the most unusual ski lift in the world: two old Whittier gondolas strapped to the back of the snowcat. Also note, it appears that Mountain Madness is trying to promote a slope near the base area for snowboarding/freestyle skiing.
has ne one gone? is it any good?
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