New Hampshire Scouting Out Deals in New Hampshire By Heather Burke  This
has been a season of extreme colds and big snowstorms here in New
England. After purchasing a record number of disposable hand warmers
for my kids during the below zero spells of January and February, I am
really looking forward to spring. Its time to shed some layers and ski
the softening base depths of our winter bounty.Southern and central New Hampshire areas have been in the Snow Belt this season, getting several huge snow dumps, making them a good bet this spring. I have an affinity for the Granite State’s scenic, family-friendly ski areas. They are easy to get to, and often less expensive. And this spring, their snow totals bode well for great March skiing, despite lower elevations. Here are four ski areas easily reached from the greater Boston area offering big mountain skiing with small resort vibes.  Don’t let the name
Ragged fool
you. This family-friendly ski area in Danbury, New Hampshire has more
than doubled in size in the past five years. Ragged’s slick
six-passenger lift, installed last season, reaches the summit in 4 ½
minutes, which should satisfy the most vertically addicted in your
family. But there is no need to run yourself “ragged.” Take time to enjoy this resort, and to appreciate the details, like the tastefully designed New England-style base area, modeled after a farmhouse and a classic big red barn with silo, a step above the typical concrete bunker of a base lodge. Ragged has something for everyone, two mountains - Ragged and Spear, and 50 trails worth of variety. Ragged Mountain is the peak serviced by the six-seater lift. This oversized flying couch, the only six-pack in New Hampshire, can seat your entire family and lift lines are no worry.  From the top of Ragged, a meandering Easy Winder trail allows
beginners to experience the summit, while rolling, knolling Exhibition
is an aptly named cruiser for its lift line venue.Those who love glades will find copious tree runs, with entertaining names like Casper’s Cascade and Stinky’s Slide. Park and pipe fans will discover an entire trail dedicated to the Infinite boarder cross and Terrain Park, punctuated at the end by a halfpipe. Spear Mountain to the west is a separate mountain peak. The ride up is a slower triple chair, more relaxed and less popular than Ragged’s showcase lift – but definitely worth your turns on the popular Flying Yankee trail, or for searching out more tenacious glades. Ragged has a six-pack of a deal – buy six tickets for the price of five, the coupons are fully transferable. So your kids can split their first six-pack (ok – bad joke) and ski for $25 each. Or bring a 2002/2003 lift ticket or season's pass from another mountain to Ragged’s ticket window after March 3 and receive $10.00 off Monday - Thursday.  Twenty
minutes up the road in Plymouth, New Hampshire is
Tenney Mountain,
back on the ski scene after being closed last year. Tenney has an “all
you can ski” $149 spring pass from now till the end of the season.
This special, along with other revitalizing ideas, are the brainchild
of extreme ski film star Dan Egan, Tenney’s new general manager. “Tenney is such an authentic ski experience, the trails here have so much personality and the lifts are not high-speed which gives the place a real mountain culture,” said Egan. “We offer real value to our customers with our skiing and a focus on services.” Tenney’s Hornet double chair to the summit brings you to some time-honored trail skiing on soft, less-trafficked snow. All Tenney’s trails have been newly named, with a natural flower and wildlife theme, in keeping with the desire to preserve the ski experience in its essence.  For
adventure, Tenney has a plethora of glade trails like Fisher Cat,
Black Fly and Hornet Glades. Plus there is the new Base Camp Terrain
Park with hits, spines, and tables. A lower-mountain triple chair on the west side is ideal for learning families. There is a hometown feeling at  Tenney,
a friendliness you don’t find at larger, busier areas, like the free
hot cocoa served around the patrollers’ bonfire at the summit. But
there is also anticipation in the air, hopes of catching a glimpse of
skiing icon Dan Egan. Egan has “extreme” enthusiasm for resurrecting and expanding the 110-acre ski facility. He also has plans to revolutionize snowmaking with Japanese ICS technology, which will allow him to open Tenney as early as October 1 next season. Tenney plans to become New England’s first to open last to close ski area, a veritable Mt. Hood of the East. For now, Tenney has affordable pricing. The Sunday Special ticket is $25 for skiing 8:30-12:30 for adults; kids tickets are $21, so a family of four can ski for less than a C-note. A bit further south, Mount Sunapee in Newbury, New Hampshire is also having a great snow season, with a snow base of up to 10-feet. This pleasant ski mountain has a big area feel with 62 trails and over 1,500 vertical. Bring the camera for next year’s holiday family photo; the views are fantastic on a sunny day. For deals, kids six and under ski Sunapee for free. Thursdays are two for $48 for out-of-staters. And April 6 is Mount Sunapee Cares and Shares day; tickets are $20 if you bring three non-perishable food items.  Gunstock
in Gilford, New Hampshire, overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and the
White Mountains, is another family gem. Gunstock sells a six-pack of
fully transferable tickets, which works out to $20 per child per day.
Or your family can ski for $129 on the Sunday family four-pack. Spring is the best time to ski with your family. For one thing, you can actually see the kids’ smiles, without neck gators or facemasks. You will save on lift tickets, hot cocoa breaks and hand warmers. You can string together several runs without the incessant “I’m cold – I need to go in.” And this spring, these New Hampshire areas have snow and deals to justify season-extending family ski trips. ###
At a Glance Mountain
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