New Hampshire  New Hampshire ToDo
MagazineBy Heather Burke What was once called Medicare Mountain for its tame terrain and aesthetic views now offers something for almost everyone with new trails, glades, terrain parks, speedy lifts, a beautiful base-loge and even a ski train.  Bretton
Woods has grown significantly during the past decade to become NH’s
largest ski resort, eclipsing Attitash in 1999. It has always been a
photogenic spot, surrounded by Mount Washington, The Presidentials and
Crawford Notch. While the views obviously haven’t changed, the venue
has. The ski area now sprawls to the west and east, tripling the
resort’s original 1973 size, and opening up new vistas for skiers and
riders while tapping into more challenging terrain. Director of
Operations Chris Ellms said, “We’re excited about the ongoing growth
at Bretton Woods.”We revisited Bretton Woods this December. While few other New England ski resorts were open, Bretton Woods had made plenty of snow with their impressive snowmaking system. In fact, Bretton Woods now boasts the longest ski season in New Hampshire, a trend started in 2003 when the resort opened Nov. 9 and did not close until May 4. Arriving at the Base Lodge, which has grown leaps and bounds in the past five years, we were greeted by cheery Mountain Hosts, who actually helped unload our skis. My kids both commented on how staff was “everywhere,” my daughter was a bit spooked that, “they are all smiling.” Must be something in the White Mountain spring water, I told her.  My
kids aren’t the only ones to notice this attention to detail. Ski
Magazine referred to Bretton Woods as the “Deer Valley of New
Hampshire” in the October 2005 issue. If you know Deer Valley, you
know it is the most posh ski resort on the planet with service nearing
perfection. The owners of Bretton Woods I am certain did not mind this
comparison since they emphasize staff friendliness in their extensive
training.The resort is owned by four NH families, the Bedor and Presby families act as on site managers. The partners’ goal was to reconsolidate the lodging and amenities under one mega-resort umbrella. The quest began in 1983 with the purchase of the Cog Railway, next the Mount Washington Hotel was purchased at auction in ’91, the Golf Course and Nordic ski area followed in ’93, and the Ski Area and Sport Center plus 950 acres were acquired in ’97 – which completed the re-consolidation of the original resort.  We
had skied Bretton Woods before the addition of the high-speed quad on
West Mountain (added in 2001) and the Rosebrook Summit expansion
(2003-2004 season), and always found the intermediate boulevards to be
groomed to pleasant perfection, framed by the outstanding view of
Mount Washington. But we didn’t find anything particularly
challenging, nothing to get your heart pumping. My son loves steeps
and my daughter loves to ski in the trees. Well, it seems they read our minds, by carving out some steeper trails on both Rosebrook and West Mountains, like the short but sweet pitch on Little Tuckerman served by the West Mountain Express. New black-diamond runs reached by the Rosebrook high-speed quad include trails that Bode Miller helped design like Snake, Devil’s Den, and his namesake Bode’s Run under the lift – show off. To satisfy my daughter’s glade craving, West Mountain is sprinkled with beautiful birch grove glades, and Rosebrook Canyon to the east offers nearly a dozen more unique tree-lined runs.  The
resort now offers 101 trails, serviced by 9 lifts, 4 of which are
high-speed quads. And there is more on tap, according to Ellms, with
future plans for more trails and a lift on Mt. Stickney, east of Mt.
Rosebrook.Andy Norton, Assistant Mountain Manager said, “We want to make sure our guests have the best ski experience possible, from the snow quality to the grooming, the lifts and the friendliness of everyone here.” N.H. native Norton grew up in the ski biz; his father Bill ran Cannon for years. For a splendidly scenic lunch spot, get a window table at the Top O’Quad Restaurant. A warm-up break inside the authentic Cog railcar at the summit of West Mountain is another novelty. For 2006, snowshoe trails on Bretton Woods are lift-accessible so they (and cross-country skiers) can enjoy the upper elevation snow and incredible views without the hike. Bretton Woods also launches two new terrain parks, to total three, loaded with hits and tricks on Rosebrook Meadow and the Range View trail. Night owls can ski under the lights on 4 trails on weekends and holidays. Bretton Woods still shines brightly as a place for learning families. The Learning Center Quad is free if you want to learn to turn on your own, or get your youngster out for “first tracks.” Next door to the expansive base lodge is the Learning Center where you can get professional “Red Carpet” ski instruction and set your kids up at the Hobbit Ski School. Babes In the Woods Nursery is for not-yet-skiing children 2 months to 5 years. I took my kids here when they were wee-ones (admittedly, a while ago). It was great then – and looks like it has only gotten better – exceptional staff, organized daily programs. They even host themed kids’ après-ski parties so Mom and Dad can enjoy live entertainment and a toddy in the Slopeside Pub.  Owner
Cathy Bedor said, “We also encourage skiers to go over to the Hotel
for their après ski and think of it as an extended base lodge, not
just for hotel guests. Sitting by the grand fireplace in the lobby or
watching the alpenglow on Mount Washington from our Rosebrook Lounge
is a glorious way to end a ski day. We think of the Hotel as the
classiest base lodge around.” Take it from our experience, once you enter the winter wonderland of the 1902 Mount Washington Hotel, you will want to stay… for cocktails in the Princess Lounge, for dinner and dancing in the Ballroom, for the live band in the speakeasy Cave, for a romantic sleigh ride around the resort, or just to say you slept in a palace. The historic Hotel was winterized and opened for its first ski guests in 1999. It is one of the most grand ski hotels in the country.  While
our family is not nuts about Nordic (preferring the gravitational pull
of downhill skiing) we were nothing but impressed by Bretton Woods’
Ski Touring Center. Entering the posh Nordic Center, built in 2002,
you immediately recognize that skinny skiing can be refined, not
rustic like your average lean-to. This beautiful lodge serves as the
Golf Club House in the summer - Bode comes to golf too. 100-kilometers
of Nordic trails surround the Hotel property, 1,770 acres – much of
the network is within White Mountain National Forest. And
finally, you can ride the 1869
Cog Railway and
ski alongside the train on Mount Washington as part of your Bretton
Woods’ experience (The Cog opened for skiing last winter, another
historical first). See, Bode knew a good thing when he joined Bretton
Woods in 2003. While the resort continues to get bigger and better,
Bode just keeps getting faster. Make tracks to Bretton Woods this
season.Need To Know To Do: Bretton Woods Resort Phone: 603-278-3320, Lodging 800-258-0330 Vertical Drop: 1,500’ Skiable Terrain: 434 acres 9 Lifts, 101 Trails 92% snowmakings. |