A ski area with no terrain park! How can
that be? No high speed quad either? Why would you take your kids
there? I’ll tell you why. Because Black Mountain in New Hampshire
may be the best thing for you, your kids, and your wallet.
Black Mountain is retro skiing, the way the sport used to be - in a
good way. Picture true trail skiing – the kind that follows the
mountain’s inherent fall line down 1,100’ vertical and snakes down
tree lined routes on soft natural snow. No buffed wide boulevards
here, but there is Black Beauty instead - a 1.5 mile long path from
the scenic summit that will have you and the kids wondering what
awaits around the next bend, and whether you might encounter another
skier – doubtful.
Black
has a reliable old double chair that spaces skiers out on summit
trails White Knuckle and Maple Slalom, and gets you to the best
views of nearby Attitash and mighty Mount Washington. Or you can
unload just prior to the summit steeps to reach the majority of more
mellow runs like Sun Valley and Galloping Goose.
Black’s two slow scenic chairlifts provide time to reflect, relax
and enjoy a more classic concept of skiing (with a bonus sunny
southern exposure). There is nothing hurried here (unlike many
mountains that have become downright hectic from find parking to
fighting your way through the lift line). At age 75, Black still
hums at a happy pace, without the latest fanfare of 40'machine made
jumps or the frenzy of detachable lifts. The views are pastoral in
this picturesque town of Jackson, right down to the pasture of
horses you can pet next to the cozy base lodge.
Inside
the lodge is affordable food and a lively Pub with couches to view
the horses and the sunny slopes you skied, a welcome compliment to
your $99 day family ticket. That’s family value - when four of you
(2 adults, 2 kids) can ski a weekend day for just $99, $79 midweek.
The skiing history lesson is included with your kids’ ticket; Black
is New Hampshire’s oldest ski area (circa 1934). Black is home to
the first overhead cable lift in the country which used shovel
handles to hold onto, pretty “cool.” Though I wouldn’t dwell on its’
museum qualities with the kids. Instead, show them the naturally
undulating terrain on Playground and Roller Coaster. You don’t need
huge halfpipes and rainbow rails to get air and do tricks. Black
even has exciting glades, from the gnarly Lostbo to the more tame
Sugar Glades, for fun in the tree runs.
I for one am tiring of monstrous modern terrain parks. Metal rails
and staircases are way too urban for me and have no semblance to the
real sport of skiing. I wonder where the sport is going, and I am
glad I can go back to Black.
