Attitash

The White Mountains cover about a quarter of New Hampshire, and within the heart of that mountain range sits the Attitash Mountain Resort. Created in 1938 as a public works project by the "New Deal" agency WPA (Works Project Administration) during the Great Depression, the ski area has grown to cover two peaks with plenty of winter family fun.

I-93 is the closest Interstate to the winter venue, with access provided by US Route 302. It sits within Bartlett, New Hampshire, making it a short drive to other states in the New England region and the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick. The Portsmouth - Pease International airport is the closest airport, but guests can also fly into Logan International further south in Boston, Massachusetts.

Two Peaks of Fun

The Attitash Mountain Resort is home to two mountain peaks, its namesake and Bear Peak. A base of 600 feet is towered over by a top summit elevation of 2,350 feet, giving skiers and riders up to 1,750 feet of vertical drop to play with on the way down the slopes. There are over 311 acres of alpine terrain to carve, with a trail system roughly 23 miles in length. Visitors also have access to over 60 acres of tree skiing between the two mountains.

The Attitash Mountain Resort sits in New Hampshire's humid continental climate, which provides cooler temperatures and snowfall during the winter months. It receives, on average, snowfall amounts above 135 inches. That would limit the ski season and make for a poor base if not for the snowmaking equipment. All but a fraction of the Attitash ski area has snowmaking capabilities to keep conditions just right.

Temperatures can vary in the region, with severe cold spells when that cold air dips down from north of the border. A successful day on Attitash and Bear Peak involves dressing in layers, so you can adjust your clothing to match the ever-changing weather.

Old New England Trails

Guests will hear park rats and regional ski bums refer to the terrain here as old New England-style trails. That equates to challenges and fun, no matter what skill level visitors have. The mountain favors blue runs (44-percent) for skiers and riders with some experience, while newbies have just under 30-percent of the runs rated green to explore. Roughly 27-percent of the terrain at the Attitash Mountain Resort is rated as black diamond, giving advanced skiers and riders a workout.

Anyone looking for terrain features to play on can use the three Abernaki terrain parks at the Attitash Mountain Resort ski venue to get their kicks. These provide a different feel from the nearly 70 trails at the venue and are ideal for ripping and shredding in a progressive setting. Bear Bottom, Kachina, and Myth Maker create freestyling and lots of air.

The lift system at the Attitash Mountain Resort includes nine chairs and a surface lift that provide a maximum uphill capacity well-over 14,000 people an hour.