Whaleback Mountain

History buffs often refer to New Hampshire as the cradle of alpine skiing in America. The sheer volume of old rope and tow community facilities back in the day supported that idea. With the New England region seeing over 500 of these smaller venues close in recent decades, it is refreshing to see places like the Whaleback Mountain ski area continue.

The non-profit-owned winter venue sits just east of Lebanon, New Hampshire, across from the border with Vermont. It sits off of Interstate 89 and is close to the intersection with I-91. Lebanon's Municipal Airport is the nearest airfield, with larger facilities at Boston's Logan International Airport, 124 miles away.

A Whale of a Good Time

The Whaleback Mountain ski area sits within New Hampshire's humid continental climate, which provides the cooler temperatures and winter moisture that ski areas require. Average annual snowfalls amounts here are roughly 110 inches. The ski area maintains snowmaking equipment on about 60-percent of the terrain, allowing guests to enjoy fun and safe conditions throughout the ski season. Opening day for the season often arrives sometime in December and lasts until base conditions deteriorate in March, with average ski seasons lasting over 100 days.

The base elevation at the Whaleback Mountain ski area is 1,100 feet, and the slopes top out at 1,800 feet. Visiting rippers and shredders have 700 vertical feet to drop down as they carve the snow. Nearly half of the trails have some form of lighting, so night skiing is an option for alpine lovers.

The Whaleback Mountain is a small winter venue, so amenities are limited on-mountain. Rentals and repairs are available, along with some store/sales and refreshment/snacks. Those guests that require lodging for stays longer than a day, or more dining and shopping, can use the town of Lebanon as a base of operations.

Old-School Community Vibe

The operations at the Whaleback Mountain ski area are a throwback to decades long gone. That does not mean the facilities have not upgraded since their first opening in the 1950s. It means that this venue has more "Old New England Vibe" than many of the neighboring corporate-owned ski areas do. That creates a relaxed atmosphere that casual snow hounds and families desire.

The Whaleback Mountain ski area is not entirely kicked-back, though. It hosts the Whaleback Night Race League, which is popular with ski bums around here. These events are held on Friday nights, attracting a more serious crowd. That keeps the lit portion of the 85 alpine acres busy.

Guests at the Whaleback Mountain ski area have 30 named trails to pick from as they attempt to carve the pow. Under 30-percent of the mountain has green ratings for newbies to learn and grow their skill set. Nearly 40-percent of the terrain is rated as blue for those who have some experience on their skis or snowboards, with the remaining runs listed as black diamond (advanced) or double diamond (expert).

A double chair and three surface lifts move guests at the Whaleback Mountain ski resort.