Ever skier friendly and fun, Attitash marks 50th year

From the top of Upper Saco, it looks harder than it really is. (Lebanon Voice/Harrison Thorp photo)

BARTLETT, N.H. - Three things I'll always remember about my second time at Attitash on Monday.

First, getting out of the rentals shop in about six minutes.

Second, the quality of the ski conditions after a 24-hour deluge the day before.

And thirdly, after taking a little tumble toward the end of the day, seeing two members of the mountain's ski patrol a few seconds later appear out of nowhere to see if I was OK, other than a little embarrassed, that is.

It was my first visit to Attitash since the winter 1967, back in the day when they had a full-sized monorail car near the base lodge, the harbinger of the next big thing in ski lifts. Upon its completion it was expected to speed skiers to the top of the mountain in heated comfort. The project was later scuttled being deemed impractical, but the ski area's passion for innovation in customer service has never waned.

Hence the short rental shop stay. Unlike many ski areas where long lines form to fill out paperwork for each member of the family, at Attitash you just come into the shop, pick out your own boots and take them to staff who outfit you with the rest. When you're done, they hand you a form where you notate you ski ability and sign your name. It takes all of five seconds.

Asked why they do it that way, a rental tech said simply, "We don't like to keep you from what you're here for."

Then it was off to find a nice, easy cruiser, which was, well, fairly easy. First, we took the summit triple chair to the top of Attitash, whose peak elevation is 2,350, with a 1,750 vertical drop. There weren't any novice cruisers down, so we chose an intermediate trail called the Upper Saco which was pretty skiable. You want to stay aware of the trail markings as there are options along the way for black diamonds that you may or may not want to take.

The monorail parked in front of the Attitash base area back in the 1960s. (Courtesy photo)

After staying on Upper Saco we came to the proverbial fork in the road, black diamond Ammo Pitch or Chicken's Option. Guess which one we chose.

Then, at another fork, there was the black diamond Idiot's Option or the intermediate Ammonoosuc. Again, we chose discretion.

By the time we had wended our way down the mountain we were on Lower Cathedral, zipping past rows of condominiums where lucky folk get dressed, eat some breakfast and ski down to the lifts from their mountainside digs.

And even as we sped by those condos, I remembered from 48 years ago that this was my favorite run my first time at Attitash, too.

But Attitash has added a lot since then so folks can find new favorites, either on the Attitash side or adjacent Bear Peak, a second mountain just north of Attitash. Bear Peak has slightly lower elevation and vertical drop, but no shortage of black diamonds or challenging intermediate trails.

For true beginners the lower third of both mountains has lots of easy glades and trails and plenty of lifts to take you to them.

For the record, our favorite trail on Bear Peak was Wandering Skis.

Attitash, meanwhile, for the record, has some huge goings-on coming up this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday Attitash Mountain Resort - and sister resort Wildcat - will recognize our nation's servicemen and women by offering free lift tickets for active, veteran and retired military as well as discounted lift tickets ($45 All Ages) for active duty family members with ID.

Then on Jan. 26, this Monday, Attitash will celebrate its 50^th birthday by offering full-day lift tickets for just $19.65. The birthday discount signifies the year Attitash started and will be available at Wildcat, too.

For more information on Attitash Mountain Resort click here.

Attitash by the numbers

Vertical Drop: 1750' (Attitash), 1450' (Bear Peak)

Base Elevation: 600' (Attitash and Bear Peak)

Summit Elevation: 2350' (Attitash), 2050' (Bear Peak)

Number of trails: 67 27% most difficult, 46% intermediate and 27% novice

Lifts: 11 3 quads (2 high speed detachable), 3 triples, 3 doubles and 2 surface lifts

Terrain Parks: 5 Lower Myth Maker, Lower Kachina, Lower Ptarmigan, Blueberry Lane and Lower Avenger.

Tree Skiing: 60+ acres of terrain located on both Attitash Mountain and Bear Peak

Total Skiable Acres: 310+

Trail Mileage: 23 miles

Snowmaking: Can cover 98% of our terrain and trails.

Average Annual Snowfall: 120 inches

Average Season Length: Late November into April

Mountain Exposure: Northern (Attitash and Bear Peak)

Uphill Lift Capacity: 14,385 pph