Lost Areas #15 - Published 29 May 1994
LOST "COLORADO" SKI AREAS - EDITION 15
Greetings from THE COLORADO SKIER Researching "lost" Colorado ski areas is the hobby of THE COLORADO
SKIER. But we ran out of lost areas in Colorado. So we decided to
cover the whole country. We've completed the SOUTHEAST and are now
working on NEW HAMPSHIRE. Is your state next?
For more info on skiing and ski areas, check out our separately posted
companion articles entitled: "THE COLORADO SKIER - TRIVIA" (with
skiing trivia questions), "THE COLORADO SKIER - SKI NEWS" (current
ski area news), and "THE TCSLISTS" which contains statistics on ski
areas (and other related subjects).
LOST "COLORADO" SKI AREAS - EDITION #15
EDITOR'S REMARKS:
A. Mark and I wondered if the new "E-Mail scheme" of sending out the
newsletter would increase the number of responses - It did. We
received 28 E-Mail responses to TRIVIA 14, breaking the old record
of 22. And that's not counting any E-Mail whose only content is
just asking to be on the mailing list. Some great trivia answers!
B. Some of the data in this post was obtained from "THE WHITE BOOK OF
SKI AREAS", which is copyrighted by Inter-Ski Services, Inc.
1. THE LOST SKI AREAS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
{Copyright 1994, THE COLORADO SKIER. All rights reserved.}
Here is the info on the ten NH ski areas we listed last time:
But first, an essay on the crazy world of CROTCHED MOUNTAIN and
its various names and parts. The CROTCHED ski area was built on
"Crotched Mountain", just west of Francestown, off Hiway 47.
Further west on the same mountain (but across the town line into
Bennington) was another ski area called ONSET. ONSET changed its
name to BOBCAT in 1977. IN 1980 BOBCAT was absorbed by CROTCHED
and became CROTCHED MOUNTAIN WEST. The two areas became connected
by one crossover run in each direction. In 1989 CROTCHED changed
its name to EVERGREEN. The last season for EVERGREEN/CROTCHED was
1990/91 and it is still closed.
ALPINE RIDGE (Gilford), [closed], Located next to GUNSTOCK in
Gilford on Hiway 11A. New name for MT ROWE in 1977. Closed after
1983/84 season.
Vertical Drop: 800 ft
Lifts: 1 double chairlift, 1 T-bar, 1 rope tow
BOBCAT (Bennington), [merged], New name for ONSET in 1977.
Merged with CROTCHED MOUNTAIN and became CROTCHED MOUNTAIN WEST in
1980. They both closed in 1991.
Vertical Drop: 651 ft Top: 2003 Base: 1352
Lifts: 2 chairlifts, 2 T-bars
CROTCHED MOUNTAIN (Francestown), [closed 1991], Located 4 miles
west of Francestown on Hiway 47. Operated from before 1964 to
1991. Absorbed BOBCAT as CROTCHED MOUNTAIN WEST in 1980. Used the
name EVERGREEN in the 89/90 and 90/91 seasons.
Pre-merger data:
Vertical Drop: 750 ft Top: 1900 Base: 1200
Lifts: 1 chairlift, 3 T-bars
Post merger data:
Vertical Drop: 1000 ft Top: 2000 Base: 1000
Lifts: 1 quad chair, 3 double chairs, 3 T-bars, 2 rope tows
DUNDEE (Conway), [very obscure], Located south of Center Conway
near Conway Lake. One reference in 1976.
Vertical Drop: 700 ft
EVERGREEN (Francestown), [name change], This was the name that
CROTCHED MOUNTAIN (which see) used for the 89/90 and 90/91 seasons.
The area is now closed.
Vertical Drop: 1000 ft Top: 2000 Base: 1000
Lifts: 1 quad chair, 3 double chairs, 3 T-bars, 3 rope tows
FITZWILLIAM (INN) (Fitzwilliam), [closed], Located 14 miles south
of Keene in Fitzwilliam. Operated from about 1964 to 1978.
Vertical Drop: 460 ft Top: 1580 Base: 1120
Lifts: 1 Poma, 3 rope tows
GARRISON HILL (Dover), [obscure], Located off the Spaulding
Turnpike. Operated in the late sixties. (Found this one yet, Dan?)
Vertical Drop: 300 ft Lifts: 1 rope tow
HOGBACK SKI TRACK (Franklin), [very obscure], One reference/1949.
INN at EAST HILL FARM (Troy), [obscure], Located east of Troy off
Hiway 124. Private area for Inn guests. Small beginner slope.
Operated an alpine slope from about 1968 to 1980. Currently a
cross country area.
Vertical Drop: 100 ft Lifts: 1 rope tow
KING'S GRANT (INN) (Laconia), [closed], Located near Gilford on
Hiway 11C. Operated from about 1968 to 1983.
Vertical Drop: 100 ft Top: 800 Base: 700
Lifts: 2 rope tows
LAKEVIEW (Weare), [obscure], Located on NH 114 in Weare.
Operated in the late sixties.
Vertical Drop: 200 ft Lifts: 2 rope tows
MITTERSILL (Franconia), [closed], Located just northwest and
adjacent to CANNON MOUNTAIN on Hiway 18. Closed in 1979.
Vertical Drop: 1600 ft
Lifts: 1 double chairlift, 2 T-bars
2. WHO REMEMBERS THESE LOST NEW HAMPSHIRE SKI AREAS?
Monadnock Monteau
Moose Mtn Oak Hill
Pinnacle Mtn Richard Taft Racing Trail
Rosebrook Snow Crest
Snow's Mtn Tenney Mtn
Tyrol Wilderness
3. LOST SKI AREA FOLLOW-UP
a. COLLEGE MOUNTAIN (Emmittsburg, MD) There was planning, circa
1992, for a $20,000,000 day ski area. DAVID, from Baltimore (?),
reports that there are now about 8 runs cut on the mountain.
Looks like perhaps one lift and around 600 ft of vertical.
b. We mentioned MIKE, from Colo Springs, who read our list of LOST
COLORADO Ski Areas and allowed as how he had skied at many of
them, including: Baker Mtn (Rabbit Ears Pass), Stagecoach,
Steamboat Lake (via sno-cat), Berthoud Pass, Continental (Climax),
Imogene Pass (Lunar Cup), Ski Dallas, and Ski Broadmoor.
4. LOST SKI AREA REQUESTS
a. "PINE HILL", NJ. - DAVID, from Albuquerque, wondered if we knew
about this one. Yes, altho we have it listed as SKI MOUNTAIN, in
the town of Pine Hill, between Blackwood and Clementon on Hiway
534. It operated for many years, up thru 1991. Way back in 1964
the area was, indeed, called PINE HILL. Vertical Drop: 237 ft.
Lifts: 1 chairlift, 1 T-bar, 1 rope tow.
David indicated that it was just down the street from a defunct
amusement park. As far as we know, CLEMENTON LAKE PARK, also on
Hiway 534, is still operating. It has one of the oldest wooden
roller coasters in the country: "Jack Rabbit", a PTC, built 1919,
side friction, figure 8 layout, 50 foot lift.
For DAN: BELLE MTN, NJ still operates.
b. SHIRLEY MEADOWS, CA - JEREMY (CA) inquired about this one. It is
located 15 miles east of Glenville, just south of Alta Sierra.
Opened about 1965. It was originally called GREENHORN MTN PARK
until 1970. [The ski area is located in "Greenhorn Mtn Park",
next to "Shirley Meadow Campground".] Closed after the 1989/90
season. Final stats:
Vertical Drop: 400 ft Top: 7100 Base: 6700
Lifts: 1 doublechair, 1 T-bar
Jeremy speculated that this was the only ski area in the Sierras
south of Sequoia. Actually we have another one listed, called
SUGAR LOAF. It was located 5 miles east of Posey. Operated from
about 1965 to 1970. Vertical: 300 ft Lifts: 2 rope tows
Meanwhile, JEFF (LA) wrote to talk about SHIRLEY MEADOWS and
indicated that it is still open (!). He also remembers another
area farther north. We remember passing a small ski area north of
Fairview on a trip from Sequoia to Lake Isabella back in 1971 (?).
As for CERRO NOROESTE and MT PINOS, that's another long story like
Crotched Mtn which we will do another time. Remind us, tho.
c. SHAWN (San Diego) wondered about an area planned in the sixties
called "Eldridge?" near Crested Butte. We draw a blank on that
one. We have ROZMAN HILL (early 50's), VELTRIE (70's), SNODGRASS
(mid-80's), and MOUNTAIN LAIR (late 80's). Any more info?
d. MICHAEL tried to stump us with lost areas called: Jugtown, Timber
Hill, Galloping Hill, and Big Vanilla. It took us a while but we
found them all. JUGTOWN was the toughest - we kept reaching for
JUG END. (Do you know where Jug End is/was, Michael?)
e. INSERT (SKI AREA) NAME - If anyone wants to see a repeat of a
specific "lost Colorado ski area", or a lost area anywhere in the
country - bring it up, we will do the research.
5. SKI NEWS
a. WHAT'S NEW - We have lots of expansion and summer construction
news on areas like: Copper, Eldora, Mittersill, Ascutney, Okemo,
Magic Mtn, and Whistler. We will cover that info in our next "Ski
News" newsletter, some time this summer. OK, just one:
b. SUNDAY RIVER - has already started construction on an expansion
into "Jordan Bowl", which will have 4 runs plus a long wide green
run home. There will be 2 chairs, including a detachable quad.
c. EXTREME - In mid-April, BRECKENRIDGE opened a new extreme skiing
area called "Lake Chutes". It is on the left side (southwest) of
Peak 8. You reach it by climbing from the top of the T-bar and
are guided by the Ski Patrol. Repeat runs are made by climbing up
the west ridge of the bowl. The exit brings you to the top of
chair #6. [About time Breck got some Expert terrain.]
Mark "boarded" the chutes on closing day, 8 May. The chutes have
a steepness of 50 degrees with one, Zoot Chute, approaching 60
degrees. This is the steepest terrain Mark has ever skied or
boarded. The patrolman said that Mark was the first person he had
ever seen board the steep side of Zoot Chute. (Aw right Mark!)
Mark also rode a chairlift with Gordon Briner, the area manager.
He said that the late close in 94 was very successful and Breck
will plan to close on 7 May next season. He says that they are
seriously considering putting lifts up into the Peak 8 and Peak 9
above timberline bowl areas.
d. LATE CLOSING DERBY
Late Closing Areas
Mt. Baker 1 May
Kirkwood 4 May
Squaw Valley 8 May
Breckenridge 8 May
Keystone 8 May
Loveland 8 May
Alpine Meadows 16 May
Still Open Close ?
Mammoth 30 May (just "barely"!)
Mt. Bachelor 12 June
A-Basin 22 June (looks more like 15 June)
Timberline August
You are probably wondering why we don't list Killington and Sunday
River. Both of those areas are down to one lift and one run
(advanced skiers only) and are essentially closed. They are only
staying open to see who blinks. OTOH, A-Basin had top-to-bottom
skiing, all lifts running, and 90% terrain open, on 5/20.
Did you hear about the freak spring storm in the Sierras? The
ghost town of Bodie received 18 inches of snow on 17 May. Nearby
MAMMOTH MTN, got 11 inches. That saved their late season as they
had been down to their usual closing day base depth.
6. ERRATA - As Yogi Bear would say, is that you "Boo Boo"?
(Forgive us Ullr, for we have goofed. Well, if you write 52
newsletters, mostly off the top of your head, you're bound to make
a few mistakes.)
a. COLLEGE MOUNTAIN (Emmittsburg, MD) - We said that "St. Mary's
College" was against this planned area. Wrong - that college is
many miles away in the town of St. Mary's. The college that is
complaining is actually "MOUNT St. Mary's College", whose property
is adjacent to the planned ski area IN Emmittsburg. Makes a lot
more sense now. Thanks to ROBERT (MD) for clarifying.
b. CLOUDCROFT, NM - We said that this area was <100> miles north of
the farthest south area, MT LEMMON. We don't know what map, or
what eyes, or what brain we were using that day. It is actually
about <38> miles farther north - as pointed out by WES (of AZ?).
c. GRAY ROCKS, QUE - DAVID (from ???) wants to know why we only gave
this area honorable mention in the "color names" trivia answer.
Well, we almost always restrict trivia answers to U.S. ski areas.
However, as David points out, the question didn't say "U.S. only"
so Gray Rocks and the color GRAY are legitimate answers.
d. We asked "KJ" (from Phoenix) if he played basketball. SHE says
yes. (Played on her HS team in Montana.)
e. FACTS? - Our newsletters contain lots of facts and they are as
accurate as our sources, which are sometimes suspect. Example:
CANNON MTN had an old aerial tram which held 24 skiers. In 1980
the tram was upgraded to cars holding 80 skiers. Let us quote
from our most recent ski history book acquisition:
"... it could haul <200> skiers to the top IN ONE TRIP (emphasis
added). The tram was replaced in 1979 by a larger system that
could carry <500> skiers PER TRIP." (folks on the roof?)
7. TRIVIA FOLLOW UP
a. WHO DAT? - Concerning ski areas named after real folks, BILL (CA)
wonders if secondary names count. For example, DONNER SKI RANCH
is named after DONNER Pass which is named after the DONNER party,
which is named after Mr. DONNER. Does that count? Yes, as long
as we can identify Mr. Donner. If we eliminate secondary naming,
we will be down to one or two areas which are really named
directly after folks. [There was a "TED'S SKI HILL" in Iowa,
previously called "TED KALEN'S".] BTW, if you are going to
suggest names, you have to identify the person. For example, who
was "Tuckerman" and who was "Baker"?
b. "AVENGER" CARS - We get the impression that most of you were just
guessing and naming any British cars you could think of. If
anyone REALLY knows the answer, please write back. The EMMA PEEL
car is easy - it is a small, black, sleek sports car contemporary
to the mid-sixties era. The JOHN STEED car (which we aren't sure
about) is a big boxy looking thing that looks more like a touring
car than a sports car. Our best advice is that it is an "antique"
sports car from the thirties, probably a well known name.
c. SKI WITH THE BEATLES - JEFF (CO) wants to know where to find a
poster or picture showing THE BEATLES in ski togs. He thinks that
the picture came from the movie "Hard Day's Night". (Actually we
think it came from their second movie, "Help".) Anyone seen it?
Jeff wants to use it in his ski shop: "Summit Ski & Sports Wear"
- Pagosa Springs, CO. (Do we get a discount for the plug?)
d. JEFF CAMPBELL - was the answer to a previous trivia question
asking which NFL player lives in Vail. Jeff played tailback at
Battle Mtn HS (serves Vail), and was a wide receiver and punt
returner for CU and the Detroit Lions. Good news - Jeff has been
traded to the Denver Broncos.
8. EPILOG
a. Please provide your CITY NAME in E-Mails to TCS.
Cheers from THE COLORADO SKIER
Nelson's Law: The better the four-wheel drive, the farther out you
get stuck.
