Outdoor Diversion: A Day of Skiing and Riding at Cranmore

Sunday, March 24, 2013

A Day of Skiing and Riding at Cranmore

After receiving some good snow over this past week it was time check out the trail conditions. We decided on Cranmore Mountain. They have $25 lift tickets every day for the rest of the season for local residents. The day was starting off cloudy but cleared up through Pinkham Notch. The summits were in the clouds and would stay that way all day. The sun was bright and the sky was deep blue as we drove into North Conway.

Pinkham Notch summits on the ride to Cranmore

Cranmore Mountain

First run from the top

Mount Chocorua

Cruisin'

Stylin'

It was getting warm and I could tell that I probably had on one too many layers. My son would be strapping on the snowboard today but I chose skis. He wanted to impress me with his new riding skills. The line for the high speed quad was long so we started off on the South Quad. We worked our way around to the back of the mountain and rode the Schneider Triple chair to the top. There was no line and we rode this lift several times.

Mount Washington in the clouds

Moats

The trails were in mid-winter, primo condition! There was no ice or crusty snow to be found anywhere on the mountain. This would be fantastic skiing and riding at any time of the season. But to have conditions this good so late in the season is unbelievable. As the Spring sun beat down the snow became soft and sticky in the afternoon. The trick was to ski in the shaded areas of the trail.

Mount Washington...still in the clouds

Pines and blue sky

Riding and skiing

On the edge

The line for the high speed quad finally dwindled and we took three last runs from the top. I was done for the day but Brand did two more runs from the south quad. While waiting for him I realized that I had forgotten the sunscreen (again) and had a good face burn from all that sun and snow today.