January 7, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

Cruising the Mount Washington Valley's slopes

by Marty Basch/

Cranmore's quiver of cruising terrain includes Arlberg, Skimeister and Rattlesnake. (photo: Cranmore)

Cranmore's quiver of cruising terrain includes Arlberg, Skimeister and Rattlesnake. (photo: Cranmore)

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Cruise on up to North Conway, N.H., and then cruise on down its slopes. As ski season hits full throttle, the Mount Washington Valley has lots of buffed intermediate runs to keep skiers and snowboarders on cruise control.

Black Mountain's Galloping Goose is 4,000 feet of mellow, cruising sunshine.

Get there by taking the triple and begin in the wide East Bowl, called "Sun Valley" by the locals. After snaking down into the cover of the trees, the friendly run comes to a junction which leads to Juniper and the scintillating Jackson Standard. The Goose is on the wider side of narrow and undulates down the slope with Doublehead Mountain vistas. The final drop by the condos to the lift gives a feeling of accomplishment.

The west side of Black is where the Jackson area shines, too. Big Dipper, Bob-A-Link and and Speedwell are the roller coaster runs, sometimes steep for a second or two, always a raucous run through the woods.

The cheetah is known for being swift. Its small head, long legs and black-spotted, tawny coat makes it quick and cunning.

But every once in a while, a leopard-like animal, usually with only two legs, effortlessly makes it down the fall line of the Cheetah Trail at Wildcat in Pinkham Notch. Steep and wide, there’s plenty of room to slide, or get out of the way. Polecat is a true delight from the summit.

Wandering Skis is a blissful cruiser off the Flying Bear high-speed quad at Bear Peak. It starts under the chairlift, crossing Illusion and then down into the s-turns. The rippling mountain views are a jaw-dropper. The final plunge to the lodge can bring your heart into your mouth, and not because you pass the Grand Summit's heated pool.

On the Attitash side of the ski area, Saco to Ammonoosuc is tough to beat for blue-square skiers and riders.

Red Pine at King Pine is about a half-mile of smiles. Take it either off the triple in front of the base lodge or from the double at Milt's Place. The trail offers views of Eaton's Foss Mountain and a small shimmering pond. Twist a little before gaining speed on the final flats.

Cranmore's top cruisers are at skier's right off the summit. There are plenty of trails that can be at the top of the list, such as Arlberg, Skimeister and Kanadahar. But it's Rattlesnake that gets the constant thumbs-up as it rolls through the woods before skiers can take that right for the lower section of the rollicking trail that runs down by the condos. About the only downside is if you're on a snowboard and the triple's not running. Keep up the speed.

Bretton Woods has grown up. Sure, there are plenty of corduroy cruisers up there in Crawford Notch. Who doesn't like the wide Bigger Ben or driving a Mack truck down Fabyan's Express. But when it comes to Mount Rosebrook, the natural snow trails are the places to cruise during a bountiful snow year. Granny's Grit, Herb's Secret and Coos Caper hold surprises, curving contours and some sweet stashes once they're discovered.

Over on West Mountain, the initial swoop and curve of Starr King makes it a wonderful place to put it on cruise control. There's a long run out, though.
Shawnee Peak's backside is home to a host of tight-fisted glades and interesting connectors such as Chicken’s Delight and Yee Haw that hook up to Upper and Lower Appalachian, a black-diamond cruiser that seems to make use of all the vertical Shawnee has to offer. Be sure to thread Needle’s Eye, a natural snow twister that’s a bit boney and pleasantly narrow.

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