March 18, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

Wildcat is purrfect in spring

by Tony Chamberlain/

Wildcat's three-mile long Polecat Trail is a novice's delight. (photo: Brooks Dodge)

Wildcat's three-mile long Polecat Trail is a novice's delight. (photo: Brooks Dodge)

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There are some areas better suited to spring than others. Slopes with those warm southwestern exposures are great in January, but the heat is a little too strong as we roll toward April.

Then again, there are areas some skiers and riders approach guardedly in winter because of their reputation as “cold mountains” that are just coming into their glory about now.

Not to give the impression that Wildcat cannot be glorious on any given day of the year, when the sun gets high and the hard crust yields under it, it is time to head for New Hampshire's Pinkham Notch.

At 4,000 feet of elevation, Wildcat offers plenty of early morning crust, and this is no place to exercise those demented spring options of skiing in Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt (or less) found in the March madness tradition all over ski country.

That said, it was Wildcat where, many years ago, a skier appeared descending under the lift dressed in skis, boots, goggles and probably socks. When he was gone, I’m sure everyone, still looking backwards down the lift line, was imagining the consequences of a crossed-tip mishap in the guy’s run.

As the sun does its work, this is the time of year to play in slush bumps. For that, most head for the high reaches of Upper Wildcat and Upper Bobcat, where the bashing reaches its most fun this time of year. Usually, you can bring a non-bump-loving pal because the mountain grooms a bailout down these runs, but check it out before you commit your dad who’s just coming off knee surgery.

If all knees are willing, you can go from here to the 25 acres of glades, which vary in difficulty and whose hummocks around the trunks are last to soften through the day, since most is in shade. On really warm afternoons, this is just as you’d like it.

When most people think Wildcat, they think of its most popular trails — cruisers with stupendous views of Mount Washington and Tuckerman Ravine. Winders in the old New England tradition, trails like Lynx and Wildcat wind down the entire vert in all its glorious undulation. These runs are really the heart of the place, which is why they’re so popular and are best run in non-peak hours.

As one who looks more and more for cruisers these days, I can tell you that there are two other spectacular runs off the top of Wildcat — Catapult and the three-mile Polecat, which is not only amazingly beautiful but easy enough for green skiers and riders just making the transition to blue cruising.

Speaking of which, Wildcat — for all its ancient reputation for toughness — has one of the sweetest beginner areas around because it meets all the qualifications for novice areas: close to the base with its own lift (you don’t have to jump in the deep end), open, gentle and usually sunny. This is the way for sliders to begin the sport.

Wildcat remains one of the best values in the East, offering one of the best big-mountain/low-price ratios anywhere. Check out all the spring package deals.

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