Mt. Whittier Ski Area
Encyclopedia
Mt. Whittier was a ski area located in West Ossipee, New Hampshire
. Though it shared a name with a nearby mountain in the Ossipee Range, the ski area was actually located on Nickerson Mountain
.
While the exact opening date is not known, the ski area was in operation by the end of the 1940s, serviced by surface lifts. In 1963 New Hampshire's second gondola lift
was installed at Mt. Whittier. The gondola was unusual in that it had three terminals - a bottom terminal on the east side of Route 16
, a second lower terminal at the base of the ski area, and a top terminal near the summit of Nickerson Mountain. The remains of the gondola, including the towers and cables, still cross Route 16 today.
In addition to the ski operation, Mt. Whittier also offered summer activities, anchored with scenic gondola rides. Additional summer attractions were offered toward the end of the area's life, including slides and bumper boats. Poor winters in the early 1980s, along with a lack of snowmaking, led to the demise of the ski area.
Though the ski area has been closed since 1985, its lifts and trails are still visible from Route 16. A business named Mount Madness Adventure Center was started in the base area of Mt. Whittier. There have been various attempts at restarting snow sports, including snow tubing, snowcat skiing
, and snowmobile
racing.
Ossipee, New Hampshire
Ossipee is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,345 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Carroll County...
. Though it shared a name with a nearby mountain in the Ossipee Range, the ski area was actually located on Nickerson Mountain
Nickerson Mountain
Nickerson Mountain is a mountain located in Carroll County, New Hampshire, in the northeastern Ossipee Mountains. The peak was also once known as Mount Whittier, however the USGS has since labelled a mountain to the immediate west with the name....
.
While the exact opening date is not known, the ski area was in operation by the end of the 1940s, serviced by surface lifts. In 1963 New Hampshire's second gondola lift
Gondola lift
A gondola lift is a type of aerial lift, normally called a cable car, which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel cable that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a bullwheel in a terminal,...
was installed at Mt. Whittier. The gondola was unusual in that it had three terminals - a bottom terminal on the east side of Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16 is a long north–south highway in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Much of its length is close to the border with Maine. NH 16 is the main route from the Seacoast region north to the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. The section from Portsmouth to Milton is a...
, a second lower terminal at the base of the ski area, and a top terminal near the summit of Nickerson Mountain. The remains of the gondola, including the towers and cables, still cross Route 16 today.
In addition to the ski operation, Mt. Whittier also offered summer activities, anchored with scenic gondola rides. Additional summer attractions were offered toward the end of the area's life, including slides and bumper boats. Poor winters in the early 1980s, along with a lack of snowmaking, led to the demise of the ski area.
Though the ski area has been closed since 1985, its lifts and trails are still visible from Route 16. A business named Mount Madness Adventure Center was started in the base area of Mt. Whittier. There have been various attempts at restarting snow sports, including snow tubing, snowcat skiing
Snowcat skiing
Snowcat skiing is off-trail, downhill skiing that is accessed by a snowcat, not a ski lift. Snowcat skiing is essentially about skiing in a natural—albeit highly selected -- environment without the effort or gear compromise required for hiking into these areas as in ski touring or ski mountaineering...
, and snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
racing.
External links
- Mount Madness Adventure Center - located at the base of the defunct ski area