Drivers heading up from Boston on I93 often whistle right by the exit for Waterville Valley to head for the bigger mountain that is Loon and the burlier mountain that is Cannon; and, for some, they’re making a big mistake! Cannon’s terrain is daunting for skiers making a transition from smaller mountains to the “big boys”, and while Loon has a few more trails and more acres open, Waterville has nearly the same vertical drop…and often, more functional space due to fewer skiers. Tucked back in its own little corner of the world (weirdly enough, the town of Waterville Valley intersects the Kancamagus Highway by Sabbaday Falls), Waterville attracts a certain element that doesn’t want to just be “part of the crowd”; with its own little ski village, it’s a bit like a laid-back version of Killington.
Given the insanity that reigns on the slopes during vacation weeks, it seemed like a perfect place to take 14 year old Dan for a “boy’s day out.” I’ll readily admit that I try to avoid all ski areas during those weeks, but…first, darn it, it’s the middle of February and I want to be skiing, and second, it’s hard to get a day with Dan without his mother tagging along. Lucky her, she had to work, so time for us to play!
Waterville Valley, Presidents’ Week
Arriving at the resort at 8:30, we were surprised to find that we could get into the first parking lot. Clearly, everyone was sleeping in; the lifts were turning at 8, but the lodge was nearly empty. We booted up and got out on the slopes as quickly as we could; first tracks still awaited. And, we weren’t disappointed, as there were plenty of areas of fresh, beautifully groomed corduroy for us to warm up on.
Waterville Valley has a surprisingly compact layout for a mountain of its size, with virtually all of the trails feeding back into the same base area. While the actual peak is accessed by its own double chair (often closed on windy days), the main “landing area” is serviced by three lifts, and virtually all terrain can be reached from any of them. You’d think that layout would lead to utter insanity, but there’s enough open space that we never felt like we were about to get flattened by the next nut to come off a lift too fast. It makes decision making incredibly easy; feeling rambunctious, you can head for True Grit, or legs starting to feel like noodles (time for lunch!), slide over to Periphery for an easier run down.
After a morning of short lift lines and fast runs down, our 11:00 “lunch” was a welcome break. The lodge had definitely filled up, with more coming in all the time…we were starting to get concerned that the lines would be long after lunch. Silly us…even with the base area a hive of activity, we never waited for more than a minute or two in any line (and the longest waits were caused by ski school kids having priority, which can happen anywhere, anytime). We had a few times that we waited on a trail for a group to clear out, but they were few and far between.
One of the great things about Waterville Valley is that it’s a great first step for a skier moving from a smaller mountain to the “big leagues.” Dan skis mostly at Shawnee Peak, with 1300 feet of vertical; moving up to longer, steeper runs can be intimidating. Waterville’s runs are mostly fairly wide, and the diamonds and double diamonds, while steep enough, avoid the corkscrewing plunges that can frighten off a skier making that transition. It worked for Dan…he handled top to bottom runs, over and over, taking on Gema, Ciao, and even True Grit with a smile. Somehow, I don’t think he’ll be intimidated as he takes on his next challenge!
However, the main terrain parks at Waterville Valley did intimidate him…and well they should. Psyched and Exhibition are in no way “wussy” parks; we’re talking some serious stuff here. Impeccably groomed and laid out, they allow lunatics of all sort to test their limits. We watched some of what was going on in there, and were impressed; there are some excellent freestylers on this hill. Plymouth State University, just down the road, is chosen by many students specifically because of its proximity to great skiing, and Waterville is right there at the top of the list. One PSU student was trying out a new trick in Exhibition; we were treated to his successful launch and landing. From his reaction, he was…well, “Psyched” by Exhibition. Sorry, couldn’t resist that!
As the afternoon started, the snow softened a bit on some of the trails, and even with the heavy vacation traffic, it was still easy to find areas that weren’t skied off. We left only after burning our legs out, happy with a great day on smooth groomers, pushing Dan’s limits, and NOT being frustrated by massive crowds during vacation week! I’ll remember this for next year…and, if I’m lucky, nothing will have changed at Waterville Valley.