New Hampshire Ski Resort Delays New Lift Opening After 7 Inches Of Rain Decimates Snowpack

Ella Boyd
·2 min read
3

Attitash Mountain Resort in New Hampshire was scheduled for an exciting update, but ended up having to change plans due to "The Grinch" storm that wreaked havoc across New England.

Brandon Swartz (Attitash Mountain Resort's general manager) came in handy with the much-anticipated Mountaineer Update.

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The Mountaineer is the latest chairlift for Attitash replacing the very old and very slow predecessor, the Summit Triple.

POWDER News Writer Ian Greenwood explained that the new high-speed four-seater Leitner-Poma was dubbed the "Mountaineer" in honor of the historic railway with the same name that travels through the Mount Washington Valley, and will transport skiers from the base area to Attitash Peak.

Officials, sadly, had to announce that despite the excitement to get people on board the Mountaineer and up the mountain, the weather had other plans.

"The Mountaineer is operational and ready to ride. However, due to the extensive rain and warm temperatures, our trails off the summit will not be ready for this holiday break. We will be pushing back our Cheers to the Mountaineer celebration."

59 million people on the East Coast were issued flood alerts last week when torrential rain and high winds ravaged the area.

As of December 20th, many resorts were still closed, including Sunday River, Saddleback, Sugarloaf in Maine, and Waterville Valley and Cranmore in New Hampshire.

The storm was a huge bummer as many of these mountains were seeing a great start to the season otherwise (think Jay Peak in Vermont!).

Attitash didn't let everything fall to pieces, though, and provided a pivoted plan. "On Saturday, December 30th, we will be hosting a Mountaineer base terminal tour with coffee and our one and only Brandon Swartz!"

Otherwise, there is good news to go around for those living in New Hampshire. "The Abenaki quad will open to the mid-station on Sunday, December 24 with access to Bearfoot Creek trail system and Pinball Alley."

"On Monday, December 25, we will open the Flying Yankee with access to Far Out."

Officials at Attitash remind us that their snowmaking team "is hard at work and will be resuming blowing snow as soon as temperatures allow."

The resort's next snowmaking plans include; Myth Maker, Trillium, Saco, and Bear-Attitash Connection.

Brandon reported that their "teams have been out there tirelessly making some great progress."

We're stoked to get out there... and to get on the Mountaineer!

Related: Attitash On Pace To Open Highly-Anticipated Chair By The Holidays

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