An Ode to the Small Ski Hill
Small ski hills are the lifeblood of the ski industry in the northeast. Sure they don't have the glitziest base lodges, the fastest lifts, or most vertical, but you and most skiers you know probably learned to ski at one. That’s because the lift tickets are (comparatively) affordable, the areas themselves are so accessible, and small base areas and single lifts allow parents to simply turn kids loose on the slopes—giving them an early taste of freedom on skis and on their own.
Two immediate examples are ones we’ve written about recently—Blue Hills Ski Area near Boston, Massachusetts, where Doug ski patrols and Southern New Hampshire’s Crotched Mountain where Tim is a Breakfast Club regular. But there are so many more.
Take, for example, Cochran’s Ski Area, located about 30 minutes outside of Burlington, Vermont. They’ve taught an innumerable number of kids to ski and ride since 1961. Don’t get fooled by the 350-feet of vertical served by this backyard rope-tow, 11 Cochrans to have made the U.S. Ski Team since it was built and Olympic gold medalist Barbara Ann Cochran is in charge of the Ski Tots program, where she gives ski lessons to kids between the ages of 3 to 5.
Speaking of racers, small hills also provide a training ground for ski racers of all stripes. Many kids’ ski teams are based at local ski areas and teams spend weekends during the race season traveling to similar ski areas across the northeast. Meanwhile, many adults continue to fly through gates even past their prime, reliving their former glory after work. Southern New Hampshire’s Pat’s Peak estimates that they’ve clocked more than 40,000 race runs over the 40+ years they’ve hosted NASTAR—National STAndard Race, the largest public grassroots ski racing program in the world.
Without these vital racing areas, what would happen to ski culture in the northeast?
Speaking of ski culture, the independent nature of many of the region’s smaller ski resorts fosters quirky individuality. At Catamount Ski Resort you can begin a run in Massachusetts, ski through New York, and end the run back in Massachusetts—not bad for a mountain with only a 1,000-foot drop, while southern Vermont’s Ascutney Outdoors’ rope tow and t-bar are run by volunteers. Quite a contrast from what a $100+ dollar buys you at the region’s “mega” resorts.
The small size of the region’s more minute ski mountains also fosters a greater sense of community. Let’s face it, if you ski at a tiny mountain with any frequency you are going to keep running into the same people on the lift and in the lodge. And while you might not know the name of the local crusher, you can bet you’ll notice the day that skier ditched some ancient K2s for a new set of Nordicas.
It’s not just a bond built between regulars at these small hills, it’s a familiarity and affection with the mountain itself. Smaller ski areas have fewer trails to choose from, giving you an opportunity to build an intimate connection with the terrain. You’ll know where to pick up speed, where to comfortably catch a little air, and, most importantly, which trail to hit first after a big storm.
Knowing the people and caring about the mountain all leads to a sense of pride and makes devotees the best advocates of small mountains. Of course, the struggle is real for the northeast’s small ski resorts. New Hampshire’s King Ridge, where Doug skied for much of his youth, is now a housing development. Massachusetts’ Jericho Hill, where Tim made his first turns, is now a city park. Mount Watatic, an abandoned ski area we didn’t discover until it had a revival as a locally-maintained backcountry-only hill, was once the place to ski in Central Massachusetts.
Other small ski areas are learning to reinvent themselves to remain relevant. Vermont’s Magic Mountain and New Hampshire’s Black Mountain have both embraced uphill skiing. Magic Mountain even rewards uphillers who make it to the top of the mountain with a token for a free lift ride. Mad River Glen—located on the same string of mountains as Sugarbush—has become iconic for providing a soulful ski experience, by focusing on natural terrain and snow and sticking with their legendary single chair.
For all these reasons, the next time you ski, consider visiting a small, local ski area.
By Tim Peck & Doug Martland
