Whaleback (ski area) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whaleback |
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|---|---|
| Nearest city | Enfield, New Hampshire |
| Vertical | 700 ft (210 m) |
| Top elevation | 1,800 ft (550 m) |
| Base elevation | 1,100 ft (340 m) |
| Skiable area | 85 acres (34 ha) |
| Runs | 30 |
| Longest run | 1 mi (1.6 km) |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 110 inches (280 cm) |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
| Night skiing | Yes |
| Website | http://www.whaleback.com/ |
Whaleback is a fun place to ski and snowboard in Enfield, New Hampshire, United States. It's a popular spot for winter sports lovers. Since 2016, a special group called the Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation has been running it. This group is a non-profit, which means they use any money they make to help the ski area and the community, not to make a profit for owners.
Contents
Whaleback's History
Whaleback has a long and interesting story. It started out small and faced some challenges, but it always found a way to keep the fun going.
Early Days: Snow Crest Ski Area
The ski area first opened in 1956. Back then, it was called Snow Crest Ski Area. A local ski jumping champion, Ernest Dion, helped create it. It had a 1,500-foot (460 m) T-bar lift and a smaller 600-foot (180 m) rope tow for beginners. Snow Crest closed its doors in 1968.
Reopening as Whaleback Ski Area
In 1970, the ski area reopened with a new name: Whaleback Ski Area. It stayed open for many years until 2001, when its owner at the time, Timothy Herbert, closed it.
On December 8, 2004, a former freestyle skier from the US Ski Team, Evan Dybvig, bought Whaleback. He spent about $1 million to fix up the area. Whaleback then reopened for the 2005-2006 ski season. Evan wanted to add more freestyle sports options, like an indoor sports facility. However, these plans didn't work out.
Tough Times and a New Beginning
Whaleback faced some financial difficulties. Poor weather during its first two seasons made it hard to earn enough money. In 2006, they even started a program where people could pay to put a plaque on or paint a chair on the chairlift to help raise funds.
On March 14, 2013, Whaleback announced it would close again after the 2012-2013 season. The ski area owed a lot of money and couldn't find more funding. It looked like Whaleback might close for good.
Saved by the Community
During the summer of 2013, a local non-profit group stepped in. This group, called the Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation (UVSSF), was created to save Whaleback. They raised about $200,000, which was enough to reopen the ski area for the 2013-2014 season. The UVSSF made an agreement with the bank that owned the property. Later in 2013, they bought Whaleback for $650,000. Thanks to the community, Whaleback is now a non-profit ski area, focused on providing winter sports for everyone.
Whaleback Mountain Features
Whaleback offers a great experience for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels.
Trails and Terrain
Whaleback has 30 different trails spread across 85 acres (34 ha) of skiable land.
- About 28% of the trails are easy, perfect for beginners.
- Around 39% are intermediate, great for those who are getting better.
- The rest are advanced trails, for experienced skiers and snowboarders.
The longest trail at Whaleback is 1 mi (1.6 km) long. There is also one terrain park where you can practice jumps and tricks.
Snow and Lifts
Whaleback gets an average of 110 inches (280 cm) of snow each year. They also have snowmaking equipment on 60% of their terrain. This means they can make their own snow to keep the trails covered, even when natural snowfall is low.
The mountain has four different lifts to take you up:
- A double chair
- A T-Bar
- A magic carpet (a moving conveyor belt for beginners)
- A handle tow
Mountain Height
The bottom of the mountain, called the base elevation, is at 1,100 ft (340 m). The very top, the summit, is at 1,800 ft (550 m). This means Whaleback has a vertical drop of 700 ft (210 m), which is the difference in height from the top to the bottom.
