Really nice diversity of terrain and no lines whatsoever (mid-January). Dining options in the area are basically limited to their restaurant (Fabyan's) which is actually pretty good. Stayed in the lodge (motel) which was a good value.

Ski resort reviews can be helpful only if you know the skill level and skiing perspective of the person authoring the review. My perspective is focused on the actual skiing experience (terrain, crowd, and snow factors). I am a middle-age advanced skier, lacking the courage and/or interest in jumping off cornices or cliffs. I enjoy cruising at relatively high speeds and once in a while popping a little bit of air. I love moderately spaced glades, but shy away from the dangers of extremely tight glades. I will also jump in and out of moderate bump runs. If a ski resort has all the varying types of terrain such as; above tree-line skiing, steeps, difficult bump runs, glades, cruising runs, and trails with “character” (twists, turns, dips, and lips), then, and only then will I feel that the skiing/riding experience has the potential for being complete. The terrain would therefore deserve a complete or perfect score of 5, when using the 1 to 5 rating scale. If any one or several of those factors are missing, then it deserves a lesser score to the degree of what is lacking.

It was time for my annual March trip with by buddies, so we decided to ski the two large New Hampshire Mountains of Bretton Woods and Waterville Valley, and the three smaller mountains of Tenney Mountain, and Ragged Mountain, while also including Shawnee Peak which was just across the New Hampshire border into Maine. With that said, here are my impressions of Bretton Woods (B.Woods), the largest ski resort in New Hampshire (434 acres).

Terrain: Rated 4.0:
Ten years ago was the last time I skied B.Woods. It was definitely on purpose that I had stayed away from this mountain for so long. The reason: expensive, pretentious, and extremely boring terrain. Well say hello to the new B.Woods. Currently, B.Woods consists of two peaks; “Mount Rosebrook on the left, and West Mountain to the right. Don’t bat your eyes for too long because a third peak is being developed on the far left, to be eventually called “Mount Stickney. You can consider “Mount Rosebrook” as the land of “killer” glades. This recently developed area is called “Rosebrook Canyon.” The terrain is steep and the trees are as tight as an investment banker’s rear end. We took an intermediate trail called “Two Miles Home,” which serves as the perimeter to “Rosebrook Canyon.” I love glades and was constantly looking for a moderate opening to jump in, but my heart and common sense just wouldn’t allow it. I was rewarded by my timidness because “Two Miles Home” turned out to be the ultimate cruising trail. There were very few straight fall line descents. We encountered banked trail shoulders, twists, turns, moderate lips where you get some air, and reliable snow giving you the confidence to commit to warp speed as you descended. This was an extremely enjoyable run. Once again we boarded the Rosebrook Summit Express Quad and turned left upon disembarking. The first trail encountered was steep and extremely moguled. The second and adjacent trail had the same steepness but was devoid of moguls. They both traveled side-by-side for about 200 yards and then merged and mellowed out. Of course we took the second one called “McIntire’s Ride.” We stopped when we arrived at the merge point and looked up. Only then could we appreciate the toughness of the first trail that we avoided. Do you have any guesses as to the name of the trail? Well.., “Bode’s Run” is the name of the trail in honor of Bode Miller. Since this trail might be one of his favorites, then we did the right thing by avoiding it. We ended up spending the entire morning on the “Mount Rosebrook” side of B.Woods. After lunch we headed for West Mountain on the right side of B.Woods. Our first run the afternoon was on an intermediate trail called “Aggassiz.” It was wide, with widely spaced trees (great trail for those who are intimidated by glades), and moderately sized moguls. It was the ideal trail to practice your tree-skiing and mogul technique. The next few runs turned out to be the highlight of my B.Woods ski day. We took the “West Mountain Express Quad to its summit, made a quick left, and then dropped into the black diamond glades called “Wild West.” We looked like rabbits hopping between the trees and moguls. I planned my exit line that gave me the opportunity to pop a little air as I exited the glades onto the adjacent intermediate trail called “Oscar Barron’s. What a glorious run and a great way to end a fantastic ski day.

Service: Rated 4.0:
As we pulled up to B.Woods base lodge, attendants helped us to unload our equipment. Throughout the day B.Wood staff members would ask whether we needed something or whether we were having a good time. I was very pleasantly surprised when I went into the cafeteria and came up to the cash register after filling up a large Coca Cola cup with just ice. I pull out my wallet expecting to be charge for the cup and ice. The cashier said, “Go ahead through. We don’t charge you for just a cup and ice.” You could have knocked me over with a feather. One staff member gave us a little history concerning the new attitude and management changes under Omni Resorts (the new owners of B.Woods and the historic and grand Mount Washington Hotel). Their deep pockets are most likely the source of the territory expansion and upgrade, as well as the focus on customer service.

Crowds: Rated 4.0:
There were no lift lines. There were lots of room on the trails, and plenty of space in the cafeteria, without worrying about searching for spot that could accommodate the number of folks in your party. B.Woods must be a popular resort because we did experience a greater number of folks in comparison to what we found at other resorts who offered “two-for-one” lift ticket days. In spite of that, we still had plenty of room to dine and ski.

Activities: Rated 5.0:
B.Woods’ proximity to North Conway gives it a distinct advantage in the après-ski department. In addition, the famed Mount Washington Hotel is just a few hundred yards from B.Woods’ base lodge. After our ski day, we visited the historic hotel and spent some time in the lounge sipping spirits and taking in the fantastic view of Mt. Washington. We casually walked through the massive lobby, which is similar to taking a museum tour. The artifacts and photos are a history lesson of the turn of the twentieth century, and the building of this grandiose American castle.

Value: Rated 4.0:
This respectable “Value” rating is primarily the result of the “two-for-one” lift ticket day. On regular weekends, the pricing strategy is probably a very different story. I didn’t appreciate the rental fee of $7 per day for a large locker. At most ski areas those things costs $1 or $2. If you are not paranoid regarding equipment thievery, B.Woods does give you the option of using the many spacious and free cubbies located throughout the main lodge hallways, as well as in the cafeteria.

In summary, I have happily lifted my 10 year boycott of B.Woods. The terrain upgrades and expansion have made B.Woods an exciting and fun place to ski. Canon Mountain is still probably a notch above B.Woods in the area of trail difficulty, but you can readily discern that B.Woods has narrowed the gap some. Similar to Attitash and Loon Mountains, B.Woods is owned by organizations with extremely deep financial pockets. But unlike those other two ski hills, B.Woods recognizes the necessity to occasionally keep skiing affordable. B.Woods is aware that the average every day blue collar skier needs some sort of financial hiatus when trying to satisfy his/her ski addiction. Welcome back to skiing reality B.Woods!! You, as the prodigal son, have returned.