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Mt. Whittier
Ossipee, New Hampshire
The gondola (2008)
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| Mt. Whittier Details |
| Status: | Lost/Defunct |
| First Year of Operation: | 1946 |
| Last Year of Operation: | 1985 |
| Vertical Drop: | 1,300 feet |
| Lifts in Operation: | |
| Lifts Removed/Non Operational: | Gondola, surface lifts |
Located on Nickerson Mountain, the Mt. Whittier rope tow may have opened as early as the 1946-47 season. Located near the busy Route 25-Route 16 junction, the area stood at the gateway to the Mt. Washington Valley prior to the opening of Interstate 93 on the other side of the state. Though not located on the USGS Mt. Whittier, Nickerson Mountain was once dedicated to poet Joseph Greenleaf Whittier and to this day is often known locally by that name.
After years of planning, a gondola lift was installed to the summit of the mountain in 1963. Featuring a base station on the opposite side of Route 16 for summer sightseers, the lift also had a loading station at the foot of the mountain for skiers.
The ski area hit tough times in the 1970s. After not operating during the 1973-74 season, the area was resurrected in 1974-75. Rather than investing in a snowmaking system, ownership in the 1980s opted to try to build a four season operation, including summer skiing and water rides. The area closed in 1985.
Part of the area reopened to an extent around the turn of the century as Mt. Madness, however no major ski operation took place. In more recent years, snowmobile races have been held around the base area.
The gondola top terminal (2008) |
CCC Trails
Expansion History
Lift Timeline
| Season | Lift Name | Type | Event | Notes |
| 1960s |
| 1965-66 | T-Bar | T-Bar | Possibly installed | |
| 1963-64 | Gondola | Mueller Gondola | Installed | New install |
| 1962-63 | Bearcamp | T-Bar | Installed | |
| 1950s |
| 1958-59 | T-Bar | T-Bar | Installed | Parts from Thorn Mountain, NH single chairlift |
| 1952-53 | Platter pull | Platter Pull | Installed | From Red Hill, NH |
Ticket Price History
Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket
| Season |
Price |
Source |
| 1970s | | 1971-72 | $7.00 |  | Brochure |
| 1960s | | 1967-68 | $6.00 | | Eastern Ski Atlas | | 1963-64 | $5.50 | | Buxton's Eastern Ski Slopes | | 1962-63 | $4.50 | | Buxton's Eastern Ski Slopes |
Vintage Ads
Mt. Whittier ad in the 1967 Eastern Ski Map
Click here to see more Mt. Whittier vintage advertisements
External Links
Mt. Whittier Ski Area - New England Lost Ski Areas Project
Lost Ski Areas of the White Mountains - Amazon.com
Mt. Whittier Ski Area - Wikipedia
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Last updated: April 9, 2012
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