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Waterville Valley
Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
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Waterville Valley: Green Mountain | Green Peak | Sunnyside | Mt. Tecumseh | Village Gondola
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| Sunnyside - 1969 - Open |
Sunnyside as seen from Middle Tripyramid (2009) |
In part to help ease congestion on the main mountain, the Sunnyside area was designed. Though a pod design, the area also connected the Valley Run Lift to the High Country Double.
A new Stadeli Double Chairlift, running 2,920 feet over the course of 997 vertical feet, was installed, serving 4 expert trails. The lift would later be upgraded to a triple chairlift.
Sunnyside on the 2008-09 Waterville Valley trail map
The top of the Sunnyside Chair (2006)
The bottom terminal of the Sunnyside Chair (2006)
The bottom terminal of the Sunnyside Chair (2006)
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| Green Peak - Proposed |
While it had been discussed under Booth Creek ownership, Waterville Valley ski area more recently began working toward adding terrain on Green Peak. In December 2011, plans were released, showing a new intermediate/expert area, with a 4,000 foot long detachable quad chairlift leading from near the Valley Run Quad base terminal to the top of Green Peak, some 1,000 vertical feet.
If completed, the peak would presumably be tied into the Village Gondola proprosal, connecting downtown Waterville to the ski area proper.
If approved, work would begin in the fall of 2012, with a potential opening date in 2013.
2011 map of the proposed Green Peak expansion
Green Peak as seen from Oblivion (2011)
Surveying for one of the proposed Green Peak trails (2011)
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| Green Mountain - Proposed |
Green Mountain (left) as seen from Middle Tripyramid (2009) |
An expansion to Green Mountain has long been rumored, though it is not in Waterville's Special Use Permit Boundary.
At least two issues with the present ski area layout could be addressed. First, a new, potentially more expansive base area would be developed. Secondly, there would be additional room to cut easier routes from the upper mountain.
It is not known if or when Green Mountain will be developed.
The 1983 USGS topo map of Green Mountain
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| Village Gondola - Proposed |
Village Square |
While a connection to the Waterville Valley ski area had been intended for the 1960s development, financial issues eventually took their toll, resulting in the sale of the ski area to Booth Creek.
Upon Booth Creek's sale of Waterville to a group lead by the Sununu family, talk of a gondola from the village to the ski area started.
On April 27, 2011, Waterville Valley ski area General Manager Bob Fries presented to Waterville Valley Selectmen information about a potential Federal Transit Authority Grant to build a 4,000 foot long gondola from Town Square to the ski area.
In October 2011, a proposed action to "[c]onstruct ski trails, a glade area, a lift, and snowmaking equipment and relocate one building on Green Peak. All activities are within the Special Use Permit boundary and the ski area's accepted Master Development Plan" appeared on the USFS SOPA listing, with a possible start date of fall 2012.
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| Mt. Tecumseh - Proposed |
Mt. Tecumseh as seen from Middle Tripyramid (2009) |
While it has sometimes been advertised that Waterville Valley ski area extends to 4,000 feet in elevation, it presently does not.
For many years, there has been speculation of expansion westward, toward or to the 4,003 foot true summit of Mt. Tecumseh. In addition to adding upwards of 150 vertical feet, the new area would also feature sustained expert terrain.
The expansion was never been pushed forward during Booth Creek's ownership, and permits do not appear to be in place to expand the ski area much further beyond the present day Mt. Tecumseh hiking trail.
It is not known if or when the Mt. Tecumseh complex will be developed.
The 1983 USGS topo map of Mt. Tecumseh
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| Resources |
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Waterville Valley - NewEnglandSkiHistory.com
Waterville Valley - official site
Last updated: December 30, 2011
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