It was a wacky morning for me that worked out for the best. I got a later start than normal going to MRG. Roads were worse than expected. The heaviest snow was clearly north of the forecasted zone. I was approaching MRG on Rt17 just before first chair time and there was a traffic jam a quarter mile before the ski area.
Uh oh. I've never experienced a full lot before. It was clearly full well before opening bell. I didn't know how much roadside parking is allowed on Rt17 beyond the ski area, but I didn't want to wait to find out that it wasn't enough. When I finally got to the full lot, I pulled an audible and a U-turn.
I drive to MRG from NH via 25. I have drove past Northeast Slopes at least 50 times during the past 18 years. "One of these days..." I always said. But I am always too tired for more turns on my way home from Mad River.
During a gas station stop, I looked them up online and I noticed they are only open from 12pm-4pm. Score! I see that tickets are only $15 and they are only accepting cash this weekend due to their CC machine being down. I never carry cash or a debit card anymore. But I always keep a twenty in my glove box for emergencies. It was meant to be.
I had to wait an hour and a half in the parking lot for the place to open. A four hour ticket was only $15 (!!!). I told the volunteer we'll call it twenty, the skiing was worth more than that!
It was an interesting experience riding the former Bradford T-bar for the first time. I grew up skiing Bradford. But they never ran the T when I skied there. Back then, I always wondered why not, considering their long lift lines.
It was great to ride a telescoping wood slat T again! It has been many years.
NE Slopes has a vertical drop of about 350'. The old rope tow parallels the T most of the way up the hill. That would be a long and steep rope to hold onto, wow!
The pitch is fairly consistent and would be rated blue square at most mountains. Some natural undulations are present. The groomer made about six or so passes on the main face and also along the beginner tow, everything else was natural.
There is a main slope (split in two by the T and tow) and a variety of options fingering out to the sides. The variations were quite extensive, it took me an hour to hit every possible combination.
There were about 50 or so cars in the lot and generally never any line for the T, despite the fact that singles were not doubling up. Given the ample acreage and limited number of skiers, I was skiing untracked every run, almost every turn.
The blower powder was generally boot deep, though I went knee deep in a few areas that did not get skied on Friday or Saturday (essentially a week's worth of new snow). There were a few nice mini glades (where I found the knee deep).
I skied for two hours straight. It was a riot getting more untracked snow in two hours than I would have gotten at MRG all day (given the powder frenzy and what must have been hour long lift cycles). I was not counting laps, but I probably skied around 10k vert, almost all in untracked blower pow.
Northeast Slopes is a neat area and offers more than it might look to as seen from the road. It would be a nice stop on Friday afternoon if you are heading to NoVT for a weekend trip, or perhaps Sunday afternoon if leaving the big areas early.
It is a bit over half an hour from Dartmouth, which could make a good morning-afternoon combo, ski safari style. Especially since NE Slopes is only open 12pm-4pm with all possible options skiable in less than an hour.
