Wildcat Mountain Ski Area
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wildcat Mountain Ski Area | |
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| Location: | |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Vertical: | 2,112 ft |
| Top elevation: | 4,062 ft |
| Skiable area: | 225 |
| Longest run: | 2.75 mi |
| Lift system: | 4 chairs: 1 Express Quad, 3 Triples |
| Snowmaking: | 70% |
| Web site: | Wildcat Mountain Ski Area |
Wildcat Mountain Ski Area is a ski area located on Wildcat Mountain near Jackson, New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley.
Wildcat, or "Cat" as it's know to the locals, is one of the best-known alpine skiing resorts in New England, with lifts from the base on NH Rt. 16 in Pinkham Notch 2,112 ft (644 m) up to the summit ridge. The area has 47 trails on 225 acres (91 ha), including the 3 mile Polecat Trail — the longest ski trail in New Hampshire. Also, the Wildcat Valley Trail, an ungroomed cross-country ski trail, leads from the summit down to the town of Jackson, New Hampshire and are co-operated in part by the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation, dropping 3,240 ft in 11.1 miles (988 m in 17.8 km).
[edit] History
Wildcat is home to one of the oldest ski-racing trails in the United States.[1] Wildcat was the first ski area to have a gondola lift, which opened on January 25, 1958. The lift has since been replaced with a Doppelmayr high-speed chairlift.
Wildcat's 2,000 ft. base elevation and proximity to Mt. Washington produces an annual natural snowfall of over 200 inches. As a result, the ski and snowboard season generally lasts from mid-November through early May.
In recent years, Wildcat has worked to improve its summer and fall activities. In addition to replacing the aging gondola lift with a new high-speed chairlift (which is converted to a gondola during the summer and fall), the area has also added a zip line. The zip line is open year round, served by a triple chairlift.
