Gunstock Mountain Resort

Gunstock Mountain Resort

Gunstock's Base Area
Location Gilford, New Hampshire, US
Nearest city Laconia
Coordinates 43°32′29″N 71°22′03″W / 43.54139°N 71.36750°W
Vertical 1,400 feet (430 m)
Runs 50
Lift system 6 chairs: 1 High Speed Quad, 2 Quads, 2 Triples, 1 Double, 2 Surface Lifts
Website

www.gunstock.com

Designated January 30, 2012[1]

Gunstock Mountain Resort is a sports complex located on Gunstock Mountain in Gilford, New Hampshire, and is owned by Belknap County. Activities include alpine and cross-country skiing, snow tubing, ski jumping, snowshoeing, hiking, swimming, and skateboarding.

History

The original Gunstock chairlift development was located on Mount Rowe. This single chairlift serviced ski area was eventually phased out when two double chairlifts were installed to the Gunstock Mountain summit. Some of the old trails are still visible today.

In keeping with the gun theme, most of the trails are named for guns (i.e. Pistol, Musket, and Flitlock) or gun parts (i.e. Ramrod and Trigger).

Gunstock underwent a significant capital improvement plan in the 1980s with the installation of the Tiger Triple, the Summit Triple (replacing the two summit double chairlifts), and the Ramrod Quad.

In 2003 a high speed detachable quad chairlift was installed to the summit. The Summit Triple chairlift was moved, replacing the Pistol Double Chairlift.

Night skiing

Gunstock features night skiing on its lower mountain slopes. The detachable quad and the upper mountain trails are not lit.

Snow tubing is also available on certain nights.

Summer 2009 expansion

In the summer of 2009 Gunstock underwent a $4 million expansion effort to make the mountain more family friendly and easier for learners. The biggest project was the installation of a new fixed-grip, 1,207-foot (368 m) long quad chairlift placed near the Gunshy Double Chairlift. This chairlift now has access to the new beginner friendly complex that was constructed as part of the expansion effort. There are 4 new trails, and existing trails were lengthened and made wider. In addition, the mountain expanded their snow-making capabilities by 66% over the entire mountain.

At the Pistol complex side of the mountain 2 trails gained snow-making capabilities. The Blundersmoke Terrain Park received new permanent snow guns, and the Side Arm trail was widened by over 50 feet (15 m). A new glades trail named "Parallax Glades" was cut between Out of Sight and Side Arm.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places". New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. Retrieved 03-12-2013. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ↑ http://www.gunstock.com/mountain/improvements/ Archived 9 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine

External links