NH’s skiers and ski areas innovate to help reduce Covid spread

The Covid-19 pandemic has shaken up New Hampshire’s ski industry, with limited access to base lodges becoming the new normal to help halt the spread of the virus. But ski area operators have found ways to help skiers get in their turns, enjoy some fresh air and have fun. And skiers have adopted new ways to enjoy break times outdoors, when lodge access is restricted.

Dining innovations, including cellphone-assisted remote ordering and to-go service, also have been introduced at several New Hampshire ski areas.

Some enterprising skiers have been using motor homes or other recreational vehicles as their base of operations. Ski area operators, however, weren’t unanimous in their acceptance of rec vehicles, with some directing them to designated parking areas and others prohibiting them.

Black Mountain in Jackson, for instance, welcomes RVs during operating hours (but not overnight) at a parking area across the road from its main parking lot, according to Black’s Jessie Victoria. Black’s main lodge has been converted to a sit-down restaurant, and they also offer a takeout window for to-go meals.

At Crotched Mountain and Mount Sunapee Resort, part of the Vail Resorts family, the mountains don’t have designated parking areas for RVs, but staff will do their best to accommodate RVs during operating hours on a case-by-case basis, said Communications Manager Bonnie MacPherson. Overnight parking of RVs is not allowed. Skiers are asked to put on their boots at their cars. And, as with other ski areas, storage of personal items, such as boot bags, is no longer allowed.

“Dining options are mostly quick-serve, grab-and-go with seating options indoors or outside. Indoor capacity limits based on state guidance are being observed with appropriate social distancing,” she said.

Some full-service dining options are available, such as Goosefeathers Pub at Mount Sunapee. Bars are not operating, but pre-packaged alcoholic beverages may be available at some outlets.

“We have also been offering an outdoor barbecue at Sunapee’s Summit Lodge on busy days, and that has been very well received,” MacPherson said.

Skiers at Pats Peak in Henniker are asked to boot up and store personal items in their cars.

“We do have some outdoor bag check areas set up if they do need to take a small bag with them,” noted Director of Marketing and Sales Lori Rowell. “Our lodges are open, but we are asking people to limit their time to 30 minutes or less to take a break and warm up or eat. We also have many outdoor seating areas with cabanas with wind blocks and heaters and greenhouses. We also added the option to order food from your smartphone and pick up at an outdoor to-go window.”

RVs aren’t currently allowed in the ski area’s parking lots.

Waterville Valley has similar policies regarding using one’s car to boot up and store gear, according to Communications Manager Stacie Sullivan. RVs, likewise, aren’t currently allowed in the resort’s parking lots.

At the Mt. Washington Valley’s Attitash and Wildcat ski areas, two of the newest Vail Resorts, RV parking is permitted during operating hours but not overnight, according to spokesman Jeff Wise. Cafeterias at both areas are open for to-go food service.

At Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway, RVs or campers are not currently allowed in the resort’s parking lots. Dining options are varied. Zip’s Pub and Grille is open by reservation only. Food is ordered by QR code and waitstaff delivers meals and drinks. The same ordering procedure is used in the main cafeteria, Legends Grille, and at The Meister Hut. Tables are spaced for appropriate social distancing, noted the resort’s General Manager Ben Wilcox.

New at Cranmore this season is the presence of two local food trucks, Tin Can Co. and Cheese Louise, on weekends and during holiday weeks.

At Gunstock in Gilford, skiers are also directed to use their cars as base camps, according to Marketing Director Kristen Lodge. Access to the ski area’s base lodge is only for the purposes of using restrooms or making dinner reservations.

And while Gunstock doesn’t allow RVs in its Main Lot or Pistol Lot due to space limitations, Gunstock has a campground with RV sites that can be rented for overnight stays, noted Lodge. It also offers two rustic cabins as wintertime rentals.

At Loon Mountain in Lincoln, overnight parking and oversized vehicles are not allowed for safety reasons, according to Communications Manager Louise Smith. Skiers are directed to boot up at their cars.

“It’s been working very (well) this season, and we’ve seen some great set-ups in the parking lot!” she said.

And at King Pine in East Madison, storage of personal items is not allowed in the base lodge either, and skiers are directed to boot up at their vehicles.

“If guests are not able to dress and put on boots at their vehicle, they will need to return and leave any bags in their cars if they should want to do so in the base lodge (space permitting),” the website says.

Guests are encouraged to limit their time in the base lodge to 30 minutes or fewer and to practice social distancing. The Pine Cone Café offers online ordering. Milt’s Lodge is only open for restroom access. Trail’s End Tavern is closed. RV parking is not allowed. Tailgating is permitted, with some restrictions.

‘Personal base lodge’

Shannon Dunfey-Ball, marketing and communications manager for the Ski NH trade association, compiled a few tips gleaned from New Hampshire skiers making the best of using their vehicles as home base when heading out for a day of skiing and riding.

“Aly Coakley of Freedom, an avid King Pine skier, said that her two little kids love their personal base lodge setup. Aly brings small kid camp chairs, a rug and loads of snacks and juice to keep the little ones having fun. She also said that putting down the rug at the bumper of her car has created an actual boundary for her kids, Reece, 3, and Connor, 1, and they know they have to stay on the rug and can’t run off into others’ space or traffic,” said Dunfey-Ball.

She also mentioned Teala Higgins, who employs a “personal base lodge” setup, with camp chairs and a rug, a space she uses when taking a break after competing in the Cranmore Mountain Meisters race league.

And restricted base lodge access isn’t a big issue if you know how to tailgate, which has become an increasingly popular activity at New Hampshire ski areas this season as well.

Another procedure ski areas have adopted in the age of Covid is social distancing on ski lifts, with appropriate spacing and capacity reductions.

Typically, skiers can find Covid-19-related restrictions and precautions on ski area websites.

A perusal prepares a visitor for what to expect upon arrival at the slopes.

During the pandemic, many skiers have used their vehicle as a home base and ordered food via mobile apps.