Lets face it, we have all had a hard beginning to 2021 with the covid-19 pandemic still happening. However, one activity that can help us get through this while also staying safe is skiing! Living in New Hampshire gives us all a huge selection of mountains to sk. Some mountains are smaller if you’re just a beginner like Bradford Ski Area, and some are larger if you are more advanced like Cannon Mountain. Some other great mountains that we have right here in New Hampshire are Loon, Waterville Valley, Gunstock and Attitash. 

With Covid-19 still spreading, our ability to do many things has decreased. Some activities have just changed a little to follow guidelines and some we are not able to do at all. However, skiing this year is one of the very few activities where you can get the sense of normal. For example, up at Waterville Valley they are mandating all masks to be worn when waiting in lift lines and getting on and off lifts when closer to others. Masks are typically worn anyways while skiing because of the cold temperatures. The other rule they enforced is that you cannot bring personal belongings into the lodge. You must get ready in your car and can not bring anything else up to the mountain. At first I thought this was gonna be a huge deal, however it saved me a lot of time that I usually waste in the lodge. It also allowed me to stay outside and get more fresh air. 

The next thing to always think about when skiing are the conditions on the mountain. This means how much snow has been made or has fallen on the mountain. This year we haven’t gotten as much snow as usually up in New Hampshire. Many mountains still havent opened all their trails due to lots of ice and unsafe skiing conditions. I’m hoping for more snow soon, because more snow always makes for better ski experiences. 

My brother Shane Monahan, an experienced skier, has recently visited Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. “My experience at Loon Mountain was nothing but great! They had just got four inches of fresh powder the morning I went skiing and the conditions were amazing. I 10/10 recommend skiing at Loon. ¨

Next we have Emma Antkowiak. She is a senior at Timberlane High School and has recently skied Gunstock Mountain. “My trip to Gunstock was my first ski trip in a couple years and it was amazing. The conditions were great and I had a blast. I will definitely be visiting the mountain again soon.”

Even with Covid-19 rules, this winter is going to be a great ski season for us all. Go out there and hop on the slopes!