It was
the summer of 1933 that the depression born civilian conservation
corps, armed with axes and cross-cut saws, started clearing
the Wildcat trail, one of the first ski racing trails built
in the United States. Designed by Charley Proctor, the all-around
ski champion of Canada in 1927, it was designated as a class "A" racing
trail.
The decision
to develop a modern ski area on Wildcat Mountain was influenced
by a few factors. Tremendous annual snowfall, high elevation,
and northern exposure assuring a long ski season. Then there
was the possibility of year-round recreational development.
Of course, the spectacular scenery that surrounds Wildcat,
including eye-level views of Tuckerman Ravine and Mt. Washington
directly across Pinkham Notch, played a role as well!
Among
the group that dreamed, planned, and finally built the ski
area were Brooks Dodge and George Macomber, both of whom
had raced many times on the famous old Wildcat Trail. These
two men, each of whom had raced on two U.S. Olympic teams,
were joined by Malcolm McLane and William Beal in shaping
the first plans for the development of Wildcat Mountain Ski
Area. A corporation was formed, capital obtained, and before
you knew it the first T-bar was ready to roll. Only a few
weeks later, and with appropriate ceremonies and fanfare,
the first Gondola passengers were carried all the way to
the top of the Mountain. Wildcat had entered the "Big
Time" as one of the major ski areas in the United States.
The Wildcat
Gondola, Wildcat's trademark for many years, was the first
lift of this type to be erected in the U.S. It opened for
operation during the 1957-58 ski season on January 25, 1958.
It was carried by twenty-three towers which kept the lift
close to the contours of the mountain, helping to protect
the lift from winds. The original Gondola has been dismantled,
and today Wildcat does not operate a Gondola or enclosed
lift during ski season. Taking the Gondola's place for base
to summit transportation during the ski season is the Wildcat
Express, a high-speed detachable quad chairlift, which was
installed in 1997. The Wildcat Express is the fastest and
longest detachable Quad chair lift in the New Hampshire and
Maine - possibly the fastest in the Northest. It zips from
the base to the summit in just over 6 minutes! During the
summer and fall, the Quad lift line is then transformed in
order to operate the new Wildcat Express Gondola Skyrides
for sightseers -- New Hamphsire's highest 4-person Gondola!
- There
lingers the misconception that Wildcat is a mountain for
experts only. While the old-timers remember with nostalgia
the s-turns and narrowness of Wildcat's first trails, these
trails have been tamed over the years. Although the grade
remains, the trails have been widened. This, combined with
modern snow-making and grooming technology, has created
a unique and beautiful place for the whole family to learn
to ski. In fact, the award-winning Polecat Trail has been
described as
- "two
and three quarter miles of sheer pleasure",
"a masterpiece of construction",
"the most scenic trail in the U.S."
- The
Polecat, which keeps a special place in many a skier's
heart, is New Hampshire's
longest ski trail! Anyone who can complete a basic turn
can ski the Polecat and experience the satisfaction of
having skied a big mountain from top to bottom. Those of
us who grew up skiing at Wildcat know it's the best place
to learn!
