New Hampshire- Wildcat Mountain had a weird 2024-25 ski season.
Wildcat had a slow start to its season due to a lack of natural snowfall and insufficient snowmaking. There are various theories about why their trail count lagged behind, but it’s believed that New England’s drought negatively impacted their snowmaking pond. This drought also affected other New England ski areas’ snowmaking operations, like Sugarbush. Another factor was that throughout the winter, Wildcat saw heavy winds that led to some daily closures and difficulty making snow. These conditions led to Wildcat’s trail count being behind other New Hampshire ski resorts.
February was snowier, which led to more terrain openings, but a warm March led to Wildcat closing for the season on April 7th. Vail Resorts caught flak from Epic passholders for this early closing, as Wildcat typically stays open until late April. Meanwhile, the closest ski area to Wildcat, Black Mountain, remained open until May 3rd.
Snowmaking wasn’t the only issue that Vail Resorts dealt with at Wildcat during the 2024-25 season. One of their snow groomers accidentally rammed into the Bobcat’s top lift shack, resulting in a temporary closure. However, this wasn’t even the worst lift issue that afflicted Wildcat this past ski season.
Snowcat is the chairlift that services Wildcat’s beginner area. While the area it services is small compared to Wildcat’s skiable footprint, it’s a critical part of the beginner experience. It’s the second step for beginners, with the first being the Snowbelt. Without it, it becomes more difficult for beginners to reach the next level.
Yesterday, Wildcat provided an update on Snowcat’s status. The New Hampshire ski area announced that the chairlift will be getting a new drive, controls, communication lines, lift shacks, and a haul rope. In addition, the lift towers on the Wildcat Express are currently undergoing maintenance. Wildcat Mountain plans to provide an update on its snowmaking projects later this offseason.
Wildcat plans to have summer operations on weekends beginning on July 5th. Activities will include scenic lift rides, hiking trails, and disc golf.
Image Credits: Wildcat Mountain, RandomGuy1832
