New Hampshire arguably boasts the most breathtaking mountain scenery amongst the north eastern states of the USA.  The Presidential mountain range runs through the state and contains 9 mountain peaks that elevate above 1,500m (5,000ft) including the East Coasts highest peak, Mt Washington.

The state is renound for its extremely harsh winters and boasts the highest recorded wind velocities of 372 km/h (231 m/h) at Mout Washington.  The average January temperature raanges from -11C (12F) in the north to -3C (26F) further south, and the entire state is regularly bombarded with heavy winter snowfalls.

The Main Snowboard resort in the state is Waterville Valley in the states center.  Famous for its parks and pipes, Waterville isn't the destination for freeriding enthusiats.  Check out the full review of Waterville Valley on this site.

Hints & Tips

Planning a trip to the east coast can be a difficult thing to do, as the good times of the season usually don't follow any particular pattern. The best time to visit the east is December (when we usually get most of our snow), February and March (which is when most of the major competitions happen). Stay away from the east in January as it is traditionally rainy.

Try to avoid trips on holiday weekends (Christmas and Thanksgiving). Not only will you pay higher ticket prices, but you will have to deal with enormous crowds.

Accommodation

Most states in the East which have resorts are yet to be urbanized. Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are all rather rustic. What this means is that the resort area has a lot going on, but there is nothing around it. It also means that lodging can be expensive as everything else is in resort areas. The best way to avoid paying way too much is to plan on driving 20-30 minutes from the area to stay the night. Traditionally, the further you travel from the mountain, the cheaper hotels get.
A lot of times the best way to find a place to stay is to get there and see what is around. Most people will be able to tell you if there is a nearby town that will offer more affordable accomodation.

Transport

A car is the ultimate mode of transport because the resorts around the East Coast are spread across a small area. By having a car, you are then able to pick the resort with the best conditions and terrain on the day.

Last updated on 01 November 2004.