Moose Mountain Ski Area Brookfield, NH Early 1960's - Late 1980's

Now operating as a tubing park called Moose Mountain Recreation

History ~ By the Year ~ Memories ~ Historic Imagery ~ Recent Imagery

History

Moose Mountain is a former ski area that is located about 10 miles south of the Mt. Whittier ski area, and 20 miles north of Rochester on route 11A. It was a small family oriented ski area, with a real vertical of 630'. It was often advertised though as having more vertical, and in some publications was listed at 1000'. A variety of trails and slopes served skiers of all abilities. A Mueller Double Chair was the summit lift, flanked by two T-bars. The exact opening year is unknown but it was prior to 1964, and it appeared to have closed in the late 1980's.

A trail map of the area from the 1960's

The area lay dormant until 2009 when a new company, Moose Mountain Recreation reactivated the area for snow tubing. Some slopes and trails were cleared out, and other activities such as hiking and snowmobiling are now available. The tubing park has snowmaking and a handle tow, and the lodge has been completely renovated.

For more information on the tubing park, please visit their website: Moose Mountain Recreation.

By the Year

Year Lifts Trails Other Notes Source

1964 1 Double, 1 T-bar, 1 Rope Tow 2 slopes, 6 trails 3 Packers Eastern Ski Map

1966 Same Same Same America's Ski Book

1967-1968 2400' Double Chair, 1000' T-bar, 900' Tow 6 trails, from novice to expert. 2 slopes. Well groomed. Operates daily, certified instructors for all abilities. $5.00 daily rate, $75.00 seasonal rate, $135.00 family season pass. "More skiing, less driving." Ski shop for sales, rentals, repairs, cafeteria, ski patrol. Phone number 603-522-3639, Manager, Paul J. Cossette Eastern Ski Atlas

1968 New 900' Mueller T-bar (replaced Rope Tow), 250' vertical, 800 skiers/hour. Other lifts same N/a None Lift Construction Survey, Skilifts.org.

1973 Double Chair, 2 T-bars. 2000 skiers/hour capacity. Base elevation 600', NE Exposure. Area operates daily, night skiing (6 nights only), ski shop, snack bar, rentals, warming huts, no snowmaking, parking for 400 cars. Ski School: Mick Hickey, Director of American technique with 10 instructors, 2 certified. Rates: $3.00 adult and junior weekday, $5.00 weekend. Special housewives' lesson and luncheon: 6 lessons, luncheon, lessons, tickets for just $40.00. Ski Guide to the Northeast

1976 Same Base lodge burns down, is rebuilt Mark MacDougall

Late 1980's Lifts remain N/a Area closes

2009 1 Handle Tow for tubing. Double chair and 1 T-bar (far right of ski area as you face the mountain) remain but are not in operable condition. 1 Tubing Area Area reopens for tubing with snowmaking. Groomer. Base lodge refurbished. Trails and slopes cleared out. Moose Mountain website and personal visit.

Memories

Mark MacDougall: Students from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro skied here daily as part of the recreational ski program through at least 1979. Season lift tickets were $60 that year.

Paul Bilsky: The evening lift tickets were only $2 or $3. Under the chair was a great bump run and one night we hit it on a powder day. Really fun! I will always remember, however, my friend Michael Salafia learning how to ski on the bunny slope. Well he couldn’t stop at the ends, so he skied clear across the parking lot with sparks flying from his rental skis. He had great balance, to say the least. It was a fun place to visit.

If you remember skiing this area, please let us know.

Historic Imagery

Here's the front/back of one of their first brochures. Click on it to view the larger version. The area touted its closeness to population centers

The inside of the brochure detailed the facilities. Click on it to read more detail.

An aerial view of the ski area from the 1968 Eastern Ski Atlas. You can see the layout of the mountain - 3 main trails from the summit with a few side trails, as well as two main wide open slopes on the lower portion of the ski area. Both of these were served by T-bars. An additional expert trail would be added from the summit sometime after this.

A late 1960's postcard shows the two T-bar slopes quite clearly (check out the line for the one on the left!), along with the double chair liftline.

A likely c1970-ish brochure shows the area from afar, as well as the chairlift. Click on it for the larger version.

The inside of the brochure highlighted the ski area with a trail map, and view of the lodge. Click on it for the larger version.

This 1998 aerial view showed that the trails and slopes were still quite recognizable. Click on it for the larger version.

Here is a photo of the Ski School at that time, in 1965-66, with the great lodge in the background, thanks to Nancy Colon. Click for larger version.

In the photo is: Mike Hickey, Ski School Director, Jo Hickey, Nancy Colon, Bruce Colon Nick Fiorentino, Jim Wales & Russ Taylor.

Recent Imagery

2006
Mark MacDougall visited the ski area in 2006, and took the following photos.
Please click on each image for the larger version.

This is an equipment shed near the base of "Wiz Bang", which followed the route of the chairlift. You can see a lift tower near the summit. This shows the lodge which was built in the late 70s to replace the original, which burned around 1976. The building on the right housed the lower bull wheel. The lift line started to the right of this building and worked around the back to the left side. This is another view of the same building. There are no visible trails remaining, but from a distance one can see where the trails were, due to the smaller diameter of the trees.

Sep, 2007
John Saunders visited this area in September of 2007. As you can see, the area was quite grown in.
Please click on each image for the larger version.

Inside the base of the double chair. Drive for the double. Bottom of the double chair.

Lower liftline for the double. A lone tower rises above the trees near the summit. Operator's hut at the summit. Lights for night skiing.

Feb, 2009
Dan Robertson visited this area in February of 2009. The area had been cleared out the previous fall, exposing many elements of the ski area.
Please click on each image for the larger version.

View of the T-bar closest to the lodge. Looking up the T-bar closest to the lodge. It has now been removed. Looking down the T-bar liftline, towards the lodge.

The Double Chair liftline. Return bullwheel on the Double. The far right T-bar and slope. View of the ski area.

Dec 18, 2010
I visited this area on Dec 18, 2010, and took the following photos.
Please click on each image for the larger version.

A view of the Mueller Double Chair from the tubing park area. Closeup of the Double Chair liftline and towers.

Refurbished base lodge. Snowtubing area - snow had been made here but it wasn't open yet. The far right T-bar is still standing, but will likely never operate agan.

December 2013

Thanks to Jam614 on Snowjournal.com, we now have a trip report from Moose. Enjoy his photos which show that the area is still quite skiable and enjoyable. Please click on all photos for a larger version.

Nothing like about a foot of fresh snow outside the window to get the need to ski. My son really wanted to go skiing even though our home town hill is not scheduled to open until Dec 21st, so I decided to dig out the AT gear and make a trip to Moose Mountain Brookfield, NH. As well known, this defunct ski area has seen a bit of a make-over as a tubing park with a restored base lodge. This past summer they opened up a Frisbee golf course. I check out their website and was happy to find that they encourage hiking and liberal usage of the mountain. Game on.

We parked at the base lodge and I donned skins on my old K2 Jerry Launchers while my son snowshoed (I carried his skis on my pack). His skis are 118cm so they were barely noticeable. We ascended the old beginner trail to the east, making our way past the Frisbee course. I pointed out the old light poles that used to light up this overgrown trail for night skiing a long time ago. Snowmobiles had packed out the trail pretty well making for a gentle grade to the summit shack in about 45 minutes, taking breaks and checking out the sights. The storm had past around noon and it was uncommonly calm. Great views to the north from here and relatively quiet, save for the sound of snowmobiles in the valley below. After a quick snack inside the summit shack I asked my son which trail he thought we should descend and his reply was ; " The one with the most Powder!" Great answer but I suspect the trail to the skier's left may have been more favorable since it had snowmobile tracks and was void over underbrush. So we decided to ski the old lift line which looked kind of questionable since there was considerable amount of tree growth but my son is a trooper and took it all in stride. He's only 7 Y/O but is no stranger to skiing in the woods and in challenging conditions.

The snow was heavier than expected as were the whippets and considerable growth. Another storm cycle or two and this line will be a beautiful run. It had been a while since I skied on non-rockered skis off trail and I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was missing the extra float and ease of turning that rockers provide. The lower run-out has been maintained and was easier to ski for both of us, despite the fact that snowmobiles had mostly tracked it up.

It was a great outing for our first time skiing this season. Moose mountain is a highly recommended journey for a couple of ski options off from the summit. Word of caution concerning the snowmobile traffic which is allowed on the trails but there's always some untracked to harvest at the edges. I was happy to have introduced my son to a backcountry skiing at a young age. Hopefully this will be the first of many adventures to come.

Comparison Photos

From Late 1960's - to December 2010! Note that the row of trees between the double chair and the left T-bar have been removed. You can see the snowtubing area at the bottom left of the 2010 photo.

If you remember this ski area and have more information, please let us know.

Last updated: May 3, 2015

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Year	Lifts	Trails	Other Notes	Source
1964	1 Double, 1 T-bar, 1 Rope Tow	2 slopes, 6 trails	3 Packers	Eastern Ski Map
1966	Same	Same	Same	America's Ski Book
1967-1968	2400' Double Chair, 1000' T-bar, 900' Tow	6 trails, from novice to expert. 2 slopes. Well groomed.	Operates daily, certified instructors for all abilities. $5.00 daily rate, $75.00 seasonal rate, $135.00 family season pass. "More skiing, less driving." Ski shop for sales, rentals, repairs, cafeteria, ski patrol. Phone number 603-522-3639, Manager, Paul J. Cossette	Eastern Ski Atlas
1968	New 900' Mueller T-bar (replaced Rope Tow), 250' vertical, 800 skiers/hour. Other lifts same	N/a	None	Lift Construction Survey, Skilifts.org.
1973	Double Chair, 2 T-bars. 2000 skiers/hour capacity.	Base elevation 600', NE Exposure.	Area operates daily, night skiing (6 nights only), ski shop, snack bar, rentals, warming huts, no snowmaking, parking for 400 cars. Ski School: Mick Hickey, Director of American technique with 10 instructors, 2 certified. Rates: $3.00 adult and junior weekday, $5.00 weekend. Special housewives' lesson and luncheon: 6 lessons, luncheon, lessons, tickets for just $40.00.	Ski Guide to the Northeast
1976	Same		Base lodge burns down, is rebuilt	Mark MacDougall
Late 1980's	Lifts remain	N/a	Area closes
2009	1 Handle Tow for tubing. Double chair and 1 T-bar (far right of ski area as you face the mountain) remain but are not in operable condition.	1 Tubing Area	Area reopens for tubing with snowmaking. Groomer. Base lodge refurbished. Trails and slopes cleared out.	Moose Mountain website and personal visit.


This is an equipment shed near the base of "Wiz Bang", which followed the route of the chairlift. You can see a lift tower near the summit.	This shows the lodge which was built in the late 70s to replace the original, which burned around 1976. The building on the right housed the lower bull wheel. The lift line started to the right of this building and worked around the back to the left side.	This is another view of the same building. There are no visible trails remaining, but from a distance one can see where the trails were, due to the smaller diameter of the trees.


Inside the base of the double chair.	Drive for the double.	Bottom of the double chair.


Lower liftline for the double.	A lone tower rises above the trees near the summit.	Operator's hut at the summit.	Lights for night skiing.


View of the T-bar closest to the lodge.	Looking up the T-bar closest to the lodge. It has now been removed.	Looking down the T-bar liftline, towards the lodge.


The Double Chair liftline.	Return bullwheel on the Double.	The far right T-bar and slope.	View of the ski area.


A view of the Mueller Double Chair from the tubing park area.	Closeup of the Double Chair liftline and towers.


Refurbished base lodge.	Snowtubing area - snow had been made here but it wasn't open yet.	The far right T-bar is still standing, but will likely never operate agan.


We parked at the base lodge and I donned skins on my old K2 Jerry Launchers while my son snowshoed (I carried his skis on my pack). His skis are 118cm so they were barely noticeable. We ascended the old beginner trail to the east, making our way past the Frisbee course. I pointed out the old light poles that used to light up this overgrown trail for night skiing a long time ago.	Snowmobiles had packed out the trail pretty well making for a gentle grade to the summit shack in about 45 minutes, taking breaks and checking out the sights. The storm had past around noon and it was uncommonly calm. Great views to the north from here and relatively quiet, save for the sound of snowmobiles in the valley below.	After a quick snack inside the summit shack I asked my son which trail he thought we should descend and his reply was ; " The one with the most Powder!" Great answer but I suspect the trail to the skier's left may have been more favorable since it had snowmobile tracks and was void over underbrush.	So we decided to ski the old lift line which looked kind of questionable since there was considerable amount of tree growth but my son is a trooper and took it all in stride. He's only 7 Y/O but is no stranger to skiing in the woods and in challenging conditions. The snow was heavier than expected as were the whippets and considerable growth. Another storm cycle or two and this line will be a beautiful run. It had been a while since I skied on non-rockered skis off trail and I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was missing the extra float and ease of turning that rockers provide. The lower run-out has been maintained and was easier to ski for both of us, despite the fact that snowmobiles had mostly tracked it up.