Mt. Chocorua, New Hampshire - New England's Alpine CCC Ski Trails

Connecticut

Maine

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Rhode Island

Vermont

Alpine CCC Ski Trails > New Hampshire

Mt. Chocorua
Albany, New Hampshire

Overview

Towering over the northeastern Lakes Region, Mt. Chocorua is one of the most photographed and hiked mountains in the country. The CCC did work on at least two ski trails on Chocorua in the 1930s, though neither remain maintained for alpine skiing today. The Jim Liberty Cabin, located at the top of the ski trails, is still actively used by both summer and winter visitors.

Trails on Mt. Chocorua

Chocorua East Ski Trail - Abandoned
The Chocorua East Side Trail was opened around 1934, described as a "wide, steep cut in the forest." The top of the trail was originally located 1/3 of a mile below the Jim Liberty Cabin, perhaps near the junction of the Liberty and Hammond hiking trails. By 1941, the trail was abandoned and the Tamworth Outing Club deemed the trail to be 'not recommended.' It is possible that this trail may have been considered to be on subpeak "Bald Mountain" rather than Mt. Chocorua in some publications.

Liberty Trail - Open
Dating back to the 1800s, the Liberty Trail is a historic hiking trail up Mt. Chocorua, terminating at Paugus Mill. In 1933, the Liberty Trail was improved for alpine skiing up to the Halfway House. While it is unknown if the CCC officially took part in this phase, they did improve the trail for alpine skiing up to the Jim Liberty Cabin (newly rebuilt by USFS in 1934) in 1937.

While the trail is still open for hiking, it is no longer as wide as backcountry ski trails tend to be. In addition, the access road to the bottom of the trail is not plowed in winter.

Quotes

"	1933: Liberty Trail is regraded as far as Halfway House and improved for skiing, now forms excellent run for novices with no grades of any length exceeding 11 degrees.	"
	Mount Chocorua: A Guide and History, p. 51

"	1934: Liberty Trail has been improved by CCC for skiing up past Jim Liberty Cabin.	"
	Mount Chocorua: A Guide and History, p. 53

"	Chocorua East Ski Trail. This wide steep cut in the forest along the side of the prominent Bald Mt. ridge affords an alternate tramper's route from Wing's Tavern to the summit of Chocorua via Jim Liberty Shelter. It is, in the main, a high-speed ski run. It diverges from the Weetamoo Trail where the latter turns L. away from the Chocorua River valley, continues near the W. bank for another 1/2 m., follows a small tributary a short distance and then slabs the mountain side. It ascends at first gently, then more and more steeply to the final 34-degree pitch, which brings the route out on the sharp knoll 1/3 m. below Jim Liberty Shelter and about 20 yds. E. along the original Liberty Trail from the top of the new Liberty Ski Route, which avoids a steep section of the foot trail. The lower 1 1/2 m., which has very gentle grades, is, with 10 inches of snow, a novice ski run: the upper 1 1/4 m. requires 24 inches of snow, and is for experts only. Distances. Wing's Tavern to divergence at Weetamoo Trail 3/4 m.; to Liberty Trail 2 3/4 m.; to summit via Liberty Trail 3 1/2 m.	"
	The A.M.C. White Mountain Guide, 1934, p. 355-356

"	LIBERTY TRAIL: Speed limit, about 20 miles an hour. Length 3.5 miles, width 12'-30', vertical descent 2000', max grade 13. Snow needed, 10"-12". CABIN at top, with stove and bunks. Novice and Intermediate.	"
	"Tamworth Ski Region" Brochure, Tamworth Outing Club, 1941

"	CHOCORUA TRAIL: Not recommended. Length 2.75 miles, width 25'-50', vertical descent 2100', max grade 34. Snow needed, 24" at top, 8"-10" lower. Expert.	"
	"Tamworth Ski Region" Brochure, Tamworth Outing Club, 1941

Images