|
| Dartmouth Skiway |
| Lyme, New Hampshire |
| Status: |
Open
|
| First Season: | 1956-57 |
| Vertical Drop: | 968 feet |
| Standing Lifts: | 1 quad, 1 double, 1 J-Bar |
| Past Lifts: | 1 double, 1 T-Bar, Surface lifts |
| Left: Winslow as seen from Don Worden Schuss (2018) |
| Recent NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com News:
|
 |
|
Located northeast of Hanover, Dartmouth Skiway is a mid-sized ski area that comprises the lower slopes two mountains, 2,110 foot Holts Ledge and 2,282 foot Winslow Ledge. The ski area is owned and operated by Dartmouth College.
Oak Hill
Dartmouth College's first venture into lift served skiing dates back to 1935, when a J-Bar was installed on a small slope at Oak Hill in Hanover. In a time in which most alpine skiing required hiking, the ski area was cutting edge. After two decades of use, the area was upstaged by a new Dartmouth College development at nearby Holts Ledge. Oak Hill likely remained lift served into the 1980s, at which point the focus for the complex was centered on nordic skiing.
Holt's Ledge
The Holts Poma circa the late 1950s |
Following John Meck's report entitled "Development of Adequate Skiing Facilities for Dartmouth Students in the Hanover Area," Dartmouth developed trails on the northeastern slope of Holt's Ledge for the 1956-57 season. Climbing up the new 968 vertical foot complex was a 3,775 foot Poma lift, which reportedly served 5 trails. At the foot of the area, the Peter Brundage Lodge was constructed, designed by local architect W. Brooke Fleck. Dartmouth College formally dedicated its new Holt's Ledge ski area on January 12, 1957, while the lodge was inaugurated on March 3. Accomplished racer Howard Chivers, class of 1939, was the area's first manager.
Despite developing the new ski area, Oak Hill continued to operate. The J-Bar was refurbished for the 1957-58 season.
To help alleviate long lift lines, a new 1,700 foot long Mueller T-Bar was installed at the foot of the Don Worden Schuss for the 1960-61 season. In addition to providing easier terrain, the new lift and Green Pastures slope facilitated skiing when natural snow was minimal. The Peter Brundage Lodge was also expanded around this time.
Winslow Ledge
Dartmouth Skiway circa 1967 |
Though crowds were growing, reliance on natural snow was a problem for the Skiway, as key races were relocated due to a lack of snow. While an investment in snowmaking was considered, Dartmouth instead opened a new complex for the 1967-68 season to market the ski area to families. Located on the northwestern slope of Winslow Ledge, the largely novice-intermediate area featured trail names following the college theme. Serving the complex was a new double chairlift, climbing 876 vertical feet.
Peter Brundage Lodge circa the late 1960s |
The lack of snowmaking hurt Dartmouth again during the poor winter of 1973-74, as the Skiway reportedly only operated 34 days.
Shortly after it reached two decades in service, the original Holt's Ledge Poma lift was replaced with a Hall double chairlift for the 1977-78 season, thus establishing chairlift service on both mountains.
Howard Chivers |
Three weeks after participating in a relay race, area manager Howard Chivers died of cancer in March of 1984. Donald Cutter, class of 1973, took over as manager.
Snowmaking, Lifts, Lodge
After dealing with many subpar snowfall winters, including a 4-day 1979-80 season, $1 million was invested in a snowmaking system for the winter of 1985-86, initially covering 43 acres. Though the installation allowed for more consistent operations, the ski area went into the red for until the winter of 1992-93.
A J-Bar was added to the Winslow side for the 1988-89 season. Five years later, with debt payments on the snowmaking system completed, the double chairlift on the Winslow side was replaced with a new Garaventa CTEC fixed grip quad chairlift.
The McLane Family Lodge (2016) |
Following the 1999-2000 season, the Peter Brundage Lodge was replaced with the $3.5 million McLane Family Lodge. Designed by Stuart White and Edward Levin, the new building quadrupled floor space while providing modern base facilities.
Doug Holler took over as ski area director for the 2001-02 season.
In keeping with the classic New England feel of the Holts side of the ski area, the double chairlift was kept in place, but modernized in 2005 when a new Doppelmayr-CTEC overhead drive was installed.
Lower Liftline (2018) |
Snowmaking was improved when the Dupre family donated $750,000 in 2008. The four Dupre sisters, all Dartmouth graduates, made the donation in honor of their father, HKD Snowmakers founder Herman K. Dupre.
NewEnglandSkiConditions.com Reports
| Month |
Average Percent of Terrain Open |
| December | 60% (3 reports) |  | | January | 76% (4 reports) | | | February | 86% (8 reports) | | | March | 92% (7 reports) | |
|
| Recent Conditions Reports |
 | Feb. 3, 2024 by nordicgal
Loose Granular, Frozen Granular |
| Feb. 3, 2024 by rocket21
Loose Granular, Frozen Granular |
 | Jan. 27, 2024 by beccam
Frozen Granular, Variable Conditions |
 | Feb. 23, 2020 by rocket21
Packed Powder, Packed Powder |
 | Feb. 23, 2020 by thefeatheredhat
Packed Powder, Packed Powder |
|
|
| Dartmouth Skiway on NewEnglandSkiConditions.com |
Image Gallery
Lifts
Click on lift name for information and photos
Maps
Year by Year History
Adult Weekend Full Day Lift Ticket; Adult Full Price Unlimited Season Pass
| 2020s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2023-24 | $65.00 | | $599.00 | | 9.2 days | December 26 | March 10 | 30,800 | | | | 2022-23 | $65.00 | | $539.00 | | 8.3 days | December 19 | April 2 | | | | | 2021-22 | $53.00 | | $455.00 | | 8.6 days | December 19 | March 26 | 38,000 | | | | 2020-21 | $53.00 | | | | | December 23 | March 27 | 36,000 | | | | 2019-20 | $53.00 | | $465.00 | | 8.8 days | December 20 | March 15 | | | |
| 2010s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2018-19 | $50.00 | | $405.00 | | 8.1 days | December 15 | March 31 | | | | | 2017-18 | $49.00 | | $449.00 | | 9.2 days | December 16 | March 31 | | | | | 2016-17 | $48.00 | | $555.00 | | 11.6 days | December 16 | March 26 | | | | | 2015-16 | $47.00 | | $545.00 | | 11.6 days | January 9 | March 13 | | | | | 2014-15 | $47.00 | | $545.00 | | 11.6 days | December 13 | March 29 | | | | | 2013-14 | $45.00 | | | | | December 14 | March 29 | | | | | 2012-13 | $45.00 | | | | | | March 24 | | | | | 2011-12 | $43.00 | | | | | December 21 | March 18 | 37,000 | | | | 2010-11 | $40.00 | | $475.00 | | 11.9 days | December 15 | March 27 | 46,000 | | | | 2009-10 | $40.00 | | $475.00 | | 11.9 days | December 17 | March 14 | | | |
| 2000s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 2008-09 | $40.00 | | $475.00 | | 11.9 days | December 19 | | | | | | 2007-08 | $40.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 2006-07 | $40.00 | | $475.00 | | 11.9 days | December 16 | | | | | | 2005-06 | $40.00 | | $475.00 | | 11.9 days | December 16 | March 19 | 41,466 | | | | 2004-05 | $38.00 | | $515.00 | | 13.6 days | December 18 | March 27 | 41,466 | | | | 2003-04 | $38.00 | | $510.00 | | 13.4 days | December 13 | March 28 | | | | | 2002-03 | $36.00 | | $500.00 | | 13.9 days | December 13 | March 30 | | | | | 2001-02 | $34.00 | | | | | December 21 | | | | | | 2000-01 | $31.00 | | | | | December 16 | April 1 | 56,500 | | | | 1999-00 | $30.00 | | | | | | March 26 | | | |
| 1990s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1998-99 | $29.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1996-97 | $28.00 | | | | | | March 30 | | | | | 1995-96 | | | | | | December 15 | March 17 | | | | | 1994-95 | | | | | | December 17 | | 40,235 | | | | 1993-94 | $26.00 | | | | | | April 3 | | | | | 1992-93 | $26.00 | | | | | | | 38,500 | | | | 1991-92 | $26.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1990-91 | $26.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1989-90 | $24.00 | | | | | December 9 | | 40,401 | | |
| 1980s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1988-89 | $20.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1987-88 | $19.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1986-87 | $17.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1985-86 | $15.00 | | | | | | | 35,000 | | | | 1984-85 | $14.00 | | $160.00 | | 11.4 days | December 24 | | 12,000 | | | | 1983-84 | $13.00 | | $150.00 | | 11.5 days | | | | | | | 1982-83 | $13.00 | | | | | January 17 | | | | | | 1979-80 | $10.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1970s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1978-79 | $9.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1977-78 | $8.00 | | | | | | March 26 | | | | | 1976-77 | $8.00 | | $80.00 | | 10.0 days | | | | | | | 1975-76 | $7.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1974-75 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1973-74 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1972-73 | | | | | | December 9 | March 8 | | | | | 1971-72 | $8.00 | | | | | | April 2 | | | | | 1970-71 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1969-70 | $6.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1960s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1968-69 | $5.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1967-68 | $5.00 | | | | | | | | | | | 1965-66 | | | | | | December 22 | | | | | | 1964-65 | $4.50 | | | | | | March 5 | | | | | 1963-64 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1962-63 | $4.50 | | | | | | | | | | | 1961-62 | | | | | | December 22 | March 30 | | | | | 1959-60 | $4.00 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1950s |
Ticket Price |
Season Pass Price |
Pass Payback |
Opening Day |
Closing Day |
Skier Visits |
| 1958-59 | $3.75 | | | | | | | | | | | 1957-58 | | | | | | | April 14 | | | |
Visitor Memories
| "Born in 1947. skied Skiway the first day it was open. After Oak Hill, we thought we had gone to skiing heaven.
Big part of growing up. Still working as a ski instructor
at Mt. Ashland, Oregon
My older brother skied 75 straight seasons before hanging up his skis." | | warren carlson, Dec. 29, 2020 |
|
External Links
Dartmouth Skiway - official site
|
Last updated: February 16, 2020
|
