- getting off the hill
north conway, nh
Ben Morse
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Features
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But springtime is also a great time to head to North Conway, New Hampshire and the White Mountains to take advantage of what New England offers those itching to get outside. In the spring, the mountains hold a winter's worth of snowpack for those skiers in denial who seek to extend the ski season into May with the annual pilgrimage to Mt. Washington's Tuckerman ravine. With three storms dumping over 12 inches each on Mt. Washington in April alone, Tucks looks to be skiable into June this year!
Kayakers and canoers can rejoice at the springtime rains and melting mountain snowpack which have the rivers of the Whites-the Saco, the Androscoggin, and the Wild to name a few-running with attitude.
And your uppity cyclists can rejoice at the opportunity to get off their rollers, crawl out of hibernation and hit the roads-freshly washed by the springtime rains. The major roads of the White Mountains are well-paved and scenic, offering hundreds of miles of world-class riding.
And what if you're a hiker? Well, sorry buddy-springtime is also mud-time in the Whites, so you'll want to count on at least a few dry days before embarking on a hiking trip. That aside, when you combine the prime conditions of spring with warming temps, longer days, and a springtime vibe, there's no better time to hit the Whites.
The town of North Conway is great place to end a day in the Whites. Located in the heart of the White Mountains, it offers small-town charm with an outdoorsy vibe through its restaurants, bars, coffee shops and outdoor shops. The shops and bars are all located on one long strip through town, which makes finding your way around simple and straightforward. A particularly good food joint is Flatbread Pizza, a local favorite known for its unique pizza and casual atmosphere, where two people can be well fed for $20 - or $30 with drinks.
The Low Down:
A trip to the White's is a stiff day trip-you're looking at a 2 1/2 drive each way. While it can be done in a day, you're best off staying for a night and a day, if not the whole weekend. Depending on the location of your objective, you'll either want to approach from the North, via route 2, or from the South, via a hundred different roads (not to discourage you!)
Perhaps the biggest challenge is finding the time to get off the hill with mounting workloads and waning opportunities to hang out with friends before summer vacation. But keep in mind the rewards for such a trip are also great: not only will you hit up some of the best spring biking, skiing, canoeing and kayaking in New England, but getting away for a weekend also freshens your mind and prevents the Colby "burnout" before the end of school. I personally plan to head out for a weekend or two before the end of the year then wrap it up in the final weekends refreshed and still stoked on the scene on the hill.
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