{"id":1084,"date":"2025-10-05T22:38:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T22:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/?p=1084"},"modified":"2025-10-09T14:54:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T14:54:14","slug":"mountain-review-gunstock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/05\/mountain-review-gunstock\/","title":{"rendered":"Mountain Review: Gunstock"},"content":{"rendered":"
MOUNTAIN SCORE<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #6 in\u00a0New Hampshire<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 49<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #116 Overall<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n See our criteria<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Snow:<\/strong><\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Resiliency:<\/strong><\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Size:<\/strong><\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Terrain Diversity:<\/strong><\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Challenge:<\/strong><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Lifts:<\/strong><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Crowd Flow:<\/strong><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Facilities:<\/strong><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Navigation:<\/strong><\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Mountain Aesthetic:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1-Day Ticket: <\/strong>$65-$105<\/p>\n Pass Affiliation: <\/strong>None<\/p>\n On-site Lodging: <\/strong>No<\/p>\n Apr\u00e8s-ski:<\/strong> Limited<\/p>\n Nearest Cities: <\/strong>Boston (2 hrs) <\/strong><\/p>\n Recommended Ability Level:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Stunning lake views<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Local feel<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Close drive from Boston<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n No on-site lodging<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Modest footprint<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Limited marked beginner terrain<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Skiable Footprint: <\/strong>227<\/a> acres<\/p>\n Total Footprint: <\/strong>454<\/a> acres<\/p>\n Lift-Serviced Terrain: <\/strong>100%<\/p>\n Top Elevation: <\/strong>2,240 ft<\/p>\n Vertical Drop: <\/strong>1,300 ft<\/p>\n Lifts:<\/strong> 8<\/p>\n Trails: <\/strong>49<\/p>\n Beginner: <\/strong>15%<\/p>\n Intermediate:<\/strong> 52%<\/p>\n Advanced\/Expert: <\/strong>33%<\/p>\n Gunstock\u2019s convenient location, extensive snowmaking, and large night-skiing operation make it an appealing alternative to the larger resorts farther north. For skiers coming from Boston or southern New England, it offers significant time and cost savings without giving up too much in terms of reliable coverage. However, potential visitors should note a couple of drawbacks that come with the convenience.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Views of Lake Winnipesaukee make skiing or riding at Gunstock a surprisingly pretty experience.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Gunstock especially stands out for its lake views. The resort offers sweeping views of Lake Winnipesaukee, which are visible from the summit and from many trails across the mountain. The deep-blue lake dominates the landscape below, creating a striking contrast between the open water and the surrounding foothills, especially on clear days. The approach to the resort is also quite scenic and uncommercialized, passing through the Lakes Region with rolling hills and small towns along the way.<\/p>\n Gunstock sits at a summit elevation of 2,240 feet with a vertical drop of approximately 1,300 feet. The resort offers around 227 acres of skiable terrain, including glades, which is smaller than mountains further north in the state but on par with other south-central competitors.<\/p>\n Gunstock\u2019s 49 trails are arranged in a straightforward layout anchored by the Panorama Express, the mountain\u2019s only high-speed lift, which reaches the summit in roughly five minutes. From the top, trails are typically divided into upper, middle, and lower sections, and some routes change in difficulty mid-mountain. There are effectively five distinct ways down: two continuous blue runs (Gunsmoke and Flintlock) and three that involve at least one black section (Recoil, Trigger\/Ramrod, and Hot Shot). Recoil stands out for its variety and sustained pitch. Three of the five glades begin from the summit, though glade coverage is entirely natural and open only when snowpack allows.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Gunstock\u2019s 227-acre footprint is on par with other south-central New Hampshire ski resorts but smaller than resorts further north in the state.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On the east side, the Pistol triple chair serves its own pod with a mix of park and tree skiing. Blundersmoke hosts the resort\u2019s largest terrain park, while Sidearm offers a beginner park. The lift is slow but rarely crowded, and the area features two additional glades and Out of Sight, a narrow, winding trail frequently set up for ski-cross. Returning to the base requires crossing a small uphill section that snowboarders may need to push over, but strong momentum makes it manageable. Gunsmoke from the summit provides partial access into this zone.<\/p>\n West of Panorama lies Ramrod and Tiger, which together make up roughly a third of the resort\u2019s terrain and are served by one fixed quad and one triple. These trails are the center of Gunstock\u2019s racing scene and range from rolling blues to steeper black runs. Tiger accesses some of the resort\u2019s steepest terrain, and sections are sometimes left ungroomed to create bump lines. Flintlock to Stonebar, the longest run on the mountain, wraps around this sector. Red Hat is a local favorite for its flow and pitch.<\/p>\n The final resort area is Penny Pitou, named after Gunstock\u2019s most famous Olympic skier. This beginner area takes up a large amount of the flat base area and a small slope on the far-northwest side of the resort. It is serviced by a fixed-grip quad and two magic carpets, with a sizable ski school to boot.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n When it comes to the beginner experience, Gunstock offers mellow slopes in the Penny Pitou area, as well as a terrain-park-oriented green off the Pistol chair. However, this is the only green-rated terrain Gunstock visitors will get, although there are a few easier blue routes descending from the summit. Fifteen percent of the resort\u2019s terrain is rated green, and the setup is ideal for new skiers who prefer a contained learning zone.<\/p>\n Intermediate skiers make up the core audience at Gunstock, with 52 percent of the terrain designated blue. Grooming is excellent, and Gunsmoke and Flintlock in particular offer scenic, well-maintained descents with lake views the entire way.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Over half of Gunstock\u2019s trails are rated as intermediate blue squares, although some of them are on the easier side as far as this trail rating generally goes.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Advanced terrain accounts for 31 percent of the mountain, concentrated on steeper pitches near Tiger and Hot Shot. The resort doesn\u2019t feature extensive sustained steeps, but when it does get steep, the trails are generally wide and include long, mellow runouts at the bottom. While Gunstock lacks sustained expert fall-lines, one could argue some ungroomed single-black sections approach expert difficulty.<\/p>\n Officially, only two percent of the terrain is rated expert, limited to a short glade off Upper Recoil. Since there is no snowmaking in any glades, conditions are rarely good enough to allow this run to open.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Gunstock does have a few sections of steep terrain, although they are short, generally wide, and have long runouts at the bottom. <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Gunstock has two terrain parks, both serviced by the Pistol triple chair. Sidearm is designed for beginners, featuring smaller, more approachable features that make it a good introduction to park skiing and riding. Blundersmoke, on the other hand, hosts the mountain\u2019s largest jumps and features and serves as the main park for more advanced freestyle skiers and riders. The resort occasionally sets up ski-cross courses in this area as well.<\/p>\n Gunstock averages around 100 inches of natural snowfall per year, which is better than some other southern New Hampshire ski resorts but modest by the state\u2019s standards overall. Its proximity to the lake often brings mixed precipitation, but the resort compensates with snowmaking on 100 percent of non-glade terrain. Early December snowmaking builds a deep base (temperature conditions permitting), and the resort grooms most trails nightly to keep surfaces consistent, even after rain. A recently added winch cat maintains Hot Shot\u2019s steeper pitches, and new snowmaking on Ramrod accompanied a trail extension this season. Glades remain natural snow only.<\/p>\n NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.<\/strong><\/p>\n Salomon QST 92<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended all-mountain ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n V\u00f6lkl Kendo 88<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended carving ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Faction Prodigy 2<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended glade ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Black Diamond Helio 95<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended expert\/touring ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Navigation at Gunstock is straightforward thanks to its compact layout and clear trail structure. Nearly every run from the summit involves a sequence of three connected trail segments: upper, middle, and lower (such as Upper Trigger, Middle Trigger, and Lower Trigger). Once visitors grasp this pattern, it becomes easy to plan routes and stay oriented. Options to switch trails mid-descent are clearly marked and easy to follow, with additional signs directing skiers toward different base areas and lifts.<\/p>\n Lifts at Gunstock are anchored by the Panorama high-speed quad, which provides summit access in about five minutes. This lift generally handles the mountain\u2019s main traffic well and helps keep pressure off the slower fixed-grip lifts.<\/p>\n The remaining lifts are primarily older triples and quads that operate at a slower pace but are typically uncrowded unless a race event is taking place. Notably, the Pistol triple was once the summit lift before being relocated to its current position when Panorama was installed, and it retains a useful secondary role serving terrain on the east side of the mountain.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Gunstock rarely sees significant lines at its lifts, although waits can build at the high-speed quad on the busiest days.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Gunstock is not a member of any multi-mountain pass program unless you are a college student in New Hampshire. Therefore, crowds are mostly either locals or folks looking for a closer, less busy mountain. Saturdays can still bring heavy traffic and tickets can sell out, but under these circumstances, lift lines are usually still confined to the high-speed quad. On the busiest days, the resort usually manages singles lines efficiently, but those arriving after 9 or 10 a.m. may be directed to remote parking with shuttle service.<\/p>\n While they\u2019re not going to blow anyone away, Gunstock offers a decent set of facilities for a mountain of its size and local nature. The recently-expanded Panorama Pub summit lodge, features excellent views alongside limited bar service and hot food options. Bathrooms are available both at the summit and throughout the base area. The main base lodge includes a large cafeteria, a full-service restaurant, lockers, a brand-new tuning and repair shop, a sizable rental center, and a ski shop. Nearby, the Stockade Lodge provides another cafeteria option and sits adjacent to the resort\u2019s large ski school, which serves skiers and riders of all ages.\u00a0<\/p>\n NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.<\/strong><\/p>\n K2 Raygun Pop<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended intermediate board<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n CAPiTA Defenders of Awesome<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended advanced board<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n WRITTEN REVIEW
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n MOUNTAIN STATS
\n <\/a><\/p>\nCATEGORY BREAKDOWN\u00a0<\/h3>\n
\nGOOD TO KNOW<\/h3>\n
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\n \u00a0\u00a0+<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pros
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\n \u00a0\u00a0\u2013<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cons
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MOUNTAIN STATS<\/h3>\n
\nMountain Review<\/h2>\n
Mountain Aesthetic<\/h3>\n
Size and Terrain Layout<\/strong><\/h3>\n
TRAIL MAP<\/h3>\n
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Beginner Terrain<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Intermediate Terrain<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Advanced Terrain<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Expert Terrain<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Terrain Parks<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Snow Quality and Resiliency<\/strong><\/h3>\n
RECOMMENDED SKIS FOR GUNSTOCK<\/h3>\n
\nNavigation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Lifts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Crowds<\/strong><\/h3>\n
On-Mountain Facilities<\/strong><\/h3>\n
RECOMMENDED SNOWBOARDS FOR GUNSTOCK<\/h3>\n
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