Why a local ski spot is the place to be this winter  

By Aislinn Sarnacki

My first day downhill skiing at Big Moose Mountain started with a magic carpet ride and concluded with a hot chocolate. The hours in between were filled with laughter, excitement, comfort food and a strong sense of being a part of a community, something I so often lack in my day-to-day life.

In just a few hours, I learned why people love Big Moose and why local residents are working to keep it open and thriving.

Big Moose opened for downhill skiing in 1963 with a T-bar. A few years later a chairlift was added, then upgraded. Various operators ran the mountain until James Confalone purchased it in 1995 and ran it until 2010. After a few years of inactivity, a nonprofit called Friends of the Mountain formed to lease and operate the slopes, reopening them to the community.

The mountain’s future is far from certain. Friends of the Mountain is raising $5.95 million to buy the 1,700-acre property and make it a permanent nonprofit ski area. The plan includes renovating the base lodge and replacing a chairlift to the summit, opening more trails and longer runs. So far, the organization has raised just over $2.6 million while continuing to make improvements.

I called the base lodge for the latest update and spoke with Kevin Springer, vice president of the Friends of the Mountain Board. He said the mountain has invested in snowmaking and grooming trails to the top, and they’re building a new lift house, a shelter at the bottom of the chairlift.

On Jan. 29, cedar siding was being installed on the shelter. The lumber was donated by Moosehead Cedar Log Homes, a longtime supporter of the mountain. The company also provided the logs for the base lodge siding.

“There’s a lot of people in town who donate time and materials and all kinds of stuff for up here,” Springer said. 

To ski at Big Moose, I purchased a $45 lift ticket. I had my own gear, but if I hadn’t, the mountain’s rental gear shop offers skis, snowboards, helmets, boots and poles. 

I purchased a $45 lift ticket. The mountain rents skis, snowboards, boots, poles and helmets if you need them. The chairlift carries skiers to about 2,900 feet above sea level, a vertical drop of roughly 1,700 feet to the base lodge. From there, skiers can choose from several groomed trails, mostly labeled green or blue. Perfect for a beginner like me.

I learned to downhill ski just two years ago at 35, so I steered clear of the one black diamond trail, which is for experts, as well as a couple of black diamond trail segments. They’re steep, narrow and not for me.

The summit of Big Moose Mountain is at about 3,200 feet above sea level, and the upper portion of the mountain doesn’t currently have chairlift access. However, skiers can gain access to the mountain’s upper trails by backcountry skiing or purchasing a $50 ticket for a snowcat ride. 

This $50 donation may seem like a lot for an extra 1,000 vertical feet of skiing, but it’s a popular service. In fact, people love it so much that Friends of the Mountain decided to purchase a second snowcat for this season. To accomplish this, they put out a call for donations on social media to buy a snowcat with a 12-person cab that was for sale in Utah.

“Within three days, we had it paid for, and that was all donations from just local people and people that have camps up here,” said Springer. “Over $35,000 in donations in three days.”

If that doesn’t show how much people support this locally-run mountain, I don’t know what does.

As a ski area, Big Moose Mountain has a lot going for it. Its trails provide breathtaking views of Moosehead Lake and the surrounding mountains and forests. The fundraising slogan says it best: “Ski the view, save the mountain.”

I found the trails perfect for a beginner like me. Since it was my first time on skis this season, I started the day on the magic carpet — a moving walkway that carries skiers up a gentle “bunny hill.” It’s an ideal spot for anyone learning to ski or looking for a refresher before tackling the chairlift and steeper slopes.

My partner, an expert skier, joined me and had a great time, showing that the mountain isn’t just for beginners. He’s especially excited about the possibility of a chairlift that would carry skiers all the way to the top, opening up more challenging trails and longer runs. Last year, he skied to the summit with friends and said the views were absolutely incredible.

The parking lot and base lodge were packed on the Sunday I skied there. It was heartwarming to see so many people enjoying good, old-fashioned fun, embracing the winter instead of hiding indoors. The lively atmosphere took me back to my childhood, sprinting around the playground at recess.

It’s hard to put into words the sense of community I felt while waiting in the short lift line or weaving through the crowd in the base lodge. I didn’t know most of the people around me, yet I felt connected to them through a shared mission: to enjoy the snow and have fun.

It was easy to feel at home in the base lodge, which was cozy and rich with history. Skiers and snowboarders gathered at foldout tables and chairs beneath lights strung from the wooden ceiling. I was thrilled to discover a varied menu of ready-to-go food and drinks that were surprisingly affordable. My frozen granola bar was quickly replaced by a warm grilled cheese sandwich and fries.

“Come on back anytime,” Springer said to me on the phone.

Thank you. I certainly will.

To learn more about Big Moose, visit skibigmoose.com.