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An aerial shot of a snowy hilltop overlooking a highway and small buildings below, with mountains in the background.

Whaleback: A Hidden Gem in New Hampshire

A while back, before COVID turned the world upside down, I traveled up I-89 in New Hampshire to shoot a feature on Whaleback Mountain—a small, mom-and-pop-style ski area. The feature never materialized, and until now, I hadn’t shared the photos from that assignment.

Whaleback is a unique mountain, deeply rooted in its community. I had only visited the area once before—back in the early 2000s (is “aughts” really the term we’re using?) to cover the Salomon Jib Academy for Newschoolers. Operated by the Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation (UVSSF), the mountain was saved from foreclosure in 2013 and is now run as a nonprofit, providing an affordable, family-friendly skiing experience for everyone in the area.

Although the original feature didn’t come to life, Whaleback’s story of perseverance, driven by passionate locals battling warming weather and economic challenges, deserves the spotlight. The mountain’s focus on accessibility, with programs like after-school lessons and adult race leagues, keeps its spirit alive. Whaleback is more than just a place to ski—it’s a testament to the power of community, resilience, and a shared love of all things snow-related.

A wide-angle view of Whaleback Ski Area's slopes, captured from across the highway, showing snow-covered trails on the mountain and vehicles driving below.
A ski patroller in a red jacket making a sharp turn while skiing down a snowy slope, with a chairlift and other skiers visible in the background.
A smiling group of two women and two children, bundled up in ski gear, sitting in the snow with a ski slope and bright blue sky in the background at Whaleback Ski Area.
A ski patroller standing in front of a small, rustic ski patrol hut, wearing a red jacket with a "National Ski Patrol" sign above the door, with snowy mountains visible in the background.
Two members of the Whaleback Ski Patrol, dressed in red jackets, relax in a cozy room filled with rescue gear after a day on the slopes. Light filters through a small window, casting soft shadows in the cabin.
A ski trail sign at Whaleback Mountain designating the trail 'Scrimshaw' as the easiest level, marked by a green circle, with snow-covered trees and a winter landscape in the background.
A man standing in the doorway of a wooden building at the ski lift station, raising his arms, with the ski lift to his side.
A skier gliding down a snow-covered slope, casting a shadow, with the shadow of a chairlift visible on the snow.
A close-up of the ski patrol member in front of the First Aid building, wearing a "Whaleback Ski Patrol" hat and reflective sunglasses.
A ski patrol member standing in front of the "First Aid" building at Whaleback ski area, dressed in a red ski patrol jacket and sunglasses.
An aerial shot of a snowy hilltop overlooking a highway and small buildings below, with mountains in the background.
A blurry skier riding a chairlift, with a view of snow-covered trees and a distant highway below.
A view of a wooden ski lift station at the top of the Whaleback ski area, under a clear blue sky.
A trail map of Whaleback ski area, mounted on a tree, showing various ski trails and their difficulty levels.
A skier and child sitting on the tailgate of a truck, gearing up for a ski day with snowboards and gear in the truck bed.
Two skiers ascending a snowy slope, equipped with ski poles, dressed in winter gear, with a scenic view of Whaleback mountain in the background
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