Why a New Hampshire Ski Area Is Opening Without Its Chairlift for 2025

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Sep 25, 2025 8:12 AM ET

Whaleback Mountain, a small, nonprofit ski area in New Hampshire, announced recently that it will start the coming season without its lone chairlift.

In February, the lift, which provides the only lift-served way to access Whaleback Mountain’s summit, shut down after the mountain operations team discovered that it had a gearbox bearing failure.

To repair the lift and continue off-season operations, Whaleback Mountain asked the community for help. By May, the ski area had surpassed its fundraising goal of $250,000 by more than $40,000.

But earlier this month, Whaleback Mountain had less exciting news to share. According to a recent social media post, the ski area now faces another hurdle. The mechanical damage to its broken chairlift was more serious than expected, the ski area said, and it won’t be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season.

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A post shared by WhalebackMountain (@whalebackmtn)

Still, Whaleback Mountain plans to welcome skiers and snowboarders once the snow starts flying. A new surface lift and a new connector trail are opening, alongside improved terrain park features. Whaleback Mountain will also offer unlimited uphill access.

Perhaps most importantly, the ski area said it's still home to “the best vibes in the upper valley.”

Per its strategic plan, Whaleback Mountain hopes to eventually replace its chairlift—an aging Poma installed in 1970—at an estimated cost of between $3 and $4 million by 2030.

According to the latest lift update published by Whaleback Mountain, the ski area plans to make critical repairs to the two-seater so it can operate for another few seasons in the meantime.

Affordable, local ski areas like Whaleback Mountain are more accessible than their destination counterparts, making it easier for newcomers to try or learn skiing without committing to an expensive pass. But without the funding of a major ski resort company, technical issues can cause serious setbacks.

Last month, the nonprofit Brattleboro Ski Hill faced a similar bind to Whaleback Mountain, launching a $35,000 fundraiser to make necessary repairs and upgrades. So far, it's raised almost $12,000.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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