For this week’s blog, I thought I could talk about the very mountain where my dad had taught me how to ski: GunStock Mountain Resort in Gilford, NH. Being only an hour away from my house, Gunstock was an easy trip for a young family. My dad and mom would take my older sister and I for day trips… they usually felt much longer than they really were. I remember I was around five or six years old when I first started to ski, and let me tell you, I was not good. Most of the day was spent on the ground, rolling around in the snow, and occasionally crying (I was kind of a cry baby back then). But, looking back on those day trips, they were the best because it was where I got my love for skiing.
Gunstock doesn’t compare in any way to the mountains I have previously talked about. This ski resort is definitely more family oriented, with more green trails than black. Not to mention, the mountain’s in central New Hampshire really aren’t that big (1,400 feet) and do not receive that much snow. But, for a beginner, it is the perfect place and family memories will definitely be made.
My funniest story from Gunstock is when I got stuck in a tree. Yes, literally stuck in a tree. I was still in my beginning stages of skiing, and my family and I had been going down a long twisty slope. With all the turns, it was hard for me to keep up, as once we turned right, you would instantly be turning left. With that being said, as my family all turned the corner, my incapability left my skis running straight, which then brought me into a collision with a big pine tree. With the way I fell, my legs somehow ended up over my head caught in the branches, so it looked like I was literally hanging from the tree. Me being the youngest and slowest out of my family, was trapped as my family kept turning down the trail. As I hung from my legs, I began to scream for help, but the trail had no skiers coming down. I was trapped.
Yet, it didn’t take long for my dad to notice that I had been missing, because he was used to being the person who would pick me up off the ground. After about five minutes, I saw my dad hiking up the trail without his skis, as he yelled out my name. And once he saw the little girl in the red coat hanging from her feet, he knew I had gotten myself into trouble. So, he came to my rescue, and skied the rest of the trail down behind me to make sure I didn’t do it again.
Gunstock is a memory filled mountain that is definitely catered towards beginners like I was. If you ever find yourself in New Hampshire in the winter and want to ski, I would recommend Gunstock, as it is always a fun day trip with family, friends, or even by yourself. Just don’t get stuck in a tree!
https://www.gunstock.com
I can’t believe that you got stuck in a tree! The way you described this I could picture it like it was a scene from a funny movie. It’s those moments that create the best memories down the line, as I’m sure you’re never going to forget that story! It’s nice that you have that place to look back on fondly from you childhood.
It’s always nice to reflect back on your progress to see how much you’ve come since you’ve started something! I think it’s so cute that your dad had to rescue you from being stuck in a tree. Hearing about your first time skiing makes me feel better about possibly trying skiing for the first time 🙂
I am not sure about the physics of how you got suck in a tree with your skis above your head, but it’s impressive nonetheless! I wish there was a picture of you being stuck in that tree, but you did such a great job of describing it I could see it. Your dad always coming to rescue you is so sweet- you always make me want to try skiing again.
I’m not gonna lie I got stuck in a tree LAST YEAR I literally straddled a tree and my skis were dug under and I physically could not move. My entire family went skiing without me last weekend and this is the first year I have not gone skiing.
These stories make me want to go rent a pair of skis and go to Tussey Mountain NOW. I honestly really want to try skiing on different mountains because so far, I have only been to 1 ski resort called Blue Mountain that isn’t as scenic or high up as all these places you have been to. Guess I now have to add Gunstock Mountain to my already long list.