There I am, atop the 1,000-foot chute at Granite Gorge in Roxbury, sitting, waiting anxiously for a little push.
My green Mountain Dew-themed tube is filled to the max and ready to send me flying down the hill in what I could only imagine would play out like Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Now the only question I was asked as I sat near the edge of the hill was whether or not I wanted to spin? I had seen a few others get a spin at the top and with this being my first time on an inflated tube in more years than I could count on probably both hands and both feet, I was looking for a straightforward trip down Granite Gorge’s far chute which allows for a nice view of Otter Book. But no such luck.
While it wasn’t an intentional twist of the wrist by the nice gentlemen monitoring the top of the tubing park late last Sunday afternoon, I was going backwards before I even got a good feel for my ride. Now unsure of what this experience was going to entail – having never been to a ski area for tubing – riding down a hill backwards will immediately make you a freak out a little bit, especially as you head toward the edge and a giant wall of snow.
But much to my delight, I merely bumped the wall created to keep all tubes heading down the hill and not careening toward the aforementioned Otter Brook. The slight tap of the snow helped further my rotation, providing a nice straight ahead look at the rest of my ride – before I did another couple spins and coasted my way to the end thanks to the long run out.
“The key is the pitch and the run out,” said owner Fred Baybutt. “Gravity will stop you.”
I stood up grabbed my tube and went straight back to the magic carpet for another run. Because, in all seriousness, why wouldn’t I?
It was a beautiful day, I was outside in the middle of February and plenty of time left for a few more runs. I’m not much of a spend a lot of time outside in the winter (unless you count shoveling, which I do not enjoy). Plus, tubing doesn’t require any type of coordination and skill, and it makes you feel like a kid again.
“You don’t need equipment, you don’t need experience,” Baybutt said. “Tubing is all about having fun.”
It’s a great way to spend the afternoon with the family, friends or, like me, by yourself on assignment.
In total, I took four runs. The second one, I asked for a spin, and my request was graciously granted as I rotated more times than I wish to think about.
After going down in the sitting position the first two times, I opted for my stomach for the third and then sent myself hurling down the lane for the final one of the day.
Now you might be wondering “how do I stop when going down a 1,000 feet long lane on a tube that’s gliding across packed snow?” Well, when Granite Gorge put the tubing park in as part of a major overhaul when Baybutt purchased the property in 1999, it allowed them to design it just how they wanted.
“The No. 1 reason it’s so good is that it flows with the mountain,” Baybutt said. “Because we were able to design and build it first and we didn’t have to fit it in.”
It opened in 2003 and the magic carpet was installed in 2005
“It’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made,” Baybutt said.
And the addition of tubing came as a recommendation.
“The guy who owns the handle tow company, he’s like the godfather of lifts for small areas, he said start with tubing. It’s the easiest and its lucrative.”
Granite Gorge has single and double tubes, and you’re allowed to either sit or go on your stomach. They allow linking, which means multiple tubes can go down a single lane at once.
“There is no doubt in my mind it’s the best tubing park in New England,” Baybutt said.
Tubing is $25 per person for two hours and you can take as many runs as you can fit in. Riders must be at least 5 years of age and 42 inches tall.
During the upcoming school vacation week, Granite Gorge will be open every day, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with cosmic tubing from 6 to 9 p.m, and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular hours are Friday, 3 to 8 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with cosmic tubing, and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On March 22, Granite Gorge will be hosting pond skim tubing for those who want to test their speeds against the presence of water.
For more information, visit granitegorge.com.
But Granite Gorge isn’t the only spot in New Hampshire for a wild ride.
Head over to Henniker’s only mountain and see what Pats Peak has to offer for the tubing experience.
The area has four lanes – 85 feet wide by 600 feet long – and will provide plenty of time to check it out during the upcoming school vacation week.
Tubing is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Traditional hours are Fridays, 3 to 9 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
At Pats Peak the only way you can ride is on your stomach, as it just works the best for way you finish.
“The way its setup, it’s just the safest way to go,” said Lori Rowell, director of marketing and sales.
There can only be one tube in a lane at a time and they don’t offer double tubes. Pats Peak has a J bar system that allows you to sit in your tube and be pulled back to the top.
Tubing is done in two hour slots beginning at the opening time, so for instance at 9 a.m. and then again at 11 a.m. and only a certain number of tickets are sold for each. Popular days and times can sell out so advanced purchase is recommended.
“It’s just something else to do. A different way to slide on the snow,” Rowell said. “Some people come here and don’t ski, and just go tubing.”
Cost is $20 for a two-hour pass and $22 for four hours. On Saturday nights, tickets are exclusively for the Pay-One-Price. For $49 per person, you have access to skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, lesson tips, rental equipment, bonfires, and entertainment from 3 to 10 p.m. (snowtubing, 5 to 10 p.m.) Just remember that ski boots are not allowed for tubing.
Riders must be 44 inches tall and at least 5 years old.
For up to date information and to purchase tickets, visit patspeak.com/Plan-Your-Visit/Snowtubing-Schedule.aspx.
At almost 1,100 feet Gunstock’s Thrill Hill Tubing Park stakes its claim as the longest tubing run in New Hampshire.
Gunstock has six lanes and while it only has single tubes, riders can do what’s called rafting and hold on to one another as they head down together as a family or group of friends. A handle tow lift is used to bring seated tubers back to the top of the hill.
“Six is the most I’ve seen go down together,” said Mike Roth, director of sales and marketing.
Tubing tickets are sold in two-hour increments and only about 150 tickets are available for each slot, so advanced purchase is recommended. There is a 42 inch height recommendation to ride.
During the holiday week, Gunstock’s tubing park will be open Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tubing park is typically closed on Mondays, which is when they groom the tubing park, and hours are different during non-peak weeks.
“Tuesday is usually the day to go,” Roth said.
Also included in the two hour ticket for tubing, is unlimited rides on Gunstock’s Mountain Coaster (during its operational time), which is essentially a roller coaster nearly 4,100 feet long set on the mountainside. Speeds reach up to 25 mph and the ride is about six minutes long.
“People like to bounce back and forth,” Roth said. “They’re both great individually and to be able to do both is a lot of fun.”
Tickets are $28 for two hours of tubing and the Mountain Coaster during what is considered peak times, and $24 during regular operation.
“Skiing and snowboarding aren’t for everybody,” Roth said. “So the nice thing about tubing and the Mountain Coaster is that it doesn’t require any training.”
For rules and regulations, and more information, visit gunstock.com/winter/tubing.
Head a little bit away from the Concord area and there are more options when its comes to snowtubing. Here’s a list of other ski areas that offer tubing, but remember to check for hours of operation and details before making the trip.
■Bretton Woods Nordic Center, Bretton Woods
brettonwoods.com/winter_sports/more_winter_fun/tubing
■Cranmore Mountain, North Conway
cranmore.com/Skiing-and-Riding/Activities/Tubing-Mtn-Adventure-Park
■Great Glen Trails, Gorham
greatglentrails.com/explore-winter/snowtubing
■King Pine at Purity Spring Resort, Madison
kingpine.com/activities/tubing
■Loon Mountain, Lincoln
loonmtn.com/winter-activities/snow-tubing
■McIntyre Ski Area, Manchester
mcintyreskiarea.com/tickets-passes/tubing
■Ragged Mountain, Danbury
raggedmountainresort.com/Tubing
■Waterville Valley Clubhouse, Waterville Valley
wvclubhouse.com