Whaleback Mountain, NH, Will Start the Season Without a Chairlift, But the Ski Area Has a Plan

Whaleback Mountain in New Hampshire will begin the 2025–26 ski season without chairlift service, the ski area announced this week. The summit chair, a Heron Poma double installed in 1970 that services the mountain’s 700 vertical feet, has been out of service since February, when unusual noise led to an inspection that revealed failing gearbox bearings. Further evaluations revealed more extensive damage than initially expected, which pushed back the repair timeline and increased costs.

Last spring, Whaleback launched a $250,000 fundraising campaign to cover repairs, a goal that was surpassed with more than $291,000 raised from 837 donors. Despite that success, officials say the extent of the mechanical issues means they cannot guarantee the lift will reopen this winter. Long-term options, including replacing the chair with a new SkyTrac model estimated at $3 to $4 million, are also under consideration.

In the meantime, skiing and riding will continue at Whaleback. While the loss of the summit chair reduces the accessible vertical to under 200 feet, the mountain plans to debut a new surface lift on Lower Spout, add connector trails, upgrade terrain park features, and expand base area entertainment, while continuing to offer unlimited uphill access.

Whaleback has weathered a turbulent history of bankruptcies and infrastructure challenges over its 70 years. Since taking over in 2013, the nonprofit has invested in snowmaking, surface lifts, and lodge improvements; however, lift reliability remains an ongoing challenge for the small community ski area.

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