Dwight Conant has provided us with a much more detailed history of this lost area:

I lived up the road from the New London Slopes from 1953 until 1959, and I skied there as a youngster from age 9 to age 14.  The area was operated by the New London Outing Club and one of the most ardent supporters was Dr. William Clough, one of whose sons (John) went on to the FIS circuit (now the World Cup).  In addition to the two slopes fed by the big tow, there was a beginner hill fed by a small rope tow.  A trail ran from behind Colby Junior College (now Colby Sawyer) down to the ski area allowing the students to get there on their own, later to be picked up by bus at the bottom.  There was also a 20 meter jump that a friend of mine and I built that was used for several years by the high school team.  Further off in the woods, there was a slalom training hill called "Clough's Bluff".  We had to work our way through the woods to get there, used maple saplings for gates, and climbed for each run.  

As is still done in some ski communities, schools let out on Thursday afternoons for kids to go skiing at the area and take lessons.  We took lessons again on Saturday mornings and then there was a junior race every Saturday after the lessons.  The manager and head instructor there for many years was Laurids Lauridson.  The rope tow and what I believe was an old truck engine was operated by Mr. Messer.  The area was about two miles from town, along Bunker Road uphill from Pleasant Lake.  It was a social center during winter for many people.  Another Doctor, John Ohler, used to go for a few runs at noon in his slacks and tweed coat.  We had a shed where we all left our skis at the area, so it was easy to drop by and take a few runs.  The hut had a small snack bar where you could get drinks, burgers, etc.  In addition to John Clough, there were some other good racers that came off that hill and skied in junior national competitions and did college racing.  Thanks for your web site... it was a great trip down memory lane.

New London Slopes by the Year:

1949
(Where to Ski, Provided by Wayne Silver)
The Northeast Slopes has two rope tows. The first is 1200 feet long which serves a 300 foot drop slope, the second 600 feet long which serves a 180 foot drop slope. The Arlberg technique was taught.

Around 1950
The Northeast Slopes changes its name to the New London Slopes.

1951-1952
(Eastern Ski Map)
New London Slopes had 2 tows, slopes, trail (novice and intermediate), ski school, patrol, and ice skating.

Head back to Lost NH Ski Areas

Head back to the Main Page