You pass Mt Abram on your way to Sunday River on Route 26, next
time you might consider making some turns, and you may find yourself smiling
as you ski this 50 year old scenic ski area. They call their ski area the
“world’s best left hand turn.” Hyperbole? Or proof that Mt Abram has a sense
of humor? Either way, Mt Abram is a fun family mountain. From the moment you
arrive and park just steps from the lodge and lifts, you sense the hominess of
this family mountain. The Base Lodge was struck by lightning summer of 2011,
a temp lodge is in place, and a new lodge will be constructed for 2012 season.
From the humble base area, the vintage double chair, affectionately labeled
“The Way Back Machine,” takes you up the 1,150’ vertical to 44 trails. Half
a dozen wide well-groomed runs commemorate the Bullwinkle’s cartoon like
Dudley Do Right, Rocky’s and Boris Badenov. On the ski down, sweeping views
of the Maine mountains and frozen North and South Pond below are
breathtaking. You can ski boundary to boundary here, a new policy providing
plenty of tree-skiing to bush whacking, which the fearless young kids enjoy
if their p-tex preserving parents don’t.
Mt Abram debuted in 1960, a year after Sunday
River, and Abram out rocked The River back in the day. While the River took
off and modernized in the 80s under Otten, Mt Abram remained retro, with a
revolving door of owners. But the core clientele of skiers have stayed. They
race, they raise their kids on snow, and they raise their mugs in the Loose
Boots Lounge for après on Friday and Saturday nights to the sounds of a live
band. It’s like Cheers on snow, the place is rockin’ with rosey faces.
Mt Abram is a fun place to take your family for affordable tickets, a
friendly atmosphere, and a scene reminiscent of 70’s skiing. The West Side
offers a designated Learning Area with its own Day Care. The Boneyard
Terrain Park is open weekends 10-4, and Friday night under the lights for
$20.
Make the turn to Mt A sometime, you will get some good turns on the mountain
and make some new old friends in the Loose Boots Lounge.
Mt Abram Stats:
Vertical Drop 1,150’
44 Trails: 10 Beginner, 21 Intermediate, 13 Most Difficult & Glades.
Boundary to Boundary ski policy with 600 acres.
5 Lifts: 2 Doubles, 1 T-Bar, 1 Handle Tow, 1 Magic Carpet. 85% Snowmaking.
Lighted Terrain Park. Ski School, day care, ski shop with
rentals, cafeteria & Loose Boots Lounge with live music and pub fare. Deals
like Two for Thursday and Carload Fridays make Mt A a steal.
How Hill Road, Route 26, Greenwood, Maine, 207-875-5000
Mt Abram Ski Review
Mount Abram for families
Mt Abram Ski Lodging recommendations
