Yep, I did. And it was quite an enjoyable ride if I do say so myself. You can do the Farmer's Daughter, too. And nineteen other fine ski trails by getting on up to Black Mountain, an absolute gem of a ski area, a little off the beaten path in Rumford.

The Farmer's Daughter trail on Black Mountain in Rumford is quite a ride!
Carey Kish photo

View of Black Mountain slopes from the comfy base lodge.
Carey Kish photo

Think 20 trails and 1,150 feet of vertical won't satisfy you? Think again. This place is FUN!

The runs at Black are not only interesting and pretty, they are impeccably groomed to boot. You can ski them all, then try them again, and again. And I tell you you'll just want more.

That's what I discovered when we visited there on Sunday. And I can't wait to get back.

Black Mountain's twenty trails and 1,150 feet of vertical make for plenty of skiing fun.
Carey Kish photo

Black Mountain serves as yet another reminder that, with so much wonderful and varied skiing terrain available to us in Maine, this skier - and you too I hope - needn't ever (and won't again) be a big ski area snob.

I am now officially an equal opportunity skier: big areas, medium-sized areas, little community areas, it don't matter. They're all awesome, each in their own local way, and are so very much worth experiencing.

Fresh off the triple chair, Fran prepares for another sweet run down Black Mountain.
Carey Kish photo

If you want to go, however, you'd better hurry, as there are just two weekends remaining in Black Mountain's season. Too bad, 'cause the skiing is incredible. Top shelf.

If you go, enjoy! And do let me know how much you liked it...

Wide ranging views of the Oxford Hills from Black Mountain.
Carey Kish photo

Ski guide: Black Mountain, Rumford

The ski-nny: A sweet mountain in a beautiful setting just north of the Androscoggin River outside of Rumford. from the slopes you can look far out over the expansive Oxford Hills. Nice! Expect few lift lines and uncrowded slopes. Yeah, there's just 20 trails, but they're good ones, and you'll enjoy skiing them multiple times.

Steeps: The trail names have changed, so what's on the trail map and what's on the ground don't match up. No matter. Take the triple chair to the top of the mountain and head off to the left for some fun black diamond schussing either under the lift line or skier's right. Halfway down slope mix it up by cutting over to skier's left and down Haymaker and something else(?). Just go. You'll like it.

Cruisers: Again, from the top of the summit triple, bank right and cruise along at will with multiple fun options. At the lift shack atop the T-bar sail down the line itself or just right. All good blues. Go around again and be sure to catch Farmer's Daughter, a beauty of a run on skier's left that'll take you sweeping and around, to pass thru the beginenr area on its way back to the base.

Easy going: The Novice Double and Beginners Lift Handle serve green circle terrain at the base of the mountain on bothe the left and right.

Aprés-ski: Ya don't have to go far... just up one flight of steps in teh base lodge. And there you'll enter the wonderful world of teh Last Run Lounge. Order up a couple of frosty brews, kick your feet up by the filedstone fireplace, and world the skier's world go by outside. Ahhh!

Extra credit: Diddle around some in the terrain park and half pipe. There's the tubing park, too, for extra kiddie-style fun. And, of course, there's 17 km of world class Nordic skiing trails. How 'bout dat I says! You bored? Check yer pulse.

Deals: Every day is a deal at Black Mountain! Lift tix are $25 on weekends, $20 mid-week. No going wrong there. Evah.

A fine apres ski view from warmth of the Last Run Lounge, upstairs in the base lodge.
Carey Kish photo