Spring 2022 | Volume 5: Issue 19
arts culture Spring 2022
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A Choice of Heritage and Scenic Train Rides! • Take a step back in time and experience classic train travel on our Valley Trains or enjoy a scenic journey aboard the Mountaineer.
All Aboard!
• Seasonal excursions begin in April and run through November.
Choose from our scenic Mountaineer, or classic train rides to Conway or Sawyer River.
scenic journey The Mountaineer offers a supremely
over Crawford Notch.
All trains depart from our 1874 station in the center of North Conway Village.
Call or Book online - ConwayScenic.com • (603) 356-5251
38 Norcross Circle | North Conway, NH 2
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Call 1-800-458-1838 www.northeastsnowmobile.com CHOOSE YOUR RIDE, CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE! Side by Sides Located 30-minutes north of North Conway in Gorham, NH. Grab a 2021 Polaris 2- or 4seater, side-by-side and explore over 1,000 miles of connected trails, featuring wind turbines, breathtaking views, lakes, and waterfalls!
Snowmobiles Trail side locations, park and ride hassle free! Scenic, groomed trails and groomed terrain. Two locations, in northern Valley (Gorham) and the Mount Washington Valley (Fryeburg/Conway)
Slingshots This Polaris on-road vehicle will turn heads riding through Gorham, North Conway or perhaps up the Mount Washington Auto Road for the ride of your life. Available at our Gorham, NH location
E-bikes Gearing on this SONDORS Electric Bike is set up so that you can pedal along comfortably with a powerassisted electric motor. Take a ride through the town or explore local area trails! Available at our Gorham, NH location
Spring 2022
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THOUGHTS FROM THE PUBLISHER
FOUNDER/PUBLISHER/CREATIVE Dan Houde dan@wiseguycreative.com MANAGING EDITOR Cam Mirisola-Bynum SALES MANAGER Chris Pacheco ads@mwvvibe.com DISTRIBUTION / CIRCULATION Mt Washington Valley Vibe is published four times annually and is available for pick-up, free of charge, in over 300 locations throughout the White Mountain Region of New Hampshire and into the communities of Western Maine. MWV Vibe is also available at many New Hampshire Welcome Centers throughout the state.
The snow melted off pretty quickly this spring. By the end of March, most of the snow was gone from the yards and fields, and only a handful of ski areas made it to April. Even snowpack up in the ravine areas was light this year, so turns up in Tuckerman will need to come early. As much as I love the winter season, thoughts of hiking, biking, yard projects, and backyard barbeques, have me excited for the warmer weather. As much as I’ll miss it, we’ve decided to hold off on the garden this year. Our garden area has grown a bit shadier each year, so some tree work will be needed to bring it back to its former sunny glory. Plus, there’s the time thing. But that’s okay; it may be time to give a CSA a try. Community supported agriculture has grown to over 15 farms around the Valley offering options for those looking to save some time, but still enjoy the amazing farm-fresh goodness available all around us. If a CSA isn’t your thing, there are six farmers’ markets available in the Valley this year through the fall, on any given Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. Check out our list and map on page 40 for details on CSAs, markets, and the over 50 farms located around the Mt. Washington Valley. Over 50 farms! Chances are good that whatever you may choose to do this season—hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, climbing, etc.—you’re likely to pass a farm on your way home that would appreciate your support and reward you with amazing local food. Thanks to our friends at Mount Washington Valley Eaters and Growers—a local organization of farmers and food advocates who work together to strengthen the regional food system through communication, collaboration, and cooperation among our farms and our community. Check them out at www.mwveg.com, or pick up a copy of their annual guidebook available around the Valley. So, I’m okay with the idea of no garden this season, as I know we’ll have lots of fresh options all summer long and into the winter. Now, what to do with all the extra time … hmmm. Happy trails ... and be well! Dan Houde, dan@wiseguycreative.com
MWV Vibe can also be found in select retail shops, dining establishments, lodging properties, and grocery stores throughout the same area. If your business, or one you know, would like to make MWV Vibe available to its customers, please contact us.
Spring 2019 | Volume 2: Issue 8
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Fall 2021 | Volume 5: Issue 17
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Discover one of the World’s
A D L V I E A N R T T U A R E E R S G FREQUENT DEPARTURES DAILY, ALL YEAR LONG
thecog.com NEW HAMPSHIRE’S PREMIER ATTRACTION... SINCE 1869!
Spring 2022
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SPRING 2022 • CONTENTS 14 - ART IN THE VALLEY
Artist Dave Kobrenski
42 - LOCAL CLIMATE CHANGE
Mount Washington Observatory
68 - MWV SUMMER CAMPS
Wiseguy Creative
FEATURES 8
NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT:
ACF White Mountain Chefs Association
10 NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT:
The Saco Headwaters Alliance
14 ART IN THE VALLEY: DAVE KOBRENSKI By Karissa Masse
16 ART IN THE VALLEY: DEB SNOW
36 SOWING SEEDLINGS & FARM LISTINGS
56 CYCLING THE VALLEY: LIVE FREE AND RIDE
22 NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
42 CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE VALLEY
60 BEHIND THE GLASS AT LIVING SHORES
26 WHITE MOUNTAIN BREWS & NEWS
48 PRO TIPS & SKIING TUCKERMANS
68 MAGICAL POWERS OF SUMMER CAMP
30 CULINARY ARTISTS OF THE VALLEY
52 SPRING HIKING THE BOOTT SPUR OPTION
78 WOOD-WARBLERS: SPRING BIRDING
By Virginia Moore
By Dr. Trish Murray
By Clem McAuliffe
By Chris Broughton-Bossong
GENERAL DEPARTMENTS 7 8, 10 9 14 16 22 26
CONTRIBUTORS NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT ON THE COVER SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT ART NEWS & GALLERY LISTINGS HEALTH/FITNESS BREWS & NEWS
By Jennie Blair
By Brian Fitzgerald
Multiple Contributors
By Mike Cherim
By Marty Basch
By Lauren Clem
By John Macdonald
By Katelynn Gierlinger
ON THE COVER “Spring Comes Alive with Color” Oil painting by Jackson artist, Melanie Barash Levitt Location: Intervale, NH Additional information on page 9.
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WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
If you reside locally or have ties to the Valley and would like to contract your creative talents, please contact us at info@mwvvibe.com.
Mike Cherim, North Conway, NH Mike is a hiker and skier, and a WMNF volunteer, lending some of his time to search and rescue and to trail maintenance. When Mike isn’t busy with those volunteer pursuits, his guide/outfitter company, Redline Guiding, keeps him and his merry band of guides pretty busy, offering guests plenty to do in all seasons. Clem McAuliffe, Bartlett, NH As owner of Vista Bev & Market in Intervale, Clem loves beer. He loves talking about beer, reading about beer, writing about beer, and of course, drinking beer. All who enter the store quickly understand the benefit of asking, “Clem, what am I drinking today?” Jennie Blair, Conway, NH Jennie is a native to the MWV, working as a potter and farmer in Conway, and living back on her childhood family homestead since 2013. She is a board member of MWVEG, sharing a passion for growing and eating local food to help nurture her community. Marty Basch, Conway, NH Marty once bicycled from Maine to Alaska. Now he frequently rides between Conway and Maine. He wrote the groundbreaking The White Mountain Ride Guide and still has a handful of copies buried somewhere in his closet. Chris Broughton-Bossong, Conway, NH Chris grew up in Washington, D.C. and moved to the Mt. Washington Valley in 2013 to work as an instructor for SOLO School of Wilderness Medicine. He works in the Valley as a paramedic and volunteers for several local search and rescue teams. He spends his free time, hiking, paddling, and cooking.
Spring 2022
Katelynn Gierlinger, Albany, NH Katelynn, originally from Chautauqua County, NY, lives in Albany, NH and is the avian ecology intern at Tin Mountain Conservation Center. New England’s scenery has captivated her. She hopes to pursue a master’s in avian behavior and conservation, with a focus on boreal and coastal species, either here or in Canada. The more snow the better. Virginia Moore, Albany, NH Virginia Moore is a member of The Mt. Washington Valley Arts Association Board of Directors. She has lived in the Mt. Washington Valley since 1983. She is retired and spends much of her time painting and doing other art projects. Virginia lives in Albany, NH with her partner and two dogs and two cats.
Karissa Masse, Fryeburg With a background in ceramics and sculpture, Karissa has made her living teaching art, making pottery, and managing galleries since she earned her BFA from RIT in 1999. She has been the owner and curator of the historical League of NH Craftsmen Gallery in North Conway since 2006 and fully enjoys her creative life, enriched by the community and the beauty of the White Mountains. Brian Fitzgerald, North Conway Brian is the director of science and education for Mount Washington Observatory. As a former weather observer for MWOBS and naturalist for AMC, he can be found marveling at mountains and clouds in his free time. Brian, his wife Stephanie, and their son Cameron live in North Conway.
John Macdonald, Conway, NH John has lived in the Valley since 1979 and has worked in numerous roles with children. PSIA Level III certified since 1989, John has spent 39 (now 43) years with King Pine Ski School and is currently its technical and training director/U12 race coach. John has served as director of ski camps (15) and a family camp (32 years), starting as a summer camp counselor. The Macdonalds’ three children all attended summer camp, and later worked as camp counselors. Lauren Clem, Madison, NH Lauren has spent her weekends and vacations in the Valley for as long as she can remember. She enjoys meeting the people who make the area tick and any story that requires her to put on her hiking boots. When she’s not exploring the White Mountains, she writes for a magazine in her home state of Rhode Island. Additional Contributers - Dr. Trish Murray, writer - Jessica E. Wright, research - Olivia Saunders, research - Gerlinde Taurer, photography
Open Daily Dailyat at11am 11am Open (603)733-5550 733-5550 (603) 6 1464 Mountain Valley Blvd, Highway No Conway White Mountain
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NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT ACF White Mountain Chefs Association Enhancing professional growth for all current and future chefs nationally and within the White Mountain region.
ABOVE LEFT: Paul Kasianchuk, Trudi Kasianchuk, and Ron Missick share a moment at the 2019 Taste of New Hampshire event. RIGHT: Chef Gary Sheldon pauses for a photo opportunity with granddaughter Jayla, and friend Rylie, who also enjoy attending culinary events in the region.
The ACF White Mountain Chapter is a member of the American Culinary Federation (ACF), the largest professional chef’s organization in North America. Made up of more than 15,000 members belonging to more than 150 chapters in four regions across the U.S., the ACF is the leader in educational resources, training, and accreditation designed to enhance professional growth for all current and future chefs and pastry chefs. In addition, the ACF operates the most comprehensive culinary certification in the world. The ACF is home to Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions. The ACF White Mountain Chapter strives to support the rapidly growing tourism industry of the Mt. Washington Valley
students who are headed off to culinary school. In addition, ACF has several partnerships with secondary and post-secondary culinary programs throughout the state and region. The local chapter promotes culinary excellence, education, service to the community, and networking opportunities for its members. ACF holds monthly chef’s socials that are open to members and non-members alike. Socials are held monthly from September through June and are hosted at different area businesses in the hospitality industry. ACF socials also feature educational seminars and cooking demonstrations, as well as opportunities for members and guests to meet, socialize, and network. ACF is seeking to expand membership and involvement, and encourages young culinarians, chefs, cooks, and food enthusiasts from the Mt. Washington Valley to discover the benefits of the ACF. ACF will hold the Taste of NH Fundraiser on Friday, May 20, 2022. Join them at the Eagle Mountain House in Jackson for a
through supporting those who work in the industry, from entrepreneurs and restaurateurs to those just starting out; between its members and the larger ACF organization, ACF has access to a large support network and can help provide the resources needed to further culinary careers. Similarly, ACF strives to help shape future generations of culinarians through the support of its students. ACF offers scholarships to graduating high school
sampling of the best Mt. Washington Valley chefs have to offer. Funds raised will be used for the ACF scholarship programs.
ACF is seeking to expand membership and involvement, and encourages young culinarians, chefs, cooks, and food enthusiasts from the Mt. Washington Valley to discover the benefits of the ACF.
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For more information, visit www.whitemountainacfchefs.org or email Perrin H. Long at whitemtnchefsnh@gmail.com.
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ON THE VIBE COVER
Featuring Jackson artist, Melanie Barash Levitt
Melanie Barash Levitt graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1990. She currently resides in Jackson, NH, and is the owner of Jackson Art Studio & Gallery. Melanie is an award-winning artist who paints in a loose, impressionistic style with a brush or a palette knife in oils. As a plein air artist, Levitt paints outside on location braving the elements to capture the mood of the scene. Her favorite subjects are mountains, rivers, and the small farms of New Hampshire and the coast of Maine.
Her artwork resides in the home of many collectors through the US, Canada, and Europe and she exhibits her work in galleries and shows throughout NH, ME, VT, MA and NY. Melanie teaches both Plein air and studio painting through her business, Jackson Art. She also runs the gallery and exhibits the work of local and nationally recognized artists. Visit www.jacksonartnh.com for more info. You can also follow Melanie on her painting adventures on Instagram (melanie_levitt) or Facebook at (Melanie Barash Levitt). Jackson Art Studio & Gallery is located at 155 Ridge Rd in Jackson, NH.
For more info on the gallery, classes, or to purchase artwork please call (603) 387-3463 or visit www.jacksonartnh.com.
Over 80 different Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars. Non-GMO, gluten free, and no preservatives or added sugar.
Visit us in North Conway Village or Settlers Green next to the White Mountain Cupcakery!
FIND SOME FASCINATING OLIVE OIL FACTS AND OUR RECIPE COLLECTION AT WWW.NCOLIVEOIL.COM
(603) 307-1066 • www.ncoliveoil.com Two Stores! At Settlers Green and at 2730 White Mountain Highway, No. Conway, NH Spring 2022
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NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT The Saco Headwaters Alliance Protecting the Ecosystem
Mobilizing commitment to protect the threatened ground and surface waters of the Mt. Washington Valley and the watershed, of which it is a part, the Saco River headwaters, for the long-term resilience of its robust tourism economy, vibrant communities, and beautiful, healthy natural environment.
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hree years ago, a small group of Mt. Washington Valley citizens interested in long term protections of the excellent water resources in the area convened at the base lodge of Wildcat Ski Area to exchange ideas and evaluate if there was enough interest in forming a new non-profit organization to mobilize efforts toward that goal. Since it was a bluebird day, and snow conditions were perfect, they all took advantage and put on their skis to have a series of separate meetings on the chairlift. What better place to think and talk about this than the height of the Saco River Watershed. Every conversation on the rides to the top of the mountain were processed in everyone’s subconscious as they each cleared their mind by concentrating on skiing to the bottom. This was repeated multiple times until the lift closed. Afterward, back at the base lodge, these many private conversations were recapped for the group, and it was unanimously decided that there was enough positive 10
energy to channel and create this new and unnamed organization. More formal meetings were scheduled with additional folks with diverse natural resources expertise. They shared the belief that this watershed that is the Saco River Headwaters needed an organization focused on protecting its precious waters for drinking, recreation, and habitat—and the Saco Headwaters Alliance (SHA) was born. Within half a year of that glorious day skiing on Wildcat Mountain, SHA secured its first grant. It would be another six months before incorporation as a 501 c-3 was achieved. The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation had been inspired by the SHA founders and their commitment to protect the ground and surface waters as the key to building resilience in the natural environment and the robust economy and vibrant communities that depend upon it. SHA was off and running. FB Environmental was contracted to conduct a scientific study of water re-
source monitoring across the Saco Headwaters Watershed. The query was: what data and monitoring systems concerning quality and quantity of ground and surface water do we have from various organizations, and what do we need in the future? This will be the foundation for determining priority threats and intervening where necessary to take preventative action to protect our ground and surface waters. The report is a comprehensive tool, with many links to additional information and maps. Thoughtful and feasible recommendations are key contributions in helping our watershed remain pristine into the future for many generations to come. Shortly after, another project emerged in the form of Flood Plain Mapping for Hart’s Location. Funded by New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), these maps are currently being used by Hart’s Location municipal government to guide citizens in developing properties on sites that will be safe from the ever more frequent MWVvibe.com
WiseguyCreative.com photo
flooding events that are occurring and are projected to continue into to the foreseeable future. A very useful project, indeed. This endeavor brought the point home that if the mission of SHA is to be effective, a coordinated effort must be made to involve public officials in the planning processes. An initiative entitled Municipal Education and Outreach to Improve Source Water Protection was developed and funded by the NHDES Source Water Protection Bureau and supplemented by the second grant from the Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation. This was Phase 1 of a three-phase project. Participating towns were Hart’s Location, Bartlett, Albany, Jackson, Conway, Madison, Eaton, and Chatham. Each town worked to create their own customized self-assessment of their water resources and identified opportunities to improve the stewardship of both surface and groundwater in their geographic areas. Enough information was produced and distributed for the towns to be able to make decisions that may lead to customizing an ordinance based on the NH State Model Groundwater Protection Ordinance. Hart’s Location has already passed this ordinance, and others may follow. Spring 2022
Phase 2 of this initiative has also been completed. A Municipal Education and Outreach Manual was developed to aid in building a watershed-wide collaborative of municipalities. This was also funded by the second grant from the Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation. Phase 3 is about to be launched and will use this manual to help engage willing municipalities in the Saco Headwaters Watershed to work together on projects to continue to protect surface and groundwater. Flooding, pollution, and drought know no municipal boundaries, so it is essential that collaboration among the towns becomes a reality. This project is being funded by the third grant from the Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation. OTHER PROJECTS UNDERWAY The Kearsarge Brook Watershed Management Plan This plan is being developed in partnership with SHA, the Greater Lovell Land Trust, and FB Environmental (in process and funded by Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation). This project is developing strategies to
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protect the quality of source water in the Upper Saco River Valley from pollution threats, including the integrity of aquatic life. The process is community-supported and data-driven, while meeting the standards for the Natural Resource Conservation Service National Water Quality Initiative, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act Section 319 program. It will serve as a role model for ongoing future protection and restoration efforts across the watershed that is the Saco Headwaters Watershed, including the Mt. Washington Valley. Upon completion, this Watershed Management Plan may meet many requirements for a variety of future funding sources to implement the recommendations.
Saco/Swift Rivers Corridor Management Plan (CMP): Hart’s Location, Bartlett, Conway, and Albany The development of the CMP will result in a guidance document to ensure consistent and robust water protection management practices across the municipalities that comprise the Saco and Swift River corridors, with specific focus on the quarter-mile-wide corridor from the seasonal highwater embankments (in process; funder, the NH Department of Environmental Services).
Saco Riverbank Erosion Risk Assessment (Phase 1), and Bank Fortification (Phase 2), to protect the North Conway Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) from Saco River Meander Located on the banks of the Saco River, the WWTF treats wastewater from this heavily developed tourism center that is the Mt. Washington Valley. This vital service protects the Saco aquifer from the risks of the private septic systems it has replaced, removing pollutants, and returning treated water to the aquifer. Over the past decades, the Saco has been steadily eroding its banks in the direction of the WWTF. Phase 1 of this project will survey a reach of more than 8 miles, develop hydraulic models of the river system, evaluate erosion risk near the WWTF, and identify potential mitigation strategies. Phase 2 of the project aims to refine potential mitigation strategies using public input from the broad range of river users and stakeholders, and to develop preliminary designs and secure required permits for future mitigation work. Ultimately, a third phase Spring 2022
of the project would see construction of the selected mitigation strategies (in process; funder, the NH Department of Environmental Services). Finally, SHA is serving as a liaison for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to local communities on a study entitled, “Evaluating impacts of withdrawals on water resources in the watershed that is the Saco River Headwaters,” by the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). This initiative is one part of a larger national study by USGS with the same title. This study also is a realization of one of the key recommendations from the first SHA project mentioned above, Watching Our Waters. Step by step, SHA is collaborating with multiple partners to develop the capability to collect data on threats to the quality and quantity of water across the Saco Headwaters Watershed. This will be the necessary foundation to convert data into action and realize SHA’s mission of protecting ground and surface water across the watershed. This process is contributing to SHA’s urgent vision of building a resilient and sustainable watershed of natural resources, robust economies, and vibrant communities for multiple generations to come. The Saco Headwaters Alliance The SHA is growing its capability to protect the quality and quantity of ground and surface water across the watershed; by facilitating a growing collaborative network of committed individuals and diverse stakeholders committed to the SHA mission and vision. These include leaders of municipalities, NGOs, state and federal organizations, foundations, and donors. And by catalyzing awareness among all segments of the community, that the Watershed that is the Saco River Headwaters, including the Mt. Washington Valley, is one ecosystem; the threats are real and growing from pollution, flooding, and drought; and a threat and vulnerability in one location, is a threat and vulnerability to all locations; and without action, the threats will irreparably harm the tourism economy, the vibrant communities and the healthy natural environment of the Mt. Washington Valley and the Watershed, of which it is a part, that is the Saco River Headwaters. For more information, visit www.sacoheadwatersalliance.org or email info@sacoheadwatersalliance.org.
ALL THAT’S MISSING IS YOU! Bring drinking water, sleeping bags and a cooler full of food.
OUR SECLUDED YURTS HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A PERFECT GETAWAY!
(802) 233-7010 www.FrostMountainYurts.com Brownfield, ME 13
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Tell us about your unique Valley business at info@mwvvibe.com.
HEARTSPACE HeartSpace is a center of community that is based on health and spirituality. You can attend a wellness class or self-care service, or visit for locally crafted herbal tinctures, fiber arts, meditation cushions, CBD, or good company and a cup of tea. Choose from many types of therapeutic massage. Deep tissue, prenatal, lymphatic drainage, cupping, hot stone, and reflexology are some of the offerings at HeartSpace. Decide between 30, 45, 60, 75, or 90 minutes, and you will be renewed. You can also receive a variety of skin care: rejuvenating facials, waxing, brow and lash tinting and lamination, and event make-up. Schedule your beauty-related remedy! Try reiki for a subtle, yet profound, reset. You can schedule 30, 60, or 90 minutes of energetic cleansing, leaving an impact that you will not soon forget. As part of your more frequent self-care routine, you can find a wellness class that satisfies. Classes include stress-relieving Gentle Yoga, Therapeutic Qi Gong for centering and well-being, Dance F.I.T. Fusion for an upbeat workout, strength-increasing Yoga FUNdamentals, nourishing Yin Yoga, and flowy Hatha Vinyasa Yoga. They are all options that are on the monthly calendar. HeartSpace is also debuting a Community Garden. Overlooking the Fryeburg intervale and mountain vista, it is a serene location to experience the bliss of growing your own food. Find them at 600 Main Street, Fryeburg, ME.
/heartspacefryeburg HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: • Yoga - Massage - Skin Care - Reiki • Convenient online scheduling • NEW Community Garden! • Beautiful mountain view
For more information, visit www.heartspacefryeburg.com.
NORTH CONWAY HOUSE OF JERKY
North Conway House of Jerky (NCHJ) has a great selection of over 75 varieties of jerky and jerky sticks. Customers can enjoy traditional beef jerky in multiple flavors, as well as a great selection of exotic jerky not found anywhere. With a focus on freshness and quality, jerky orders are called in on Mondays, and the jerky is made and received the following week. NCHJ has no fillers and no preservatives. NCHJ a great product to put in your bag for your hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, mountaineering, or even your next fishing adventure. NCHJ is located in two locations: North Conway Village and Settlers Green, both on Route 16 in North Conway, NH. You have a variety to choose from, whether you are looking for some traditional jerky or something exotic, such as kangaroo, elk, camel, or python. NCHJ also has vegan, pineapple, and mushroom jerky for non-meat lovers, as well as gluten-free options, including jerky sticks and traditional beef. Samples are available daily. Head over and grab your “back-pack slope-snack!”
/nchouseofjerky HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: • Open year round, seven days weekly in two locations • Exotic jerky a specialty • One-year shelf life on most products, in a sealed package • Makes a great gift for that outdoor adventurer!
For more information, call (603) 730-5474, or visit www.northconwayhouseofjerky.com. 14
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The businesses below are members of White Mountain Independents! Learn more at www.whitemountainindependents.com.
FIELDS OF AMBROSIA
At Fields of Ambrosia, owner/maker Deborah Jasien handcrafts all-natural bath and body products right in the store. It all began in her kitchen at Intervale Farm in 1999, as a small venture making natural soaps and lotions for family and friends, and then expanded into aromatherapy products when her sister was diagnosed with cancer. The positive effect these products had on her body and mind led Deborah to want to share this newfound knowledge with more people. She loves the interaction with her customers, telling the back story of each therapeutic line: how and why she chose the essential oils in each blend, the benefits of the oils as well as the raw ingredients used in creating a lotion, soap, or facial cream. In addition to traditional bath and body, Fields of Ambrosia offers a line of men’s grooming and wet shave products called Renaissance Man; Kidz Stuff, a collection aimed at the younger set; and a vegan line of makeup from Color Cosmetics. Their line of CBD topicals is especially popular. Fields of Ambrosia launched online in 2001, opened their first retail store in 2007, and continues today to offer plant-based, cleansing, nourishing and therapeutic skin, and body care products—beneficial to the body and earth friendly. Ten percent of yearly profits are donated to Jen’s Friends Cancer Foundation. Find them at 2724 White Mountain Highway, North Conway Village, NH.
/2001Ambrosia HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: • Locally crafted • Pure essential oils • Organic CBD products • Eco-conscious packaging
For more info call (603) 356-3532 or visit www.fieldsofambrosia.com.
IT’S MY GIRLFRIEND’S CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE
The Mt. Washington Valley’s only upscale consignment boutique was started in 2007 and has been owned by Lisa and Lindsay Spadaccini since 2019. Open all year, they feature gently worn women’s and men’s current clothing and accessories. Shop consignment and save money on brand names such as Dooney and Bourke, Brighton, Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, Frye, Uggs, and more. Merchandise changes daily, so visit often because you never know what you might find! Though the boutique is predominantly consignment, the owners buy new products to enhance the business, such as scarves, gloves, hats, jewelry, handbags, greeting cards, stickers, among other items. Their jewelry lines, made in New England, include—but are not limited to—Simple Designs, LivRose, Fokal Point. Available exclusively at the boutique, Inis from Ireland is a refreshing, unisex scent available in hand/body lotion, cologne, and a home/linen spray. Myra bags are made from recycled army canvas and cowhide, available in many patterns and colors. Jen & Co bags are vegan leather in fun colors and styles. Blu Bags are the perfect recycling shopping bag that fits in your pocket or purse and can hold up to 50 pounds. Think recycle, repurpose, and reuse, then visit It’s My Girlfriend’s Consignment Boutique in the lobby of the Eastern Slope Inn in North Conway Village, NH.
/ItsMyGirlfriends HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: • Open all year • Women’s and men’s consignment clothing/accessories • Consign by the season and by appointment only • Locally owned and operated
For more information, call (603)-733-5144 or visit www.itsmygirlfriends.com. Spring 2022
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THE VALLEY CREATIVE
By Karissa Masse
Cultural Arts in the North Country Highlighting Local Artist, Musician, and Author, Dave Kobrenski
One doesn’t expect to hear traditional African drumming in New Hampshire. But that has been changing over the last few decades, thanks to local artist, musician, anthropologist, and author, Dave Kobrenski, a New Hampshire native who recently transplanted to the Mt. Washington Valley.
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t’s not your typical blend of talents, but Dave somehow manages to incorporate art, music, and culture into his unique melting pot of inspirational and educational ethnic soup. Dave’s journey to his current profession can be traced to his college years. While in school at Syracuse University, he developed a passion for the complex polyrhythms of West African music and began intensive study with musicians from Mali and Guinea. Before long, he had started his own West African drumming program and was teaching classes and workshops in schools and colleges all over New England. One night during this period, he was awakened from sleep by a phone call he first thought must be a prank call. It turned out to be a man named Nii Tetteh Tettey, a musician and entrepreneur from Ghana. The 3 a.m. call was an invitation to help build a cultural center! Dave’s reputation had spread across continents. He enthusiastically accepted, and in addition to helping develop the program, he literally helped “build” the cultural center, even finding himself perched aloft and thatching roofs! Dave spent the next two decades traveling back to Africa nearly every year, developing deep meaningful friendships, studying music and traditional instruments, and embracing the culture— so different from his own the West. His experiences there include numerous wild adventures, some of which rival Indiana Jones! On one trip to the remote interior of Guinea, Dave describes a terrify16
ing crossing of a dilapidated bridge suspended over a river. He and his companions were driving in a rust-bucket 1987 Renault, piled high with luggage and supplies, and stuffed to capacity with five adult passengers … and a goat! “It was about 1 a.m. and we were almost out of gas, and trying to find a place to stay for the night after 20 hours of driving. We came to this dilapidated bridge that hadn’t been repaired since the French left the country in the late 1950s. The bridge was totally falling apart, and was lashed to a tree with heavy rope, but it was falling into the river. It wasn’t a super long bridge, but our car was so laden down, we had been bottoming out on every pothole. As we started to drive over, we could hear the bridge straining beneath our weight, creaking and groaning. Our driver lost his nerve and hit the gas. And as we got to the edge of the bridge we became airborne, landed on our front bumper, and popped our front tire.” (The full story is in Dave’s book, Finding the Source.) Another adventure took place in 2007, when Dave was forced to flee Guinea after a violent coup d’etat sent the country spiraling toward civil war. “The city of Conakry had pretty much disintegrated into chaos and there was gunfire day and night. On my final day of escape from the country, I remember sprinting across the tarmac as people urged me to get to the plane that would take me into Senegal. When I got onto the plane, it was an Air Force cargo jet, not meant for passengers, so I had to sit
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harnessed to the side of the plane with my feet on an enormous missile.” (The full story is in Dave’s book, Djoliba Crossing.) Dave’s travels led him deep into Africa, to the remote villages of Guinea, where the culture is still largely untouched by the West. There, the people depend minimally on the exchange of money, but rather, primarily subsist on hunting, farming, and a collective management of resources that supports the community as a whole. After years of extensive travel and study, Dave Kobrenski found himself described as an “ethnomusicologist and anthropologist.” His comprehensive journaling includes piles of music notations, field recordings, vivid photographs, and exquisite drawings. His colleague, Katherine Donahue, Ph.D., a professor emerita of anthropology at Plymouth University, described him as “a gifted artist and musician, and a better anthropologist than many of the Ph.D.s I know.” The scope of his knowledge has made him a valuable resource whom even university professors seek for answers. Dave set to writing books to share his knowledge and stories, and reveals in each one, his talent as an artist. His books are filled with rich imagery of the people and places, not only through the craft of language and wordsmithing, but also through the artistry of drawing and painting. Having studied as an illustration major at Syracuse University, Dave is more than equipped to illustrate his own work, as well as the work of others. He skillfully applies layers of velvety lines, cross-hatching the surface with highlights and shadows, and coaxing dimensional human forms out of the flat paper. The depth and texture of his work are so realistic, it’s startling. Dave Kobrenski’s cultural presentations have been popping up all over New England for a number of years now. His events range from school and library presentations, to book signings, to an interview on NHPR’s “Front Porch,” to full-scale rock concerts featuring his sixpiece Afro-funk jazz band called “Donkilo!”—where he plays the Kamale ngoni, a traditional harp-like instrument, the Fula flute, a three-holed flute, and the djembé, a goblet-shaped hand drum. Speaking of Fula flutes, I should add an additional talent to the list: flute-maker. As Dave plants his new roots deeper into our White Mountain community, you may start to see the name “Kassa Flute Co.” popping up around town. Dave studied the Fula flute intensively for many years with Spring 2022
Lancine Condé, a master musician and flute-maker. Their friendship gave birth to the company, which still helps to support Lancine’s family in Guinea, even after his sudden passing in 2021. Beautifully decorated with strips of leather and cowrie shells, these skillfully crafted, ebony-black Fula flutes sell online to musicians all over the world, and are now made exclusively here in North Conway. Through his writing and his beautiful artwork, Dave shares his experiences with a deep reverence for indigenous cultures. The ancient wisdom these cultures preserve has been largely lost to our Western way of thinking. Dave Kobrenski’s work, along with other anthropologists across the globe, seeks to preserve this wisdom for the benefit and survival of the human species on this planet. “We desperately need varied ways of thinking and being in the world, especially as we’re faced with unprecedented global challenges.” (There’s more on this in Dave’s book, Drawing on Culture.) Dave’s most recent book, Finding the Source, is a page-turner. This memoir reads like a novel, describing his 20-year struggle to overcome a painful affliction that takes him deep into West Africa, and into realms of Vodoun magic, spirit, and healing. Finding the Source is available for pre-order at davekobrenski.com until April 21, 2022, when it becomes widely available through traditional media outlets and local bookstores, such as White Birch Books here in North Conway. Here in the Mt. Washington Valley, we’re excited to have this multi-talented, cultural resource at hand to spice up the diversity of our local community. Dave Kobrenski is a hidden gem in the rich landscape of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Keep an ear out for those drums … and flutes! Learn more about Dave’s work at davekobrenski.com and kassaflutes.com. Karissa Masse is owner and curator of the League of NH Craftsmen Fine Craft Gallery in North Conway Village, a historical gallery representing over 250 NH artists and craftsmen. She is also an artist in her own right, with a BFA in ceramics and sculpture from RIT. Karissa’s work at the North Conway League of NH Craftsmen Gallery continues to provide economic support to hundreds of New Hampshire’s craftsmen, and enriches the Mt. Washington Valley community with art, culture, and crafteducation.
FINE CRAFT GALLERY
Ann Dillon
Wendy Wetherbee
Elaine Fuller
Nathan Macomber
www.nhcraftsmen.com 603-356-2441 2526 Main St. North Conway Village
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THE VALLEY CREATIVE
Virginia Moore
The Way of an Artist: Deb Snow Expressing Breath-Taking Beauty
We all have our story about what led us to paint, and it would not be possible to tell this story without being open about the hardship and difficult life Deb and her husband Gregg face every single day.
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eb Snow is not just a great artist; she is an amazing mother, among other things. Deb is also my painting teacher. Deb’s students come to her class with varying levels of artistic experience. It doesn’t matter—Deb is such a good teacher, she brings something valuable to her students regardless of their knowledge or skill when it comes to painting. Life has molded her into the artist and teacher she is today. We all have our story about what led us to paint, and it would not be possible to tell this story without being open about the hardship and difficult life Deb and her husband Gregg face every single day. Painting is just one of many creative outlets for Deb. Here is her story, and much of it is written in her own words. Deb is the mother of an autistic child, Ian, who is now 40 years old. Ian has a multitude of medical issues in addition to autism, and to add to his troubles he also suffers constant brain seizures. In Deb’s words: Many people have no idea of the many faces of autism, brain injury, and the disability that ensues. It’s not all Rain Man and special gifts. Sometimes it’s Jack Nicholson yelling, “Here’s Johnny!” in The Shining. I can understand why veterans don’t want to talk specifically about what they did in wars. For decades I felt I was living in a combat zone: always on edge, senses thrumming on high alert, anticipating the next attack. I stopped taking Ian in the car with me for over 10 years, afraid he would hit me and I would lose control of the car. And in between all the fear and tension and aggression was a lost little boy experiencing unspeakable injury and pain, crying for help. It wasn’t just the aggression either; it was the persevera18
tion, the constant yammering, and repetition, hour after hour, all night even. It was the cycling through emotions: sadness, fury, pain, confusion, anger, then maniacal laughter. His poor brain was constantly seizing—whether we saw it or not—and I wondered many times if I would make it through this with any sanity, or even alive. I can’t imagine how Ian felt with this tornado of thoughts and emotions constantly swirling. I used to say it was like all the file drawers in his brain were open and all the files were flying around. ALL. THE. TIME. Ian has born his disabilities stoically. He keeps going. He tries every day to find the love and affection he needs, a sense of connection with people he sees, a feeling of self-worth, and of productivity (even within his limitations). He is a marvel and an inspiration. When he hurts, he doesn’t cry. He may stop for a while, but then he gets up and gets going. He falls almost daily with the seizures, and his body is a map of injury, but he still laughs at our inside jokes, presents me with paintings or drawings noon-to-night, and enjoys the comfort of his home and family. He has taught me so much—and now I only wish I could ease his pain.
Ian has been a positive influence in many ways when it comes to Deb’s growth as an artist. Working with limited colors, creating colors beyond the basics found on the color wheel can be a challenge. Not true for Ian. As Deb watched him painting, she noticed Ian was racing through his pile of paper and paints. She looked at the results of what he was creating and tossing aside as he went on to the next, and realized she was seeing colors that were not in Ian’s collection of paints. He was creating colors by combining the MWVvibe.com
basic colors from his limited collection and throwing the results aside as he frantically went on to create more and more drawings.
softness and the feathers; not too bad, and I didn’t worry about background or anything. It took me 10 years to call
Deb realized he was on to something by creating color, and it is something she uses in her painting and teaching to this day. If you are an artist, you know how it can sometimes be difficult to find that perfect green. Especially the greens that exist in nature. Well, Ian found it, along with every other color one may find on an artist’s palette. My first works with color in her
myself an artist. Silly, really, because I’m quite sure now that I’ve been an artist all my life. It’s not about the medium; it’s about the person.
About being an artist, Deb elaborated, “It’s good to have a plan. I would say, though, that it’s less about the medium and more about the art. I love creating
If you are an artist, you know how it can sometimes be difficult to find that perfect green. Especially the greens that exist in nature. Well, Ian found it, along with every other color one may find on an artist’s palette. art class were done this way. Even though I had brown paint in my possession, we made brown paint using red and yellow. Was it easy? No. Did it take time? Yes. But now I don’t have to buy every tube of every obscure pigment hanging on the art store rack. I can make it! Deb started painting in 1999 when she was 39. She is 62 now. Deb shares about her first painting: My first painting was snow and ice in the yard. It wasn’t great, but I caught some of the reflections of the setting sun on the ice, and was pleased. My second painting was a fuzzy little yellow chick. I was trying to get the
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and creating keeps me going in the face of so much difficulty. The medium is really irrelevant. I used to do origami at doctor visits and hospital stays. Hours and hours of folding to keep me “creating” instead of sinking into hospital miasma. I love watercolor—my first official medium—and then acrylic. I’ve also tried oils. But I also love chainsaw carving and regular carving and wood-burning and snow sculpting and pen-and-ink and cookie decorating. So, you see, it’s more about being able to make something beautiful with whatever materials are at hand. I love the colors of fabrics and I sew (not very well), but colorfully with them. I enjoy photography, and when I get a great picture, it feels like
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MWV ARTISTS & GALLERIES Artworks* 132 White Mountain Highway, Chocorua, NH (603) 323-8041 www.chocoruaartworks.com Bill Fein Gallery 106 Fein Lane, Center Conway, NH (603) 356-7943 Cassidy Gallery* 28 Main Street (Majestic Theatre Building) Conway Village, NH (603) 662-2074 www.cassidygallery.com Cook Memorial Library 93 Main Street, Tamworth, NH (603) 323-8510 www.tamworthlibrary.org Edge of Maine Art & Framing 182 Main Street, Brownfield, ME (207) 935-2817 www.edgeofmaine.com Erik Koeppel Fine Art PO Box 325, Jackson, NH (603) 383-7062 www.erikkoeppel.com Fryeburg Harbor Antiques and Fine Art Gallery 506 Harbor Road, Fryeburg, ME (207) 925-2848 www.fryeburgharbor.com
Please report corrections and additions to info@mwvvibe.com. Harvest Gold Gallery 1082 Main Street, Center Lovell, ME (207) 925-6502 www.harvestgoldgallery.com
Roger C. Williams Fine Art 125 Main Street, Lovell, ME (207) 925-3380 www.rogerwilliamsfineart.com
Jackson Art Studio & Gallery* 155 Ridge Road, Jackson, NH (603) 387-3463 www.jacksonartnh.com
Skyforest Gallery 407 White Mountain Highway, Conway, NH (760) 770-3777
Jesse Mixer Metalsmith North Conway, NH www.jessemixer.com
Surroundings Art Gallery 12 Main Street, Sandwich, NH (603) 284-6888 www.surroundingsart.com
Karen Eisenberg Designs North Conway, NH • (603) 662-9887 www.kareneisenberg.com League of NH Craftsmen North Conway* 2526 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH • (603) 356-2441 www.northconway.nhcrafts.org Louise Perry of Vintage Frameworks 28 Norcross Circle, North Conway, NH (603) 356-7711 www.vintageframeworks.com Main Street Gallery/MWVArts 16 Norcross Circle, North Conway, NH (603) 356-2787 • www.mwvarts.org Nathan Macomber Glass Studio 480 Eaton Road, Conway, NH (603) 447-1825 www.macomberglass.com
Gallery 302 112 Main Street, Bridgton, ME (207) 647-2787 www.gallery302.com
Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery 69 Maple Street, Center Sandwich, NH (603) 284-7728 www.patricialaddcarega.com
Gateway Gallery & Gifts 32 Exchange Street, Gorham, NH (603) 466-9900 www.gatewaygallery.biz
Robert Gordon Gallery Kancamagus Highway, Conway, NH (603) 356-7943
Stained Glass Shack Studio 63 West Main Street, Conway, NH (603) 447-4949 www.stainedglassshack.com St. Kieran Community Center for the Arts 155 Emery Street, Berlin, NH (603) 752-1028 www.stkieranarts.org Virginia Moore Pet Portraits & Fine Art 83 Crossover Road, Albany, NH 03818 (603) 520-8230 www.vmooreportraits.com White Mountain Artisans Gallery 3358 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH • (603) 356-6546 www.whitemountainartisansgallery.com White Mountain Photography 95 Main Street, located inside Snowflake Inn Jackson, NH • (603) 374-6050 www.whitemountainphoto.com With These Hands Pottery* 397 Tasker Hill Road Conway, NH (207) 256-2522 www.withthesehandspottery.com * These supporters help to make MWV Vibe possible!
GALLERY UPDATES The Cassidy Gallery in Conway Village is in its 10th–and final–year and will close at the end of the 2022 summer. But Gallery owner Nancy White Cassidy is working on several new projects for both fine art and for licensed images, so stay tuned! Check out www.shopcassidygallery.com for updates.
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Professional Summer Theatre in Tamworth, NH
I’ve discovered a treasure. Ian is the same. He will use whatever is at hand to create. He is a creator, too. He stacks things, he paints, he draws, he pounds nails into a workbench, he collects and moves things to find meaning in his existence. And we applaud all his efforts.” What inspires Deb: I don’t really have a favorite subject to paint. I generally want to paint something that makes me draw in a breath. I also paint what touches my heart. I am not always successful in doing that, but one of my very earliest paintings is of Ian in the forest, and it just flowed out of me. I call it, “Day Over” because he was done and ready to go home. Some of my “heart” paintings just seem to be a copy job, merely bringing this existing painting into the world—no thought—just using the medium as a tool to bring it to life. I barely have to think, and only need to get them onto the canvas. Most of my work I struggle with, and am faintly disappointed that it doesn’t quite work. Nobody else knows, of course, but I do. And that’s what keeps me practicing. I’m always trying to express the beauty that takes my breath away or render accurately the complete paintings that live in my heart. Advice from Deb for novice artists: I would advise a new artist to paint what they love. I would tell them to find painters online or in real life that are painting in a way that appeals to them and learn from them. I would tell them to try new approaches and not be afraid to paint and repaint the same subject until it’s exactly how they want it. Most of Deb’s paintings come from struggle. They are either an escape from her reality or a celebration of a new perspective from that same reality. There is a part of her in every painting—a message, a feeling, a breath of life. “They are like children to me, and hard to give away or even sell because it is like giving away a piece of my soul. But that is the way of an artist, I think.” Spring 2022
2022 Season Into the Woods Stephen Sondheim James Lapine June 30 – July 9 The Legend of Georgia McBride Matthew Lopez July 14 – 23 Black Coffee Agatha Christie July 28 – August 6
Season sponsored by the Haynes Family Foundation
Silent Sky Lauren Gunderson August 11 – 20 Lucky Stiff Lynn Ahren Stephen Flaherty August 25 – Sept. 3
603-323-8500
barnstormerstheatre.org
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Courtesy photo
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
CUTTING THROUGH THE HYPE
Dr. Trish Murray
In a perfect world, we would get everything we need from food by eating a nutrient-rich, healthy diet with lots of colorful fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world.
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f you believe everything you read on the internet, supplements are the miracle cure for nearly any ailment. Have you gained weight? Can’t sleep? Got back pain? Do you have memory issues? Are you getting older? Just take this pill, powder, energy drink, or capsule and you’ll have amazing energy, fantastic skin, drop 15 pounds, and feel 10 years younger instantly! In my functional medicine practice, some of the most common questions I get from patients are about supplements. Bombarded by information, people want to know, “What should I be taking and why?” or “What should I avoid?” With so much hype and so many options available, it can be overwhelming. While nutritional needs vary from person to person, and supplements are not a miracle cure, there are good reasons to consider including them in your daily health regime. Why Take Supplements? In a perfect world, we would get everything we need from food by eating a nutrient-rich, healthy diet with lots of colorful fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect 22
world. Studies have shown that most people are deficient in key vitamins and minerals, due to a “nutrient gap.” Another reason to supplement your diet with vitamins, minerals, herbs, or adaptogens is to optimize the performance of a dysfunctional or deficient system. This is specific to your individual needs, which may be to heal the gut and optimize digestion, absorption, and/or the microbiome. Supplements may also be used to optimize the function of your immune system, your detoxification system, or your adrenal system. In our modern world, there are several reasons to take supplements 1. Nutrient depletion of soil and crops is rampant after generations of farming and pesticide use. Also, produce that is harvested and shipped long distances has fewer available nutrients than fresh fruits and vegetables picked locally, in season. 2. Your ability to properly absorb nutrients from food may decrease with age or may be disrupted if, like many Ameri-
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cans, you suffer from “leaky gut” or other gastrointestinal (GI) issues.
3. Exposure to environmental toxins, such as pollution, mold, heavy metals, pesticides, chemicals, and the use of antibiotics and medications may warrant supplementation to help detoxify your system or rebalance your gut microbiome.
4. Genetic variations or mutations in our DNA can affect our ability to absorb certain types of nutrients. These are called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs pronounced “snips”). Taking the correct supplement to correct a particular SNP biochemical pathway can be very effective. Selecting Beneficial Supplements With so many types of supplements to choose from, how do you know what’s right for you? Determining what’s best depends on your needs and your goals. Are you trying to address a current problem or are you feeling great and looking to optimize your health? When choosing supplements, be sure to consider any health conditions or allergies. Check with your healthcare provider before starting or changing a supplement regimen to ensure correct dosing and prevent interactions with your medications. This is not always easy in the medical system, as most traditionally trained physicians or mid-level providers are not well versed in supplements. Getting input from a functional medicine provider, naturopathic provider, or holistic nutritionist may be more helpful. In functional medicine, supplements may be recommended as a course of treatment to address a chronic health condition. A “GI” protocol, for instance, will include supplements that help repair damage in the GI tract, restore optimal conditions in your gut microbiome, and replace micronutrients that have been missing. This is a short- to medium-term solution in which specific supplements are taken until gut health is restored. Otherwise, if you’re in great health and you want to keep feeling your best and optimize your performance, you may want to consider the “fab five.” These are daily supplements for general health that will benefit most people. 1. Multivitamin A high-quality multivitamin will bridge the “nutrient gap” with a variety of vitamins, including the typical alphabet of A, B, C, D, and E vitamins. They also include minerals like zinc, magnesium, selenium, calcium, chromium, and iron.
2. Vitamin D Vitamin D acts like a hormone, improving blood sugar and decreasing the risk of certain types of cancer. Even with an active outdoor lifestyle, most of us living in the Northeast are not producing enough vitamin D from sunlight much of the year. Choose D3 (cholecalciferol), which is the easiest form to metabolize. Look for 2,000 – 4,000 international units (IU) to keep your levels of this vitamin in a healthy range. 3. B-Complex Many people are significantly depleted in B vitamins, which support detoxification and the nervous system. B vitamins Spring 2022
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The “fab five” is a general suggestion aimed at preventative maintenance for overall health. Once you get the basics down, or as your needs change, you may want to fine-tune and customize your supplement regimen. There are also functional nutrition tests available that can specifically pinpoint your individual needs. can also help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, pain, and insomnia. A high-quality B-complex typically contains B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), and B12 (cobalamin). For B12 and folate, a methylated form is best, as it is the most usable form.
4. Fish Oil Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, typically in a 2:1 ratio of EPA to DHA. The health benefits of fish oil are plentiful. Studies have demonstrated that it boosts brain health, lowers triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood), and decreases inflammation related to conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, pain, anxiety, and depression. 5. Probiotic Probiotics are live microbes that stimulate the growth of good bacteria throughout your body. They can help support your immune system, promote proper digestion, and replenish the balance of bacteria if you’ve taken an antibiotic. Probiotics are measured in millions, or billions, of colonies of microbes per capsule. A high-quality probiotic can benefit your gut microbi-
ome by introducing families of bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium; 10-20 billion per dose is typical for health maintenance, but doses can go as high as 100 billion. Probiotics can also be found in fermented foods, such as kombucha, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt with live cultures. Support Your Active Lifestyle As the name suggests, “supplements” should be seen as a complementary component of your healthy lifestyle. They should be taken in addition to, not as a replacement for, eating a well-balanced diet full of colorful fruits and vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats, and whole grains. The “fab five” is a general suggestion aimed at preventative maintenance for overall health. Once you get the basics down, or as your needs change, you may want to fine-tune and customize your supplement regimen. There are also functional nutrition tests available that can specifically pinpoint your individual needs. Combined with a healthy diet, supplements can support your active lifestyle, giving you the energy and stamina to enjoy all the Mt. Washington Valley has to offer!
Healthy Eating on the Go
Healing Dimensions Massage Therapy
The “Fab Five” Supplements for General Health • Multivitamin • Vitamin D • Vitamin B-Complex • Fish Oil • Probiotics
Read the label of your supplements and look out for the following ingredients: • Major food allergens such as soy, wheat, dairy, or shellfish • Artificial colors or dyes • Synthetic fillers, binders, or preservatives • Significant claims or promised results
“Bridging the Mind and Body through Touch”
Julie Sargent, LMT- NH Lic. # 3358 Member AMTA, Nationally Certified www.juliesargentmassage.com (603) 502-5326 24 Pleasant St. Conway, NH
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Courtesy photo
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LETTERS TO DR. TRISH
Send us your thoughts and questions at info@mwvvibe.com. Hello, Dr. Trish! Thank you for these fantastic articles and the opportunity to reach out to you with questions! Just another reason to love VIBE! After testing positive for COVID-19 two times in the past year, I feel like it’s time to begin paying closer attention to my immune system. Over the years I haven’t been a great eater, and I think that has led to more sick time. What are some tips to help boost my immune system naturally? Lisa W., Freedom, NH
From Dr. Trish Hi, Lisa. Thanks for this great question. First of all, you are what you eat and how you live. So, focusing on improving diet, exercise, stress, and toxicity are key to optimizing one’s immune system, and gut health is the foundation of all of this. Everyone’s needs vary based on their biology and current health concerns, so giving general advice here–while it will help overall–would not do your specific needs justice. I suggest for anyone interested in making healthy changes to read my book Make a D.E.N.T. in Chronic Disease, as it will give you specific steps you can start implementing to feel better and boost your immune system. -----Hi, Dr. Trish. Since the beginning of the new year, I have been implementing some really great lifestyle changes— eating well and exercising with your online movement membership. I’ve tried to coax my wife to make some changes with me, but she is constantly sneaking sweets and junk food into the house and is not interested in physical activity. How can I positively influence her without seeming too pushy? Ray C., Fryeburg, ME
From Dr. Trish Hi, Ray. Pushing is not the answer! Stay focused on your own goals, and as your wife sees your benefits, she may start to be more interested and follow your lead. Lead by example and watch what happens. -----Dear Dr. Trish, you recently wrote about food sensitivities and allergies in your winter 2021/22 article on superfoods. I’ve done a comprehensive elimination diet and discovered that I am sensitive to nightshade vegetables. When I took weeks off from eating them, I felt great! When I systematically reintroduced these foods (specifically tomatoes), I still felt okay. But after a while, my indigestion came back full force. Should I avoid them all together even if I can sometimes tolerate them? Paula M., Sandwich, NH
From Dr. Trish Dear Paula, something to note here is that food allergies and food sensitivities bring about a different reaction from your immune system. Allergies happen immediately and are easy to recognize with rash, hives, breathing problems, etc. Sensitivities can take up to 72 hours to present after eating something. I hear from new patients often that they are limiting intake of a food sensitivity, but not fully avoiding it. What’s important to understand is that it only takes one molecule of an irritant to cause an iceberg of inflammation under the surface. So, you need to fully eliminate any food sensitivity to feel better. Once every couple months, you can rechallenge to see if the sensitivity remains; but if it’s been years and you feel ill or have adverse reactions whenever you eat a certain category of food, then it’s a permanent sensitivity.
Dr. Trish Murray is a highly accomplished physician who has been certified in internal medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine, energy medicine, and functional medicine. She is the founder of Discover Health Functional Medicine Center in Conway, New Hampshire, a partner in the Discover Health Movement Membership, and co-owner of Valley Smoothie Shop. Dr. Trish takes an individualized, holistic approach to health to help you take control of your health and transform your life. For more information, visit www.discoverhealthfmc.com. Discover Health Functional Medicine Center • (603) 447-3112
Spring 2022
We are all about root cause resolution ... digging deep into what causes pain and disease. Optimize your health and performance today! TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH AND TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE.
(603) 447-3112 www.discoverhealthfmc.com
HeartSpace YOGA - MASSAGE SKIN CARE - REIKI Convenient online scheduling. Beautiful mountain view. www.heartspacefryeburg.com 600 Main St. Suite 1, Fryeburg, Maine
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By Clem McAuliffe
PUT A SWIG IN YOUR STEP THIS SPRING!
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ell, we have made it through another long winter, only to be rewarded with our yearly Muddy Gras here in the Big Messy. I’ve changed my shoes so many times, I started singing a familiar tune, “It’s a beautiful day in the brewery. A beautiful day for a NEIPA. Would you be mine; could you be mine; won’t you be my NEIPA,” sans cardigan. My spring cleanup mainly consists of collecting all the lost dog toys now visible after the snow melts, and cleaning out my beer fridge in the basement, being sure to practice what I preach, FIFO (first in, first out). I’ll be making room for a new slew of brews. Granted, it’s a way more fun chore than finding room for
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snow tires, but it doesn’t carry the same weight on the chore scale. So, I won’t be expecting any homemade meatballs for a job well done. Nonetheless, I shall bravely rummage through my refrigertory receptacle, carefully clearing out my coffers for I know what treasures lay ahead. The spring specials being served up at Saco River Brewing in Fryeburg, Maine are a great motivator for those rainy-day doldrums. Starting with a perfect transitional brew, their Munich Style Dunkel is a 5% ABV clean drinking German-style brown lager that’s malty and refreshing. I wish my transitions were this smooth! Another German-style lager is their Maibock, pronounced “my
bock.” This seasonal delight is brewed months in advance and then released in May to celebrate the arrival of spring. Light malt body, a touch of hop spice, and the 7% ABV fill out the full palate. In my brain, Maibock means “my beer,” so keep your mitts off my Maibock! Saco River has been doling out a heavy dose of lighter lagers and loving them. Munich Helles (light lager), Pilsner (hoppy lager), Schwarzbier (black lager), and Kolsch (none-of-the-above lager). Plus, they haven’t slowed down on their luscious IPA production. Thank you, baby Jesus! Added to their already deep bench of flagship IPAs is Tourist Trap Imperial IPA. Chock full of gaudy Citra, much too much
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Mosaic and an enormous amount of Amarillo, this eye-catcher is a 9% updated version of the beloved Batch 300. People will be talking about this beer, saying things like “I Love It,” “This is so smooth,” and “Honey, you’re going to have to drive.” Check social stuff for special events. Like food parings with Fryeburg Kitchen and food trucks or tech clinics with Pro Tune in Jackson. The clinics include summer bike and winter ski tuning by master mechanics, and some free suds to wash down the wax and dirt. At Moat Mountain Brewery & Smokehouse in North Conway, May means amore. I’m always in the mood for a little ooh la la, and their lemongrass ginger Wit, Ooh La La, cheers me up, too! The 5.6% wheat beer is light and fruity like Molly Ringwald’s lip gloss, and the low IBUs will never leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth. (Dan just suspended my poetic license for that one!) Moving on, Moat springboards the always anticipated, never complicated, and sure-to-get-you-intoxicated, Call It A Day. This 8.3% flagship DIPA entices delicious pleasures of pineapple, tangerine, and melon, with a peckish soft bitter finish. This just in! Clockwork Mandarina fans clamoring maniacally get their wish. More of that juicy hazy NE pale ale that’s easy on the noggin, 5.6% ABV, but full of wholesome hop
Spring 2022
flavor. I say put that in your glass and drink it. They say that was the plan, idiot! I know 911 is a joke in Flava Flave’s town, but Flavah of the Day is no joke in my town. This 7.2% revolving hop IPA killed it last time around. Citrusy with a glittering gold mouthfeel, our local Flavah was hip and hoppy all night long. A brand new Chocorua Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter is their latest collaboration with Tamworth Distilling. The last batch sold out faster than it takes to drink one. Simply stated, it was magnifiglorious. This last beer is closest to their hearts. A special Mimosa Brut IPA was brewed as a tribute to a local great chef, and even better man, Jim Davis. To be featured at Moat Mountain Smokehouse. Start your spring out optimistically and fall into a Summer Pils from Tuckerman Brewery in Conway. The 4.5% ABV single-hopped pilsner is packed with Citra hops and plenty of orange peel for added zestfulness. Whether you’re drinking hard or hardly drinking, this crushable pal keeps the train on the tracks. Tuckerman will be sending out a small batch of the perfect beer for the perfect day, 50 Cent Day IPA, the 5.7% NEIPA is a superb drinker that’s hazy and golden in color. The double dry hop adds big flavor with a blast of citrus and tropical aroma. Exclu-
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July 28th-31st Just 45 minutes from North Conway
americana, roots bluegrass, world music and camping Food trucks | yoga local Beer| dances | 17 and under get in free!
Including Ukrainian Artists Dhaka Brahka & Maine Artisan Showcase on Sunday July 31st!
www.ossipeevalley.com
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VISIT OUR FRYEBURG TASTING ROOM!
Offering a variety of styles focused on high-quality, local brew!
Enjoy a pint or a flight, and be sure to take some beer to go in growlers or cans!
(207) 256-3028 www.SacoRiverBrewing.com 10 Jockey Cap Lane, Fryeburg, ME
sively at the tasting room is the return of Granite State Hard Cider, a 6.4% bubbly dry hard cider made from NH-sourced ingredients. Dawn Patrol IPA will also poke its sunny head out. A 6.5% double dry-hopped NEIPA with a pure hop haze. ‘Skuse me while I kiss the sky. The beer garden stage with live entertainment will return as soon as mother nature cooperates. Check the website for full lineup and other events through the season. But wait, there’s more! An open-flame pizza oven! Toppings are locally sourced from the friends at Davis Natural Produce and the doughs are made using their iconic Tuckerman Pale Ale. I’ll take a pint of pepperoni and a slice of Pale Ale. Sign up for their newsletter for the latest beer releases, music and event info, giveaways, and more! This year is Woodstock Inn Brewery’s 40th year in business and they’re releasing five special anniversary beers! First up is Gnosh, a double red ale. Look for it in stores now in 16-ounce, four-pack cans. Gnosh has notes of caramel with a great hop balance and orange and citrus notes in the nose. This beer is a nod to one of their OG (original) beers, Red Rack Ale. The “G” is silent. Gnosh, also spelled nosh,
means to munch. Many people know Woodstock Inn Brewery for great beer, but they’re also widely known for delicious New Hampshire eats. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They decided it would be pretty cool (and meta!) for their award-winning restaurant to have its own beer. The brewery is releasing a total of five beers, and each one honors a different part of the business and history. Gnosh is the food beer. Next up will be Hoppily Ever After, in honor of all the terrific weddings they’ve hosted. Then, Get a Room is the “Inn beer.” Brew number four is Destination, because that’s what North Woodstock, NH is! The fifth beer is dedicated to their customers—and its attributes and style will be chosen by them! More on their 40th at www.woodstockinnbrewery.com. Hobbs Brewing on Route 16 in Ossipee has some fair-weather friends returning. First is River Drifter, a 4.5% light and sluggable corn lager. Brewed for a float, but the right beer for any season or any reason. Following River is Lake Life, a classic American pale ale made with Citra and Simcoe hops, lending a bit of citrus and pine to a mildly malty, slightly sweet backbone, 5.9% respectfully. The next visitor is Cold Brook. This sneaky 5% brew
Come by to say hi to BOOMER!
• Over 500 Craft Beers • Make Your Own 6-Pack • Just South of Storyland
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TUCKERMAN BREWING CONWAY, NH
Over 13 beers on draft, light food & beer to go Find us on draft & in stores in NH, ME & MA 66 Hobbs St, Conway, NH
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Scan for our location, hours, website & more tuckermanbrewing.com
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sports the flavor of a NEIPA but drinks like a lager. Smooth, crisp and loaded with hop flavor and aromas from a generous dry hop. So, join Hobbs for live music, fresh beer and delicious food. The crew at rek’•lis brewing in Bethlehem are dealing out some great IPAs—Pretentious Hopper and Clouded Judgement, to pick a couple of favorites. Hopper is a 7% fruit-forward juice bomb overfed with Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo, which give it a prominent nose and plenty of forementioned juiciness. Pretentious with a big nose, no wonder I like it. Their Premium Lager is the latest beer that’s got them stoked. Tagged “beer that tastes like a beer,” this 6.5% lager reminds you to appreciate the simpler things in life, like your dog running across a muddy lawn and then jumping into your wife’s car. Ahhh … the simple life. The rek’•lis team will also be releasing a few barrel-aged big boys: Bright Side of Darkness barrel-aged stout, Rhythm of the Night barrel-aged chocolate stout, and Anonymous Triple IPA aged in gin barrels. Name still to be determined ... I suggest Juniiipa. Ledge Brewing Company has stayed rock solid and has quickly become a great in-and-out stop for a quickie between the legs of your journey. (Uh, oh! Dan just
revoked my poetic license!) Looks like I’ll have to finish this legit. Great beer, great location (Town Hall Road between 16 & 16A), and their flagship brews are flavorful and drinkable. Those are two of my favorite traits for a beer! Boilerplate IPA, a 6.9% NEIPA and Smolder, a smoked porter, are both new arrivals, plus a brand-new spring bock is in the works. Boilerplate is floral and hoppy with a bitter backend, classic IPA. They will soon be unleashing their first barrel-aged imperial stout, a rich and complex beer called Midnight Run that was held captive in Tamworth Distilling barrels for over a year. One barrel was a red wheat whiskey and the other, apple brandy. I hope DeNiro appreciates the movie shoutout and joins the locals at Open Mic night on Thursdays or the Fly-Fishing Jamboree in May. If you haven’t hit the Ledge yet, I’m sure you will. I know I have. Thank you to all the owners, brewers, and fans of the Valley beer scene. You keep my job fun and my hobby challenging. If you have any questions, visit me at the Vista Bev & Market on the corner of Route 16 and Hurricane Mountain Road.
Clem McAuliffe, owner of Vista Bev & Market, loves beer. He loves talking about beer, reading about beer, writing about beer and, of course, drinking beer. All who enter the store quickly understand the benefit of asking, “Clem, what am I drinking today?”
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(603) 356-5084 • Intervale
Cheers! Clem
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Where Life is Good!
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Almost There Sports Tavern & Restaurant (603) 447-2325 • 1287 Route 16, Albany, NH Just south of the Kancamagus Highway
Spring Spring 2022 2022
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Chilaquiles, by the Inn at Thorn Hill WiseguyCreative.com photo
Four culinary creatives from local eateries share their story and
CULINARY ARTISTS VALLEY of the
By Chris Broughton-Bossong
signature recipes.
From menu mainstays to family favorites, the chefs of the Mt. Washington Valley have no shortage of delectable dishes up their sleeves. We tapped into four local culinary tastemakers for their signature recipes to teach our readers how to whip up a restaurant-inspired meal at home.
INN AT THORN HILL
Head Chef, Rich Schmitt • Funky luxury cuisine with a bucolic mountain view Before having the chance to do this interview, I was not familiar with the culinary offerings of the Inn at Thorn Hill, as my knowledge of the establishment was limited to a basic awareness of its idyllic perch on the hill and view over the White Mountains. I was excited to meet with head chef Rich Schmitt to learn more about his focus in the kitchen, and what one had to look forward to dining there. Chef Schmitt shared a bit about his journey over the years and how his time traveling from California to Nicara-
make one hell of a red bean hummus.” Having spent some time as the head chef at the organic and vegan-friendly Table and Tonic, he has brought with him the mantra of “usually gluten-free, always seasonal, and sometimes vegan.” Whether it is the roasted adobo chicken with purple yam in a coconut reduction or the grilled pork chops and clams with Chinese black bean sauce, Chef Schmitt pulls from all corners of the globe with his menu. He attributes much of his approach to cuisine stylings to what he reminisces as ‘80s luxury in cooking, while still keeping his menu “pure,” as he calls it. Opting for ingredients that can be locally and freshly sourced rather than ones that have previously been frozen, you are guaranteed to always find an array of options that are fresh and seasonally rotating and evolving. In addition to his appetizer and entrée craftings, Schmitt has a special knack for concocting exotic and
gua—and eventually being recruited to cook in Hawaii— had all influenced the eclectic style he brought back with him. As he puts it, he likes to keep his cuisine “ingredient-driven.” In other words, he tailors the menu to what is locally available to him. “If I want to make hummus, but I’m in Nicaragua, and all I can find are red beans instead of chickpeas, I’m gonna’
delicious ice creams. You would be remiss if you allowed your Thorn Hill experience to come to an end without sampling these for dessert.
“If I want to make hummus, but I’m in Nicaragua, and all I can find are red beans instead of chickpeas, I’m gonna’ make one hell of a red bean hummus.”
Chilaquiles
Local recommendation: Cafe Jalisco. “Jalisco’s, without a doubt. I just love how it feels going into that place. It’s my kind of spot, for sure.” – Chef Rich Schmitt
Ingredients Tortilla chips 2 eggs Queso fresco Pulled chicken or meat of choice Green or red salsa Sliced or pickled onion Sliced avocado Sliced radish
Process Simmer tortillas in salsa until partiality softened. Add chicken, stir to combine Plate up Cook eggs as desired, but preferred sunny side up Place on top of tortilla mixture on a plate Crumble cheese Garnish with avocado, radish, and onion
THE INN AT THORN HILL
40 Thorn Hill Rd Jackson, NH • (603) 383-4242 • www.innatthornhill.com
Spring 2022
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BIG DAVE’S BAGELS
Owner, Dave Hausman • The best of a New York City deli and bakery here in the White Mountains My introduction to Big Dave’s baked goods was back in 2013 (about three years to the month of their grand opening) when I was doing a snowy winter Moat traverse, and as we reached the summit, my travel companion offered me a piece of some of the best crumb cake I have had to date. When I asked where he had
sandwich on the go. “Being part of this community is why we exist,” was Hausman’s response when asked what it was that he enjoyed most about his work in the bakery. There is very much a family and community vibe when you come into Big Dave’s. His wife Susan is his right hand at the bakery, and employs a number of local high school students, proudly boasting the accomplishments of his previous employees after they head off for college. Whether you are coming by for an early morning coffee and sandwich or popping by for a hearty lunch on the go, you’d be making a mistake to leave Big Dave’s without at least one of their sweeter baked offerings in hand. Hausman has recently added a new treat of note to their baked offerings, created and recently patented by Big Dave’s Bagels: the Kweenie. The Kweenie is a pastry that could be compared to a more robust croissant. It has the rich buttery
procured this delicacy, his response: “Haven’t you been to Big Dave’s?” Dave Hausman grew up working in and around New York City, working in the bakery scene and, for a while, as a wine importer before relocating to the White Mountains. His menu items are all made fresh on-site and range from the old-fashioned crumb cake (my personal favorite) to his spin on the classic Philly cheesesteak, traditional Jamaican beef patties, and of course, their famous variety of fresh bagels, the recipe for which dates back to the 1940s. Big Dave’s is a perfect breakfast or lunch spot for a coffee and
goodness of a croissant, but the heft and crisp-baked edges of a flaky pastry. Hausman is as excited to have perfected his new creation as he is to describe it to you, should you be lucky enough to find him with a few seconds to spare. For those of you who enjoy baked goods but don’t want to be bombarded with sweetness, the Kweenie is for you, with a flavor more akin to sweet butter than birthday cake.
Whether you are coming by for an early morning coffee and sandwich or popping by for a hearty lunch on the go, you’d be making a mistake to leave Big Dave’s without at least one of their sweeter baked offerings in hand.
Local recommendation: Black Cap Bar and Grill. “I gotta’ give it to them; my wife and I get treated like family there.” – Dave Hausman
Chocolate Ruggies(Rugalach)
Ingredients For the Dough 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 tsp salt 2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cubed (place in freezer before starting) 1/2 pound cold cream cheese, cubed (place in freezer before starting) 1 egg yolk
For the Filling 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 4 ounces dark chocolate (melted) 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter (melted) pound of mini chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
Egg wash: one egg scrambled with milk and a teaspoon of sugar
BIG DAVE’S BAGELS
1130 Eastman Road, North Conway, NH • (603) 356-3283 • www.bigdavesbagels.com
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MAY 20, 2022 • 6PM Process Making the Dough In a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt. Pull cubed butter and cream cheese from the freezer. Put in the processor with egg yolk and pulse until a dry crumbly dough forms. Should be similar in consistency to pie dough. Drop on the counter and with your hands form into a ball. Divide into 4 equal parts and flatten into disc shapes. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour. Making the Filling On a double boiler on the stove, melt the chocolate and butter together. After melted, take bowl off of heat. Sift the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder into the bowl. Stir until well combined. Forming the Ruggies On a lightly floured counter or cutting board, roll each disk out into a circle shape. Should be about 1/4-inch thick. Spread your chocolate filling like sauce on a pizza, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge uncovered. Take a handful of mini chocolate chips and spread on the chocolate filling. Carefully use your rolling pin to press these into the dough. Cut like a pizza into 16 triangular shapes. Starting from the wide edge roll in to form a crescent shape. After all are formed, place seam/point down on lightly sprayed parchment paper. Brush well with egg wash. Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 20 minutes. Rest for 10 minutes, then move onto the cooling rack. Notes Successful baking is about using good quality ingredients. Butter, chocolate, cocoa powder, especially. This is a great recipe to make with children, they can help in most stages.
41st Annual
Taste of New Hampshire
CHEFS CHOICE DINNER Featuring Action Food Stations Meet the Chefs while Enjoying their Spectacular Creations
Music, Dancing, Raffle, Silent & Live Auctions, Cash Bar! Tickets are just $37 per person or get 10 tickets for $325! Available through ACF White Mountain Chapter Members and at WhiteMountainACFChefs.org (603) 383-9111 • www.WhiteMountainACFChefs.org EAGLE MOUNTAIN HOUSE • Carter Notch Rd., Jackson, NH
THE OXFORD HOUSE INN B&B|Restaurant
548 Main Street | Fryeburg, ME 04037
Locally Sourced Globally Inspired Serving dinner Tues-Sat | 5pm-8pm Upscale Dining | Casual Pub | Outdoor Seating
www.OxfordHouseInn.com | 207-935-3442 Spring 2022
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WHITE MOUNTAIN CIDER COMPANY
Owner/Chef Miles Williams • Artisanal Americana menu in an intimate cabin setting The White Mountain Cider Company (WMCC) restaurant has been one of the premier artisanal dining establishments in the Mt. Washington Valley for years. So, when I heard that it was up for sale, I was concerned that it might be the end of an era for one of my favorite spots. That being said, I was excited to sit down with the former head chef and now the new owner of the White Mountain Cider Co, Miles Williams, and talk about what drew him there and what his vision was for this rarified establishment. While working as the head chef at Gorham’s SAaLT and Libby’s Restaurant, Williams decided he was ready to take
that has made this venture possible. As he described it, “Running most restaurants often feels like you’re trying to put out 1,000 fires a day with nothing more than a garden hose. But with this team, suddenly I was putting out fewer fires with all the water needed.” “We embrace the concept of kaizen in the kitchen.” In Japanese, it means to strive for continuous improvement. “We take the time to do some R&D with our dishes.” The team likes to develop new items and they dedicate the time to testing, discussing, and revising them until the dish has “the pop” they are looking for. When asked about the types of dishes that particularly excite him to concoct, he said it isn’t so much any one particular dish that excites him, but rather, finding the time to explore the process of preparing meals from around the world; whether it be a new marinade for a steak (check out their braised short ribs in chili cinnamonjus) and a side of farm-fresh veggies or an exotic noodle dish from
the leap of owning his own restaurant, purchasing WMCC from its founder, Theresa Stearns, who Williams credits as being the mentor who helped him not only be a better chef, but a better person. Chef Williams readily agreed that taking over a new restaurant was certainly a daunting task and gratefully acknowledged that it has been the teamwork of his head chef Tim and the entire Cider Company family
Vietnam. An appreciation for exciting flavor palates, pairings, and varieties is certainly reflected in the creativity of the Cider Company’s menu and the flavor combinations within.
“We embrace the concept of kaizen in the kitchen.” In Japanese, it means to strive for continuous improvement. “We take the time to do some R&D with our dishes.”
Falafel Plate
Local recommendation: Autumn Nomad Cafe in Jackson. “I love that place! Everything they do is just simple, but so well refined and amazing!” – Chef Miles Williams
Ingredients 5 cups cooked garbanzo beans 1/2 cup chives 1 cup parsley 1 cup cilantro 2 cloves garlic 1 minced red onion 1 Tbsp ground cumin 1 Tbsp ground coriander 1 tsp cayenne pepper 2 juiced lemons and zest 1/4 cup kosher salt 1 Tbsp baking powder 1/3 cup garbanzo flour
Process Combine all ingredients, except flour and baking powder, in a medium saucepot; cook with medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Pulse flour and baking powder in a blender until roughly combined. With a measuring scoop, portion each falafel. Heat fry oil to 350F and fry for 1-2 minutes until golden brown; salt and add your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy.
WHITE MOUNTAIN CIDER COMPANY
207 US-302, Glen, NH • (603) 383-9061 • www.ciderconh.com
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CAFE NOCHE
Owner and Head Bartender, Tom Kugel • Hearty Tex-Mex with a traditional cantina setting The Mt. Washington Valley is home to a number of Mexican restaurants, but none of them have the ambiance and neighborhood feel you’ll find at Cafe Noche. With an eclectic display of traditional Mexican artwork that is as varied as Noche’s variety of custom margaritas and a menu of traditional Tex-Mex offerings, Noche is a great spot if you’re looking for a unique cocktail experience in the heart of Conway Village. I had a chance to sit down with Tom Kugel, founder and
mâché, hammered steel, and exotic paint colors, Kugel smiled and quipped, “Everything has to be funky. Each piece has a story to it—that gives it some roots.” One of the first discussions I recall having with Kugel was an in-depth discussion about different tequilas and mezcals. I always enjoy talking with a proprietor who, along with having a rich story or two about their establishment—and Tom has plenty of these (ask him about his motorcycle trip around the perimeter of Mexico in 2006)— also gets excited about their trade. That is a real treat. For Kugel, exploring creative new ways to put a spin on the traditional margarita is where you see him get a real twinkle in his eye. My personal favorite is his namesake, the Tom’s Margarita, which adds a bit of Gran Gala and cranberry to the traditional margarita foundation. Although Kugel will readily attest that he has never been a foody, per se, but simply a lifelong appreciator of Mexican food, for his
cocktail designer at Cafe Noche, and find out a bit more about what the inspiration was for this unique watering hole. Having a dad who worked for the foreign service and had “an eye for the exotic,” a mom who relocated to Mexico, and a brother who opened a Mexican restaurant in Texas, opening his own little slice of the Yucatán wasn’t too big of a leap. Looking around at the walls, covered in paper
money, a dish of chicken enchiladas makes an ideal pairing for one of his cocktails, so as to not overindulge on an empty stomach.
““Everything has to be funky. Each piece has a story to it—that gives it some roots.”
Local recommendation: Thai Nakornping. “I enjoy variety, and we have always enjoyed it there.” – Tom Kugel
Tom’s Margarita Ingredients Hornitos Reposado Grand Gala cranberry lime juice
Process Pour 1 oz of Hornitos tequila Add 1/2 oz lime juice Add 1/2 oz Gran Gala Finish with cranberry juice Pour over ice and shake Serve with lime slice
CAFE NOCHE
147 Main Street Conway, NH • (603) 447-5050 • www.cafenoche.net
Spring 2022
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Sowing Seedlings Home-Grown Goodness By Jennie Blair, A New Day Farm
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A
s the snow melts and winter comes to a close, we can all feel that spring fever start to trickle in. That buzz of longer days and those April showers that bring May flowers can be felt by us all in northern New England. Folks with green thumbs may just be starting to think about getting their gardens prepped for spring planting. For many months already, local vegetable growers like myself have been working hard in their propagation houses, high tunnels, and greenhouses. There is still plenty of snow on the ground when we begin planting seeds and caretaking the early stages of the soon-to-come summer’s bounty. In January, the seed catalogs arrived, waiting in our mailboxes, ready for an evening by the woodstove. I slowly turned the pages with sticky notes and steno pad in hand, excited to select my favorite zucchini, cucumber, and carrots, while drooling over the fun heirloom tomatoes, fancy peppers, and Asian greens. And don’t even get me started on the tool section! Like a kid in a candy store, the seed catalogs are a fun way to start planning and dreaming of the summer to come. Planning a growing season takes a lot of thought about what varieties a grower wants to offer, timing on when they will be planted, mature, and ready to harvest, and the ever-so-unpredictable weather patterns and pests we see in the Northeast. Here, I offer a few things to think about if you’re planning to grow some of your own food this year.
Some Local Growing Tips
Here in New Hampshire, we are in a cool growing climate, which the Department of Agriculture designates as plant hardiness zone 5. This is considered suitable for plants that are hardy enough to withstand temperatures below freezing. It also means we have a shorter growing season, making it more challenging to grow longer, warmer-season crops. Starting plants such as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers indoors in early spring will allow enough time for the plant to reach full maturity and bear fruit, whereas if we wait until outdoor conditions are right, we may never harvest a crop. Seeding indoors allows the grower a jump start and extends the growing season, widening our
Spring 2022 Spring 2022
options of types of vegetables we can grow. Given our chilly spring nights, we need to be careful in the early stages of the growing season. If planted out before Memorial Day without protected cover, frost-sensitive plants can easily die in a late spring frost. Tender crops started indoors at the end of March or early April—such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants—need to be protected from cold spring temperatures. Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are pretty hardy, but require more time for root growth, so they can be started indoors in early spring if you’re looking for getting Not all seeds like to a real head start on your garden plants. be started as transCucumbers, squash, plants. Vegetables kale, lettuce, and such as carrots and many other greens can be started as beets prefer to be transplants, or didirectly seeded into rectly seeded, as they the ground, as they grow quickly, but can benefit from an don’t handle the earlier start indoors, disturbance from giving you an earlier harvest window. transplanting well. Not all seeds Radishes, peas, and like to be started as greens (like arugula transplants. Vegetables such as carrots and mustards) are and beets prefer to fast to grow, so be directly seeded planting them directly into the ground, as they don’t handle into the ground is the disturbance from recommended. transplanting well. Radishes, peas, and greens (like arugula and mustards) are fast to grow, so planting them directly into the ground is recommended.
Choosing Seeds or Starts
A garden can be fun and exciting to watch grow and develop, whether you’re growing plants from seed or you’re buying young plants called “seedlings,” “starts,” or “transplants.” Buying seedlings is much easier and more convenient than starting seeds yourself, but also limits you to varieties and availability from local growers.
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Light Requirements
Some gardeners are able to produce seedlings with just the sunlight available at a sunny windowsill, but most of us need to add some light. With inadequate light, seedlings get stretched and weak. Try hanging a florescent shop light six inches above your seedlings. Start running the lamp as soon as the seedlings emerge from the soil. Put it on a timer to run 16 to 20 hours per day. Make the hanging system adjustable so you can elevate the light as the plants grow. For each different crop that you’d like to start indoors, find out how many weeks it takes from when you
sow the seed to when the plant is ready for transplant. (You can get this information from seed vendors or from the UNH Extension.) Then, determine when it should go out into your garden (often in New Hampshire, this is early May for cold-tolerant crops and the end of May for frost-sensitive crops). By subtracting the time it takes to grow a transplant-ready plant from the date you want to plant outdoors, you can determine the date to start the seeds indoors.
Fertilizing
Whether you purchase your transplants already grown or grow them yourself,
they will need fertilizer when they are transplanted into your garden. A soil test from the UNH Extension will tell you how much of which fertilizers to add. When you transplant into the soil or a pot, it’s best to mix some of your fertilizer into the soil at the time of transplant. Then add the rest of the required fertilizer two to three weeks later after the roots have been given time to grow. Later in the season, keep an eye on fertility needs by “reading your plant” for a deficiency, which may exhibit as leaves turning light green or yellow.
Hardening Off
Plants grown indoors may not be
Planting from seeds indoors requires careful timing and proper care of young seedlings—details like appropriate watering and adequate light. Maybe you don’t have the space in your house to start your tomatoes and peppers or have enough lighting in the
Seeds, Fedco Seeds, Fruition Seeds, and High Mowing Organic Seeds. These are some of the Northeast’s favorites, coming from Maine and Vermont. Others, Territorial Seed Company (Oregon) and Seed Savers Exchange (Iowa), for example, are also great companies that offer a wide variety of vegetable and flower seeds, perennials such as asparagus and berries, as well as fertilizers, tools, and other growing supplies. If buying seedlings seems like the best option for you, we have lots of great options for local plant nurseries here in our Valley. For the healthiest and hardiest plants, head to stores such as Paris Farmer’s Union who sell seedlings from local growers, rather than big box stores and commercial chains. Even better, head to a farm or nursery that is growing their own plants. You’ll likely find a wider selection of varieties and many organic options. Our local nurseries and farms will often have knowledgeable horticulturists and be excited to offer growing tips and helpful information on the varieties they are growing. Often, you’ll even get to meet the grower who will know the source of seeds, growing soils, fertilizers, and any pesticides used. Their plants haven’t traveled hundreds of miles in trucks to their destination before getting to your garden, which saves on fossil fuels, reduces the inflow of hitchhiking invasive species, and provides a less stressful transition to your garden. They are also specializing in plants that are appropriate and acclimatized for our region, which is very important with certain plant species that are not intended for the Northeast.
early months of spring to grow healthy strong seedlings. Getting your hands on high-quality seedlings is a surefire shortcut to a simple or extravagant garden. If you have the indoor space and time to fuss, there are lots of options for shopping for seeds. For the best quality seeds, look for reputable seed companies such as Johnny’s Selected
Your local grower also spends much care and time with the plant starts they’ve nurtured from a tiny seed, into a healthier, higher-quality seedling, which will, in turn, produce the best and more nutritious homegrown vegetables. Mount Washington Valley Eaters and Growers (MWVEG) has a great listing of farms offering seedlings for sale on their website, www.mwveg.com.
Cait Bourgault photography
Another thing to avoid are plants that already have fruit set—tomatoes, for example. This looks enticing, but what you really want is for your seedling, when transplanted into the ground, to develop good strong healthy roots. If it already has fruit set, the plant is putting a lot of energy into that fruit, instead of developing where it really needs to, under the ground in its roots.
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ready to handle the full sun, wind, and temperature fluctuations of the great outdoors. Getting plants accustomed to outdoor conditions is called “hardening off.” Begin the hardening off process one to two weeks before you intend to plant in the garden. Start by leaving tender plants in a shady location outdoors for a few hours before bringing them back inside. Gradually move them to sunnier locations for longer periods of time until you can leave them outside all day and night. Frost-sensitive plants (such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, etc.) can never take a frost (regardless of how well they have been hardened off), so make sure these always come in if temperatures below 45 are predicted.
OPEN DAILY FOR ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS!
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What to Look for When Shopping seedlings When shopping for seedlings, there are some important factors to look for or avoid. Avoid the “leggy,’’ tall, and lanky ones, as well as ones that look too big for their pots, as these may be root bound and will not adjust easily after transplanting. Another thing to avoid are plants that already have fruit set—tomatoes, for example. This looks enticing, but what you really want is for your seedling, when transplanted into the ground, to develop good strong healthy roots. If it already has fruit set, the plant is putting a lot of energy into that fruit, instead of developing where it really needs to, under the ground in its roots. It’s even recommended to pinch off the flower and fruit before transplanting. So don’t get swept away by the biggest plants. Stick with the smaller, but healthiest looking ones with strong stems, unblemished leaves, and good overall color. It’s fun to experiment with growing techniques if you’re short on space, like growing vertically with pallet gardens, in containers, or trellising. Or maybe you have a greenhouse or utilize cold frames to extend the growing season before or after frost. It’s truly amazing what you can do to combat the cold, allowing us to eat locally throughout the year here in New Hampshire. There are lots of ways to get creative to expand your home gardening experience. Maybe gardening isn’t your thing, or you just don’t have the time or space to grow the things you like to eat. Get to know the farmers of the MWV. Head to a farmers’ market, swing into a farm stand, or support local agriculture and buy into a farm share CSA program for a season full of local eats. This is the healthiest food you can put on your table. The closer to home it grows, the better it tastes, and treats you! Jennie Blair owns and operates A New Day Farm, est. 2015, a small-scale vegetable farm and seedling business, as well as With These Hands Pottery, a functional hand-thrown pottery business, est. 2004, allowing for year-round time playing in the dirt, in her home town of Conway.
Spring 2022
McSherry’s Nursery (603) 447-5442 • McsherrysNursery.com 2599 East Main St. Center Conway, NH
LOCAL, FRESH, AND FUN FOR EVERYONE!
Please check
for our latest spring hours!
Located on main street in the heart of North Conway village, we are your neighborhood restaurant serving up fresh, local and delicious food in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
(603) 356-4747 • ChefsBistroNH.com 2724 White Mountain Hwy, No. Conway Village, NH 39
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MWV Farmers’ Markets A - Bridgton Farmers’ Market
C - Lovell Farmers’ Market
Every Sat 8-Noon, May-October 151 Main Street, Bridgton, ME www.facebook.com/BridgtonFarmersMarket
B - Gorham Farmers’ Market
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CSAs are a relationship between a grower and an eater in which the eater invests early to help with the start-up costs of a new growing season. This investment is paid back throughout the year with weekly shares of the farm’s harvest. Check out many different CSA options at www.mwveg.com.
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Every Thursday, 12:30-4:30pm, May-October 10 Trotting Track Rd, Route 28, Wolfeboro, NH www.wolfeborofarmersmarket.com
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F - Wolfeboro Farmers’ Market
Every Tues 4-7pm, June 21-October 11 78 Norcross Circle, North Conway, NH www.mwvfarmersmarket.org
Community A supported agriculture
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Every Sat 9am-Noon, May 14-October 29 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, NH www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org
D - MWV Farmers’ Market
Every Thurs 3-6pm, June 9-October 6 69 Main Street, Gorham, NH (603) 466-2101 • www.gorhamnh.org
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E - Tamworth Farmers’ Market
Every Sat, 10am-3pm, year-round 993 Main Street in Center Lovell, ME www.mwveg.com/markets
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Please note that MWV Vibe has created this list with the help of MWVEG. Some farms or markets listed may not be actual members of MWVEG, and therefore, may not be found on the MWVEG website. Please contact MWV Vibe with corrections and/or suggestions. 40
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MWV Farms
Visit www.mwveg.com for a searchable database for farms and local food in the Mt. Washington Valley region. AN AB AA AF AG AT BK BF BC BR DN DO DV EF FA FM GB GC GV HO HI HF HW LH LP MF MB MV MO MB MN MH ML NH OW PF PH RG RM SH SC SF SB SU SO SW TF TH TR TO TU UF WM WE WG WP ZM
A New Day Farm* Conway, NH Abundant Blessings Brookfield, NH Apple Acres Farm Hiram, ME Avella Farm* Hiram, ME Again & Again Farmstead Tamworth, NH Athena’s Bees Apiary Ossipee, NH Berry Knoll Eaton, NH Bly Farm Wolfeboro, NH Boys Fresh Catch Brookfield, NH Brown’s Ridge Family Farm Wolfeboro, NH Davis Natural Produce* Eaton, NH Densmore Orchard Conway, NH DeVylder Farm Wolfeboro, NH Earle Family Farm** Conway, NH Fly Away Farm* Stow, ME Full Moon Farm Wolfeboro, NH Good Buddy Farm & Flower* Hiram, ME Goshen Corner Farm Conway, NH Grand View Farm* Conway, NH Hatches’ Orchard Conway, NH Highwater Farm* Bartlett, NH Hosac Farm*, ** Cornish, ME Howlin’ Winds Farm Fryeburg, ME Lily Hill Farm Tamworth, NH Loon’s Point Honey Bees Madison, NH Meadowfall Farm & Forage Porter, ME Merrybrook Farm Tamworth, NH MiVida Gardens Madison, NH Moonset Farm & Floral* Porter, ME Mountain Breeze Farm Sandwich, NH Mountain Flower Farm Intervale, NH Mountain Heartbeet Farm* Effingham, NH Mountain Laurel Farm Sanbornville, NH NH Mushroom Company Tamworth, NH Old Wells Farm*, ** Limington, ME Patch Farm* Denmark, ME Pork Hill Farm*, ** Ossipee, NH Red Gables Farm Tamworth, NH Remick Museum & Farm* Tamworth, NH Sap Hound Maple Co. Brownfield, ME Schartner Farm North Conway, NH Sherman Farm* Conway, NH Snow Brook Farm Eaton, NH Sumner Brook Fish Farm Ossipee, NH The S.o.L Farm No. Conway, NH Spider Web Gardens Tuftonboro, NH The Farmstand Tamworth, NH Thompson House Farm Stand Jackson, NH The Farm by the River Effingham, NH Top of the Hill Farm Wolfeboro, NH Tumbledown Farms Brookfield, NH Uphill Farm Whitefield, NH Waxing Moon Gardens* No. Sandwich, NH Weston’s Farm* Fryeburg, ME White Gates Farm Tamworth, NH Whispering Pines Farm Effingham Falls, NH Zero Mile Farm South Tamworth, NH
CSA SUMMER* CSA WINTER** Spring 2022
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Mount Washington Observatory photo
New Normals Reveal Valley and Summit Temperature Increases, among Other Climate Trends By Brian Fitzgerald
Temps on the Rise in the Mt. Washington Valley and on Mount Washington Summit
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hances are, you’ve heard a meteorologist refer to weather conditions as near, above, or below “normal.” But just what is normal for where you live? Who gets to say? How is it even determined? Every 10 years, the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)—formerly known as the National Climatic Data Center—are charged with generating climate statistics known as U.S. Climate Normals, based on requirements from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and National Weather Service (NWS). These statistics are calculated for thousands of locations throughout the country, across a uniform 30-year period, and serve as a baseline to compare against weather forecasts just like the one you might have seen today. Statistics such as daily, monthly, seasonal, and annual averages of temperature, precipitation, and other climate variables are computed for roughly 15,000 stations nationwide, including sites such as the summit of Mount Washington, based on weather data transmitted from Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) staff. With the anticipated release of the new normals in late spring 2021, MWO staff naturally wondered: what has changed? As countless investigations such as the U.S. National Climate and IPCC assessment reports have shown, a warming planet has led to climate changes throughout the entire globe, with regionally specific trends. Changes unique to Mount Wash-
FIGURE 1 Mean average monthly temperature differences between 1991-2020 and 1981-2010 periods.
AN INCREASE IN ANNUAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE, WITH VARIATION AMONG THE THREE SITES. As shown in Figure 1 below, all three sites saw annual average temperatures increase in the new normals, with North Conway showing evidence of warming every single month of the year.
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Mount Washington summit (KMWN • 6,288’ EL)
ington, as shown most recently by Murray et al. (2021, “Climate Trends on the Highest Peak of the Northeast: Mount Washington, NH”), include elevation-dependent warming rates over many decades. With this in mind, many were curious: what, if any, evidence of climate change could be seen by comparing the 1981-2010 and 1991-2020 climate normals, even though these two datasets have 20 overlapping years between them? To help us answer some of these questions, our summit interns, with guidance from NH State Climatologist Mary Stampone (a MWOBS trustee) and myself, took on the investigation this past summer to help us understand, not only what may have changed on the summit (KMWN, 6,288 feet), but also up and down the Mt. Washington Valley at sites including Pinkham Notch Visitors Center (GHMN3, 2,025 feet) and North Conway Village (NCON3, 522 feet). As the interns began to compare each station’s 1991-2020 climate normal set versus the older 1981-2010 set, three broader stories began to appear:
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All told, the annual average temperature at North Conway is +1.6F degrees warmer than that in the previous set of normals. Mount Washington’s annual average temperature warmed +0.7F degrees, while Pinkham Notch saw a nearly even split between months that warmed or cooled in comparison, making an annual average temperature that warmed just +0.2F degrees. AN INCREASE IN ANNUAL AVERAGE SNOWFALL, PARTICULARLY LATER IN THE SEASON. When comparing the three sites and their relative changes in annual snowfall, Pinkham Notch surprisingly saw the largest increase in total snowfall. Among the sites, Mount Washington now averages 281.8 inches annually, with Pinkham averaging 135.8 inches, and North Conway 84.0 inches. Pinkham’s increase to 135.8 inches annually is now 9.7 inches higher than in the previous normals, versus 4.0 inches more in North Conway and just 0.6 inches more on the summit of Mount Washington. In addition to the variations among the three sites, it was notable that within the snow season, all three stations saw an overall increase in snowfall in February (see Figure 2). This increase across the board slightly later in the snow season is worthy of a closer look to understand how the nature of our winters are changing, and what the impacts may be to the region’s snowpacks.
All three sites noted saw annual average temperatures increase in the new normals, with North Conway showing evidence of warming every single month of the year.
FIGURE 2
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Change in liquid equivalent snowfall (in.) between the 1981-2010 and 1991-2020 climate normals.
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CHANGES IN PRECIPITATION VARIED DRASTICALLY AMONG THE THREE STATIONS. Finally, when comparing the three stations’ new precipitation normals versus the prior set, fairly noticeable variation throughout the year, and from station to station, seems to appear. Overall, precipitation dipped more than 5 inches annually on average at Mount Washington, while Pinkham Notch gained almost 5 inches, and North Conway saw a marginal annual increase of 0.5
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North Conway Village (NCON3 • 522’ EL Pinkham Notch Visitors Center (GHMN3 • 2,025’ EL) Mount Washington summit (KMWN • 6,288’ EL)
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(603) 356-0039 · 2101 Wht Mtn Hwy, North Conway, NH Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9AM - 5PM Saturday 9AM - 4PM, Sunday 12PM - 4PM Closed on Mondays
Spring 2022
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FIGURE 3 Change in precipitation (in.) between the 1981-2010 and 1991-2020 climate normals.
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Although this investigation was a comparison of two largely overlapping datasets, versus an analysis of longer-term climatological data, the research conducted by our summit interns has given MWOBS a clearer understanding of what our “new normal” on the summit of Mount Washington is. inches (see Figure 3.). One area of consistency among the three stations appeared in October, where a general increase in average precipitation totals was observed. From a meteorological perspective, the team was unable to complete a forensic investigation of particular storms or weather patterns in the 2011-2020 timespan that may have accounted for this increase; however, best guesses at this WiseguyCreative.com photo
stage may point to an increase in the intensity, or perhaps even frequency, of extreme precipitation events from coastal, bombcyclone-type nor’easters. Altogether, the investigation comparing the new climate normals versus the prior set across the Mt. Washington Valley has uncovered some broad-based differences and a number of lingering questions. Future investigations into these datasets could shed light on precisely what, if any, shifts in the snow season may be occurring, and how such changes may differ across a variety of mountainous terrain and elevation. Although this investigation was a comparison of two largely overlapping datasets, versus an analysis of longer-term climatological data, the research conducted by our summit interns has given MWOBS a clearer understanding of what our “new normal” on the summit of Mount Washington is. If you’re curious to learn what your “normal” weather is in your backyard, we encourage you to visit www.ncei.noaa.gov to search for climate normals near your town. Additionally, to learn more about MWOBS’ recent climate normals project and read the summary report, visit www.mountwashington.org/research. MWOBS Observers Jay Broccolo and Sam Robinson and MWOBS summer interns Alexandra Branton, Michael Brown, Madeline DeGroot, and A.J. Mastrangelo contributed to this story. Mount Washington Observatory is a nonprofit research and educational institution working to advance understanding of Earth’s weather and climate. Learn more at www.mountwashington.org.
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Spring 2022
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21 PRO TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO THE PRESIDENTIALS
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LOCAL GUIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SKIING TUCKERMAN’S
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housands of people make the trek up to the bowl every spring. The gullies, chutes, and snowfields on the eastern flank of Mount Washington are hallowed ground, a sanctuary of steep, where legends are born, and history made. Early spring is often the prime season for Tuckerman Ravine. The warm days and cool nights set up a melt-freeze cycle that cultivates Tuckerman’s staple crop of corn snow. The terrain is unlike any found at ski resorts in the Northeast. The above-treeline skiing offers steep big-mountain terrain more commonly found in Europe, South America, and the western U.S. The snowpack in spring is generally stable, with lower risk for avalanches. Choosing the right day is tricky, since temperatures are colder at higher elevations and can turn a fun corn run into a slide-for-life situation. Tuckerman Ravine on a sunny spring day is as good as it gets for skiing on the East Coast. There are turns to be found in the winter as well—with avalanche training, backcountry skills, and an understanding of the unique risks associated with Alpine terrain. With over 150 deaths, extreme weather, and relatively easy access, the Presidential Range is among the deadliest in the world. Adventurers should understand the recent weather history and forecast, and plan accordingly. The Mount Washington Avalanche Center publishes a daily avalanche forecast that details the up-to-date hazards and conditions. The Mount Washington Observatory posts the current and forecasted conditions online in near real-time.
ROBERT BENTON, CLIMBING SCHOOL MANAGER WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER/AIARE INSTRUCTOR ACADIA MOUNTAIN GUIDES, INC WWW.ACADIAMOUNTAINGUIDES.COM
We’ve reached out to some of the most knowledgeable ski professionals in the Mt. Washington Valley to get their thoughts on valuable tips when heading up to the ravine this spring. Here’s what they had to say. JAKE RISCH, PRESIDENT FRIENDS OF TUCKERMAN RAVINE WWW.FRIENDSOFTUCKERMANRAVINE.ORG
1. Don’t follow the crowd! Just because there is a line of people climbing up a certain route doesn’t mean it is safe. In fact, people falling into those below them or dropping their ski or snowboard on them has resulted in numerous injuries. Don’t be the person that climbs all the way up, only to make one turn and yard sale to the bottom.
1. Start early. Not only will you get good parking, but the ravines and Boott Spur Ridge are also magical in the morning light; climbing is easier with firmer snow, and you’ll hit your descent in prime corn snow. Check the latest weather and avalanche conditions on the Hermit Lake or Harvard Cabin information boards or inside the AMC Caretakers or Harvard cabins.
3. Read the advisory and follow @mwacenter on Instagram. You don’t need an account to see current photo and video posts. Posts are frequent and typically made at first light when visibility allows.
LOCAL GUIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
2. To save weight on the approach, start out from Pinkham Notch with one full water bottle for the hike to Hermit Lake. Top off your first, and fill your second water bottle at the handpump well, installed through the efforts of Friends of Tuckerman Ravine, before you head up into the Bowl. 3. If you are unsure if you will be able to find your way into a route from the top, or remember the line down, snap a photo of the route on your phone before hiking up. Spring 2022
1. Be aware of your surroundings always. Observe changes in the snow conditions as you ascend; watch for other people above and below you; be aware of what temperatures and the sun are doing to the ice and rock around you–rock and ice fall is commonplace is Tuckerman Ravine. 2. Get the equipment, crampons, ice axe, and helmet. Skiing in Tuckerman Ravine is no joke and takes a lot more risk management than just a day at the resort. Having these pieces of equipment and knowing how to use them can drastically increase your safety margins when ascending the ravine.
3. Make a plan and stick to it. Have multiple objectives laid out and create options for yourself so you can make decisions to avoid hazard. Your plan should factor in time; know how long it will take you to do what you are hoping to do and have a turnaround time for yourself. Our ravines often get icy and quite scary to descend the later in the day it gets, which should always be kept in mind. FRANK CARUS, FORMER DIRECTOR MOUNT WASHINGTON AVALANCHE CENTER WWW.MOUNTWASHINGTONAVALANCHECENTER.ORG
2. Ask a ski patroller or snow ranger what route is best. Patrollers and snow rangers love to ski and can give you options for the most enjoyable run that suits your level. They want you to have fun while being safe and prefer to give good advice so good choices are made.
MIKE CHERIM, OWNER AND GUIDE REDLINE GUIDING WWW.REDLINEGUIDING.COM
1. When skiing in steep backcountry terrain—and avalanche risks are low—it’s helpful to skin or climb the route you’ll be skiing. This allows you to check or confirm conditions you’ll encounter during your descent, avoiding nasty surprises like ice or variable snow. Do, however, know how (and be prepared) to stop a long, sliding fall if climbing the route. 49
2. Barring, perhaps, Tuckerman Ravine during the height of spring activity, be prepared for staying in the backcountry longer than expected; just as one might do for a hike. You will, of course, be concerned about weight, so really think through your gear choices. 3. When choosing your line, consciously think about skiing well within your grade. While control is your responsibility in the front country, it’s absolutely critical in the backcountry— knowing that rescue, if needed, is generally HOURS away. ANDREW DRUMMOND, OWNER SKI THE WHITES WWW.SKITHEWHITES.COM
1. There are a few things that live in my pack whenever I’m in the Presidentials: one item is aluminum crampons. Even if you have a well-defined bootpack, it’s not only safer, it’s more efficient. 2. Triple check the weather—it’s often what dictates your day, and it’s so dynamic up there. I don’t like to go above treeline if the winds are more than 50 miles per hour. For spring skiing, I like to make sure temps down in Jackson are in the 50s or 60s. Always check the avalanche
center website for their interpretation of the weather outlook and how it affects the conditions.
3. The Presidentials hold many incredible ski lines worth exploring. If you don’t have ski partners, consider hiring a local guide to take you somewhere outside of your comfort zone. Not only will you have an experienced touring partner, you’ll likely pick up additional knowledge and skills to help your future tours. CORT HANSEN, OWNER RAGGED MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT, INC. WWW.RAGGEDMOUNTAIN.COM
1. Skiing in the Presidentials is serious business. Know your line and know its condition. Watch for sun exposure … what may be a perfect start in the morning could be hazardous in the afternoon. Skiing in this terrain is closer to mountaineering. Understand that a good ski experience will often be the result of good judgment. 2. Be self-reliant. If rescue is needed, it will likely be a long time to arrive. Access your ski group—what is their ski experience, are they fit, do they have the appropriate gear, what is your plan, is there enough time to complete it? Be ready for repairs—every pack should have skin wax, a ski scraper, binding tools, spare screws, and ski straps.
3. Some of the worst sunburns seen in the mountains are found in the Ravine during spring. Bring along ample sun protection, including sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, and a hat. Use them often, you’ll avoid the dermatologist later in life.
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PAUL MCCOY, MANAGER INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN CLIMBING SCHOOL WWW.IME-USA.COM/IMCS 1. We all love to ski with our furry friends, but Tuckerman Ravine, or any of the other glacial cirques on the mountain, are not an appropriate environment for our pups. Many dogs have taken long sliding falls trying to keep up with their pack leader. Every year dogs are hit by skiers, fall in holes, or get severely cut by metal edges on skis. Larger dogs, 40-50 pounds and over, could require a carry out with a volunteer rescue service. If you must ski with your dog, consider more moderate and less-populated terrain.
2. Have an alternative. It’s better to regret not doing something than something you have done. If it seems like a bad idea, it probably is! Tuckerman will be there the next day, week, or year. Have another plan besides skiing, and be okay with it. If conditions are not favorable on the one day you have to ski, make the better decision to take care of yourself and your friends.
3. Take two and skip the last! You had a great day skiing and it’s time to head down, but you think you have a little time and energy for just “one more run.” Fatigue kills judgment and motor control. The mountain can ice up fast when the sun dips over the ridge. Tired legs make edging and turning much harder. Remember, you need to get to those celebratory parking lot cheers and reminisce about the day from your camp chair in the parking lot. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: The Mount Washington Avalanche Center: www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/forecast The Mount Washington Observatory current and forecasted high-summit conditions: www.mountwashington.org /experience-the-weather
Spring 2022
Photo by WiseguyCreative.com
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THE BOOTT SPUR OPTION Hiking Route Recap, by Mike Cherim
Boott Spur is the 5,500foot Mount Washington sub-peak everyone going up the east side admires when they see it for the first time, provided they have views that day. When viewed from near the Lion Head rock formation, Boott Spur epitomizes everything alpine.
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hen leading on Mount Washington, barring the few guides I know that regularly work the west side (which we do as well on some occasions), most professional guides in the Mt Washington Valley generally lead groups up the east side of the mountain via the Tuckerman Ravine and Lion Head trails. This is a decent way to go, fairly direct, and the winter-specific routing of the Lion Head Trail can be pretty exciting since it’s so steep. If this so-called “winter route” is open, that is. It’s not available until the regular, three-season trail, part of which is a terrain trap, becomes an avalanche hazard and needs to be avoided. The downsides to going this way are apparent on the lower sections of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail: it can be crowded, being it’s the most-used route; it lacks character with its roadlike appearance; and honestly, it’s a bit of a slog. It lacks many of the qualities most other trails in the White Mountains regularly offer, and that is the White Mountains trail experience. But there are other east-side options: one, in particular, is the Boott Spur Trail.
WHAT IS BOOTT SPUR?
Boott Spur, named after Francis Boott, is the 5,500-foot Mount Washington sub-peak everyone going up the east side admires when they see it for the first time, provided they have views that day. When viewed from near the Lion Head rock formation, Boott Spur epitomizes everything alpine. Its steep couloirs, jagged rock, and rugged pitches make an impressive sight to behold. Due to its lack of prominence, however, the peak doesn’t count on most hiking lists as a separate mountain—with exception of a list known as the Trailwrights 72, which recognizes peaks with less than 200 feet (must be 100 feet or more) of prominence—but that doesn’t mean it’s not worthy. It can be a destination unto itself.
WHY WE LOVE IT
It’s a little longer summiting Mount Washington that way, at 5.19 miles, and there is certainly more elevation gain at 4,654 feet, since Boott Spur is its own summit, but these facts are quickly overshadowed by the route’s easier-access rewards: stunning and unique vistas; a real New Hampshire trail character; fewer people, allowing for a more intimate mountain experience; an expedited route
MWVvibe.com
Photo by Max DesMarais www.hikingandfishing.com to treeline—you go up then in, versus in then up—and an exceptional alpine experience. Still want to experience the Tuckerman Ravine Trail and Lion Head? Try making a loop (more on this later).
BOOTT SPUR TRAIL DETAILS
From start to finish, Boott Spur Trail is a treat. Here’s how it goes. The trail begins 0.4 miles up Tuckerman Ravine Trail, at the first switchback just past Crystal Cascade. It quickly crosses the wide swath known as the John Sherburne Ski Trail, then enters the woods, turning into a rugged, ledgy trail, ultimately reaching a ladder that takes one to the ridge crest. It no longer looks anything like Tuckerman Ravine Trail at this point. Now it takes on the character of your typical White Mountains Trail: narrow, rough, pretty. The treadway is rocks and roots, except in winter, when like all trails, it fills in and flattens out. It may be a snowshoe mountaineering route, depending on the boot pack and snow depth. It doesn’t take long to get to a viewpoint. At a mere 1/2 mile in you get a sneak peek of things to come, with a great view of Huntington Ravine and Nelson Crag. Soon after this, you come to another Spring 2022
east-facing viewpoint, or at least that’s what the sign suggests, but it has long since filled in, so it’s best to keep going, not bothering with this 50-yard spur. The trail flattens, then rises steeply once again. During this push, you will reach a signed 100-yard side trail on the left leading to a small brook (last water). From there the trail reaches another bulge in the crest, and at a mile in you will reach a 25-yard spur trail on the right, leading to another, more limited view of Huntington Ravine and the route ahead. Worth the stop, but small and restricted. Back on trail, keep heading up the ridge crest, passing a few steep and scrambly sections while enjoying a few incidental views that are worth pausing for. At 1.7 miles in, where the main trail takes a sharp left, there is a 30-yard spur to the right, which leads to “Harvard Rock” and an incredible view of Tuckerman Ravine, Lion Head, and the summit. Short of being in it, this is one of the best ravine vantage points on the mountain. This is an ideal spot for a break if it’s not too windy—since this outlook is fairly exposed to winds flowing out of the ravine, taking a long, leisurely break here is often not possible, though.
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Back on trail hiking for another 0.2 of a mile, you will emerge from the krummholz and officially reach treeline at a mere 1.9 miles in. The trail then heads towards the Gulf of Slides, which is nestled between Slide Peak to the south and Boott Spur, and makes for another landmark at 2 miles in: “Split Rock.” Not to be confused with the so-called keyhole on the Lion Head Trail referred to as Split Rock, the named feature on the Boott Spur Trail actually appears on the map (note it on the AMC map image, above). The trail continues over two minor humps, passing through a little more krummholz before reaching a broad, flat ridge and the junction of Boott Spur Link (which drops very steeply to Tuckerman Ravine Trail, but isn’t recommended for descent). From here, the trail continues climbing up and over one bulge after another until it finally passes just to the north of the actual Boott Spur summit, which is marked with a steel Bradford Washburn summit/survey pin. This area, especially the final 0.1 mile just before the summit, is quite breathtaking. Provided the weather is mild enough to continue—since this is a very exposed area—from here the trail drops down to Davis Path where it terminates. To continue on to Mount Washington, just stay on Davis Path until you reach the Lawn Cutoff. Taking that will lead you to Tuckerman Ravine Trail at the base of the Washington summit cone. Alternatively, you could stay on Davis Path until it reaches Crawford Patch and another, historic way to access the summit (Crawford Path is the oldest continuously used hiking trail in the United States). To descend, you could go back the way you came, but we think going down the Lion Head Trail is an interesting way to go, espe-
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cially if the summer route is still open. If not, if the winter route is open instead, do bring a rope to help with ultra-steep sections and know how to use it, 30 meters being sufficient. The final exit is made via Tuckerman Ravine Trail, which is far less slog-like going down, and you can see what you missed, so to speak.
TRAIL TAKEAWAY
When we go this way, we will generally run into single-digit numbers of people while on the Boott Spur Trail itself. The trail isn’t mashed down by a snowcat, and we feel it provides one of the mountain’s better non-technical, easy-access alpine mountaineering experiences. The route shown in this article, like most of the mountain trails in the White Mountain National Forest, can be incredibly challenging—even in good conditions and when the hiker carries the right gear, particularly at certain times of year. Spring, for example, is one of the most dangerous times to get out there. In the Valley it can feel like a sunny spring day, whereas in the high peaks, it’s still winter, complete with winter’s extreme challenges. Know before you go. Mike Cherim is the founder and owner of Redline Guiding located in Intervale. His company offers myriad activities from hiking and snowshoeing—the core activities they passionately began with— to more extreme offerings, such as mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and rock and ice climbing. Redline Guiding also offers several educational offerings, such as wilderness navigation, and Mike, being a NH JP, also officiates mountain weddings. To learn more, visit www.RedlineGuiding.com.
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Photo by Mike Cherim
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LIVE FREE AND RIDE By Marty Basch
The Valley’s road biking offerings are stupendous, from the relative flats of Fryeburg with its agricultural splendor amidst alpine backdrops to the arduous quad-draining mountain gaps of Pinkham Notch, Crawford Notch, Bear Notch, Kancamagus Pass, and Evans Notch.
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t’s time to take the road bike out of cold storage and show it some much-needed love. With generations of riders steering away from the road for safety concerns because of unruly motorists, the rebirth of mountain biking, growth of rail trails, explosion of gravel riding, and technical innovations that make for lighter, sleeker, and more comfortable off-road riding, it’s easy to dismiss the sweet pavement. Also, the Valley’s got an
mountain gaps of Pinkham Notch, Crawford Notch, Bear Notch, Kancamagus Pass, and Evans Notch. The sinuous Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) is a regional classic, while robust local roads like Hurricane Mountain Road demand respect. On weekends, sleek riders in small pelotons fly by in flashes of color along bucolic roadways. Those same riders blend with handfuls of locals in familiar and popular events that routinely
active mountain biking scene with two clubs building and maintaining miles of cross-country and gravity trails that may make road bikers feel like a third cousin at a shotgun wedding. But the Valley’s road biking offerings are stupendous, from the relative flats of Fryeburg with its agricultural splendor amidst alpine backdrops to the arduous quad-draining
sell out. In May, cyclists stream through the White Mountain National Forest during Crank the Kanc, a Kennett High School Mountain Bike Team fundraising time trial. The iconic Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, a showcase of hunger and heart, is scheduled for August 22. It’s seen riders from World Cup competitors and Olympians (disgraced and not) to
Road-loving newcomers, whether full-time or second homeowners and weekend warriors, can get their bearings through the spry Mount Washington Valley Bicycle Club. Members volunteer at various events and offer a wideranging menu of road rides that can help cyclists train for tough stuff or school them on where to find Valley gems.
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tenacious teens and resilient octogenarians like the late Dick Devellian, who helped craft the Tin Mountain Conservation Center fundraising event into a jewel. Century bucket-list riders train in spring for summer’s Mount Washington Century+ ride—literally pedaling around the rockpile. The Valley’s mountain majesty also calls bicycle travelers, those long-distance camels schlepping bustling bags of gear from solar-charged cellphones to space-age camping stoves. The area is part of a magnificent cross-country route mapped out by the Adventure Cycling Association called the Northern Tier, which runs from Washington state to Bar Harbor, Maine. The journey utilizes the Kanc and Route 302 to the Maine border. You may encounter those crazy courageous cyclists camping along the Kanc, overnighting at the Coho Hostel on Conway’s Washington Street, or chilling at Fryeburg’s visitor information center. Road-loving newcomers, whether full-time or second homeowners and weekend warriors, can get their bearings through the spry Mount Washington Valley Bicycle Club. Members volunteer at various events and offer a wide-ranging menu of road rides that can help cyclists train for tough stuff or school them on where to find Valley gems. Though there is much to ride here, there are also some self-inflicted wounds. Let’s start with following the rules of the road. That’s not sexy, but it can bring out the foul-mouthed passions of both cyclists and drivers. While cycling, I’ve been cursed at, finger flipped, had gum spit at me, and gotten earfuls of blaring horns for no apparent reason. Now, having written that, is it possible I didn’t use a hand signal or stop completely at a stop sign as required by law? I suppose. Remember cyclists are also motorists … and vice versa. As a cyclist, I’ve seen people politely give me space and a friendly wave or horn toot as they pass. I’ve also had white-line straddling motorists almost bash me with their passenger-side mirror. So much for the minimum three-foot wide berth rule that increases one foot for every 10 miles per hour over 30 miles per hour. As a motorist, I’ve blared my horn at self-entitled, side-byside and side-by-side-by-side cyclists hogging a low-traffic rural lane. By law, riders can travel parallel to each other like slices of bacon but only if they don’t impede traffic. If they do, tempers can sizzle. I’ve also muttered some choice words inside my car with the windows rolled up at bicyclists riding the wrong way, going against traffic instead of with it, as required by law. That’s just people. Cyclists must deal with fierce unleashed dogs darting into their way and debris on the road from the
cycling advocacy non-profit, does just that. Their “Slow Down Maine” campaign encourages drivers to drive at or below posted speed limits while promoting motorist and bicyclist safety. The non-profit Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire also works hard to promote safety, education, and infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians in the Granite State.
remnants of winter sand. There’s crushed glass, potholes, and spring’s jarring frost heaves that turn you into the tumbling cycle of a washing machine. Even with all that, road cycling is exciting, great exercise, and a model of efficiency. For many, it is a social event. Schooling cyclists and motorists about the rules of the road are essential for a safe passageway for all. Bicycle Coalition of Maine, a
Figuring where to ride around the Valley is pretty simple. The Mount Washington Valley Bicycle Club posts rides for all abilities on its website (mwvbicyclingclub.org). New Hampshire’s Department of Transportation (nh.gov) has PDF versions of old-school maps to download that include the White Mountains. Ride-sharing apps such as Ride with GPS and Strava are excellent resources with many local rides.
Get Pumped up before hitting the road ... or trail!
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• Kale or spinach • 1/4 cucumber • 1/2 frozen banana • 1/3 cup frozen blueberries or mixed berries • 1/2 volume coconut water • 1/2 volume pineapple juice Add any protein powder as desired. Blend, pour, and enjoy on your way ... or pack and bring along for a mid-ride break! For an added boost of energy add granola after blending.
Valley Smoothie Shop – www.valleysmoothieshop.com 24 Pleasant Street, Conway Village, NH
The area is part of a magnificent cross-country route mapped out by the Adventure Cycling Association called the Northern Tier, which runs from Washington state to Bar Harbor, Maine. The journey utilizes the Kanc and Route 302 to the Maine border.
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Though there are many serene backroads to find, I’m not going to give away any secrets here—just sharing a few classics. For secrets, use some of the resources in the previous paragraph. Everyone knows about pedaling West Side Road in North Conway, a breezy road with a fine shoulder and posted 35 mph limit that’s often ignored. Paralleling Route 16 between the villages of North Conway and Conway, the two-lane thoroughfare provides easy-going bike riders access to pleasant views
utilizes River Road, West Side Road up to Bartlett, Route 302, Bear Notch Road, the Kanc, Passaconaway Road, West Side, and River Road. Highlights include the Swift River, Lower Falls and Rocky Gorge, the Albany Covered Bridge, and Bear Notch downhill. Do it clockwise or counterclockwise. Up for a challenge? Pick a direction for an exhausting two-state nearly 85-mile circuit through Pinkham Notch under Mount Washington and the canopied Evans Notch. From North
of farms, forests, and fields—plus a couple of covered bridges. With parking available in both villages, the road is about 7 miles long and makes an excellent out-and-back jaunt. Access the road from River Road in North Conway or Washington Street in Conway. Building off West Side Road is a popular intermediate 40mile loop that includes a 5-mile climb up Bear Notch Road that also uses a stretch of the Kanc. From North Conway, the circuit
Conway, the route uses roads with varying shoulders from Route 16 to Gorham, Route 2 to North Road, Meadow Road, Route 2, Route 113, East Conway Road, Route 302, and NorthSouth Road. Many local riders often make the drive to meandering North Road in Shelburne—part of the multi-surface Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail—for a pleasant out-and-back spin to Bethel, Maine. With so many miles, it’s easy to break out the smiles.
Many local riders often make the drive to meandering North Road in Shelburne—part of the multi-surface Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail—for a pleasant out-and-back spin to Bethel, Maine.
Photo by WiseguyCreative.com
Photo by Joe Viger Photography
ABOVE LEFT: The Valley’s road biking offerings are plenty, from the relative flats of Fryeburg with its agricultural splendor amidst alpine backdrops to the arduous quad-draining mountain gaps of Pinkham Notch, Crawford Notch, Bear Notch, Kancamagus Pass, and Evans Notch. ABOVE RIGHT: The privately-owned Mt. Washington Auto Road opens to cyclists again this August for the 49th running of the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, with a 7.6-mile course that features an average grade of 12%, with extended sections of 18%, before hitting a whopping 22% grade for the last 50 yards. 58
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Photo by Joe Viger Photography
EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE HILLCLIMB
Starting in 1854 and opened to the public in 1861, the Mt. Washington Auto Road remains the oldest, continuously operated man-made attraction in the United States. Nicknamed the “Rock Pile,” Mount Washington tops out at 6,288 feet, making it the highest peak in the Northeast. For the past 48 years, cyclists, ages eight to 80 have journeyed to New Hampshire to ride the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb (MWARBH), a 7.6-mile oneway, all-uphill ride that is both challenging and rewarding beyond measure. Just ask the almost 100 people who have ridden it more than 10 times. The privately-owned Mt. Washington Auto Road opens to cyclists just two days a year for the Early Bird Ride in July and the MWARBH, a timed race that will be held for the 49th time this August on Saturday, August 20, with a rain date of Sunday, August 21. Tin Mountain Conservation Center hosts these legendary events, with the proceeds from both helping to fund the organization’s environmental education programs that foster future generations of both outdoor enthusiasts and environmental stewards. The 7.6-mile course features an average grade of 12%, with extended sections of 18%, before hitting a whopping 22% grade for the last 50 yards. Riders pedal around the horn, and across the “cow pasture” to reach the top of the rock pile where cheers, cowbells, blankets, and beverages help warm cold bodies, and where finishers find families and friends for the ride down. Make this the year you “Ride the Rockpile!” For more info, visit www. MWARBH.org or call Tin Mountain at (603) 477-6991.
For local rides, events, and information, contact the Mt. Washington Valley Bicycling Club at www.mwvbicyclingclub.org. SAVE THE DATE! 2022 CRANK THE KANC Saturday, May 14, 2022
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Photo by Living Shores Aquarium
A Look Behind the Glass at Living Shores By Lauren Clem
A Closer Look at What it Takes to Maintain Over 32,000 Square Feet of Interactive Tide Pools, Aquariums, and Exhibits in the White Mountains. On an early January morning, temperatures linger around -4 degrees as the sun rises over the Mt. Washington Valley. Outside, winds buffet Route 16, and only the most intrepid skiers and hikers have made it out for the morning runs. Inside Living Shores Aquarium in Glen, however, spring has already arrived. A tropical wonderland greets staff members as they arrive at 6:30 a.m. for the start of their morning shift. Inside, squawking birds, chirping otters, and schools of colorful fish greet them, awake and ready for their morning meal. Located on the Story Land property on Route 16, Living Shores opened its doors in November 2019 after more than a year of preparations. The 32,000-square-foot aquarium is home to fish, birds, otters, and other small animals, and bills itself as “New England’s newest hands-on experience.” What it lacks in size it makes up for in interactive exhibits, with five touch pools, five viewing exhibits, and a walk-in aviary where guests can get up-close with tropical birds. The attraction was open for four months before the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to shut its doors to visi-
DID YOU KNOW?
In order for staff to thoroughly clean some of the fish tanks, they actually have to partially drain them and then hop directly into the tanks!
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tors in March 2020. It reopened last May, once again welcoming the public to a tropical oasis after the 14-month hiatus. For staff, the close environment means getting to know the animals on a personal level, with animal care staff trading off daily responsibilities looking after the fish, otters, birds, invertebrates, and snakes. Every morning starts with a check of all the exhibits and systems in the building, including water temperature, pH level, and water oxygen levels. “A lot of what we do is feeding and making sure everybody has fresh food and fresh water—and then we get to cleaning. And cleaning’s the bulk of our day,” said Brittany Noel, an animal care specialist who lives in Madison. “For fish, it might be draining a tank down to about 25 percent and actually hopping into the tank and scrubbing the glass clean.” Noel, a former special education teacher who grew up in Gorham, didn’t originally plan on a career working with animals. After nearly 10 years in education, she decided to make a career switch in 2019. The pandemic delayed her plans slightly, and she began working at Living Shores in April 2021, shortly before the aquarium reopened to the public. “I love animals,” she said. “I love science, and I have a similar passion for [the animals] that I have had for people. As somebody who worked in special ed, I feel like I always have a bit of a soft spot for living things that need extra help. Animal care just kind of fit with that.” The staff prepare the animals’ meals in the back room, where a whiteboard details the dietary needs
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Photo by WiseguyCreative.com
Otters and Their Vocalizations Asian small-clawed otters found at Living Shores Aquarium, are the smallest of the 13 otter species. They have 12 different types of vocalizations that they use for contact, summons, greetings, threats, and alarm calls. The animal care staff must be familiar with their calls to know how the otters are feeling. Some of these include: • Soft chirping or squeaking This is a good noise to hear. It means the otter is happy. • Loud screaming This is an anxious otter. • Chuffing/snorting This is a threat display response. It means, “Back away and don’t mess with me.” of every fish at Living Shores. Sharks and crabs eat krill, while rays prefer squid, and freshwater fish get pellets or fish flakes. The food is stored in several freezers and replenished every couple of months by an aquarium supply company that delivers restaurant-quality fish. Heather Stephens, animal care supervisor, explained that most of the animals at the aquarium are still young and will get much larger before they reach their full size.
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Photo by WiseguyCreative.com
“Everyone’s still very much a baby, so as they grow, they’ll eat way more food—and we’ll place more orders,” she said. Like in a restaurant, staff must follow federal regulations regarding sanitation and only prepare enough food for one day before thawing out the next morning’s meal. “Really, the fish eat better than we do,” she added. Like Noel, Stephens didn’t start out in the aquarium field. A resident of Berlin, she began working at Story Land at the age of 16, eventually becoming operations manager. A longtime animal lover, she had once studied to be a veterinary technician. When Palace Entertainment, the company that owns Story Land, announced its plans to open an aquarium in 2018, she saw an opportunity to trade amusement park work for animals, and applied for the job. Now, she cares for marine life from all over the world, a job she said she transitioned into surprisingly easily after interacting with guests at a theme park for 25 years. Out on the floor, residents of the aquarium’s touch pools grow impatient as they wait for their morning meal. Arrow-shaped guitarfish poke their noses eagerly from the water, and nocturnal sharks creep cautiously from the shadows around the bases of rocks. Noel said her favorite animals to interact with include Rex the leopard gecko and a bearded dragon named Pete. The cownose rays are a rambunctious bunch, often swimming laps around her when she climbs in to clean their tank.
DID YOU KNOW?
Many of the fish need to be hand-fed by staff to ensure they have enough to eat. The spiny appearing porcupine puffer fish, for example, will poke their noses out from the water resembling a dog looking for treats!
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“Every day is different,” she said. “The animals that I work with, they always bring a smile to my face. Even if I’m having a tough day, the animals will do something that will make me laugh or giggle and will melt the frustration away.” Some animals require extra attention to ensure they get enough to eat. In the Caribbean reef tank, angelfish and grunts live alongside porcupine puffers and moray eels, competing for food much like they would in the wild. To feed them, staff climb a metal staircase to a platform overlooking the open-top tank and drop fish flakes and other delicacies onto the clear surface. The porcupine puffer fish, slow-moving despite its spiny appearance, is fed by hand, poking its nose from the water with the air of a dog looking for treats. “He’ll come right to the back of the tank where we have a platform where we’ll feed from,” Noel said. “He’ll take shrimp or squid or clam right out of our hands.” The moray eel also requires special care. A nocturnal predator by nature, the moray must be coaxed from its daytime hiding spot with a tasty treat speared on the end of a bamboo pole. Stephens explained how staff are careful to keep the fish well fed, sometimes for the other animals’ safety as well as their own. “If you put in a fish that’s aggressive with other fish, it’s going to kill the other fish in the tank,” she said. “You have to know what fish go in with what fish. And that’s where Dave comes in.” “Dave” is curator David Houghton, also referred to by his coworkers as the “master of all fish.” A home hobbyist for the past 40 years, he began his professional career more than two decades ago at Detroit’s Belle Isle Aquarium. After budget
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Photo by WiseguyCreative.com
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A Changing Climate
As ocean temperatures warm around the planet, the change poses a risk for corals, which make up the colorful ecosystems known as coral reefs. Corals have a narrow temperature tolerance, and even small changes in temperature can result in coral bleaching, when the coral loses its color and the algae it feeds on. The bleaching affects not only the coral reef, but the species that depend on it, including clownfish, lobsters, and seahorses. Curator David Houghton said he hopes to introduce a live coral tank at Living Shores in the future to help educate visitors about the effects of climate change as he mentioned the affect that man and the warming of the ocean has had on the majority of coral reefs. cuts temporarily shut down the aquarium in 2005, he went out on the professional circuit, working stints at zoos and aquariums in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Texas. In 2018, he was back in North Carolina when he saw a posting on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums website for a curator position at a new aquarium in Glen, New Hampshire, and packed his bags to head north. “When I first came here in August of 2018, it was basically a dirt floor,” he said.
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In addition, the VO also donates over $13K in member gift certificates to over 180 Organizations/Charities in the MWV area, each year! We also strive to work with local farmers and local producers of high quality products whenever possible.
theValleyOriginals.com ★ The Valley Originals is a 501 (c)3 Non-Profit Organization ★
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Photo by WiseguyCreative.com
Photo by WiseguyCreative.com
The building was formerly the home of Heritage New Hampshire, the history-themed museum operated by the Morrell family, who also owned Story Land. The family sold both properties shortly after Heritage New Hampshire closed in 2006. In 2018, Palace Entertainment, the theme park’s current owner, announced plans to open an aquarium in the vacant building. Over the next 15 months, as crews transformed the former museum space into a modern aquarium, Houghton worked his contacts in the aquarium world to fill its exhibits with fish. Opening a new aquarium, he said, was the main draw of the job at Living Shores, though the space has unique challenges that come from its location outside a major metropolitan area. Those challenges, he said, start with the nitrogen cycle, the system of waste and renewal that governs all animal life. “All aquatic life, it eats, and it produces waste,” he said. As waste decomposes, it breaks down into ammonia and nitrates that affect the quality of the water. Each exhibit at Living Shores has its own filtration system, and each filtration system is capable of turning over the contents of the tank three to four times an hour. On top of that, water needs to be replaced on a regular basis to keep the animals healthy. In most aquariums around the country, Houghton explained, public sewer infrastructure makes replacing the exhibits a relatively simple matter of washing the spent water down the drain. However, Living Shores, like many of the attractions around the Mt. Washington Valley, faces the challenge of having no public sewer connection. The septic system maxes out at about 3,800 gallons per day. Replac-
DID YOU KNOW?
It’s estimated that the Living Shores exhibits contain about 37,000 gallons of saltwater and 31,000 gallons of freshwater on any given day.
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ing just 10 percent of the water in the aquarium’s largest exhibit displaces 2,500 gallons of liquid, not counting the other exhibits or the wastewater produced by the building’s bathrooms, restaurant, and other operations. “Up here presents a challenge, because we’re on a septic field, so we’re recycling the water as much as we possibly can,” he said. The aquarium relies on a bark water recovery system to reclaim some of the water and route it back into the system. An evaporator is also a crucial part of operations, since salt water isn’t compatible with the septic system. Altogether, Houghton estimates the exhibits contain about 37,000 gallons of saltwater and 31,000 gallons of freshwater on any given day. Along with the recovery system, Houghton said that coming to work at Living Shores, he had to deal with some new critters. The otters are the aquarium’s only mammal species and highly regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture. From his office off the aquarium floor, he can see into the enclosure where the otters live when they’re not on exhibit. As he chats about the aquarium’s operations, the sound of frantic chirping comes from the enclosure next door. “Those are the girls in there. They hear me talking, so they want out,” he said. Living Shores has five otters—two females and three males—and all of them use vocalizations to express their needs to caretakers and each other. The group, Houghton explained, is divided up into two pods, so staff rotate them on public display, with one group always in a private enclosure. There, they’ll engage in training and relationship building with the caretakers, often playing with each other and whatever toys they can get their paws on. “They are extremely curious, and they will get into all kinds of mischief,” said Houghton. To demonstrate, he holds up his phone.
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Aquarium Life in a Pandemic Like many local attractions, Living Shores closed its doors to guests during the first year of the pandemic, remaining closed from March 16, 2020, until May 8, 2021. However, unlike other businesses that could temporarily shut down operations and pause their employee activity, Living Shores had a steady stream of animal care staff entering and exiting the building to continue their work caring for its most important feature: the animals. Lauren Hawkins, director of marketing, said the aquarium’s residents were perfectly happy to enjoy a quiet year interacting with only their favorite humans, who took extra safety precautions during that time. “The animals lived a really glorified life for over a year with the same group of people caring for them in a wonderful building without any guests,” she said. “Our team worked really hard to be that frontline worker, in a sense, that wasn’t necessarily dealing with the public, but was caring for animals.” In addition to concern for guests, she said, aquarium staff were worried in the early days of the pandemic that the animals, especially the otters and birds, might be able to catch COVID-19. Research has since shown that animals can become infected with the disease, though the risk of animals passing it to people is low. As the reopening day approached, Hawkins said, staff were excited to once again welcome guests to the building. The aquarium was only open for four months before the pandemic forced it to shut down, making the 2021 reopening a fresh start. “Everyone was just itching to get out and do stuff,” she said. “We had really high demand at Story Land, which caused really high demand at the aquarium. We sold out a bunch of days.” Since then, they’ve continued to work to improve their guest experience, shutting down for the month of March this year to deep clean the building and upgrade the HVAC and other systems. “It’s ever changing, and we’re continuing to see how people flow through the aquarium, respond to the aquarium,” Hawkins said. “It’s definitely not done growing by any means.”
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Photo by Living Shores Aquarium
Small teeth marks are visible in the colored plastic case, and a piece of the rubber charging port is missing entirely. “It’s called an OtterBox. It’s waterproof. It’s not otter-proof,” he says. Over in the lorikeet enclosure, Stephens joins Chelsea Brofman, an animal care specialist from Berlin, as they do a final check with the birds. Though most of the staff don’t like to choose a favorite animal, Brofman admits she has a special bond with Camo, a scaly-breasted lorikeet that flies over to greet her when she enters. As the two women make their way around the exhibit, the birds use them as a perch, catching a ride on their shoulders and heads. It’s a risky arrangement, since lorikeets are known for creating a mess. “Every morning I come in and I start with the floors,” explains Stephens. “We’ll pull these trees out, maybe one or two a day, and take them downstairs and wash them leaf by leaf by leaf.” Like Stephens, Brofman worked at Story Land as a teenager, but she later left the area to study psychobiology and worked internships at SeaWorld, Miami Seaquarium, and the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas. She wasn’t confident about finding a full-time job in the field, since animal work can be very competitive. She later returned to the area and was working at
Photo by Living Shores Aquarium
the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Laconia when she heard about Living Shores. “Honestly, this is the best thing for this area, because as someone growing up in the mountains, I had classmates who had never seen the ocean in high school,” she said. The aquarium has already played host to several school groups, and plans to introduce an education outreach program in the coming months. Christopher Evangelist will serve as the aquarium’s education lead, bringing some of its more portable critters to schools and senior centers. In addition to the local community, said Lauren Hawkins, director of marketing, the aquarium expects to draw visitors from throughout the region and serve as an indoor alternative during winter or the hot summer months. It’s a big change from when the property opened as a small, historical walk-through experience in 1976, but as the morning crowds begin to filter in on this January morning, it’s clear they’re continuing in a tradition of family entertainment. Children pet spotted bamboo sharks in the touch pool, and happy screams come from the red garra exhibit as visitors feel the fish’s distinct “kiss” on their fingers. The only difference is in this re-birth: the critters are real, and the exhibits don’t turn off when guests go home for the night.
DID YOU KNOW?
Living Shores has five otters that are extremely curious and tend to get into all kinds of mischief. Just ask Curator David Houghton about his OtterBox-protected phone ... which just happens to have teethmarks all over it. 66
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The amazing power of
Camp Waukeela, Eaton Center, NH
Indian Acres Camp Fryeburg, ME
Camp Huckins Freedom, NH
Camp Cody Freedom, NH
Forest Acres Camp Fryeburg, ME
Camp Tohkomeupog East Madison, NH
Camp Tapawingo Sweden, ME
Camp Cody Freedom, NH
Camp Marist Freedom, NH
Camp Calumet 68 NH Freedom,
Camp Huckins Freedom, NH
Camp Tohkomeupog East Madison, NH
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THE MAGICAL POWERS OF
Camp Calumet Freedom, NH
summer
camp Unplugged Traditions which Last a Lifetime By John Macdonald
Camp Marist Freedom, NH
Camp Tapawingo Sweden Maine
Camp Robin Hood Spring 2022 Freedom, NH
F
or parents who never went to camp as kids, the summer camp tradition, well, isn’t one. Most don’t consider sending their children away— and wonder why some parents do. But … for those who went to camp as kids, giving their kids the camp experience is often a high priority, and a tradition worth carrying on. So, what’s the big deal about summer camps? This is a very challenging subject to capture in writing because you cannot explain the entirety of “camp” with a checklist of things: cabins, lakes, swimming lessons, mountain and canoe trips, lifelong friendships, and skills—it goes on. Camp has all of these (and so much more), but it’s how it all blends together that truly makes the experience. Camp is more than the ingredients. Think of the greatest meal you’ve ever eaten in a restaurant. Could you adequately convey how fabulous it tasted by listing the ingredients? Some things must be experienced to be fully appreciated. Camp is at the top of the “must be experienced” list, and your kids will thank you forever for the experience. To some “non-camp” people, the assumption is that if you live near the
Camp is different. Camp is magic. Summer camp’s magic has to happen at camp—unplugged, by the way. mountains and lakes, and if you like the outdoors, your kids can get plenty of that “camp stuff” by default. Nope. Camp is different. Camp is magic. Summer camp’s magic has to happen at camp—unplugged, by the way. Kids living in cabins with their cabin mates. Kids selecting their weekly activities themselves. Kids packing for their overnight camping trips themselves, with guidance from their counselors (having “graduated” from within the camping experience themselves not long ago). Kids hiking with their camp friends above treeline, when the wind is whipping and the views are amazing. Dinner at the campsite with the other tired, exhausted, smiling camp friends—cooked over an open fire or on a camp stove. The food always tastes best when you are camping.
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Our family story is perhaps proof that the camp magic has to happen at camp. Fifty years ago, this coming June, your author left a Chicago suburb, and spent eight weeks at a local camp. No family in the state. No friends from home attending the camp. It was amazing. Every year was better than the year before—to the point where the last month of school each year often involved gazing out the window of the classroom, daydreaming about traveling to Wakefield Hill, seeing the White Mountains again, and knowing that camp was finally here! Camper years went by too fast, and led to a year of being a CIT (counselor in training). The counselor years, again, went by too fast. When college graduation had come and gone, I made what, at the time, seemed like the only rational decision. I moved to
camp can give a kid the magical camp experience. When our oldest son started attending camp, we lived 12 miles away, and it was hard to imagine that he was old enough to be away from home. Before long, we had three kids in camp, and they loved their camp years. Even though we lived metaphorically “up the street,” we could not give them what camp gave them. The camp magic for them was unique to each of them and very similar to what I had experienced decades before. Many of their greatest childhood experiences happened at camp. Many of their best friendships originated at camp. When they started at camp, the older kids seemed incredibly big, strong, and capable of doing anything. While the younger kids were climbing mountains and going on canoe trips, the older
where my heart was happiest … to where I had gone to camp. Fast forward to 15 years after college graduation and there was a young family in the picture. We had three kids at home. Well, if we live in the area where camp is, and if we do the things as a family that campers do, and if Dad was both a camp counselor and an encampment assistant director at one point, then you don’t really need camp, right? Nope. Only summer
kids were taking trips of unimaginable difficulty. The Franconias—all of them! The Presidentials—all of them! When you are a kid climbing some of the amazing smaller peaks in the White Mountains, doing a three-day pack trip and tackling an entire range seems incredible. At the same time, the younger camp kids know that someday they’ll be one of those big, strong, super-capable older kids, and they’ll be taking those same
YMCA CAMP HUCKINS, FREEDOM, NH (603) 539-4710 • www.camphuckins.org camphuckins@camphuckins.org Est. 1928 / All girls
CAMP CODY, FREEDOM, NH (603) 539-4997 • www.campcody.com info@campcody.com Est. 1926 / Co-ed
Since its founding in 1928, Camp Huckins believes its purpose is to provide an atmosphere where each person may grow and develop in a “sharing and caring” environment. Developing leadership skills is a major goal and most staff are “Huckins grown.” Camp Huckins loves sharing camp facilities and ropes course with local school groups, and recommends camps for the whole family.
Camp Cody believes that carefully tailoring the summer experience to the individual camper creates, on a larger scale, a successful and enjoyable summer for all campers. In advance of camp, they conduct home visits or connect with parents so they get to know campers’ background and interests.
When our oldest son started attending camp, we lived 12 miles away, and it was hard to imagine that he was old enough to be away from home. Before long, we had three kids in camp, and they loved their camp years. Even though we lived metaphorically “up the street,” we could not give them what camp gave them.
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CAMP ROBIN HOOD, FREEDOM, NH (603) 539-4500 • www.camprobinhood.com info@camprobinhood.com Est. 1927 / Co-ed Set on 180 acres just minutes from New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, Camp Robin Hood is more than just an overnight summer camp—it is a tradition, a legacy, and a home. Since 1927, Robin Hood has provided an encouraging, inviting, and supportive summer environment for campers. Spring 2022
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amazing trips. They also know that one day, too, they might become camp counselors, and as they reach their teen years, they begin to show the kind of behavior that can earn them a spot as a CIT. Helping the younger kids, seeing things that need to be done, and taking the initiative—it just seems to happen as they reach the older age group. The kids become the big kids and young adults that they idolized as young campers. The recycling of great human qualities—kindness, respect, and a “can do” attitude—has been going on for decades at local traditional summer camps. It’s a camp tradition: tackling
support—is a source of strength and confidence that a kid will carry with them forever. Now, that’s an impressive magic trick to pull off. What words and phrases come to mind when you think of qualities your child develops in the typical traditional summer camp experience? Confidence, teamwork, assertiveness (good assertiveness, that is), self-awareness, self-assuredness, skillfulness, social, outdoorsy, fun-loving, competitive, responsible, respectful, prepared, appreciative … these are just some of the qualities that seem to show up in the majority of “camp kids.” The camps
challenges, learning new skills, becoming highly proficient at practically every outdoor activity there is, and then one day sharing this capability and knowledge with the next generation of campers. Camp is a community. Camp has tradition. When old camp alumni come back to visit, they share a strong bond with the kids currently attending camp. They understand and appreciate what camp is giving the kids and how they’ll benefit from it for a lifetime. Being part of something grand—with a tradition of fun and challenge, skill and effort, self-reliance and group
follow recipes that have changed very little over the years, and we as parents are grateful that this opportunity was, and is, available. This recipe involves connecting the kids when they arrive, making introductions, and involving all in group activities. It involves cabin mates and cabin responsibilities. It involves activity selections and trip selections. It involves swimming lessons, canoe and boating skill development, and all the responsibilities that go with the activities: putting away the boats, paddles, and life jackets properly; how to furl a sail after you properly moor
CAMP TAPAWINGO, SWEDEN, ME (207) 647-3351 • www.camptapawingo.com JD@camptapawingo.com • Est. 1919 / All girls
CAMP WAUKEELA, EATON CENTER, NH (603) 447-2260 • www.waukeela.com gillian@waukeela.com Est. 1922 / All girls
Confidence, teamwork, assertiveness, self-awareness, self-assuredness, skillfulness, social, outdoorsy, fun loving, competitive, responsible, respectful, prepared, appreciative … these are just some of the qualities that seem to show up in the majority of “camp kids.”
Established by three women, Tapawingo’s traditional and intimate camp has helped generations of girls become compassionate, courageous, and confident alumnae who call this “place of joy” their summer home. Caring, supportive adults, new and varied experiences, and unique century-old traditions draw campers away from technology and toward each other in a safe, inclusive, beautiful lakeside setting. Cheering each other on, lifting each other up, TapGirls celebrate their differences while having the time of their life. 72
Each and every girl at Waukeela can shine in her own way while at camp. Whether on the lake, in a production, on the pottery wheel, or on the playing field, each girl has the opportunity to be her best self while she is there. Every girl fits in at Waukeela because every girl is accepted for being herself!
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campcraft, playing soccer, doing riflery family that existed throughout the genand archery, mountain biking, trail builderations of camp kids, camp staff, and ing (to name just some of their activicamp alumni that she met. She noticed • Once youissign your more children upwhat for camp,this you’ll get a As parents, we hope that our kids have great experiences ties)—camp so much than consistently as she• met more and comprehensive list of everything they should (and shouldn’t) during their childhood; the kind of experiences that result in they do. There is purpose—a how and more members of the extended “camp bring to camp. You’ll acquire and afamily.” duffel bag, and great memories. We hope they are fortunate enough to have why behind all of it. There reallyaistrunk magic dutifully label all with of the clothing share these experiences with. We hope they in doing camp stuff your campitems, sports equipment, Finally, one and day, shegood saidfriends “I can’tto bepersonal items. have plenty of crazy stories to share, over and over again, as friends, being taught by camp staff, at lieve I’m saying this, and I can’t explain theyget move their own adult years. As parents, we wish camp. There’s an energy level and a “fun it, but whatever these kids outthrough of • You will arrive on the big day, find out where children’s ourour kidskids the capacity to confidently move into adulthood quotient” that is truly unique to camp. thatyour camp experience, Ifor want to cabins are“never for their session, and and you’ll deliver their knowing that they are capable of successfully pursuing For the went to camp getthem that,and too.” things consider to their cabins. At this point, your counselor challenging endeavors, personally and professionally. wouldn’t it” crowd, I would like children’s When she hears Moms and Dads say, to share anecdote that references “But I’llyour misschildren them too much,” she tells will letan you know what’s next. Likelythe they will help previous paragraph. was beds. a camp guy, that she thought the move in and makeItheir This is wherethem the recipe begins. • Wesame hopething. that the lessons they have learned in childhood and I married an Irish Catholic Boston But it’s not about the parents. It’s aboutprepared them for all the challenges that have effectively girl• who not also onlyprobably never went to camp, hownurse wonderful for the A You will meet with the camp if therecamp isthey willkids. inevitably experience. We wish for them the people butare who thought parents must have lifetimethat gift of friends, loveemotional of the out-skills that will facilitate successful personal, any specialmy medical matters or prescriptions need to aand either disliked me or didn’t like being doors, and the capability and confidence be discussed. professional, and family lives. parents. “Who has kids to send them to go out and pursue your passions one away?” usedthe to say. day at aa hug veryand high level.•ALastly, lot is being • Nowshe comes hardThis part:all gochanged give your children we wish for them fun. We hope they look forward to when sheand metletseveral generations written lately pushday—confidently for kids a kiss, them know that youofwill be back to visit on about the theeach and playfully. Not all days are good individuals who had gone to camp. day(s) that your camp suggests is appropriate. From this point days, but the right attitude can make the best of any situation. on, until that parent weekend, letters are the right communicaBecause wecalls. livedNo near camp, tion tool. No emails. Letand the camp magic do its thing. These are things that traditional camps deliver, generation because I was friendly with the staff and after generation. It’s magic. alumni of the camp, visited theyou camp • If and when you we come to visit, should abide by your periodically. Over time, noticed camp’s guidelines forshe parent visits.the Again, let the camp magic manners, polite confidence, and of the recipe. It works. happen. Avoid the temptationsense to modify
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BEING A GREAT CAMP PARENT
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(603) 447-5855 • 1319 WHITE MOUNTAIN HWY, CONWAY, NH Spring 2022
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the sailboat and pull the centerboard. The list applies to all activities and interactions at camp. There is crazy fun with young counselors and older directors, who maintain the mixture of safety, challenge, and fun. This recipe, as mentioned earlier, has succeeded for generations. I hope it is clear that, while the camp kids spend each day learning and doing an amazing array of activities—swimming, sailing, waterskiing, hiking, boating, learning camp craft, playing soccer, doing riflery and archery, mountain biking, trail building (to name just some of their activities)—camp is so much more than what they do. There is purpose—a how and why behind all of it. There really is magic in doing camp stuff with your camp friends, being taught by camp staff, at camp. There’s an energy level and a “fun quotient” that is truly unique to camp. For the “never went to camp and wouldn’t consider it” crowd, I would like to share an anecdote that references the previous paragraph. I was a camp guy, and I married an Irish Catholic Boston girl who not only never went to camp, but who thought my parents must have either disliked me or didn’t like being parents. “Who
Camp Huckins Freedom, NH
CAMP CALUMET, FREEDOM, NH (603) 539-4773 • www.calumet.org boomchickaboom@calumet.org Est. 1959 / Co-ed
CAMP TOHKOMEUPOG, EAST MADISON, NH (603) 367-8362 • www.tohko.com tohko@tohko.com Est. 1932 / All boys
Resident Camp, Day Camp, Adventure Camps. Calumet offers a wide range of activities including sports, pottery, arts and crafts, drama, boating, sailing, swimming, archery, and climbing. It is located on an expansive beachfront on beautiful Ossipee Lake. Most counselors were campers themselves, and many are certified in CPR, first aid, and Red Cross lifeguarding.
Set on 1,000 woodland acres surrounding the sparkling waters of a private lake, Tohkomeupog offers an overnight camp experience for boys, ages 8 to 15. Weekly outdoor adventure trips blend with traditional activities, including sports, aquatics, and outdoor skills. A two-week minimum stay is required. Outdoor adventure, friendship, and opportunity since 1932.
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AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION (ACA) SURVEY To help understand what camp can accomplish for kids, ACA conducted a survey with approximately 1,000 parents after their children returned home from summer camp. On a scale of 1-5 (with 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree), parents rated the top five outcomes of camp for their child as follows: (on a 5-point scale) • My child felt successful at camp (Average score: 4.63) • My child made new friends (Average score: 4.60) • My child gained new skills (Average score: 4.39) • Camp encouraged my child to get along better with others (Average score: 4.35) • Camp helped my child have a better idea of what she or he is good at (Average score: 4.20)
Adventure runs deep Value and variety around every corner
For additional results, and to read specific responses made by camp kids, visit the ACA website: www.acacamps.org/press-room/benefits-of-camp/ skill-development
Discover endless activities at Settlers Green in North Conway. Rent gear for your adventure at the REI Co-Op and shop outdoor brands like Eddie Bauer and Regatta Great Outdoors at outlet pricing. Après al fresco at one of our local restaurants to celebrate a day well spent in the mountains.
Start planning today at settlersgreen.com. CAMP MARIST, EFFINGHAM, NH (603) 539-4552 • www.campmarist.org Est. 1949 / Co-ed The Marist Brothers, an international Catholic teaching order, founded Camp Marist in 1949. The ACA-accredited camp provides a variety of activities, including horseback riding, tennis, water skiing, sailing, drama, soccer, ropes challenge, baseball, archery, and more. Camp Marist is a special place for campers to learn, grow, and thrive in positive and unique ways that will enhance their lives forever. Camp Tapawingo offers three-, four-, or seven-week sessions. Spring 2022
settlersgreen.com
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has kids to send them away?” she used to say. This all changed when she met several generations of individuals who had gone to camp. Because we lived near camp, and because I was friendly with the staff and alumni of the camp, we visited the camp periodically. Over time, she noticed the manners, polite confidence, and sense of family that existed throughout the generations of camp kids, camp staff, and camp alumni that she met. She noticed this
one article that praises early specialization for kids. The results of early specialization—burn out, repetitive-motion injuries, and limited exploration of interests and opportunities—are just the start of a list of the results of early specialization. Traditional summer camps are the solution: delivering a robust, vast array of beneficial youth activities. As someone who has worked with kids for 45 years, I can say without reservation that a summer camp experience has
consistently as she met more and more members of the extended “camp family.” Finally, one day, she said, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, and I can’t explain it, but whatever these kids get out of that camp experience, I want our kids to get that, too.” When she hears moms and dads say, “But I’ll miss them too much,” she tells them that she thought the same thing. But it’s not about the parents. It’s about how wonderful camp is for the kids. A lifetime gift of friends, a love of the outdoors, and the capability and confidence to go out and pursue your passions one day at a very high level. A lot is being written lately about the push for kids to specialize in their activities too early. Whether it’s baseball, lacrosse, skiing, dance, or music, you will not find
tremendous value. It gives your children physical and social skills that they will utilize for the rest of their lives. Camp kids learn conflict resolution. They might have an argument today, but they’ll be sleeping in the same cabin tonight, and they’ll be eating breakfast at the same table in the morning. They learn a lot about themselves, and when they come home at the end of their camp session, they’ll be walking a little taller.
But it’s not about the parents. It’s about how wonderful camp is for the kids. A lifetime gift of friends, a love of the outdoors, and the capability and confidence to go out and pursue your passions one day at a very high level.
Rich Ormanowski photo
This article is a reprint from a previous Vibe issue, with some small revisions and updates on camp listings. Its message is timeless, and we hope you’ve enjoyed it … again.
Rich Ormanowski photo
INDIAN ACRES CAMP FOR BOYS, FRYEBURG, ME (207) 935.2300 • www.indianacres.com info@indianacres.com Est. 1924 / All boys
FOREST ACRES CAMP FOR GIRLS, FRYEBURG, ME (207) 935.2305 • www.forestacres.com info@indianacres.com Est. 1926 / All girls
Located on the Saco River, Indian Acres Camp for Boys is ACA-accredited and offers a flexible, challenging, and fun summer in a sheltered valley of the Whites. It offers sports, performing/visual arts, water sports, three waterfronts (including Olympic-style pools), gymnasium, adventure course, climbing wall, zip lines, hiking, and camping trips. Along with its sister-camp, they were selected as “the world’s greatest boys’ and girls’ summer camps.”
Located on the Saco River, Forest Acres Camp for Girls is ACA-accredited and offers a flexible, challenging, and fun summer in a sheltered valley of the Whites. It offers sports, performing/visual arts, water sports, three waterfronts (including Olympic-style pools), gymnasium, adventure course, climbing wall, zip lines, hiking, and camping trips, and the #1 horseback riding program. Along with its brother-camp, they were selected as “the world’s greatest boys’ and girls’ summer camps.”
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North Conway’s Very Own Summer Camp
IN THE HEART OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
CAMPERS ARE EMOTIONALLY & PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP & SISTERHOOD
Situated on beautiful Crystal Lake our camp is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty where girls come to switch off their cell phones & screens. We offer a wide range of activities from arts & crafts, lake swimming, boating, ropes, drama & more.
Gill & Graham our camp Directors are parents of 4 children & know every camper personally. We put the mental health & wellbeing of all our campers at the very heart of what we do. Campers are safe and happy at Waukeela.
Waukeela is steeped in tradition with a rich culture and heritage for helping young girls become strong, independent women. Generations of Waukeela girls now create a world-wide community of alumnae.
Located on beautiful Crystal Lake in Eaton, NH!
Photo by Gerlinde Taurer
WOOD-WARBLERS
The Bird Enthusiast’s Poster Child for Spring By Katelynn Gierlinger Avian Intern, Tin Mountain Conservation Center
Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and Chestnut-sided Warblers can be observed within the same forest in the Mount Washington area, and taking the time to consider their unique spatial ecology will help a prospective birder spot them.
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pring officially begins in March, or whenever the snow melts for many of us. However, the cycle of seasons is viewed a little differently from an avian perspective. While we may not see them, many birds begin their spring migration as early as February, making their way from southern overwintering grounds back to northern breeding ranges. Many associate the sight of an American Robin as the first sign of spring, or if you’re like me, the song of a Red-winged Blackbird. Surprisingly, these species often remain residential throughout the United States, retreating into more sheltered locales or commu-
nal roosts when the snow falls. Birds that give a true indication that spring is in full swing are the wood-warblers. These tiny forest gems are the birder’s poster child for the season of new life. Their arrival begins as a trickle, marked by sudden flashes of color and a few small songs, only to be followed by a torrent of birds that fill the woods with noise and activity, where one morning we wake up and are abruptly aware of what birdsong is again. I can always distinctly mark the beginning of spring in this manner. Male warblers typically migrate first to establish breeding territories and
prepare for the arrival, and subsequent charming, of the females. Competition for a mate and resources is high, as many species share similar habitats and diets. However, each species has carved out its own ecological niche, or a unique role in its environment. This is how birds partition out shared resources and coexist within the same habitat among other competitors. Warblers demonstrate these complex interactions within a single avian family, namely the Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and Chestnut-sided Warblers. Each of these species can be observed within the same forest in the Mount
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BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER Setophaga caerulescens RANGE The range map depicts the boundary of the species’s range, defined as the areas where the species is estimated to occur within at least one week within each season.
Source: ebird.org
The Black-throated Blue Warbler was chosen to represent the Tin Mountain Bird Society. Its association with understory shrubs makes it a prolific visitor to the Margaret Marshall Mountain Laurel Warbler Garden at Tin Mountain Conservation Center in Albany, NH.
Washington area, and taking the time to consider their unique spatial ecology will help a prospective birder spot them. Tin Mountain Conservation Center has been monitoring local bird communities since 2008, performing breeding bird surveys and forest habitat studies in relation to the effects of certain timber harvest techniques on avian population dynamics and distributions. Forest composition and structure are integral to a bird’s life strategies, and our research seeks to understand how local species are influenced by changes to their habitat. Competing warblers are able to share the same forest because they
that is several years old. The selection and use of these microhabitats allow different species that utilize similar resources to exist and thrive together. After arriving back on the breeding grounds, birds establish a nesting territory. Black-throated Blue Warblers nest and forage in the understory and will select a nest site that is well concealed in dense shrubs and saplings. Rhododendrons and other shrubs, such as mountain laurel, create enticing labyrinths with twisting branches and broad leaves, making them highly sought spaces to raise vulnerable hatchlings. Locating a nest may prove difficult, but they are one of the easiest
safety away from ground predators, and their preferred foraging space within the canopy is just a few wingbeats away. However, trying to spot these energetic feeders as they flit between trees, gleaning insects from leaves, never sitting still, may give you a case of “warbler neck.” This term has been coined by birders using binoculars to track the rapid movements of warblers, craning to see them high in the canopy. Unlike the previous two species, Chestnut-sided Warbler nests are simply a hazard to find. They build close to the ground, typically in low saplings and shrubs, especially thickets, berry briars,
occupy different levels of its structure. Black-throated Greens prefer the upper canopy, while Black-throated Blues are partial to the understory and lower canopy. Chestnut-sided Warblers inhabit thickets and shrubs along forest edges or in disturbed areas, such as a timber cut
warblers to spot, thanks to their unique coloring and understory preference. Observing Black-throated Green Warblers, on the other hand, presents more of a challenge. They nest relatively high, within the range of 3 to 10 feet, in saplings and young trees. There is greater
roses, and even ferns. Their breeding habitat often occurs in early successional or secondary growth forests and is ephemeral in nature, contrasting with the typical mature forest most warblers require. Thus, Chestnut-sided Warblers can be surprisingly nomadic across
However, trying to spot these energetic feeders as they flit between trees, gleaning insects from leaves, never sitting still, may give you a case of “warbler neck.” This term has been coined by birders using binoculars to track the rapid movements of warblers, craning to see them high in the canopy.
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UPPER LEFT: Male Black-throated Green Warbler, recognizable by their distinct yellow-hued head and black throat. Females have similar plumage but lack a black throat. UPPER RIGHT: Male Black-throated Blue Warbler, a distinctly colored bird. Females are olive-grey and possess a distinct white square on their wing that differentiates them from other warbler species, similar to the male shown here. LOWER LEFT: This Black-throated Blue Warbler male was carefully handled and safely released after banding for breeding bird population studies. LOWER RIGHT: Male Chestnut-sided Warbler. Females have similar plumage but are less brightly patterned and lack the black mask as seen on this male.
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For the Grammar Nerds The capitalization of English bird names is a distinct part of ornithological science. This form of orthography is different in relation to other areas of study involving animals. Most scientific papers relating to birds will capitalize common names in the manner used in this article, distinctly setting them apart from the typical nomenclature used in other animal sciences. There are two main reasons for this. One is The American Ornithological Society’s responsibility to maintain, not just the scientific names of birds in North America, but also their common, or English, names. The second has a more practical application. With the huge diversity of birds in the world, a common name may become ambiguous if not capitalized. For example, if someone wrote they saw a “Yellow Warbler,” this would point us to a specific species possessing this name. However, if they wrote “yellow warbler,” it could have been any number of warblers that have yellow plumage, ranging from a Pine Warbler to a Prothonotary Warbler (with many in between). This “style” purpose serves to signify clear distinction between species and is a deeply ingrained principle when studying birds. generations as forests are harvested and left to mature. This species will occupy an undisturbed breeding ground for no more than a decade, as the flora outgrows the bird’s needs. Once an uncommon species in the eastern United States during John James Audubon’s time, the Chestnut-sided Warbler spread throughout the East as forests were harvested. Their populations have since seen a natural, cumulative decline in recent decades as forests are left to mature once more. As spring migrants return and our snowbirds leave, bringing the winter birding season to a close, the Mt. Washington Valley will come alive once more with a plethora of species. The Black-throated Blue Warbler was chosen to represent the Tin Mountain Bird Society. Its association with understory shrubs makes it a prolific visitor to the Margaret Marshall Mountain Laurel Warbler Garden at Tin Mountain Conservation Center in Albany, NH. This large stretch of rare mountain laurel is believed to be the northernmost community within its North American range and hosts numerous breeding species of birds. Blooms emerge from June through early July with large, boisterous flowers ranging from white to pale pink, offering quite a sight when visiting the Laurel Loop public trail. Black-throated Green and Chestnut-sided Warblers can also be found in the neighboring Dr. Michael Cline Memorial Forest and Rockwell Preserve, the former featuring several timber cuts, while the latter is a maturing forest, suiting each species’ Spring 2022
preferences. These properties are part of Tin Mountain’s 300-acre campus alongside the Warbler Garden and Lori Jean Kinsey Arboretum and Sanctuary. With spring close at hand, now is the perfect time to grab a field guide, camera, or a pair of binoculars and visit some warbler hotspots, like the forests at Tin Mountain. We encourage frequent visitors and newcomers alike to witness the return of the wood-warblers alongside our familiar backyard birds. They are only a short hike away, filling New Hampshire’s forests and gardens with brilliant songs and colorful hues that would turn anyone into an enthusiastic birder. For more information, visit Tin Mountain Conservation Center’s website at www.tinmountain.org.
About Tin Mountain Conservation Center Since 1980, Tin Mountain programs have reached thousands of students in grades K–12 who experience the natural world during in-school environmental education programs. Hundreds more experience nature at a variety of summer camps. Year-round community nature programs and naturalist-led field trips provide outdoor recreation and environmental programs to individuals and families, both residents and visitors to New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington Valley. Tin Mountain also conducts a variety of conservation research projects to restore trout habitats and monitor bird species.
R & R WOODWORKERS
Exceptionally comfortable, handcrafted cedar Adirondack furniture. Locally sourced, quality construction. Family-owned and run for 20 years! Created locally in Jackson, NH Cedar Adirondack chairs, rockers, chairsets, tables, and more!
(603) 383-0890 www.RandRWoodworkers.com randrwoodworkers@earthlink.net
MOUNTAIN VIEW SERVICE CENTER Servicing all Makes and Models
ASE Certified NAPA Autocare Cindy & Dennis Drootin MANAGEMENT TEAM
(603) 323-8135
307 WHITE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY CHOCORUA, NH 03817 81
Mountain Biking Guided Kayak Tours & Clinics Trail Running & Walking Bike rentals available, book your adventure online! Home of the Moat Mountain 24 Hours of Great Glen
greatglentrails.com
Drive Yourself
No reservations required
2 Hour Guided Tours Check availability & book online
mt-washington.com
(603) 466-3988 | Route 16, Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire 82
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IT’S WORTH THE TRIP! Over 20,000 square feet of home fashion to fit your family’s needs.
COME SEE WHAT’S NEW THIS SPRING!
WE DELIVER WITHIN 100 MILES! ROUTE 16 between Berlin & Gorham, NH • 603-752-5212
WE DELIVER WITHIN 100 MILES WWW.TOPFURNITURE.COM • MON - FRI 9-6, SAT 9-5 & SUN 11-4
Welcome to Northern New Hampshire’s LARGEST FURNITURE and APPLIANCE showroom! Our nine-level warehouse helps to ensure availability, and we carry many manufacturers in our large showroom. An in-house team of full-time service professionals guarantees we stand behind what we sell. Visit our online virtual showroom for the best selection of the latest styles in furniture and appliances in the North Country!
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