MWV Vibe - Winter 2023/24

Winter 2023/24 | Volume 7: Issue 26

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ANNIVERSARY 1974 - 2024

Celebrating 50 years of railroad excursions

All Aboard!

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Call or Book online - ConwayScenic.com • (603) 356-5251 2

38 Norcross Circle | North Conway, NH

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northeastsnowmobile.com 1-800-458-1838 325 Main St, Gorham, NH 532 Main St, Fryeburg, ME Winter 2023/24

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THOUGHTS FROM THE PUBLISHER Winter 2.0

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We’re a pretty resilient bunch of outsiders up in these parts. After years of extremes with weather, both summer and winter, we seem to do well at keeping things in perspective and making the most out of whatever comes our way.

Lately our winters have been, well, not exactly consistent or dependable. I suppose that may be a New England thing, but I digress. So far this winter we’ve been “blessed” with a couple small snowstorms, the latter which dropped

Not exactly the White Christmas we had hoped for, but with snow again in the forecast and a new year on the horizon, our hopes are high. Could this be the winter of the big one? Absolutely! Afterall, how many 100-year floods can we have in one season?

almost a foot of sticky wet powder throughout the Valley, and even more higher up. The typical winds and warm temps that seem to follow our snowstorms more frequently were nowhere to be found this time, leaving everything draped in a magical blanket of white. Even the grumpy non-snow lovers were wowed by the winter wonderland around us. It wasn’t much, but we skied it, hiked it, fat biked it, and photographed the heck out of it for almost a week. What an amazing start to the season!

But then, just before Christmas, we were greeted with a monsoon of soaking warm rain. Four to six inches of it washed our winter wonderland down the Saco, flooding basements, washing out trails and roads, and leaving behind a cold muddy mess. “What if it had been all snow?” was muttered by skiers around the Valley. Yep, what if ...

We kept our heads up, brushed ourselves off, and forged ahead. In no time, temps dropped and snowguns were fired up again around the Valley. By the weekend, ski areas were reopening trails … and winter 2.0 was in full effect. Not exactly the White Christmas we had hoped for, but with snow again in the forecast and a new year on the horizon, our hopes are high. Could this be the winter of the big one? Absolutely! Afterall, how many 100-year floods can we have in one season?

From all of us here at MWV Vibe, we wish you a happy, healthy, and snowy 2024!

Dan Houde dan@wiseguycreative.com Premier Edition

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WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Lily Hartman, Seabrook, NH Lily loves to write about health and outdoor recreation. Before making her way back to New Hampshire, she studied publishing and journalism at Emerson College. She often thinks of story ideas while exploring trails in the White Mountains. In 2021, she discovered Hiking Buddies NH 48, a 501(c)(3) organization, where she met lifelong friends who helped her finish the NH 48.

Ashley MacPherson, Conway, NH Ashley is a local writer, passionate about telling stories about our shared human experience. Currently living in Conway with her husband and their rescue pup, she is a lover of film, food, wine, and travel. The outdoors is her happy place—on any given day you can find Ashley cycling, running, hiking, skiing, and generally enjoying all the Valley has to offer.

Bernadette Donohue, Fryeburg, ME Known as the Dream Home Matchmaker, Bernie’s love of adventure, nature, and people started her real estate career 37 years ago.

Bernie’s passion is also to facilitate caring connections and community.

She is co-chair of local REALTORS® Community Service Committee, Creator of MWV Photo Contest, Calendars for Charities and Hands of Hope, cancer survivor banner.

Hilary McCloy, PT, DPT, Jackson, NH Hilary runs her own physical therapy business in Jackson, NH. Hilary is an alumnus of the U.S. Alpine ski team and now finds enjoyment in trail running, mountain biking, and backcountry skiing in the White Mountain Region and beyond.

She is an avid reader, mom to dog Squall, and loves to travel.

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.

Anna Mangum, Jackson, NH Anna is the assistant editor of Decor Maine magazine.

Born in Atlanta, she fell in love with New England after studying creative writing and literature at Bates College—and hasn’t left since. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her puppy, running, and soaking up water and sun at various river spots in New Hampshire.

Dave Greenslit, Conway, NH Dave is a retired newspaper reporter and editor who moved to the Mt. Washington Valley to be close to the hiking, skiing, and mountain biking the area has to offer. He has section-hiked the Appalachian, Long, and Cohos trails and completed New Hampshire’s 4,000-footers.

Winter 2023/24

Emily Calderwood, Bartlett, NH Emily is a UK native and retired pharmaceutical research chemist. She swapped her lab coat for mountain gear and moved with her family to Bartlett in 2018. Emily is passionate about causes helping children; she serves as a Bartlett School Board Member, CASA volunteer, and leads the MWV Youth STEM Expo Committee.

Kathy Bennett Ski industry veteran Kathy Bennett loves writing about the MWV region and exploring its many downhill and Nordic trails. When not sliding on snow, she’s spending her summers sailing the coast of Maine. She lives in Center Conway with her husband and their two Maine Coon cats.

Jeremiah Beach, Jackson, NH Jeremiah Beach is a local skier, cyclist, and general gear junkie. When he’s not out in the woods maintaining local bike trails or winter ski lines, he can be found at his shop, Pro Tune in Glen. Jeremiah is also an active volunteer on local nonprofit boards and a former U.S. Ski Team and Paralympic team equipment technician.

Andrew Schuyler, Conway, NH Andrew Schuyler splits his time between Conway, NH and Melrose, MA. He serves on the boards of the White Mountains Interpretive Association and Massachusetts Conservation Voters and has a background in journalism, clean tech, government affairs, and parenting. Andrew is currently completing a master’s degree in sustainability leadership at Arizona State University. When he’s not hiking or skiing, he can be found swimming in the Saco River, often in pursuit of his canoe.

Scott Halvorson, Pembroke, NH Scott Halvorson is the treasurer of the Nansen Ski Club and a member of the Friends of Big Nansen. Being a Berlin native, his interest in the Nansen Ski Club and the Big Nansen comes from his love of the North Country, as well as being a family legacy. His grandfather, Alf Halvorson, a skiing pioneer and promoter, spearheaded the building of the jump, and was a club leader for decades.

Abby Evankow, Gorham, NH Abby Evankow is a gardener who lives in Gorham with her husband. She first came to the Whites 30-some years ago to work summers for the Appalachian Mountain Club. She was lucky enough to move to Gorham full time 20 years ago. She loves to bike, ski, hike, kayak, and otherwise soak in the beauty of the natural world and the changing seasons.

Sam Trombley, Gorham, NH Sam is the Marketing Manager at Backyard Concept and focuses on promoting New Hampshire’s vibrant outdoor economy. In her free time, Sam can be found doing anything outside, usually skiing, trail running or rock climbing depending on the season. She loves to play with her new pup Scarlett and host trivia on

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE VIBE TEAM?

If you reside locally or have ties to the Valley and would like to offer your creative talents, please contact us at info@mwvvibe.com.

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WINTER 2023/24 • CONTENTS 22 - FAT BIKE SEASON

56 - WINTER HIKING THE WHITES

80 - THE EASTERN WOLF RETURNS

FEATURES 10 NORTH CONWAY WEATHER

30 SNOWMOBILING THE WHITES

48 BACKCOUNTRY COMMUNITY

66 WHITE MOUNTAIN HOSTELS

14 MWV YOUTH STEM EXPO

38 CROWD-SOURCING SNOW DATA

52 CHOOSING THE WHITES

72 XC SKIING & EXPLORING

18 ART IN THE VALLEY: A LOOK NORTH

40 SKI TODAY, SKI TOMORROW

56 WINTER HIKING THE WHITES

80 WILL THE COYOTE SAVE THE WOLF?

22 WINTER FAT BIKING

42 GO: SUSTAINABLE

64 HI, I’M GROWING COLD

90 THE RESURGING NANSEN SKI CLUB

By Brian Fitzgerald

By Emily Calderwood

By Abby Evankow

By Jeremiah Beach

30 HAND-TUNING SKIS

By Jeremiah Beach

Local & State

By Patrick Scanlan

By Hilary McCloy, PT, DPT

By Andrew Schuyler

46 BACKCOUNTRY NEWS & EVENTS

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By Dave Greenslit

By Lily Hartman

By Mike Cherim

By Ashley MacPherson

By Kathy Bennett

by Christine Schadler

By Scott Halvorson

By Samantha Trombley

REGULARS 5 8 12 14 18 40 90

By Anna Mangum

VIBE CONTRIBUTORS SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS REAL ESTATE CORNER NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT ART IN THE VALLEY HEALTH/FITNESS LOCAL HISTORY

ON THE COVER Two uphill skiers summit King Pine in Madison, NH, just in time to see the sunrise.

Camera: Nikon D850 Exposure: 1/250 sec at f / 16 Speed rating: ISO 100 Focal length: 15mm

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Winter 2023/24

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businesses below are members of White Mountain Independents!

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT The Learn more at www.whitemountainindependents.com.

NORTH CONWAY OLIVE OIL COMPANY Step into the captivating world of culinary wonder at North Conway Olive Oil Company, where “A Taste to Excite the Imagination” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a promise. In the heart of our food-loving community, they invite you to embark on a gastronomic adventure like no other, exploring over 85 exquisite flavors of the world’s finest olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

North Conway Olive Oil Company, takes pride in curating a collection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars that exemplify quality, diversity, authenticity, and even health benefits. Each bottle tells a story of its place of origin, from the robust and peppery notes of Tuscan extra virgin olive oil to the sweet and complex flavors of aged balsamic vinegars from Modena, Italy.

North Conway Olive Oil Company isn’t simply a store; it’s an immersive experience. Daily tastings offer you the chance to explore the extraordinary flavor selections. These tastings are designed to awaken your taste buds and excite your imagination.

Whether you’re a seasoned culinary expert, a health-conscious food enthusiast, or someone just beginning your food journey, North Conway Olive Oil Company is a destination that promises to ignite your imagination and support your well-being. Explore flavors that spark creativity, find the perfect gift for your loved ones, and join their vibrant culinary community.

northconwayoliveoilcompany HIGHLIGHTS: • Gluten-free options • High biophenols • Detailed pairing options • Daily tastings

For more information, call (603) 307-1066, or visit www.ncoliveoil.com.

ASSETS JEAN CO. Assets Jean Co. is a locally owned and operated North Conway Village boutique, specializing in professionally helping women of all body shapes and sizes find jeans that truly fit their own unique body. For the last 15 years, the relaxed and nonjudgmental atmosphere at Assets has put customers at ease, while personalized denim fittings enhance customer’s natural “assets,” and inspire them to feel confident. Fittings are quick, efficient, and painless, even for the customer who does not like to shop.

Guys, they’ve got you covered, too! Men’s denim is stocked for different body shapes, sizes, as well as specialty lengths. Their men’s section has been expanding to include outerwear, shirts, sweaters, and Fjällräven outdoor and mountaineering trousers.

Assets Jean Co. is also known for its gorgeous and luxuriously warm collection of sweaters, as well as apparel to outfit any woman looking to dress the part for all day adventures in the snow—or just meeting friends for après ski.

Carrying a line of outerwear and layering pieces from famed brands such as Fjällräven, Skhoop, Pajar, and Frye boots, Assets is the go-to shop for any woman looking to enhance her everyday comfort level of warmth, style, and durability, living the North Country ski-mountain town lifestyle.

Assets Jean Co. assetsjeancompany HIGHLIGHTS: • Jeans that really fit for women & men • Quick, easy, and stress-free denim fittings • Quality apparel curated from all over the world • Gorgeous wool & down layering pieces

For more information, call (603) 356-0303 or visit www.assetsjeancompany.com.

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For charm, service, & distinctive products, we invite you to SHOP THE BLUE FLAGS in support of our small, locally-owned retailers!

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Visit our store to pick up quick meals or to experience restaurant-quality food at home!

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Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division LC-USF34- 053475-D

A BRIEF LOOK AT PAST WINTER WEATHER IN NORTH CONWAY ... AND A PEAK AHEAD By Brian Fitzgerald

N

ovember 2023 brought meteorological fall (September, October, and November) to a close with cooler and drier than average conditions, following an otherwise much warmer than normal September and October.

When averaged, autumn at the cooperative weather station in North Conway Village witnessed warmer than normal

temperatures, particularly overnight.

North Conway wasn’t the only location, according to the Northeast Regional Climate Center. All of New England witnessed warmer than normal conditions, particularly Northern New England climate sites located in Burlington, Vermont, and Portland and Caribou, Maine.

Similarly, the Mount Washington Obser-

vatory’s summit weather station noted a temperature departure of +1.4°F even when factoring in a much cooler than average November.

October and November brought the first drier-than-normal months, following one of the wettest summers on record for many locations in the region. North Conway saw a total of 10.44 inches of

Annual Snowfall for North Conway, NH 1959/60 through April 2023.

*Incomplete data

www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate

1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 *Data is incomplete, as local observers Joe Dodge passed away in late 1973 and Briggs Bunker didn’t begin observing until January 1974.

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LEFT: March 1940 was a snowy time for this residential village neighborhood in the North Conway village area. Some would say an old-fashioned winter.

First person to correctly identify this street name to us at info@mwvvibe.com wins a Valley Originals gift certificate for $50! precipitation from September through November, landing 3.16 inches below normal for the season, but still 8.79 inches above for calendar year 2023.

El Niño, warmer than normal sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific typically shift the location of the jet stream, including the polar jet stream, further

So, what does this mean for our winter ahead in Northern New Hampshire? It appears likely that seasonal temperatures will be warmer than normal, and precip-

Perhaps most notably, the first measurable snowfall came to Mt. Washington Valley this November to kick off the snowfall season of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. A pair of disturbances brought 1.4-inch and 5.6-inch snowfalls, with the latter coming on one of the busiest travel days of the year (the Wednesday before Thanksgiving).

north. A more northerly polar jet stream can lead to warmer temperatures across New England, while leaving us straddling generally dry conditions across the Ohio River Valley and above-normal precipitation on the Eastern Seaboard from storms that move up the coast. Finally, another variable to consider on the shorter time frame is North Atlantic Oscillation (or NAO, which I won’t dive into here), which is another contributing factor that can drive bouts of cold and snow into New England on a week-to-week basis.

With all of this said, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) winter outlook points to El Niño-related influences. Winter temperatures in northern Maine fall within a 50-60% likelihood of being warmer than normal, while the rest of New England is “leaning above” with a 40-50% confidence in warmer than normal. Seasonal precipitation is forecasted to be “equal chances” for either below- or above-normal precipitation, including snowfall.

itation will vary depending on shifts in individual storms and patterns.

So, what does this mean for our winter ahead in Northern New Hampshire?

Expect surprises with this year’s El Niño.

LOOKING AHEAD

On the heels of four consecutive near- or below-normal winter snowfalls, a mixture of natural snow and ideal snow-making weather has been a boost to local ski areas looking to establish an opening-season base. At the same time, the talk of the winter weather community has been the shift in the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) from a rare three-winter La Niña pattern to a potentially strong El Niño pattern as of late November. The reason why forecasters turn their attention to ENSO is because both El Niño and La Niña can impact our weather patterns, particularly in the winter. In the case of

However, it’s important to keep several things in mind: • Extreme cold can still happen in a warmer-than-normal winter!

• Periods of below-average temperatures can still occur despite an overall warmer-than-normal winter.

• Nor’easters and large snowstorms can still occur in a warmer winter.

• Expect surprises with this year’s El Niño.

Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance understanding of the natural systems that create the Earth’s weather and climate. For more information, visit www.mountwashington.org.

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

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REAL ESTATE CORNER By Bernadette Donohue

Showcase Your Home’s Winter Warmth

W

Bernadette Donohue photo

inter in New England often feels like a real-life Currier & Ives painting with its typically snowdraped landscapes and romantic imagery of sledding, skiing, and ice skating. Sitting by a crackling fireplace while sipping on hot drinks is not only a wondrous reality in this part of the country, but is part of the magic and beauty of the season that so many holiday songs have been written about. For property owners, however, once the festivities wind down, the realities of a long and unpredictable

market a while and have missed other opportunities, so are ready, willing, and able to make their best offer quickly. Because inventory is notoriously lower in the winter, buyers who are out there looking are usually the more serious ones with an immediate need to fulfill.

Less than five months of housing inventory is generally known to be a sellers’ market. While the national news may highlight areas of the country where inventory has been significantly increasing with sales slowing down, in this region, we

Especially if the homeowner supplies pictures of the lawn and gardens, sans snow.

Since competition from other buyers is much lower in the winter months, it creates an opportunity to place and win the bid, with less competition.

Buyers who want to walk the boundaries will find they are often more easily found with the stark white contrast and without foliage in the way of visibility. If dressed warmly and prepared with the right gear, a winter showing can be a fun outdoor adventure and can help buyers

winter begin to set in with a new set of maintenance concerns. It’s no wonder that many homeowners contemplating selling their property in the new year will instinctively wait for the arrival of spring, envisioning a lusher yard and colorful early blooms. However, waiting for spring to happen, especially in these northern climates, can be an extended and unnecessary delay, especially for those who want to quickly turn the page to the next chapter of their life. The allure of a home adorned in snow has a charm all its own, but can also be a practical and timely decision for many reasons that will benefit both the owner and the buyer.

One notable advantage for sellers is the reduced competition of homes on the market. While many sellers are waiting for the warmer months to showcase their homes, a winter listing will capture the attention of eager buyers who have been patiently awaiting new inventory to hit the market. Some buyers have been in the

are still well below what would be defined as a neutral or buyers’ market. The demand for housing continues to outpace supply, especially in the winter months, where the absorption rate can be as low as one to one-and-a-half months of housing supply versus three to five months in warmer temps. Despite the interest rates increasing, a savvy qualified buyer is willing to buy a home and will plan to refinance when rates come down. In fact, many lenders are offering excellent refinance programs along with their loans for buyers who purchase at today’s higher rates.

A winter landscape has a magical way of showcasing your home’s features, and November through April is an ideal window to show homes with more seasonal views, expanding after the trees’ foliage recedes. In the past, buyers were more hesitant to make an offer without seeing the ground under the snow; however, more buyers are realizing that the right home is worth the seasonal adventure.

appreciate the outside of the property in addition to what is most enjoyable about the inside of the house.

Once inside, the right atmosphere can also make a big difference for both buyers and sellers. A simple welcome gesture like a pot of coffee, some baked goods, and a “help yourself” sign can invite visitors to linger longer. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee or the scent of cinnamon simmering on the stove can add to the overall enjoyment of a home tour, just as a toasty wood stove or fireplace will enhance the experience. This attention to intentionally creating an inviting atmosphere adds a layer of care and connection that will enhance the house-hunting experience with the warmth of hospitality not soon forgotten.

During the winter, with shorter days and earlier darkness, having a pre-lit home will shine even more brightly during the coldest of days. Additionally, it presents the home in its finest light (pun intended) without the hassle of agents struggling to

Despite the interest rates increasing, a savvy qualified buyer is willing to buy a home and will plan to refinance when rates come down. In fact, many lenders are offering excellent refinance programs along with their loans for buyers who purchase at today’s higher rates.

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adjust lights or window treatments. It’s essential for property owners to ensure driveways are cleared, and walkways are shoveled, guaranteeing safe access, especially if the property is vacant. While this task might be the most challenging aspect of a winter listing, taking the responsibility to do so will significantly improve the showing process for all. Just like providing shoe boots and a bench to remove winter boots before folks enter your home. With a little extra preparation, a winter showing can maximize your home’s winter ambiance with features like a lit fireplace or woodstove that a summer showing would not. Some folks will even leave their holiday decorations up longer to prolong the festive mood, which serves as a reminder of the wonderful memories that the next homeowners can make for themselves.

Selling a home in New England in the colder months can provide an opportunity to stand out in a market that traditionally awakens in the spring. Embrace the charm of the season, create a warm and inviting atmosphere, and let the unique allure of your property shine through. With a seasoned professional by your side, selling your home during the winter can become a smart strategy and a delightful experience for sellers and buyers alike.

Bernadette Donohue, REALTOR & Certified Residential Specialist, CRS. Serving the real estate needs of NH and ME, since 1985. Contact Bernie at Badger Peabody & Smith Realty, BernieD@BadgerPeabodySmith.com, (603) 356-5757 x 310 or cell(207) 542-9967.

Local, fresh, and Fun for Everyone!

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.

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Winter 2023/24

12/13/23 1:33 PM

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Reviving the Spirit of Discovery

By Emily Calderwood

The MWV Youth STEM Expo Puts Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Back in the Spotlight

T

he Living Shores Aquarium was buzzing with activity on May 24, 2023. Amid touch pools and tanks filled with colorful fish, middle and high school students proudly stood at display tables showcasing their scientific research and engineering design projects— at the first annual Mt. Washington Valley Youth STEM Expo. As judges leaned in to examine display boards and ask questions, fourth- and fifth-grade visitors wound through the exhibit hall, stopping to excitedly touch a stingray or watch the Kennett High School Robotics Club demonstration. In the blink of an eye, a

their science fair projects and compete for prizes. In 2022 the SAU#9 school district, which serves students in Albany, Bartlett, Chatham, Conway, Eaton, Hart’s Location, and Jackson, began seeking ways to bring a science fair back to the Valley. The result was a collaboration between SAU#9 and local volunteers—supported by generous sponsors—which brought an important educational event back to students.

The 2023 MWV Youth STEM Expo invited SAU#9 students in Grades 6 to 12 to participate. Neighboring students in SAU#13 and Fryeburg were also welcomed. Students were tasked with

was exciting to see such a diverse range of science projects attempting to answer questions, and the students’ engagement was fantastic!” Judge Steven Hempel of Bartlett said, “I particularly enjoyed talking with students about how they imagined they might apply their research in new areas.” Projects ranged from an investigation of how music affects people differently to how drumming technique affects its sound. A design and engineering project looked at affordable housing in the Mt. Washington Valley area, other students examined snowpack stability, and the effect of a cold shower

middle school student—who had been explaining her work to a judge—smiled broadly, and quickly switched gears to engage a group of fourth graders in her research project. The first annual MWV Youth STEM Expo was born, paving the way for young minds to explore science, technology, engineering, and math.

Prior to the COVID years, an event like this was commonplace in the Mt. Washington Valley. Hundreds of students in the area came together annually to present

designing and executing a basic research project, or a design and engineering project, which they presented to judges on the day of the expo. Cash prizes were offered to winners in high school and middle school categories. The organizers were thrilled to welcome 22 students working individually or in groups presenting a total of 16 projects.

The judges were impressed at the variety and quality of the projects. Judge Scott Rowland of Jackson commented, “It

on running exertion. Middle school winner, Katerina Bartolomei, a Josiah Bartlett Elementary School eighth-grade student said, “I had a great time at the STEM Expo. It allowed me to take my love of drumming and combine it with my love of science to create a research project. I had a lot of fun discussing my project with teachers and judges, as well as explaining to younger kids what I did. I was surprised, happy, and honored to win with so many great research topics.”

The MWV Youth STEM Expo for 2024 is scheduled to take place on March 20. It will be hosted once again by The Living Shores Aquarium and will be expanded to include students in Grades 4 through 12.

Volunteers and sponsors are integral to making this event a success. Volunteer mentors are needed to work with students in the months running up to the event.

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2023 Middle School Winners 1st Place: Katerina Bartolomei (8th Grade, Josiah Bartlett Elementary School) “How the Amount of Force Can Effect the Sound of Drumming” 2nd Place: Tommy Calderwood (8th Grade, Josiah Bartlett Elementary School) “Does Time in a Cold Shower Affect Running Exertion?”

3rd Place: Thomas Hubble (8th Grade, Josiah Bartlett Elementary School) “Aspect Vs. Snow Stability”

2023 High School Winner 1st Place: Julia Silvia and Brigitte Goldthorpe (12th Grade, Kennett High School) “Affordable Housing in the Mt. Washington Valley Area”

2023 Mt. Washington Observatory Emerging Scientist Awards Award 1: Adelyn McAllister and Nia Lajoie (8th Grade, A. Crosby Kennett Middle School) “Effects of Detergents on Plants” Award 2: Ashton Ingham (7th Grade, A. Crosby Kennett Middle School) “Does Music Affect People Differently?”

2023 American Legion Auxiliary Special Awards (projects of benefit to Veterans) Award 1: Julia Silvia (12th Grade, Kennett High School) “Affordable Housing in the Mt. Washington Valley Area” Award 2: Brigitte Goldthorpe (12th Grade, Kennett High School) “Affordable Housing in the Mt. Washington Valley Area” Countless careers and industries rely on a workforce who are educated and capable in STEM fields, but STEM education is critical even beyond the confines of STEM careers. It empowers individuals with the essential skills of critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability.

The MWV Youth STEM Expo challenges students to develop scientific, communication, and presentation skills through research and inquiry-based learning.

Many students worked on their projects on their own time or after school with teachers and volunteer mentors, which provided them with the opportunity to challenge themselves in new and exciting ways. Jacoby Burdick, a Josiah Bartlett Elementary School seventh-grade participant said of his experience, “The STEM expo was a good way for me to work on my presenting skills while still having fun and learning new things.”

The MWV Youth STEM Expo for 2024 is scheduled to take place on March 20. It will be hosted once again by The Living Shores Aquarium and will be expanded to include students in Grades 4 through 12.

Kick-off events will be held in local schools to encourage students to brainstorm project ideas and to imagine themselves participating. The organizing committee is working with after-school programs and developing an expanded volunteer mentorship program to support students who work on their projects on their own time. Additionally, the 2024 Expo will offer Winter 2023/24

Kennett High School seniors the chance to win one of two $500 scholarships if they participate in the event.

Volunteers and sponsors are integral to making this event a success. Volunteer mentors are needed to work with students in the months running up to the event.

This fulfilling opportunity does not require a background in science or engineering, but simply a love of working to inspire students to achieve their best. Volunteer judges are also needed for the day of the expo, and training and resources will be provided for both positions. Those interested in becoming a student mentor, a judge, or helping in any other way, can find details online at the web address below.

Additionally, sponsors are invited to contribute either financially or in-kind to help cover operational costs and prizes. To learn more about how to contribute, visit www.MWVSTEMExpo.com.

The organizers are thrilled to have kickstarted the MWV Youth STEM Expo.

Their goal is to gradually expand the event’s reach every year and establish it as a large-scale annual gathering. The expo presents a unique opportunity for students in Mt. Washington Valley to tap into their creativity and explore the significance of STEM in their daily lives.

This event will have a positive impact on inspiring young minds to pursue careers in STEM, building their confidence and skills, and motivating them to achieve their dreams.

Open Daily Dailyat at11am 11am Open (603)733-5550 733-5550 (603) 6 1464 Mountain Valley Blvd, Highway No Conway White Mountain

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 15

ART IN THE VALLEY By Abby Evankow An Art Tour: North of the Valley

Moose Takes the Picture, Oil on canvas, Deidre Blair.

Three Sisters Gallery, 36 Exchange Street, Gorham

T

he arts are alive above Pinkham Notch and the northern part of the Mt. Washington Valley! Just as Gorham has attracted myriad outdoor enthusiasts for over 150 years—the beautiful, rugged mountains continue to inspire and draw artists.

Drive north on Route 16 through

two out-sized custom quilts on either side of the giant stone fireplace, sewn by local artisan Laura Brockett. Laura uses traditional designs to make exquisite quilts. She gives some quilts to the oncology unit at Weeks Memorial Hospital in Lancaster and sells others at The Three Sisters Gallery in Gorham. Before you

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fascinating exhibits on natural and human history, include beautiful landscape and wildlife murals painted by local artists such as Will O’Brien. Will’s latest piece is a life-size black bear panel; children (and adults) can compare their heights to this iconic creature as they

Pinkham Notch and make your first stop at the Glen House, located at the foot of the Mount Washington Auto Road, across from Great Glen Trails Nordic Center. Step from the lobby into the tavern where, while enjoying a drink or meal, you can enjoy the gorgeous view of the Great Gulf Wilderness and admire

leave, stroll down the hotel’s hallways to enjoy the impressive collection of historic photos documenting the history of the Auto Road.

Continue five miles further north and turn into the White Mountain National Forest Androscoggin Ranger Station, 300 Glen Road. Winter hours:

learn about its habits.

Next stop, just three miles north, is the beautifully restored, historic Medallion Opera House, on the second floor of Gorham Town Hall, 20 Park Street. Established Gorham artists and Medallion Board members, Bill and Jean Scolere, put out the call for art. The exhibit high-

Next stop, just 3 miles north, is the beautifully restored, historic Medallion Opera House, on the second floor of Gorham Town Hall, 20 Park Street. Established Gorham artists and Medallion Board members, Bill and Jean Scolere, put out the call for art. The exhibit highlights 11 regional artists and includes multiple disciplines—watercolor, acrylic, oil, pencil, ink, pastels.

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MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY ARTISTS & GALLERIES

The Rustic Pyro Wood-burned Art • Home & Cabin Decor Personalized & Monogrammed Gifts

League of NH Craftsmen North Conway Artworks 132 White Mountain Highway, Chocorua, NH • (603) 323-8041 www.chocoruaartworks.com

Jackson Art Studio & Gallery 155 Ridge Rd, Jackson, NH (603) 387-3463 www.jacksonartnh.com

Bill Fein Gallery 106 Fein Lane, Center Conway, NH (603) 356-7943

Jesse Mixer Metalsmith North Conway, NH www.jessemixer.com

Cook Memorial Library 93 Main St, Tamworth, NH (603) 323-8510 www.tamworthlibrary.org

Karen Eisenberg Designs North Conway, NH • (603) 662-9887 www.kareneisenberg.com

Edge of Maine Art & Framing 182 Main St, Brownfield, ME (207) 935-2817 www.edgeofmaine.com

League of NH Craftsmen North Conway 2526 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH • (603) 356-2441 www.northconway.nhcrafts.org

Erik Koeppel Fine Art Jackson, NH • (603) 383-7062 www.erikkoeppel.com

Linda Gray Intervale, NH • (603) 986-1028 www.lindagrayartwork.com

Fryeburg Harbor Antiques and Fine Art Gallery 506 Harbor Rd, Fryeburg, ME (207) 925-2848 www.fryeburgharbor.com

Louise Perry of Vintage Frameworks 28 Norcross Circle, North Conway, NH (603) 356-7711 www.vintageframeworks.com

Gallery 302 112 Main St, Bridgton, ME (207) 647-2787 www.gallery302.com Gateway Gallery & Gifts 32 Exchange St, Gorham, NH (603) 466-9900 www.gatewaygallery.biz Harvest Gold Gallery 1082 Main St, Center Lovell, ME (207) 925-6502 www.harvestgoldgallery.com

Main Street Gallery/MWVArts 16 Norcross Circle, North Conway, NH (603) 356-2787 • www.mwvarts.org Molly Mundy Art and Illustration Jackson, NH www.mollymundy.com Nathan Macomber Glass Studio 480 Eaton Rd, Conway, NH (603) 447-1825 www.macomberglass.com NW Cassidy Fine Art (603) 662-2074 nwcassidy@earthlink.net continued on page 21

Winter 2023/24

Next to the Majestic Theater!

28 MAIN ST, CONWAY VILLAGE JOANNE PARADIS • (978) 387-8030 The RusticPyro@gmail.com

Position yourself for success by partnering with the 2022 & 2021 Realtor® of The Year.

THERESA BERNHARDT Realtor® in NH & ME

c: 603.986.5286 e: theresa@tbrealtypartners.com o: 603.569.HOME

tbrealtypartners.com Each office is independently owned & operated.

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lights 11 regional artists and includes multiple disciplines— watercolor, acrylic, oil, pencil, ink, pastels. The exhibit can be viewed through March at any public event or by appointment; call (603) 723-3421.

Go to www.medallionoperahouse.org to see the Medallion concert schedule for live performances in this custom-designed acoustical space. January 20—Being Petty, a Tom Petty tribute

Here is a glimpse of just some of the art and artists featured in the gallery: Whimsical and boldly colored oil paintings by owner Deidre Blair. Her work is influenced by the natural world, with a focus on the land and creatures of the North Country. You can find Deidre behind her easel most days, as the gallery is also her working studio. In addition to the gallery, you can find Deidre’s

band; February 17—LA Harley Band, Maine’s premier dance/party rock band. Sign-up to get email alerts so you won’t miss upcoming shows. The volunteer board regularly brings in lyrical talent of all genres: jazz, country, ska, Celtic, singer-songwriters, and more.

Last but not least on this tour, stroll around the corner into the beautifully curated Three Sisters Gallery, on 36 Exchange Street. Owner and artist Deidre Blair opened the gallery in July 2021, as she saw a need for local artists to have a space to share and sell their work. The light and airy space showcases paintings, ceramics, stained glass, jewelry, fiber art, and more from 20 different regional artists.

work throughout New England and in public/community art in Berlin and Gorham.

One-of-a-kind, intricately detailed pottery by Cheryl White, who only started working with clay five years ago at age 70. She has now set up her own studio and continues to make pottery at home. More of Cheryl’s work can be found at the Hub North camp store, also in Gorham.

Altered books and handmade journals from repurposed paper by Fran Wolf. After many years of quilting, paper and books have become her fibers of choice. Her work is also on Instagram @fdw49.

Last but not least on this tour, stroll around the corner into the beautifully curated Three Sisters Gallery, on 36 Exchange Street. Artist/owner Deidre Blair opened the gallery in July 2021 as she saw a need for local artists to have a space to share and sell their work.

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MICHAEL GRAVES

Fine art from 35+ local & nationally recognized artitsts

AMY BRNGER

GEORGE VAN HOOK

ANN LARSEN

LEFT: Mixed media Journals by Fran Wolf. Three Sisters Gallery, 36 Exchange Street, Gorham. Deidre Blair photo ABOVE: Evening Star and Log Cabin Quilts, Glen House Tavern, 979 Route 16. Howie Wemyss photo

TERRI BROOKS/WATERCOLOR

SANDRA DESANO PEZZULLO

Candles made thoughtfully with clean ingredients by Meag and Ben Poirier of River & Stone Candle Co. The couple creates outdoor, apothecary, and café-inspired fragrance lines they rotate seasonally. They also sell at the Gorham, Lancaster, Littleton farmers’ markets, and online at www.riverandstonecandle.com.

Striking paintings of the varied landscapes and trees of the North Country painted by Michele Johnsen, who strives to bring out our universal connectedness. In addition to painting, she devotes her time as a board and committee member of The Tillotson Center for the Arts, Connecticut River Artisan Group, and The Great Northwood Center for The Arts. You can find more of Michele’s work at the WREN Gallery in Bethlehem, NH; and Fiddleheads, in Colebrook, NH, or online at www.michelejohnsen.com.

Bright stained-glass panels, sun catchers and jewelry

by Heather Piche, a 25-year veteran English teacher and puttering artist. Heather works from her home studio and teaches her craft around the North Country. See her work Winter 2023/24

DEB SAMIA

DEBBIE MUELLER

LINDA MCDERMOTT

Located in the White Mountains of NH

JACKSON ART STUDIO & GALLERY

(603) 387-3463 WWW.JACKSONARTNH.COM

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online on Instagram @heathers_glass_assemblenh.

Dramatically glazed functional and sculptural ceramics, crafted by potter Maria Neal, who finds inspiration in nature and her own inner landscape. Maria and her husband Jeff Parker also produce Boothman Sugar Orchard maple syrup, from trees tapped by Jeff’s family for five generations.

Colorful metalwork jewelry of brass, copper, steel, and enamel, boldly designed by Laura Jamison. The essence of Laura’s aesthetic can be described as moody maximalism, where the deliberate juxtaposition of different elements creates visually dynamic, yet classic small sculptures. See her work online on Instagram @laura.jamison.metals.

Mittens, hats, baby sweaters, and more crafted by master spinner, dyer, knitter, felter, teacher Robin Peters Henne, of Wandering Woolies. Robin works skillfully with a variety of natural fibers (including beloved pets’ hair.) She is a generous and patient teacher, offering frequent classes in the gallery, and can be found at craft fairs around the region.

Come north—there’s always more to see!

That Same Afternoon at the Party, 30” X 40” acrylic on canvas, Michele Johnsen.

Three Sisters Gallery, 36 Exchange Street, Gorham.

The Three Sisters Studio is an art gallery and community art event space located in the beautiful White Mountains of northern New Hampshire. The gallery regularly hosts a variety of classes, from basket weaving to print making, painting to enameling, and so much more. A full list of classes, events, and hours is available at www.the3sistersgallery.com. Visit the gallery at 36 Exchange Street, Gorham, NH. (603) 915-2175

Largest Flooring and Tile Showroom in the Mt. Washington Valley

Tile • Luxury Vinyl • Hardwood • Carpet • Area Rugs Full design and installation available on everything we sell!

SHOWROOM HOURS: Monday-Friday: 7:30am-5pm Saturday: 9am-1pm

(603) 356-6031 179 Route 16/302, Intervale, NH 20

Knitting class at The Three Sisters Gallery.

Deidre Blair photo

MWVvibe.com

FINE CRAFT GALLERY

Karissa Masse

Hand-dyed and spun skeins; mittens, wristers, hats, ear bands, baby sweaters, Wandering Woolies. Three Sisters Gallery, 36 Exchange Street, Gorham. Robin Peters Henne photo.

MWV ARTISTS & GALLERIES continued Anne Hanson

Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery 69 Maple St, Center Sandwich, NH (603) 284-7728 www.patricialaddcarega.com

The Three Sisters Gallery Studio 36 Exchange St, Gorham, NH (603) 915-2175 www.the3sistersgallery.com

Robert Gordon Gallery Kancamagus Highway, Conway, NH (603) 356-7943

Virginia Moore Pet Portraits & Fine Art 83 Crossover Rd, Albany, NH (603) 520-8230 www.vmooreportraits.com

Roger C. Williams Fine Art 125 Main St, Lovell, ME (207) 925-3380 www.rogerwilliamsfineart.com Skyforest Gallery 407 White Mountain Highway, Conway, NH • (760) 770-3777 Surroundings Art Gallery 12 Main St, Sandwich, NH (603) 284-6888 www.surroundingsart.com Stained Glass Shack Studio 63 West Main St, Conway, NH (603) 447-4949 www.stainedglassshack.com The Rustic Pyro 28 Main St, Conway Village (978) 387-8030

White Mountain Artisans Gallery 3358 Route 16, North Conway, NH (603) 356-6546 www.whitemountainartisansgallery.com

Maria Testa

Robert Burch

White Mountain Photography 95 Main St, Jackson, NH • (603) 374-6050 www.whitemountainphoto.com With These Hands Pottery 397 Tasker Hill Rd, Conway, NH (207) 256-2522 www.withthesehandspottery.com Please report corrections and additions to info@mwvvibe.com.

Kevin Turgeon

Showcasing New Hampshire’s since 1932 www.nhcraftsmen.com 603-356-2441 2526 Main St. North Conway Village

Winter 2023/24

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GORHAM *

Coös Cycling Club

BETHLEHEM *

Bethlehem Trails Association

NORTH CONWAY * NEMBA • RideNoCo

Marshall Conservation Area WiseguyCreative.com photo

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By Jeremiah Beach

H

istorically a heavy frost, a few inches of snow, and ice on the trails meant that it was time to put away the two wheels and take out the planks for some winter gliding. But now, a blanket of snow and a heavy freeze just means beef up your tires, add some studs, and keep riding. What once was a bit of a niche in the biking world, is one of the fastest-spreading aspects of the sport: fat biking. It’s even become dangerously close to a mainstream sport, and it’s worth giving it a go if you haven’t already.

My first go at winter mountain biking was in the late 90s. I sat down with a Greg Stump skiing video in the background, a 12-pack of beer, a drill, and #6 sheet-metal screws; I was making studded tires. Up until that moment I had been a skier-snowboarder, so why would I be sitting inside, drinking cheap beer, with a bunch of screws? Well,

to get outside, because now winter riding is a different experience. The crisp crunching of the snow under your tires and a slower pace that new fat bikes provide gives you the opportunity to tune in to your surroundings. Fat biking can mean a whole new world of adventure, or a massive workout if that’s the goal. We’re fortunate here in the North Country that even with wild and weird winters, we can have consistent snow cover on our trails.

Having a packed or groomed track is ideal.

When the sport started, snowshoe trails were a great place to ride, while snowmobile trails were okay, but you might ditch that to avoid a collision.

Enter the crafty folks again—the groomers. There are a lot of ideas about how to groom a bike trail, and just as many crafty hard-working bike nuts out there trying to perfect the art. The grooming

There are a lot of ideas about how to groom a bike trail, and just as many crafty hard-working bike nuts out there trying to perfect the art. The grooming formula is a mixture of machine, terrain, temperature, and temperament. it was an odd winter, there wasn’t much snow, and we had a huge midwinter rain event that flooded and froze everything in sight. Many in the MWV, and New England in general, know the exact event I am talking about. Even a Stump video couldn’t keep the stoke alive, and I had to get outside.

My first attempt with no studs was painful. I was no match for the sheen of ice on the trails; even with studded tires, I was limited. I could only ride on something hard and frozen, like a snowmobile trail. In other parts of the country, there were others who were itching to get out in the winter on a bike. As with most things, there were crafty folks who started building goofy bikes, welding two rims together to make a wide rim for a fat tire … what a concept! But even with the studs, the tires sunk into the subpar skiing conditions, so obviously, floatation was the answer. And so, from there, frames for fat tires and all kinds of other parts started popping up. The game was on.

Now, fat bikes are easy to find and are becoming part of many bikers’ collection. No more nights with #6 metal screws and cheap brews needed Winter 2023/24

formula is a mixture of machine, terrain, temperature, and temperament.

The folks who decide that winter biking is something fun to do with their spare time are generally bike nuts with some mechanical skills due to the temperamental nature of the machines. Such a nature is one of the aspects that makes winter biking different from biking on dirt trails. Constant maintenance is needed to keep the trails in rideable condition, and there are real costs involved. Machines are expensive and require maintenance, and most clubs benefit from those incredibly talented volunteers who run the machines as well as fix, modify, and perfect their craft.

The universal foes to all groomers are post-holers. Post-holing is when a walker breaks through the groomed surface and leaves a deep hole.

These are very difficult to groom out and they require new snow to fill them in.

As this relatively new sport grows, perhaps some of its challenges will improve. Until then, the following article shows a few examples of some of the latest groomed opportunities here in the White Mountain region to explore this winter.

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NEMBA

The Mt. Washington Valley has a few areas that are groomed as conditions permit. With the exception of Whitaker Woods XC trails and Great Glen Trails, there are no fees for any of these networks. These areas are all maintained by local volunteers working with local MTB clubs (crowd-sourced mountain bike resources) that provide support for the grooming efforts.

Marshall Conservation Area Marshall is a compact network on town property that is popular with locals and visitors to the MWV. Lucile’s, Lager’s, Muzzy’s, and Schumway are groomed regularly, with other trails added to the mix as conditions permit. Access is off of West Side Road in North Conway.

Eastside Network The Eastside network is best accessed from the parking area at Hemlock Drive in North Conway behind Wal-Mart. There is quite a bit of activity on these trails, from walkers and snowshoers to snowmobilers and bikers. Trails that will be groomed as conditions permit are Pillar to Pond and Muffler. Other trails may be added as the season progresses. There is a lot of snowshoe traffic out in the area, and there is usually a lot of opportunity to ride trails that have been snowshoe packed.

Other FAT NUGGETS As conditions permit and volunteer ambitions allow, the basegroomed trails tend to expand, so you never know what could be ready to ride. The U.S. Forest Service has given permission to groom some trails in the Cedar Creek area that have not been previously groomed; so stay tuned, there may be more trail mileage added.

Current conditions are generally posted on local clubs’ social media, so dial into White Mountains NEMBA or Ride NoCo for the most current conditions. Remember that all of this is provided at no cost to riders by volunteers, so please be kind and respectful to everyone who makes this possible—from the clubs to the landowners and the volunteers. Donations are always deeply appreciated and help fund the fun.

www.wmnembachapter.org wmnemba

wm.nemba.5

Rogers Crossing Network Rogers Crossing is accessed off of Route 302 in Bartlett, between Attitash and Bear Peak. This network is fun, twisty, and flat alongside the Saco River. There are 5 to 10 miles of groomed trails in this area between Rogers Crossing and the fields of Attitash on private property. Please be respectful of the Nordic trails groomed

by Bear Notch Ski Touring in Bartlett. They do not allow fat bikes on their trails.

Mt. Washington Valley Bike Trails www.wmnembachapter.org/maps

ROGERS CROSSING NETWORK

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ATTITASH MOUNTAIN RESORT BARTLETT, NH

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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

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL TO ALL FELLOW TRAIL USERS

MARSHALL CONSERVATION AREA WEST SIDE RD., NORTH CONWAY, NH

P ANTICIPATED GROOMING NOTED IN BLUE. CHECK SOCIAL CHANNELS FOR UPDATES

Antiques • Home Decor • Jewelry Custom Furniture • Chalk Paints

(603) 662-0452 328 White Mtn Hwy, Conway, NH Winter 2023/24

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P RED: CLIMBING YELLOW: DECENDING

www.ridenoco.org/trails-map

HURRICANE MOUNTAIN ZONE RIDE NOCO

The Ride NoCo Hurricane Zone network is a gravity-focused intermediate and advanced trail system in the Mt. Washington Valley. The network features over 8,000 vertical feet of summer descending; however, grooming for fat biking has been a new venture for the club.

Current grooming efforts for the 2023/24 season are focused solely on the Hurricane Trail. When the grooming conditions align, this 700-vertical-foot, 1.1-mile descent is pure fat bike bliss. This then feeds into Red Tail Trail, where the winter grooming ends.

The Red Tail Trail can be seen from across the brook from Hurricane Mountain Road.

This totals just over 1,000 vertical feet of descending. The preferred winter access to the summit is up Hurricane Mountain Road, starting at the water tower.

Foot and ski traffic help pack down Hurricane Mountain Road, and snowmobile traffic packs down the Black Cap Trail to the Hurricane Trail summit. To add additional length to the ride, follow the snowmobile trail to the summit of Black Cap for excellent views, then descend back to the Hurricane Trail Summit.

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Grooming is done with a combination of equipment, a traditional utility-type snowmobile, as well a Sno-Dog. As fat biking in the Hurricane Network gains popularity, the intention is to groom additional trails in the network. Winter signs have been posted on both the top and bottom of the groomed sections of trail.

Please be respectful of all other trail users as well as the snow conditions.

Grooming is a 100% volunteer effort. If you would like to support Ride NoCo, become a member, donate, or volunteer.

Follow Ride NoCo on social media for updates, as well as the conditions page on the website.

www.ridenoco.org ridenoco

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P

ride_noco

PLEASE ALLOW TIME FOR FRESHLY GROOMED TRAILS TO SET UP.

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BETHLEHEM TRAILS ASSOCIATION

Winter fat tire mountain biking is about to be taken to a new level at the Bethlehem Trails Association (BTA) in Bethlehem, NH. BTA is a community-driven trail network that offers over 14 miles of mountain biking trails. The trails are open to riders of all levels and are groomed for fat tire riding throughout the winter season.

BTA is located in the highest town in New England, which means that it receives a lot of snowfall during the winter months. BTA also has two pieces of grooming equipment, a Rokon and a Sno-Dog, to ensure that the trails are perfectly groomed for whenever weather conditions permit fat tire riding. In addition, for the first time, BTA has hired a person to groom trails throughout the winter. This commitment to grooming ensures that the trails are in top condition, making for an enjoyable and safe ride for all visitors.

Ready for winter, Bethlehem is a great place to go for winter fat biking. With over 14 miles of trails, riders of all levels can enjoy the beautiful scenery and challenging terrain. BTA’s commitment to providing the best possible experience for its visitors is evident in the quality of the trails and the recent acquisition of grooming equipment. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or a beginner, BTA has something for everyone.

www.bethlehemtrails.org bethlehemtrailsassoc

Mountain Brewed Since 1998

Open 7 Days A Week

Indoor Tasting Room & Outdoor Beer Garden

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Bethlehem Trails Association

Now Scheduling for Next Season!

Affordable tree services, based in Fryeburg, Maine, servicing the Mt. Washington Valley region.

GROOMING TO COVER ENTIRE TRAIL NETWORK

www.bethlehemtrails.org/map

Winter 2023/24

• Tree Removal • Tree Pruning J & C Tree Service LLC (603) 348 7454 • www.JandCTreeService.com 27

PLEASE DO NOT WALK ON GROOMED TRAILS WITHOUT SNOWSHOES.

COÖS CYCLING CLUB

Coös Trails in Gorham, NH has a small but cohesive winter riding area that can be accessed from several parking points in town.

Local grooming efforts, in conjunction with existing snowmobile trails, provide great variety, and can take you all the way from Moose Brook State Park to Big Day Brewing with lots of adventure in-between.

Moose Brook State Park Moose Brook State Park riding is accessed most directly by parking at the campground office on Jimtown Road. The central corridor, called Berry Farm Road, is a lightly used snowmobile trail and makes for smooth climbing when conditions are good. From the top, you’ll find bike-specific grooming on CCC Perimeter East, Upper Borderline, and Deer Fly for a scenic and entertaining descent.

Snowshoeing in the park is a popular local pastime, so you’ll often find additional riding on the lower section of CCC Perimeter West, Perkins Path, High Road, and Low Road, as well as a shortgroomed loop on the Hub North property adjacent to the park.

From the park base, you can access the rest of the winter riding by following Hinchey Trail (with an optional diversion around Lost Campground) to the Presidential Rail Trail and beyond.

Coös Trails Pine Side The Pine Side of the network offers multiple climb/descent options and two easy access points for parking. The roadside lot

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along Route 2 West, just out of town, is a great place to begin a ride at the midway point of the network. Follow the snowmobile trail west a short distance to catch the Hinchey Trail and access Moose Brook State Park, or continue on to cross under Route 2 and jump on Old River Road. Alternatively, you will find ample parking at Big Day Brewing on Route 16 just south of Main Street.

From there, follow the snowmobile trail and single track through the Jungle and up to the pipeline to access Howie Get There.

Once in the network, options abound with any combination of Carry On, Alpine Spring, Biscoff, Old River Road, The Strand, and For Pete’s Sake. The newest addition to the network, Alpine Spring, can be linked with Bear Spring, a snowmobile trail that will ultimately return you to the pipeline at the western end of Howie Get There.

The Coös Trails network has been 100% volunteer groomed since winter riding took hold up here around 2015. Grooming is tough work in all its forms. With bottomless gratitude for all the volunteer hours to date, the Coös Cycling Club has decided to start paying the groomers. It is still fee-free, but if you love winter riding, you can help out by heading to the website to donate. Cheers!

Follow the club on social media for the latest condition updates. Coös Cycling Club asks that you use good judgment with regard to temperatures and conditions when deciding to ride, and be vigilant when riding on snowmobile trails.

www.cooscyclingclub.org Coos cycling club

cooscyclingclub

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FAT BIKING TIPS & ETIQUETTE

PLEASE CHECK

FOR OUR DAILY SPECIALS

Where Life is Good!

• Bike tires should be a minimum of 3.8” in width.

• Tire pressure should be under 8 psi; 3-6 psi is usually ideal.

• Please don’t ride your normal mountain bike on the trails.

• If you are leaving a tire rut, the trail is too soft; try again once the temperature drops.

• If you are a walker, please use snowshoes.

• If you do not have snowshoes and you are leaving a track more than 1” deep, the trail is too soft for walking.

OPEN EVERY DAY, BUT WEDNESDAYS, FROM 11:30AM

Almost There Sports Tavern & Restaurant

(603) 447-2325 • 1287 Route 16, Albany, NH Just south of the Kancamagus Highway

• Bikers should yield to all other users. Bikes have brakes, skiers do not.

• Be respectful to all fellow trail users—slow down and smile.

• Fat bike lane—when using portions of XC trails, always ride on the opposite side from the classic ski tracks, and avoid the center of the trail on the skate ski track.

• DO NOT ride in the classic XC tracks.

• After grooming, allow time for the track to set-up.

• If you’re sinking an inch or more into a freshly groomed trail, turn around and give the trail a cold night to set up.

For additional groomed fat biking options, vist these local nordic centers: • Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center (rentals available) • Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring • Bretton Woods Nordic • Purity Spring XC & Snowshoe Reserve Winter 2023/24

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The Art of the Hand-Tuned Ski

By Jeremiah Beach

While the ski doesn’t come with a post-it note on it, there are clues all over it to the trained eye.

L

ike many traditional trades and crafts, ski tuning has evolved over time. This evolution has been driven by many influences, such as the construction and design of skis, the skiing surface, racing, and tools used in the process, to name a few.

When I first learned to tune skis, the specialized tools were few, the mistakes big, and the learning curve steep. The equipment was less evolved and more forgiving of a poor tune.

I used exotic tools like steel BBQ brushes, brass rolling bars, and sandpaper to create structure in the bases (more on that when we talk about the science), my mother’s iron, and whatever wax I could find. Hey, it’s just wax! It’s been a long, strange trip in many ways.

There’s still more to learn every day, but the curve is a bit flatter now. Still, every day I ski, I’m trying something new or trying to use what I have in a different way, or just watching other skiers on different gear, seeing how different skis and skiers move on the snow, and then translating that into a tune. Evolution of the art.

The art lies in the subtleties that influence how the skis react and perform for an individual in any given circumstance. There is no one tune that does it all. There are tunes that do most things okay, such as a full machine tune

Winter 2023/24

from an automated ski-tuning machine.

Automated machines do an excellent job of precisely reproducing a product. Does a machine produce a tune? Or does it produce a specified set of parameters based on the programming it has been given? To me, tuning is the art of creating the best tune for the skier.

How does the human machine differ from the automated machine? Well, the human can read the ski, feel the ski, and understand the needs of the skier. While the ski doesn’t come with a post-it note on it, there are clues all over it to the trained eye. You can see where a skier is pressuring the skis, which is a great indicator of how sharp the ski should be and where it needs to be the sharpest. You can also see how the tops of the skis are worn or damaged, and from this, you can get a pretty good idea of the skier’s stance—and to some degree—skiing ability.

Now that you have a read on the skis, you can apply the art.

If you have had the opportunity as a ski tech to work as a serviceman at the higher levels of competition, there is a whole encyclopedia of knowledge to be learned. Aside from the initial base grinding, all the rest of it is done by the skilled hands of servicemen. Each athlete you work with is a learning experience. You must 31

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Even a new ski from the factory can benefit from a tune. Sure, they look great and they will ski okay, but they could be so much better. translate the feedback from the athlete into micro adjustments to the tune of the ski. From this knowledge base comes an understanding of how things like base bevels, structures, degrees of sharpness, and ski selection affect how equipment should be tuned for any given skier or surface.

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Now the Science Snow is frozen water. The friction of the ski base on the snow creates water, and water is what produces glide.

A ski base needs to have some structure to manage this water and produce glide. Think of it like the tires on your car. The tread is designed to move water away from where the tire contacts the road so you don’t hydroplane when it rains. The structure in the base of the ski does nearly the opposite; it captures and manages the water to produce a micro hydroplane effect. Geometry has acute angles, which are sharper; and less acute angles, which are more durable. By applying different geometry to the base and side edges of a ski, we can tune how it reacts to a skier’s movements and adjust the amount of grip it has on the skiing surface. Lubricity—wax is applied to the base of the ski to help it glide. Wax lubricates and protects the base of the ski. Have you ever looked at your ski bases and seen white fuzzy areas? This is base-burn from friction; wax helps protect the bases from this.

When I tune a ski, there are some baseline fundamentals that don’t vary, such as the ski bases need to be flat and have a good structure. Other than that, I’m looking at what kind of ski is it. Who is skiing on this ski? You don’t want to tune a backcountry ski the same as a frontside carving ski.

Each ski that comes across my bench tells its story.

From there, my decisions on bevels, sharpness, and wax

come together to create what I hope is the best tune for the ski and the skier. It’s a bonus if you know the skier, and even better if you have seen them ski, then you can truly dial in the tune.

I am always amazed that many skiers never discover the value of maintaining their skis. So many times I hear the same question: “I’ve had these for a couple of years, do you think they need to be tuned?” I feel bad that they’ve never experienced what their skis can do for them!

Even a new ski from the factory can benefit from a tune. Sure, they look great and they will ski okay, but they could be so much better. Factory-automated ski finishing is generic and often doesn’t even sharpen the whole edge; and the wax on the bases is only protective, not for skiing.

Again, knowing the skier or just looking at what type of ski it is gives me the information I need to make some subtle adjustments to improve the ski’s performance.

Hand-Tune vs. Machine Why tune by hand rather than an automated machine? I’m not sure there is a definitive answer. As with many crafts, there is an intangible aspect to the process and the end result. There are also relationships formed between skiers and their preferred tuners. When you find that perfect combination, and your skis do what you want them to, that’s the magic. Tuning the ski to perform its best, rather than look its best, could be part of the answer. Your skis will certainly last longer—there’s only so much material in a ski. The human machine takes just enough away to achieve the performance result.

Wax and Good Tunes Sharp edges are great, easy-gliding healthy ski bases are

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LOCATED IN INTERVALE, NH, IN THE HEART OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

East Branch TIMBERWORKS

Getting set up to wax your skis isn’t a huge investment: some bench space in your garage or basement, vises, iron, scraper, some wax, and a cold beer! even better. One of the best and easiest things you can do for your skis is waxing them. Getting set up to wax your skis isn’t a huge investment: some bench space in your garage or basement, vises, iron, scraper, some wax, and a cold beer! Music helps too. It’s also a great way to keep an eye on the condition of your skis so you’ll know when it’s time for a full tune.

Tip: if you are using climbing skins on your skis, use a spray-on wax in between hot wax sessions so it doesn’t foul your skin glue.

How Often Should Skis be Tuned?

This really depends on your expectations. If you want your skis to perform perfectly every time, then you should touch up your edges and wax after every couple of days on the snow.

Otherwise, for the average weekend skier, a monthly tune is a good interval. We have many skiers that drop their skis off every week. Most often it’s for a touch-up and wax, but when it’s time, they get a full tune. This is a great way to keep your skis in top shape; whether you do it yourself or bring them to your favorite ski tuner.

Final Thoughts Each season, I get the opportunity to teach this art to new people through clinics I run at the shop. Some are parents with children in race programs, some are lifelong skiers who just want to know how to maintain their skis, and others are just curious. I am fortunate to have met so many people who are passionate about skiing and nerding out about ski tuning.

It can be such an interactive craft, the adjustments so subtle that you wouldn’t think they could make a difference; but they do. And when you feel this for yourself, that’s more of the magic!

Winter 2023/24

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Snowmobiling the Valley in 2024

NEW HAMPSHIRE SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION

The following was obtained with permission from Sno-Traveler Magazine, the official publication of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association

NHSA Launches New Club Membership Website Join a Club Now - Get Your Voucher and $30 Registration Discount

The old membership website had issues; primarily, it slowed during heavy use, sometimes to a crawl. In addition, snowmobilers hated passwords and reset codes. The system had to be replaced.

With input from our members, clubs, and web experts, we expect the new system to be superior.

Important Changes - Voucher Access by Email Only • To receive a membership voucher, you must have a personal email account.

• Why email? The voucher is sent directly to your email; no one else can access it.

• Can stores or clubs assist? They may, BUT you still need an email to get a voucher number.

• Will stores or clubs retrieve my voucher number? No, they cannot see it.

• Credit card only? Yes, online payment requires a credit or debit card. PayPal is coming.

• Check Tips & Tricks below for additional information.

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DIY The system is designed for self-service, and it’s simple. Go online and get your club membership voucher before you ride. Remember, you need to access your email, and that’s not always possible in rural areas. Try it at tinyurl.com/SledNH.

Club Membership - Fast and Easy • The new website, built on the Salesforce platform, is streamlined and fast. It typically takes less than three minutes to join.

• All you need to start is a valid email address.

• No password or codes needed • Mobile friendly • Voucher emailed to inbox within minutes • Club donation options • Voucher retrieval assistance Registration Discounts Remember, you get a $30 discount on sled registrations with your membership. Good for every snowmobile you own. Before you go to a registration agent, be sure to have your membership voucher and driver’s license. If it’s a new registration, you also need the make, model, VIN, color, and engine size.

Note: State registrations are scheduled to be online in 2025.

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SMARTPHONE APP V4.0 - MOBILE SNOWMOBILING TRAILS & SERVICES MAP NH Snowmobile Trails 2023/24 season (iOS/Android, $4.99) • www.nhsa.com 7,000 miles of trails in your pocket!

The SledNH trail map makes navigation a snap. Working with or without mobile data coverage, you will be able to enjoy the app’s navigation function no matter where you are on the trails. All new Drive Mode delivers two-dimensional perspective with your direction of travel at the top.

No cell service needed for: • See your location on the map through phone’s GPS signal • Quickly save and load routes • View clubhouses, snack shacks, parking, scenic vistas, gas stations and services • Access trail condition info at the time of your last data connection • See the distance between you and a specific point

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When connected to cell or Wi-Fi, enjoy these additional features: • Updated trail status for the best riding experience • Meet friends by privately sharing your position • Plan complete trips and easily share with friends

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Visit www.nhsa.com/nh-snowmobile-trail-map for additional information.

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2023 NH SNOWMOBILE FACTS AND FIGURES The NHSA consists of 100 independent snowmobile clubs run by volunteers.

Each county selects a director that comprises the NHSA Board of Directors.

New Hampshire’s successful public/private partnership provides 7,000 miles of snowmobile trails.

Majority of grooming and trail infrastructure is undertaken by club volunteers.

Approximately 28,000 hours of club trail grooming takes place annually.

Snowmobiling is a user-funded recreation. Revenue derived from snowmobile registrations is used for trail maintenance. No monies from general fund are used.

During winter of 2022/23 there were 37,641 registered snowmobiles in NH. 2011 Plymouth State Economic Im-

Winter 2023/24

pact Study indicated snowmobiling contributes $586 million to the state economy. That’s equals $816 million in today’s dollars.

NHSA volunteers run the annual “Race Into Winter” Grass Drags and Water Cross, Columbus Day Weekend in Fremont. One of the largest snowmobile events in the world, it draws over 47,000 spectators from the U.S. and Canada and is an economic driver.

Clubs from around the state have raised over $3.7 million for Easterseals.

The NHSA Ride-In was initiated in 1972 and continues to fund Camp Sno-Mo, creating life-changing experiences for campers, ages 11-21, with disabilities and special needs.

The NHSA was founded in 1969.

Visit www.slednh.com or www.nhsa.com.

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!

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RIDE WITH A PLAN

Snowmobilers, just like skiers, are eager to get back on the trails this winter, especially after a lackluster spring season was cut short by less snow and milder temps. Extra planning has never been more important, as even a stop for lunch or a snack at a local eatery along the trail may not be available in the regular locations.

Depending on where you choose to ride, things may be a bit more limited when you arrive, so be sure to plan ahead and choose your trails wisely.

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WHITE MOUNTAIN REGIONAL CLUBS Ossipee Valley Snowmobile Club West Ossipee, NH • www.ovsc.net Why Join a Club?

Your club membership is paramount to a healthy trail system.

That infusion of cash fuels the groomer. It’s vital that every snowmobiler join at least one club. If you travel, be sure to join your home team club and the other one you trailer to. Thank you for supporting the volunteers that make it all possible.

100% of Registration Fees Dedicated to Snowmobile Program Even though 100% of your registration dollars are dedicated to the NH snowmobile program, those funds only cover 50-70% of actual costs, depending on the club ... and what breaks during the season. Clubs bank on memberships, donations, and fundraisers to fill the gaps, often scrounging for every dollar.

It’s vital that riders support the clubs at every possible level.

Membership at a minimum. Donations and volunteering are a bonus. Show some love, join a club.

Trail Grooming Over 200 trail groomers maintain the trail system in New Hampshire. Be aware that grooming takes place at all hours. A groomer travels at an average of only 5-8 miles per hour. Riders must use extreme caution at all times when on the trails and be on the lookout for groomers and other obstacles.

GUIDED TOURS & RENTALS

Scrub Oak Scramblers Madison, NH • www.sossc.com Mountain Meadow Riders North Conway, NH • www.mountainmeadowriders.com Burnt Meadow Snowmobile Club Brownfield, ME • www.burntmeadow.org White Mountain Trail Club Bartlett, NH • www.whitemountaintrailclub.com Presidential Range Riders Gorham, NH • www.presidentialrangeriders.org White Mountain Ridge Runners Berlin, NH • www.whitemtridgerunners.com Twin Mountain Snowmobile Club Twin Mountain, NH • www.twinmtnsnowmobile.org White Mountain Snowmobile Club Lincoln, NH • www.whitemtsnowmobileclub.org

NEW HAMPSHIRE SNOWMOBILE CLUBS www.nhstateparks.org/things-to-do/snowmobiling

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

If you don’t already own a snowmobile, renting can be a good way to experience the adventure. Being prepared is key, and these outfitters will make sure you have all the information you need to experience snowmobiling safely.

Weekly Trail Conditions Report www.nhstateparks.org/things-to-do/snowmobiling

Northern Extremes/Mt. Washington Snowmobile Rentals Bear Notch, Bartlett/Bretton Woods, NH www.nxtsnow.com • (603) 374-6000

The Maine Snowmobile Association www.mesnow.com

Northeast Snowmobile & ATV Rentals Gorham, NH/Fryeburg, ME www.northeastsnowmobile.com • (800) 458-1348

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The New Hampshire Snowmobile Association www.nhsa.com

New England Snow Depth Map www.weather.gov/nerfc/snow_depth_im NH Snowmobile Interactive Map and Phone App www.nhsa.com/nh-snowmobile-trail-map

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Tuesdays-Saturdays: 9am - 4pm Must be 18 years of age with a valid license or photo ID to register.

Year, Make, Model, Color, CC, and VIN required, plus your club membership number and/or voucher.

Winter 2023/24

WE ARE THE AREAS LEADING POWER SPORTS STORE Stop by to see the latest products, parts, service, repair, or maintenance.

1319 White Mtn. Highway (Route 16) Conway, NH • (603) 447-5855 37 www.ProfilePowerSports.com

>>>>>> WHITE MOUNTAIN BACKCOUNTRY

Photo by Patrick Scanlan

Crowd-Sourcing Snow and Avalanche Data in the WMNF Presidentials

By Patrick Scanlan, Mount Washington Avalanche Center

L

ast winter, I was standing in the courtyard of Hermit Lake Shelter, in the shadow of Tuckerman Ravine and the Boot Spur Ridge, huddled with a group of skiers, talking about snow conditions, and comparing notes as they finalized plans for their ski tour that day. One of them said something like, “Hey, did you see that observation from yesterday?! Skiers were finding reactive new snow and propagating test results in the Chute area.”

To many people, this conversation is technical “shop talk” that may not mean much. However, to the increasingly educated community of backcountry skiers and riders in the Mt. Washington Valley, this is a critical piece of information that can help

skiers unfold in our huddle for warmth, I was inspired that the WMAC’s platform was not just valuable to my job as an avalanche forecaster, but it was also being used by many recreational skiers, riders, and climbers to help create safer, more enjoyable days in the mountains. Over the course of the winter, the effort of one person to submit an observation seemed to create a reciprocating effect, which led to a record-breaking number of observation submissions during the 2022/23 season.

Two winters ago, in 2021/22, the MWAC observations platform saw 125 unique snow and avalanche observations. Last winter, the observation platform saw 259 unique snow and avalanche observations—a significant increase. Occasionally, four or five

in the planning of a safe, informed day of backcountry skiing.

The best part? This information was shared publicly by another member of the backcountry skiing community using the Mount Washington Avalanche Center (WMAC) observation platform, so that it was available for anyone to view and use for their own trip planning.

While continuing to listen to the conversation between

unique observations were submitted on a single day from various locations and people. This increase is largely due to an updated observation platform that was developed by the USFS National Avalanche Center, which MWAC adopted onto their own website, offering a more user-friendly experience when submitting and viewing observations. Additionally, the MWAC team made efforts to encourage our backcountry community to submit observations.

This winter, we hope to see even more people contributing to the crowd-sourced observations platform—no matter your experience level. There is no observation too simple or too detailed, and each one is incredibly valuable.

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This winter, The National Avalanche Center has made even more additions to functionality that we expect will further benefit the recreational community, professional guides and educators, and our own forecasting team.

Here are some of the new features that will be available on the MWAC website this winter: • The observation viewer has been redesigned with three tabs, allowing multiple ways to view observations and avalanche data.

• A visualization tool allows visitors to view visual avalanche data by avalanche type, date, aspect and elevation, size, and trigger.

• Members of the public have the opportunity to use the standard long form for avalanche reporting as well as a more basic short form.

Submitting an observation, no matter how detailed or simple, has many upsides. It is a way for you to “donate” your information and experience to the avalanche center to help contribute to accurate and thorough avalanche forecasts. It is a way to give back to the greater backcountry community, who are frequently visiting this part of the MWAC website.

Lastly, it is a great way to keep your observation skills sharp, learn more about how to communicate snow and avalanche conditions, and prepare for your next avalanche course.

This winter, we hope to see even more people contributing to the crowd-sourced observations platform—no matter your experience level. There is no observation too simple or too detailed, and each one is incredibly valuable.

Here are a few tips for submitting a great snow observation: • You can view and submit observations at www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/observations.

• Use photos—photos can sometimes convey what words cannot.

• Snowpack tests and pit profiles are great, but not required. Simple information such as depth of new snow, time of day, current weather conditions, and how easy the snow was to ski or walk on.

• Do your best to describe what you see, while also backing it up with some measurable data.

MWAC would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who submitted observations last year, and to everyone who will contribute this year. We look forward to seeing you in the mountains this winter!

The Mount Washington Avalanche Center’s primary focus from October/ November until the end of May is to provide avalanche safety information for people recreating, working, or traveling in the Presidential Range. MWAC acts as the lead agency for Search and Rescue for the winter months, and serves as a professional avalanche resource for people seeking assistance with snow and avalanche safety in the East.

For more information, go to www.mount-washingtonavalanchecenter.org.

Winter 2023/24

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Ski Today, Ski Tomorrow

How to Make Each Day be Your Best Day this Winter

By Hilary McCloy, PT, DPT

A

re you visiting the Mt. Washington Valley for the weekend and hope to ski hard both days at a local resort? Or perhaps you’re a resident simply hoping to make the best out of the first and last days of the season. You might lie somewhere in between; but either way, it would benefit you to think about how you are fueling, hydrating, and recovering between days skiing to keep your body primed for the next day.

I live, eat, and breathe skiing all winter. We live in or visit this valley, where we can capitalize on each day depending on the snow conditions by either backcountry, Nordic, or resort skiing. But if you go bigger today, then how are you going to get the most out of tomorrow if your legs are tired or achy? Drawing from what I have learned from being an endurance athlete, we can apply these practices to winter sports to help keep the body firing on all cylinders for longer.

FUELING: Our bodies burn fuel each day, and we burn it faster when we are exerting more effort. Add in cold weather and very physical sports, and the body suddenly requires a lot more energy to burn. If we deplete these reserves and do not replenish them; the body will not perform as well, which is evidenced by tired legs, slower movements, less mental acuity, and overall fatigue. Therefore, we have to think about how we are fueling the body today so we can ski all day, and—more importantly—feel good tomorrow for another day of epic skiing.

HYDRATION: Drinking enough water in the winter is a challenge. When it is cold, we do not get the physical cues to think about drinking water. In the summer, we sweat more and are more in tune with hydrating, which is the opposite in the winter, and it can get us into trouble.

Dehydration can cause muscle cramping, headaches, and poor regulation of body temperature. Hydrating and fueling keep your body systems working, which can slow down the onset of hypothermia.

RECOVERY: We usually think of recovery as something that occurs after our activities, but it can start before you even step out the door. If you eat and hydrate before, during, and after your activity 40

then you are providing enough sustenance to decrease the rate of breakdown of muscles and energy. If you do this successfully, then your other recovery efforts are going to be more successful.

Sleep is one of the best forms of recovery. It is when our body heals the stresses and damage from the day at a cellular level. Reduce alcohol intake, stay hydrated, and try to find a quiet/dark space.

Heat or cold. If you have access to a sauna, hot tub, or cold plunge … use them. It helps flush the legs and muscles for the next day. Make sure you hydrate after prolonged heat.

Massage or self-massage by foam rolling are efficient ways to flush out the lactic acid build up in the legs. It can be uncomfortable to roll over muscles, but those sore areas are an indicator that that part of the muscle tissue needs to be released, which will then work better.

Think of it as a performance enhancer.

TIPS FOR RESORT SKIING Fueling: Bring a snack in your pocket; don’t wait until lunchtime to consume calories. We burn a lot of fuel on the way down, but also on cold days when on the chairlift as the body tries to stay MWVvibe.com

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warm. Eat a snack after you finish your day to help replenish stores from what you burned after lunch. Women have a smaller window to capitalize on this benefit (within 30 minutes post ski).

Hydration: Drink water or something other than coffee in the morning before you ski. At lunch, have water or a warm drink. Anytime you go in for a break during the day, find a water fountain. You could sneak a soft flask of water in your inner jacket pocket, and it won’t freeze.

Recovery: Walking or a light spin on a bike are two ways to flush out the lactic acid that builds up from skiing; others include stretching and foam rolling quads. If you have access to a hot tub or sauna; that can help flush the legs.

A good night’s sleep is also essential to optimize your performance potential the next day.

TIPS FOR BACKCOUNTRY SKIING Fueling: Snacks are going to be your best friend. Energy gels/chews, dried fruit, granola bars, etc., are great options.

Try to keep them warm, because if they freeze they are hard to chew. Keep them in a pocket that is accessible; if something is deep in my backpack then I am less likely to eat enough. I try to have a bite of something every hour or so.

Hydration: Carrying a soft flask in an inner pocket works great. It keeps it from freezing and if you can grab it easily while touring uphill, you’ll be more likely to drink. A thermos with tea or warm electrolyte drink will keep you warm and hydrated. Take care to keep the liquid from freezing.

Recovery: An easy walk or spin on a bike can flush out the legs from a full day of skinning uphill and then skiing down.

Other recovery options will be productive as well, such as stretching, fueling, hydrating, and sleeping well. Soak in a tub or sweat it out in a sauna.

TIPS FOR NORDIC SKIING Fueling: I like to carry a hydration belt that has pockets so I can put in gels, chews, or easy-to-pack snacks. Simple carbohydrates are a great source of energy. If I am going to be out for 45 minutes or longer, I will make sure I bring fuel to start eating every 45 minutes or so.

Winter 2023/24

Hydration: Bringing water or electrolytes is critical to keeping the body hydrated because Nordic skiing requires a lot of work. There are belts that can hold water bottles or insulated water containers. When it is cold, it can be hard to remember to keep drinking because we may not be sweating like we do in the summer. You can make a plan to take a minute to drink every 30 minutes or every X miles, for example.

Recovery: Resting, hydrating, eating, stretching, and sleeping will help get your body ready to go the next day.

Saunas and hot tubs are fun and rejuvenating options.

I utilize this overall approach personally to get the most out of my very active lifestyle—I also advise my physical therapy patients to do the same. Is there a trick to it? The best perspective is to anticipate how you are helping the body recover before, during, and after the activity. And then realize how these activities are building on each other—as most of us combine several in a weekend or over the course of a week. The ensuing fatigue and wear on muscles and joints is often what creates trouble for people. Be mindful of this compounding volume and how it affects you. Being proactive can help keep you, well, active. It’s always more enjoyable when you can do so in a refreshed state and optimized condition.

Hilary McCloy, PT, DPT runs a physical therapy practice in Jackson with a goal to work with the outdoor community, help patients reduce pain, heal from injuries, and help others stay active. Hilary fills her free time with backcountry skiing, trail running, and biking.

She is passionate about environmental advocacy as an alliance member for Protect Our Winters, is an educational speaker, and is a member of the Mt. Washington Avalanche Foundation Board.

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By Andrew Schuyler

Representing 32 ski areas across the Granite State, Ski NH is keenly aware that nature and people are essential to the industry’s long-term prosperity. Therefore, the state-supported nonprofit is addressing many of the challenges resorts face, from a changing climate to employee relations. “Climate and housing are huge issues for the industry,” says Ski NH’s president, Jessyca Keeler.

Photo by Josh Bogardus

Indeed, climate change is a direct threat because it is reducing both snowfall amounts and snowmaking opportunities for ski areas. Any loss of days impacts profit margins with a four- to five-month season. By 2100, the natural snow cover season in the state could shorten to between one and two months, according to the 2021 New Hampshire Climate Assessment.

However, Ski NH and many of its members are taking steps to reduce their contribution to warmer winters. Cranmore, Attitash, and Wildcat, for example, are demonstrating that sustainability can be deployed throughout their operations and play an important role in meeting financial goals and customer and community expectations (see the sidebar).

Ski NH functions, in many ways, as a jack-of-all-trades for its members and the general skiing public. It provides updated snow-condition reports, hosts a job bank portal, organizes promotional events, and engages in education and advocacy for the industry. Indeed, the organization has lobbied state and federal officials about the need for aggressive climate and other sustainability-related policies.

“New Hampshire’s ski resorts are increasingly focused on reducing energy costs and minimizing their carbon footprint,” Keeler wrote in October to the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission in support of energy efficiency programs that are critical to ski areas.

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“Ski resorts have invested in high-efficiency snowmaking systems, adopted LED lighting across their premises, and upgraded heating systems.”

Keeler’s passion for the outdoors—and knowledge about the correlation between economic success and sustainability—is infectious and, presumably, potent when working with policymakers.

An area she is particularly focused on is helping to build the electric vehicle (EV) charging network across the state. EV drivers who come from long distances need to have confidence that they can charge when they arrive in the Valley.

Keeler says the state is an “EV fastcharging infrastructure desert, especially for non-Tesla vehicles.” (Tesla’s current system is not interchangeable with most other EVs.) To that end, Ski NH is collaborating with others in the travel and tourism industry to get the attention of elected officials so they can assist with funding and policy solutions.

Another issue on Ski NH’s radar is often unseen by tourists: affordable housing for seasonal employees. Resorts have a direct interest because if workers cannot obtain housing, mountain operations are at risk. While wages have risen post-pan-

demic, employees still struggle to secure housing in the Valley’s expensive real estate market. Furthermore, developing housing of any type can be difficult because of limited land options, permitting, and opposition from local homeowners.

Also, home-sharing services have eliminated a portion of housing stock from employee rental options.

Over in Maine, Saddleback Mountain recently opened a $10 million, 65-bed employee housing complex. The resort refers to Saddleback House as “attainable” housing, and employees pay no more than 30 percent of their wages to live in the facility.

Back in the Valley, Ski NH is working with the MWV Housing Coalition to raise awareness. Cranmore recently hosted a meeting with a variety of stakeholders who recognize the need to identify affordable options. Keeler says a consensus is emerging that a combination of zoning ordinance updates, funding, and political will is needed.

As the ski season throttles up, many are hoping that last year’s warm and wet start is not repeated. But hope is not a strategy. Clearly, the ski industry cannot control global temperature increases, or single-handedly solve housing issues, but it can embrace strategies that reduce environmental impacts, while also enhancing the experiences of employees and communities. Ultimately, it will be incumbent upon not just ski resorts–but all of us–to consider our impacts, sup-

LEFT: Ski resorts have invested in high-efficiency snowmaking systems, adopted LED lighting across their premises, and upgraded heating systems. BELOW: Cranmore uses an electric diesel groomer that reduces fuel use by 30 percent and significantly extends the vehicle’s life.

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Photo by Abi Allen

Photo by Myles Harrigan

LEFT: The Bartlett-Jackson Ambulance Service and Bartlett Firefighters Association each received $19,000 to continue providing critical services to the community.

RIGHT: Attitash and Wildcat have committed to placing an employee at food waste sorting stations to assist patrons in proper disposal.

port innovation, and participate in policy solutions to ensure that winters continue providing such wonderful bounty.

A Closer Look at Grooming and Community Relations: Cranmore, Attitash, and Wildcat It’s no secret that ski resorts are, well, energy hogs. It takes a lot of power to get customers up the mountain. And factoring in the amount of water that needs to be hauled up and dispersed for snowmaking—some estimates say 10,000 gallons a minute—it’s evident that energy is the proverbial elephant on the trail. To that end, Cranmore is making infrastructure upgrades with a positive return on investment. Deploying more than 500 high-efficiency snow guns has cut electric use in half, providing the mountain with balance sheet gains and emissions reductions. Likewise, Cranmore uses an electric diesel groomer that reduces fuel use by 30 percent and significantly extends the vehicle’s life.

“We’re finding that reducing resource consumption, utilizing renewable energy, and educating our customer base is positive all around,” says Ben Wilcox, Cranmore’s president

GO: Sustainable Tip

Follow Cranmore’s lead and consider establishing an internal sustainability working group. Reporting directly to the board or senior management, representatives from operations, finance, legal, human resources, and marketing can all contribute. It should examine environmental, social, and economic sustainability deficits and opportunities, establish benchmarks, and execute solutions. The working group can also monitor risk exposure in terms of reputation, employee relations, and environmental liabilities. Enterprises that currently have a similar group might: 1) reevaluate its status, and 2) add or remove members if meaningful progress has not been consistent.

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and general manager, adding that the resort has established a sustainability committee tasked with investigating and developing resort-wide initiatives.

Cranmore has also focused on attracting and retaining workers, and typically secures group housing for foreign employees. The mountain is working with stakeholders to develop solutions; seasonally renting small, vacant motels is one such potential option.

Meanwhile, Attitash and Wildcat are making sustainability plays that their parent, Vail Corporation, appears to fully embrace.

“We’re focused on mitigating the effects of climate change on our businesses and being good environmental stewards through our sustainability efforts,” says Abigail Allen, Vail’s New Hampshire communications manager.

Food service areas at Attitash and Wildcat are transitioning from single-use plastics to what Allen describes as “durable serving vessels.” The company has committed to placing an employee at food waste sorting stations to assist patrons in proper disposal. This landfill diversion not only reduces methane emissions but creates compost for local agricultural needs.

In addition to the requisite efficiency upgrades at mountain operations, Attitash has also focused on community relations.

“Being a strong partner in our resort communities is fundamental to our resorts’ identities and crucial to our success,” says Allen, adding that the company works to provide financial and in-kind support to organizations in the mountain towns where it operates.

In fact, as part of the long-awaited removal and replacement of the Summit Triple Chairlift, Attitash auctioned many of those chairs and distributed the earnings locally. The Bartlett-Jackson Ambulance Service and Bartlett Firefighters Association each received $19,000 to continue providing critical services to the community. And, as part of the Double Double Chairlift auction last spring, Attitash contributed $32,000 to both Jen’s Friends Cancer Foundation and the Bartlett Recreation Department.

Cranmore and Vail readily admit that more can—and needs to—be done on the sustainability front. Positive returns on investment, reputational benefits, and risk mitigation are all helping make the case for those steps to be taken.

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BACKCOUNTRY SKIING NEWS AND EVENTS IN AND AROUND MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY

INTERVIEW: MEET CAITE ZELIFF

By Samantha Trombley

Raised in Mt. Washington Valley, Caite Zeliff says it was easy to gravitate towards skiing. After retiring from racing Division 1 at the University of New Hampshire, Caite headed to Jackson, WY to chase a dream of skiing big mountain lines and deep snow.

Now, she’s a sponsored professional athlete, stars in ski films, and takes up any form of free skiing she can. In February, Caite will return to the Valley as The North Face’s featured athlete at the Mt. Washington Backcountry Ski Festival. Let’s hear from Caite about her homecoming!

How did growing up in Mt. Washington Valley, where skiing is part of the DNA, prepare you to become a pro skier?

The Eastern Slope Ski Club, which provides skiing and snowboarding opportunities to elementary students in Mt. Washington Valley, introduced me to the mountains, and I fell in love instantly.

I had incredible role models, two of them being Leanne Smith and Devin Delaney, and lots of support to chase my ski racing dreams. Spending thousands of hours skiing on ice and in nasty East Coast conditions prepared me for my career as a professional skier. I appreciate bluebird pow days WAY more because of my time spent developing my skills in New Hampshire.

TOP: Caite Zeliff Skiing: Photo by Chris Figenshau LOWER: Photo by The North Face

You excelled at ski racing from a young age through college until a knee injury ended those dreams. Ironically, that opened the door to big mountain skiing.

What was that transition like and where did you find the training, mentorship, and/or confidence to make it happen?

It’s hard to explain, but my whole life I have had this pretty incredible ability to follow my heart. I have always been in tune with what I want deep down, and I have had the support to chase those dreams unapologetically. There was something inside of me that knew I was not done with skiing when I decided to retire from ski racing. I had this really intense pull to go explore the West and I just couldn’t ignore it. There wasn’t any training or any mentorship, I just followed my heart and believed in myself.

What was it like coming back home to ski Tuckerman Ravine for a new episode of the YouTube hit, Return of the Turn?

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Coming home to Tuckerman Ravine to film Return of the Turn truly felt like a full-circle moment. Tucks is gnarly and steep and I was so proud to share our unique terrain. I made sure the film crew got the full valley experience— after filming, we hit Shannon Door for pizza, snagged sushi and wings from Delaney’s, and drank plenty of Tuckerman Pale Ale during our week-long filming window. I’ve skied around the world, but we’ve got something really special here in Mt. Washington Valley.

As the featured The North Face athlete, what are you looking forward to at the Mt. Washington Backcountry Ski Festival?

Spending time with the backcountry ski community that has grown so much since I lived in North Conway. East Coast skiers are rugged and passionate, and I love getting the opportunity to chat shop with die-hards! I hope to get a little time skiing the hometown terrain too, of course!

After the festival, what’s next on the horizon for you?

After the festival, I will head back home.

I made Alaska my official home in February of last year, and I am really looking forward to honing in on my new backyard. I will be filming with Warren Miller in March and have other projects coming up, but my main focus this year is becoming a more well-rounded mountain athlete. Snow safety, ropes, glacier travel, all the skills that allow me to explore safely, are my main focuses as I step into bigger, more consequential terrain.

Follow Caite and her next adventures at @caite_zeliff . Watch Return of the Turn: Tuckerman Ravine and her other videos on YouTube; search Caite Zeliff.

MWVvibe.com

Mt. Washington Backcountry Festival: Photo by Alexandra Roberts

2024 BACKCOUNTRY CALENDAR

Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon WiseguyCreative.com photo

Mt. Washington Valley and neighboring communities are home to the East Coast’s premier backcountry and uphill touring events.

From funky festivals to skin-‘til-you-drop competitions, there’s something for everyone. Check it out!

M.W. Otto Rhode Memorial Skin & Ski January 27, 2024 | Mt. Washington Auto Road Start your engines (aka, grab your skins!) for the 7th Annual M.W. Otto Rhode Memorial Skin & Ski on January 27 at Great Glen Trails. With the potential of 4,618 vertical feet of skiing from top to bottom, this is the ONLY day of the year you can skin up and ski down the famed Mt. Washington Auto Road. Whether you’re a newcomer to the uphill or a seasoned skimo veteran, you can choose to race or skin leisurely, the choice is yours. Otto is a fundraiser for the 501c(3) nonprofit Granite Backcountry Alliance.

Tickets go on sale at midnight on December 31 and typically sell out within 24 hours. www.granitebackcountryalliance.org/otto Mt. Washington Backcountry Ski Festival February 8-11, 2024 | North Conway This four-day festival is the main event of the backcountry skiing community in the Northeast. The MWBC Ski Festival offers guided tours, skill-building clinics, gear and equipment demos, friendly competition, and vibrant après and evening parties. Entering its seventh year, the festival is hosted by Synnott Mountain Guides and Backyard Concept. Don’t miss a chance to ski with special guest Caite Zeliff, professional freestyle skier and The North Face athlete who grew up right here in the White Mountains. www.skimtwashington.com Last Skier Standing | February 10, 2024 Black Mountain of Maine | Rumford, ME One of the most unique uphill ski events in the country, racers compete to see just how long they can go. Organized by The White Mountain Ski Co. crew, competitors take off each hour for a lap on Black Mountain’s 1.1-mile, 1,000-foot vertical uphill route.

The race concludes when the “Last Skier Standing” shows up at the start line, solo. www.skithewhites.com/pages/last-skier-standing Winter 2023/24

Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon March 16, 2024 | Great Glen Trails/Tuckerman Ravine The Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon is the Northeast’s premier single-day adventure race. It now consists of fat bike, XC ski, snowshoe, mountain run/skin, and skimo legs. Racers compete as individuals or relay teams to complete the course that starts at Great Glen Trails and finishes on the western flank of Tuckerman Ravine. Proceeds from the event support the Mount Washington Avalanche Center. www.tuckermaninferno.com Wild Corn Backcountry Shindig April 5- 7, 2024 | King Pine Ski Area Wild Corn Shindig is the season finale of the backcountry ski season. Join Granite Backcountry Alliance for a three-day mountain takeover at King Pine Ski Area, when the lifts are shut down to create a backcountry oasis in Madison, NH. Celebrate the transition from winter to spring with tons of vendors, sweet corn bumps, skimo race, demos, gear sales, funky costumes, live music, lodging and car camping, and more. Featuring two nights of the jam band sensation Pink Talking Fish, snag your tickets and lodging early as the area will be in high demand from the Eclipse. www.granitebackcountryalliance.org/wildcorn Granite Backcountry Alliance (GBA) seeks to enhance wintertime outdoor recreation across New Hampshire and western Maine by developing its network of low-impact human-powered backcountry skiing known as “Graniteland.” Since 2016, GBA has developed over 50,000 vertical feet of terrain and maintained an additional 10,000 vertical feet of historic ski trails through more than 33,000 hours of volunteer work. Collaborating with local partners such as Upper Saco Valley Land Trust, White Mountain National Forest, the Frackleton Family, and the White Mountain Reflection Center, GBA has generated terrain supply to meet the surging demand of backcountry skiing, the fastest-growing segment in the ski industry.

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Photo courtesy of Backyard Concept, LLC

Backcountry Community— Building Momentum

By Anna Mangum

T

he first time I tried ski touring was at Sunday River in 2018. A member of my college’s outing club, one of the senior members, sent out an email with an open invite to join him “skinning at Sunday River before school. No experience necessary. If you like hiking, you’ll like this.” Curious, I responded. I had hopes to get outside during the winter, and hailing from Atlanta, confined myself to the indoors much of my first winter in Maine as a freshman.

The outing club member who sent the email kindly responded to my inquiry, offering to meet me in the gear room. I would need to rent a pair of uphill skis.

Once I had all my gear checked out, I didn’t know what to expect. We met up with three other outing club students the next morning, all men, departing campus at the tame hour of 5 a.m. Sitting in the car engulfed in darkness, my lack of skiing experience knocked on my head like a drum. What are you doing going 48

with these guys, all of whom are probably excellent skiers? I still wasn’t quite sure what “skinning” was.

We arrived at Sunday River just before sunrise. Everyone put on their boots and skis, and skins on their skis. When I took my first step, it felt impossible to move.

How does one shuffle up the mountain?

My knee hurt after three steps. I asked the trip’s organizer if this was normal. He looked at me and stifled a laugh—he was too kind. My heels were locked in, I hadn’t switched it to uphill mode. The trip up the mountain became much easier after he gave me a brief tutorial on the different settings on the ski. My boots didn’t have walk mode, something I would later learn made a huge difference. Every step up the steep slope of Sunday River took hard effort on my part, as someone who wasn’t entirely familiar with hiking or skiing. When we got to the top, I was already wishing we could go down and do it again (sadly, we were beholden to our

student schedules).

Throughout that winter, I found myself returning to Sunday River weekly to get a lap in before class. I didn’t even know that backcountry skiing existed until I later moved to the Mt. Washington Valley two years later.

The Valley is an iconic backcountry ski haven in the Northeast, where there are multiple options to pursue ski touring. Ski touring, backcountry skiing, and uphilling all refer to the motion of hiking up a mountain on your skis, skins attached to the bottom for grip.

A longstanding player in the backcountry scene here is retail outfitter Ragged Mountain. Cort Hanson, the VP at Ragged Mountain, shares a bit of their history: “Backcountry skiing has been a big part of our business for 37 years. The first backcountry ski equipment we sold were telemark skis starting in 1987-88; Kazama and Tua ski brands, which were the leading ski brands in the market at that time.”

He’s watched the heavy AT gear become lighter, tele equipment explode in popularity in the 90s, and the emergence of tech bindings. He adds, “Part of this change was a demographic shift, as tele skiers aged out and the new, younger skiers, had better equipment options with AT gear than what was previously available. Plus, new skiers to the backcountry didn’t need to learn a new ski technique.”

In recent years, that growth of backcountry skiing has skyrocketed even further. Resorts in the Valley have expanded their uphill policy to allow people to get in a lap before or after work. Skiers can purchase an uphill pass that will allow them to skin during the day. The benefits of uphilling at a resort are plenty—because it is on piste, or marked terrain, the consequences of this option are relatively low. Skiers skinning at a resort have access to maintained, groomed trails, and there is no risk of avalanche. Likely, there will be other skiers where you are, or at least, ski patrol. This is a fun option for those wanting to get fantastic exercise without having to manage risks associated with the backcountry. Resorts are a great place to start for those interested in eventually dipping their toes into off piste terrain. Newer skiers can familiarize themselves with layering, their gear, and the motion of skinning.

A step above on piste skinning would be the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Trails. The CCC was established by Roosevelt to provide work for unmarried, MWVvibe.com

unemployed men between the ages of 18 and 25 as part of a national program for the conservation and utilization of the country’s natural resources of timber, soil, and water. In the 1930s, the CCC became involved in the work of building ski and hiking trails largely through the requests of the Appalachian Mountain Club and the U.S. Forest Service. This includes the beloved Sherb, (Oft expressed by locals: Is the Sherb in?

Meaning, is it still skiable?) The John Sherburn trail is its full name, running parallel to the uphill Tuckerman Ravine Trail (TRT) on Mount Washington. After ascending the TRT for just over 2 miles and around 2,000 feet of gain, skiers can advance to above-tree skiing, or, if you are like me, turn left at Hermit Lake Shelter and descend on the Sherb. Though the trail is more open than a glade, almost like what you would see at a resort, the challenge comes from the natural conditions. In the early season, rocks are hidden in patches of snow. Later in the season, moguls and ice can pose a challenge. Or icy moguls, a special threat on the Sherb. More experienced skiers enjoy natural features and jumps off the sides of the trail (sometimes I watch my boyfriend in horror as he catches what seems to me an absurd amount of air from a tiny jump). Doublehead in Jackson is another example of a CCC trail, right off Dundee Road. The Doublehead Trail is now maintained by Granite Backcountry Alliance, a local non-profit focused on improving the playing field for backcountry skiers.

Moving on to glade skiing, this refers to skiing through the trees. In the Valley, Granite Backcountry Alliance (GBA) maintains a majority of the glades, such as Crescent Ridge and Maple Villa. Tyler Ray, founder of GBA, shares: “GBA has advanced the sport of backcountry skiing in New Hampshire

Skiers and hikers venturing above treeline are recommended to check the “Higher Summits” weather forecast, reported twice daily by the Mount Washington Observatory. Also, and equally important, when traveling above treeline is to check the daily avalanche forecast with the Mount Washington Avalanche Center.

and Western Maine by providing a network of low-impact human-powered backcountry skiing opportunities to the public (for free) through the creation, improvement, and maintenance of ski glades.” To date, GBA has developed 13 glade zone ranches and maintains four historic ski trails, all with a vertical drop totaling 55,000 feet. Those 17 locations were developed and/or maintained by over 33,000 volunteer hours across 12 towns 120 miles apart. The chairwoman of Mount Washington Avalanche Center Foundation (MWACF), Mouna Goyette, describes the appeal of glade skiing: “The further you go off a designated trail, you become consumed by a magical forest. In that solitude, I find a lot of peace. The way down is more technical because you have to turn around trees, and in New England, they are often tightly knit.”

Next, and our final option, is what the area is famous for: above treeline skiing. As you get up high in the White Mountains, this adds a certain level of commitment, knowledge, experience, and equipment. It is not for everyone—you’ll likely find me at the resort or the Sherb, but nowhere near an avalanche zone. “When getting into this terrain,” Mouna says, “you have to assess the area for hazards: avalanches, conditions

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that could result in a long, sliding fall, and what people are doing around you. Since Mount Washington is so popular, there’s likely going to be others skiing above and below you. Washington weather is challenging enough in the summer, let alone the winter. You have to be prepared to deal with an injury or a rescue.” Skiers and hikers venturing above treeline are recommended to check the “Higher Summits” weather forecast, reported twice daily by the Mount Washington Observatory. Also, and equally important, when traveling above treeline is to check the

(previously Ski The Whites), a backcountry-specific ski shop in the heart of Jackson, started around that time. Andrew Drummond, founder of the shop, started the business because he wanted to make backcountry skiing more accessible in our region and introduce people to the sport. He says, “Once people saw the ease of use that modern gear provides, more people started to transition to uphill skiing.” As White Mountain Ski Company started gaining traction, he threw events that increasingly more people would show up to.

Skiers and hikers venturing above treeline are recommended to check the “Higher Summits” weather forecast, reported twice daily by the Mount Washington Observatory. Also, and equally important, when traveling above treeline is to check the daily avalanche forecast with the Mount Washington Avalanche Center. See the sidebar for information. daily avalanche forecast with the Mount Washington Avalanche Center. See the sidebar for information.

With that being said, it’s easy to think—Why do this at all? Clearly, many find pleasure scaling Washington’s slopes to descend into the ravine. “I love the challenge,” says Mouna. “For me, it’s a different level of fun. It feels rewarding to seek out the challenge of alpine skiing and succeed.”

But after suffering an ACL injury, Mouna’s risk assessment has been impacted over the years. “Risk aversion definitely changes as people grow. People have kids, get injured, or simply grow older.”

No matter what your preferred terrain is, there’s no doubt that from resort to alpine, uphill skiing has grown rapidly in the past few years. It seems no coincidence that White Mountain Ski Company 50

“Something I noticed early was how quickly a community formed through the events,” says Andrew. “People would meet at them and form friendships.

It became easier to find ski partners.

Now, I’m at the point where if I run into someone in the backcountry, I likely have some connection to them, be it a mutual friend or having attended an event together.”

The rise of demand for backcountry ski gear is being met by the market.

While it might seem overwhelming to choose between the multitude of ever-changing, new products, the employees of White Mountain Ski Company are happy to help talk through purchasing decisions. Their expertise and experience set them apart from most ski shops.

“There’s more awareness of the sport

Local Guides & Avalanche Courses in theb MWV Hiring a guide for a day in the mountains is the best way to improve your skills, knowledge, and safety. Below is a list of guide services that operate in the Mt. Washington Valley and some offer avalanche education courses as well.

Redline Guiding www.redlineguiding.com Mount Washington Avalanche Center www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org International Mountain Climbing School www.ime-usa.com/imcs Synnott Mountain Guides www.newhampshireclimbing.com Northeast Mountaineering www.nemountaineering.com Mooney Mountain Guides www.mooneymountainguides.com Eastern Mountain Sports Schools www.emsoutdoors.com East Coast Avalanche Education www.eastcoastavalancheeducation.com Mountain Shadow Adventures www.mtnshadowadventures.com Chauvin Guides International www.chauvinguides.com/ avalanche-programs Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School www.acadiamountainguides.com SEE PAGE 61 FOR A FULL LIST OF WEATHER RESOURCES

MWVvibe.com

in the media as well,” says Andrew. “It has become an Olympic event. More and more resorts are adopting uphill policies.”

While some naysayers may look down upon New England skiing in favor of terrain out West, there is something special about what we have. “The terrain here is extremely steep,” says Andrew. “We have unique wind events—think of Tuckerman Ravine. The accessibility here is great because we can step out our door and go in any direction. Crawford Notch, Pinkham Notch, Carter Notch—there’s skiing to be had in all of these places. Skiing has always been a staple of life in New England, and it’s a culture that has endured.”

Where to start is a common question that people have. As Mouna points out, it can be intimidating to leave the glades and make the leap to alpine skiing. It was intimidating for me to leave the resort and try the Sherb! “Getting a guide is super valuable,” says Andrew. “You’ll get local expertise for someone to lead you in whatever direction you are trying to go. You can hire a guide with a group of friends, one-on-one, or join a group already going. There’s no lack of guiding outfitters in the Valley.

This will help you learn to plan your trip, what you can ski, what you shouldn’t ski. Learning your limits in the backcountry is a valuable lesson.”

Some of the events happening this winter include Last Skier Standing, MWV Backcountry Festival, M.W. Otto Rhode Memorial Skin & Ski, Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon, and Wild Corn (see page 48). They offer perfect opportunities to race, educate yourself, or meet new potential ski partners. As is customary after any amount of skiing, take a leaf from the après lifestyle and enjoy a pint at Ledge where you will likely be asked: “What’d ya ski today?”

david@fishstreetdesign.com (207) 697-2277 • Fish St., Fryeburg, ME

www.FishStreetDesign.com Winter 2023/24

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>>>>> WHITE MOUNTAIN PERSONALITIES

CHOOSING THE WHITES

By Dave Greenslit

L

yn Greenway has hiked all over the world, in places as farflung as Malaysia, Scotland, and Spain, but he has found a home in the rugged White Mountains of New Hampshire, which have always challenged and rewarded him.

“Trails in the Whites tend to be rocky, with boulders and ledge sections, very rooty, and have lots of holes,” the 69-yearold Bartlett resident explained. “Having said all that, I really enjoy hiking in the Whites. I enjoy the physical challenge and really appreciate being above treeline, especially in winter.”

Greenway grew up in South Wales. He did his early hiking in the United Kingdom, trekking in Wales, the Lakes District in Northwest England, and Scotland. His interest and education in geology landed him jobs in the oil and gas industry, which took him to the U.S., Norway, Russia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Nigeria, where he lived, worked, and—when possible—squeezed in a hike. “Depending on where I was, I could get the odd hike in,” he said. During his career, he also worked on oil rigs in the UK, Norway, Israel, Nigeria, and Libya.

South Wales was a coal mining country when Greenway grew up there. “It was hot, dirty, pretty dangerous. I couldn’t see myself doing that,” he said. “College was the ticket out of South Wales.”

On a business trip to Houston in 1980, he had a chance meeting with a girl from Philadelphia who was in the city visiting a friend. That girl would be Deborah, whom he would marry two years later. The couple had two sons.

During the early part of their marriage, the couple lived in Norway, the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, and Nigeria. “Aside from a little hiking in Malaysia, that was it.” Their younger son got into Scouts while the family lived in Louisiana and Texas, which rekindled Greenway’s interest in hiking.

I like the challenge of a winter hike.

The mountains feel more remote.

Greenway stands amid the low cloud cover on the summit of Mt. Lincoln. Joe Roginsky photo

52

MWVvibe.com

REALTOR, CRS, GRI

bernadette

He and Deborah bought a place in North Conway in 2007.

Living in Connecticut a few years later, they commuted to New Hampshire on weekends. “That’s when I really started to get back into hiking,” Greenway said.

He usually hiked five or six miles with Deborah on mountains, including Chocorua, Kearsarge North, the Moats, Pierce, Jackson, and Eisenhower. She was not one to hike farther.

Greenway and his wife moved to North Conway fulltime in 2015, and later to Bartlett after he left his job in Connecticut.

Reading the local paper, Deborah spotted an article about the Forest Service needing volunteers for trail maintenance and as stewards at trailheads and in the backcountry to educate hikers.

Greenway signed on and continues in those capacities for the Forest Service. (Deborah succumbed to ALS in 2018.)

He recognized the need for stewards early on when he was part of a civilian search and rescue team in Wales, teams that sometimes worked alongside professionals from the Royal Air Force. Greenway’s team was helping monitor a sponsored walk in North Wales by manning way stations on the trail. He saw a number of people, not participants on the walk, who were inadequately dressed for hiking.

“Yes, they came up and went down, but it would not have taken much—a rainstorm (remember, this is Wales) or a slip and a twisted ankle—and it would have been a whole different story,” Greenway said. “The Forest Service trailhead steward program is directed at exactly this kind of behavior.”

He maintains the section of the Moat Mountain Trail between North and South Moat mountains. Hiking to the Moats and back from the Passaconaway Road trailhead covers a distance of about 11 miles. Including the trail work, a day on the Moat Mountain Trail involves eight or nine hours.

Greenway is an avid winter hiker. “I like the challenge. The mountains feel more remote,” he said, adding that since the pandemic, he sees more people on trails, including in winter.

Unlike in the other three seasons, when “no two steps are the same” in the Whites because of the roots, rocks, and holes, packed snow makes walking more manageable, enabling hikers to keep a smoother cadence, according to Greenway.

He enjoys being above treeline, especially in the Presidentials or on Franconia Ridge. “I really like the northern Presidentials.” One of his favorite winter hiking trails is Airline to Mount Adams. Greenway also likes the Caps Ridge Trail to Mount Jefferson. To do this, he parks at the lot for the Ammonoosuc and Jewell trails, hikes the Boundary Line Trail to Jefferson Notch

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Greenway recognized the need for stewards early on when he was part of a civilian search and rescue team in Wales, teams that sometimes worked alongside professionals from the Royal Air Force.

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ABOVE LEFT: With Mount Washington in the background, Greenway is surrounded by snow-laden trees on the North Twin Trail, east of the summit.

Sandy Roginsky photo. ABOVE: Lyn Greenway with Sandy Roginsky on the summit of Mt. Lincoln during a Franconia Ridge traverse. Greenway was helping Roginsky in her quest to hike New Hampshire’s 4,000-footers in winter. Joe Roginsky photo.

Greenway starts days in advance of a hike by checking the weather forecasts on www.mountwashington.org and www.mountain-forecast.com. Temperature, wind speed and direction, and precipitation are all factors to consider.

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Road and up Caps Ridge, then over the Gulfside Trail and down the Jewell Trail. “A good, solid 10 miles.”

Hiking in the White Mountains requires proper preparation, clothing, and gear regardless of the season, but especially in winter, when the consequences of being cold, wet, or lost are much greater.

Greenway, who usually hikes alone, starts days in advance of a hike by checking the weather forecasts on the Mt. Washington Observatory website and on mountain-forecast.com. Temperature, wind speed and direction, and precipitation are all factors to consider.

He favors Hillsound Trail Crampons, which strike a middle ground, traction-wise, between MICROspikes and full crampons. They also are made to resist snow from balling underfoot, an annoyance that can cause a hiker to lose footing.

Besides the gloves and mittens he might carry, Greenway has mitts that cover the grips of his hiking poles and extend up his forearms for additional warmth. For stream crossings where the water is too high for rock hopping, he has Wiggy waders to slip over his boots and pants.

And, crucially, he carries an emergency storm shelter and bivy. “I’m going to carry enough stuff with me so if things go bad and I cannot get down, I’ve got a sleep system.”

Greenway almost needed it on a winter hike on which he climbed to the Presidential Ridge next to the

Cog Railway, hiked up and over Mount Monroe, and descended via the Edmand’s Path. It was cloudy, getting dark, and with trail signs encrusted in ice; it was hard to tell whether they were signs or not. The Edmand’s Path was not obvious.

He eventually found it, only to encounter small ice-covered evergreens bent across the section of trail on the flank of Mount Eisenhower. “That was not a lot of fun, but at least I knew where I was,” Greenway said.

And if he was unable to find the trail, he was prepared to descend into the krummholz and spend the night.

On another winter hike, he climbed to Boott Spur on the shoulder of Mount Washington, intending to cross the top of Tuckerman Ravine and come down Lion’s Head. Conditions were, as Greenway tells it, “A little sketchy,” with ground squalls making visibility difficult. Had he not met other hikers on the route, he would have turned around sooner, but the group pressed on toward Lion’s Head. However, when they could not see the cairns that mark the route, they turned back—always the smart choice in bad weather.

As any experienced hiker can tell you, the mountain will still be there.

Have a suggestion for someone to profile in White Mountains Personalities? Email info@wmvvibe.com.

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WINTER HIKING THE WHITES

By Lily Hartman

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MWVvibe.com

WiseguyCreative.com photo

Expect the Unexpected A few years ago, Rob Cummings, an experienced winter hiker, was heading up Old Bridle Path at 2 a.m. to catch a sunrise on Mount Lafayette, which he’d done a dozen times in winter already.

The Mount Washington Observatory higher Summits Forecast, predicted that the summit would be in and out of the clouds. As he entered the alpine zone, the weather started to turn—visibility was low and the wind was picking up rime ice and snow. So, he made the wise decision to call it a day and turn around, but found himself struggling to find the next section of the trail for a few hours. When he stopped to grab some food and water, he accidentally dropped his stuff sack with the 10 essentials down the gully. He had no service to text or call for help, but somehow managed to get a post uploaded to Facebook asking for a rescue.

“I didn’t expect for the visibility to worsen by whipping up the snow and ice out of the atmosphere,” says Cummings. While waiting for help, he dug a hole behind a rock for shelter.

Despite losing his stuff sack and waiting in winds up to 40 miles per hour and wind chills down to zero degrees, Cummings was prepared with the right layers and gear that helped him survive the conditions. As the sun was setting, he finally got rescued.

The White Mountains is a place that attracts avid hikers in the winter for its stunning snow-covered peaks, Narnia-like trails, and challenging, yet rewarding, terrain. As beautiful as these mountains are, hikers should always be prepared for extreme and unexpected weather conditions. These conditions can happen on any peak in the White Mountains, but espeWinter 2023/24

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cially in the Presidential Range and on the Franconia Ridge—known for their extreme winds and very cold temperatures. In Ty Gagne’s book, The Last Traverse, he explains how the Franconia Ridge has wind patterns similar to those on Mount Washington due to its high walls and wavy slopes.

FIND THE RIGHT GEAR AND PEOPLE

Gagne recommends starting low and slow before attempting to hike the higher peaks. You don’t want to be practicing thermoregulation or testing out new gear on a hike above treeline that takes an entire day to complete. Trial and error is a part of winter hiking, and figuring out what pace and gear works best for each individual hiker takes time.

“Whatever works, you just hold on to; and whatever doesn’t, you let go of,” says Gwenn Stratton, an experienced and avid winter hiker in the White Mountains. Stratton has Raynaud’s, a condition that causes areas of the body, such as fingers and toes, to feel numb from cold temperatures.

Therefore, she always has hand and toe warmers handy on winter hikes. In addition, she brings plastic bags to put in between her wet boots and socks in cases where her feet get wet and has to

Before heading out on a winter hike, you should know the predicted weather, trail conditions, potential water crossings, road closures, and avalanche risk in certain areas.

change her socks on the trail. This allows her new pair of socks to stay dry, which keeps her feet warm.

In addition to having the right gear, who you choose to hike with will play a role in how the experience goes. Stratton recommends hiking with those who have a similar pace as you so everyone in the group can keep their body temperature regulated.

“In the wintertime, if you stop moving, it doesn’t take long for you to get really cold and uncomfortable, so you really want to be efficient in your economy of motion,” says Mike Cherim, owner of Redline Guiding. Before diving into winter hiking, consider taking a winter or mountaineering skills course, such as with Redline Guiding, where you’ll learn how to prepare your pack with the “13 essentials” and more, as well as your body and mind for winter conditions.

Before heading out on a winter hike, you should know the predicted weather, trail conditions, potential water crossings, road closures, and avalanche risk in certain areas. Pat Ferland, a guide at Redline Guiding, says that knowing the trail conditions will help you determine the type of traction you’ll need: snowshoes, crampons, and/or spikes. In addition, carrying an ice axe in areas with long-sliding fall potential is recommended. Those going above treeline should always have a pair of goggles and a hard shell handy to shield themselves from the wind.

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Three friends head up the Starr King Trail.

Courtesy photo MWVvibe.com

WINTER HIKING RESOURCES WEATHER REPORTS: Higher Summits Forecast Visibility and weather conditions can change drastically when hiking in the White Mountains, making it very easy to lose and/or go off trail.

Check current conditions and the Higher Summits Forecast at www.mountwashington.org/experience-the-weather/higher-summit-forecast.aspx.

Additional weather reports: • www.mountain-forecast.com • www.weather.gov • www.trailsnh.com/tools/weather-forecast.php TRAIL CONDITIONS: • www.newenglandtrailconditions.com AVALANCHE REPORTS: • www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org WATER LEVEL STATUSES: • www.waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/rt ROAD STATUSES: • www.trailsnh.com/reports/Forest-Roads-Gates.php • For $30, hikers can buy a life-long REI membership that allows them up to one year for returns and exchanges on used gear, with a few exceptions.

• For $25, hikers can buy a Hike Safe Card which makes them not liable to repay rescue costs, unless their actions meet certain criteria set forth by legislation.

Profits support New Hampshire Fish and Game search and rescue efforts.

• Ty Gagne’s books, The Last Traverse: Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites and Where You’ll Find Me: Risk, Decisions, and the Last Climb of Kate Matrosova, tell real-life stories that teach readers about risk management and decision making, search and rescue efforts, and the realities of winter hiking in the White Mountains.

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WHAT IS SOMETHING IN THE WINTER YOU COULDN’T HIKE WITHOUT?

We took to Instagram to see what the hiking community recommended for gear they couldn’t hike without.

“Big puffy jacket” – @nhbeardsmith “Goggles” – @pandemichiker “A jacket” – @jbags190 “My dog” – @nh_runner_hiker “Hot tea” – @coreyperkinstime “Burgeon flume base layer” – @rileymcgurn “Garmin 66i” – @zach_andersson “Insulated thermos of hot chocolate” – @miadevaia “Merino base layer and darn tuff socks” – @summits.of.glory “Chapstick” – @intothealpines “Hand warmers” – @michaela_marshall “Something to cover my head and ears: hood or hat” – @seanluke2 “Extra hand warmers” – @lostinthealpine “Hot chocolate” – @nicholethenomad “An extra pair of socks and gloves” – @erika.halaby “My supply of Whatchamacallit bars” – @randiic “Power bank/charger” – @seanzygram “Puffy” – @backcountry_brad91 “My friends” – @peaks2waves “BD Mercury Mitts” – @ejrobbie “My Sony a711” – @peak_baggins “A thermo of hot ramen” – @cloudonamountain “Therm-a-Rest pad and a stylus on a retractable wire keychain for my phone” – @postholethewhites

PREPARE YOUR BODY

In the winter, it’s essential to pack the right layers and be able to grab them quickly, according to Cherim. Base layers should be made of some type of breathable, lightweight, and sweat-wicking material, such as merino wool or polyester. Cotton should be avoided since it does not absorb moisture and will make you cold once you cool down, which can lead to hypothermia.

In addition to proper layering and consistent movement for maintaining thermoregulation, “If we’re not consistently fueling and we’re not getting that energy, our body is going to have a harder time staying in homeostasis and being able to keep us warm, and then that would increase risk of hypothermia,” says Sarah LaCourse, a certified sports nutritionist, certified personal trainer, and certified eating disorder recovery coach.

LaCourse recommends bringing higher-calorie foods, such as peanut butter pretzels or hard-boiled eggs, since our bodies work harder in the cold to keep us warm. Stopping for too long in the winter can be uncomfortable, so she says it’s better to nibble on food more frequently throughout the hike.

In addition, try bringing foods that won’t freeze easily.

If they do, LaCourse suggests keeping them next to a hand warmer or near your body well before you plan on eating them, so they soften.

“Not as many people think about preparing while they are hiking,” says LaCourse. “There is an experience component to it.”

When it comes to hydration, there is a psychological response 60

from the cold that makes us believe we aren’t as thirsty. If you are urinating consistently on a winter hike, that may not necessarily mean you are hydrated, either; so be sure to sip your water and electrolytes consistently. LaCourse says that when we are out in colder weather, body fluids can be moved from your extremities to your core, which increases urine output. This is known as cold-induced diuresis, which can further lead to dehydration.

To prepare your body prior to a winter hike, LaCourse says that performing lower-body exercises in different planes of motion, such as step-ups, squats, and lateral lunges, are great for supporting the different movements we make while hiking.

In addition, improving core strength and doing pull or row movements will improve posture and therefore help hikers endure the weight of their packs all day. Those who don’t lift weights can benefit by hiking consistently prior to winter or on a mountain they’re comfortable with once winter begins.

PREPARE YOUR MIND

This past February, Gagne was invited to traverse the Franconia Ridge with two people he hadn’t met before. It was a bad weather day, and his fitness level wasn’t where it needed to be for that winter. On numerous occasions during the hike, his gut kept telling him to turn around, but couldn’t bring himself to tell the others that.

“I had the experience to be there, what I lacked was the fitness and the candor,” says Gagne. He completed the hike that MWVvibe.com

BUILT ON HERITAGE. INSPIRING THE FUTURE.

INTRODUCING:

Crossing the summit of Mount Washington.

WiseguyCreative.com photo

ADDITIONAL TIPS

Prevent Your Water from Freezing & Consider Bringing a Warm Beverage While hikers tend to drink far less water on winter hikes due to the psychological response of feeling less thirsty, the body often needs just as much, if not more liquids since it’s working harder in the winter. Make sure your water is insulated in a container that will prevent freezing or your camelback has the proper insulation. An additional way to stay hydrated while also keeping warm is to bring soup, hot water, or tea on your hike. Don’t have an insulated bottle? Wrap your bottle in a sock.

MICROspikes, Snowshoes, or Crampons?

Most winter hikes with packed trails will be far easier with MICROspikes. They are essential for staying safe on the trail and preventing constant slipping.

Mountaineering snowshoes provide outstanding traction and great foot stability on any winter terrain. Hikers are encouraged to always carry snowshoes even if they anticipate that only light traction is needed. Mike Cherim, owner of Redline Guiding, says that, “many hikers make bad decisions at trailheads anticipating too little in terms of needs and challenges.”

Crampons are usually only necessary in steeper terrain for more serious climbing and mountaineering.

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YOUR WINTER PACK SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS

Enjoing the views through Crawford Notch to Mount Willey.

WiseguyCreative.com photo

13 ESSENTIALS (PROVIDED BY REDLINE GUIDING) • Map and compass • Whistle • First aid kit • Headlamp • Waterproof bivy or tarp • Fire starter • Protection (sunblock, sunglasses; no exposed skin) • Knife or multi tool • Paracord or rope • Windproof and waterproof hard shells • Extra food and water • Extra layers (base layers, socks, hat, gloves, neck gaiter, insulated soft shell) • Foam or sleeping pad ADDITIONAL ITEMS • Insulated boots • Snowshoes, microspikes, and/or crampons (depending on conditions) • Hand and toe warmers • Trekking poles • Garmin or other satellite communicator • Extra batteries • Portable charger • Gear repair kit • Toilet paper • Pack cover

Snowcaked trees between Mount Webster and Mount Jackson.

WiseguyCreative.com photo

day, but learned a lot from the experience. Sometimes, we’re so focused on completing a mission that we’re oblivious to changes in terrain, weather, and the passing of time. He says that hiking in these conditions is about having a strong sense of self, because if you start to become hypothermic due to a lack

Sometimes, we’re so focused on completing a mission that we’re oblivious to changes in terrain, weather, and the passing of time.

of self-awareness, decision making becomes more problematic.

It’s important to check in with yourself throughout the hike to ensure it’s safe to continue onward.

“We can overestimate our experience and underestimate the risks involved of what we’re setting out to do,” says Gagne.

In 2021, Ryan James decided to solo hike the Franconia Ridge.

He wasn’t expecting much snow and the weather looked fine, so he didn’t bring snowshoes, feet warmers, or a bivy. When he finally got up to the ridge from Falling Waters Trail, it started snowing and there were times where he couldn’t see more than 62

ABOVE TREELINE ITEMS • Above treeline: transceiver, probe, and shovel • Goggles and face mask • Ice axe

30 feet in front of him. It was getting colder, and the wind was picking up. Right before summiting Mount Lafayette, his feet went numb. With low visibility, squinty eyes, and a lack of foot tracks to follow, he realized that his only option was to keep moving forward. James says that he delayed his acknowledgment of the danger and that he learned a lesson that day about the importance of being prepared for winter conditions.

“A lot of times when I’m hiking, I feel like I’m driven by ego,” he says. “I’ve never been so quickly humbled by a mountain before.”

IT’S WORTH GETTING OUT THERE

While winter hiking has challenges and requires extra planning, gear, and work such as breaking trail, Stratton says its beauty makes it worth the effort. Before she began winter hiking, she never envisioned herself doing so. She’s never been a fan of the cold, and still isn’t, yet now she’s out there pursuing single-day Pemi loops and Presidential Traverses in winter conditions.

“The experience of solitude; of beauty; of self-resilience; of the tranquility that nature can deliver is just on a different level in the winter than it is in the summer,” says Cummings.

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Winter 2023/24

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HI ... I’M GROWING COLD.

By Mike Cherim Hypothermia—an insidious cooling of the body’s core temperature—is measured in stages that may correspond to some degree to the numbers on your thermometer. What begins as the body’s simple fight for preservation, a body so willing to part with its limbs, quickly escalates into a death spiral from which there is no escape without some sort of intervention. The air may warm, the sun may come out, the cooling breezes may subside, your clothes may dry, or a person with the proper knowledge and gear may stumble upon your lifeless-looking body. All serve as intervention, without which death is sure. In the outdoors, hypothermia is an all-too-common foe.

YMMV, short for your mileage may vary, tells us that we as individuals might have different personal experiences, our physiologies differ, and people do have varying degrees of tolerance to the cold. That said, hypothermia is a process that might look something like this …

Hi ... I’m Normal.

All was good, initially. I run warm, so I de-layered a couple of times as I charged up the mountain. I didn’t know this to be fact, though; I meant it figuratively. I hadn’t actually taken my temperature. Had I, however, I would have found myself chugging along at about 98.9°F. “Normal” is a range that centers on 98.6°F for adults, allowing temps up to 99.0°F. All is good now, but I need to drink and refuel. I manage this without stopping because I plan

I really should have stuck to just one cup of coffee this morning. I had two “Americans,” which are zero-sum—in goes water, out goes water—meaning they aren’t dehydrating me, but the diuretic is annoyingly making me have to pee, which makes me feel even colder. I shiver again, this time with more force and duration.

I don’t know it, but I am experiencing some vasoconstriction (limiting blood flow) in my appendages because my core is cooling slightly and has gone into a slight preservation mode. As a result, my heart rate has also increased, my blood pressure is on the rise, and my respiratory rate has risen. This is all covered up, however, by my exertion, so all of it goes unnoticed—aside from the minor discomfort of more cold stress. I add a layer, a long-sleeved shirt. I shiver again, violently for a period, unable to stop. I know this is my body’s preservation exercise. The fact the shivering is so strong should be more concerning to me, but oddly, it’s not. Had I checked then, I would have discovered my core body temperature had dropped to 94.7°F, below the 95.0°F mildly hypothermic line of demarcation.

Hi ... I’m Oblivious.

I’m wicked smart, as far as hiking goes, anyway. I have all my layers, including a hardshell jacket. I should be wearing it over my longsleeved shirt or a fleece. That would be nice, I think to myself. I wear good fabrics, meaning not cotton, opting for wicking stuff that works even when a little sweaty and damp. My mind drifts a bit.

I’m so tired. I feel like an old man, but I’m not. I would love to take a break, but I plan to do that at the summit and I’m not there yet.

I press on, digging deeper. My mind wanders and it wonders and somehow in my reverie I stupidly walk off the route and am now meandering through a rock-strewn expanse of snow and ice.

After clearing the scene, the first assumption of the rescuers upon looking for signs of life was that I had expired. I was completely unresponsive. for it, getting my systems just right. I fish some trail mix out of a hip-belt pocket and grab the half-liter water bottle I keep on my person. I take a drink. It’s a warm-ish late winter day, with the high expected to hit the mid-40s and a low of 20 degrees overnight.

I stop a little later, right before climbing above the trees, to relieve myself. I’m still feeling warm. It is a balmy 40°F, but I had gotten down to a tee-shirt, so my arms will get cold quickly during my short break, and I will begin to feel some cold stress.

My core is warm, but the cold is making itself known. “Brr,” I say to myself, noting the damp, penetrating coldness.

Hi ... I’m Chilly.

“Brr,” I say again, this time followed by a slight shiver. I might feel warmer if the sun was out, but it’s not. It’s hidden by clouds, entering them as I climb further into the alpine zone. The grayness that was above me is now all around me.

I’m okay with navigating in such conditions, so I press on unfazed. I can feel the cold penetrating my body.

I stop again to pee.

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I’m instantly furious I did this. A moment of clarity, perhaps? Wait, I’ve been clear-headed this whole time. Right?! I’m not cold anymore—though if you called my bluff and took my temperature, you’d realize my core has dropped to a shockingly low 87.0°F. This means I am actually moderately hypothermic, being below 89.5°F. This would make me even more furious and grumpy if I were really aware of it. I continue on, stumble once, falling to my knees in the wet late winter snow, get up, and carry on. By myself. These signs and symptoms would be clear to any educated non-hypothermic person with me, but I went for it solo today.

Hi ... I’m Screwed.

Remember that climbing heart rate and those other early effects of the cold? (I don’t, but you may.) They reversed direction, now slowing, reducing, and getting worse. I’ve gotten worse. I wander along the ridge, no longer on the planned

MWVvibe.com

and well-known route, but just out there. Think of an outlying featureless Arctic tundra … and you get the general idea of what it’s like. Doing it in the clouds is even worse. It’s damp. And the breezes are heat-sapping. A lack of self-awareness, a lack of a partner, a lack of insulation, and a lack of action, all conspire to take me down.

I wander. I wonder. I feel okay and take off my long-sleeved shirt. I intend to put on another layer—part of me is with it—but I don’t. This odd behavior, this near-suicidal delayering, is known as paradoxical undressing and is known to occur in up to half of the reported cases of severe hypothermia. My core body temperature is now 81.4°F, below the 82.3°F that defines the upper limit of this stage. Consciousness is slipping.*

Hi ... I’m Fkd. I wasn’t aware of it, but I had set my pack down during my last layer break and never put it back on. I had de-layered, thinking that is what I should do. I was wrong. I was now suffering the final stages of profound hypothermia—my core below 68°F and dropping like a stone. My mind was no longer engaged in the situation. I reflexively hugged myself, though unaware of the cold, and I looked for a terminal burrow, a place to hide myself, a place to die. I find a space, a little wooded cave, if you will, in the krummholz—the low-growth-stunted conifers and yellow birch trees found in that zone. I enter this space, curling up tightly into a ball, hugging myself more tightly than ever. I am unconscious.

I was aware of none of this, but my wanderings brought me back to the route I began on. The flora that formed my tomb was right next to the trail. My brightly colored tee shirt is visible to anyone passing by. And someone was indeed coming along. Not just anyone, either. It was a SAR team on a training shakedown.

They were about to get a test if they came looking for it. The lead member spotted me, and they all went into action.

After clearing the scene, the first assumption of the rescuers upon looking for signs of life was that I had expired. I was completely unresponsive. No pulse or respiration could be detected.

My heartbeat was so slow, weak, and thready that it was virtually non-existent. My skin had no color, aside from a bluish tint in my lips. I looked dead. The lead rescuer, however, had one more thing to check. He gently pulled one of my self-hugging arms away from my body and waited briefly. The arm, as he hoped, began to close in once again. This action is reflexive, and if I were dead, my arm would have stayed in the position the rescuer put it in. It was going back. It meant I was alive!

With great care, they got me off the ground and covered. Not to warm me, but to hopefully stop or slow the cooling. Below 59°F, there’s usually no coming back, so they wanted to keep me from getting worse. They were challenged, though. In this cold, the patient becomes super sensitive to jostling, with even a minor bump upping the possibility of the heart entering a bad rhythm or stopping.

Winter 2023/24

Hi ... I’m Lucky.

They were able to have me airlifted. Thankfully between aircraft instrumentation, some visibility, and the pilot’s mad helicopter flying skills, they were able to send down a litter, get me in it without killing me, and then fly me to a hospital equipped to deal with such an extreme case. There they slowly warmed me and brought me back to the land of the living. “It was touch and go,” they said. “Any colder, any longer, any delay whatsoever, and the chances would have plummeted even further.” And they added that I was fortunate.

Hi ... I’m Wiser.

A knowing friend, swifter protective actions, a more heightened and focused self-awareness. These things could have prevented this event from occurring, but all were absent. In the end, it was fate or dumb luck that saved the day. The SAR people being in the right place at the right time. The Air National Guard willing and able to send out the helo. A heart strong enough to take it all and rebound.

All of it could have happened. It didn’t happen, not to me, this is fiction. But it does happen all the time. According to the CDC, an average of 1,301 hypothermia deaths occur annually in the United States. Many of these deaths are not in winter and not in extreme cold. To avoid this threat, be aware of the dangers, know the signs and symptoms, and act timely and appropriately. Also, not going it alone—especially in “hypothermia weather” such as that described in this story—will improve your chances of not dying at the hand of this silent and inconspicuous rogue. * PLEASE NOTE: At 81.4°F, it is quite probable the patient would already be unconscious. Some liberties were taken in the telling of this piece of fiction for dramatic effect. Also note, the author is a wilderness first responder (WFR), not a medical doctor.

Mike Cherim, an NH S.A.R. volunteer, is the owner of Redline Guiding. His company offers myriad outdoor activities like hiking and climbing in the WMNF, wilderness education, and more (even mountain weddings).

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Josh Hummel, Adventure Photography

A Community-Based Approach to White Mountain Hospitality

By Ashley MacPherson

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MWVvibe.com

Local Hostels Offer Lodging and a Modern, Social Connection to the Outdoors

A

s I sat on the couch in the living room of the CoHo hostel, I couldn’t help but feel comfortable and welcomed. With freshly brewed tea and the fire roaring, owners Haley Gowland and Kyle Newman walked me through their goal for CoHo to be a place for affordable access to the

hostels. When sourced in a dictionary, the general description of it refers to a hostel as an inexpensive lodging facility that often accommodates young travelers, most commonly offering dormitory-style sleeping arrangements; meals and planned activities are sometimes provided. Some may have heard

outdoors in an environment that fosters conversations in communal spaces just like this one—where people can connect and learn from their shared and unique experiences.

Hostels have an interesting history globally. The term “hostel” itself takes on various interpretations based on people’s experiences and exposure to

terms like “youth hostel” and think of backpacking Europe, others may relate the term to a party atmosphere, while others may think that a hostel focuses on supporting the unhoused.

As noted by Hostelling International USA (a hostelling organization and registered charity for more than 90 Youth Hostel Associations in over 90

The shared spaces in hostels bring guests of all ages together, and the common area is often alive with conversation.

Josh Hummel, Adventure Photography

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countries), the first origins of hostelling can be traced back to Germany in the early 1900s, when a German schoolteacher recognized the need to allow school children the chance to travel and experience other parts of their country safely and affordably. For years, hostelling gained popularity in Europe.

After WW II, hostelling associations sprung up worldwide as a means of reducing isolation and increasing understanding, when governments placed new value on this type of travel.

As for hostelling in the U.S., the origins are closer than you may think. In 1934, Isabel Smith (a schoolteacher) and Monroe Smith (a Boy Scout leader), attended an international seminar on hostelling, and soon after started the first American Youth Hostel (AYH) nearby in Northfield, MA—serving as a launching pad for additional locations in Vermont and New Hampshire in 1935. The early mission of the AYH was “... to help all, but especially young people, to a greater knowledge, use, and love of the countryside, and to make available to them the cultural and educational benefits of travel, both here and abroad… .”

These early American hostels also offered a range of activities to guests, from hiking to cycling.

CoHo: CONWAY HOSTEL So what is hostelling like today in our own backyard?

Prior to starting CoHo in Conway, Haley and Kyle, originally from New England, spent years leading outdoor activity programs for kids in Colorado—a time in their lives that showed them the impact that access to the outdoors can have in shaping the way people view themselves and the world.

When they found the hostel up for sale in 2020, they purchased and renovated it with the goal of reimagining the rural hostel experience and bringing it to the Valley. They imagined CoHo playing an active role in the community they love, and being the liaison between all individuals and the outdoors.

Today, CoHo offers a variety of shared and private options across their 12 rooms, as well as campsites, along with a

The CoHo kitchen has two stations, two refrigerators, and a ton of shelf space so small and large meals are possible. Common spaces offer opportunities to crack a book, have a meal, play a boardgame with family, or meet new friends.

Kyle and Haley imagined CoHo playing an active role in the community they loved, and being the liaison between all individuals and the outdoors. community kitchen and living space, a fire pit, and shared gear such as bikes. They staff locally, also offering workstay options.

With their ethos of “everyone can use more conversation with strangers,” truly everyone is welcome at CoHo regardless of age, ability, race or orientation—from retired solo guests returning each year for canoe trips, to families exploring the mountains during ski season, to groups of international travelers exploring the U.S. during a road trip.

Haley and Kyle also partner with various affinity groups and organizations that give their members, including underrepresented groups, access to the outdoors. Some of these 68

Josh Hummel, Adventure Photography

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Josh Hummel, Adventure Photography

Private rooms, able to accommodate two-eight people, are available or bunk in a shared room for the most affordable gateway to the outdoors.

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Josh Hummel, Adventure Photography

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Philip Carcia photo

groups include Flash Foxy, an organization that supports women and genderqueer climbers, which does a hostel takeover each year for a climbing festival; and Vet Expeditions, working to enhance the lives of the nation’s veterans, which visits CoHo for a three-day weekend at the hostel each year for ice climbing.

Here in the Valley, CoHo is working to bring together other New England hostels that create and meet shared standards of affordability, ethical behavior, inclusivity, accessibility, and a comfortable and clean environment.

This alignment is modeled after other region-based hostel associations such as The Hostel Collective in Colorado, as well as larger organizations such as Hostelling International. Their goal is to bring this same level of collaboration and quality to rural hostelling in the Northeast.

THE NOTCH HOSTEL Part of building and sustaining this community of hostels includes connecting with other hostels that share these principles, the closest of which to CoHo is The Notch Hostel in North Woodstock, New Hampshire. Originally from Massachusetts, Serena Ryan and Justin Walsh founded The Notch Hostel in 2015, inspired by the book AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, which overviewed the hostels along the popular hiking route. Realizing that there was no hostel in the Lincoln/Woodstock area—and recognizing the opportunity to build a business that combined their passion for

Philip Carcia photo

Serena Ryan, now the sole owner of the hostel, has coined the term “hamily,” which describes the hostel’s atmosphere, made up of staff, guests, and friends.

Philip Carcia photo

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hiking, climbing, and mountaineering with their love of the area—Serena and Justin dove in head first and converted an 1890s farmhouse that was up for sale as a single-family home into a hostel.

Today, the Notch Hostel welcomes up to 30 guests a night. Though all ages are welcome, the Notch often sees guests between the ages of 25 and 75, interested in exploring the great outdoors. The grounds offer access to gardens, firepits, and shared spaces such as the kitchen, dining room, and library. Guests from all over the world have cooked meals in their communal kitchen—creating a space

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where people can learn about each other, and their cultures, through food.

Serena, now the sole owner of the hostel, has coined the term “hamily,” which describes the hostel’s atmosphere, made up of staff, guests, and friends. The shared spaces in the hostel bring guests of all ages together, and the common area is often alive with conversation. The Notch also fosters a sense of com-

Like CoHo, The Notch Hostel also focuses on supporting underrepresented groups, in particular Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and members of the LGBTQ+ community, through policy, access, and partnerships. munity outside of the hostel walls, inviting residents of the area to partake in the Fireside Chats—a series of monthly speaking events that feature local and regional outdoor-enthusiast speakers, educating hostel guests and residents about their passions through storytelling.

Like CoHo, The Notch Hostel also focuses on supporting underrepresented groups, in particular Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and members of the LGBTQ+ community, through policy, access, and partnerships. The hostel has hosted members of Outdoor Afro and Latino Outdoors for various chapter events, and also hosts their own community events celebrating BIPOC outdoorspeople and highlighting their experiences in nature.

For two additional hostel-style options a bit farther north and south, check out The Bunkhouse at Northeast Mountaineering in Pinkham Notch and Barn Door in Rumney, both catering to outdoor enthusiasts.

In a region that caters to an influx of visitors— many of whom are as drawn to the great outdoors as they are to the cohesive community spirit of the area—hostels are a natural extension of life here.

They express the best elements of what makes Valley life so appealing ... even if just for a hamily visit.

CoHo: Conway Hostel • (603) 662-0306 36 Washington St., Conway, NH 03818 www.cohohostel.com • @coho_hostel

The Notch Hostel • 603) 348-1483 324 Lost River Rd., North Woodstock, NH 03262 www.notchhostel.com • @notchhostel

Additional hostel-style, White Mountain options: The Bunkhouse, Northeast Mountaineering, Glen, NH Joe Dodge Lodge, AMC, Pinkham Notch Barn Door, Rumney, NH Winter 2023/24

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WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR FOOD AND OUR COMMUNITY

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LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

Since 2020 we have donated over

$1,050,000

to local programs and non-profits, all thanks to the patronage of our guests, like you!

In addition, the VO also donates over $13K in member gift certificates to over 180 Organizations/Charities in the MWV area, each year!

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XC Skiing to Exploring White Mountain Nordic Ski Havens

By Kathy Bennett

A S K I E R ’ S PA R A D I S E

Pick Your Own Adventure at Six Cross-Country Areas Located Minutes from North Conway

H

ave a few days to XC ski but not sure where to go? North Conway is consistently rated as a top ski town, and its local cross-country areas often are named among the best in the country. But with six Nordic ski centers all about 30 minutes from North Conway, how can you pick the one that’s right for you? Each offers its own unique take on the sport of Nordic skiing: Bear Notch Ski Touring, Bretton Woods Nordic Ski Center, Great Glen Trails, Jackson Ski Touring Foundation, Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring & Snowshoe Foundation, and Purity Spring Resort XC & Snowshoe Reserve.

Each area has its unique charm and character, making them all a must-visit for seasoned skiers and those new to the sport. But your personal interests and ability might guide your decision on where to go. Read along to choose which one fits the bill for your next ski-touring adventure.

GREAT GLEN TRAILS

Embracing Solitude and Skating Bliss For those seeking an escape from bustling crowds, Great Glen stands as the epitome of tranquil skiing. Offering over 45 kilometers of trails, it’s a haven for skate skiers and those eager to revel in dramatic landscapes. The gentle slopes cater to beginners and experienced skiers alike, fostering a sense of communion with nature.

Its location at the base of Mount Washington offers a stunning backdrop to its meticulously groomed trails. It also offers an elevation that’s great for making, grooming, and holding snow.

Other Adventures If you’re looking for different outdoor adventures, Great Glen has that too. Try fat biking, with rentals available right there. Or take the kids snow tubing in their groomed tubing park. It’s easy to make a day of it for the whole family, even if not everyone wants to ski (if you can imagine that).

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BRETTON WOODS NORDIC CENTER Where Views Paint a Backdrop

Elevating the Nordic skiing experience, Bretton Woods gifts skiers, snowshoers, and even winter bikers with panoramic vistas as they traverse over 100 kilometers of carefully groomed trails. The stunning views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range add an unparalleled allure to the skiing experience, blending scenic beauty with exhilarating skiing.

With the stunning Omni Mount Washington Hotel as a backdrop, Bretton Woods Nordic Center gives skiers flat-groomed trails across its golf course, tree-lined trails through the surrounding woods, or an alpine experience uphill with dedicated Nordic trails at the adjacent Bretton Woods alpine ski area.

Other Adventures Take the Skyway Gondola ride uphill (skis optional!) at the adjacent Bretton Woods downhill ski area. You’ll find the new Rosebrook Lodge at the summit. It offers stunning panoramic views of Mount Washington and the entire Presidential range along with a variety of dine-in or grab-and-go options. Enjoy a hot cocoa or a fresh-poured draft beer … and drink in the views, too.

GREAT GLEN TRAILS OUTDOOR CENTER Route 16, Pinkham Notch Gorham, NH (603) 466-2333 www.greatglentrails.com 74

Total Km - 45 Groomed Km - 26 Tracked Km - 18 Skate Groomed Km - 26 Snowshoe Terrain - 45 Dog-Friendly - Partial

BRETTON WOODS NORDIC CENTER 210 Mount Washington Hotel Road, Carroll, NH (603) 278-3322 www.brettonwoods.com

Total Km - 100 Groomed Km - 100 Tracked Km - 100 Skate Groomed Km - 100 Snowshoe Terrain - 100 Dog-Friendly - Partial MWVvibe.com

JACKSON XC

A New England Village Steeped in Ski Culture Elevating the skiing experience, Jackson offers an array of trails stretching across more than 100 kilometers. This vast expanse accommodates every skill level, from beginners eager to learn to seasoned athletes seeking challenges. The space allows for a spread-out skiing experience, ensuring everyone finds their perfect spot.

Many skiers head right out across the Wentworth Golf Course to the fabled Ellis River Trail. It’s easy enough for beginners but interesting enough for even the most skilled skier. Kids love skiing to the destination of the Cocoa Cabin where, true to its name, all can enjoy a warm drink by the firepit. Kids can go fast and ski the specially designed Anklebiter loop.

The more adventurous might go to Prospect Farm, a short drive from the Touring Center. Due to its elevation, it tends to be among the first trails opened and the last to close at the end of the season. Head out on Boggy Brook Trail with your dog, or up the Wildcat Valley Trail for some of the most rigorous trails in the network. You can even take the lift up at the Wildcat Ski Area and take backcountry skis down “the backside” for a true adventure.

Other Adventures Stop by the nearby Wentworth Hotel, steps from the Touring Center for their après ski Swiss fondue. It’s offered nightly from 4 to 7 p.m. in the lounge area of the hotel.

100 Kilometers of Groomed XC Trails in NH’s White Mountains

Recharge your batteries

Family fun

Ski with your best friend (skijoring)

Ski with your friends

• 100 Kilometers of Groomed XC Trails • Five Distinct Trail Networks

• Easy Loops & Epic Long Distance Routes • Trailside Dining & Lodging

JacksonXC.org

Jackson, NH

In NH’s White Mountains

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BEAR NOTCH SKI TOURING Where Furry Friends Revel

Locals know that Bear Notch is in what is sometimes called its own “snow belt”—you might find snow here when it’s nowhere else. Family-owned and operated by the Garlands, you can find brothers Doug and John grooming the trails daily.

Head east from its cozy farmhouse lodge and you’ll find trails that wind along the river with mountain views. Or head west, go uphill and pass waterfalls, and glide through winding forested trails.

Other Adventures A unique experience awaits dog owners at Bear Notch, where skijoring, a blend of skiing and dog sledding, amplifies the adventure. With over 65 kilometers of dog-friendly trails, it’s a haven for skiers accompanied by their furry companions, fostering a bond between man and pet in a picturesque setting.

JACKSON SKI TOURING FOUNDATION 153 Main Street, Jackson, NH (603) 383-9355 www.jacksonxc.com 76 76

Total Km - 150 Groomed Km - 80 Tracked Km - 80 Skate Groomed Km - 80 Snowshoe Terrain - 40 Dog-Friendly - Partial

BEAR NOTCH SKI TOURING CENTER Route 302, Bartlett, NH (603) 374-2277 www.bearnotchskitouring.com

Total Km - 70 Groomed Km - 60 Tracked Km - 60 Skate Groomed Km - 60 Snowshoe Terrain - 60 Dog-Friendly - Yes MWVvibe.com

MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY SKI TOURING

A Quintessential In-Town Option Embracing the charm of the town of North Conway while offering a quintessential Nordic experience, the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring Center provides 45 kilometers of groomed trails. It’s an ideal choice for those seeking a mix of skiing and the vibrancy of the village, offering a convenient and accessible ski adventure exploring trails through a hardwood forest or enjoying views from riverside trails.

Other Adventures Ski inn to inn and enjoy lunch or après ski at many trailside options. Stops can include an outdoor outfitter, organic café and market, a saloon, a distillery, and craft brewery with taco bar located next to an indoor golf facility, a recent trailside addition. Make a day of it with Ski and Tee, an activity unique to this area.

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PURITY SPRING XC & SNOWSHOE RESERVE

Immersed in the Woods With its expansive network of trails spanning over 12 kilometers, Purity Spring lets skiers delve into the heart of the woods. Adventurers revel in the untamed, natural beauty of the landscape, evoking a sense of wilderness while navigating through a network of trails designed for exploration.

Ski or snowshoe across frozen Purity Lake, or through the Hoyt Audubon Sanctuary for a winter experience like no other.

Other Adventures Enjoy the exhilaration of snowtubing and the ease of a tubing tow lift at Pine Meadows Tubing Park. Or lace up your ice skates to enjoy a glide on the wild side at the Tohko Dome Ice Skating Rink.

WiseguyCreative.com photos

Together, these six Nordic centers boast an impressive 400 kilometers of cross-country trails, designed to cater to classical and skate skiing, ensuring the preferences of every skier are met.

With over 280 kilometers groomed for classical skiing and more than 270 kilometers groomed for skate skiing, these havens are a treasure trove for enthusiasts.

For beginners, gentle terrains beckon, providing the perfect learning grounds. Learn-to-ski packages, equipment rentals, and expert lessons are available at most locations, ensuring a smooth initiation into the world of Nordic skiing.

MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY SKI TOURING & SNOWSHOE FOUNDATION 279 NH Route 16/302 Intervale, NH (603) 356-9920 www.mwvskitouring.com 78

Total Km - 45 Groomed Km - 45 Tracked Km - 45 Skate Groomed Km - 45 Snowshoe Terrain - 45 Dog-Friendly - Yes

The varied terrain, commitment to excellent grooming and trail conditions, and stunning landscapes across six Nordic centers in the region cater to every skier. Whether seeking solitude, thrilling descents, or serene meanders through winter wonderlands, these destinations stand as emblems of New Hampshire’s Nordic ski culture.

Skiers can find a single source of resources to research these areas, thanks to the White Mountain Nordic Association at www.wmnordic.com.

PURITY SPRING RESORT XC & SNOWSHOE RESERVE 1251 Eaton Road, East Madison, NH (800) FREE-SKI www.purityspring.com

Total Km - 28 Groomed Km - 15 Tracked Km - 15 Skate Groomed Km - 15 Snowshoe Terrain - 28 Dog-Friendly - Midweek MWVvibe.com

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A glimpse is sometimes all we get of these large canids, who tend to shy away from humans.

Large canids bearing wolf DNA may be a coyote or, possibly a wolf, reacclimating to its historic territory. What exactly are we seeing? Only time and DNA work will tell.

How close are they? This photograph was taken in the northern part of the Mt. Washington Valley.

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WILL THE COYOTE SAVE THE EASTERN WOLF?

by Christine Schadler, NH Wildlife Coalition

It’s been 120 years since wolves haunted the woods of northern New Hampshire.

Their absence seemed permanent. Or so we thought.

I

n the same way predator eradication opened the way for the coyote, the great expansion of our deer herd has drawn the wolf back—into the high country and deep forests of New Hampshire. The return of the wolf was considered only a remote possibility because, they said, its path from Canada was too cleared of forest, too heavily agricultural, and the St. Lawrence River too swift.

But it’s hard to keep a good dog down. In the last 30 years, large canids—different in various ways from our large eastern coyote—have been captured on trail cameras and by photographers across the northern forest. Sadly, a number of wolves have been killed by hunters mistaking them for large coyotes.

When a skin or blood sample has been retrieved from these wolves, DNA has provided surprising results.

Recent advances in DNA technology have begun to unravel the origins of these wild canids. We have known, for example, that eastern coyotes are hybrids

ing, wolves are lured in, open the carcass and feed, eventually provisioning ravens with a meal.1 European settlers arriving from the Old World had known of wolves since the Great Plague and maintained no such kinship with them. Primordial fear of the dark and wild had always terrified humans. For those settlers, a howling wilderness would test their grit and determination to tame it.

Common ground against predators was found among them, standing against this perceived threat with guns to shoulder, mounting extermination drives against, not just the wolf, but the cougar, bear, rattlesnake, and wolverine.

Aiding predator removal was forest destruction.

Our original northeastern forest mosaic (young, old, and very old trees) supported a community of predators and prey that had evolved to depend upon it. Without the bulwark that intact habitat provided, wild creatures were easily exploited. By 1900, two

of western coyotes, wolves and domestic dogs. The wolf living nearest to us, the eastern wolf, carries coyote DNA; it is this wolf whose DNA is identified from wolf kills in the northeast.

This story chronicles a dual rewilding of northern New Hampshire—first from the coyote and now, from the wolf, courtesy of Mother Nature.

native species of wolf, the gray (Canis lupus) and the eastern (Canis lycaon), along with cougar, wolverine, and lynx had been extirpated from New England, along with their prey: elk, caribou, and deer. The forest would regrow and regrow again as logging continued, but most eastern forests would never attain the age and diversity of earlier times.

Recent advances in DNA technology have begun to unravel the origins of these wild canids. We have known, for example, that eastern coyotes are hybrids of western coyotes, wolves and domestic dogs. The wolf living nearest to us, the eastern wolf, carries coyote DNA; it is this wolf whose DNA is identified from wolf kills.

A TIME OF PREDATOR REMOVAL Wolves exist in their own world, intimately embedded within the land. Native Americans recognized a kinship with the wolf: both are hunters and live in highly social family groups. They saw wolves and other animals, such as ravens, in partnership. Ravens fly far afield and locate prey; through their squawk-

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A WOLF THEY COULDN’T KILL By 1950, original forests east of the Mississippi River had been removed. Forests in the east were converted to farmland in a wave that would follow the westward movement of settlers. Coming onto the Great Plains during the early part of the 19th century, predator removal continued for the wolf, and includ-

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This photograph was taken in the northern part of the Mt. Washington Valley. Is it a wolf? Wolf-hybrid? Wolf-dog? A coyote perhaps? At first glance, there are many characteristics of a wolf. Notice the shorter more square muzzle, slightly shorter ears and large paws. However, with a closer look, using Adobe Photoshop, we can see a bluish tint to the right eye which may reveal some domestic dog in his ancestry. Trait-trading between these canids makes identification impossible without DNA corroboration.

ed cougar, grizzly, and a small wolf—the coyote (Canis latrans), against which the most serious and long-term persecution would be waged.

Concurrently, tens of millions of bison were also killed as part of the effort to eradicate Native Americans

to take large prey, coyotes operate through what is called “fission-fusion.” This adaptation confers flexibility to coyotes, allowing individuals to hunt effectively on their own but take advantage of larger prey by operating as a pack. These wolves have strong pack ties but lack social

who depended upon them. Ironically, wasting away on the Plains, these slaughtered bison would become a bonanza for the indefatigable coyote, whose numbers seemed to grow as hunting pressure increased.

By 1850, federal agents hired sharpshooters to eradicate the coyote at the behest of settlers and livestock interests. Rather than reduce their population, however, coyotes responded to killing campaigns by rebounding— producing larger litters. The available bison carcasses left for scavenging may have benefitted female coyotes with enhanced nutrition, allowing healthier pups to be birthed and more of those pups to survive. The proof of this is the remarkable expansion of the coyote population since the late 19th century.

Where the highly social gray wolf operates in packs

flexibility. Coyotes have it both ways—crucial for their survival in a rapidly changing landscape. According to Dan Flores, the author of Coyote America and an emeritus professor at the University of Montana-Missoula, fission-fusion helped coyotes “survive twentieth-century America’s war on predators when wolves could not.” Coyotes might later infuse eastern wolves with this ability through hybridization.

Through hybridization, the resilience of the coyote may confer to the eastern wolf a greater adaptability to survive in a rapidly changing environment. Coyote DNA is now found broadly among the Canis genus in the Northeast.

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TURNING TOWARD NEW ENGLAND By 1880, a great coyote expansion had begun: thousands of coyotes, no longer held in check by wolves and other predators in the west, began to move east. Old forests had been replaced by farmland or young forests, and—to the great delight of the coyote—predators had been MWVvibe.com

John Rondeau photos

This particular canid, also photographed in the northern part of the Mt. Washinton Valley, has long legs, a narrow muzzle, full tail, and slight body type; all typical coyote traits.

removed as well. So, with abundant small mammals, the table was set for the new highly adaptable small wolf.

Some coyotes veered north through Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where they interbred with two forms of medium-sized wolves: The Great Lakes wolf (Canis lupus lycaon) and the eastern wolf (Canis lycaon) in southwestern Ontario. These wolves are hybrids, having shared DNA with each other, as well as the gray wolf (C. lupus) and, now with the western coyote (C. latrans).

Recent genetic advances show the extent of interbreeding among northeastern canids going back 37,000 years ago when an archaic coyote bred with a wolf.

According to the “species concept,” individuals within a species, breed with their kind to maintain species integrity. Coyotes and wolves have ignored the rules and, perhaps, have found increased adaptability through hybridization. This interbreeding would not occur if there weren’t an evolutionary advantage in doing so. Through hybridization, the resilience of the coyote may confer to the eastern wolf a greater adaptability to survive in a rapidly changing environment.

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1620

1850 Most forested states in the United States: 1. Maine – 89.0% 2. New Hampshire – 77.5% 3. Vermont – 75.7%

1920 ABOVE LEFT: Maps showing the extent of original forests exhisting in the continental U.S. around 1620 (A), 1850 (B), and 1920 (C). [Figure from Greeley (1925).] In 1620, old forests would support certain wildlife such as wolves, wolverine, lynx, elk and caribou. From 1850-1926, removal of original forests left these animals vulnerable to human hunting and development. Younger forests support a different community of animals.

ABOVE RIGHT: New England is one of the most heavily forested parts of the United States. Forested areas provide critical benefits to wildlife. In contrast, in the last hundred years, the growth/return of forests across the northeast, from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont to the Adirondacks, offer safe passage for migrating wildlife, including the eastern wolf. Could this be why we are seeing more activity this area?

THE COYOTE ARRIVES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE The coyote officially arrived in New Hampshire in 1944, in Holderness, shot by a fox hunter. Larger than the 25- to 35-pound western coyote, they were mislabeled coydogs, a name that still surfaces. The term coywolf has been suggested to more specifically identify them, as their makeup is 60 percent coyote, three to 30 percent wolf and some dog.

By the 1980s, coyotes had established themselves causing hunters to fear for the deer herd and farmers for their

east. Over the last 30 years, increasing evidence collected by the Maine Wolf Coalition and the New York State Wolf Conservation Center reveals that wolves are trying to return to the Northeast. This author identified a wolf and two pups howling above a moose wallow in early 2001 north of Berlin, NH. More recently, DNA from large canids mistaken for large coyotes have been later identified as either eastern or Great Lakes wolves. In December of 2021, an 85-pound wolf was killed west of Albany, New York, the

livestock. After all, residents of New Hampshire had lived without predators since 1900. Today the deer herd has increased to the point of threatening the health of forests.

For their part, farmers have begun to adapt to the coyote with better fencing and guard animals. Today an estimated 6,000 eastern coyotes reside in New Hampshire, the same in Vermont and in Maine, there are approximately 10,000.

No one really knows for sure though because no population studies have been done.

11th documented wolf that we know of killed south of the St. Lawrence River since 1993.

Sightings of very large canids, scats, and tissue samples carrying wolf DNA, along with photos from various trail cams have ignited the curiosity of Professors Bridget von Holdt from Princeton University and Kristin Brzeski from Michigan Tech University. These geneticists recognize the unique hybridization event occurring here in the Northeast, and are collaborating to create a unique genetic panel on canids in the Northeast to determine their unique ancestry.

But a different howl has been heard across the Northeast. Over the last 30 years, increasing evidence collected by the Maine Wolf Coalition and the New York State Wolf Conservation Center reveals that wolves are trying to return to the Northeast.

THE RETURN OF THE WOLF But a different howl has been heard across the North84

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★ The Valley Originals is a 501 (c)3 Non-Profit Organization ★

theValleyOriginals.com Look for the flag

Eastern coyotes or wolves? Both are eastern coyotes. The smaller canid weighs 45 lbs while the larger weighs close to 70 lbs. This photo demonstrates the range of phenotypes occurring here in the northeast. Both came under the care of a certified wildlife rehabilitator as young pups. Photo by M. Plimpton.

QUESTIONS ABOUT WOLVES Will wolves kill the eastern coyote?

No - they would most likely mate with them, as they have been doing in Canada. They are more similar to each other than the small western coyote and large gray wolf out west.

Are wolves an endangered species?

Yes - they are protected under the Endangered Species Acts of 1974 and March 1978. Eastern wolves are currently listed as a subspecies of gray wolf and are protected in the northeast.

What do wolves eat?

Primarily large prey such as deer, moose, and occasionally beaver.

★ ALMOST THERE (603) 447-2325 ★ BARLEY & SALT (603) 307-1037 ★ BLACK CAP GRILLE (603) 356-2225 ★ CHEF’S BISTRO (603) 356-4747 ★ CHRISTMAS FARM INN (603) 383-4313 ★ DEACON STREET (603) 356-9231 ★ DELANEY’S HOLE IN THE WALL (603) 356-7776 ★ FORTY AT THORN HILL (603) 383-4242 ★ HORSEFEATHERS RESTAURANT (603) 356-2687 ★ JOSEPH’S SPAGHETTI SHED (603) 383-6680 ★ J-TOWN DELI & COUNTRY STORE (603) 383-8064 ★ MAX’S AT SNOWVILLAGE INN (603) 447-2818 ★ MERLINO’S STEAK HOUSE (603) 356-6006 ★ MOAT MOUNTAIN SMOKE HOUSE (603) 356-6381 ★ THE NOTCHLAND INN (603) 374-6131 ★ THE OXFORD HOUSE INN (207) 935-3442 ★ PRISCILLA’S (603) 356-0401 ★ RED PARKA STEAKHOUSE & PUB (603) 383-4344 ★ SHALIMAR OF INDIA (603) 356-0123 ★ THE SHANNON DOOR PUB (603) 383-4211 ★ SHOVEL HANDLE PUB (603) 383-8916 ★ THOMPSON HOUSE EATERY (603) 383-9341 ★ WHITE MOUNTAIN CIDER CO.(603) 383-9061 ★ WILDCAT INN & TAVERN (603) 383-4245 ★ 302 WEST SMOKEHOUSE

T

How do we “live” with wolves?

The same way you “live” with the eastern coyote: Don’t feed them, protect your pets and livestock, and learn about the cycles of their daily life such as when pups are in the den. (March to June) Are wolves aggressive to humans?

Although wolves must make their living by preying on large animals, aggression by wolves toward people is much less common than aggressive behavior by other large animals such as bears or even moose.

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he Valley t e t as

& TAVERN (207) 935-3021

You won’t find us any where else!

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Michael Runtz photo

John Rondeau photo

ABOVE: The eastern wolf from Algonquin Provincial Park demonstrates a close similarity to the Eastern coyote. This may explain why wolves are being killed and underscores the importance of better conservation for the coyote.The eastern wolf is located primarily in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, consisting of only a few hundred individuals and is identified as a threatened species in Canada. When individual wolves migrate south into the U.S., they are protected under the Endangered Species Act, www.fws.gov/law/endangered-species-act. This means that killing a wolf is illegal and can result in fines and jail time.

RIGHT: Eastern coyote - their size and pack life resemble that of the eastern wolf. Coyotes have longer tails than wolves, smaller feet and longer ears. Acquainting yourself with their differences will allow wolf recovery to succeed. For those readers paying close attention, this canid is the same as the one opening this article, looking through the branches.

MIGHTY HYBRIDIZATION Mating between the coyote and the eastern wolf continues today. When eastern wolves migrate beyond Algonquin Park to locate a mate, coyotes—prevalent outside of the park— will readily mate with them. The offspring are fertile and the wolf and coyote mate, often for life. Scientists in Ontario

WOLF RECOVERY VS. WOLF REINTRODUCTION Wolf recovery in New England is unlike the wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone. Wolf recovery here involves the natural return of a wolf—the eastern wolf—which is fairly close in size to the eastern coyote and is an animal which may readily mate with the coyote. In Yellowstone, the large

recently documented a pack of eastern coyotes crossed with wolf to have killed a two-year-old moose.

The eastern coyote, with its resilience and adaptability, offers an advantage to the eastern wolf, but at a price: ultimately, a wolf—blended with coyote—may vanish as a distinct species, while the product of that interbreeding survives to fill an important niche in the ecosystem. This view is controversial: many scientists support, sometimes at great cost, maintaining the integrity of a species.

gray wolf (90 to 120 pounds) was reintroduced into the park, where small western coyotes had made their living hunting deer and elk fawn, as well as rodents and vegetation. The larger wolf easily decimated more than half of the small 25- to 35-pound western coyotes within a few years after reintroduction. In both cases, size matters. In fact, the genetic makeup of the eastern wolf contains 30 to 40 percent coyote DNA; the eastern coyote DNA is 30-plus percent eastern wolf.

But a different howl has been heard across the Northeast. Over the last 30 years, increasing evidence collected by the Maine Wolf Coalition and the New York State Wolf Conservation Center reveals that wolves are trying to return to the Northeast.

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Hundreds of photos from trail cams scattered throughout the northeast are beginning to capture images that are not easily identifyable.

Eastern coyote and eastern wolf share each others genes; this mixed ancestry makes certain identification difficult, even for wildlife professionals. Only DNA testing will confirm the actual return of the wolf. J. Rosado photos.

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THE OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGE OF WOLF RECOVERY Since the eastern wolf is within a few days’ journey from our border, it follows that this wolf is the likely Canis to return. Luckily, habitat across the northeast is now more

as a threatened species.

We might predict that if wolf recovery continues with support from New Hampshire Fish and Game and the public, hybridization will also continue. Differences between the eastern coyote and eastern wolf may diminish; the

carefully cultivated, even as logging continues. From Maine through northern New Hampshire, northern Vermont and New York State, excellent habitat exists for wolf recovery, made more likely by the eastern wolf, carrying the adaptability of the coyote in its blood.

However, similarity of appearance between eastern wolves and coyotes can become a primary obstacle for wolf recovery. The eastern wolf is being shot because most people can’t tell the difference between a wolf and a large eastern coyote, particularly at long range. Hunters who have inadvertently killed a wolf thought it was a large coyote. What should the New Hampshire Fish and Game biologists be doing to prepare for what seems to be an inevitable wolf return?

Coyotes have no protection in New Hampshire. They can be killed on sight, at night, over bait, and are killed in contests held mid-winter in New Hampshire. This potentially threatens wolf recovery and will require a paradigm shift for Fish and Game biologists, commissioners, and the hunters who currently disregard the ecological value of the eastern coyote as a top predator. Currently, the eastern wolf is protected under the Endangered Species Act as a subspecies of the gray wolf; in Ontario, this rare wolf is protected

ensuing wolf-coyote hybrid would evolve into an effective predator of deer while the species designation of the eastern wolf may be imperiled. Nature will have restored a wolf made more adaptive through coyote hybridization - possibly allowing a 21st-century wolf to tolerate human pressures - as the resilient coyote has succeeded in doing.

A wolf, drawn back into its native territory by abundant prey and good habitat, must contend with the desires of humans to live alongside of it.

The eastern wolf is being shot because it’s difficult to tell the difference between a wolf and a large eastern coyote, particularly at long range.

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Please note that all source notes will be available in the online version of this article.

Chris Schadler began research on wolves in the late 1970s, earned a master’s degree at Antioch, and for 20 years, taught conservation issues, dendrology, and wolf ecology at UNH and Granite State College. Since the 1980s, coexisting with coyotes was put into practice on her sheep farms in NH where no predation occurred, ever. She is the NH and VT rep for Project Coyote and co-founder of the NH Wildlife Coalition, where she advocates for better conservation for predators.

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By Scott Halvorson

The Nansen Ski Club is a group located in the Berlin and Milan area that has provided low-cost, community-based skiing, formed and supported youth skiing programs, and hosted ski jumping competitions.

The latter was lost for a while, but they are back— and the best is yet to come.

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After extensive clean-up and repair work, and aided by sponsor Red Bull, former World Cup Champion Sarah Hendrickson “flew off” the jump, “one last time,” in 2017. This showed the possibility of the jump being fully functional once again and returning it to its former glory, which remains the goal to this day. (Photo courtesy of Red Bull)

T

he Nansen Ski Club (NSC). Who are they? Short answer: they are remarkable. And there those in the Valley with this same bias; keep reading to understand why.

Formed loosely as Skiklubben (“ski club” in Norwegian) in 1882, the club is the first, still-operating ski club in the country. It began with a group of Scandinavian immigrants who worked in the mills—they settled in what was then Berlin Falls, bringing their skiing heritage with them. Skiing was primitive, as was the equipment, and there was little differentiation between downhill (alpine) or cross-country (Nordic). It was just skiing, and principally a way to get from point A to point B. It was more fun when jumps were involved, and the club quickly became well known outside the local area, connecting with other clubs and producing some of the best winter athletes anywhere.

NSC was known for its many ski jumps, including the Big Nansen, the world’s tallest, when built, and, in addition to being the first ski club in the country, also formed the very first junior ski club in 1923.

Some other interesting “firsts” include the first and longest bobsled run in the country, and first ski-joring competition (skiers being pulled by horses), both debuting in 1922, as well as sponsoring a first—and only—100mile cross-country race; it was run during a blizzard, later dubbed the “100 Miles of Hell on Skis” in 1926. Although, planned to be an annual event, for safety reasons, it was never run again.

Another impressive first was the manufacture of the first skis in New England, possibly the country, by one of the club founders, Olaf “Spike” Oleson, who also invented

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INSET TOP: NSC Ski Jumping Champions: 1922 ( Courtesy of Berlin, NH Historical Society). INSET BOTTOM: Early 1900s Cross -Country Race (Courtesy of Berlin NH, Historical Society); BIG PHOTO:1938: Big Nansen is born. World’s tallest (Courtesy of State of NH).

the first “iron rigging” bindings, which the Northland Ski Company bought the patent for and manufactured.

All said and done, a pretty impressive resume—but not without bumps along the way.

RESURRECTION

The Nansen Ski jump (aka Big Nansen), built in 1937, on Route 16 in Milan, NH, has attracted much attention in recent years.

And it should. Rising 181 feet skyward, it is an imposing structure, and with restoration ongoing, it’s hard to miss.

Through the decades, it hosted the first-ever U.S. Olympic trials, four National Championships, North American and International Championships, and numerous invitationals; it was also featured on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Absolutely the greatest ski jumpers of the day traveled from afar to the tip of NH to jump the Big Nansen, and tens of thousands watched.

The Big Nansen held its last competition in 1985. It was abandoned for decades, was threatened with demolition, and hidden from view.

Fast forward to 2014, when a grassroots group, the Friends of Big Nansen, was formed, and partnered with the NH Bureau of Historic Sites (the owner of the jump), to save this historic 92

icon. After extensive clean-up and repair work, and aided by sponsor Red Bull, former World Cup Champion Sarah Hendrickson “flew off” the jump, “one last time,” in 2017. This showed the possibility of the jump being fully functional once again and returning it to its former glory, which remains the goal to this day.

It has not been easy, but impressive progress has been made.

To date, through grants, private donations, and State of NH support, major accomplishments include a complete, full modern design, the Big Nansen landing hill being reprofiled, and a “false knoll” concrete retaining wall constructed. Funding has also been acquired to structurally reinforce the jump towers, bringing electricity and snowmaking infrastructure to the site. Work is progressing on all these fronts, with inrun modifications, a judges’ tower, and deflection boards to follow, which will need additional funding. It is hoped to bring all these pieces together for a Big Nansen return in 2025 or 2026.

Additionally, the “Little Nansen” K39, and the “L’il Nansen” K8 (beginner) ski jumps were built on site—ski jumping has returned, and the crowds have followed. The installation of an artificial inrun track on the Little Nansen last year, improved on—arguably—the best jump of its size in the East, with the young jumpers flocking to it.

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NANSEN SKI CLUB

CABINETRY

Through the Years

1882: Skiklubbin; 1st Ski Club in America is founded in Berlin, NH. Founding father Olaf Oleson, at age 16, makes 1st pair of skis in New England 1880s-1890s: 1st Nansen Jump located by Brown Avenue built over a fence 1907: Club name changed to “Fritdjof Nansen Ski Club” in First Constitution 1923: Nansen Junior Club formed (ages 8-16); the first in the country 1926: Bob Reid wins 100-mile challenge cross-country race (Portland, ME to Berlin) Over 40 Years of Kitchen & Bath Experience

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1929: Fritdjof Nansen visits Berlin with the junior members escorting him in a parade 1932: Nansen Ski Club has the most (3) representatives in the Lake Placid Winter Olympics 1937: “Big Nansen” is built as the world’s largest steel-towered structure 1938: The 1st U.S. Olympic trials are held there 1939-1972: Four National Championships, North American Championship, International Championships, Eastern Championships, plus numerous invitationals 1940: Club name changed to “Nansen Ski Club,” which it remains to this day 1973-1985: Numerous Eastern & invitational competitions on the Big Nansen 1985: Last competition held at the Big Nansen 1988: Jump is officially abandoned and sits dormant for decades

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RESILIENCE

The club, having been JUMP IN! around for 140 years, Recruitment has managed to keep The “Friends” group and NSC Board on ticking despite two members include volunteers from world wars, economic across state lines, who participate downturns, populavirtually, and in person. We are an tion migration, and a enthusiastic and passionate group dwindling volunteer and are actively recruiting. We’d base. That’s in adlove to have you join. dition to constantly Ski jumpers, we want you! We competing with the evhave the jumps, and some local er-changing landscape youth has shown up to use them. of entertainment and We are re-establishing our ski jumprecreational choices in ing program through our alliance the North Country. (and reliance) with White Mountain After becoming Valley Ski Jumping (WMVSJ) and solely a recreational coach Chip Henry. cross-country ski club in the 90s, NSC also lost its extensive network of trails in Berlin in 2006, as the club’s lease on these lands ran out and the land was sold.

It could have ended there, save for a core of dedicated board members, who tirelessly searched, researched, and negotiated to find its present home, partnering again with the State of NH. Albeit smaller, a wonderful network of cross-country trails is now maintained and groomed at Milan Hill State Park, with

birth. Our biggest ally, Mount Washington Valley Ski Jumping (MWVSJ), lay just to the south of us and their support of our ski jumping rebirth has been nothing short of heroic. Chip Henry and Liz Garland, in addition to running their own first-class programs (including Kennett High) in the North Conway area, have “adopted” us fledglings and brought their institutional knowledge, enthusiasm, and blood, sweat, and tears, without which the return of our ski jumping events probably wouldn’t have happened. They are true “Friends.”

Our projects have been fully embraced by numerous organizations and individuals nationwide, including USA Nordic (USANS), Eastern Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined (ESJNC), New England Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined (NESJNC), all of which NSC is now an active member of. Most importantly, the State of NH, notably the NH Bureau of Historic Sites, and State Parks, have been chief allies and partners, allowing the club not only to survive but has provided significant financial support with this generational resurrection.

REMAINING

Jump tower reinforcement: The Big Nansen Ski Jump towers are in remarkably good shape, for being built in 1937, per the codes of the day. Codes have changed, as well as ski jumping, and some structural reinforcement is needed to accommodate the modern modifications needed for sanctioning.

Snowmaking: Important for the sustainability of the jumping complex, the club has been awarded a Northern Borders Regional Commission (NBRC) grant with the primary scope being snow-

Albeit smaller, a wonderful network of cross-country trails is now maintained and groomed at Milan Hill State Park, with a beautiful warming hut added in 2017. Low-cost, accessible skiing was saved, as well as the club itself.

a beautiful warming hut added in 2017. Low-cost, accessible skiing was saved, as well as the club itself.

RELATIONSHIPS

The Nansen Ski Club has not operated in a vacuum and is not doing this alone, especially regarding the ski jumping re94

making infrastructure, with completion expected for 2025.

Electricity: Three-phase power is needed for snowmaking, and all the other amenities and necessities associated with the full resumption of activity on the Big Nansen site. The club has funding for this and expect availability for 2025.

Other items needed: Once the jump tower reinforcement is MWVvibe.com

Through the Years (continued) 1970s-2006: NSC maintains extensive cross-country trail network in Berlin, NH 2006: Club’s lease on trails land runs out and land is sold to build new federal prison 2007: Nansen Ski Club constructs new trail network in Milan Hill State Park, Milan, NH 2014: Friends of the Nansen Ski Jump, a grassroots local group, forms and partners with the state of NH (the owner of the jump) to restore the Big Nansen 2015-2017: Big Nansen site cleared of overgrowth; jump is exposed, redecked, and on March 4, 2017, former world champion Sarah Hendrickson flies off the jump

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2019: The Nansen Ski Jump gets placed on the National Registry of Historic Places 2019: The Nansen Ski Club (NSC) awarded its first Northern Borders Regional Commission (NBRC) grant for the Big Nansen restoration project 2021: Small hills project initiated with 39-meter Little Nansen and 10-meter L’il Nansen ski jumps constructed on Big Nansen site

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2021: Big Nansen Phase 1 completed (landing hill and retaining wall work) 2022 (January): First jumping event in 37 years was held on the new small hills; Eastern event followed three days later with an NH high school competition.

2022: The Nansen Ski Club (NSC) granted another NBRC grant for snowmaking 2022: Artificial inrun track and starting platforms installed on the Little Nansen 2023 (January-February): Hosted 2nd Eastern Ski Jump Meet (1/29/23) and NHIAA High School Ski Jumping Championships, crowning state and national champions 2023 (August): NSC awarded Save America’s Treasures (SAT) grant for up to $500K 2024 (January): Will host 3rd Eastern Ski Jump Meet on 1/21/24; hosting NH High School Ski Jumping Competition on 1/25/24 2025-2026: Will hold first Big Nansen Ski Jump Competition in 40 years

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ABOVE LEFT: Scott Halvorson (front) of the Nansen Ski Club, with Jed Hinkley, sports development director of USA Nordic, and Liz Garland, co-sparkplug, with Chip Henry, of White Mountain Valley Ski Jumping, enjoying the panorama of the Big Nansen ski jump, while discussing the breathtaking possibilities of its restoration.

ABOVE RIGHT: The Nansen Ski Club’s 100% volunteer crew maintains 6+ miles of groomed trails for all levels of experience in snowshoeing, classic, and skate skiing.

Club members have access to a heated warming hut, which is equipped with Wi-Fi and stocked with ski / snowshoe gear to loan.

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completed, inrun modifications will be done, along with installing landing hill deflection boards, which will require additional funding.

RAISING FUNDS

The club has received a Save America’s Treasures (SAT) federal grant with a 1:1 match, for this purpose. To acquire the maximum $500K grant award, making $1M available, the club is seeking $200K more in match funds to go with the $300K already raised. All funds raised along the way will be matched immediately and are available to be spent. The cost of the repairs has been estimated at $800K to $1M. Work has already begun and will hopefully be completed by 2025.

20, by a fun annual Art Sled Rally on the Big Nansen landing hill. Bring your homemade sleds. A New Hampshire High School competition will be held four days later, on January 25. Your cowbells are welcome at all events.

The North Country has experienced its share of disappointments through the years. This story isn’t one of them. The restoration of a historic icon, the rebirth of a sport and a culture, and the rejuvenation it brings makes this a renaissance moment for the Nansen Ski Club and the area. Good times are ahead.

The Nansen Ski Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, membership-based skiing club dedicated to RESUMING providing healthy winter The club is excited to announce upcomoutdoor experiences for ing events, bringing back the comlocals and visitors. NSC maintains and petitive thrills that helped grow this grooms a network of cross-country trails organization in the first place.

The next ski jumping event is sched- in Milan Hill State Park, as well as the ski jumping complex at the Nansen Ski Jump uled for January 21, 2024 on the K39 Historic site, both in Milan, NH. Visit the Little Nansen and K8 L’il Nansen, The best young ski jumpers in the East will Nansen Ski Club online at www.skinansen. com. Find the Facebook page by be there. searching: The Big Nansen Ski Jump.

This will be preceded, on January MWVvibe.com

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