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Mount Washington Valley Ski Area Opening Dates

Just got this from the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce:

Opening Dates

 

Attitash Ski Resort -- Opening Date: November 22

Black Mountain -- Opening Date: December 12

Cranmore Mountain Resort -- Opening Date: Tubing Hill opens November 28, Skiing begins December 6

Great Glen Trails -- Opening Date: December 6 for the Atomic Sprints

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation -- Opening Date: December 1 (weather permitting)

King Pine --Opening Date: December 12

Wildcat Mountain --Opening Date: November 29

Mount Washington Valley Fall Foliage Report, September 25, 2008

We’re about 50% of the way there!

 

Leaf scouters in Mt Washington Valley tell us the foliage color is about 50 percent of the way to peaking, with color changes accelerating daily spurred by cooler nights. Photos taken recently capture the color in both the Northern notches and the southern part of the Valley. If these photos represent 50 percent of the color, imagine what’s to come! It is said that New Hampshire and parts of Japan are the only two places on earth where the combination of climate, landscape and the variety of trees allows such a great show of colors. In past years, summer droughts and warm autumn temps contributed to less color. Not this year! This is the year to make the trip to Mt Washington Valley where spectacular color already awaits and gets better each day.

 

While a rainy weekend is in the forecast according to the Mount Washington Observatory, clear blue skies and leaf-peeping weather will return next week as a Canadian high pressure builds back in Mt Washington Valley, NH. 

 

Don’t miss the kick-off of the Fryeburg Fair, Maine’s Blue Ribbon Fair, starting this weekend and the Fall Festival at Settler’s Green on Saturday, including dozens of handmade scarecrows on display, horse drawn wagon rides and pumpkin carving demonstrations.

Photos:

Foliage looking over Lake Chocorua at Mt Chocoura, taken 9-24-08 by Jesse Mosston

Foliage over Wildcat, taken 9-24-08 by Tom Caughey, General Manager, Wildcat Mountain. 

Fall Foliage Report from the Mount Washington Valley for September 18, 2008

North Conway, NH – Mother Nature couldn’t have asked for more perfect conditions to create her fall pageant of color in Mt Washington Valley. Cold morning temps combined with shorter days mean that leaves are turning with visable increases in color daily, and the Mount Washington Observatory is calling for perfect leaf peeping weather this weekend.  A high pressure situated overhead will dominate most of the weekend and sunny skies and calm winds will create Indian Summer days, with temperatures rising to the lower to mid sixties Friday and Saturday, but falling to the lower thirties overnight continuing to trigger fall color changes.

Overall, fall colors are beginning to appear in pockets throughout Mt Washington Valley. The red maples ringing Puddin Pond along the North South Road in North Conway are almost peaking. Echo Lake State Park, off Route 302 in North Conway, offers a mirror of spotty reds and oranges, with a few yellows sprinkled in. And nearby the road to the top of at Cathedral Ledge offers panoramic view over the entire Mount Washington Valley. At a higher elevation, color in Crawford and Pinkham Notches is close to 25 percent turned, with patches of intense color on the mountainsides.

 

The Fryeburg Fair kicks off this weekend in Mt Washington Valley, and Conway Scenic Railroad’s Railfan Weekend means special runs, equipment demonstrations and activities for railroading fans.

 

For more information on visiting Mt Washington Valley, visit www.MtWashingtonValley.org or call 1-800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364) for lodging availability and up-do-date foliage reports.

CHOCOLATE AND PRINCESSES MAKE A PERFECT COMBINATION IN THE MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY

IN THIS ISSUE: Snow Report / Events / Fast Fact / Photos

SNOW REPORT

Attitash Mountain Resort -- Base: 24-64 in.

Bear Notch Ski Touring -- Base: 30-45 in.

Black Mountain -- Base: 38-60 in.

Bretton Woods -- Base: 45-55 in.

Bretton Woods Nordic Center -- Base: 14-22 in.

Cranmore Mountain Resort -- Base: 33-56 in.

Great Glen Tails -- Base: 30 in. (average)

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation -- Base: 33-60 in.

King Pine -- Base: 46-64 in.

King Pine Nordic Center -- Base: 46 in. (average)

Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation -- Base: 24-34 in.

Shawnee Peak -- Base: 22-45 in.

Wildcat Mountain -- Base: 12-48 in.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, Feb. 21 

Family Fest at Shawnee Peak: A full day of outdoor family fun featuring snow sculptures, sleigh rides, a pie-eating contest, the Poker Run, family NASTAR races and more. www.shawneepeak.com

Sunday, Feb. 24

19th Annual Chocolate Festival presented by the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center: Cross country ski, snowshoe or drive from inn to inn, and amid other participating businesses, with chocolate treats at each stop. Visit www.mwvskitouring.com for details.

Snow Princess Fantasy presented by the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce: Girls ages 4-10 are invited to dress in their fanciest attire, meet the Snow Queen and her daughters from the North and South poles, and more. Visit www.mtwashingtonvalley.org for details about this Winter Carnival fundraising event.

FAST FACT

Mt. Washington Valley is home to 13 ski areas including seven alpine resorts and six Nordic centers.

 

PHOTOS

BW_Feb20_08...x800.jpg   (Bretton Woods photo) 

AttitashFeb20.jpg    (Attitash/Greg Keeler photo)

AS MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY DIGS OUT, SKIERS HAVE PLENTY TO BE EXCITED ABOUT

Greetings! With four storms in the last 10 days bringing more than two feet of snow to already snowpacked ski resorts, Mt. Washington Valley, NH, is the place to spend vacation week! The valley is bursting with fun family events both on the slopes and in the base lodges. Apres ski options abound this weekend. Meanwhile, Mt. Washington Valley lodging options are varied and value-packed. Come on up and we'll see you on the slopes! www.mtwashingtonvalley.org

Be on the lookout for video clips from Mt. Washington Valley for your broadcasts. We'll send links both this week and next.

In this issue: Snow Report / Events / Photos

SNOW REPORT

Attitash Mountain Resort -- Base: 24-64 in / 10-day total: 25 in. / Feb. total: 36 in.

Bear Notch Ski Touring -- Base: 30-45 in. / Wednesday's total: 10 in.

Black Mountain -- Base: 28-44 in. / Wednesday's total: 8 in.

Bretton Woods -- Base: 45-55 in. / 3-day total: 12 in. / Feb. total: 36 in.

Bretton Woods Nordic Center -- Base: 14-22 in. / 3-day total: 12 in. / Feb. total; 36 in.

Cranmore Mountain Resort -- Base: 28-46 in. / Wednesday's total: 8+ in.

Great Glen Trails -- Base: 30 in. (average) / 7-day total: 21 in.

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation -- Base: 34-60 in. / Wednesday's total: 8-12 in.

King Pine -- Base: 46-64 in. / Wednesday's total: 12 in.

King Pine -- Base: 46 in. (average) / Wednesday's total: 12 in.

Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation -- Base: 24-34 in. / Wednesday's total: 12 in.

Shawnee Peak -- Base: 26-50 in. / 10-day total: 40 in.

Wildcat Mountain -- Base: 12-48 in. / 4-day total: 17.5 in.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

 

Saturday, Feb. 16

Attitash Mountain Resort -- "Big Guns" Big Air: This is the third competition in this season's ATP Freeride Series at Attitash. Participate or spectate, but don't miss this impressive display of snowboarding prowess on lower Ptarmigan. And apres ski goes big with live music at Ptarmigan's pub and a DJ at Bear Peak. www.attitash.com

 

Bretton Woods Nordic Center -- Sweetheart's Chocolate Tour and Sweetheart's Moonlight tour. Pick your tour and cross country ski or snowshoe along the trails with chocolate-fueled stops along the way. Reservations required. For more information visit www.brettonwoods.com.

More Vacation Week Events

Bretton Woods -- February Fun Break starts Feb. 15. Great family activities are on tap for the week. www.brettonwoods.com

Cranmore Mountain Resort - Vacation week events include Cranapalooza (night skiing, entertainment and fireworks on 2/16); apres ski entertainment; on-slope events; and Disney's Get out and Play Tour (2/19). www.cranmore.com

Wildcat Mountain -- Family Fun Week starts Feb. 16. Family fun events include the Cardboard Box Race (2/19) and Lunch Tray Luge (2/20). Live tunes for apres ski round out the week. www.skiwildcat.com

PHOTOS

Erik Corbett 2-13_Powder.jpg    (Greg Keeler/Attitash photo) -- Skier is Erik Corbett, Attiash's Adaptive Ski School director

BW_Feb13....x900.jpg    (Bretton Woods photo) -- Snowboarder at Bretton Woods

JacksonXC2-14.jpg    (Jackson Ski Touring Foundation photo) -- Grooming fresh snow

EARLY STORM TREATS MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY WELL

Today's storm brought a blanket of new snow to the ski areas of Mt. Washington Valley, NH.  (Photo from Shawnee Peak included.)

TODAY'S ACCUMULATIONS:  

Attitash Mountain Resort -- 7 inches

Bear Notch Ski Touring Center -- 5 inches

Black Mountain -- 5-6 inches

Bretton Woods -- 3 inches

Bretton Woods Nordic Center -- 3 inches

Cranmore Mountain Resort -- 7 inches

Great Glen Trails -- 6 inches

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation -- 6 inches

King Pine -- 4 inches

King Pine Nordic Center -- 4 inches

Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation -- 6 inches

Shawnee Peak -- 7 inches

Wildcat Mountain -- 6 inches

MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY ADDS TO GRANITE STATE WEEKEND FUN

WEEKEND EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Wildcat Celebrates 50 Years!

This weekend, Wildcat celebrates 50 years of lift-serviced skiing with two days of special events:

Jan. 25 -- $9 lift tickets Friday; bonfire; snow sculpture; slide show; apres ski festivities and more.

Jan. 26 -- Bonfire; torchlight parade; cake cutting; apres ski festivities and more. (Vintage photos included.)

www.skiwildcat.com

Cranapalooza

Jan. 26 at Cranmore -- Night skiing on 11 trails from 2-9 p.m. Fireworks at 7:30 p.m. Plenty of kids' activities including s'mores with C-more the Penguin. (Photo attached.) www.cranmore.com

FAST FACT

Wildcat's $9 lift ticket (for Friday, Jan. 25) is the same price from 50 years ago when the gondola made its first run on Jan. 25, 1958.

MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY MLK WEEKEND PLANS...AND A GREAT DEAL AT SHAWNEE PEAK ON JAN. 23!

A blanket of fresh snow from Monday's storm covers Mt. Washington Valley's ski resorts. With another storm set for tomorrow, and a busy week of snowmaking, the slopes and trails are in fine shape for the holiday weekend!

 

In this issue: Snow Report / Events / Photos

SNOW REPORT

Attitash Mountain Resort -- Base: 20-60 in.

Bear Notch Ski Touring -- Base: 16-22 in.

Black Mountain -- Base: 24-36 in.

Bretton Woods -- Base: 36-48 in.

Bretton Woods Nordic Center -- 2-10 in.

Cranmore Mountain Resort -- Base: 20-36 in.

Great Glen Trails -- Base: 8 in. (average)

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation -- Base: 20 in. (average)

King Pine -- Base: 20-38 in.

King Pine Nordic Center -- Base: up to 20 in.

Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoeing Foundation -- Base: 15-30 in.

Shawnee Peak -- Base: 16-32 in.

Wildcat Mountain -- Base: 8-36 in.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Sat., Jan. 19

Cranmore Mountain -- Cranapalooza: Night skiing abounds on 11 trails for this Intergalactic themed event (2-9 p.m.). Fireworks at 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Jan. 20

Shawnee Peak -- Mushers Bowl and Bridgton Winter Carnival begin today.

Wed., Jan. 23

Shawnee Peak -- Turning back time to celebrate the mountain's 70th anniversary, lift tickets will be $19.38. (The mountain opened as Pleasant Mountain, Jan. 23, 1938.)

MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY GETS CLOBBERED!

Here's the latest word from the Mount Washington Valley's Gretchen Heilshorn, letting me know that up to 16" of new snow has fallen!  The pictures featured here are from Shawnee Peak, Wildcat (Sarah St. Gelais at play) and Jackson Cross Country Ski Touring!

The first big storm of 2008 has covered Mt. Washington Valley's ski resorts with up to 16 inches of fluffy, dry snow. Here are snowfall totals and fresh photos.

SNOW TOTALS:

 

Attitash -- 8-10 in.

Bear Notch Ski Touring -- 6 in.

Black Mountain -- 6-8 in.

Bretton Woods -- 3-4 in. 

Bretton Woods Nordic Center -- 3-4 in.

Cranmore -- 7+ in.

Great Glen Trails -- 5 in.

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation -- 6-8 in.

King Pine -- 11 in.

King Pine Nordic Center -- 11 in.

Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring & Snowshoeing Foundation -- 8 in.

Shawnee Peak -- 14-16 in.

Wildcat -- 8 in.

AN UPDATE FROM THE MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY SKI RESORTS

Greetings! With nearly three feet of natural snowfall in December, Mt. Washington Valley's ski resorts are ready for the Christmas Week to beat all (recent) Christmas Weeks! Add to that extensive snowmaking and grooming and you have a recipe for happy skiers and riders.

IN THIS ISSUE: Conditions / Christmas Week Events / Fast Facts / Photos

Conditions as of Dec. 19  

CURRENTLY SNOWING

Attitash Mountain Resort – Base: 18-45 in. / 7-day total: 16+ in.

Bear Notch Ski Touring – Base: 15 in. (average)

Black Mountain – Base: 24-40 in.

Bretton Woods – Base: 36-48 in. / 7-day total: 18+ in.

Bretton Woods Nordic Center – Base: 5-10 in. / 7-day total: 18+ in.

Cranmore Mountain Resort – Base: 18-30 in.

Great Glen Trails – Base: 11 in. (average)

Jackson XC – Base: 24 in. (average)

King Pine – Base: 18-36 in.

King Pine Nordic Center – Opening date TBA

Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring – Base: 12+ in.

Shawnee Peak – Base: 22-36

Wildcat – Base: 12-28 in. / 7-day total: 16+in.

CHRISTMAS WEEK EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Fri., Dec. 21

Cranmore: Platinum Anniversary Rollback - Ski Dec. 21 for the price of a lift ticket in 1930: just $3.30! www.cranmore.com

King Pine: Last day of this week's 2-for-1 lift ticket offer. www.kingpine.com

Wed., Dec. 26

Cranmore: Cranapalooza - Enjoy night skiing on 11 trails during this Winter Carnival-themed event. Fireworks, children's entertainment, and live music are highlights. www.cranmore.com

Thurs., Dec. 27

Shawnee Peak: Ullr Fest '07 - An evening event welcoming winter complete with "The Beating of the Drums," fireworks and a torchlight parade (starts at 7 p.m.). www.shawneepeak.com

FAST FACTS

Outside magazine calls North Conway one of the nations top "Outdoor Meccas." (2006)

National Geographic Adventure ranks North Conway among the nation's "Top 31 Adventure Towns" (2006).

Men's Journal  ranks North Conway one of the nation's "Top 10 Coolest Mountain Towns." (2005)