Tin Mountain Conservation Center & Appalachian Mountain Club Offer Free Guided Tours at Wildcat Mountain

Pinkham Notch, NH – Wildcat Mountain and the Tin Mountain Conservation Center will once again offer “Wednesdays at Wildcat” naturalist led programs and new this summer “Tin Mountain Tuesdays” to a schedule of summer events. Also new this summer, Wildcat Mountain has partnered with the nearby Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Pinkham Notch Visitor Center to offer a monthly series of naturalist led summit tours and optional guided hikes from the summit to the base of Wildcat Mountain.

Also once a month this summer & fall, a similar high alpine summit tour will be led by naturalists from the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center followed by a guided hike down from the 4,062 foot summit of Wildcat Mountain. Scheduled dates for the “AMC Guided Summit Tour & Hike” are Saturdays - July 16th, August 20th, September 10th, & October 8th.

Wildcat Mountain Offers “Fathers Day” Free Ride On New Hampshire’s Highest Scenic Gondola

Pinkham Notch, NH - On Fathers Day, Sunday, June 19, dads (and grandfathers too) can enjoy the Wildcat Express scenic gondola for free when one or more other family members purchase an adult or junior gondola ride. The only one of its kind in North America, the Wildcat Express transforms from New Hampshire’s arguably fastest and most powerful summit quad chairlift during the winter and spring skiing and riding season to the state’s highest summer and fall scenic gondola. The enclosed 4-person scenic gondolas offer a unique guest experience and opportunity to view Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range from atop the over 4,000 foot summit. The Wildcat Express scenic gondola is the best way for the entire family, including well-behaved dogs on leash, to enjoy the legendary views and scenery that have been consistently voted #1 in the East.

Pat’s Peak and Attitash Mountain host the Eastern New Hampshire State Championships and the States Cup

Pat’s Peak, Henniker, NH and Attitash Mountain, Bartlett, NH will host the Eastern States Cup USA Cycling Regional Championship Series and the USA Cycling NH State Downhill Mountain Bike Championships June 12th and 19th respectively. The Eastern States Cup Series is a USA Cycling Regional Championship Series and features three USA Cycling State Championships. The NH State Champions will be crowned at Attitash after the race. Both venues will offer Saturday and Sunday practice for the racers and spectators.

The ESC kicked off the series last weekend at Mount Snow, VT. Richie Rude and Becky Gardner took home the cash for the pro men and women classes. The full results and series standings are posted on the ESC’s website: www.easternstatescup.com

The race at Pat’s Peak is part of the 10th Annual Pat’s Peak Bike Festival Weekend. The Festival features a 6/12/24 hour race, the ESC downhill series race, an XC race and multiple other events to keep the whole family happy. The DH course is challenging but really fun for all abilities. Downhill racers get the better of two runs to prove who is the fastest racer that day. Bring the kids bikes and helmets for their own race. Pat’s Peak is located twenty minutes from Concord, ninety minutes from Boston and about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Albany, NY.

Loon Mountain Features New Segway Tours and an Adventure Package for an Affordable Day of Fun

Lincoln, NH - Loon Mountain Resort, featuring new Segway® tours, a zipline adventure, New Hampshire’s longest scenic gondola skyride and an affordable Adventure Package, kicks off the summer season this Saturday for a Memorial Day weekend opening. The mountain resort will be open weekends from May 28 through June 19, with daily operations beginning on June 25.

New this summer, Loon will offer area tours via Segway - a self balancing two-wheeled personal transport device that is fun and easy to ride. Participants will get a short orientation to learn how to ride a Segway and then they will glide on a guided tour of the local area, learning about the area’s history and logging heritage, and how it transformed from a logging and mill town to the popular year-round destination that it is today.

The Gondola Skyride, with access to the 2,750’ Loon Peak and Summit Adventures, will be open weekends from May 28 through June 26 then daily through October 16. In addition to spectacular White Mountain views, the summit offers glacial caves to explore, where kids can hunt for the ‘Lost Loon Gold’ and take home their own gold token. Treasure maps are available inside Loon Mountain Sports Retail & Gift Shop, where Skyride tickets are available for purchase. An interpretive self-guided nature walk, observation tower, and mountaintop playground round out the family fun available at the summit. The Summit Café offers lunch and refreshments with a scenic backdrop and families can also visit with local artisans as they practice their crafts.

Attitash Mountain Resort To Host Eastern States Cup Downhill Mountain Biking Weekend Event

New Hampshire State Championship Finals Scheduled for Sunday, June 19th

Bartlett, NH - Attitash Mountain Resort has announced that it will be hosting the New Hampshire State Championship Finals for the Eastern States Cup downhill mountain biking series. The Eastern States Cup (ESC) is a USA Cycling (USAC) Regional Championship Series. Within the ESC series, three separate USAC State Championships will be contested with 4 events in New York, 4 events in Vermont, and 2 events in New Hampshire including the Attitash Mountain Resort New Hampshire State Championship occurring on the weekend of Saturday, June 18th & Sunday, June 19th. The other New Hampshire ESC event will be held at Pats Peak on Saturday, June 11th & Sunday, June 12th and it is required that riders compete in both New Hampshire events to qualify for the individual state championship.

“We are pleased to hold the Eastern States Cup event here and to showcase the downhill terrain at Attitash to a visiting field of New England riders,” said Attitash Mountain Bike Programs Coordinator Nate Waterhouse. “The event should be quite an exciting race for the riders and also something to see for locals and visitors unfamiliar with downhill mountain biking.” Attitash has been offering lift-serviced, downhill, mountain biking since the late 90’s, but the sport has progressed significantly since then. The Eastern States Cup event will feature some of the best regional riders in a single run format taking the best times in age and rider level categories. For this Eastern States Cup event being held for the first time at Attitash, the course will be a mix of descending open trails and single-track sections through the woods on Attitash Mountain. These are part of a greater network of 27 designated mountain biking trails that Attitash has continued to develop and maintain for summer & fall use.

NH Fish & Game, US Forest Service & AMC Host Let’s Go Fishing Day June 18th at Wildcat Mountain

“Let’s Go Fishing” Event Celebrates Weeks Act Centennial and National Get Outdoors Day

Pinkham Notch, NH - This year's "Let's Go Fishing" event scheduled for Saturday, June 18th will be a great way to learn how to fish or develop your fishing skills. As part of the New Hampshire Fish & Game Aquatic Resources Education Program, representatives and volunteers will be joined by the U.S. Forest Service and Appalachian Mountain Club to provide a day's wealth of experience and knowledge to help the beginning angler get started.

Participants, who register on the morning of the event, will receive a “passport” outlining 5 stations that must be completed before they can begin fishing. Educational and instructional skill stations will include: Knot Tying; Fish ID; Casting; Ecology; Macro Invertebrates; and Fishing. Each station activity will take 15-20 minutes to complete and once an activity has been completed, the passport will be stamped and the aspiring angler will be one step closer to casting a line in the stocked fishing pond.

The free event, co-sponsored and thankful support in part from the White Mountain Interpretative Association, will take place from 10am - 3pm rain or shine (*registration cut-off is 12pm) and all ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and all persons should bring proper footwear and clothing as well as personal sun protection (hat, sunglasses, spf) and bug repellent. The fishing pond at Wildcat Mountain is accessible via the “C lot” entrance located approximately a quarter mile past the main entrance on the north-bound side of Rt. 16 heading toward Gorham, New Hampshire.

The “Let’s Go Fishing” Day event at Wildcat Mountain is part of a coordinated New Hampshire effort celebrating the Weeks Act Centennial and honoring the tradition of conservation and partnerships exemplified by the act, which created Eastern National Forests. This celebration of the Weeks Act and the creation of Eastern National Forests provide an opportunity to promote increased awareness of sustainable forestry, land stewardship and citizen-based conservation. This event is also included among the National Get Outdoors Day events in June which encourages Americans, especially our youth, to seek out healthy, active outdoor lives and embrace our parks, forests, refuges and other public lands and waters. And Smokey the Bear is scheduled to make an appearance at the event.

Wildcat Mountain Is Open with Spring Skiing and Riding for New Hampshire

Fourth Year in a Row to Be Last Resort in the Granite State to Be Operating

Pinkham Notch, NH - Wildcat Mountain continues to uphold its reputation as the spring skiing destination in New Hampshire and re-opened Friday, April 22nd under beautiful, clear, blue skies and is scheduled to be open for the Easter weekend, weather and conditions permitting. Benefitting from the colder temperatures at Wildcat Mountain’s higher elevations and this season’s total snowfall currently at 227 inches, including yesterday’s Thursday daytime snow, allowed it to open Friday morning with 40 of the 50 available trails still on the open list. With that, Wildcat Mountain is the last resort in New Hampshire for a fourth season in a row to be offering chairlift service for the state’s official sport of skiing.

In its first season under the new ownership of Peak Resorts, Wildcat Mountain did not set a firm closing date for the season. At this time, though it will be closed Monday, April 25th through Thursday, April 28th, Wildcat Mountain is considering the possibility of re-opening again for Friday, April 29th and reaching for a May date of skiing and riding for that weekend, Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st. Spring skiing and riding is dictated by the typical New England weather that marks a change of seasons this time of year and any operating plan is subject to be affected because of that.

Waterville Valley Ski Resort Using Renewable Fuel

Waterville Valley, NH - Led by the Sununu Family, a local group of investors recently purchased Waterville Valley Ski Area from California based Booth Creek Resorts. Since the fall 2010 sale, new management has made many improvements in their quest to become New England's premiere resort. It now appears Waterville Valley is quickly becoming New England's premiere environmentally sustainable resort.

Chris Sununu, an environmental engineer and the resort's Chief Executive Officer, recently announced they have partnered with American Energy Independence Company (AMENICO), a Pittsfield, NH, based renewable fuel producer, to collect their used cooking oil, process it, and return it to the resort for use as a renewable boiler fuel. "Our industry depends on cold temperatures and lots of snow. The entire Waterville Valley Resort management team is committed to reducing our carbon footprint, offsetting foreign oil imports, and following sustainable environmental practices. Choosing AMENICO is just one of many steps we've taken to achieve these goals." said Chris Sununu.

Tony Giunta, President of AMENICO, is excited to be working with Waterville Valley Ski Resort. "It was great news to hear the Sununu family was involved in purchasing the Resort. They have a long family history of environmental stewardship and protection. AMENICO has offset nearly 1.5 million gallons of fossil fuel usage and has reduced carbon emission s by more than 15,000 tons. I knew the Sununu's would love our story and would want to be a partner in our sustainability efforts."

In the partnership, AMENICO collects waste cooking oils from Waterville Valley Resort properties, transports them to their production facility in Pittsfield, NH, where they are then manufactured into a renewable diesel fuel. The renewable fuel is then returned to the Resort where it is blended with heating oil and burned for heat recovery.

The North Face 1st Annual Park and Pipe Open Ski Series Drops In to Northstar Resort and Waterville Valley

Waterville Valley, NH - The North Face and Mountain Sports International have announced The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series, a two-stop tour featuring ski slopestyle and halfpipe competitions. The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series kicks off January 6-9, 2011 at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in California and February 17-20, 2011 at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire.
"The North Face is excited to bring its big mountain heritage to the park and pipe competition scene with a series that will inspire up and coming athletes and drive pro level competition," said Aaron Carpenter, Vice President of Marketing for The North Face.

The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series will dedicate one competition day to halfpipe and two days to slopestyle. Judging will be overall impression based on creativity, degree of difficulty, combinations, variations, style, and amplitude.

Wildcat Mountain Supports National January Learn a Snow Sport Month

Learn to Ski or Snowboard Free January 3rd through January 9th

Pinkham Notch, NH - Wildcat Mountain has been introducing persons to winter recreation since it began offering lift-serviced skiing and riding over 50 years ago. Today, with a staff of instructors that collectively represents over 850 years of experience and more than 90% certified by the Professional Ski Instructors Association & American Association of Snowboard Instructors, that tradition continues with the Wildcat Mountain Learn-to-Ski and Learn-to-Ride programs intended for first-timers. Wildcat Mountain in New Hampshire joins several other resorts in states across the nation taking part in the snow sport industries campaign to introduce persons to winter sports.

As a special offer to support January’s Learn a Snow Sports Month, Wildcat Mountain has joined with Ski NH to invite “never-evers” to sign up for a free Learn-to-Ski/Ride lesson package, including rentals and novice lift ticket valid at Wildcat Mountain only, during the week of January 3rd -9th.

Waterville Valley Ski Resort Announces Over $500,000 in Improvements for 2010-11 Season

Waterville Valley, NH - Twenty five more energy efficient snowmaking tower guns and a new grooming cat top the list of immediate investments announced by the new owners at Waterville Valley for the coming season.

"We completed the purchase of Waterville Valley on October 13 and are now going as fast as we can to make improvements before the start of the ski season", said Bob Fries, General Manager of Waterville Valley Ski Resort Ltd, "The increased snowmaking capacity will help Waterville Valley leverage its 4,000' elevation, allowing us to open a greater variety of terrain for Thanksgiving and early December." Opening date for Waterville Valley is set for Saturday, November 20.

Base Lodge Upgrade
Major upgrades to the resort's main base lodge will include new ground floor bathrooms, additional family bathrooms and refreshed Alpine Grille food service area and menu.

Expanded Ski and Snowboard Rentals
Waterville Valley will be adding to their ski and snowboard rental inventory featuring the new mini Burton snowboards for kids. "Each season, parents seem to want their kids to start skiing and snowboarding at younger ages", explains Peter Weber, Snowsports Director, "In response, we're always looking for innovations in kids equipment that will let them start young but still have a blast. This season, we'll be introducing the new super mini snowboard from Burton into our Explorers Kamps for ages 4-6. The new design makes it easier for kids to roll from edge to edge and actually build skills on their very first days on snow. Waterville Valley already has mini skis so now parents and kids will have a choice."

Sununu Family Returns Waterville Valley Back Into Local Hands

Waterville Valley, NH - Today it was announced that the Sununu family is leading a group of local investors and has completed the purchase of Waterville Valley Ski Area from Booth Creek Resorts, a California based resort group. For the first time in almost 15 years the assets including the Waterville Valley Ski Area, Waterville Valley Nordic Center, Waterville Valley Conference Center and Town Square are now back under local control.

Waterville Valley, one of New Hampshire's most popular family ski areas since 1966, is well known for its ski racing heritage, WVBBTS ski club (Gold Freestyle Ski Medalist Hannah Kearney is an alumnus) and the self-contained village designed as a four season resort by Olympian Skier Tom Corcoran. The ski area has one of the state's highest elevations at 4,000 feet with 52 trails on 255 acres, 12 lifts and 100% snowmaking.

Chris Sununu is heading up the efforts and will serve as Waterville Valley Ski Resort's new Chief Executive Officer. Bob Fries, formally VP and General Manager of Waterville Valley during the Tom Corcoran ownership years will return as the new president. Since leaving Waterville Valley in 1992, Fries has managed resorts from Breckenridge, Colorado to Stratton, Vermont including a stint at The Olympic Authority in Lake Placid.

Waterville Valley 2010-11 Ski & Stay Deals Target Families

Waterville Valley, NH - Waterville Valley always has the most complete line-up of ski and stay deals to compliment its family friendly resort and this coming season is no different. Popular kids ski free deals are back with new additions like wicked long ski weekends, new school break offers and middle of the week escapes. All include access to the White Mountain Athletic Club, ice skating at the indoor arena, use of the resort shuttle and Waterville's signature extra late Sunday check-out (as late as 3 pm). With a click to waterville.com, you can see photos of all the lodges, check availability and see what special events you might want to plan around.

Waterville Valley, Forum Snowboards and Dekal Join Portsmouth Museum of Art for SugiPOP!

Waterville Valley, NH - Forum Snowboards, Waterville Valley and Dekal, Inc. have joined the Portsmouth Museum of Art in a special presentation of its upcoming show SugiPOP!: Anime, Manga, Comics and Their Influence on Contemporary Art. It's happening Saturday, October 23 when Forum premieres its latest team video at the Music Hall and the Portsmouth Museum of Art hosts a premiere party from 11:00-5:00 with all three sponsors.

As part of the show, the museum has engaged eight regional artists to create original work for a series of snowboards donated by Forum. Artists include Raul Gonzalez, Natacha Sochat, Kathy Halamka, Lara Halamka, Elaine Bay, Rascal Smith, Anna Koon, and Boriana Kantcheva. The finished pieces will hang in the SugiPOP! Show at the Portsmouth Museum of Art from October 13, 2010-January 16, 2011 and will be auctioned off during the course of the show to raise funds for the museum. The pieces will also be featured in a pop-up gallery on display at Waterville Valley in January. In addition, the art will be reproduced as topsheet designs for sale at Dekal's online store, and customized to fit snowboards, skis and laptops, with a portion of the proceeds from those sales going to support the Portsmouth Museum of Art.

Hot Start to Fall with Waterville Valley 's Annual Chili Challenge

Waterville Valley, NH - In addition to spectacular fall leaf peeping and hiking in the surrounding White Mountains, Waterville Valley, New Hampshire serves up two action packed special event weekends this fall.

12th Annual Chili Challenge
Chili lovers are invited to taste test the best chili around on Saturday, October 2 at the 12th Annual Chili Challenge. Chili tasting starts at 12:00 pm and runs until 2:00 when the winning restaurant wins the coveted "King of Chili" title. The cost is $6.50 for ages 13+, $5 for ages 12 & under. Old-fashioned cars on display, Curious George story time and an outdoor concert add to the family fun.

Fall Foliage Festival over Columbus Day Weekend
The long weekend kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 9 with outdoor concerts and kids events at the Curious George Center. On Sunday, Oct. 10, events start at 9:00 am with a 1.6k Family Fun Run and a 5k Foot Race sponsored by the Town of Waterville Valley Recreation Department followed by pumpkin painting and mini pie eating competition. Two weekend tent sales, Sport Thoma's "kick off the season sale" and the WVBBTS Ski and Snowboard Swap, will help skiers and snowboarders get a jump start on the season.

Halloween Returns to Cranmore This Fall with The Ghoullog

N. Conway, NH - Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH celebrates Halloween every weekend in October with the return of The Ghoullog , where visitors board the quad chairlift for a night-time ride to the summit for a haunted mountain-top tour. Coming back for its fourth year, the Ghoullog will be bigger, scarier and more fun than ever with the addition of new twists and turns to scare newcomers and return visitors alike.

The tour starts at the base of Cranmore Mountain and includes a night-time stroll through a haunted walkway to the Quad. After the 7-minute ride to the 2,000 foot summit of Cranmore, visitors tour the Ghoullog, where haunted happenings are sure to frighten and surprise the hardiest souls.

While at the summit, spectacular night-time views of North Conway Village below are sure to delight all comers. At the end of the tour, visitors enjoy a ride down the Quad chairlift to the base with a breath-taking vantage of the Moat Mountains and Mount Washington at night.

Event dates are Oct. 1-2; Oct. 8-10 (Columbus Day Weekend); Oct. 15-16; Oct. 22-23; and Oct. 28-30. Tickets are $25 for all ages with a $2 discount for online advance sales.

The Ghoullog will operate from 7-10pm with doors opening at 6pm. The ticket office, Pub and outdoor food court will open at 6pm on all dates of operation.

Cranmore's ghoul-fest will offer refreshments including a full bar in the Bloody Noose Pub. The Ghoullog also features an outdoor food court offering fair food favorites like fried dough, sausage, pepper and onion sandwiches, popcorn, caramel apples, hot cocoa, hot cider and coffee.

Loon Mountain Announces Significant Increase in Snowmaking is Centerpiece of $1.8 Million Capital Investment for Winter 2010-11

Other Improvements include State-of-the-Art Grooming, Additional Lift Capacity, New Loading Carpet for Seven Brothers Lift and New Zip Line

Lincoln, NH - New Hampshire's Loon Mountain continues its commitment to providing a consistently great guest experience with a capital investment of more than $1.8 million to further enhance its ability to deliver the best snow conditions and superior service for 2010-2011.

Already well known for delivering great snow conditions, Loon has invested an additional $1.2 million to augment and upgrade its impressive snowmaking system that covers 97% of skiable terrain.

An addition of 428 highly-efficient Low-E HKD tower snow guns will allow the resort to boost overall snow production by as much as 150%, as well as maximize snow output at a wider range of temperatures.

For skiers and riders, this will result in more terrain opening earlier, as well as giving the Resort a better ability to replenish snow and resurface terrain even more quickly when weather conditions are less than ideal.

A new Prinoth "Beast" grooming machine, with 40% more grooming surface and pushing power than a standard machine, will provide state-of-the-art snow surfaces at Loon this winter. The Beast, the first machine of its size in New Hampshire, and one of only two in New England, will allow for more terrain to be groomed better and more efficiently. In addition to providing superior snow surfaces, this will also help the Resort reduce its fuel consumption.

Waterville Valley Rolls Out "Outrageous Online $35 Learn to Ski and Ride Offer"

Waterville Valley, NH - This winter, you can try something new at a seriously outrageous price at Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. Friends and family can spend an entire day on Waterville's slopes learning to ski or ride for just $35 each. The online $35 learn to ski and ride offer includes a 2 hour beginner lesson, skis or snowboard equipment and a lower mountain lift ticket for the day.

The season-long $35 learn to ski and ride deal is available for ages 7 and up and requires a purchase made 24 hours in advance at the resort's web site, waterville.com. It's good Sunday-Friday, non-holidays and that's all the fine print. Holiday dates are: 12/26/10 through 1/2/11, 1/15 through 1/17/2011, 2/19 through 2/26/2011.

"It's important for new skiers and riders to learn the right way, the fun way", explains Pete Weber, Snowsports Director. "At Waterville, everyone will have the chance to excel by getting the best possible start with one of our pros. We've created the $35 deal to be so outrageous that everyone will get off the couch this winter and out on the slopes."

To keep the outrageous fun going, new skiers and riders can upgrade to the WV Take 3 Plan. It includes a lower mountain lift ticket, a group lesson and rental equipment for any 3 days (including weekends and holidays) for $150. The lower mountain lift ticket provides access to all of Waterville Valley's beginner and novice terrain.

Waterville Valley Launches Wicked Long Ski and Stay Weekends for 2010-11

Waterville Valley, NH - Waterville Valley has come up with a winning formula to turn the usual ski weekend into a real mini vacation thanks to a wicked early 12:30 pm Friday check in and extra late 3 pm Sunday check out. The extra time on and off the slopes comes at no extra charge making this the deal of the coming season.

"We started offering extra late Sunday check-outs last winter. Our guests were thrilled that they could enjoy Sunday morning on the slopes instead of taking prime ski time to pack the car", explains Jim Wefers, Director of the Waterville Valley Resort Association. "This season we're focusing on starting the weekend off right by giving guests more Friday time. The ski season is too short as it is so we're going to make sure everyone gets the most out of their weekend".

Wicked Long Ski Weekends are offered on 2 Night Ski & Stay Packages, over 12 non-holiday weekends. Prices start at $89 per person/night, double occupancy in December and $158 per person/night, double occupancy in Jan, Feb, and March. For an even longer weekend, the resort offers a Sunday Stayover for 50% off the lodging. Skiers can then take advantage of Waterville Valley's popular 2 for 1 Mondays.

Loon Mountain's Fall Line-Up of Events Kicks Off with the Labor Day Family Fun Weekend

Fall Events Also Include New Hampshire Highland Games, Nor'easter Festival, and Oktoberfest

Lincoln, NH - New Hampshire's >Loon Mountain says good-bye to summer with its annual Family Fun Weekend, September 4 & 5. Each day Loon will host live music at the Adventure Center while guests can also enjoy Loon's newest activity-the zipline which stretches right across the Pemigewasset River.

The resort also offers mountain biking; bungee trampoline; rock climbing; scenic gondola skyrides; hiking; horseback riding and more.

In its 35th year, the New Hampshire Highland Games (September 17-19) is a three-day festival celebrating all things Scottish. Gates open daily at 9:00 a.m. for the event and highlights include:

Gathering of the Scottish Clans (over 60 clans and societies represented)

Massed Bands

Sheepdog Trials

Celtic World Music Concerts

New England Regional Scottish Fiddle Championship

Scottish Athletics

National Highland Dance Competition

Solo Piping & Drumming

Scottish Harp (Clarsach) & other instrument competitions