Wednesday's Mountain Reports

Here is this Wednesday's Mountain reports. Every Wednesday we will post the conditions and weather updates for 7 mountains to check out as you get ready to plan your weekend. We will also include some special events that are happening at each of these mountains this upcoming weekend.

Killington Mountain Resort - Killington, VT

• 77 trails open
• 13 lifts open
• 111 park features 
• Snow Conditions: Machine Groomed & Loose Granular
• Weather
• Friday, March 2nd - Snow through the afternoon, and cloudy after 6 pm with a high of 38 degrees
• Saturday, March 3rd - Cloudy all day with a high of 36 degrees
• Sunday March 4th - Cloudy all day with a high of 37 degrees
• Events
• March 3rd & 4th: 9:45 am - 2:30 pm Slash & Berm Banked Slalom, A two day benefit at the Killington Stash Park to bring the east coast snowboarding community together. 
• March 4th: 7 am - 12:30 pm Pico Skimo, come out for a fun race on the Pico Mountain, all finishers will receive an award. You can register ahead of time on Killington's website.  

Photo by Jure Širić from Pexels

Crotched Mountain - Western Hillsborough County, NH

• 22 trails open
• 3 lifts open 
• 22 groomed trails
• Snow Conditions: Machine Groomed
• Weather
• Friday, March 2nd - Mix of rain and snow showers throughout the day with a high of 31 degrees
• Saturday, March 3rd - Cloudy all day with a high of 35 degrees
• Sunday March 4th - Mostly cloudy all day with a high of 35 degrees
• Events
• March 3rd: 9 am - 5 pm 98.5 The Sports Hub-Snow Squad will be at the base of the mountain to promote on-snow and host an apres party in the Onset Pub & Lounge.
• March 4th: 10 am - 2 pm Kids Obstacle Course Race, grab the kids for a fun event on the Lower Pluto's trail. This event is for kids ages 3-8. 

Shawnee Peak - Bridgton, ME

• 32 trails open
•  4 lifts open
• 26 groomed trails
• Snow Conditions: Packed powder  
• Weather
• Friday, March 2nd - Snow in the morning that clears out for the afternoon/evening with a high of 38 degrees
• Saturday, March 3rd - Cloudy all day with a high of 41 degrees
• Sunday March 4th - Cloudy all day with a high of 40 degrees
• Events
• March 2nd: WinterKids Family Day - All WinterKids Passport holders and their families are encouraged to come out for their first WinterKids Family Day! (Passport Holder Lift Ticket: $20, Sibling/Parent Lift Ticket: $22)
• March 3rd: 1 pm Cardboard Box Race - Anyone is welcome to participate in the 5th annual cardboard box race! 2 prizes will be given out - Fastest and Best dressed (Theme this year is “A PARTY”) Winners will receive NASCAR tickets

Best Dressed winner for the second year in a row (2016-2017)

Jay Peak Resort - Jay, VT

• 35 trails open
• 9 lifts open
• 2 Parks open
• Weather
• Friday, March 2nd - Cloudy all day with a high of 32 degrees
• Saturday, March 3rd - Mostly cloudy all day with a high of 31 degrees
• Sunday March 4th - Cloudy all day with a high of 32 degrees
• Events
• March 3rd: 9 am Annual Skimo East Randonne Race, must go up to go back down at Jay Peaks annual Skimo race!
• March 3rd & 4th: All day, Hope on the Slopes, an American Cancer Society Fundraiser, all proceeds raise go 100% to ACS.  

Stowe Mountain Resort - Stowe, VT

• 72 trails open
• 11 lifts open
• Snow Conditions: Machine Groomed & Variable Conditions
• Weather
• Friday, March 2nd - Snow showers in the morning that clear out by the afternoon with a high of 42 degrees
• Saturday, March 3rd - Cloudy all day with a high of 40 degrees
• Sunday March 4th - scatter snow showers throughout the day with a high of 41 degrees
• Events
• March 3rd: Cliff House Restaurant Summit Series Dinners, this weekend feature is a Vermont Beer Dinner 
• March 3rd: 7:30 pm Patti Casey & the Wicked Fine Players at the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. 

Patti Casey and the Wicked Fine Players

Gunstock Mountain  - Gilford, NH

• 45 trails open
• 6 lifts open
• Snow Conditions: Machine Groomed
• Weather 
• Friday, March 2nd - Mix of snow and rain showers throughout the day with a high of 35 degrees
• Saturday, March 3rd - Cloudy all day with a high of 37 degrees
• Sunday March 4th -  Mostly cloudy all day with a high of  37 degrees
• Events
• March 3rd: 6:30 am Winter Wild, an uphill series with twist where the finish line is at the bottom of the mountain, therefore you must go up to come back down and finish. Fun for all ages and anyone is encouraged to participate.   
• March 3rd: 10:30 am Grom Jam Park Event, Mini shredders (15 and under) get the feel for competition all while having a good time. Registration is $10 per child with awards to be given out right after the competition. 
• March 4th: 7:30- 8:30 am Winter Prime Pass Holder's First Tracks, this Sunday prime pass holders are welcome to enjoy the fresh snow trails for a full hour before the general public. Plus hot cocoa will be given out at the lifts!

Waterville Valley Resort - Waterville Valley, NH

• 47 trails open
• 9 lifts open 
• 39 groomed trails
• Weather
• Friday, March 2nd - Snow showers throughout the day with a high of 36 degrees
• Saturday, March 3rd - Cloudy all day with a high of 35 degrees
• Sunday March 4th - Cloudy all day with a high of 35 degrees
• Events
• March 3rd: 1-5 pm Math Games for All, Stop by for some interactive math fun and games with Dr. Natalya Vinogradova. 
• March 3rd: 3-6 pm Ride and Ski Card Apres with Harpoon, get a 2-for-1 deal on lift tickets all day if you join or have the Ride & Ski card! Then come and enjoy some Harpoon beer at the T-bars in the afternoon. 
• March 4th: 3 pm NH Special Olympics Winter Games, this Sunday starts the 3 day tournament of the special Olympics winter games at Waterville Valley Resort. 

 

Tune in next Wednesday for our next Mountain Report covering 7 new mountains to check out!

Monday's Mountain Spotlight: Loon

Perhaps one of the finest and most convenient day trips for most New England residents is Loon Mountain. Located 3 miles off of Exit 32 on I-93 in the heart of the White Mountains, Loon is a 2.5 hour drive from Boston, 2 hours from Concord and Montpelier, 3.5 hours from Providence, 3 hours from Augusta, and 4 hours from Hartford. 

Conditions (as of 2/25/18)

• 52 trails open
• 47 trails groomed
• 325 acres open
• 10 Lifts open
• 5 Terrain parks open
• 25 miles open
• 1” new snow
• 25”-36” avg. base depth
• Snow: Groomed, loose granular

This week’s events

• Thursday, March 1: Apres Ski Party and Live Music
• Thursday, March 1 to Friday, March 2: Women’s Performance Camp session 2
• Friday, March 2: TGI Apres
• Friday, March 2 to Sunday, March 4: BMW Winter xDrive Experience
• Saturday, March 3 to Sunday, March 4: First class beginner’s weekend

Where to eat

• There are tons of great places to eat on the mountain! Here are some of our favorites:
• Summit Cafe (top of the Gondola)
• Governor Adams Lodge (west end of the main base parking lot)
• Pemigewasset Base Camp (base of South Peak)
• Waffle Cabin (base of South Peak)
• Babe’s Blue Ox (upper level of Gov. Adams Lodge)
• The Seasons Restaurant and Black Diamond Bar and Grille (Mountain Club)

Summer Activities: Attitash

Ski resorts are famous for, well, skiing and snowboarding. But they offer so much more than this during the other three seasons of the year! Many of these resorts are located amongst some of the country’s most beautiful mountains. Do not miss the view in the summer! Let’s take a look at one of the White Mountain’s most popular ski resorts, complete with beautiful views of Mt. Washington and the rest of the Presidential Range.

Attitash

• ZipTour: The longest single zipline in NH! Zip from the summit of Bear Peak to the base of Attitash. The ZipTour is open weekends through Columbus Day.

• Mountain Coaster: A downhill roller coaster ride through the forest.. Cruise at rider-controlled speeds of up to 25 mph through banked curves & dips.

• Alpine Slides: A NH icon & guest favorite at Attitash. Wind through the slopes and forest down over a mile of slides.

• Airbag Jump: Make like a stunt double and jump off the ledge! Feel the rush of making a free-fall jump into a 40-by-40 foot airbag, designed to give you a soft landing.

• Waterslides: Looking for a place to cool down and have fun this summer? Attitash's two waterslide attractions: Aquaboggan  & tubing slide Sidewinder, offer adventure and thrills for kids and adults.

• EuroBungy Trampoline: Jump, spin, fly upside down on Attitash’s bungee trampolines. A harness, connected by bungee cords, allows you to jump, flip, and defy gravity as you soar over two stories high on the Euro-Bungy Trampolines.  Four trampolines are set up in the Attitash Base Area & are included in the Attitash Adventure Park Admission.

• Climbing Wall: Before taking on Cathedral Ledge, practice on Attitash’s climbing wall. Reach for the top of our 24' climbing wall.  Our trained staff will be on belay as young and old challenge themselves via three different route options.  This is a great introduction to climbing and the Mount Washington Valley offers some of the best rock climbing in the East.

• Slacklines: Got balance? We’ll see! Test it on Attitash's slacklines. Slacklining refers to the act of walking or balancing along a suspended length of flat webbing that is tensioned between two anchors. Slacklining is similar to tightrope walking but a little easier and low to the ground.

• Scenic chairlift rides: Take in the White Mountain Scenery. Enjoy a round-trip tour to the summit, where the spectacular views of the Presidential Range and the Mount Washington Valley await you. Feel free to bring a bag lunch for a picnic on the summit.

• Mountain Biking: Downhill or cross country... there is fun for miles! Attitash Mountain Resort has nearly 20 miles of mountain bike trails for all abilities, including 35 downhill trails and 8 cross-country trails. Enjoy scenic cross-country terrain along the Saco River or ride more extreme, lift-accessed downhill terrain on Attitash and Bear Beak.

How to Plan for a Ski Trip

Anyone who has ever planned a successful ski trip knows how fun and exciting it can be. Yet so many people who love to ski and snowboard only plan one single day to hit the slopes. For this week’s How-To Friday I’m going to outline everything you need to know to make that one day ski trip turn into a whole week or even a weekend.

First, you should get a group of friends or family together who you like and are willing to spend an entire week or weekend with. The trip is so much more enjoyable when everyone is having a good time and getting along. Also I would like to note, the more people you get together, the lower the individual cost per person for everything such as lodging, food, and travel.

Next, find a mountain that appeals to everyone in your group's needs, whether that be kid friendly, how close the mountain is to the house you rented or hotel, if the mountain has good food, or a good variety of trails. Also an important factor should be that the mountain is located in or near a town that has plenty of other activities to do when your taking a break from the snowy fun. My personal favorites to recommend would be Cranmore Mountain located in North Conway, NH or Loon Mountain located in Lincoln, NH. These two towns are full of fun things to do and have a lot of tiny shops that are fun to explore. Lincoln, NH is also the destination of the incredible Ice Castles that I highly recommend checking out. These breathe-taking ice structures stand 25 feet tall at its highest point and have become a social media sensation that draw over a million people to see them each year.

Once you have everything booked and the itinerary all made, it is very important that you continuously check the weather a few days leading up to your trip. As you may know the saying in New England, “If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes”. The weather is constantly changing so it is important that you pack accordingly to stay warm or cool while on the mountain.

Ice Castles during the day

Ice Castles at night 

 Below I have made a list of everything you need to pack for your ski trip:

• Ski/snowboard equipment - boots, poles, goggles, helmet, skis and board**
• Warm clothes- sweatshirt, sweatpants, long sleeve shirt (Even on warm winter days the top of the mountain can get very chilly)
• water resistant pants (snow pants) and jacket (one with a removable inner lining would be best if the weather keeps changing from warm to cold)
• Hats , gloves, scarfs, and facemasks
• Warms tall socks and plenty of backup pairs so that you don’t get blisters from your boots
• Clothes to wear off the mountain- jeans, shirts, boots, sneakers
• Food to make and snack on for breakfast/lunch/dinner (If you find yourself cooking for a large group, pasta is always a cheap go-to)
• Snacks to carry/eat on the mountain -trail mix, granola bars, beef jerky
• Shampoo, conditioner, soap and other bathroom necessities
• Chap-stick, hand warmers, and headphones

**I would also like to recommend getting a ski and snowboard rack for the top of your car for an easier way to transport your equipment and freeing up more space in your car for other things.

Finally, 3 very important thing to remember is HAVE FUN, TAKE PICTURES, and MAKE MEMORIES!

Wednesday's Mountain Reports

Ever wondering what the conditions are like and events that are happening at mountain resorts in the area? Well, every Wednesday we will post the conditions and weather updates for 7 mountains to check out as you get ready to plan your weekend. We will also include some special events that are happening at each these mountains this upcoming weekend.

Mount Snow - West Dover, VT

• 63 trails open
•  14 lifts open
• 49 groomed Runs
• Weather
• Friday Feb.23rd Mostly cloudy in the morning, with very high chance of freezing rain starting at noon and going into the evening  with a high temp. of 27 degrees
• Saturday Feb.24th cloudy all day with a high temp of 32 degrees
• Sunday Feb.25th high chance of freezing rain throughout the afternoon with a high temp of 30 degrees
• Events
• February 23rd, 9 pm. Enjoy groovy tunes with Wild Adriatic
• February 24th, 9 pm. Live music by The breakfast

Wild Adriatic

Loon mountain -  Lincoln, NH

• 51 trails open
• 10 lifts open
• Weather
• Friday, Feb. 23rd partly sunny in the morning then freezing rain around 7pm with a high of 29 degrees
• Saturday, Feb 24th small chance of showers in the morning, Cloudy in the afternoon and evening with a high of 33 degrees
• Sunday, Feb 25th Snow in the morning that turns to freezing rain by the afternoon with a high of 24 degrees
• Event
• February 21st-23rd 6-9 pm. Fluorescent Nights - 3 nights of action in the Burton progression park.
• February 23rd&24th 3-6 pm TGI Apres - enjoy live music from Mike McDowell and friends and 32 different draft beers, featuring brews from Peak Organic Brewing Co. in the Paul Bunyan Room located on the second floor of the Octagon Lodge
• February 24th doors open at 9 pm Bunyan’s Legendary Nights: The Van Burens - enjoy live reggae, funk, and rock music.  21+ event

Wachusett Mountain - Princeton, MA

• 19 trails open
• 7 lifts open
• Snow conditions: Packed powder
• Weather
• Friday, Feb. 23rd partly cloudy in the morning then evening rain with a high of 36 degrees
• Saturday, Feb 24th partly cloudy all day with a high of 48 degrees
• Sunday, Feb 25th scattered showers through the day with a high of 41 degrees
• Events
• February 23rd 8 am-5 pm 10th Mountain Division Re-dedication Ceremony- witness Mountain Soldiers in action in a public display of skills as they downhill ski and demonstrate military mountaineering techniques.
• February 25th 7-7:45 am Sunday Fitness Class - warm up your body with morning yoga and fitness classes

Sunday's Morning Fitness Class at Wachusett

Nashoba Valley Ski Area - Westford, MA

• 17 trails open 
• 11 lifts open
• 18 park features open- 15 rails 3 jumps
• Snow Conditions: Machine groomed
• Weather
• Friday, Feb. 23rd cloudy in the morning with rain showers through the evening with a high of  38 degrees
• Saturday, Feb. 24th mostly cloudy all day with a high of 52 degrees
• Sunday, Feb. 25th scattered showers throughout the day with a high of 43 degrees
• Events (None this weekend)

Cranmore Mountain - North Conway, NH

• 45 trails open
• 7 lifts open 
• Snow conditions: Loose Granular
• Weather
• Friday, Feb. 23rd cloudy with an 80% of snow coming in the afternoon with a high of 37 degrees
• Saturday, Feb. 24th cloudy all day with a high of 43 degrees
• Sunday, Feb 25th Snow in the morning that will turn to rain by the afternoon with a high of 37 degrees
• Events
• February 23rd 3-6 pm live music in Zip’s pub
• February 23rd&24th Canapalooza - enjoy DJ dance parties in Schneider Square with C-more the Penguin as well as live music, family activities, and fireworks on Saturday night
• February 24th 12 pm Double Feature Thrown Down - Double Feature terrain park is located on the North Slope & contains medium and large features and this free competition is for all ages and abilities. Skiers and boarders alike are invited to enter the competition and show off their park skills. Registration will be from 10-11:00 am. Anyone under 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign a waiver for them. There will also be some cool prizes to win.
• February 24th 6-9 pm 80th Anniversary Summit Ice Bar Party - Go to the Meister Hut for a special ice bar, appetizers and live music with Shark Martin. 21+ event
• February 25th 12pm-4pm $25 lift tickets -Discounts valid for residents of Carroll, Coos & Oxford Counties. Valid ID required for proof of residency required.

Photo from Canapaloonza Fireworks

Sugarloaf Mountain - Carrabassett Valley, ME

• 95 trials open
• 48 groomed trails
• Snow conditions: Corn snow and wet packed
• Weather
• Friday, Feb. 23rd cloudy with a high chance of snow in the afternoon with a high of 29 degrees
• Saturday Feb. 24th mostly cloudy all day with a high of 34 degrees
• Sunday Feb. 25th 100% chance of snow with a high of 32 degrees
• Events
• February 23rd&24th 9 pm- 12:30 am -Widowmaker Entertainment Presents: The Richard James Band, a Boston-based rock band that appeals to adventuresome music lovers with genre bending tastes and a desire to dance.
• February 24th 6-9 pm - 2018 CVA Scholarship Fundraiser, the annual CVA Scholarship fundraiser will be held at the Sugarloaf Inn. Raffle, silent auction and much more.
• February 24th Beers of Maine Series II: Featuring Maine Beer Co. Enjoy a snow cat ride up to Bullwinkle's for a 6-course dining experience. Reservations are required at least 72 hours in advance.

Wildcat Mountain- Jackson, NH

• 23 trials open
• 4 lifts open
• 19 groomed runs
• Snow Conditions: Machine groomed and wet snow
• Weather
• Friday Feb. 23rd very likely chance of snow in the afternoon with a high of 31 degrees
• Saturday Feb 24th Cloudy and windy throughout the day with a high of 33 degrees
• Sunday Feb. 25th Mix of snow and rain showers throughout the day with a high of 33 degrees
• Events
• February 23rd 1-4 pm Wildcat Pub Apres Ski Entertainment featuring Ryan St Onge.
• February 24th 11-11:30 am Crazy Hat Day - judging will take place on the front lawn where prizes will be given out for the craziest hat, best in show, and other categories.
• February 24th 2-5 pm Wildcat Pub Apres Ski Entertainment featuring Dominic Lovoie

Crazy Hat Day example from Wildcat Mt. Website

The best day of the weekend appears to be Saturday, so get ready and have some fun while enjoying one of the many awesome events taking place this weekend on the slopes!

Troy Murphy - Local Olympian

Have you ever wondered where Olympians come from? Sometimes they are closer to us than you might think.

Troy Murphy is a skier who grew up on the slopes of Sunday River. That’s right: perhaps you were making turns with a future Olympian and didn’t even know it! He was born on June 13, 1992 in Bethel, ME and graduated from Gould Academy in 2010.

Photo by Kirk Paulsen

Murphy made his World Cup debut in 2012, and in 2014 was the FIS Rookie of the year in moguls. He also did very well in 2015 finishing in the top 10 in four contests. Murphy had a difficult 2016 season due to injuries, but he came back in 2017 finishing in the top 10 six times.

Murphy was ranked 12th in the world when he was selected for the 2018 US Men's Mogul team. He narrowly missed being on the team in 2014, so when he placed fourth in qualifiers for the Olympic team I can only imagine his elation!

NBC Olympics

Unfortunately, he was not destined for a podium position. After scoring 80.95 in his first qualifier, he dropped to a 72.72 which was not enough to continue to the third round.

Troy Murphy has no intention of slowing down. He will jump right back into the World Cup Circuit with an event in Japan on March 3rd and events in France and Switzerland soon after. He will return to New England for the US moguls nationals at Waterville Valley Resort in New Hampshire on March 20-24. (We will certainly keep you posted on this event.)

We’re proud of you, Troy Murphy! Continue skiing as a top notch representative of the USA and New England!









https://www.pressherald.com/2018/01/22/bethels-troy-murphy-makes-olympic-team/ (accessed February 20, 2018)
https://www.pressherald.com/2018/01/20/bethel-skier-troy-murphy-ready-to-break-onto-the-olympic-stage/ (accessed February 20, 2018)
https://www.boston.com/sports/olympics/2018/02/12/troy-murphy-fails-to-advance-in-mens-moguls (accessed February 20, 2018)
https://www.pressherald.com/2018/02/18/troy-murphys-olympics-its-been-awesome/ (accessed February 20, 2018)

Monday's Mountain Spotlight: Sunday River

In the height of the ski season, Sunday River Ski Resort is in full-swing, and New Englanders are
loving it. Located in the historic Maine town of Newry, Sunday River is a 3.5 hour drive from Boston,
4.5 hours away from Hartford, 4 hours away from Providence, 2.5 hours away from Concord and
Montpelier, and 1.5 hours away from Augusta. And with 8 peaks to choose from, this resort draws
skiers, snowboarders, and otherwise winter enthusiasts from all over New England.

Conditions (as of 2/19/18)

• 116 trails open
• 86 trails groomed
• 695 acres open
• 46 miles open
• 0” new snow
• 30” avg. base depth

February 9th White Heat

This week's events

• Tuesday, February 20

Après Party with entertainment from Bruce Jacques
          Foggy Goggle, 3-6PM

• Wednesday, February 21
  Après Party with entertainment from Hit The Bus Duo
  Foggy Goggle, 3-6PM
• Thursday, February 22
  Après Party with entertainment from Hit The Bus Band
  Foggy Goggle, 3-6PM
• Friday, February 23
  Black Diamond Entertainment:  Laser Tag in the Grand Summit Ballroom  
  Grand Summit Hotel Ballroom 4-8PM
• Saturday, February 24
  Après Party with entertainment from Never in Vegas
  Foggy Goggle, 3-6PM
• All Week Long,
  Night Skiing 4 PM- 8 PM
• Black Diamond Entertainment presents the international hypnotist/mentalist/magician SPIDEY
• Grand Summit Hotel Ballroom, 7 PM

All Week Long,
Night Skiing 4 PM- 8 PM

January 21st from top of White Cap

Where to eat?

The food at Sunday River is delicious and easily accessible whether you are on the base of the
mountain, or the summit! Here is what you should watch for:

• The Foggy Goggle in Southridge Lodge
• The Barker Bar in Barker lodge (base of Barker Mt.)
• Waffle Cabin (base of Barker Mt.)
• Peak Dinners (summit of South Ridge)
• Sliders (off of Lollapalooza on Jordon Bowl)
• Southridge Lodge and Barker Lodge food courts also offer a more casual, more affordable dining experience. 

In addition to the above, I would also like to recommend the Sunday River Brewing Co. Located just
minutes away from the base of the mountain in Bethel, this is a personal favorite spot of mine to
unwind after a good day of skiing.