Wildcat Mountain

Have A Great Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:09:00 +0000

Wildcat Mountain opens for summer and fall operations beginning Saturday, May 26 at 10 a.m. offering two major state attractions for the long Memorial Day Weekend including New Hampshire's only ZipRider zip-line cable ride and the highest scenic gondola in the state, the Wildcat Express. Located 100% within the White Mountain National Forest, Wildcat Mountain provides one-of-a-kind opportunities to enjoy views and scenery in Pinkham Notch.

Click here for special Buy One Get One Free Scenic Gondola Coupon Offer valid for use June 2 - 29, 2012

The ZipRider and scenic gondola will be open as weather permits for weekends only (including the Memorial Day Monday) beginning Saturday, May 26 and then will begin to operate daily Saturday, June 16 through Labor Day and will the return to weekend only operations from September 8 to October 14. Wildcat Mountain offers hiking, a fishing pond, lift-serviced 9-hole alpine disc golf course, and weekly guided tours and outdoor interpretive programs with the Tin Mountain Conservation Center and Appalachian Mountain Club. Food, beer, and wine is offered in the base lodge along with a lunch menu and picnic-style “Lunch & Ride” packages available for individuals, families, or groups. All rates and information can be found online at skiwildcat.com or by calling 1-888-SKI-WILD.

Purchase your 2012/13 winter season pass at the early, lowest price before Friday June 1!

Click here for info...

Access a combined total of 122 trails and 505 acres of skiing and riding when you purchase a 2012/2013 Wildcat Mountain & Attitash Mountain Resort Season Pass. We offer nine different season passes, including the new AttiCats Season Pass, valid every day and available for all kids and young adults age 6-18 for just $399 if purchased by Friday, June 1. Rates will increase after Friday, June 1, so don't miss the lowest pricing available now. See all available passes, pricing, and purchase online today by visiting our Wildcat Mountain Season Pass page.

This year's Kids FreeFishing Day event scheduled for Saturday, June 2 will be a great way to learn how to fish or develop your fishing skills. Representatives and volunteers from the U.S. Forest Service and Appalachian Mountain Club will 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 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.

Here's to having a great weekend with family, friends, and to a moment remembering why we celebrate Memorial Day and honor the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Wildcat Mountain: 9th Annual 100,000 Vertical Foot Challenge Participants Raise Record Funds

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:26:00 +0000

Happy April Fool's Day. No joke, Wildcat Mountain remains open and is scheduled to operate daily this week and in to next weekend, conditions permitting. We're hoping to be the last resort in NH to spinning lifts for a fifth season straight. Lift tickets are currently $35 for all ages. Be sure to watch the snow report page for the most up-to-date info.

So last month, a total of 20 skiers and riders registered and accepted the challenge to conquer over 100,000 vertical feet in a single day on Monday, March 12^th to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of New Hampshire. Weather for the event was ideal for the field of male & female, young & old, and ski & snowboard participants to push themselves to complete the marathon alpine event. This year’s participants were able to collectively raise over $90,000 in pledge donations to set an event record high donation amount for their efforts.

Loading the Wildcat Express high-speed summit quad chairlift at 7:30am to begin the 100,000 vertical foot challenge (skiing or snowboarding a minimum 48 runs down the Lynx trail), all but 2 of the participants were able to complete the personal challenge. More impressive, top fundraisers for this year’s 100K Day were lead for a third year in a row by Kevin Elwood of Oxford, MA having raised over $81,000. Chris Leuci of Lynnfield, MA was second top fundraiser and Ben Wiggin of Conway, NH was the third highest in collected donation amounts for the event.

Wildcat Mountain was most recently recognized by Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of New Hampshire among its “Chris Greicius - Society of Strength” donor level noting that the event’s annual cumulative giving has surpassed $100,000. Now in its ninth year, the event is approaching $300,000 total and continues toward the next recognized Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of New Hampshire level set at $500,000. The annual event is unique to Wildcat Mountain coupling the accessibility and speed of the Wildcat Express high-speed, summit lift and the ski area’s greater than 2,100 vertical foot drop.

Wildcat Mountain would like to thank all participants, donation supporters, volunteers, and recognize the generosity of those that helped to make the event possible providing in-kind support and top fundraising prizes including: Rossignol Skis, Fischer Skis, Dakine, Attitash Mountain Resort, and Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England.

The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of New Hampshire (www.newhampshire.wish.org) is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. It strives to provide children with the hope for better times, the strength for the tough times and the joy to experience the present. The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of New Hampshire is part of the nation’s largest and most recognized wish-granting organization, with chapters and volunteers throughout the United States and the world.

Check out the video below and enjoy some photos from the event. Thank you again to all that participated, you are heros!

Wildcat Mountain: Like A Lion Or...

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:52:00 +0000

March is coming in like a Wildcat, and it's pretty much been all about early morning first chairs. I'm sure you heard we received a foot of snow this past week at Wildcat Mountain, so in the interest of keeping this brief (and admitting it's been forever since we typed up a blog post), just check out our snow report...especially since we may get some more snow this week.

So it was a great February vacation week, but we want to remind everyone that we've got our daily Wild Deals back this week including the start of $40 Friday Lift Tickets this month and a special $99 St. Patrick's Day Long Weekend 3-Day Ticket you can purchase on Friday, March 16. It's also a great time of year to begin taking advantage of the Wednesday Bring-A-Friend $31.50 lift ticket special that we offer our Wildcat/Attitash season passholders and Vertical Value cardholders, so be sure to take advantage of that.

If you missed vacation week (and some of the time before that), here are a collection of videos from the Wildcat Mountain YouTube Channel that will get you up to speed with what's been going on the past several weeks (and even early February... again, sorry we've been a bit lazy with the blog).

The first video contains some highlights from the February vacation week "Kitty Litter" cardboard box race and the "Nine Lives" lunch tray luge...

Earlier that week, we shot our weekly video...

And before that, we were making turns with our friends from the Boston Patagonia store...

Now, are you capable of skiing and riding all day? If so, skiers and riders might consider participating in two scheduled events whose challenge also include raising associated pledge donations to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of New Hampshire and AbilityPLUS Inc.

Mount Washington Valley’s AbilityPLUS Inc. will host their Ski-A-Thon fundraiser event at Wildcat Mountain on Saturday, March 3. This event will allow skiers and riders to simply access the entire mountain as they would normally and keep track of their runs. The AbilityPLUS Inc. Ski-A-Thon is open to all levels of skiers and riders interested in participating. An entry fee of $70 ($35 for season passholders) or $250 for a team of four will include the day’s lift ticket, gift bag, and awards party with appetizers and additional prize raffles. For more information and to register, visit abilityplus.org.

The annual Wildcat Mountain100,000 Vertical Foot Challenge event scheduled for Monday, March 12 will challenge participants to complete at least 48 runs in a single day via the famed Lynx Trail’s vertical descent from summit to base. In addition to the personal challenge, the maximum number of 40 participants will individually raise a minimum donation amount with top fundraisers being awarded prizes. As a result of previous event’s participants fundraising efforts, Wildcat Mountain was most recently recognized by Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of New Hampshire among its “Chris Greicius - Society of Strength” donor level noting that the event’s annual cumulative giving has surpassed $100,000. Now in its ninth year, the event has actually risen over $200,000 total and continues toward the next recognized Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of New Hampshire level set at $500,000. The annual event is unique to Wildcat Mountain coupling the accessibility and speed of the Wildcat Express high-speed, summit lift and the ski area’s greater than 2,100 vertical foot drop.

Registration for the event is only $70 ($40 for season passholders) and includes lift access for the day, a ticket voucher valid for another day of skiing/riding this season and participant gift bag, exclusive lift-line privileges while completing the 48 runs (maximum 50 runs) on the intermediate level Lynx trail which will be closed to the public, light breakfast/lunch items, snacks, and refreshments provided during the event, and dinner and awards for top fundraisers as well as bib-raffle prizes for participants. All ages and disciplines are welcome to participate, but a limit of 40 participants and a minimum $250 in pledge donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of New Hampshire must be acquired and provided the morning of the event, Monday, March 12. For more information and to register, visit skiwildcat.com/100Kday.html.

We'll leave with you a parting shot of a Wildcat Mountain ski patroller checking on the goods when it was dumping last weekend. Cheers!

Wildcat Mountain: Happy Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:58:00 +0000

Happy Birthday to Wildcat Mountain today! That's right, if we're to recognize lift-serviced skiing and riding at Wildcat Mountain as the birth of the legend, then we're now blowing out the candles on 54 years since the original gondola first began carrying passengers January 25, 1958. And with that, last weekend's conditions were perhaps the best of the season so far. The photos in today's Wildcat Mountain Litter Blog update were taken by Wildcat & Attitash Mountain marketing coordinator Laura Tuveson whom we also featured in this past Sunday's most recent Wildcat Mountain Video Update below. And below that video, because we didn't have a chance to share here previously, is a video catching up with our patroller Nate Peters as he was dropping ropes following the previous week's new snow.

If you haven't been monitoring the weather, the snow storm cycle this season seems to be Thursdays, Fridays, and in to the weekend. At this point, after the most recent midweek warm temps and wet weather, we're now looking at a Wildcat Mountain forecast that indicates yet another late midweek snow storm heading in to the weekend...perfect! Keep an eye on the Wildcat Mountain Snow Report to see any changes to trail counts and conditions.

Speaking of the season, we want to invite our season passholders to this season's Wildcat and Attitash Mountain Season Passholder Party. It will take place Saturday, February 4 starting at 6:30pm at the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel and is sure to be a good time. All persons attending must have a valid Wildcat & Attitash Mountain season pass that was paid for at early, mid, or regular rates. This is not an employee or their guest pass party...an employee party is scheduled for the weekend after and if you're an employee, details on that will be coming at you later.

And that same passholder party weekend is Superbowl XLVI and for that Sunday, February 5, we are offering a $46 Superbowl Sunday full-day ticket rate as part of this season's Wild Deals. Don't let the hype fool you, enjoy a full day of skiing and riding and still have plenty of time to get ready for the big kickoff! Also, be sure to check out other special Wild Deals we've added for Valentine's Day and for the St. Patrick's Day weekend.

Last, but not least, there is currently a voter's poll in the form of Boston.com Skiing Showdown letting you pick New England's favorite ski resorts. Well, what began as 32 resorts is down to a bracket of 8 and we're the last New Hampshire resort left. Help us out today, click here, and vote...and then share this and tell your friends to vote. If we can somehow beat Jay Peak today, we'll move on and you'll have to vote for us again tomorrow too. Thanks for voting if you do, we'll consider it a present for Wildcat's birthday!

Wildcat Mountain: It's Getting Better Every Day

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:41:00 +0000

Love the photo above that Wildcat Mountain main snow reporter/marketing/events/you name it, he does it guy Justin Henderson took yesterday of the snowmaking underway on Lower Catapult. "It's getting better every day" remains to be the current phrase that skiers and riders are saying to each other in the lift line or base lodge with a knowing and shared smile. Keep an eye on the Wildcat Mountain snow report as the long holiday weekend approaches to see how we're progressing with getting additional lower mountain trails and hopefully getting the Polecat trail open top-to-bottom as is currently planned.

We keep adding partners to our Lodging Page who now offer direct-to-lift tickets, valid for use at Wildcat and Attitash Mountain Resort, in their available ski & stay packages. Check out some of the great properties and deals available to you to come visit the Mount Washington Valley and White Mountains this season. Or if you are a member of a ski club, own a vacation home, or simply have friends or family up here who have a place where you can crash often, and you don't have a season pass, be sure to check out the season-long savings afforded in our Vertical Value Card. Purchase that for $79 and your first day's ticket is free. After that you could be saving up to 50% off our regular full-price lift ticket rates this season. Check out more information on the Vertical Value Card and also our Wild Deals with daily specials.

Another phrase we sometimes here is, "I love Wildcat Mountain, it's been ___ years since I skied/rode there." In this week's video, for Justin Freeman, it had been 18 years before he had a chance to visit again last season. He tells us a little bit about that, the current snow, and to believe there is some good skiing and riding to be had despite the possibility that there is no snow in your backyard. With that, hope to "ski" you soon, maybe even this weekend, and be sure to check our Events Page to see all of the additional Wildcat Pub parties and Sunday Acoustic Chill live music series we've set up for the season.

Wildcat Mountain: Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Happy New Year! It's been too long since we updated the Wildcat Mountain Litter Blog. So with the coming year of 2012, we'll make a resolution to be better bloggers. In the time since we last updated, and as you're well aware, all of New England has had a bit of a challenge getting the season started but this season's mantra has been, "It will be better tomorrow". This is very true as our snowmakers continue to act like Minutemen and remain on guard, with snowmaking guns ready, and respond to fluctuating weather by firing their guns when favorable temperatures and humidity line up like the British are coming. They and our groomers are to be thanked for their hard work and contributions to making winter happen. If you've been watching the Wildcat Mountain snow report page, you'll have noticed that most recently Upper Lynx and Upper Polecat opened. Please know that our commitment and efforts are to be adding trails and terrain as quickly as conditions allow. In the photos above and below taken yesterday, Friday, December 30, conditions started off sweet. The on/off snow showers and flurries added to the holiday week feel and made it fun for children in our Ski School and for skiers carving up the Cheetah trail. Our Wildcat Mountain Video Update Series is back and already in to the second one for the season. Below is the update shot December 30 and even further down is the first video of the season shot December 23. We hope these unique videos help you to get a sense of conditions and also highlight some of the unique personalities that are very much part of the Wildcat Mountain legend.

As all resorts across the region continue to work at adding more trails and terrain as quickly as they can, one of the things that has been very valuable this holiday week, is the opportunity to take advantage of lift tickets, season passes, and our Vertical Value Frequent Skier/Rider Discount Card that are valid at both Wildcat Mountain and nearby Attitash Mountain Resort. For the vacation week, we're very aware that many skiers and riders are making good use of starting their day making turns at one mountain and then heading to the other to bag the combined trails and terrain available at both mountains. As of today, between the two, we offer 31 trails. Currently, that combined trail count is second to only one other New Hampshire resort, but considering the same lift ticket will get you access to both mountains, only 20 minutes away from each other, and easily skied in a single day, we think that is value to consider all season long.

Cheers to 2011 concluding and to the start of 2012. May you be wintery and white, pray for snow!

Wildcat Mountain: Gobble Gobble

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, it's time for turkey and that means that the skiing and riding season is all but here. Despite November's unseasonably warm temps and mostly unfavorable snowmaking conditions, we began to send water and air last Thursday evening November 17 to the upper elevations of Wildcat Mountain and continued making snow mostly above 3,000' as seen in the photo below taken Friday afternoon, November 18.

Temperatures and weather of course will determine the progress of snowmaking operations, but the targeted opening date for Wildcat Mountain remains to be Friday, December 9. For the upcoming holiday weekend, please note that the Wildcat Mountain Guest Service and Season Pass Counter (and base lodge in general) will be closed on Thanksgiving and for the holiday weekend. Instead, the Attitash Season Pass Office will be open, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Friday, November 25 through Sunday, November 27 where you'll be able to pick up or purchase your 2011/2012 season pass* at the season pass office located inside the Attitash Main Base Lodge (*Wildcat-only Cool Cat or employee passes not available at Attitash).

Google "Ski" View

Check this out, kind of crazy, and Wildcat Mountain is among the first ski areas in the East to have a complete Google Map of the entire resort. Did you want to ski today? Well now you can virtually. Here, you'll see below that you're positioned on the Polecat Trail and you can start from there and move just about anywhere you want on the mountain with full 360 views no matter where you are. The weather was a little overcast the day Google came, so the views are a bit washed out, but still, this is a bit mind blowing. Move your mouse pointer over the image and you should see little circles or squares at the tip of your arrow...if you do, left-click and you should move to that spot. Then with the little circle compass that you see in the upper-left hand side, you can use that to spin around a full 360 degrees or look up, or down, whatever. Obviously, different computers and web browsers will determine what you are seeing for sure, but if it's working correctly for you, I think you'll be pretty amazed.

View Larger Map

Pray For Snow...

Sorry we haven't posted a blog in a little while, but the nature of the ski industry keeps us surprisingly busy behind the scenes while we anticipate the opening day. Kind of a hurry up and wait situation. Today, we sent a Wildcat Mountain email newsletter out and you can read that online here for a bunch more info on our Higher Education college season pass, the Vertical Value Card, and the Nor'Easter Mountain Coaster at Attitash opening for the Thanksgiving weekend as well as they're opening date for skiing and riding now set Saturday, December 3.

Alas, it will all begin soon, so we wish you a happy start to the holiday season and hope to see you on the slopes soon, cheers!

Wildcat Mountain: Fall, Foliage, Fair, & Football

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:02:00 +0000

Final Fall Weekend

Well, an amazing stretch of unseasonably warm, fall weather that lasted right through the Columbus Day holiday weekend has finally come to a bit of an end and has returned to a more appropriate temperature and feel. The notion of winter and skiing and riding ahead is in the air and this next weekend will be a final opportunity at Wildcat Mountain for you to ride New Hampshire's highest scenic gondola and fly among the foliage as it descends the post-peak decline in Pinkham Notch. Winter is coming for sure and we'll ask now if you can be patient, but keep an eye out for a forthcoming "new" website that we're a bit behind on completing, but hope to have something ready and up by early to mid-November that will have not only a new look, but some new promotions and specials this season that I think you'll like. We can tell you now that our regular single & multi-day lift ticket rates will not be increasing from what they were last season. We're also happy to share too that we already have discount Wildcat Mountain & Attitash Mountain Resort lift tickets available over on Liftopia, and if you haven't visited them recently, go check out their new site and maybe score yourself an early deal now.

What's New?

What else are we up to you ask? Building upon the previous season’s capital improvements and purchases that included additional grooming equipment and low-energy snowmaking guns, Wildcat Mountain completed renovations to base area buildings including additional restroom renovations and repairs to the main base-lodge deck. Wildcat Mountain has also worked to integrate Siriusware ticketing software to connect its point-of-sales and on-mountain scanning systems to further promote the versatility of lift ticket products, loyalty card programs, gift cards, and season passes that will seamlessly connect both Wildcat Mountain & nearby Attitash Mountain Resort. The combination of two of New Hampshire's larger ski resorts appears to be popular. Season pass sales this season have exceeded expectations and we're excited to begin what will be a long season. Operationally, we anticipate that Attitash Mountain Resort utilizing its more efficient and advanced snowmaking system and fan gun technology will be the earlier resort to open on or near Thanksgiving. After that, it is expected that Wildcat Mountain will open on or near the weekend of December 10. This is a projection and winter's weather will have a final say in all of this, possibly sooner, possibly later, but for all of our passholders, we hope quality skiing and riding will begin for you at Attitash in November. And because you may wonder, as Attitash Mountain Resort stands to be the "early" resort among the two, you can bet that Wildcat Mountain will remain to be the spring legend and will shoot to be the final resort in New Hampshire to be spinning lifts this season. Two mountains, long season, more vertical, more variety = one season pass or one lift ticket.

Job Fair This Saturday, October 15

So with all of that above, we need your help. This Saturday, October 15, Wildcat Mountain & Attitash Mountain Resort will be hosting their annual Winter Job Fair and we're seeking employees for the 2011/12 Season. We're getting ready for another great season here at both mountains & looking for team players and great people who want to help us provide the best experience for all our guests. Job Fair to be held in the Main Base Lodge at either resort. Wildcat Mountain from 11am - 2pm and Attitash Mountain Resort from 9am - 12pm. If you're 16 and older and looking for some full- or part-time winter seasonal work, come prepared to complete an application and to meet with a department manager this Saturday, October 15.

Are You Ready For Some Football!

There's a local football team, the MWV Mountaineers, holding a 4-1 record and heading into a final home season game. If they win this Sunday (Oct 16th, 1pm at Kennett High’s Millen Stadium), they'll clinch first place in the "Patriot" (unlimited weight) division of New Hampshire Pop Warner. Not only that, but with that win, they'll also move directly to the NH State Championship game on November 6th. Of note, their coach Andy Pepin of North Conway, was just honored with a New Hampshire Pop Warner Football Coach of the Year award. Also last week, one of their players, Ben Kelly of Bartlett (freshman at Kennett), was honored for his academic excellence at a scholastic awards banquet.

You can find out more information on the team online or follow their facebook page. Wildcat Mountain is proud to have been a booster supporter this season and to have helped with some of their equipment needs. Go get 'em this weekend Mountaineers!

Pretty Pictures

As for the remaining fall season and foliage, we hope you'll have a chance to breath it in and enjoy the colors. If you haven't made it up to see us recently, our marketing coordinator Laura Tuveson has been taking some kick-butt photos and we're happy to share those with you now. Enjoy, come see us this weekend, pray for snow, and talk to you soon!

Wildcat Mountain: Ready For The Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:28:00 +0000

Following Monday’s post-Irene period of damage assessment and cleaning up, Wildcat Mountain re-opened Tuesday August 30 and Attitash Mountain Resort re-opened yesterday at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 31.

Route 16 through Pinkham Notch is open, though visible wash-outs could be seen along the south-bound lane shoulder from Pinkham to Dana Place, and Wildcat Mountain re-opened New Hampshire’s highest scenic gondola and the state’s only ZipRider zip-line cable ride last Tuesday at 10 a.m. for regular operations.

The photos shared below were taken yesterday during this summer's final “Wednesday at Wildcat” guided summit naturalist tour with the Tin Mountain Conservation Center. An impressive, new debris slide can be seen across the street on Hillmans Highway courtesy of Irene. Wildcat Mountain will operate daily, weather permitting, until Sunday, October 16. Visit www.skiwildcat.com or call 1 (888) 754-9453 for up-to-date information.

Please note that some preferred routes to Wildcat Mountain, including the Kancamagus to Bear Notch Road, and Route 302 from Bartlett Village in to Crawford Notch remain closed at the time of this blog post and the best access to the resort is via Route 16. If your plan was to travel Route 93 to visit Wildcat Mountain, we suggest the following routes.

If you are coming SOUTH of LINCOLN, NH use EXIT 23:

Starting from NH-104 E/NH-132 N
1) Head northeast on NH-104 E/NH-132 N toward State Dot Dr; Continue to follow NH-104 E
2) Turn left onto US-3 N/Daniel Webster Hwy
3) Turn right onto NH-25 E/Winnipesaukee St
4) Turn left onto NH-16 N/White Mountain Hwy in West Ossipee. Continue to follow NH-16 N to Wildcat Mountain.

If you are coming NORTH of LINCOLN, use EXIT 35:

Starting from US-3 N/Daniel Webster Hwy
1) Head north on US-3 N/Daniel Webster Hwy toward NH-141 W;Continue to follow US-3 N
2) Turn right onto NH-115 N
3) Turn right onto US-2 E/Presidential Hwy;Continue to follow US-2 E
4) Turn right onto Main St
5) Turn right onto NH-16 S. Continue to follow NH-16 S to Wildcat Mountain

Regarding Irene's dance of damage, Attitash Mountain Resort’s new Mountain Coaster will remain closed until necessary grading around the base area can be completed and structural track supports can be secured again and inspected for operation. It is not known at this time when the Mountain Coaster will be ready to re-open, but initial expectations are that it could be more than a few weeks. Other summer attractions, including the Alpine Slides, scenic chair, waterslides, Buddy Bear’s Playpool, climbing wall, Eurobungy trampoline jump, and horseback riding are available and a reduced ticket rate of $35 for persons over 48” tall and $15 for persons under 48” tall is being offered this week and for the Labor Day weekend. As a result of flooding and wash-out, Mountain biking is expected to be available again September 2. Please note the directions above for suggested travel routes, but adding that Route 16 will connect with Route 302 which is open from Glen, NH to Attitash.

This season, Attitash Mountain Resort will continue to operate the Alpine Slides and scenic chair weekends only at a reduced rate and hopes to have the Mountain Coaster operating again before the final Columbus Day weekend at which time the mountain will also host the annual Oktoberfest event at Bear Peak. For further information, visit www.attitash.com or call 1 (800) 223-7669 for up-to-date information.

Enjoy the photos, hope you have a great remainder to your summer and will enjoy the Labor Day weekend. Come on up and visit us this late-summer and fall. Cheers!

Wildcat Mountain: Run, Bike, Run Mr. Wildman!

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:54:00 +0000

The 23rd Annual Wildman Biathlon, a fundraising event fully organized and run by the Coos County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, enjoyed beautiful weather this past Saturday when individual participants and teams once again completed a 10K run, 22.3 bike, and finished with a 3 mile run up the Polecat Trail to the summit of Wildcat Mountain. Individual and relay team results as posted by Granite State Race Services, can be seen over on the Cool Running 23rd Annual Wildman Biathlon Results web page. If you like the summit photos below and are hoping to make it up this summer, but you're not keen on the idea of running up Wildcat Mountain, make plans to join in on a Appalachian Mountain Club Summit Tour & Hike, this Saturday, August 20. Join a naturalist from our neighboring Appalachian Mountain Club Pinkham Notch Visitor Center for a ride up our scenic gondola; an environmentally educational summit tour; and finish with an optional guided hike down Wildcat Mountain. Program is free with the purchase of a scenic gondola ticket. Reduced rate one-way tickets may be purchased by participants who will be taking advantage of the hike down. Arrive by 9:30am to purchase ticket and meet at main base lodge for 10 a.m. departure. Don't forget that we also continue to have our weekly Tin Mountain Tuesdays & Wednesdays at Wildcat guided tours with the Tin Mountain Conservations Center through the month of August.

Here are some photos from this past Saturday's 23rd Annual Wildman event. All Photos are from Thomas Prindle. Below, RSVP event organizers prepare the final bike to run transition zone at the base of Wildcat Mountain.

The first bike rider pulls in to Wildcat Mountain.

The bike to run transition zone slowly comes alive as riders begin to come in.

Members of relay teams and spectators wait to see when their rider may be coming in.

Runners crossed the finish line at the finish line located at the "summit" of the Polecat trail located near the Wildcat Express summit lift station.

Prayer flags from a 10th Mountain Division event that occurred earlier in the week could still be seen at the summit.

Spectators, visitors, dogs, and even Appalachian Trail hikers were crossing paths during a busy day on Wildcat Mountain.

Lots of people were enjoying beautiful weather and the legendary views and scenery.

Congratulations to all the Wildman participants and I hope the fundraising efforts for the Coos County RSVP organized event was successful.

Wildcat Mountain: The Old Summit Gondola Building

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:52:00 +0000

In case you may have not had a chance to read our recent press release regarding the plan to remove the old, original summit gondola building that currently exists at Wildcat Mountain, we are sharing that with our blog followers too. Not to be confused with the Wildcat Express Summit Lift which serves as New Hampshire's highest summer scenic gondola in the summertime and arguably fastest high-speed summit 4-person chairlift in the winter, the information below is addressing the long neglected brown building seen in the photo above.

After considering all reasonable options, costs and benefits, and working with U.S. Forest Service to understand codes and requirements to renovate the existing summit building that once served as the top-station for the original Wildcat Mountain gondola, Peak Resorts has determined that the capital expense is not feasible and instead budget the costs and expense to dismantle and remove the summit building and restore a small, but noticeable, portion of the natural summit.

“You have to admire and respect the history and the individuals that built what remains of the original, but long neglected, infrastructure here”, said Wildcat Mountain General Manager Josh Boyd. “But we’re in a different era with extensive building requirements and regulations that the U.S. Forest Service has in place to preserve the natural beauty of the White Mountain National Forest. And I have worked with them to understand and fully study what was possible, but building codes and related costs would require us to rebuild the building almost entirely. At this time, we feel the significant capital expense to build at the summit is better spent to simply remove the structure next spring, restore a bit of the natural beauty at the summit, but leave a defined footprint that may allow the U.S. Forest Service to permit a building in the foreseeable future, and to allocate any immediate capital expenses to other more pressing improvements here at Wildcat.” Boyd went on to say that an expense of this proportion to create a minor profit center that may never http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giffully see a break-even return to simply even operate season-to-season, is just the type of thing that challenges any ski area owner or operator to have to consider increasing the price of lift tickets and season passes.

The White Mountain National Forest is consulting with the NH State Historic Preservation Office to ensure that the historic building is thoroughly documented and that its history is recorded before demolition.

Of note, the Mount Washington Observatory has already taken immediate action to relocate their summit web cam and Wildcat Mountain has worked and cooperated to provide an alternate location. Known for its legendary views of Mount Washington and Tuckerman Ravine, Wildcat Mountain is host to one of many summit cams that the Mount Washington Observatory website shares with its members and general public.

Wildcat Mountain: 23rd Annual Wildman Biathlon

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:43:00 +0000

Hi there and happy summer! Hope everyone has been able to enjoy the summer so far. With the recent high temps, perhaps you've even visited Wildcat Mountain in Pinkham Notch to enjoy the cooler temps that can be found at higher elevations. It's always surprising to see via the Mount Washington Auto Road Vertical Profile and to experience yourself the temperature difference that can often be 5, 10, and even sometimes 15 degrees cooler when you step off the scenic gondola to our above 4,000 foot summit.

With that, we hope that the weather and temps will be perfect for athletes participating in this summer's annual Wildman Biathlon event happening Saturday, August 13th. We're sharing the press release that event organizers put together for that and will keep our fingers crossed that a beautiful day awaits all those preparing for the challenge.

Attn. Sports Editor

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kathryn McKenna, RSVP Director

Contact: Nancy Malone, RSVP Coordinator

23rd ANNUAL WILDMAN BIATHLON SET FOR AUGUST 13, 2011

Shelburne, NH – It’s time for runners and bicyclists to shift their training schedules into high gear! The twenty third annual Wildman Biathlon, one of the toughest multi-sport events in New England, is scheduled for Saturday, August 13th at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine.

Athletes from all over the United States, Canada and some years even other countries, come to New Hampshire’s White Mountains to compete as an individual or in teams in the Wildman. For twenty-three years now athletes have been challenging their endurance amid some of the most spectacular scenery in the Northeast. The Wildman Biathlon consists of a 10-K run in the picturesque town of Shelburne, a 22.3 mile bicycle trek through Gorham towards a 3-mile hill climb up the Polecat ski trail to the finish line at the summit of Wildcat Mountain, a presenting sponsor, located in Pinkham Notch.

The race begins with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m. The winners usually cross the finish line about two hours and fifteen minutes later. Though many individual competitors complete the entire race, many others choose to combine their abilities as two-person and three-person teams. The entry fees for the 2011 Wildman Biathlon are $50.00 for an individual, $100.00 for a two-person team, and $150.00 for a three-person team. This price goes up by $10 per person after July 30, 2011. The entry fee includes a limited edition Wildman T-shirt, a ride down from the summit on the Wildcat Mountain Scenic Gondola, a support person Gondola ticket, and one meal ticket for the “après-race” meal. Additional meal tickets and Gondola tickets are available for purchase if needed. Categories are available for all ages and team configurations. Overall and category winners receive commemorative awards, and numerous other prizes are awarded through random drawings.

The Wildman Biathlon is a fundraising event for the Coos County RSVP, a Tri-County CAP sponsored program. RSVP is hoping to have a great sponsorship turnout this year as they have lost the other half of their State funding. This leaves RSVP trying to raise in excess of $17,000 and that doesn’t count the amount of federal dollars lost as a result of no State local funding. RSVP matches individuals age 55 and older with volunteer opportunities at non-profit and public agencies in their communities. About 375 volunteers gave more than 55,000 hours of service at 62 sites throughout Coos County last year. Through a variety of service roles these volunteers are helping to meet community needs. Visit our web page www.ncia.net/wildman to view information about the Wildman and our sponsors. For more information about RSVP or how you can become a sponsor, contact Kathy or Nancy at 752-4103 or e-mail rsvp@ncia.net or write to Coos County RSVP, 30 Exchange Street, Berlin, NH 03570.

Wildcat Mountain: Free Naturalist Tours This Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:37:00 +0000

(click on image above to open and view details)

Happy Summer! We're excited to share with you that Wildcat Mountain and the Tin Mountain Conservation Center will once again offer “Wednesdays at Wildcat” naturalist led programs, BUT new this summer, we're adding “Tin Mountain Tuesdays” to the schedule of summer events too. 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.

Pinkham Notch in the White Mountain National Forest is a memorable summer outing for families of all ages to explore and learn about the diverse ecology of the region and now “Tin Mountain Tuesdays” and “Wednesdays at Wildcat” provide more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Program topics change weekly and range from learning about the flora and fauna of the forest and fresh water ecosystems to those of the higher alpine environment, including wildflowers, mosses, waterfalls, frogs, and moose to the geology of the surrounding mountains and Presidential Range. Tin Mountain Conservation Center programs at Wildcat Mountain are scheduled every Tuesday & Wednesday beginning July 5th through August 31st and rotate weekly. For a schedule of program topics, visit skiwildcat.com to view the events calendar.

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.

Reservations are not required, and programs are geared for all ages. Meet at Guest Services in the Wildcat Mountain base lodge shortly before 10am. Admission is free, except for high-alpine Tin Mountain Conservation Center and AMC* tour dates that require a trip on the Wildcat Express Gondola Skyride to the summit. Round-trip Wildcat Express scenic gondola tickets are $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for children ages 6-12, $13.00 for seniors ages 65+, and ages 5 and under ride for free (*all persons who wish to partake in the optional AMC guided hike down can pay a reduced rate for the one-way ride to the summit). Picnic lunches are available for purchase, including the Family Fun Pack which includes gondola tickets and lunch for two adults and two children for $64.95. In case of inclement weather, the program may be held indoors using slide shows and interactive displays.

Also, new this summer, save $5 on your visit at Attitash Mountain Resort when you purchase a Wildcat Mountain Summer Package, including Gondola & Lunch, Family Fun Pack ZipRider & Gondola, or the ZipRider, Gondola and Lunch Package. Attitash Mountain Resort, celebrating its 35th year of summer operation, is located just 20 minutes from Wildcat on Route 302 in Bartlett. Enjoy the new Nor’Easter Mountain Coaster, ride the Alpine Slide, cool off on the waterslides or get adventurous on the climbing wall, Eurobungy jump and mountain bike trails. Valid for a full day or afternoon ticket only. Valid for 7 days from the date of purchase. One coupon per person. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Non-refundable/non-transferable/no cash value.

Let the Summer Fun begin!

Wildcat Mountain: Let's Go Fishing Day Was A Keeper

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:41:00 +0000

What a beautiful day it turned out to be for this past Saturday's "Let's Go Fishing" Day event and many thanks to Karina Walsh of New Hampshire Fish & Game and her incredible team of volunteers; Jacob Lubera & Rebecca Peterman of the U.S. Forest Service and their excellent White Mountain National Forest staff; and Nicky Pizzo of the Appalachian Mountain Club and her accompanying naturalist Hannah for helping to organize, support, and host the event. Additional thanks goes to the support given by the White Mountain Interpretative Program.

The “Let’s Go Fishing” Day event at Wildcat Mountain was part of a coordinated New http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifHampshire 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 was 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 heck, even Smokey the Bear and Woodsy the Owl showed up! Looking forward to next year already.

Wildct Mountain: Fathers Fly Free Sunday, June 19

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:09:00 +0000

A big weekend ahead with the scheduled Let's Go Fishing Day event happening Saturday, June 18 and then 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.

Wildcat Mountain, a year-round destination located 100% within the White Mountain National Forest, is now open daily, weather and conditions permitting, for summer and fall operations through October 16. In addition to scenic gondola, Wildcat Mountain offers New Hampshire's only ZipRider zip-line cable ride, hiking, fishing, a seasonable lift-serviced 9-hole alpine disc golf course, and weekly guided tours and outdoor interpretive programs with the Tin Mountain Conservation Center and AMC. A seasonal food menu, beer, & wine are offered in the base lodge with fresh "Lunch & Ride" packages available for individuals, families, or groups. All rates and information can be found online at skiwildcat.com or by calling 1-888-SKI-WILD

Hope to see you soon and a big happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there!

Wildcat Mountain: Happy Long Memorial Day Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:46:00 +0000

Hope everyone has a bit of time to enjoy the weekend and to take a moment to think about why we honor those that have fallen.

Wildcat Mountain opens for summer & fall operations beginning Saturday, May 28th at 10 a.m. offering two major state attractions for the long Memorial Day Weekend including New Hampshire's only ZipRider zip-line cable ride and the highest scenic gondola in the state, the Wildcat Express. As a year-round destination located 100% within the White Mountain National Forest, Wildcat Mountain provides both exhilarating and one-of-a-kind opportunities to enjoy views and scenery that have consistently been voted #1 in the East.

Wildcat Mountain’s ZipRider combines a safe, one-of-a-kind, flying experience with beautiful scenery. With four cable lines that affectively allow for maximum rider capacity, the ZipRider is the only attraction of its kind in New Hampshire and is different than the canopy zip-line tours familiar to most. For just the cost of a $20 ticket and meeting minimum and maximum weight/height requirements, riders will descend just under a half-mile over trails, tree-tops, and the Peabody River at heights of up to 70 feet and speeds that can reach 45 miles per hour before the ZipRider’s automatic braking and a spring stopping system receive the rider comfortably at the landing platform located a short distance from the Main Base Lodge.

Also unique to Wildcat Mountain, and the only one of its kind in North America, the Wildcat Express has once again transformed from New Hampshire's 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. Comfortable, enclosed 4-person scenic gondola cabins transport guests to the 4,000 foot-plus summit of Wildcat Mountain offering ideal views of Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range. The scenic gondola is the best way for the entire family, including well-behaved canine members on a leash, to enjoy incredible views and scenery. Gondolas run continuously, so you don't wait in any lines.

The ZipRider & scenic gondola will be open as weather permits for weekends only beginning Saturday, May 28th and then will begin to operate daily Saturday, June 11th through the spectacular fall foliage in mid-October. Wildcat Mountain also offers hiking, fishing, lift-serviced 9-hole alpine disc golf course, and weekly guided tours and outdoor interpretive programs with the Tin Mountain Conservation Center and Appalachian Mountain Club. Food, beer, & wine is offered in the base lodge with fresh "Lunch & Ride" packages available for individuals, families, or groups. All rates and information can be found online at skiwildcat.com or by calling 1-888-SKI-WILD.

Wildcat Mountain: Let's Go Fishing Saturday, June 18th

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Thu, 19 May 2011 18:37:00 +0000

It's been a while since the last time we said "hi" and we can only say that it's because we've been busy getting everything ready to open for summer & fall operations. As you may know, beginning Memorial Weekend, Saturday, May 28th at 10a.m., Wildcat Mountain offers two major state attractions including New Hampshire's only ZipRider zip-line cable ride and the highest scenic gondola in the state, the Wildcat Express. We also have the early season pass deadline approaching and that is June 1st for you to take advantage on the lowest prices for the value, variety, and vertical that now includes Wildcat Mountain & Attitash Mountain Resort. All rates and information can be found online at skiwildcat.com.

What we're also excited to share with you, and something we've been working on, is this year's "Let's Go Fishing" event scheduled for Saturday, June 18th. This year's fishing day 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.

Over the past ten years, the Fish and Game Department’s “Let's Go Fishing” program has taught thousands of children and adults to be safe, ethical and successful anglers. The program is federally funded by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program, a user-pay, user-benefit program. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works to conserve, manage and protect the state's fish and wildlife and their habitats, as well as providing the public with opportunities to use and appreciate these resources. More information is available at www.fishnh.com.

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. With more than 100,000 members, advocates, and supporters in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment. More information is available at www.outdoors.org.

Wildcat Mountain, a year-round destination located 100% within the White Mountain National Forest, provides both exhilarating and one-of-a-kind opportunities to enjoy views and scenery that have been consistently voted #1 in North America. In addition to New Hampshire’s only ZipRider zip-line cable ride and the state’s highest scenic gondola, Wildcat Mountain offers lift-serviced disc golf, hiking, weekly guided tours and outdoor interpretive programs with the Tin Mountain Conservation Center and Appalachian Mountain Club. All rates and information can be found at www.skiwildcat.com or by calling 1-888-SKI-WILD.

Wildcat Mountain: Sunshine to Snow Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:40:00 +0000

Definitely wasn't expecting to show up on Saturday, April 23rd and be making these types of tracks above in 1 - 2" of fresh before 10 a.m. on a perfectly groomed carpet underneath. Now there is at least 3" by 11am, and still snowing hard as I post this blog entry. Be sure to check out our Snow Report to see what the totals end up being because we'll be open for Easter Sunday, weather/conditions permitting, and we've been told that the Easter Bunny has put the Polecat Trail at Wildcat Mountain on his agenda to stash some candy-filled eggs.

This telemark guy above definitely knew something that many of you didn't and showed up fully stoked to be arcing out some long freshie turns today. Who knew?

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 230 inches (including today's continuing daytime snow accumulation) 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. Check out the most recent Wildcat Mountain Weekly Video below (or click here to view on your smartphone) to see just how nice Friday was.

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. Up-to-date information, including changes to the operating plan, snow report, discount spring lift ticket rates, and season passes on sale now at their lowest price for the 2011/12 season, is available at www.skiwildcat.com.

Wildcat Mountain: Tuckerman Inferno & Wildcat Wildfire Results

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:06:00 +0000

Above, John McCarthy (right) won the solo Wildcat WildMan title at the Friends of Tuckerman Wildcat Wildfire Pentathlon April 16 in 3:25:55, followed by Dan Poirier (middle) in 3:45.00. Placing third was Geoff Heigh (left) in 4:15:52.27. (TOM EASTMAN PHOTO)

MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY, N.H. — Team Lake Placid won its second team title in three years at the demanding 2011 Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon, held April 16 by the non-profit Friends of Tuckerman Ravine organization.

Frequent Inferno contender Ken Lubin of Milbury, Mass., a past runnerup, won his first solo TuckerMan competition in 4 hours, 11 minutes and 21.90 seconds. He was followed by James Kovacs of Monument, Colo., in 4:14:19.71, and John Flanagan of Bar Harbor, Maine, who was third in 4:15:28.59.

Daniela Marquez of Somerville, Mass., won the solo women's TuckerWomen class in 5:26:00.08. Sarah Katz of Richmond, Vt., was second in 6:56:50.70.

In the 20-team team class at the 11th annual event, Team Lake Placid had a top combined total team time of 3 hours, 29 minutes and 52.83 seconds in the five-part race, which consisted of a an 8.3-mile run, a 6-mile kayak race down the fast-running Saco River, an 18-mile bike race north through Pinkham Notch, a 3-mile run/hike up the Tuckerman Trail to the halfway point of Mount Washington's Hillman's Highway, and a 1-mile ski/hike giant slalom down Hillman's down the Sherburne Ski Trail to Pinkham Notch.

Placing second was Team AXA of Chester, Mass., in 3:32:59.17, followed in third by the Iron Rangers of Waterville, Maine, in 3:48:01.13.

Top pairing in the six-team Inferno Dynamic Duo category was Water Acquity of Charlton, Mass., in 4:22:38. The team consists of Dave Mingori and Marc Trahan.

Placing second in 4:58:56 was Live Free or Die, consisting of John Hamblett of Elliot, Maine, and Jason Shulman of Rye, N.H., while Cold Zero (Micum Davis of Portsmouth, N.H., and Gail Savreau of Charlestown, Mass., was third in 5:20:38.

In the all-women's team class, Team Wildthings of North Conway repeated as champions in 4:22:32.30. The team consists of Kelsey Allen, Sarah Heidenis, Meredith Piotrow, Fabienne Pattison and Suzie Carrier.

They were followed in second in 4:27:39.51 by the Valley Girls, a fellow Mount Washington Valley team, consisting of Cathy Livingston, Amanda Wirling, Lynn Lyman, Sarah Learn and Carrie McLane.

Placing third in 4:55:49.98 in the all-women's team class were the Holy Hellraisers of Portsmouth, N.H., captained by Emily Patterson.
***

Due to icy conditions in Tuckerman Ravine caused by the week's rain and cold temperatures leading up to race day, race officials and U.S. Forest Service snow rangers opted to change the final ski leg of the demanding five-part race.

The ski leg had originally been planned to have been held down Left Gully in Tuckerman Ravine. Hillman's Highway was selected as an alternate because it receives more direct sunlight and had softer snow, according to chief of race Ted Sutton of Lincoln and executive director Al Risch of Madison.

“We were able to run an exciting race where there were no injuries and everyone got down safely while having a great time. We're very pleased,” said Sutton, an FIS delegate with more than 40 years experience in presenting ski races.

WILDCAT WILDFIRE RESULTS

In the concurrent Wildcat Wildfire Pentathlon, held an hour later on a similar but somewhat easier course, the Ski Dads of Medford, Mass., placed first in 3:33:37. Placing second was King's Point of Massachussetts in 4:51:55. West County Old Stars of Charlemont, Mass., were disqualified in the cycling event for a wrong course maneuver and were deemed third among the three teams.

Team Waters Girls of Wellesley, Mass., was the sole All-Women Team entrant and won with a time of 5:07:24.

John McCarthy of Ludlow, Mass., won the solo Wildcat WildMan title in 3:25:55, followed by Dan Poirier of Quebec, Canada, in 3:45.00. Placing third was Geoff Heigh of Danvers, Mass., in 4:15:52.27.

Top solo WildWoman was Audra Lisselle of Salem, Mass., in 5:14:33.

In the dynamic duo Wildcat Wildfire, the Memorial Hospital's Valerie Rothen and Tamara Wood were tops in 3:49:13, followed by Shake and Bake of Medway, Mass., in 3:53:47 and Waters Synapt of Ashland, Mass., in 4:24:13.

The Wildcat Wildfire consisted of a 6-mile run, 6-mile kayak, 16-mile bike, 2-mile hike/snowshoe halfway up the Polecat Trail and the Tomcat Trail at Wildcat, followed by a 1.5-mile ungated downhill ski race on the Lynx Trail.

ABOUT FRIENDS OF TUCKERMAN

The races are always presented Patriots Day Weekend by Friends of Tuckerman Ravine, a locally-based, member-supported, non-profit organization that seeks to preserve and protect the unique alpine and sub-alpine eastern slopes of Mount Washington and to work in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to sustain the traditional uses of the distinctive natural area.

Since its inception, the organization has helped create a potable water supply at Hermit Lake shelter, aided the forest service's communications system, resupplied first aid caches in Tuckerman Ravine, helped fund the erection of a foot bridge at the base of the mountain for skier and hiker traffic and recently helped replace three avalanche condition slat boards for Huntington and Tuckerman ravines.

The group also presents trail maintenance work days every fall.

For more information and results, log on to www.friendsoftuckerman.org; check FOTR on Facebook or on Twitter @tuckermanravine; or call 367-4417 or e-mail to info at friendsoftuckerman.org.

For more photos of this year's event, see www.harriganphoto.com.

Below, Carrie McLane of the second-place Valley Girls squad at the bottom of the Sherburne Ski Trail at the base of Mount Washington April 16 in the 2011 Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon, held by the non-profit Friends of Tuckerman Ravine. The Wildcat Wildfire Pentathlon was held on a similar course, ending at Wildcat Mountain the same day. (TOM EASTMAN PHOTO)

Wildcat Mountain: Sunshine, Bump Lines, & Good Times

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:55:00 +0000

Well, this is the type of spring skiing and riding conditions and weather at Wildcat Mountain many have been waiting for and this weekend is looking pretty ideal. Have a look at just how nice it was Thursday, April 7th in our most recent Wildcat Mountain Weekly Video seen below (or click here if viewing from phone or other device that doesn't show video). And today, Friday, was pretty much a repeat day of sunshine, blue skies, and the snow softening with the increasing day's temperatures.

Just a reminder, we've got reduced spring lift ticket rates for April at Wildcat Mountain and midweek tickets Monday thru Friday are just $35; Sunday Afternoon lift tickets are just $20 and our weekend full-day lift tickets for Saturday and Sunday are just $39. Special spring ticket rates are for all ages, no additional discounts apply, and our normal snow guarantee does not apply.

It is our plan at this time to operate 7 days a week until Tuesday, April 19th and will then look to open Friday through Sunday, beginning Friday April 22nd, weather/conditions permitting. Visit our Wild Deals page for additional details and don't forget to visit the 2011-2012 season pass page too. Bring your Sun Protection and get that dirty goggle tan in to shape this spring!

Wildcat Mountain: A Spring Of Winter Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:20:00 +0000

Winter doesn't appear to want to let go anytime too soon and we hope you had a chance to see our most recent Wildcat Mountain Weekly Video seen below (or click here if viewing from phone or other device that doesn't show video) shot on Friday, March 25th that will give you a sense of just how good the skiing and riding has been.

We're introducing some excellent spring lift ticket rates for April at Wildcat Mountain and Attitash Mountain Resort starting this Friday, April 1st (April Fools Day, no joke) when we'll begin to offer Monday thru Friday midweek lift tickets for just $35, all ages, no additional discounts apply. On April 3rd, our Sunday Afternoon lift ticket rate will drop to just $20 and that ticket goes on sale at noon, all ages, no additional discounts apply. Then beginning Saturday, April 9th, our weekend lift tickets are just $39, all ages, no additional discounts apply.

It is our plan at this time to operate 7 days a week until at least Sunday, April 17th and that is obviously a weather/conditions permitting situation, but if winter-like weather continues as it has this past week, we may even consider going beyond that date, but that is to be seen and keep an eye on our snow report. Visit our Wild Deals page for additional details and don't forget to visit the 2011-2012 season pass page too. Hope to see you here soon!

Wildcat Mountain: Supermoon, Sunrise, and Ski Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:23:00 +0000

Hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather this past weekend. You’ll see in the Wildcat Mountain Weekly Video, shot Saturday, that we began with 2” of fresh snow falling from higher elevation snow clouds before all of it started to clear away revealing brilliant blue skies and sunshine that would last through Sunday.

We were fortunate to have a Warren Miller Entertainment film crew, having spent the previous week shooting in Tuckerman Ravine and Mount Washington, stop by over the weekend at Wildcat Mountain to shoot additional time-lapse footage from our summit. The crew included big mountain freeskier athletes Chris Davenport and Hugo Harrison (seen with Chris in light blue jacket in video) stopping by to make some turns on Saturday and then we arranged a 6am load for the videographers on Sunday to let them capture the perigee moon setting beyond the Gulf of Slides and the morning alpenglow brighten the summit of Mount Washington and ravines. We have to thank Chris Davenport who was kind enough to take a bit of time to tell us a little bit about what it meant to grow up in the Mount Washington Valley.

Oh yes, I should tell you as I type this on Monday, March 21st at 2:10pm, that it's dumping snow in Pinkham Notch and that we could get up to 8" of new snow by Tuesday. The week looks to remain mostly in the low 30's and with off and on snow through the week. This Friday's $35 lift ticket special will hopefully be much nicer weather than the previous two Friday's have been because the conditions should be stellar. We still have all 50 trails open today, but keep an eye on our snow report to know the most up-to-date conditions as we continue along this spring and hope to operate until at least the weekend of April 16th & 17th. Also, the 2011/2012 season passes are on sale and if you purchase today, you can ski or ride the rest of this season for no cost. Check out our season pass products and pricing online and purchase today, and enjoy the legendary spring skiing season here at Wildcat Mountain.

Warren Miller Entertainment videographers Tom Day, Jim Surette and photographer Brian Post set up early Sunday morning to capture the "Supermoon" drop below left of the Gulf of Slides.

The alpenglow and sunrise did not disappoint the video crews desire to capture the beauty of Mount Washington and Tuckerman Ravine.

Wildcat Mountain: Record Fundraising For Vertical Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:34:00 +0000

A total of 32 skiers and riders registered and accepted the challenge to conquer over 100,000 vertical feet in a single day on Monday, March 14th to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire. Weather for the event couldn’t have been much more perfect for the field of male & female, young & old, and ski & snowboard participants to push themselves to complete the marathon alpine event. This year’s participants were able to collectively raise over $64,000 in pledge donations to set an event record high donation amount for their efforts. With this additional amount, The Wildcat Mountain Vertical Challenge has now contributed over $200,000 in funds to directly benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire.

Loading the Wildcat Express high-speed summit quad chairlift at 7:30am to begin the 100,000 vertical foot challenge (skiing or snowboarding 48 runs down the Lynx trail), 22 of the 32 participants were able to complete the challenge with Chris Scannell of Marblehead, MA, Al Toutant of Bryant Pond, ME, and Chris Leuci of Lynnfield, MA finishing 1, 2, and 3 respectively in an event touted not as a race, but as a personal challenge and fundraiser. More impressive, top fundraisers for this year’s 100K Day were lead for a second year in a row by Kevin Elwood of Rowley, MA having raised over $44,000. Chris Scannell of Marblehead, MA was second top fundraiser for a third year in a row with over $4,000 in donations collected and Jessica Quinn of Hudson, NH was the third highest having contributed over $2,000 in collected donations for the event.

3rd top fundraiser, Jessica Quinn of Hudson, NH

2nd top fundraiser, Chris Scannell of Marblehead, MA

Top fundraiser Kevin Elwood of Rowley, MA

Including this year’s new record high donation amount, since the first 100,000 vertical foot challenge took place in 2004, the annual event’s cumulative donation amount has exceeded $200,000. Wildcat Mountain was most recently recognized by Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire as a “Wish Benefactor” noting that the event’s annual giving surpassed $25,000. The annual 100K event is unique to Wildcat Mountain coupling the accessibility and speed of the Wildcat Express high-speed, summit lift and the ski area’s greater than 2,100 vertical foot drop.

Wildcat Mountain would like to thank all participants, donation supporters, volunteers, and recognize the generosity of those that helped to make the event possible providing in-kind support, participant gift bag donations, and top fundraising prizes including: Rossignol Skis, Fischer Skis, Dakine, Bern Helmets, Green Wax, Liftopia.com, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Moat Mountain Smokehouse & Brewery Co., The Local Grocer, & Poor People’s Pub.

The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire (www.newhampshire.wish.org) is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. It strives to provide children with the hope for better times, the strength for the tough times and the joy to experience the present. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire is part of the nation's largest and most recognized wish-granting organization, with chapters and volunteers throughout the United States and the world.

Wildcat Mountain: March Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:17:00 +0000

So far, nothing mad about it, the month of March has been a continuation of excellent skiing and riding at Wildcat Mountain with 100% of our available terrain and 225 acres open as I type this thanks to the over 2 feet of snow that fell since last Saturday. A little bit of mixed wintry weather is here this weekend, but could rebound with back-end snow on the systems moving through. Keep an eye on our snow report for the most up-to-date info.

We're excited to share with you that the 2011/2012 Season Pass prices have been announced and will go on sale beginning Saturday, March 12th. Season passes are valid at both Wildcat Mountain and Attitash Mountain Resort and any new passholders that purchase their season pass as early as Saturday, March 12th can ski or ride the remainder of this season at no cost. All information including available season pass products, pricing, and information on how to purchase beginning Saturday, March 12th can be found on the Attitash Mountain Resort website.

We're also excited to show you this week's Wildcat Mountain Weekly Video for a few reasons. Not only does it feature the Technical Director of our ski school who was the catalyst for our annual 100,000 Vertical Foot Challenge to benefit Make-A-Wish of New Hampshire, but the video also ends telling the viewer about the fact that we will be offering $17 lift tickets on St. Patrick's Day, Thursday, March 17th and that we're also offering $35 lift tickets for the remaining March Fridays on the 11th, 18th, & 25th! Oh yes, keep in mind that these special ticket prices are available for all ages and that no additional discounts can be applied, but that they will be available at Attitash too.

And speaking of the annual 100K event, Are you capable of making a lot of runs skiing and riding all day? If so, skiers and riders might consider participating in two scheduled events whose challenge also include raising associated pledge donations to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire and AbilityPLUS Inc.

The annual Wildcat Mountain 100,000 Vertical Foot Challenge event scheduled for Monday, March 14th will challenge participants to complete at least 48 runs in a single day via the famed Lynx Trail’s vertical descent from summit to base. In addition to the personal challenge, the maximum number of 40 participants will raise minimum donation amounts and compete to raise the highest donation amount. Wildcat Mountain was most recently recognized by Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire as a “Wish Benefactor” noting that the event’s annual giving surpassed $25,000. The annual event is unique to Wildcat Mountain coupling the accessibility and speed of the Wildcat Express high-speed, summit lift and the ski area’s greater than 2,100 vertical foot drop.

Registration for the event is only $70 ($40 for season passholders) and includes lift access for the day, a ticket voucher valid for another day of skiing/riding this season and participant gift bag, exclusive lift-line privileges while completing the 48 runs (maximum 50 runs) on the intermediate level Lynx trail which will be closed to the public, light breakfast/lunch items, snacks, and refreshments provided during the event, and prizes including skis generously donated by Fischer and Rossignol awarded to the top fundraisers as well as bib-raffle prizes for participants that will conclude an awards pasta dinner held following the event. All ages and disciplines are welcome to participate, but a limit of 40 participants and a minimum $250 in pledge donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire must be acquired and provided the morning of the event, Monday, March 14th. For more information and to register, visit skiwildcat.com/100Kday.html.

Later that week, Mount Washington Valley’s AbilityPLUS Inc. will host their Ski-A-Thon fundraiser event at Wildcat Mountain on Saturday, March 19th. A more open event that will allow skiers and riders to simply access the entire mountain as they would normally with lap-counters situated in proximity to three of Wildcat Mountain’s lifts, the AbilityPLUS Inc. Ski-A-Thon is open to all levels of skiers and riders interested in participating. An entry fee of $70 ($40 for season passholders) or $240 for a team of four will include the day’s lift ticket, gift bag, and awards party with appetizers and additional prize raffles. For more information and to register, visit abilityplus.org.

Wildcat Mountain: Sneak Peek Of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Wildcat Mountain) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:12:00 +0000

It's been such an unusually pleasant and warm couple of days, but now it appears we are heading back in to winter and honestly...we're okay with that. Have a look at this week's Wildcat Mountain Video Update to see just how nice it was yesterday. It's just a little too early for the spring-like conditions we've been experiencing and following the extended thaw, with a quick return to freezing temperatures forecasted, our trails are going to require quite a bit of the usual dedication and effort our seasoned groomers are familiar with. We may lose a few of the ungroomed trails that are not on our snowmaking list, and ski patrol will continue to monitor the open & close status of all trails, but a solid base across most of the mountain will set us up for what should be an enjoyable and busy February vacation week. Keep an eye on our snow report to always know the most up-to-date information.

We mentioned some considerations in our last Wildcat Mountain Litter Blog update and it's almost too late for us to repeat recommendations to plan ahead here because the vacation week begins tomorrow. We hope, if you too are able to vacation this next week and may be visiting us, that you have a happy, safe, and enjoyable weekend and week ahead. We've been busy preparing and are ready to work hard to provide a great experience for all of the vacationing skiers and riders. We'll see you soon and pray for snow!