Set Your Own Record on Mt. Washington!

Posted on May 8, 2012 by meg

Make Your Own Record on the Mt. Washington Auto Road on May 26th As Part of the 2nd Annual Alton Weagle Unusual Ascent Day

Alton Weagle Day 2011

Mt. Washington, NH- The Mt. Washington Auto Road will be hosting the 2nd Annual Alton Weagle Unusual Ascent Day on Saturday, May 26th as part of the kick-off celebration for the Road’s 151st operating season. The event will commemorate the many unusual ascents made on the “Carriage Road” since it opened to the public in 1861.

This spirit of fun and adventure was perhaps best captured by day’s namesake, the late Alton Weagle of Walpole. Weagle was a great advocate for safe and sustainable enjoyment of the White Mountains, who became known for awhile as “Mr. Mt. Washington”, thanks to his entertaining exploits during the 1950s. At various times he has run up the Auto Road barefoot, backwards and blindfolded (up and down) and he has pushed up a wheelbarrow with a 100 pound sack of sugar without setting it down; Weagle climbed up and down Tuckerman Ravine, along the Cog Railway and the Auto Road (30 miles) in 14 hours 28 minutes and even got married on the Cog Railway in 1955.

All of this follows in a great tradition of remarkable Auto Road ascents throughout history, which will be further shared and celebrated on May 26th. “Mt. Washington has always drawn a unique assortment of characters in search of personal distinction—some have been more serious minded than others, of course,” said Howie Wemyss, Auto Road general manager.

Meg unicycling

As part of last year’s festivities, several unusual “first ascents” were accomplished, including one person who made the climb on a unicycle, one on roller skis, a trio who Irish stepped danced their way to the top and one man who backed his vehicle from base to summit along the winding 8 mile road to the northeast’s highest peak. Several unique ascents are planned for 2012, including: 2 people riding tricycles; one Star Wars scout trooper; one man pogo sticking; a fireman in full fire fighter gear including SCBA and hand tool and a buckskin character going up in a go-kart, among others.

Those members of the public who purchase passes and drive up the road on Alton Weagle Day are invited to participate by wearing funny hats and sending in a photo of themselves going up the mountain, which will be posted online and be eligible to win prize passes for a later visit.

A special ceremony recognizing records set that day will take place at 1pm at the Glen House base building. Anyone else interested in participating with an unusual ascent of their own is required to contact the Auto Road at 466-3988 for schedules and more information.

Photos from 2011

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Auto Road Opens to Treeline for 151st Season

Posted on May 2, 2012 by meg

PINKHAM NOTCH, NH- A historic ritual that has been played out in Pinkham Notch for the past century and a half will be repeated this Saturday, May 5th, when the Mt. Washington Auto Road opens its gates to the public for drives to the treeline at 4,200 feet on the Northeast’s highest peak. The road crew has been hard at work for several weeks, protecting and preparing the surface to best weather the onset of Spring conditions. It is expected the road will be fully open to the summit within the next two weeks.

“The road has weathered the unusual winter conditions very well, which means we can finally say yes to all the people who have been calling wanting to drive up Mt. Washington!” noted Auto Road General Manager Howie Wemyss. “In fact, considering that the leaves have barely started to open, there are even great views to be had below treeline and the views at treeline of the northern Presidential mountains and beyond are just spectacular,” Wemyss said.

Special rates are being offered for the drive to treeline: $25 per car, including passengers (within safety parameters) and only $8 per motorcycle or $15 per motorcycle with a passenger.

For more information regarding the Mt. Washington Auto Road operations, events and other offerings please call 603-466-3988 or check online at www.mtwashingtonautoroad.com

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3rd Annual Mount Washington Road Race Hall of Fame Inauguration

Posted on April 27, 2012 by meg

  • Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race Mt Washington Auto Road
    Saturday, June 16, 2012- 9:00am.
  • 3rd Annual Mount Washington Road Race Hall of Fame Inauguration
    Friday, June 15, 2012 – 6:00pm.
  • Race’s Hall of Fame Honors Carpenter, Gareau, Maisto, and Woodward.

Pinkham Notch, NH-The world record-holder for marathons at extremely high altitudes, a Boston Marathon champion, a classics scholar who twice broke the women’s course record, and a veteran New England runner with decades of racing success have been selected as the four new members of the Mount Washington Road Race Hall of Fame. Formed in 2010 to recognize outstanding performers in this footrace to the summit of the highest peak in the northeastern United States, the Hall of Fame this year will pay tribute to the achievements of Matt Carpenter, Jacqueline Gareau, Christine Maisto and Keith Woodward in a ceremony at the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road on Friday, June 15. The next morning, the 2012 Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race will start at 9 a.m., as 1200 runners make their way up the 151-year-old Auto Road.

The 2012 Mount Washington Hall of Fame inductees:

Matt Carpenter, of Manitou Springs, Colorado, first came to Mt. Washington in 1992 and handily defeated defending champion Derek Froude of New Zealand, who two years earlier had become the first person to run this 7.6-mile race in under one hour. Carpenter won again the following year and then, after four years away from the race, returned to win it a third time in 1998. In 1999, after leading nearly the entire way, he finished second to Kenyan Daniel Kihara. In that race, Carpenter also ran his fastest-ever time at Mt. Washington, 59 minutes 16 seconds, and joined Kihara as the only two runners to break one hour at Mt. Washington more than once. His 59:16 is also the fastest non-winning time ever recorded. Returning in 2005, Carpenter broke the existing record for masters runners, in 1:02:12, a mark that stood for three years. Widely known for his ability to run hard where the air is thin, Carpenter holds records in marathons and 100-mile races in the Rockies and Himalayas.

Jacqueline Gareau of Sainte-Adele, Quebec, made her Mount Washington Road Race debut in 1989, on a day so thick with fog that runners could barely see the road. She ran to the summit in one hour 13 minutes and 13 seconds – a new record for women in the race. She won again in 1994, on a scorching hot day, and once more in 1996. In those second and third victories, she was also the first female finisher over the age of 40. In 2000 she returned again and finished second – at the age of 47. She still holds the Canadian women’s record on Mt. Washington and has held course records here in the masters age group and the 50-54 years category. In the 2011 race, she set a new record for women in the 55-59-year-age group. A massage therapist, Gareau has been renowned in marathon running since 1980, when she won the Boston Marathon. She is the only woman ever to have won both the Boston Marathon and the Mt. Washington Road Race.

Christine Maisto was a strong track and road runner when she came to Mt. Washington in 1985 and won decisively in 1:14:44, setting a new women’s course record for the Auto Road. In an event that had historically attracted far more men than women, that victory made Maisto the first woman to finish among the top 50 runners, as she placed thirty-first overall. She successfully defended her title in 1986, then finished second in 1987. After a three-year absence, she returned and won again in 1991 in a time of 1:12:16, taking the record back from Gareau. A longtime scholar of Latin and Greek, she followed her running career by earning a PhD in Classics. She now teaches at Monmouth College in Illinois.

Keith Woodward, of Stowe, Vermont, won the Mt. Washington Road Race just once, but no one has run this race more often or more consistently. Woodward won in 1983 with a time of 1:06:38, and 28 years later (2011) he set a new age group record for men 60-64, with a time of 1:21:29. Between 1973 and last year, he has completed the race 36 times, the most finishes by anyone ever. He has finished under 1:10 on sixteen different occasions, the second most in that category in the history of the race, and fifteen times in the top ten overall. His personal best was a 1:03:06 in 1985, when he finished second. In 1977, when he placed third in 1:08:15, he led the North Country Athletic Club team to the first sub-6 hour team finish (five runners’ combined times) at Mt. Washington.

The Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race pits runners against one of the most challenging obstacles in road-racing anywhere in the world: the 7.6-mile Mt. Washington Auto Road, which rises at an average grade of 12 percent to the 6288-foot Mt. Washington summit. The race has attracted Olympic athletes, Boston marathon champions, and the best mountain running specialists in the world to compete in the White Mountains of New Hampshire along with numerous other runners from across the United States and from sixteen other countries.

The Mt. Washington Road Race Hall of Fame recognizes athletes whose exceptional accomplishments in the race have added greatly to the history and stature of the event. Inductees are chosen by a vote of the Hall of Fame committee from a longer list of nominees compiled by December 31 of the preceding year.

The Friday evening Hall of Fame induction is part of the annual pre-race gathering for stories, brief speeches, information and advice about running up the mountain, and other tributes to the race. The ceremony will start at 6 p.m. in the large tent at the base of the Auto Road, on Route 16 just north of Pinkham Notch.

The public is invited.

Regularly updated information about the Mt. Washington Road Race Hall of Fame is available any time on Facebook (facebook.com/mwrrhof), Twitter (twitter.com/mwrrrecords) and the Hall of Fame blog (mtwashingtonrecords.blogspot.com). For other information about the race, visit www.mountwashingtonroadrace.com.

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Taking the High Road Back from Winter’s Icy Grip

Posted on April 12, 2012 by steve

By Steven Caming
Contributing writer

Winter always arrives first on Mt. Washington and it holds on there long after spring has returned to the surrounding valleys. Each year’s conditions are unique, based on that winter’s snowfall and the nature of the spring rains and temperatures. Typically it’s not a question of is there snow at all, but rather how much snow remains on the eight mile road to the summit of the Northeast’s highest peak. But this year is a most decidedly different one on Mt. Washington, as a nearly snowless winter combined with an early spring warm up to leave the road virtually uncovered from bottom to top.

While this may seem like an advantage to those tasked with clearing the road in preparation for the upcoming tourist season, the truth is that an uncovered surface is far more vulnerable to torrential washouts and the ravages of spring freeze and thaws.

Fortunately, having a 150 year base of experience to draw from has given the road crew a broad range of perspective when facing the daunting challenges of the frozen (and thawing) world above treeline. Leading the charge (and now in his 39th season at the Mt. Washington Auto Road) is road crew foreman John Gardner.

“The issue this year will be more the physical control of water rather than moving tons of snow,” Gardner explained. “In a typical spring we’d be moving snow the first week of April and there would still be 3-4 feet of snow on the lower four miles of the road. Above that it could be anywhere from 6-20 foot depths. The Cragway drifts at the 5 ¼ mile point are always the deepest because the prevailing winds deposit all the snow there.”

By April 1st of this year there was already no snow all the way to Cragway and only a short snow covered section to be found there. The state park and observatory snocats that ferried shift changes to the summit all winter long have now been parked above halfway, as the carbide points on the treads would tear up the unprotected pavement. Traffic up and down now is limited to the heavy duty pick-up trucks with chains that can negotiate the random patch of snow and deep water bars.

With 87% of the road paved, it is the gravel sections which are most at risk, though the solidly frozen culverts could create water flow that would undermine pavement, as well.

Even with the unique nature of Mt. Washington weather and each season having its own peculiarities, there have been certain constants which have always been a part of the transition from winter to spring. “Typically we systematically open each culvert, starting at the bottom and working our way up. Generally this allows for a staggered approach so that the still snow covered sections above are protected,” Gardner said.

That is most certainly not the case in April 2012—the unprotected upper sections are at the mercy of the weather until the road crew can get out their ice drills and open the culverts. At this point, even the culverts below treeline are completely filled with ice and like a clogged artery, will allow nothing through. “There is no snow to protect the road surface, so as the temperatures warm all the culverts and surfaces will thaw together, creating all these situations happening at once, rather than gradually,” Gardner explained.

Riding up with the road foreman as he makes his inaugural drive to the summit (not having seen the top half all winter), one is struck by how well the road seems to have weathered the winter. There are some very extreme water bars, which have and must divert excess runoff without taking the road surface away with it. It is when the precipitation begins to fall as rain rather than snow that the culverts will meet their greatest challenges. “Right now we’re waiting for the temperatures to moderate so we can work up there and then we’ll hope to avoid the worst case scenario—a torrential rainstorm while having this much exposed surface with frozen culverts and ditches would be a challenge,” Gardner noted.

Considering that today’s team has technology and heavy machinery to work with, it becomes even harder to imagine what early road crews faced, as a wall of snow that could reach 25 feet deep was tackled only with shovels.

Today, the road that ascends Mt. Washington can still be both an inspiring and intimidating place to work. It can be a very hands-on struggle with nature’s most elemental forces—wind, water, ice and snow. It is a relationship of accommodation between man and nature and is one that evokes the same sense of wonder today among those who work there as it did more than a century ago, as this account from 1867 illustrates:

“It is a thoroughly built road in every particular…for the first four miles it winds among the trees of the forest, permitting occasional glimpses of the mountain world around. At what is called “The Ledge” the glories of the ascent here begin…one here feels a decided sensation of being in the upper air. Down the great ravine a most surprising view is offered of Jefferson, Adams and Madison. One learns, in looking at these great forms, the decided difference there is in genus between a mountain and a hill…the eye is fascinated by the colors of these rugged monarchs—the varied verdure of their lower forests, their tawny shoulders, the purple gray of their bare ledges , the dim green of their peaks.

And if the day is blessed with clouds that drift over the mountains, the eye will find unspeakable pleasure in watching the shadows and in following the incessant flushes and frolics of light that robe them with ever-changing charm…of course it is unwise to attempt to describe such a view. It is the map of New England printed before us in glowing poetry. Those who look upon the sublime diorama for the first time are so overcome by the novelty and grandeur that they do not appreciate what they have seen till some days afterwards. Then it rises in memory and becomes a perpetual treasure for the mind’s eye”.

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Northeast Delta Dental now Title Sponsor of Mt. Washington Road Race

Posted on March 30, 2012 by meg
  • Mt. Washington Auto Road announces Northeast Delta Dental as title sponsor.
  • 52nd annual Mount Washington Road Race will benefit healthcare nonprofit.
  • Lottery registration is open through March 15.

Pinkham Notch, N.H. – March 10, 2012 With its headquarters in the Granite State’s capital and its eyes on the summit of the highest peak in the northeastern United States, Northeast Delta Dental now has its name on the premier running event in New Hampshire. This week, the dental insurance company has raised its already well-known support for the historic race to a new level, as officials at the Mt. Washington Auto Road confirm that the race to the top of Mt. Washington will now be called the Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race.

Northeast Delta Dental has been the primary sponsor of the Mount Washington Road Race since 2001, when the company first linked its professional interests in healthcare to one of New England’s most celebrated challenges to human fitness. The company’s President & CEO, Tom Raffio, made a very respectable ascent himself last year, reaching the 6288-foot high finish line in one hour 50 minutes and 51 seconds. On the occasion of the 52nd “Run to the Clouds,” Northeast Delta Dental assumes a new level of commitment to the race, which every year attracts a thousand runners to the Auto Road and its relentless 12 percent grade.

With this significant increase in support, this year the Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race will contribute half of the race’s net proceeds to the Coos County Family Health Services. Based in nearby Berlin, NH, this community-based organization provides personalized, comprehensive health and dental care and social services to everyone, regardless of economic status.

Since 1995, the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation has funded over $45,000 to support the center’s school-based oral health education, fluoride rinse, and preventive dental services. The center’s status as the new beneficiary of the race is a reminder of the Auto Road’s and Northeast Delta Dental’s extensive ties to the region, and to the race’s commitment to the well-being of the larger community. The race expects that this year’s funding will be used especially to enhance the Coos County Family Health Services’ oral health programs.

The 1000-runner field for the Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race is filled by means of an online lottery. Anyone wishing to compete in this year’s race can register for this lottery at www.mountwashingtonroadrace.com any time through 11:59 p.m. on March 15. The drawing of names in the lottery will take place on March 16. Notification of the results will go to all applicants by March 18.

Held three times in the 1930s, then organized on an ongoing basis in the 1960s, the footrace up the Mt. Washington Auto Road has a long history. Its popularity surged in the 1980s and has grown continuously since then, along with the global growth of the sport of mountain running. The 2012 race will serve as the qualifying event to select the six men who will make up the U.S. National Mountain Running men’s team that will compete in the World Mountain Championships in September in Ponte di Legno, Italy.

Originally called the Mt. Washington Carriage Road, the road to the summit of Mt. Washington was completed in 1861. Rising through several different climate zones, and offering stunning views of the White Mountains, Vermont, Maine and southern Quebec, the Auto Road is one of New England’s most spectacular attractions. The Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race begins at the Auto Road base on Route 16 near Pinkham Notch and climbs to the 6288-foot summit at an average grade of 12 percent and a net altitude gain of 4650 feet. The runners battle not only each other but the sheer force of gravity and Mt. Washington’s famously unpredictable weather. Former six-time World Mountain Champion Jonathan Wyatt of New Zealand holds the men’s course record, 56 minutes 41 seconds, set in 2004. The women’s record was set in 2010 by the young Ethiopian runner Shewarge Amare, a time of one hour eight minutes 21 seconds.

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Climbing the Auto Road on Stilts in Winter

Posted on March 23, 2012 by meg

Climbing the Auto Road with a Heightened Perspective
Hans Bauer Tackles Mt. Washington on Stilts

by Steven Caming

Photo: Mike Pelchat

Some people just need to challenge themselves. Its part of their DNA…it’s how they get to know themselves and the world around them. For some, the challenge is professional or financial, for others it’s personal. Some need the accolades of many, while others require only the quietly competent knowledge that they did what they set out to do.

Each challenge, each goal is uniquely tailored to the personality of the individual, as only they know what particular achievement will meaningfully validate the effort. You might think climbing the Northeast’s highest peak during winter, on stilts with snowshoes attached, would be a challenge…and you’d be right. But for Hans Bauer of Center Conway it was more of a whimsical adventure that didn’t quite get to the level of being truly challenging.

Of course, Bauer is a man who’s already logged a few endurance miles along the way. He has biked through all six New England states in just 17 hours. In his “ultra-running” mode he has several grueling treks under his belt, including 100 miles in 17 hours, 5 minutes; 130 miles in 24 hours and 195 miles in 48 hours (it should be noted he is not satisfied with any of these times). He has run 7000 miles (including halfway across the USA) in one 18 month period and has biked more than 31,000 miles during five grand tours that have taken him through 11 countries and all of the lower 48 states…and he has done this all alone.

Generally speaking, it’s not about speed and records for Bauer, but about endurance. He pushes himself to discover not life-threatening limits, but life-enhancing perspectives. A near fatal climbing accident on Cathedral Ledge this past year (falling more than 100 feet) further developed his philosophical position. “I could easily have been dead, so I enjoy what every day has to offer. Sure, I’ve been doing things that could be considered dangerous, but I don’t take it to that place. For me, it’s more just testing the limits of my endurance. I like to know that I’ve lived on THIS day,” he said emphatically. “It’s about seeing the world a certain way—as full of wonder and possibility and the chance to experience things we may have done before in new ways”.

While many of his adventures have taken him around the world, Bauer finds plenty to test himself right here in the Mt. Washington Valley. After tackling his first 23 mile Presidential Range/Mt. Washington winter traverse (which goes from the Dolly Copp campground area in Pinkham Notch all the way across to the AMC Highland Center in Crawford Notch), he decided to step it up a notch, so to speak. The next time around Bauer did a one day solo winter double traverse, reversing his course and covering the 46 miles in just about 23 hours. Yes, this is what he does for fun…

Photo: Mike Pelchat

Bauer began what would become Mt. Washington’s first ever ascent on stilts at 6:00 am from the Auto Road base. He had attached a pair of snowshoes (with built in crampons) to the bottom of the construction stilts (he found those at a yard sale for $30) and began his ascent (alone again, naturally) in the quiet darkness of the pre-dawn morning.

While not an imposing fellow physically (“I’m the same size as Napoleon!” he noted), Bauer does exude a certain quiet (and well earned) confidence in his abilities. Still, he never takes a cavalier attitude towards his wilderness adventures. As the winds gusted over 35 mph above treeline during his ascent of the Auto Road, he lowered his stilt height from three feet to two feet off the ground, to keep from being excessively blown around. “I was definitely afraid at times, but mostly of ending up in the paper for doing something dumb and getting hurt!” he said.

For the record, Bauer never took his stilts off during the entire eight mile ascent and then skied back down the road to finish his long day.

Tolstoy wrote that every man is three men: how he sees himself; how others see him and who he really is. Hans Bauer sees the world through the eyes of a man who challenges himself, challenges nature and challenges onlookers to question what they themselves may be capable of…If seeing the world from his heightened perspective (he stands over 7 ½ feet tall with the stilts fully extended) has broadened his horizons, it is a hard won view to a thrill.

Upon his arrival at the summit, Bauer provided quite an unusual and unprecedented sight to those working at the Observatory and State Park…it was certainly an unexpected visit. As the summit crew looked up at the man who towered above them on stilts, one asked “How’s the weather up there?” Taking in his surroundings on the summit of Mt. Washington, his simple answer summed up his day “Just perfect”.

Those who may be interested in coming up with their own unique way of ascending the Mt. Washington Auto Road can inquire about participating in Alton Weagle Day, scheduled for May 26th. For more information call the Auto Road at 603-466-3988 or online at www.mtwashingtonautoroad.com

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Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb is Full – Newton’s Revenge Registration Now Open

Posted on February 25, 2012 by meg

40th Annual Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb
August 18, 2011 Starting times: 8:35-8:55 a.m.
7th Annual Newton’s Revenge
July 7, 2011 Starting times: 8:40-8:55 a.m.

· Hillclimb registration has reached capacity
· Newton’s Revenge registration now open and humming

Pinkham Notch, N.H. – Pedaling a bicycle to the summit of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire is one of the most difficult endeavors in New England sports – which is part of the reason so many people want to do it. Already 600 cyclists have signed up to compete in the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, scheduled for the third weekend in August, and that’s as many bikes as the race can accommodate.

The good news for anyone else who wants to make the climb is that there’s a second opportunity. Registration for Newton’s Revenge, the other race held each summer on the same course, opened last weekend and will continue until the actual week of the race or until that race, too, reaches the 600-rider limit. Held on exactly the same course as the Hillclimb, Newton’s Revenge will take place this year on July 7.

Often described as more severe than the steepest climbs in the Tour de France, the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb is a 7.6-mile grind to the top of the highest peak in the Northeast, at an average grade of 12 percent. Making the climb even more arduous is the unpredictable Mt. Washington weather, which can include 40- to 65-mph. gusts of wind and various kinds of precipitation.

Registration for the 2012 Hillclimb opened on February 1st, and within four days the field had reached capacity, as it tends to do every year. In 2006, in order to meet the excess demand, the Mt. Washington Auto Road company management created Newton’s Revenge as a second race on the same course.

Presenting the same challenges, Newton’s Revenge has attracted professional and highly-ranked amateur cyclists as strong as those who ride in the Hillclimb. The men’s course record-holder for the Auto Road is Tom Danielson, who in 2011 was the first American finisher in the Tour de France, and who has won both races up Mt. Washington. The women’s course record-holder is legendary French cycling star Jeannie Longo. Danielson’s record for the ascent is 49 minutes 24 seconds; Longo’s is 58:14.

Registration for Newton’s Revenge opens each year as soon as registration for the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb has closed. Click here for on-line registration for Newton’s Revenge.

The size of the field for both the Hillclimb and Newton’s Revenge is limited by the ability of the road crews and race officials to monitor the safety of all participants and by the number of vehicles that can be parked at the summit to bring cyclists back down the hill after the race. The Hillclimb is filled to capacity every year; Newton’s Revenge typically draws between 250 and 350 riders.

The entry fee for Newton’s Revenge is $300, of which a portion is donated to various Mt. Washington Valley Bicycling Club charities in the Mt. Washington Valley. The rest of the entry fee covers the cost of substantial logistical support, food, commemorative shirt and other expenses involved in staging the event.

Riders who are already registered for the Hillclimb may enter Newton’s Revenge for $150.

Entrants in either race may also register for its practice ride. These are held on June 3, for Newton’s Revenge, and July 15 for the Hillclimb, with riders beginning the ascent any time between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. There is no additional fee for the practice ride, but the number of riders is limited to 300, and the ride is open only to riders who are already registered for the corresponding race. Registered participants will receive Practice Ride registration instructions via email.

The Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb and Newton’s Revenge are two of ten events in the Bike Up the Mountain Point Series, familiarly known as BUMPS. The series includes Mt. Ascutney in Vermont, Mt. Greylock in Massachusetts, Whiteface Mountain in New York State, and other uphill races, including for the first time this year the Mt. Wachusett hillclimb in central Massachusetts. For further information see www.hillclimbseries.com.

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Sled Dog Team to Attempt History

Posted on February 24, 2012 by meg

SLED DOG TEAM TO ATTEMPT HISTORY MAKING ASCENT OF MT. WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD ON MARCH 7-9 AS FUNDRAISER FOR NH SLED DOG RESCUE AND EDUCATION CENTER

PINKHAM NOTCH, NH—An intrepid team of sled dogs and mushers from the Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel of Jefferson, NH will attempt to tackle the Northeast’s highest peak on either March 7, 8 or 9, depending on weather conditions. This will be only the fourth ever attempt of such a feat and the first time ever in winter. The Muddy Paw mushers and dogs will be following in the historic “pawprints” of Arthur Walden and his famed Chinook team, who were first to summit in 1926, followed by the first and only woman, Florence Clark, in April 1932 and then Carl Brown in April 1992.

This event has been undertaken in an effort to not just make history, but raise awareness and funds to help support the more than 130 sled dogs that the Muddy Paws kennel have rescued and care for. Muddy Paw owners Karen Tolin and Neil Beaulieu have been taking in rescue and second chance huskies and giving them a home & job for life while supporting their care with year round dogsled tours.

The couple took their passion for rescue and the rich history of dogsledding in NH and formed a board of local mushers to create the nonprofit NH Sled Dog Rescue, History & Education Center. This new nonprofit will focus on rescuing northern breed dogs in need, preserving NH sled dog artifacts, and educating the public on the history of dogsledding & the care of northern breeds.

In addition to the one team making a summit attempt, a truly unprecedented opportunity will be offered on two additional sleds–two guest seats will be auctioned to the highest bidder for this once in a lifetime opportunity to ascend halfway up Mt. Washington and experience the world above treeline on a dog sled. Local school children will also be involved, as they write letters to the Observatory staff members on the summit (which will be delivered by the sled dog team) and follow the track of the mushers to the summit.

“It will be exciting to see this adventurous episode of Mt. Washington Auto Road history brought to life after all these years. This is not an endeavor to be taken lightly and those involved will certainly earn their place in the history books!” noted Howie Wemyss, General Manager of the Mt. Washington Auto Road and Great Glen Trails.Taking into consideration the changeable conditions on Mt. Washington, safety of all two and four legged participants is of paramount concern. Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel’s veterinarian, Dr. John Anderson, DVM of Lancaster, NH will be supporting the dog teams on the day of the event and staff members of the Mt. Washington Auto Road, Mount Washington Observatory and the Mt. Washington State Park will be on standby for any emergency circumstances.

For more information, check out www.dogslednh.com or email Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel at info@dogslednh.com Individuals or companies wishing to sponsor the teams or be involved in the auction for the two available seats should contact Karen Tolin at 603-545-4533.

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Ski to the Clouds-Registration Now Open!

Posted on January 27, 2012 by meg

PINKHAM NOTCH, NH-The Ski to the Clouds race is returning to the snow covered Mt. Washington Auto Road for the 16th year on February 26th, 2012. This challenging event, thought by many to be North America’s toughest 10k race, takes place on the Northeast’s highest peak and includes a climb of more than 2200 vertical feet over the final 6K of the course.

The Ski to the Clouds is presented by Maxiglide and is limited to a field of only 150 skiers. Some competitors are there to attempt to make or break a record, while others consider it an opportunity to personally test their abilities in this mountain environment. In either case, participants will find themselves skiing in a winter wonderland, while taking in the most spectacular views imaginable of the Presidential range and beyond.

There will be a mass start at 10 am on race day. Online registration closes on February 24th at 12 pm. Any available slots left after that will be offered on Feb. 25th. There will be no day of race registration. An early registration discounted price of $35 will be offered through Feb. 20th, followed by a rate of $45 until Feb. 25th or until the race is sold out.

A $1400 prize purse is being offered by the presenting sponsor, Maxiglide. The prizes will be allotted as follows:

MEN:      1st place $250; 2nd place $150; 3rd place $100
WOMEN: 1st place $250; 2nd place $150; 3rd place $100
Top Male over 40:     $200
Top Female over 40: $200

Volunteer registration is also now open for those who would like to be a part of this uniquely exciting event without making the 10k climb! All volunteers will be given lunch on event day and day passes for Great Glen Trails.

“Our Ski to the Clouds race is another great example of the kind of uniquely compelling events that have always been and continue to be a part of life on Mt. Washington. Each event, whether a footrace, bike race, car race, or even on skis or snowshoes brings out those who are passionate about their sport….and for reasons both obvious and subtle, Mt.Washington continues to be the place those passionate competitors come to make their mark, even if it’s just for the experience of being here,” observed Howie Wemyss, General Manager of the Mt. Washington Auto Road and Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center.

For more information or to register as either a racer or volunteer, please call the Mt. Washington Auto Road or Great Glen Trails at 603-466-3988 or online at www.skitotheclouds.com.

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First SnowCoach of Winter 2012 Makes its Way Up the Mt. Washington Auto Road Celebrating 15 years of Operation on the Northeast’s Highest Peak

Posted on January 17, 2012 by meg

PINKHAM NOTCH, NH—The four massive treads of the SnowCoach dug into the fresh snow that covers the Mt. Washington Auto Road, offering a surprisingly smooth surface for day one of the tours. There was great excitement among the passengers, none of whom had experienced Mt. Washington and the winter world above treeline before. While limited snowfall made this one of the latest starts to the “SnowCoaching” season, it was an auspicious beginning, with sunny skies, brisk temperatures and unlimited views.

The two snowcoaches have a team of specially trained drivers, who surely have one of the most unique jobs in the United States—sentiment echoed by passengers as they ascended. “It’s hard to believe that some people get to work every day in such an amazing location. This is just a spectacular experience!” said Brad Halstead of Rye, NH, who took the tour with his wife, Jen. “At six months pregnant, I can’t think of a better way to see Mt. Washington in winter,” Mrs. Halstead said with a laugh.

The SnowCoach is indeed a unique way to travel. These same custom built Chevy passenger vans ferry guests up the Auto Road in summer, albeit with four tires instead of the winter treads. Capable of carrying up to 9 passengers, each trip up the road in a SnowCoach can be as unique as a snowflake, with no two ever being exactly alike.

“What’s really terrific about the SnowCoach is that we can take anyone, at any age, into an alpine environment they might never see otherwise. It really is a comfortable adventure for the whole family, in an unforgettable place,” said Great Glen Trails general manager, Howie Wemyss.

The SnowCoach tour up Mt. Washington takes approximately 1 ¼ hours and departs daily, weather permitting, on a first come, first served basis. The price for adults is $45, $30 for kids ages 5-12. A Total Trails Ticket ($69) includes a SnowCoach tour as well as an all day trail and tubing pass, as well as snowshoe and/or ski rentals. For more information call the Mt. Washington Auto Road or Great Glen Trails at (603) 466-3988 or online at www.greatglentrails.com

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