My fiancé, ES publisher and senior editor David Shedd, started writing the series, ”Crazy Style Racing” about our dumb idea to do races we hadn’t properly trained for. We thought it would be “fun” to test our fitness levels against both hard-core athletes and other weekend warriors.

We were right, by the way. It was dumb. It was totally nuts. And it was fun.

Like a couple of fools in love, we entered four races together; the first, the Wildman Biathlon, we worked together on. The second and third, Sunday River’s “Tough Mountain Challenge” & Stratton Mountain’s “North Face Run To The Summit” we competed against each other to see who would have veto power on wedding decisions. For the final test, we decided to work as a team from beginning to end, cheering each other on, and crossing the finish line together. And, for once, it turned out we’d made a SMART decision! The Shawnee Peak Challenge turned out to be not only a test of our physical strength and coordination, but a major test of my willpower. A true Navy Seal/Army Ranger obstacle course, it was longer and meaner than anything we’d faced yet; training clearly required.

Lovely fall view from Shawnee...except that in the race, we'd have to get here from the bottom! (David Shedd photo)

First, knowing that there would be a significant amount of running involved, we decided it was time to begin our “rigorous training regimen”…Left… Left… Left… Right… Left…Singing gleefully, “Boom chug-a-lug-a lug-a, boom chug-a lug-a-lug-a, boom chug- a-lug-a lug-a, boom.”  NOT.  Our actual training  was hardly more sophisticated than our daily run to the bathroom. Thanks to injuries and messed-up schedules, we suddenly realized that there was only a week to go before the race, and we hadn’t even begun to prepare. We weren’t complete idiots, though; we got right on the horn and asked our “fit” friends how to train for a race in one week. That’s plenty of training time, right? Um, NO. Luckily, although we hadn’t been doing specific training, we’d at least been active through most of the summer…we hiked, biked, kayaked, and ran wooded trails…our time hadn’t been a total waste. Besides, we both agreed that this was supposed to be, uh, well, fun…therefore, we steered clear of counting calories, drinking endless protein shakes, and training morning and night. We viewed our upcoming race through rose colored glasses. Probably a good thing …we had NO idea what we were in for!

The night before the race:  we’re packing our gear together, and I’m starting to think, “Really?  We’re really going to do this?” I hadn’t exercised since the Sunday River race, I’d started a new job that doesn’t allow me to exercise (good excuse, eh?), and I think I’m coming down with a “horrible” cold and a temperature of 102.   Hmm… What else can I dream up? I’ve learned along the way that the more excuses you come up with, the better (David’s a master of excuses)! But, as luck would have it, David would have none of that…”We’ve signed up and we’re going! You can back out, Susan, but I’m racing…”  Hah, like I was going to fall for that one! I was in whether I walked, crawled, or rolled across the finish line - we were in it TOGETHER.  “You call it madness, but I call it love.”  (Don Byas)

There are advantages to signing up for a local race. One, it’s a great way to support a local outdoor event. Two, sometimes you can run the course prior to the actual race (sometimes not; check with the race organizers in advance). Seeing the course theoretically reduces fears, lets you talk about technique/strategies, and test out an obstacle or two.

4' barriers, 5' woman...you do the math! (David Shedd photo)

The reality?  In this case, it mainly scared the daylights out of us! Nevertheless, it put us “into the zone”. What zone was that?  Well, that would be the, ”What the heck was I thinking?” zone. We should have been prepared after talking to a race official, and  hearing that he (a seasoned athlete) found it to be an extremely tough course. But, as eager beavers, we began our hike up to the first obstacle to see if his predictions were accurate . . .

Perfect, less than halfway up and we’re already panting..  You can imagine what is going through my head at this moment… “You’ve GOT to be kidding me!” NOT a good sign! The folks at Shawnee Peak certainly created a “true to life” military style obstacle course – complete with  monkey bars! Fabulous. The designer of this course was  a retired Special Operations commando, gee…how charming. We really DO need our heads examined.

Lesson #1 for engaged men; do NOT laugh as your fiancee attempts this! (David Shedd photo)

As we were hiking along, David was grinning ear to ear! Me? I was grinning alright; oh wait, that’s a grimace. My fears were mounting – oh MAN, were they mounting! We arrived at the four foot barriers (one of the 15 obstacles on the course)…I’m thinking to myself, “I’m supposed to vault over these???”  I’m 5′ 3″, it just ain’t gonna happen. Clearly, the military is expecting recruits to be a LOT taller than me. For David, at 5’10″, these weren’t all that difficult,but while he was gracefully soaring over these walls, I was desperately looking for a place to dig and crawl under! Nope, not an option. I then looked to see if I could “sneak” around the side (you know, where no one’s watching)? Nope, that won’t work either. I have to actually find a way to make it over THEM (that’s right…there wasn’t ONE to deal with, there were FIVE). Ugh. So, if at first you don’t succeed, worry not folks…you have four more tries to bang your knees, elbows, cheeks, ankles and hips (yup, I have bruises in all of these locations – and some bruises where I didn’t know they could exist). Picture a fish flopping around on the ground after being caught and you’ve got the visual of me trying to get over these !@#$%@! walls. I made it, though, and DID get better by the end. But wait, there are 14 more obstacles!

So, we’re making our way through our trial walkthrough, my heart is pounding outside of my chest, I’ve managed to skin my knee, my back is beading with sweat, oh, and my coffee cup is empty! And then we arrive at the monkey bars. For the record, they were only about 30 feet long, but they look like they are 600 million feet long, with a PIT below (this is the area for those unlucky participants who fall in when upper body strength fails; i.e., me); for now, the pit was dry, but we were assured that it would be deep water during the race. I paid close attention to it since I knew that pit would be part of MY race. David made his way across on the bars, and I finally got my first laugh of the day— it wasn’t pretty, other than pretty funny. But he did NOT fall in. I watched and cheered, “Go Baby, Go!” There was NO way I was attempting to do this TWICE; once would be enough.

Don't let the smiles fool you...we were both worried about this obstacle! (Daniel Marean photo)

From here on out, the obstacles were “do-able,” and I was feeling pretty good about the challenges we were about to take on. But wait! That fuzzy, funny, happy feeling I was having?  Oh, it was about to come to a screeching halt! Ever heard the phrase, “it’s all over but the crying”? Yeah, we reached the finish line where there were three (make no mistake, THREE), cargo nets that we had to climb up and over.  The first, 14 FEET, second, 10 feet, and the third, “only” 8 feet.  All kidding aside, I truly felt sick to my stomach at this point. I have a REAL fear of heights, so the other obstacles were a cakewalk compared to what we were facing now, and go figure…they were at the finish line where everyone would be watching!  I looked at this net and visualized myself being catapulted off the side like the coyote in a Road Runner cartoon,  or worse, get my foot tangled, flop over like a dead fish, and break a leg. My heart wasn’t beating outside of my chest; it was in my throat (balanced nicely by my stomach down in my feet). David, being the sweetheart that he is, said “its okay, you can do it…I’ll go behind you, you’ll be safe- I’m right here with you.” I climbed to the top and froze…I was completely paralyzed. I was in tears;  fear had actually taken over. Now, I’m thinking that I will be a DNF (did not finish) candidate…I’d make it to the end, and have to quit…there was NO way I could climb up and over. Good news at the finish line, though; we talked to an official, and he stated that each participant had to “attempt” each obstacle twice, and if unsuccessful at completing, would have a 30 second penalty. That made me feel a little better…it would at least keep me in the race. Still, to get to the end, and not be able to finish an obstacle because of fear, rather than physical inability; I wasn’t feeling good about myself.

Race Time:

There were many professional athletes ready to hammer the course, looking very strong and prepared. But, there was also a healthy dose of weekend warriors, like David and me. This was GREAT!  We started to feel the excitement, the camaraderie of other nervous competitors was reassuring, and we were already having fun. At this point in the game, you’re in, the start is imminent, and the energy is electric! It’s one of the best things about racing; the sense of anticipation, of taking on the challenges that you’ve seen, can be intoxicating. It wasn’t long before the gun went off — and so did the first set of racers (us included). We couldn’t help but laugh and smile and just give it our best; after all, in less than an hour (hopefully), we’d be done!

The obstacles were arranged on the mountain face with a significant amount of climbing between them. The first one was Long Gun Alley; this was the area where you have to keep moving or “get shot” (hey, these are quotes from the race officials – I did NOT make this up!). It’s hard to keep moving when the elevation is 100 vertical feet while traveling 250 yards (translation: STEEP)…but, we chugged along slowly, trying to keep from overdoing it at the start. We reached the High Crawl, which was actually fun, crawling on our hands and knees through a tunnel (a little break…whew!)  The Balance Logs were next, YIPPEEE…this is an area that I excel…I made it, no problem! For once, I was ahead of David and could cheer him on.  Next, The Bitch. They were NOT lying–this obstacle involved a 100 yard “dash”, and a 400 vertical foot climb…sure, we’re having fun.  Not. A hint; do part of it backwards, as it KILLS your calves climbing an angle that steep! People were down on their hands and knees, unable to get traction on the steep slope.  We were lucky, as we were both using our GoLite trail runners, which have excellent traction, and have a design that puts a lot of the lugs in the forefoot area; they were perfect for that type of work. Finally, the high point on the course…it’s all downhill from here!

Running through the Normandy crosses requires balance, timing, and controlling your fear of a faceplant (David Shedd photo)

Oh fudge, I forgot what’s next…the Barrier Walls…even going downhill, I have to go up!   So, I yelled to David, and said,  ”I’ll be right there, darling, wait an hour, if you don’t mind…I have to dig a tunnel under these barriers.” (Publisher’s note: Yes, she actually did that; do you have any idea how hard it is to go over barriers like that when you’re laughing?) But, by some random chance of luck and perseverance, I made it over them! David was cheering me on and I got so excited to be at the last of the five that I slipped and fell against the far side of the barrier…don’t ask!  But, up, brush off, on my way again.  Now we’ve reached the Normandy Walls. These bizarre things are like 3-foot tall “X”s in rows and columns; one slip, and you’re likely to faceplant on the next one, potentially ending your race. Yet another obstacle that was NOT fair to us vertically challenged types. Survival was all I asked for; I took them slowly, making sure I was safe. A few seconds lost here is worth it…better that than DNF and a lot of pain! The next obstacle, Khyber Pass, was a run downhill (2000 yards).  It might seem easy to run downhill, but we’re talking about running down a MOUNTAIN, and if you think for one moment that Shawnee Peak is not steep, think again. Hint: Bend your knees and run like a chimpanzee, keeping your weight centered. But, hey, at least it’s going downhill!

Next up, the High Crawl and Tires; another tunnel crawl, then a downhill run through tires. Taken a little carefully (faceplanting here wouldn’t hurt as much as at the Normady Walls, but still…), it was actually fun. But, in my mind was what was coming…The Monkey Bars!  David, ahead of me, was fast and efficient, getting across them in one try, then turning to cheer me on.  I was HOPING that he’d keep going so that he wouldn’t see me fall into the pit; no such luck. I jumped up, got across a few…and fell in, laughing the entire time.  Let’s face it, landing in a puddle of muddy water IS funny, and when you’re hot and sweaty, it actually feels GREAT! One major fear over with, only one to go…

Moving right along…to the Uneven Fences we went.  What that means is that they are slanted uphill, so that you have to climb up and roll down (or jump over and run down, in David’s case, the jerk)…these weren’t horrible, just more bruises! Picture a floppy tuck and roll, and you’ve got my performance!  Proof once again that I provide the comic relief in this relationship. Headed to the Commando Rope, 40′ of arm over arm, leg over leg, your butt hanging down…you get the picture. David mastered this obstacle quickly, and came back to help me, putting his hands under my back to take some of the weight off my hands.  That’s teamwork!  Through the Trenches we went, more crawling…easy. Well, other than the fact that there was barbed wire over our heads.  Still, another chance for me to shine; vertically challenged is USEFUL when you have to get down low and crawl.  I cheered David on as he made it through, and we headed to the last two obstacles.

In case anyone wonders, the water was COLD! (Daniel Marean photo)

Lesson to be learned, though.  Pay attention to the here and now, not what’s coming up; I fell down.  Minor irritation, other than that I broke my timing chip off!  Hindsight being 20/20, I should have left the miserable thing there, headed to the finish line, and yelled out my number to the officials; but, instead I frantically crawled around in the grass looking for it, with other competitors passing me.  Oops.  Finally I found it, and headed for the Mud Pit…now, this was a BLAST!  To run through mud and get completely drenched and disgustingly filthy is my idea of fun! We  heard after the race that one participant DOVE into the mud pit…that’s style!

We’re at the end now, the final obstacle; the Cargo Nets. I’m tired, I can’t breathe, and I’m scared. But, of course my sneaker lacing was loose (because the time chip was woven through the tie, giving me a reason to stop and try to get myself together. David’s just standing there, gently talking to me, telling me to relax, that I don’t HAVE to do the nets; but, funny thing, that made me want to do it more. Lace retied (any idea how hard it is to do that when your hands are shaking), I stood up, took a deep breath, and said “Let’s do it.”

Susan working up her courage to take on the 14 foot net...will she make it? (Daniel Marean photo)

We exchange a look, give each other a “thumbs up” and start climbing…he’s behind me so that I don’t have to be afraid of falling.  I’m climbing, I get to the top, and it’s do or die time now…I push myself up onto the beam that in practice had looked thin and weak, ready to collapse under me. Hardly! All the obstacles were were extremely safe; it was my own fear that had made me see it differently. I managed to get my left leg over! My heart was pounding, my hands shaking, and David said to me, “You’re doing it!  Do you want me to get to the other side to be there for you?”  And, my response surprised me; I said “No, I can do it.”  Then, he shouted, “GO AFTER THE GIRL IN THE PURPLE!”  And suddenly, rather than being afraid of the net, I’m more afraid that a perky 20-something is going to beat me! I went over the top fast, down the other side, and chased her down (to be honest, she got ahead on the final net and finished ahead of me). But, it wasn’t about beating her; it was that I had moved beyond my fear and could chase her. I’d done it, I’d broken through my OWN barriers…and I even beat David over the last two! As we’d done for each other all race, I waited for him, cheering him on; and we clasped hands, kissed, and ran through the finish together – wow, what a way to finish a race!

This is what it's all about...teamwork and a happy finish! (Susan Marean photo)

Done.  I’d made it; WE’D made it. We stayed at the finish, watching other people finish…one at a time, two together, a team of 5 helping each other. We weren’t the only ones who “got it” that this kind of racing isn’t just about winning; it’s about challenging yourself, working together, helping others along, and learning to accept help. I’ve always tried to make it on my own…to have David helping me was a totally new experience. And, to be able to help him was a bonus. There’s lessons here that we can carry into other parts of our relationship, and into how we interact with other people. Racing, it turns out, isn’t just about physical activity; it’s a metaphor for life. Four crazy-style events this summer, four different sets of lessons; four different chances to experience something new, to watch different people overcoming different types of obstacles. And, of course, some great scenery; the views from Wildcat, Sunday River, Stratton, and Shawnee were spectacular!  We’re hooked…we’ll be back next year!

Oh, and honey–don’t forget that I beat you in the Tough Mountain Challenge, and that you owe me that wedding ring!

3 down, 30 to go...when can I go skiing??? (David Shedd photo)

There’s something wrong with a system where you work all week, then on the weekend you do “projects” at home.  Last I knew, projects were work; they get in the way of what’s supposed to be happening on weekends, namely, fun outdoors!

My whining, in this particular case, comes from spending most of a day putting knobs on cabinets in our kitchen. REPLACING knobs is easy; unscrew old one, put new one on, smile at how pretty it all looks. But putting them on in the first place includes taking the fronts off the drawers, measuring and marking, drilling holes, installing the knobs, and putting the whole mess back together again. Tedious. By 1:00 when I finished, there was no time left to get out and ski. Or was there?

Shawnee Peak, less than an hour from my home, has a mid-day pass. And, unlike the typical 12:30-4:00 pass, theirs goes from 12:30-closing, which means it includes night skiing. With a night skiing pass going for $30 and the mid-day going for only $16 more, it was worth it to get up there and hit the slopes at 2pm, rather than waiting for night skiing to start.

Oh, I forgot; a storm was predicted to start in the evening, dumping up to 8 inches of snow on us. Great for the next day’s skiing, lousy to drive home in. Yet another reason to get there as quickly as possible and get our runs in before the weather forced us to leave!

As afternoon fades to dusk, there's no reason to stop; Shawnee's mid-day pass includes night skiing! (Susan Marean photo)

We arrived a little after 2 to an absolute zoo. The Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge was at Shawnee for the day, and the place was loaded with skiers.  Parking lots were full, but we found someone leaving and grabbed the space. It didn’t look good for decent snow conditions…that many skiers would likely have the mountain skied off, leaving boilerplate as far as the edge could see. But boilerplate’s better than nothing, especially after being stuck indoors doing “projects” all morning.

One thing we noticed immediately: Shawnee’s upgraded their Summit Triple to “Express” status. Translation: they’ve added a moving conveyor belt that you step onto, which gets you moving in the right direction. When the chair then comes flying in to meet your backside, it can be moving faster than if you were standing still. The experience is a bit disconcerting your first time, but slick in action, and shortly we were flying up the mountain.

Funny, though; usually, when it’s scratchy, you can hear skiers and boarders while you’re on the lift. This ride was awfully quiet. Maybe we’d be lucky?

Fresh grooming in the afternoon means great skiing in the evening. (Susan Marean photo)

Lucky we were! Even with the heavy traffic on the slopes all day, the snow was, at worst, firm, not hard. Shawnee had clearly made the most of the storms over the past few weeks. It wasn’t like first tracks, but it also wasn’t the typical skied-off afternoon conditions that makes everyone WANT first tracks.

Susan had been concerned about the conditions, as her kneecap’s healing from a hairline fracture, and falling was not part of her plans. But one run on a green circle made her want to head for the blues, and even to consider the diamonds (fortunately she’s smart enough not to push her luck).

As the light faded, the groomers came out to prepare for night skiing. That’s one of the joys of Shawnee; come 4:00, you CAN get first tracks! Sunset Boulevard  had just been groomed, so we split, her to the freshly groomed blue, me to black, with my goal being to get down fast enough to get an extra run in.

Cooley’s had just been groomed as well, and my run down  was as fast and smooth as it could possibly be. Hero conditions…firm corduroy that held an edge effortlessly. It’s like flying! Then, back into line, up to check out Parmalee’s. The groomers had been on it when I came down before, I arrived at the top  just as they opened it back up.  First tracks! These are the conditions for letting shaped skis do what they are made to do, and my Blizzard Magnum 7.6s live to be laid over on edge and allowed to carve their natural arc in fresh corduroy. They threw me from turn to turn; utter joy! Too soon, I was at the bottom, and Susan was waiting for me. Mission accomplished!

Even in heavy snow, Shawnee's lights made it easy to ski into the evening. (Susan Marean photo)

By now, it was starting to snow seriously. A couple more runs, and there was 3″ of powder near the summit. We rode up the Summit Triple with Connor, a 14-year old snowboarder from Massachusetts who had taken silver in his class at the Vertical Challenge that day; his father had taken bronze, and his sister gold! They have a home nearby so they can ski and ride more often. We were utterly jealous of their short commute. While we were headed for home before the roads turned into a skating rink, Connor was going to play in the powder for a few more hours, then come back in the morning to do it again.

Still, we’d had a ball. Shawnee’s ticket pricing makes an afternoon/evening escape like that possible. Instead of moping at home, we’d actually done something, AND had more fun than we’d dreamed possible when we left the house! Between the natural snow we’d been having and their own snowmaking, Shawnee had created excellent conditions despite the heavy traffic. And, even with the snow coming down hard, night visibility was good with their excellent light system.

Back home (a slow ride; we were glad we’d left when we did!), we relaxed over dinner and enjoyed the feeling of having beaten the “projects”; the kitchen looked great, and we still got our skiing in!

You can almost feel the cold wind blowing on this night at Shawnee Peak. (Nick Marcisso photo)

Shawnee Peak is known for its night skiing and is darned proud of it. With that said, however, the mountain has always been subject to the wrath of southern Maine weather or as I like to call it “smeather. ” (Yes, I made that up).

As everyone knows, we seem to go from frozen dead grass to 8 inches of snow, then to 8 inches of something the resembles snow but is more like white concrete. So as you can imagine Shawnee Peak has some of the most sporadic natural snow conditions around, which makes their grooming and snowmaking that much more important. Especially at night.

Take the recent night I was there. The wind was blowing incredibly hard. Some trails had nice powder and great conditions–in places. But other spots had  ice patches as big my car. Skiing that night became more like a game of minesweeper with you trying to guess as you headed down the trails where exactly that ice patch would be on this run. Hint: it usually wasn’t in the same place as last run.

Sometimes, you can't fight Mother Nature. the wind blew everyone (and some of the snow) off the slopes at Shawnee this night. (Nick Marcisso photo)

Conditions were windy, and when I say windy, I MEAN WINDY. Wind was so bad they shut down the summit triple. (This was the same day the wind had blown the cable off a tower at Sugarloaf, so I don’t entirely blame them.) Even at the top of the quad on the east side of the mountain, I was easily blown around by the wind. This  didn’t help the snow either as I actually saw patches of  powder disappear into the woods.

So conditions weren’t great that night. No ski area can control the weather. Regardless of the conditions that particular night, something has to be said about the community at Shawnee. I have never seen so many people perfectly happy to cram into one part of a medium-sized mountain  Spirits were high and people were having fun. Maybe they should change Shawnee’s name back to Pleasant Mountain. It certainly fits. Most of the time.

This was as close as it got to a lift line on this particular night, when the wind kept almost everyone in the lodge. (Nick Marcisso photo)

Whether intentionally or just because of its location and price, Shawnee attracts a younger crowd. Tons of events are held here,  from freestyle to racing, and companies love to come here and give away free swag to entice customers. If you’re looking for a quiet peaceful place to get away with your significant other or to get away from annoying kids like me, this is not the place to go, at least not at night on a school vacation week. I hear the mornings can be pretty quiet, though.

One thing I always remember when talking about Shawnee is to make sure people judge it on its own merit. This mountain is less than an hour away from the Portland  metro area. They play the cards that are dealt to them and play them very well. As always, I recommend this mountain to everyone looking for a winter night’s fun. Especially when the wind isn’t blowing that hard.

Of course Killington will be open for Thanksgiving . . .they've been open a couple of weeks now. (Tim Jones photo)

It’s been frustrating . . . as usual.  Mother Nature is teasing us with colder temps and snow flurries, but refuses to let real winter settle in and make us happy. So please, get out and do your sacrifices to Ullr and dances for snow or, at least,  cold weather so the resorts can make snow.

While Sunday River in Newry, Maine and Killington in Killington, Vermont have been open for awhile now (some people already have 10 or more days on snow this season!)  and even tiny Woodbury Ski Area in Hotchkissville, Connecticut managed to get open for five days last week,  other areas have been waiting for the magic words “extended cold spell” to fire up their snowmaking systems.

On Thursday morning, November 18, Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley, Maine started blowing snow.  They turned their first lift, the SuperQuad   Sunday, November 21. Read what the conditions were like on Opening Day here (the ES team skied Sunday River, too!). Bretton Woods in Bretton Woods, N.H., opened Monday, November 22.  Okemo Mountain Resort,  in Ludlow, Vermont opened Tuesday, November 23

Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln, N.H. is making snow and plans to open on Tuesday, November 23. Stowe Mountain Resort in Stowe, Vermont is blowing snow and will open on November 24, the day before Thanksgiving.and Stratton Mountain Resort (1-800-787-2886; ), in Stratton, Vermont are  also blowing snow and trying for a pre-T-Day opener.

The cannons began firing the first salvos of winter at Sugarloaf in Maine this past Thursday. The lifts will be turning by the time you read this, (

Sugarbush in Warren, Vermont and Mount Snow in Dover, Vermont, started blowing snow last week and plan to open on Thanksgiving Day.

Cannon Mountain in Franconia, N.H., Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway, N.H., Gore Mountain in North Creek, New York, Smugglers’ Notch in Jeffersonville, Vermont, Waterville Valley in Waterville Valley, N.H., and Whiteface near Lake Placid, New York are all blowing snow and all planned to open the day after Thanksgiving but the weather didn’t cooperate at all and at least some had to postpone until Saturday

Jay Peak in Jay, Vermont. is blowing snow on Stateside and has six inches of natural on the ground.  They are looking to open Saturday, November 27.

Attitash (603-374-2368; ) in Bartlett, N.H, and Jiminy Peak in Hancock, Mass haven’t actually fired their snowguns yet, but they are ready and are hoping to offer skiing for the Thanksgiving weekend. Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall, Connecticut had hoped to open for Thanksgiving, but temperatures just haven’t cooperated . . .

As always, at this time of year, call ahead or check the website before you leave the house. Mother Nature can still be cranky and shut things down in a heartbeat. But right now, there’s snow on the slopes. What are you waiting for?

Other Projected Openings (Weather Permitting, of course . . .) :

December 3:  Bromley Mountain in Peru, Vermont; Gunstock in Gilford, N.H..

December 4: Hunter Mountain in Hunter, New York, Pats Peak in Henniker, N.H.; Wildcat Mountain in Pinkham Notch, N.H.

December 10: Bolton Valley (1-877-9BOLTON,  ) in Bolton, Vermont; Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, Mass.

December 11: Burke Mountain in East Burke, Vermont, Dartmouth Skiway in Lyme Center, N.H.; Saddleback in Rangeley, Maine; Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, Maine

A Different Drummer . . .

To prepare this story, I contacted every ski resort in New England, New York and Quebec asking if they were blowing snow and when they planned on opening. The reply from Eric Friedman at Mad River Glen in Fayston, Vermont (which, of course, does not make snow or allow snowboarders on its slopes) is a classic:

“Ummm, we’re  not exactly ‘blowing snow,’ but it is spitting a bit here and there and the slopes are in fact white! We plan to open anytime Mother Nature allows from Thanksgiving weekend on. THINK SNOW!!!!”

Good advice!

Single Resort Passes

In Great Barrington, MA, tucked in the Berkshire Mountains is Ski Butternut Resort. This season, Ski Butternut entices college kids with $35 lift tickets on weekends and holidays ($25 savings over the regular price!) and $20 lift tickets Monday through Friday, which is $20 less than a regular ticket. Their $18 tubing sessions are only $10 for students, too. To take advantage of these sweet deals, fill out this coupon and bring it and your valid college ID to customer service to get your cheap thrills!

Catamount Ski Area on the border between South Egremont, MA and Hillsdale, NY is cheap and easy: bring your valid student ID and pay $229 for a full season of unrestricted skiing and riding.

Jiminy Peak Resort in Hancock, MA offers up two deals for two kinds of college students; full-time students pay $299 for an unlimited season pass or part-time students can get in on their twilight/midweek pass for only $229. The twilight pass is good anytime Monday-Friday and after 3 pm on weekends and holidays. You need to bring your class schedule showing 12 credits for full-time and 6 for part time and your school ID to get in on the fun.

Pat’s Peak Ski Area offers a unique service to Boston students. They are bussing students twice a day on Saturdays starting January 15 directly from Beantown to the resort in Henniker and back once the ski area closes. The bus ride plus a lift ticket to ski or ride from 8:30am to 4pm is only $59, so call (781) 849-0200 book in advance. Pat’s Peak also offers a standard no-ride-included unlimited college pass that goes for $319 before November 11 and $369 after with a letter from your registrar and valid photo ID.

Stowe offers two options for part- and full-time students. Full-time students (defined by Stowe as at least twelve credits) can get the Unrestricted Stowe 7-Day Plus Access pass before October 31 for $399 and part timers (at least six credits) pay $599.

Sugarbush Resort is flexible with their college plans: you can get an all mountain pass for $319 plus tax or a Mt. Ellen only option for $219. College students can also become reps for Sugarbush and sell passes on-campus. If you sell ten passes for them, you’ll get one for yourself free and a $15 commission on every pass over ten sold. Plus, if you buy a pass from your friendly campus Sugarbush rep, you’ll get a $10 gift card when you pick up your pass.

Smugglers’ Notch kindly gives poor college kids a break with their pass which includes 20% off at their sport and equipment shops and 50% off single and multi-day group lessons and equipment rentals. The pass itself is $319 before Halloween and $419 after for fulltime students that present their ID.

Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, ME offers something a little different; their $199 college pass is open to full-time, part-time, graduate, online and medical resident students. Shawnee opens December 11.

In Rangley ME, Saddleback Mountain offers a super-inexpensive $99 college pass for a full season. Opening day at Saddleback is December 11.

Wachusett has the UPass which is a little more work for a lot less money. The pass is $189 before October 11 and that gets you a season of any night of the week from 4pm-10pm and Monday through Friday 9am to 4pm. With the UPass you also get $10 off lift tickets if you feel the need to shred on weekend days and holidays. You do need to present your valid college photo ID when you buy.

Multi Resort Passes

In New Hampshire, three areas have teamed up to offer the College Breakout Season Pass. Ski and ride Wildcat Mountain, Gunstock Resort and Mount Sunapee with one pass! Wildcat opens December 18, Gunstock opens December 3 and Sunapee opens November 26. Before December 18, the three-for pass is only $259 for full time students with your valid ID and signed and sealed letter from the registrar.

Mount Sunapee went all-out this year. Not only are they contributing to the awesome College Breakout Season pass, they teamed up with Okemo and Stratton to offer the SOS (get it?) Pass. Full-time students up to age 29 pay $279 before October 11 and $315 after for an unlimited season pass to all three mountains.

The  Higher Ed pass is a four-in-one: for $299 (and a letter from the registrar) , that lets you ski and ride all season at Mount Snow in VT, Attitash and Crotched Mountain in NH, and Jack Frost/Big Boulder PA. Go right to the lifts at Attitash and Mount Snow; bring your pass to the ticket window at Crotched Mountain and Jack Frost/ Big Boulder. Each Higher Ed Pass comes with a subscription to either Freeskier or Snowboard magazine and two discounted $40 Bring A Friend lift tickets that are good Monday through Friday non-holidays at Mount Snow.

Jay Peak teamed up with Mad River Glen and Bolton Valley to offer the Triple Major pass, pay $289 before October 11 and $399 after to hit all three all season. You can also get a Jay Peak-only pass for $269 before October 11 or $329 after. Bring your original registration showing twelve credits and student ID with photo and you’re all set!

In New York, students up to age 22 can hit both Whiteface and Gore all season for $375 (price goes up to $475 after November 19, so get moving!)

Okay, put down your pencils and pick up your wallet. Class dismissed!

Attitash

Season passes, go to full price on October 11. For more information on all the deals go here.

Ski Butternut

Before December 1, buy a 2010-11 Season Pass for: $275 Adult, $225 Jr., $100 Kids, $500 Corporate.

Cranmore Mountain Resort

Cranmore’s Season Passes are $179 for Juniors ages 6-12, and Adult limited Happy Trails passes are $339 (with holiday blackout dates but valid weekends!) These prices are valid through November 30.

Gunstock Mountain

The $259 College pass for Gunstock, Wildcat and Sunapee, has no blackout dates.

These  passes are discounted through November 7: Prime Time Adults  $499; Prime Time Teen  $409; Prime Time Child and Prime Time Senior  $279;  Night $229; Mid-Week $299.

Jay Peak Resort

If you buy before October 11, you’ll get Jay’s best  Season Pass Deals. An Adult Unlimited pass is $629 ($1179 per couple), Seniors are $479 (55-69, $199 for the over-70 crowd). They also have a variety of kid and family-pass options.

The Triple Major (college pass with Jay Peak, Mad River Glen and Bolton Valley ) is $289 if purchased before November 8.

Jiminy Peak

October 15th cut off date for season pass and Value Card savings.  Find all the pass deals here

Loon Mountain Resort

Before Columbus Day Weekend (October 11) season passes valid at Loon Mountain,  Sunday River,  and  Sugarloaf  start at $410 for an adult Bronze Pass, $669 for an adult Silver Pass and $975 for an adult Gold Pass. College passes are also available for $339 through November 30.

Mad River Glen

The MAD CARD ($139 until December 15)  gets you 3 transferable day tickets good any time during the 2010-11 ski season, $5 off any additional full day lift ticket purchased throughout the season (Limit: 1 per Mad Card/Day), buy a Midweek Private Adult Clinic and Bring a Friend Free (not available during holiday periods).

The FAMILY MAD CARD ( $189 before October 15) gets kids ages 12 and under (as of 1/1/11) FREE  SEASON PASSES and all other Mad Card benefits. Go here or call 802-496-3551 for details.

Mount Snow

October 11 is the deadline to save $150 on all Mount Snow  passes
The Noreaster Pass includes Crotched Mountain, Attitash and Jack Frost/Big Boulder in PA for $1049, the Classic Pass (Mount Snow only with holiday blackout dates) is $699 and mid-week passes are $549.

The Higher Education season pass (College Pass) is only $299 and includes Mount Snow, Attitash, Crotched Mountain and  Jack Frost/Big Boulder.

Mount Sunapee Resort

Mount Sunapee has a variety of season pass options, all on sale until October 11.

The Ultrapass includes, Sunapee, Okemo, Stratton and Crested Butte  for $1555 for adults. The adult Peak Pass (Mount Sunapee and Okemo) is $959. There are a variety of cheaper midweek, kid and senior options.

The unlimited SOS College Pass (Sunapee – Okemo – Stratton) is $279.

Okemo Mountain Resort

Okemo has a variety of Season Passes are on sale until October 11 including:

The $1557 Ultra pass for Okemo, Stratton, Sunapee and Crested Butte CO, the $741 Value Pass Plus for Okemo, Stratton and Sunapee with blackout dates, and the $1240 Peak Pass for Okemo and Sunapee.

Sunday One-Day Season Pass $299 for adults ($359 after October 11). This direct-to-lift season pass has four blackout dates, but is valid all other Sundays throughout the season.

Frequent Skier Flex Card $99, plus tax (prior to November 15 and $119 afterward), save: 50 percent on weekday, non-holiday (Monday through Friday), single-day lift ticket rates; 25 percent on weekend and holiday single-day lift ticket rates; 50 percent on single-day lift ticket rates every day in November, and from March 21 through closing day in April. Fifty percent savings will also apply on select Sundays in January and March. Flex card benefits are available at  Mount Sunapee Resort, in N.H. (days, dates and discount values may vary)

Okemo’s 8-Pack and 12-Packs are on sale until November 16. The  8-Pack is a pre-purchase of eight unrestricted, single, full-day lift tickets for the price of seven. The 8-Pack is valid every day of the 20010/2011 season with no restrictions and it is transferable. It may be applied toward the purchase of one or two tickets per day. Pricing is: Adults $557; Young Adults/Seniors $487; Juniors/Super Seniors $375. The Okemo 12-Pack is 12 unrestricted, single, full-day lift tickets for the price of ten. : Adults $790; Young Adults/Seniors $690; Juniors/Super Seniors $530. As an added bonus, 8-Pack and 12-Pack holders can present their valid packs at the Crested Butte, Colo., lift ticket window to save 20% on multi-day lift ticket rates all season long.

Pats Peak

Saddleback is offering a 10-year season pass for $5,000 this season!

Other passes  on sale  include their popular Peak Pass for Honor Roll Students ($59 for Maine residents, $99 for others), Adult Season Pass:   $649,Locals Pass:  $549 . Military personnel and First Responders also get huge discounts on Saddleback passes. For complete information, go here.

Shawnee Peak Resort

Buy College Student Season passes at Shawnee Peak for  $199.

Stratton Mountain Resort

Early Booking Offer: Book any winter 2010-2011 lodging by October 30, 2010, and save 30 percent off midweek, 20 percent off weekends and 10 percent off holidays. Also enjoy special savings on lift tickets, snow school and rentals too. With price protection and a relaxed cancellation policy, it’s all the reward without the risk.

The X2 Card $69 ($79 after November 23) offers a free day of skiing or riding plus $30 off midweek (non-holiday), $20 off weekends (non-holiday), and $10 on holidays.

Sugarbush Resort

College and Graduate passes are discounted through November 1.

College Students and Recent Grads pay $319 for all-mountain passes, $219 for Mount Ellen.

Sugarloaf

Before Columbus Day Weekend (October 11) season passes  good at Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Loon Mountain start at $410 for an adult Bronze Pass, $669 for an adult Silver Pass and $975 for an adult Gold Pass. College passes are also available for $339 through November 30.

Wildcat Mountain

You can see all of Wildcat’s season pass deals here.

Climbing out of the "Trench of Terror" is just one of the ridiculous obstacles at Sunday River's Tough Mountain Challenge (Sunday River photo)

The feedback from the Wildman Biathlon story has made it clear that there’s a lot of interest in the category of stupid stuff to do to yourself.  Sunday River’s Tough Mountain Challenge is now in the history books (stay tuned for the full story).  But, for people who still  want to try something ridiculous, are there any options this fall?

The answer is…yes!  There are two events that we know of that fit the category of “what WERE we thinking???” races that we’re going to attempt.  First comes Stratton Mountain’s “North Face Run To The Summit” on October 10.  Part of their Columbus Day weekend celebration, it’s pretty straightforward.  Put on your shoes, run up to the top of southern Vermont’s highest peak, win the race.  Um…okay, walk most of it, and survive.  Sounds like fun, in a sick way!

Probably even sicker is the Shawnee Peak Challenge on October 23.  Running up Shawnee would be bad enough; it’s plenty steep.  But, instead, they’re making an obstacle course there that the organizers claim will be the “best one-day challenge on the East Coast.”  Uh, oh…so, which is tougher, the Shawnee event or Sunday River’s Tough Mountain Challenge?  Only time, and our abused bodies, will tell.  We’ll be registering for it shortly; stay tuned for our results!

The smiles of finishers at Stratton's "North Face Run To The Summit" belie the pain you KNOW they felt running up a big mountain! (Stratton photo)

But, that’s not all.  While OUR bodies can’t handle any more, there are upcoming events in 2011 for other brave souls.  Here’s what we’ve been warned about at press time; come back again, as we’ll add events as the PR people notify us!

Probably the biggest news for idiot race junkies is the Winterwild series, January-March 2011.  Four races, three mountains (Whaleback, Sunapee, and Ragged) , lots of chances for self abuse.  Go up the mountain, come back down…this series tests your ability to climb AND ski.  Check it out at Winterwild’s website.  For some, the best part is that the races sometimes happen before the lifts open…can you say “first tracks”?  Unusual, though, to have your first tracks going UP the mountain!

Before we can test ourselves on the other crazy races, we have to survive the net run over Barker Pond! (Sunday River photo)

At the opposite end of the day is Sugarloaf’s “Moonlight Climb”. This is a randonee event (backcountry) where you either race on skis or snowshoes; the short course is a 1 mile climb, the long course is 5 miles and climbs 2500 vertical feet (don’t worry, there’s some downhill as part of it!).  At night.  Date for 2011 to be confirmed once they figure out when the moon is full.  That can be a big advantage to some of the racers; this is crazy enough that some of them may grow fangs and a lot of hair for the full moon, helping to keep them warm.

Clearly, there’s a lot of insane people out there who are perfectly happy to pay to inflict pain on themselves…and we thought it was just us!  Hope to see you at the races; if you recognize us, say hello!

The whole group together, but not for long; Barley the dog is already out of sight! (David Shedd photo)

Now, when you get a group of teenagers to agree on something, the key is to strike while the iron is hot…and promise them food.  A quick wander through the Delorme Gazeteer for Maine found a whole bunch of trails, with an interesting looking loop trail going up Pleasant Mountain, right behind the Shawnee Peak ski area.  That promised some great views, as there are both mountains and lakes all over that area, and it’s not too long a drive from our house, perfect for a day trip.  A quick search online found a variety of information about the trails; in particular, Backpacker Magazine’s site had some excellent trail information and maps (if you hike in Maine a lot, it’s also worth having the AMC’s Maine Mountain Guide; they have books for other areas, as well) .  Armed with that information, we headed for…no, not the trails, the grocery store!  Sandwiches, chips, fruit, pepperoni sticks, and more filled up several bags.  It’s hard to overestimate how much three teenagers can eat after an hour or so of hiking up a mountain! 

GoLite's "ComPACKtor" system allowed the Jam to change from weekend pack to daypack...and let ME have a hydration system! (Susan Marean photo)

At the trailhead, we loaded up the packs.  The addition of Ryan had stumped me for a few minutes, as we were short a hydration pack, and on a hot day regular hydration is important not only to performance but to enjoyment. However, a GoLite Jam had recently arrived for testing, and one of its claims to fame is that it can be shrunk from its 3050 cubic inch size to daypack size.  This seemed a perfect time to test that out, particularly since there was a lot of food to be carried. It worked perfectly, feeling small and solid on my back without flopping around. 

At the trailhead, we took a few minutes to make sure everyone’s hydration system was working correctly, that trekking poles were set to the right lengths. Then, we were off, with Barley the dog leading the way. 

And lead he did, at speed.  Matt and Ryan decided to try to stick with him, flying up the trail with the typical speed of teenagers.  Susan, Daniel, and I decided that with over 5 miles of walking and a lot of climbing involved, it was smarter to take it a little easier.  Besides, we didn’t want to get to the summit TOO early…being there at lunchtime was the goal! 

Up the Ledges Trail we went, stopping along the way to take in the view at each overlook.  It’s a steady climb over a well-maintained trail, and a great chance for Dan to learn to use his birthday trekking poles before he got into really difficult terrain (more on that to come!). 

The effect of a massive Quebec forest fire blocked the expected sweeping mountain views (David Shedd photo)

About an hour and a half of steady climbing, and we reached the summit.  The views are spectacular…but on this day, with smoke pouring into New England from a forest fire 300 miles away in Quebec, it was difficult seeing the nearby mountains, much less the White Mountains that normally are easily seen in the distance.  It was a sobering reminder of the importance of paying careful attention to any source of flame; late May is typically a very dry season, and a campfire, cigarette, or carelessly thrown match can have huge consequences. 

A perfect day for a mountaintop picnic! (David Shedd photo)

We were at no risk of causing fires; on a hot day, a cold lunch (or, in Barley’s case, cold water) was much more appealing than lighting anything!  We spread out across an area of rock, enjoying food, conversation, or just staring off into space.  Typically, getting teenagers to sit still for 5 minutes is a chore, but a leisurely hour later, nobody seemed to be in a hurry to leave, not even Barley (who was all too aware of the bounty of food spread out on the rocks in front of him, and hoped to scrounge some).  Still, there were several miles to go, so we packed back up and headed down the Bald Peak trail to complete our loop. 

The first mile or so was great, but then the trail turned steep, and things got exciting.  The Bald Peak trail is VERY steep, and in May, before it gets heavy summer use, still has lots of nice, slippery dry leaves on it from last fall.  It became a very slow, careful trip down, and we were all thankful that we’d brought our trekking poles.  Putting the tips down ahead of us gave us stability that saved us from several slips and falls. 

Since hindsight is 20/20, I can tell you that it would be much better to climb  UP Bald Peak Trail, and DOWN Ledges Trail; it’s safer to climb really steep sections than descend them. 

Near the bottom, a beautiful brook ran through rocks along the side of the trail.  Matt had used up all of his water, so a quick stop to fill up was in order.  I was carrying my SteriPEN Adventurer Opti, a wonderful way to make sure you’re getting safe water in a few seconds; shortly after, he and Ryan were drinking fresh, cold water.  Carrying some sort of water filter/purification system is a good idea, even if you don’t expect to use it; if you run out of water, you don’t have to be thirsty and miserable the rest of the trip.  For the roughly 4 ounces the SteriPEN weighs, it’s easy insurance to carry. 

By the time we got back to the road, everyone was happy to take an easy walk along pavement back to the cars, then pile in and head for the nearest ice cream.  Nothing like a good hike to make you enjoy something cold like that…and it’s nice to know that you’ve burned the calories off before you eat it!  Back at home, I suggested more hikes, perhaps overnight, and got enthusiastic responses from all three boys.  Now, to make sure I have big enough backpacks that they can carry all of MY stuff… 

Gear Notes: 

David:  Gabel Mont Blanc Lite external lock trekking poles.  Relatively inexpensive, light, nicely balanced.  Require a certain amount of fiddling with the mechanisms to keep tight, and are a little noisy.  Good value pole. 

Susan:  Osprey Raptor 14 hydration pack.  Designed specifically for mountain biking, but works great for general hiking as well.  continues to impress us by the way it “disappears” on our backs; there’s never a feeling of the water sloshing around.

Thanks to the New England ski industry and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire, Brendan got his wish . . . (Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire photo)

If you are reading this, you are probably wishing for more snow. Be patient, it’s coming.

But if you are really into seeing wishes come true, check out the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions. The stated goal of Make-A-Wish is “to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.” Most of these kids need all the joy, strength and hope they can get to help them though unimaginable times.

The ties between the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the New England ski industry are deep and profound. Did you know, for example, that every current  “Wisher”

So did Rosie . . . (Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire photo)

from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts receives a VIP pass which entitles them and an accompanying adult to a full day on the slopes with lift tickets, rental equipment and lessons at one of 32 different resorts across New England. That’s offered with the cooperation of Ski NH, Ski Vermont, Ski Maine, and the New England Ski Areas Council.

Ski NH adopted the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire as its official charity four seasons ago. They donate $5 from every $20 Ski NH Fifth Grade Snowsports Passport directly to Make-A-Wish.  On November 19, 2009 at the Ski NH Boston Media reception, Ski NH presented the Make-A-Wish

And "wisher," Michael (Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire photo)

Foundation of New Hampshire with a check for more than $10,000 from the winter 2008-09 passport sales.  Over the past three seasons, Ski NH and families of fifth graders have donated more than $20,000 in total. That kind of money makes a lot of wishes come true—and some of those wishes are for time on the slopes.

Here’s a list of the participating ski resorts. Wish them a prosperous New Year the next time you visit:

Massachusetts : Ski Blandford ,
Ski Butternut, Catamount, Jiminy Peak, Nashoba Valley, Wachusett.

Maine : Black Mountain of Maine, Lost Valley, Mt. Abram, Saddleback, Shawnee Peak.
New Hampshire: Attitash, The Balsams, Black Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Cranmore Mountain Resort, Crotched Mountain, Dartmouth Skiway, Gunstock Mountain Resort, King Pine, Loon Mountain, Mount Sunapee, Pats Peak, Ragged Mountain, Waterville Valley, Wildcat Mountain.

Vermont: Bolton Valley, Burke Mountain, Jay Peak, Magic Mountain, Mount Snow, Okemo.

The view as you drive to Shawnee gets the juices flowing!

There’s an old saying “familiarity breeds contempt.”  In this case, familiarity breeds forgetfulness.  Shawnee Peak is a mountain that sits in the middle of a number of populated areas…yet if you talk to skiers from around the area, many of them say “oh, I’ve never skied there,” or “gee, I haven’t been there for years!

That leads to an atmosphere that is…relaxed.  I skied Shawnee (for the first time in a decade!), and had roughly the same conversation with three different people from Massachusetts three different times up the lift.  It basically went “you know, it’s easy to get to, there’s lots to do around the area, and it’s NEVER busy!”  I can vouch for that…I went on a gorgeous Sunday, and never waited more than 2 minutes in a lift line.  Other friends were at bigger name mountains…and they all faced huge crowds.

Great terrain, great snow, great fun!

So…why is Shawnee so forgotten?  Well…they don’t advertise a lot, they aren’t at a destination, and it’s not a “big” mountain.  Now, here’s the good news…the skiing was great!  Conditions and grooming were excellent, particularly considering that we’d had rain and then a hard freeze the evening before.  As for the trails…I was pleasantly surprised.  There’s over 40 trails, and a good range of steeps, bumps, twisties, and wide groomers.  No, you don’t have 3000 feet of vertical…but you get onto a chair at the main lodge, and it deposits you at the top, allowing you to take full advantage of the vertical without a lot of work to get there.  With 98% snowmaking, more of the terrain is open than on many larger mountains, so you get the best use of the trails that are there.  I had a blast, and wasn’t bored in the slightest.

For people who are crazier than I am...

Now, when you take a mountain that’s been around forever (the longest operating area in Maine), with modest services and little money spent on advertising, and the result you get is low operating costs.  Low operating costs=low ticket prices!  Shawnee’s highest ticket price is $52 for weekends…WAY below most mountains.  And, it’s almost impossible to NOT find a discount deal.  For instance, Sunday afternoons are $25.   How about night skiing (19 trails, well lit, a total blast) during the week for $23 (and only $25 on Saturday)?  Maybe you’ve got something to do during the day on Saturday…well, show up for a $55 pass that allows you to ski from 4-10 Saturday AND 8:30-4:30 on Sunday!  There are discounts on other days, as well…go to www.shawneepeak.com for the details!  Put in your information on what you’re looking for, and they’ll email you back with the best deal.   Heck, even the food in the cafeteria is below the usual price at ski areas.

For a fun/dollar ratio at a ski area that’s easy to reach, is within range of shopping areas like Portland and North Conway, doesn’t make you wait forever in lift lines,  and has some great trails, Shawnee Peak is hard to beat.  Enjoy it while it’s still “the forgotten mountain”!