Support Whaleback Ski Area Fundraising and Mountain Update

We strongly support the efforts of many locals to keep non profit local ski areas up and operating. One such notable effort comes from the folks at Whaleback Ski Area in New Hampshire.

They work tirelessly to keep the area open, improve the quality of the experience and accessible to many locals. Below is a recent update on the efforts. Please support them and others like them. 

This week was a busy one to say the least. Significant progress is being made on the two major capital projects occurring this year:

• The concrete for the T-Bar's base terminal and towers 1 and 2 was poured on Friday. Next week the remainder of the towers will be poured followed by the top terminal last. It is amazing to see serious progress being made on what we believe will be a transformative addition to the mountain.

• The crew is making great strides rebuilding our snow making pump house as you can see from the above picture. We will be ready when our Variable Speed Drive is delivered in September. More water on the hill pumped more efficiently = more snow.

Fundraising update - we have a great opportunity to garner an additional $50,000 with a match. In other words, if we raise $50,000 from the community, it will be matched with an additional $50,000. To make it even more fun, anyone who has given or gives $100 or more will be eligible for a random drawing to receive a $200 Gift Certificate to Golf and Ski Warehouse! Make your gift today—you make a difference!

This is an amazing opportunity for Whaleback to gain much needed capital for off-season repairs and to continue preparing for winter. We have capital intensive modifications to the summit chair towers ahead of us in order to meet new Tramway Board laws and regulations that were enacted this year.

Please visit https://whaleback.com/donation to make your gift today and help us reach our challenge goal! Checks can also be sent to UVSSF: 160 Whaleback Mountain Road, Enfield, NH 03748.

New England Fall Cyclng Tour with Timberline Adventures

Our adventure tour partner Timberline Adventures just announced a new fall cycling tour in New England with the option to pick any day(s) or part of the tours. 

2018 Cycling: New England Rambler

September 8 - 27

From the covered bridges of Vermont to the lobster laden waters of the Maine coast, this tour will ramble through some of the oldest established villages of the country for a gorgeous extended cycling trip. On this brand new tour we will meander through the Green Mountains of Vermont, visit Lake Placid - site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics in the heart of the Adirondacks, cross the beautiful Lake Champlain, kiss the Canadian border of French Quebec, revel in the peaks and notches of New Hampshire's White Mountains, enjoy a layover day in Wolfeboro on Lake Winnipesaukee, and follow the twisty Maine coastline to out of the way light houses and local fishing villages.  Every day we'll be treated to wonderful cycling, great food, unique experiences, and the warmth of New England hospitality.

This tour can be booked for its entire 20 days or choose just one half for your New England Experience.

View all tours. 

Pats Peak Ski Area Lift Ticket Discounts, free lift ticket and mountain improvements

Pats Peak Ski area in Henniker New Hampshire will once again extend discounted lift tickets for premium mountain sports club members this coming 2017.18 winter ski and snowboard season. Daily discounts range from $50 off daily to $10 off the day lift ticket. The Premium plus membership which allows the member to select a free day or 2 of skiing/riding at select resorts is now available with the Free Pats Peak ticket option while supplies last. Join now and select a lift ticket or 2 for the coming season.

Ownership continues to invest in Pats Peak ski area as the following are improvements and upgrades for the coming season.

Here's a list of what you can look forward to this upcoming season:

--New Peak Triple Chair
The ole Peak Double Chair was a good one. But with the new triple chair lift Pats Peak will be doubling the capacity of the lift from 800 to 1,600 people per hour! Also, they will be deploying some newer technology at the bottom of the lift with a conveyor carpet system that will make loading easier and faster, cutting down on the ride time to the summit.

-Additional Energy-Efficient Snowmaking Fan Guns
As a big fan of powder and this year is no exception! Improvements to provide early season skiing/riding continues to be at the forefront of our upgrades with another $250,000 investment into our already impressive 100% state-of-the-art snowmaking coverage system. This year’s investment is the addition of six (6) Fan Guns from Snow Machines Inc. We were the first ski area in New Hampshire to offer snowmaking and continue today to be a ski industry leader. With our new snow guns, we will be able to open more terrain even faster and sustain it longer, even through stretches with marginal winter temperatures!

--More Lodge Space
We are midway through our lodge expansion and renovation. When it is complete, it will add more seating, an elevator and new bathrooms along with expanded locker service. This year’s expansion work will be done on the middle A-frame of the lodge and by adding more seating on the cafeteria level.

-More Rental Equipment in the Rental Shop
Every season we add to the Starting Gate Rental Shop's already impressive rental fleet. This season renters will find new Elan skis, boots and poles along with new Burton snowboard boots. The 9,600 square foot Starting Gate Rental Shop is Northern New England’s largest rental shop. The Rental Shop will continue to provide fast service to renters with its self-service check-in service, where renter information is stored to make each rental process quicker. This allows skiers and riders out on the slopes even faster.

-New Deck Heaters
Brand new deck heaters will take the edge off of that chill while skiers and riders are relaxing on the deck. These are state-of-the-art and incredibly efficient. They'll be placed throughout the third floor deck nearest the Sled Pub.

-Renovated Behind the Scenes Infrastructure
When a ski area turns 50 so does a lot of its "behind the scenes" stuff that delivers great experiences year in and year out. With these new, behind the scenes updates, guests will a notice much smoother process in the day-to-day operations.

"The Other Season of Pats Peak"

Pats Peak is New Hampshire’s Premier Banquet Center accommodating up to 200 guests for any type of event. From weddings, company meetings, class reunions, anniversary parties and more.

The Pats Peak staff provides personalized service and will take care of your every desire. Facility amenities include beautiful stone fireplaces, air-conditioning and panoramic views of the mountain. Pats Peak is a one-stop Banquet Center.

Fall Tours - Great Smoky Mountains, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley and Grand Canyon

Spotlight on Fall Adventures with Timberline Adventures 

Fall is on the way and here are several spotlight tours from our adventure tour partner. These feature the national parks we so love.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park hiking tour- In so many ways, Great Smoky Mountain National Park is dedicated to hiking and we are challenged by the park’s 850 miles of trails to select those that will provide our hikers with a varied experience and a true sense of those features for which the park is famous. When one considers the park’s proximity to so many major population centers of the eastern U.S., it’s difficult to form an image of wilderness, but under the protection and guidance of the National Park Service, wilderness survives in Great Smoky.

Yosemite National Park Hiking tour- John Muir, America’s greatest environmentalist, devoted much of his adult life battling for the preservation and protection of our greatest natural icons.  He was instrumental in the establishment of several of our national parks and a moving force in the creation of the National Park Service.  He spent the final years of his life locked in a losing fight to save Yosemite’s magnificent Hetch Hetchy Valley from obliteration by the construction of a dam and reservoir in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River intended to serve San Francisco’s need for water and power.

Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park Multisport Adventure Tour - Deep canyons, the startling hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park and the rock temples of Zion National Park, the breathtaking array of color, the variety of vegetation, the high alpine setting of the Dixie National Forest — all contribute to the excitement of the Bryce Canyon/Zion biking and hiking tour. 

New Tours - Death Valley National Park with Grand Canyon option. Death Valley National Park has an instantaneous emotional impact on everyone who sees it. That initial view from Zabriskie Point across the vastness of the valley floor to the distant Panamint Peaks rising from the valley clad in an unmistakable mantle of snow is unlike anything that you have ever experienced in a hiking trip.

For the coming winter a new tour as well, the Rocky Mountain National Park winter snowshoe tour, snowshoes included. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of America’s most popular National Parks, but in the winter time there is a completely different feel. With far fewer visitors and more active wildlife you can get immersed in a truly wilderness experience. The majestic high peaks are engulfed in snow, the trees sparkle in the sunlight and sounds of animals echo off the distant cliffs as you enjoy a leisurely walk up the valleys and around the frozen lakes.

Free Bike Rental with all cycling tours. Save up to $200. Call for more details and to book your tour - 303.664.8388. View full tour schedule.

Free Lift Tickets with Premium Plus Back for winter 2017.18

The calendar reads August which means as the days grow shorter thoughts of winter ski and snowboard outings are now become more and more frequent. The Mountain Sports Club is pleased to offer the Premium Plus membership again for the coming 2017.18 winter season. This membership allows the member to add one or several lift tickets to the premium membership. This exceptional value includes lift tickets valid any day of the season and is a clear choice for the value conscious skiers/snowboarders.

Initial resort participants announced for the coming winter season include:

Shawnee Mountain in the Pennsylvania Pocono mountains 2017.18 ski and snowboard season discounts for lift tickets have been announced and are now available for premium members. Discount coupons include 2 for 1 discount savings coupons, a savings up to $55 daily valid midweek. On weekends Save $10 daily. Premium Plus options are select one free any day Shawnee Mountain lift ticket with premium plus membership now available for only $40($65 value), or 2 any day lift tickets with premium membership for $60($130 value) while supplies last and enjoy the discounts all season.

Swain Resort in New York provides savings once again on lift tickets for the Mountain Sports Club premium members with an array of great discounts on lift tickets for the 2017.18 ski and
snowboard season. We are pleased to announce Swain Resort as a returning resort partner, offering 2 for 1 all day lift tickets midweek/non holidays(a $49 daily value and savings) and $10 off non holiday weekends The unrestricted Free lift ticket with premium plus membership is now only $35, or 2 Swain lift tickets for $60 and a 4 pack of lift tickets for only $100 includes the premium membership. Join now and save all winter. Members save up to $45 daily with 2 for 1 coupons.

Pats Peak Ski Area in Southern New Hampshire. Pats Peak lift ticket discounts for Mountain Sports Club members will once again be valid for savings and discounts all season. Discount lift ticket coupons for Pats Peak are now available for the 2017.18 ski and snowboard season. Save from $5 to $10 daily on lift tickets at Pats Peak. Pats Peak discount coupons are good every day during the 2017.18 ski and snowboard season even weekends, nights and holidays. 

Now register for a Premium Plus membership and add a Free Any day Lift ticket at Pats Peak, only $39, for the coming winter(up to a $68 value), or 2 Any day Lift Tickets($136 value) for only $60. 

More and more resort offers are being added weekly. Book mark the lift ticket discount page to view all current offers.

Keystone - Book Bluegrass & Beer and Get a Free Beer Bomber! This weekend, Book now and save!!

Book Bluegrass & Beer and Get a Free Beer Bomber!

One of Keystone's most popular festivals, the Bluegrass and Beer Festival, is back in Keystone on August 5 & 6. Enjoy a weekend of beer sampling from over 40 breweries and live music across 3 unique stages.  Great mountain weather and beautiful scenery top off this awesome Keystone festival.  Plus, if you book one of our packages, we'll throw in a free bomber of beer at check-in, compliments of Bruz Beer from Denver! Mountain Sports Club members:  Take 25% off select properties (not all properties participating) when you use this code: Bluegrass2017 with Summit Cove