Wildcat Mountain: Sunsets & Scarlet Begonias

It was a pretty sunset over the White Mountains Friday evening and I wanted to share a few images that I took on my way out of the lodge. Big orientation session beginning this Saturday morning for many returning and welcomed new Wildcat Mountain employees who are as anxious as you are to get the season underway. We're still looking at Friday, November 27th as our planned opening date and just hope that temperatures and snowmaking operations will cooperate sometime between now and then.

Hey, we're really excited to be sponsoring a couple of "boutique" radio shows on 93.5fm WMWV and if you're in the Mt. Washington Valley or surrounding Lakes Region area this Saturday night, be sure to check out Scarlet Begonias from 10pm - Midnight. You can click the play button below and here what host Dennis Quinn has scheduled this week (email readers click Wildcat Mountain Litter Blog to view player in post). And of course, we're once again sponsoring the Blues Summit with host Roy Prescott heard Wednesday evenings from 6 - 9pm.



Don't forget we'll be at the Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo next week from Thursday, November 19th - Sunday, November 22nd and we hope you'll stop by if you're planning to attend the show. For more info on what we're up to there, check out our previous Wheeling & Dealing blog post. Until then, pray for snow!

Wildcat Mountain: Wheeling & Dealing Between Now & Opening Day

Well hello there,

Yes, we've been kind of quiet here for a spell in between our summer and winter operating seasons. Like you, we can't wait for the skiing and riding season to begin and are praying for snow and consistent cold temps.

But with today really feeling a bit like winter and there being a tiny hint of "white" on our trails as you can see above, it is time to give you a shout and tell you what's going on between now and our scheduled opening date of Friday, November 27th.

If you don't know, Wildcat Mountain has lowered the price on the long-running student Cool Cat season pass program available to every New England school group to be less than the cost of 2 teen day lift tickets. More information is available on our Cool Cat web page. Orders collectively submitted after November 1st and received no later than December 1st will not be able to ski or ride until December 15th, but this is a deal that parents of children should not let their grade, junior, and high schools miss out on.

Also on sale now and available until the deadline of December 20th, the Wildcard offers great value for adults and can be considered a mini-season pass offering 3 days of skiing or riding for the low price of $130. Combined with Wildcat Mountain's continued next day ticket upgrade offer of only $39, the Wildcard can be a great way to ski & ride for just a little over $40 a day this season. Wildcards are non-transferable, but can be purchased as a gift and multiples of 3, 6, & 9 days are available. Visit our Wild Deals page for more info and to purchase today or come see us when we're out and about and ask us about the limited Wildcard bonus offer at the Seacoast Ski Club Ski Swap at Putnam's Ski & Snowboard in Portsmouth (Saturday, November 7th), the New Hampshire Ski Club Ski Mountain Extravaganza at The Yard Restaurant in Manchester (Wednesday, November 11th), or the king of ski shows, The Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo (Thursday, November 19th - Sunday, November 22nd). Read on for more on that limited Wildcard bonus offer.

Anticipation for another winter season builds and from all over New England skiers and riders will converge at the Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo to see or buy the latest gear, plan ski vacations, find lift ticket deals, collect bags of free swag and stickers, and to hear what’s new at all the Eastern, Western, Canadian, and European resorts in attendance. Wildcat Mountain will again be attending and located in booths 18 & 19 among other Mount Washington Valley & New Hampshire resorts. The show begins at 4pm Thursday, November 19th and runs until 6pm Sunday, November 22nd and the schedule can be viewed online at bewisports.com. Wildcat Mountain will invite attendees to become part of the legend with a mix of discount offerings including its classic “two-fer” that offers two lift tickets for the price of one ($65) every Wednesday during non-holiday periods and also the Sunday Afternoon Cruise where late-risers can ski or ride on the afternoon lift ticket for only $25. Also back again, but at a new lower price, during non-holiday periods are “Aristocat Tuesdays” for skiers age 50+ and “Ladies Thursdays” with both programs offering a lift ticket, lesson, and lunch for only $45. A highlighted value that keeps pricing low on multi-day tickets, Wildcat Mountain continues to offer the flexibility of upgrading your next day ticket for only $39…every day, any age.

With other limited Boston Ski Show ticket discount coupons, many will be happy to know that a special offer will again accompany Wildcard sales while show supplies last. On sale now and available until the deadline of December 20th, the Wildcard offers great value already, but If purchased at the Boston Ski Show, persons will receive one additional day of skiing and riding valid Sunday - Friday during non-holiday periods while supplies last. This offer will sell out and is only available at the Boston Ski Show. Wildcat Mountain will also be able to demonstrate via wi-fi how you can purchase discount lift tickets through Liftopia.com and buy consecutive, multi-day tickets at a 10% savings off the normal rate through the Wildcat Mountain website. There will also be a “Brew-ski” & stay package provided by the Eagle Mountain House located in Jackson raffled off to one lucky winner attending the show.

That's it for now and we hope to see some significant snowfall and maybe you at a ski show soon. It's getting frosty on that big rock pile across the street.

Wildcat Mountain: Working & Wildcard

Chairs for the Tomcat Triple line up for service. (all photos by Tom Caughey)

Thank you for another great summer/fall season at Wildcat Mountain. Though we officially closed the scenic gondola & ZipRider on Sunday, October 18th, there has been little rest here as we gear up for the 2009/2010 skiing/riding season to begin in late November. At this time, our intended opening date is the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 27th. So off come the gondola cabins and on go the 4-person chairs as well as maintaining, tuning up, and inspecting other lifts & chairs. With that in mind, be aware that our limited Wildcard mini-season pass product is now on sale. 3 days of skiing/riding for the price of 2. Combined with our next day $39 ticket upgrade, the Wildcard offers unparalleled vertical value.

A blanket of clouds covers the ridge line above the bowl.

Hoisting quad chairs on to the Wildcat Express.

I see a pair of wings, what do you see?

Clouds that appear as brush strokes.

The old gondola base building has seen quite a bit of refurbishing this summer & fall including structural improvements and siding replacing the old wall of glass.


Amazing palette of colors at sunset seen from Jackson.

First Accumulation

Six inches of new snow accumulated at the summit. still lots of chores to do onthe Mt before ski season. Gondola scheduled to operate till 10 18 2009 call ahead.

October 10th colorful and Breezey

The view from the lift just below the clouds on Saturday october 10th looking north to Great Glen Trails and the base Of the Mt. WashingtonAuto road the route to the NH State park on the summit.

Working inthe clouds today our chair lift crew has replaces the main shaft bearings of the Tomcat chair lift then reset it and put the cable back in place while in heavy fog. Buck form Cross Machine of Berlin, Rigger Bob Langlands of Shelburn NH, Lift Ops Director John Ginter and mechanic John White of Wildcat with Trails manager and equipment operator Rick Flynn spent a cold day in the clouds and drizzel to finish the two week long project. The excavator is a Cat 320C owned by A Eastman and son of Bartlett NH it was able to easily lift the 3 1/2 ton wheel.

Friday on the Drive in to work I stopped by the flagpole at AMC Joe Dodge lodge to snap a shot of the snow with the colors of foliage so bright. The day before I drove under 8 rainbows that blended into the foliage like a magical image shown in the first picture. Going to be a cold one tonight may be white again on Sunday

This bull was one of 4 moose in the bog at the base of Wildcat Mt on thursday night about 5:45 PM. There was a bull 2 cows and a calf.

Gondola and zip rides open untill October 18th.

(Photos by Tom Caughey General Manager Wildcat Mountain Ski Area Pinkham Notch NH)