King Pine Blog - It All Starts Here!

$aving!

2008-09-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

The current trend we're noticing in the current economy is that people are downsizing, not eliminating extras but trimming their budgets... for instance- instead of going to Starbucks for their morning java, they're heading to Dunkin Donuts.

When thinking winter sports, do you think about the $60 to $75 you'll spend per-day just for lift tickets at a big mountain and wonder how you can trim those costs?

King Pine is positioned for those people who are looking to have a wonderful winter experience with their families, without leaving a big dent in their wallets...

King Pine has so many activities to enjoy that we're often checking to see if there's anyone in this region who can truly offer more... and better yet, most activities can be accessed through the alpine ticket you can purchase this season for only $42!

On that one ticket, you can ski or ride King Pine, ice skate in our Zamboni groomed, covered Tohko Dome, and access our XC ski and snowshoe trails. Rentals are an additional cost but ALL of these activities are included for $42! Personally, I'd love to challenge anyone to find a better deal.

Save even more by bringing a group! For $17, a junior can ski all day, midweek. King Pine has created some new, interesting programs this year for groups like a Winter Carnival (a midweek trip for parties over $100), discounted tubing slots, and affordable overnights in a rustic, lodge setting.

Save EVEN MORE money on lift tickets by staying with us at Purity Spring Resort. Purity offers a variety of lodging options from condos and inn rooms to rustic lodges and slope-side accommodations. Midweek, your alpine tickets are free and Purity offers different activities each week night like sleigh rides and tubing, COMPLIMENTARY!

Until Next Time,

Fun in the rain at Purity Spring Resort- here are a few ideas.

2008-08-19T06:09:00.000-07:00

Year after year guests visit Purity Spring Resort. Some years the weather is beautiful and some years, like this one, it's pretty damp. But that shouldn't stop guests from having a good time, there's plenty to do- even in the rain provided there's no lightning or high winds. Common sense is always key in any weather event.

Hiking in the woods can be particularly beautiful on a rainy day. Gear up with some rain wear, even if it's just a rain coat, it's warm enough that getting wet won't cause any great discomfort, and step into the woods. The rain drops glisten off of each leaf and pine needle making the woods sparkle on the cloudiest of days. It feels good to get outside, moving around and enjoying the sights, sounds and scents of a rainy day in the woods. Pretty soon you'll be enjoying the rythmic sounds of the rain falling on the leaves overhead and you'll be happy you ventured out. Spend some time in our Audubon Sanctuary and discover frogs and toads, see what our resident wildlife is up to (they don't stop because it's raining) or just hike some trails for exercise. It's a great way to lift your spirits when you need it.

Swimming can be allot of fun on a rainy day. Especially on a morning like today. Yesterday was in the 90's and the night was pretty warm too. This morning we awoke to some showers but the water is still warm from yesterday's heat... warmer in fact than the air. With inflatables like our iceberg, jumping into warm water on a rainy day can be particularly fun. This is the stuff memories are made of- making fun out of a seemingly washed out day.

Fishing and boating are great rainy day activities. Our resident loons are still here and they're beautiful. Kayak out to the northern end of the lake and find them fishing or teaching their baby to fly. It's an amazing sight... loons need a long runway for take off to begin with, and the baby needs even more. You don't see mother nature like this every day. Or, throw a worm on your hook and try your hand at catching fish on Lake Purity. Our pickerel are particularly feisty and ready to fight. The excitement of having a "fish on" will certainly make you forget about the rain.

These are just a few things you can do here at Purity Spring Resort and around our beautiful valley even during the rainiest days. Just remember- you won't melt! So get out there and enjoy some smiles.

Baby Loon

2008-07-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

For over 2o years loons have been documented nesting on Lake Purity. I love going through the historical records of Purity Spring Resort and hope someday to find records dating back further, we shall see. Some years the pair are successful in breeding, and sometimes, not. This year she laid a clutch of 2 and one hatched. The picture to the right, taken by our brilliant marketing director- is the newborn chick, the day we learned of its birth, on the back of its parent. As you can see the chick is healthy and probably yelling at its mom for its next meal. To tell you the truth, I can't tell mom and dad apart... I can when they are side by side but that's not too often. Anyhow, that particular day I was fiddling with our new camera, trying to get video for our new website and was able to spend some very intimate moments with this special, brand new family. They are so amazing to watch... their spectacular beauty is mesmerizing in itself, but their actions as a new family are so sweet and at one point, I was in my kayak not even 2 feet from dad who was checking me out. Mom is swimming the baby around and because she lets everyone get so close it seems like she's showing the new fluff-ball off. The chick moves around allot... from its mother's back to the water, hops on her back again, snuggles into mom's wing for a little nap, then back to the water. What patience a parent must need for that! Being a jungle gym for junior's every whim for three-weeks can't be easy. But they do it with such grace. Both parents are there for feeding time. Most of the time one parent stayed with the chick but I did see a time when they were both diving and the little one was like a furry, black ping pong ball dipping up and down like a row boat in a hurricane even with the smallest movements of the water. So cute... and vulnerable I think to myself... but I keep watching and realize, they can see what's going on underwater if they're down there. I watch, and learn that when the chick is in the water, its parents have their entire heads under water all the time scanning for danger. Perhaps they learned their lesson from last year when (what we think was) a snapping turtle took one of their 2 chicks. But they're taking such good care of this chick and have since moved it to a quieter spot on the lake away from the busiest beaches of the resort.

Reconnecting with nature is such a special part of this place. Kids come here from the city and suburbs and learn that there is so much in their world they know nothing about. They get such a kick out of exploring new things... like taking walks in the rain through quiet woods, tye dyeing shirts, swimming in a pristine undeveloped lake, kayaking, mountain biking, and even the kids who come here begrudgingly love it in the end. Like watching the loons, it's always fun to see families interact with their kids. I mean really interact... teaching them new things, things they themselves forgot they loved so much. To watch a dad teach his son how to catch a fish, and watching the kids pull in his first fish, eyes full of excitement, body ready to jump straight from the skin, wondering what to next, makes me as giddy as the kid. This is real happiness- and it's just another reason I love Purity Spring and what it does for people. It's the best. These experiences are EXACTLY what this world needs to combat all the bad in it. And just like the loons, our time with our kids is so limited. This is the most important time in their lives- and we need to be there to teach them everything they need to know to be okay growing up on this planet. What a perfect place to foster strong bonds, and teach them what it's like to have good, clean fun!

Do you have any memories of learning to ski/ride King Pine?

2008-06-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

Feel free to share them with us anytime! Use this post as a spring board and dive in!

"Green" - Hey.... we already do that!

2008-06-11T06:26:00.000-07:00

Kermit didn't think it was easy being green but for Purity Spring Resort and its sister companies, King Pine, Camp Tohkomeupog for boys, Danforth Bay Camping and RV Resort and The Bluffs, it's always just been a way of life. And even though it's a wonderful way to sustain a business and our mother earth at the same time, and even though I believe that it's great that our nation is honoring the greenies, it still makes me proudly snicker inside because of my pride for our resort.

When I sit at my desk and look at these old walls around me, I can just imagine how the Hoyt family has sustained their through the hundred plus years it's been in business. It has always been green. Whether it's saving money by pulling nails out of old boards and reusing the nails and wood for a new project or by managing its land oh so carefully in order to provide recreation in a pristine environment for over 4 generations, we're doing something very right here and we're doing it for the good of our business and our environment.

Here's just a sampling of our current efforts:

King Pine purchased 24 "energy efficient" SMI tower guns in 07/08 to reduce the amount of fuel used for our snow making program.
Purity Lake has been kept 100% free of development. Other than the few buildings built many many years ago, the Hoyt family has kept all development to an absolute minimum.
Camp Tohko boys are taught to minimize their impact while on the property and forever by focusing on the "Leave No Trace" program. During hikes and retreats they are taught to be stewards of the environment. For instance they are taught to stay only on marked trails instead of using short cuts to minimize erosion.
While building The Bluffs adult RV resort, the Hoyt family knew they'd promote themselves better and have more luck with sales of these sites if they created them directly on the water's edge. Instead they opted for the environment and kept sites 500 feet away from Huckins Pond.
Four of the five pools in our campgrounds are salt-water pools that use 90% less chemicals than traditional pools.
Our Marketing Director has switched printing companies in order to to have 80% of our collateral printed on FSC certified paper using soy based inks. FSC certification means that the companies that produce the paper are using; sustainable forestry practices and a portion of the product is derived from recycled wood and fiber.

"Preserving the land for the future enjoyment of our children... it is just the right thing to do." -Edward E. Hoyt

For more information about our programs, please contact Dan Houde, our Marketing Director.

SH

Welcome Spring & Summer!

2008-05-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

Even though there are few a still snow showers happening on top of Mt. Washington, you have to come to terms with the fact that summer is almost here. Let the black flies be a temporary reminder of the fun that's about to descend on this valley.
Last weekend I took a wonderful group of gals that were staying at Purity down the Saco. We put in in Conway and took out in Fryeburg. What a glorious day! Sure we were warned of showers and high waters but we took a safe part of the river and not once did it shower! The highs were in about the 80's in the sun but the water was a cool ~50 degrees. I'm personally looking forward to swimming when it warms up and the group I was with echoed my sentiments. It's right around the corner.
It's amazing what our region has to offer if you're willing to make just a little bit of effort. There are beautiful walks right on our Audubon Sanctuary here at Purity Spring- I'm fortunate enough to know, lunches are often spent out there.
In any case, enjoy these longer days to their fullest! There's plenty of time and a myriad of places to take wonderful treks alone, with the dog, or with the entire family.
Enjoy! Life IS good.

Away for too long...

2008-05-08T06:48:00.000-07:00

Since King Pine's last day, so much has happened. It's kept me busy, too busy I'm afraid to say to update this blog. For that I apologize.

My family and I took a little vacation and while we were gone, the Matriarch of the Hoyt family, owners of King Pine, Laura Hoyt Mahoney passed away after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Because of her legacy at this resort and her warm and welcoming ways, there was much to do to prepare for the myriads of guests that would want to join us for her service. And we wanted to do it perfectly for her. Something of definite note, the days after Laura died were absolutely beautiful- full sunshine and abnormally warm for April in New Hampshire. The entire resort staff banded together and on May 4th our friend Laura was remembered during a beautiful service held on the land she was born to work on. We heard from her sons, remembering their mother, honoring their mother, and loving her as hard as their hearts could handle. Their words will always be in my heart from this mother's day on... I hope, that when my time on earth is done, I've accomplished as much for my own son.

Laura always had a way though of not making things about her... she was such a humble person. When she was enduring the cancer treatments, driving 2 1/2 hours each way to receive them, I asked if there was anything she and her husband Jack needed. I explained that I understood that she had lots of friends and family but that I was always willing to help if there was anything I could do to make any of this easier on them. She looked me in the eyes and said, "Shannon, you are my family now." Then she went on with her work (yes, she still worked at the resort- until she absolutely couldn't) as if that statement came as naturally as anything else. I'll never forget that moment. Not that Laura and I were inseparable best friends- but that when I joined her in her life's work of making this beautiful place called Purity Spring Resort a successful business, I became her family. And she meant it, and I loved her for it.

So now our work continues, as does Laura's life work. We continue to beautify the resort readying it for the summer guests. Suzie Hoyt is working the gorgeous gardens here already tending to the needs of the plants that are blooming and those that soon will. Our chef's are attending regional cooking competitions, others attended the MWV Business to Business Expo, and we all continue to contribute to the greatness of this business.

Soon the lilacs will be out, they're her favorite I've learned and they're used as the logo for the new foundation created in her name- The Laura Mahoney Autism and Epilepsy Foundation.

You see, Laura's first grandchild Drew developed these two conditions as the years went by after his birth. Drew is non-verbal, and his "lovey-touch" is touching someones nose. I was lucky enough to witness this touch and the love between them many times. Laura's son Andrew summed it up elegantly, and simply, "she loved him just for who he is". In my early teens and until now, I've been blessed to have special people like Drew in my life too. People and children with special needs have always held a special place in my heart and I've come to be quite fond of Drew too... Who, believe it or not, has been doing amazingly well despite the loss of his Grammy. We all believe that Laura is with him, taking care of him and making his life easier in these days.

To make a donation please send it to:

The Laura Mahoney Autism and Epilepsy Foundation

1251 Eaton Road

East Madison, NH 03860

The end of the season...

2008-04-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, the perfect day ended our 07-08 season, just the way it should be. �

The sun was shining, the splash pond was filled, the crowd was waiting. �There were lots of thrills and spills, and everyone- absolutely everyone in the wonderful crowd we had in attendance was happy and smiling. �It was unanimously sad to see our season end on such a perfect day, with so much snow left. �

Our King Pine company party started right after the lift closures. �We celebrated employees that have been here 10, and 20 years, and we all took a moment to enjoy the goodness of our team members. �It was a very nice last hurrah complete with an absolutely delicious dinner from our talented Purity Spring staff. �Big thanks and kudos for sharing their talents with us.

Alas, yesterday we cleaned the base lodge from stem to stern. �We took out the plates and glasses for the weddings coming up this spring... we vacuumed, we washed, we polished the parquet floor that hides under a carpet in the Nursery all winter, and we said good bye to old man winter until he moves in again. �Then (I have to assume) everyone cleaning, and revamping, took a moment to embrace the upcoming spring and summer. �How apropos to have a 50 degree day today to confirm our affirmations.

Thank you to everyone who makes King Pine possible... the employees, the customers, the owners, the season pass holders, the twisted 10 participants, the volunteers, the individuals who bring awesome events here, etc. �Without you, it wouldn't be the very magical place it is.

Stay tuned this spring and summer for Purity Spring Resort updates and information... �There's still lots to be excited about. �We're just a few months from the birth of our infamous loon chicks. �:)

Events at King Pine Ski Area at Purity Spring Resort

2008-03-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

This past weekend brought us a great new event. For the first time, King Pine teamed up with Gerry Morrill of the Amesbury, MA Fire Department to present the Firefighters Appreciation Day. Our fire fighting house guests at Purity Spring Resort were treated to comfy rooms, a beautiful pool and hot tub, home cooking, XC skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, alpine skiing and all the firefighter events that were included in this incredible resort package. A great time was had by all and a special cameo was made by Sparky the Fire Dog. The kids were thrilled that he was the grand master for the "Gold Rush" our candy scramble in the snow.

There are only two more weekends in our 07-08 season and we've saved some great events to say goodbye to winter, in style. This Saturday, kids and adults alike will vie for first place in the King Pine Cardboard Box Derby. I never realized there were official rules (you learn something new every day)! Teams with themes: bring the wild "vehicle" you plan on taking down the mountain with, your own theme music, and away you go... crazily racing for first place. Registration takes place at the bottom of the course, just behind the King Pine base lodge, beginning at noon. Inspection and judging begins at 12:30 PM, racing starts at 1:00 PM. We'll also have an outdoor BBQ with music, games and prizes beginning at 11:00 AM.

Sunday to honor Easter slope side, we'll be offering a Sunrise Service. Lifts open for the service at 6:30 (yes, bring your skis or board). The service begins at 6:40 followed by a pancake breakfast from 7:15- approximately 8 AM. The Easter Service is FREE, the breakfast is $8.

Buy an all day ticket, and your breakfast is FREE.

For our final weekend, March 29 and 30, we're sending Old Man Winter on his way with a SPLASH! On Saturday March 29, bring the kids in to meet Slugger, Mascot of the Boston Red Sox's own AA team from Portland, ME, the Sea Dogs.

SPLASH DOWN BABY!!! On Sunday the 30Th, dress up in your craziest duds and ski or ride your way down the slope and across/into our man made "shark pool" in our annual Pond Skimming contest. You can find our registration form online as well as some silly pictures from last year! ...and don't forget an extra set of dry clothes... lol.

In any case, as much as I hate to say it, time is running out, and we'd love to see you before it does. Don't miss our upcoming events... some are so funny your stomach will hurt for weeks!

See you at KP!

SH

Firefighters Appreciation Day Press Release

2008-03-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

East Madison, New Hampshire - Saturday, March 15, 2008 marks King Pine Ski Area�s first annual Firefighter�s Appreciation Day dedicated to those who serve their neighbors unselfishly. Each year more than one million Unites States firefighters, serving over 53,000 fire departments responding to a fire every 19 seconds, heroically risk their own lives protecting others

The day will entail several events geared towards firefighter�s and their families. Dressed in their fire fighting gear and on either skis or snowshoes, adult participant will work independently or together during the �silly� slalom race or hose carrying events to bring home a gold medal. Children of firefighters will dig and scramble for candy during the �Gold Rush� event. The day�s festivities at King Pine also include an outdoor BBQ and awards ceremony.

�It�s always great to be a part of something that gives back to the community� says Dan Houde, Marketing Director. �We all need to take the time to think about the sacrifices these people make every day, and now, working together, we�re creating a wonderful day for firefighters to enjoy with their entire family.� Host Jerry Morrill of the Amesbury, MA Fire Department says, �I�m excited to see this appreciation event take off like it has at Danforth Bay Camping and RV Resort during the summer; now firefighter�s have something to look forward in the summer and in the winter in the White Mountains.�

Registration for the event begins Saturday morning in the King Pine base lodge at 8:30 A.M. Youth participate for $26 and Adults for $39 with photo identification or badge. Special weekend packages including a firefighter�s family tubing party are available at Purity Spring Resort and Danforth Bay Camping Resort. Please see kingpine.com/events--- for more information or call 603-367-8896.

King Pine and Purity Spring Resort, located in East Madison, NH, are owned and operated by the Hoyt family and have welcomed guests since the early 1900s.

There's a buzz in the air!

2008-03-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

The crews are setting up the staging for the Dog Sled Race, banners are going up, people are arriving for the weekend and the weather looks like it very well may be all right tomorrow. The temperatures are forcasted to be at about freezing which will hopefully mean snow instead of rain or any of that freezing-rain hooey.

I'm hearing crazy rumors that people aren't sure if there's enough snow here... well let me assure you- there's more than enough! You can actually take a truck load or 2 home with you after your visit! Yesterday, my son and I had do dig down into the snow a ways to find an old snowman we had built a month ago to poach his hat and scarf for the new one we need to build on top of all this new snow- it's incredible. You really need to see this to believe it...

So come on over tomorrow or Sunday, it's sure to be a hit with the whole family!

The weekend to be at King Pine~

2008-03-04T07:51:00.000-08:00

This weekend, March 8Th and 9Th is without a doubt shaping up to be one of the funnest this season.

King Pine and The New England Sled Dog Club are happy to announce their first annual Sled Dog Race Classic happening this weekend on and around Lake Purity. In conjunction with this new tradition, is a very special, very sentimental celebration called the Marky B Boardfest now in its eighth year.

On Saturday and Sunday Dog teams will be competing in 6 different categories starting at 9:00 A.M. each day and ending at 4:00 P.M. Viewing will be possible from many different vantage points including some that require snowshoes or cross country skis to access (a $5 trail pass would be required, and rentals are available). The nice thing about this event, is that people of any ability, of any age, can come outside, breathe fresh air and enjoy old fashioned, family fun. Refreshments, lunches, snacks and souvenirs will be available for purchase. Admission however, is free. Volunteers are needed for this event- please contact us by calling 800-373-3754 x215 or by emailing.

Saturday afternoon and evening the Trails End Tavern in the base lodge of King Pine offers live entertainment for your socializing pleasure. Justin Jaymes' acoustic jams are lined up from about 2:00-4:00 followed by our own acoustic open mike night- ending, well... when it ends!

Don't forget, daylight savings time is Saturday night!!! Spring ahead one hour- so don't have TOO much fun Saturday night, you'll need to be up bright and early Sunday for the Marky B 7:30 A.M. registration!

The Marky B Boardfest is a memorial race for Mark Bierweiler son of Chip and Barb, long time employees of King Pine. Proceeds from this annual event enrich current snowboarding programs at King Pine and make the sport available to children in the community who may otherwise not be able to participate.

Race day registration begins at the King Pine base lodge at 7:30 A.M. and racing begins at 9:30 A.M. Included in the $40 registration fee is a lunch voucher, one raffle ticket and race fees. Additional raffle tickets can be purchased for chances to win generously donated restaurant gift certificates, goggles, helmets, snowboards and much more.

The race format is the best 2 out of 3 runs combined times through a unique slalom with rolls, hits and jumps. There are male and female categories: 10 and under, 11-15, 16-20, 21-27, 28-34, 35-49 and 50+. Awards are given to the top 3 finishers in all categories.

For more information or conditions, please call 800-373-3754 or visit us online.

Tonight's Celebration

2008-02-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hello,

It's beautiful here today. With the sun shining, and the temperatures quite comfortable, everyone here is having a great time and they're glad to be outside. There are lots of smiles, lots of laughter and lots of excitement over tonight's fireworks. We haven't quite sold out of our tubing sessions for tonight so call 800-373-3754 x199 and reserve yours now.

Our fireworks display is starting at about 9:00 and it's always a family favorite. So come on over if you have a chance, it'll definately be worth it.

Take care,
SH

What I did for Winter vacation week...

2008-02-17T11:56:00.000-08:00

It's official; we're kicking off the biggest week of winter fun this weekend. It's a beautiful day; our conditions are beautiful, it's thirty-four degrees and people are here and smiling. The kids are psyched about having the week off to relax, enjoy the winter, and most of all, have fun! This morning I was able to work in our rental shop and meet all sorts of great people. It's really nice to see families out together and it reminds me all the time why winter sports are so special, and why King Pine is such a great place to be.

Here's a helpful hint... If you're thinking about tubing at King Pine this week, you may want to call ahead to reserve your tickets 800-373-3754 x199. Some sessions have already sold out! The tickes are non-transferable, and we do not offer refunds. So once you're sure how many people you have, and what time you'd like to go, let us know and we'll put them on your credit card/ debit card and have them waiting for you. You'll also need a release form filled out, and doing so ahead of time is a real time saver. They can be found online for printing, here: Tubing release form

Our vacation tubing schedule: 10-noon, noon-2pm, 2-4pm, (re-groom from 4-5pm)
5-7pm, and 7-9pm

Other cool things happening this week:

Night skiing until 9:00pm every night.

Family Four Pack: A family of four can ski and ride from 4-9pm any night during the vacation week for just $42 (2/15-2/23)!

Events:

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Silly Slalom and Belly Bag RacesMore fun and games for kids at King Pine, complete with ribbons and prizes!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Family ChallengeIts mom against mom, dad against dad in our Family Challenge ski race!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

-The Gold Rush Candy, goodies can be found all over our Pokey Pine trail.

- Kids FUN RaceYoung skiers race against the clock for prizes.

- Fireworks over KP! Enjoy a spectacular fireworks display and a roaring bonfire fire!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

King Pine Mini Hits1 PM, Practice Begins at NoonJunior skiers and riders can win prizes in our terrain park in this FREE freestyle jam.

We'll be waiting for you!
-SH

Winter Trails Day at King Pine- This Saturday 1/12

2008-01-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, January 12th, King Pine is pleased to be a part of a national effort to encourage people to get outside, learning new activities on snow. It's call Winter Trails Day and here's what you can expect at King Pine-

Whether you're an adult or a child, if you've never, ever XC skied or snowshoed;
From 1-4pm, come and try XC Skiing or Snowshoeing FREE of charge!
Our trail passes will be complimentary as will our snowshoe and XC ski rentals.We will also offer Nordic tours and clinics, here's the schedule:

1PM - Demos begin at the King Pine base lodge
2PM - Nordic clinic & tour leaves from King Pine
2PM - Guided Snowshoe tour leaves from The Mill (shuttle available from King Pine)

People love it here, and you will too! See what other's have to say about King Pine.

With so many opportunities to explore the area, just make this part of your weekend! While you're in the area you can also check out; ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating, alpine skiing, winter camping, ice climbing or visit North Conway for our tax-free outlet shopping, the activities are endless!

For more information, please call 1-800-373-3754

King Pine is located in East Madison, NH- Just 7 miles South of Conway, NH.

Happy Holidays

2007-12-26T12:36:00.000-08:00

As the holiday season comes to an end, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish you a happy and safe new year. The snow up here has been a gift to everyone and as families come out of their egg-nog haze, they are able to enjoy it like you wouldn't believe. There are people skating on the lakes- playing hockey with their friends and family, snowshoeing, snowboarding, tubing, sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, everything fun to do in the winter, people here are doing it all and loving each and every minute. This is what winter is about, happy times with loved ones, outdoors in the snow, under the sun, making memories.

King Pine is alive again after its summertime rest and there's no denying, it's the place to be. The outdoors are full of smiling happy people here and walk into the Tavern to see old friends meeting up again, music being played, darts being planned and good times being had. If you're nostalgic at all for the old days, where things were safe, fun, and good, you need to be here. Just bundle up in the long-johns, wool sweaters and socks that grandma bought you for Christmas and head outside, here at King Pine and Purity Spring Resort for some good times.

Opening day, FRIDAY at 12:00!

2007-12-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

100% open by Christmas, that's the prediction. Merry Christmas to everyone! We've had flurries all day and now the sky is blue and the sun is shining. With fresh powder on the ground and temps favorable for making snow, it looks like it's going to be a heck of an opening day on Friday. Guest services will open up at noon and our lifts will shut down at 7. Tubing will be available from 12-4 Saturday and Sunday. Tickets opening day are $5 and all profits will go to the Gary Millen Foundation.

See you on the slopes.... SH

Update

2007-12-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update... We recieved about 10" from the last storm. We would have been happy with another 8" like they predicted but with the low temperatures lately, we're cranking out the snow on the hill. The tower guns have been running like crazy and we're making snow on the tubing hill which is fantastic. We're looking at the best start we've had in decades.

The final countdown...

2007-12-02T19:46:00.000-08:00

The patio furniture is stowed away, the lights are up, the fridge is stocked, and we're ready for a snow event here in "Happy Valley". The expectation is to wake up to 3-5" of snow which will continue, heavy at times through Monday evening with totals of 10-14". Stay tuned!

Snow totals predicted!

2007-12-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

From weatherunderground.com:

... Greater than a foot of snow is possible across Maine and New Hampshire... ... Winter Storm Watch in effect from Sunday evening through Monday evening... The National Weather Service in Gray has issued a Winter Storm Watch... which is in effect from Sunday evening through Monday evening. This winter storm has the potential to produce greater than 12 inches of snow in the watch area.

Bring it ON!

2007-12-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

Just in case you're living in a cave, let me fill you in on a little something; there is a humongous storm hovering just southwest of the Great Lakes right now, and we are its ultimate destination! In other words, we're just giddy about the first, significant pre-Christmas storm in years!

In between pulling out my cross country ski gear, I've kept an eye on this storm and here's what we're looking forward to: tomorrow we'll wake up with wind chills to below 6 degrees but it'll warm up to the low 30's, a nice, partly cloudy day. The evening will bring temperatures below 20, the perfect "guarantee" (as if you can guarantee any weather in New England) to turn any precipitation into snow. Predictions are that the snow will become steady by midnight. Monday, the temperatures mirror Sunday and they're showing snow all day. Tuesday there's a 50% chance of snow, and WEDNESDAY shows a 40% chance at this point. And although I'm beside myself to tell you this, they report THURSDAY the day the snow tapers off with a 50% chance of snow showers. The reality of this all is that there is a slight but crazily wonderful chance that we could receive 4 days of SNOW!!!!!!!!! I'm off to light a fire in the back yard and get the last of the patio furniture away. Yipeee!

Groups at King Pine Ski Area

2007-11-28T08:02:00.000-08:00

Let's face it folks, winter sports are getting really expensive. In fact some ski areas make it cost prohibitive- unless of course you're living on a rich Uncle's trust fund which most of us aren't. But here, at King Pine... we've remained affordable so that we can keep people enjoying themselves and so we can keep growing winter sports. And even though it's only $39 to join us on any given day, there are still plenty of ways to save. My particular area of expertise on this subject is bringing a group to King Pine- for a day, a weekend, or for multiple weeks. It only takes 20 individuals to qualify for a day or weekend group... that's only 4 or 5 carloads of people caravaning here- and exploring our resort with a group this big is allot of fun!

When you make reservations 48 hours ahead of time, you can receive a significant discount for skiing and riding. Not to mention great deals on rentals, lessons, and the fact that xc skiing, Nordic and ice skating, and snowshoeing are all available for free on this same ticket! Your 21st and 22Nd tickets are free and for each additional 20 tickets purchased, you'll receive the 21st ticket complimentary. We'll send you your rental forms ahead of time and if you're staying somewhere in the valley, we'll deliver your tickets to you!

To give you a better idea, a full day of mid-week skiing would only cost adults $23 and kids, $15. You'll have to let me know if you can find a rate for less than that! On the King Pine website you can find our full group price list and my contact information to make a reservation.

Being affordable doesn't mean quality suffers! It's quite the opposite. We have a world-class, PS IA certified ski school, one of the first established in the United States. Our conditions are always beautiful and because of our southeastern exposure, we remain protected during the windy and coldest of days. There are over 1,000 acres here to explore by ski, snowboards, snowshoe, snow-tube or skates. On site is the Hoyt Audubon Sanctuary where wildlife abounds. Our staff is friendly, happy to help in any way and are recognized by guests year, after year. We have a great list of on site events, amenities, and a valley that supports the interests and abilities of anyone in your group.

Whatchya waitin' for?!!!

See you on the slopes!
SH

Nordic Skating on Lake Purity

2007-11-20T16:30:00.000-08:00

We�re getting ready� ready for new adventures in winter, and whether this is your first or forty-first time to the resort, there�s something new for you to explore. This year, we�re proud to introduce the new sport of Nordic Skating. It�s a sport that�s been more than positively reviewed in the U.S. by establishments like The Boston Globe, The New York Times and Men�s Health. And it�s a perfect sport for those coooold northeastern days when we have no snow but plenty of beautiful ice smooth and ready to take you where you want to go.

The nice thing about Nordic Skating is that whether you�re looking for a gentle cruise around Lake Purity or if you want to find black ice to race on at heart stopping speeds, you�ll find it on Nordic skates. They consist of; cross country ski boots that provide warmth, comfort and support, on their natural heel free bindings, attached to a single 20� long, 2� thick blade. This blade enables the user to traverse any condition of ice even with imperfections. When it snows a little or perhaps there�s been some rain, you can cut through the conditions with the tall blades easily. Poles are optional and are very handy in case you�re in less than ideal conditions. No more fumbling with ice skates on open ice, all you need to do is get to the ice, click in and go. Go speeding from end to end or take the more scenic route along the edge. Perhaps you�ll catch a glimpse of the Fox hunting or the deer bedding down at the end of the day.

You can easily compare the movements it takes to speed skating but it�s less defined with less speed. It�s easier to learn on these blades as they�re much longer and support you better by distributing your weight over a longer blade. This sport is incredibly popular in Europe, Canada and our neighbor Vermont; so much so that groups wait for vast lakes like Champlain to freeze solid to they can click into their blades and cruise- the more area, the greater the adventure. And, you can travel with the boots and blades in your car to explore any lake great or small throughout your travels (of course there are other safety measures to be taken).

Jamie Hess of Norwich, VT the recognized top American enthusiast, owner of Nordicskater.com and marathon distance skater describes this sport as life changing and we�re very honored to be working directly with him in our efforts.

Winter is second nature to us North easterners and we�re happy to find new ways to share them with everyone.

Boston Ski Show!

2007-11-19T12:15:00.000-08:00

It's so much fun to catch up with old friends and to make new ones at the Boston Ski Show. It's 3 days full of fun, information and excitement. Mountain Dew always hires these gymnists who bounce on trampolines doing tricks strapped into their skis or snowboards. There are local vendors sampling their goods whether it's a frothy cup of mint hot chocolate or some yummy spicy Cranberry chutney made fresh in time for Thanksgiving. There were innovative folks with some great and not so great inventions to make our sporting lives easier. Working the booth is great...because I have a 3 year old it's great to interact with the toddler aged kids and their parents because we are the absolutely perfect place for young families- Hands Down. We're a hip place full of lively families and although there's a market for everyone at King Pine- we service young families exceptionally well. Being a member of a young, hip family it's so cool to know there's a place where the children are safe, and memories are there for the making for the kids and mom and dad all without sacrifice. While I was at the show I remember thinking, I wish I could put the magic of King Pine into a little box and bring it along with me to show people how VERY special it is here- at least I have my passion and my words... I hope they're enough. I drove past King Pine today on my way to work and THEY'VE MADE SNOW!!! It was so very exciting and I'm thinking we may need to have a small, secret snowball fight some afternoon!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...

SH

A Quaint New England Destination

2007-10-10T05:12:00.000-07:00

We have these loons on Lake Purity that have been coming here to hatch their young for over 20 years. Unbelievably, some of our human guests have been coming here for twice as long and then some. Why? Because Purity Spring Resort IS magic- there's no simpler explanation. No matter what the season, Purity Spring and King Pine Ski Area create the perfect setting for getting back to family. For remembering what's truly important.

In a world where parents are too busy, children are too scheduled, and older generations are waiting for some time to free up with the kids there still exists a place that nurtures togetherness and it's right under your nose. You see, here, you have the luxury of taking a breath. You have the time to just sit and look at your kids, and remember holding them as helpless infants. Your time here is spent making precious memories just as beautiful as the first you can remember with them. Their grandma and grandpa wait nearby, relaxing and taking in the beauty until they can get their hands on the grand kids. And when you're alone, you're falling in love with your spouse all over again. What is it about this place? I've thought about it at least a gazillion times and each time I come up with something different... Maybe it's because there's always something to do no matter who you are or how old you are. You can do something, or nothing here and feel satisfied. Maybe it's because we're gifted with such private and unbelievably breathtaking surroundings and it helps you feel thankful for all that you've been given in this life. There's the accommodations, maybe it's that... the feeling of being away, on a great vacation, with all the cozy comforts of home. Comfort food, prepared just right, being nestled between two New Hampshire destinations, the Lake's Region and the White Mountains, amenities, lobster bakes, bonfires in the winter, our outstanding hospitality, movies in the pool, full moon snowshoeing, our history, the incredible family that runs the resort, it's everything. There's no one thing you can put your finger on and say, "yeah, that's IT". It's this place... it's the history seeping through the floorboards, it's mother nature, it's the friends you've made here, it's the magic that is Purity Spring Resort in East Madison, NH. And it's waiting for you to discover. This IS New England.

Fall Vacations in New Hampshire

2007-10-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

Autumn is slow coming this year but there are signs. Despite the climbing mercury, the leaves are slowly turning color and the animals are preparing for their migration to warmer climates for the time being. Columbus day weekend is almost is here and we're ready for our Covered bridge tours and our Peeping paddler's trip. It'll be an amazing time on the Saco with new foliage (thanks to our cold nights), and balmy weather the ingredients are right for cooking up an unbelievable weekend. My husband, Dan, who is the marketing director for Purity Spring and its sister companies, will be paddling alongside our guests and helping out with meals and transportation. He never misses this trip. There are so many beautiful photo ops and fun people to meet, I don't blame him. My mom is coming up this weekend and we'll be taking my 3-year old to the Fryeburg Fair over in Maine with my grandparents for 4 generations of rootin' tootin' fun. So whatever you decide to do this weekend, it should be outstanding. Take the kids for a walk in the woods, sign up for one of our theme weekends, go apple picking or gather the family together for a game of whiffle-ball on the front lawn. Have a blast!

-Shannon

Fund Raising in New Hampshire

2007-09-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you could use the Pine Meadows Tubing Hill for fundraising? Well lemme tell you how...

For$700, you can reserve the entire tubing park for 2 hours. Then, you go out and sell 100 tickets at our regular rate of $14. This leaves you with $700 profit nevermind the money you could make selling hot cocoa and baked goods. Wow, what fun!

Just email me if you need any more information.

Smile!

Shannon

Skiing and riding just around the corner in the Northeast

2007-09-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

Holy moly...it happens every year, and each year I forget just how much I love it. The Summer slowly turns into Autumn, and then, into Winter. This morning was about 50 degrees and sunny. So I open up the car windows, crank up Van Morrison (and the heat) and have my own personal rock concert. As I take each turn on my way to work, I inhale the beauty of the majestic place I call home. There's steam rising from the small chain of ponds and lakes leading to Purity Lake. There are loons calling and flapping about, fish rising, and leaves turning color. And as I sing the words "smell the ocean and feel the sky" I can actually feel the sky- it's refreshing chilliness awakening the parts of my being that have been slumbering in the Summer heat and I'm so energized I hardly know what to do with myself. Why oh why do people rally against the change of seasons and say they hate winter? When I hear those snow guns on King Pine, me, I'll be in heaven.

Although I'll never understand it, I'll always understand that the differences in opinions, skin colors, backgrounds and upbringings, religions and political views, tastes and desires will always be what makes life interesting. Greeting each new experience with an open mind and an open heart allows us to learn to grow and makes us who we are through and through. After all, without the yin there would be no yang.

Namaste,

Shannon

Skiing, snowboarding, family fun, New Hampshire and Paul Newman

2007-09-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

It's official... I'm a Blogger. As a matter of fact I'm pretty psyched about it. So what to blog about first?

How about the fact that I just selected a delecious beverage from the fridge of a fantastic local market based on the words "all natural" and "No High Fructose Corn Syurp" highlighted on the label. Curiously, I opened it and took a nice refreshing blackberry sip. "It's delicious" I declare. "What's in it"? So, I roll the bottle in my hands, the purple deliciousness calling for me to take another sip. "Hold on just one cotton picking minute, I gotta look at something". Focusing on the ingredients I read: Filtered Carbonated water (that's nice of them to filter the water), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYURP, sugar... hold on, I bought this because there was no High Fructose Corn Syurp! That stuff ends up on my butt, and I don't need any more of that!!!!!!!!!!!!! What do I do now? There's a website on this thing but the last thing I want to do is be like the other percentage of the population that I personally can't stand. The ones who do nothing but crab and complain about "Poor Me". Ick. Time will tell where this saga has me going.

In other news last week was the Northeast Winter Sports Summit at Bretton Woods. It was 2 days full of interesting seminars and demonstrations related to winter sports like the one from the people at Winter Feels Good. The site is full of great information and is geared towards kids, parents, and educators. It's a great resource for allot of things like, events, programs, activities, information on starting up a new winter sport, etc.

Think about it... there's so much you can do here at KPSA; snowshoe, iceskate, cross country ski, alpine ski, and tele ski (there may be even NEW activities at the resort to participate in by the wintertime too!). Is there something new YOU want to explore, what is it? Leave comments and we'll chat about it. Last year I learned to snowboard. At 33 I felt sort of shy trying something new but after recovering from the bruises, strains, and pulls, I had so much fun that I can't wait to start snowboarding again! Yeah, this conference has me psyched up about winter already. Is it wrong to wish for snow on a 70 degree day?

Happy Hump day everyone, it's almost Friday!

Peace,

-Shannon

P.S. We also picked up some of our Twisted 10 series prizes while we were there. They're sweet!