Vibe-Winter-2425 - Flipbook - Page 78
Though Great Glen Trails officially opened during
the 1994/95 winter season, some of the ski trails
on the Great Glen network are the same as those
enjoyed by the early ski “pioneers.”
took to arrive in the rugged and remote White Mountains.
These adventurers had memories that they would pass on
to the next generation. And those children continued to revisit
this place and create stories of their own.
A LONG HISTORY OF SKIING AT THE
BASE OF MOUNT WASHINGTON
Burgeoning winter tourism brought new visitors to the White
Mountains after the turn of the century. The state began maintaining the pass through Pinkham Notch, which we all know so
well as Route 16.
With better access came new sports, activities, and adventures. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps cut ski
trails, the Sherburne Ski Trail being one, and the fourth iteration
of the Glen House boasted skiing from the front door. Some of
the same ski trails on the Great Glen network are the same as
those enjoyed by the early ski “pioneers.” Much like ski schools
THE EVOLUTION OF GREAT GLEN TRAILS
Howie Wemyss served as the General Manager of the Mt.
Washington Auto Road from 1988 to 2020. It was around the
time when he started as GM, the board of directors explored
potential uses for the 1,100 acres of “unused” land at the base of
the Auto Road. He said this led to many discussions and public
listening sessions, producing some “pretty wild ideas.”
Not surprisingly, the two ideas that rose to the top and stuck
were to rebuild the Glen House Hotel and build a non-motorized
recreational trail system that could be used year-round. In the
winter, it would be suited for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and biking and other pursuits such as kite flying, fly fishing,
and picnicking in the summer. The goal was to utilize the property better and fully employ some of the company’s employees.
The trail network would be developed first as an amenity
to a future hotel. The Auto Road contracted with John Frado,
co-owner of Nordic Group International, to design the trail
The trail network would be developed first as an amenity to a future hotel. The Auto Road contracted
with John Frado, co-owner of Nordic Group International, to design the trail network that we know
and love today. Frado is described as one of the forefathers of commercial cross-country ski resorts.
today, they marketed lessons for beginners to advanced students. Tourism to the region was opened to a whole new class of
adventurers, and the reasons for visiting expanded.
Unfortunately, that fourth Glen House—like its predecessors—also succumbed to fire in 1967. However, the winter
traditions born in the Glen reverberated into the next generation.
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network that we know and love today. Frado is described as
one of the forefathers of commercial cross-country ski resorts.
He was instrumental in founding the Cross Country Ski Areas
Association and developing the Nordic divisions of the National
Ski Patrol and the Professional Ski Instructors of America.
The investment was tremendous. Trail surfaces were graded
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