| Spring:
The Mt. Washington Valley
bursts full of life in the spring. The melting snow swells the
rivers and streams, which thunder over rocks and falls with a
sound that seems to say, "It's finally here!" Overhead,
migrating birds return from their winter feeding grounds. The
floor of the woodland smells musty and full of life. Bright green
fiddleheads unfurl. Delicate ladyslippers, trillium, and other
early bloomers flower in a forest yet to display its leaves.
Springtime in the valley's alpine tundra reaches its peak in June
when the gardens begin to show their blossoms.
Spring is an ideal, slower
paced time of year to visit. Roads bustle with bicyclists,
joggers, and walkers as residents and visitors alike welcome the
return of warmer weather. Some people even consider spring to be
the best season of all for skiing. While golfers may be teeing off
on the valley floor, snowmaking allows many slopes and trails to
remain open long after the daffodils have flowered to the south.
Spring is prime time to ski Tuckerman Ravine on Mt. Washington.
It's also a time to
leisurely explore the valley's nooks and crannies. Some of the
shops that are closed in the winter now reopen with a flourish and
often even a sale. From antiques and crafts to specialty shops,
each offers a variety of items, many of which are unique to the
valley. Additionally, there are the tax-free outlet shops,
stocking everything from clothes to china to kitchenware on their
shelves. You name it and you'll find it in one of the valley's
outlet stores.
All in all, spring is a
relaxing, easy-paced season which reaches its climax with the
opening of most of the area attractions during weekends in May.
Summer:
Long before skis, snowboards, and snowshoes came to the area, the
Mt. Washington Valley was a favorite summer destination spot for
weary urbanites who made their way up to the White Mountains via
train from Boston and other cities along the northeast corridor.
Then, as now, choices of outdoor recreation and entertainment were
seemingly endless. Canoeing, hiking, camping, golf, tennis,
biking, and swimming are some of the outdoor activities that can
be enjoyed by novice, as well as advanced, outdoorsmen. Live
theater productions, arts presentations, an international
equestrian event, a jazz festival, and even a rodeo are highlights
of this summer's busy calender of events. And with the lights of
the city all but absent, the summer skies are crystal clear and
dazzling with starlight. Just stand in an open park or field and
take your children on a celestial cruise like nothing they've seen
before. Such are the wonders of summer in the Mt. Washington
Valley.
Autumn:
During September and October, daytime temperatures in
the valley range from 50 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Usually
the farther north or higher in altitude you go, the cooler the
temperature is. And as the nights cool off and you can start to
see your breath wisping in front of your face in the brisk evening
air, you enter perhaps one of the most beautiful and magical times
of the year in New England.
This is the perfect time
of year to watch the brilliant spectacle of the leaves changing
color as the weather cools. This phenomenon signals that the trees
are preparing for winter. In fall, partly because of shorter
periods of daylight and cooler temperatures, the leaves stop
making the food so vital for the tree's survival. The chlorophyll,
which had driven the food-creating photosynthesis process during
the warm months, now breaks down in the cooler temperatures, and
the green color of the leaves disappears. Vibrant yellow and
orange hues, previously masked by the green, suddenly appear.
The vibrant reds, purples,
and bronzes come from other chemical processes. For instance, the
brilliant red of maple trees is the result of sugar produced in
the leaves during the warm days and then trapped by the nights'
chill. The more sugar that accumulates, the brighter red the
leaves turn. Also, the degree of color varies from tree to tree.
Leaves directly exposed to the sun may turn red, while leaves on
the shady side of the same tree may become yellow. Additionally,
weather conditions play a role in the intensity of the fall
foliage. A warm, rainy autumn generally results in leaves with
less red coloration.
As colors vary from
mountain tops to valleys and from day to day, there's no way to
predict when the fall foliage will be at its peak. But one thing
is for sure: only two places in the world have fall foliage this
brilliant -- certain regions of Japan, and right here in New
England. There's no better place to watch this colorful yearly
spectacle than the White Mountains and Mt. Washington Valley of
New Hampshire.
Winter:
Mt. Washington is the picture of everything a New England winter
resort should be with its charming villages, icy rivers and snow
covered mountains that rise majestically against brilliant blue
skies. With seven terrific downhill ski areas, numerous resorts,
and cross-country ski trails, you can be sure that the snow is
glorious, soft and plentiful. When many places buckle-down for the
winter, Mt. Washington Valley comes alive for another season of
vacation fun and winter festivals. Mountain sides are dotted with
happy skiers, and decks are filled with those resting from a
active day, and at the end of the day firesides offer a warm place
to share a hot-toddy. Winter nights in New Hampshire are magical
as sparkling lights illuminate snow covered trees. No wonder this
area has the reputation of being New England's favorite winter
vacation destination! |
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