“Enjoy. I find inspiration and comfort by connecting with women who share their outdoor experiences and stories.” A Friends of Mount Sunapee volunteer organizer shares She Explores, the podcast by Gail Straub of Dover. N.H.
Mt. Sunapee commission announces June 9 telemeeting
This view looks across the parking lot at the base of the ski area at Mount Sunapee State Park, Newbury, New Hampshire. In a telemeeting of the Mount Sunapee Advisory Commission on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Vail/Mount Sunapee Resort will present its Annual Operating Plan for the state-owned ski area. Courtesy photo.
The Mount Sunapee Advisory Commission will hold a teleconference meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. This meeting will discuss operating plans for the state-owned ski area and is open to the public. There will be an opportunity for public comment.
Commissioner Sarah Stewart, Department of Natural and Cultural Resource, chairs the advisory committee.
The meeting agenda includes:
- Discussion of the Annual Operating Plan for 2020-2021 submitted by Vail/Mount Sunapee Resort
- Update by Vail/Mount Sunapee Resort
- Update on the Cooperative Maintenance Agreement (pdf) that pertains to the public hiking trails in the leasehold area, including the Summit Trail
- Process and planning for the next five-year development and environmental management plans (2021-2025) for the ski area
- Public comment on the annual plan
See the agenda here: MSAC Agenda 2020June9 (pdf)
The Annual Operating Plan submitted to the agency by Vail/Mount Sunapee Resort is posted on the MSAC webpage, and available here:
Mount Sunapee Annual Operating Plan 2020-2021 (pdf 1.2 MB)
Call-in info for Mount Sunapee June 9 meeting
Dial 800-356-8278 and enter the conference pin 671812. Then, state your name when asked, which enters you into the call.
If you have difficulty connecting to the conference system, you can contact NH State Parks by phone at 603-271-2976 or by email at mountsunapeecomments@dncr.nh.gov.
June 11, 2020, update: Commissioner Stewart is accepting comments on the AOP until June 16, 2020. Send comments to Mount Sunapee Comments, Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources, 172 Pembroke Rd., Concord, NH 03301. Or email mountsunapeecomments@dncr.nh.gov.
Additional resources
Check out the FOMS resource pages for more information.
- NH State Parks and Recreation
- Prior Annual Operating Plans and Minutes
- Public Involvement and Oversight Policy for the Mount Sunapee Ski Area (pdf)
- MSAC Committee Roster (pdf)
NOTE: If you’re interested in issues related to public policy and the management of our public lands at Mount Sunapee State Park, please contact us.
Newbury Fire Rescue on Mt. Sunapee hiking alternatives
This week, the Newbury Fire and Rescue Department posted on Facebook the following advisory about parking and Mount Sunapee hiking alternatives.
Hiking to Lake Solitude on Mount Sunapee can be a great adventure with a great view. However, this spring the number of hikers on the Andrew Brook trail has resulted in dangerous conditions on Newbury’s Mountain Road. On some weekends, cars parked on both sides of Mountain Road have narrowed the road to one lane, making the road so narrow that the fire apparatus is not able to get through. Because of the possibility that emergency vehicles will not be able to reach the homes on Mountain Road and beyond, The Newbury Police will be restricting parking to designated areas on one side of Mountain Road in the area of the trailhead.
Hikers are advised that there is plenty of parking in the main lot at Mount Sunapee Resort for the Summit Trail and in Lot 3 for the Newbury Trail which both will take hikers to Lake Solitude as well as all of the other hiking trails on Mount Sunapee.
Please be considerate of the safety of Newbury residents and plan your hike from the trailheads at Mount Sunapee Resort/State Park
FOMS Note: Be safe. Be well. Be Local.
New Hampshire State Parks – Response to COVID-19
State of New Hampshire – Information about COVID-19
Trails & COVID-19 via Trail Finder
Recent bird sightings
Voices & Views, bird sightings in the Sunapee region: The NH Audubon Rare Bird Alert for May 4, 2020, reported six black scoters and a red-necked grebe seen on Lake Sunapee on May 1. And the Alert for May 11, 2020, listed two red crossbills seen on Mountain Road in Newbury on May 11.
See the Rare Bird Alerts via the NH Birds Google Group for May 4, 2020, and May 11, 2020.
For helpful birding resources, see nhbirdrecords.org/current-sightings/.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, please enjoy your outings while following guidelines for safe travel and social distancing. Stay local. Stay safe. Be healthy.
Share your local sightings and interest in birding. Contact FOMS or email: catherine@friendsofmountsuanpee.org.
(Stock photos of red crossbill and red-necked grebe)
Old-Growth Forest Network founder speaks for forest
Voices & Views shares an inspiring article.
The Esperanza Project interviewed Joan Maloof, founder of the Old-Growth Forest Network: “What she and her small team has already been able to achieve in the six short years since she founded the Old-Growth Forest Network is impressive, and what they have in the works is even more so.”
NH State Parks during ‘Stay at Home 2.0’
On Friday, May 1, New Hampshire Governor Sununu announced: “Stay at Home 2.0” that included guidelines for the opening of State Park and private campgrounds.
NH Parks’ reopening guidelines
Most importantly, let’s keep ourselves well. And let’s keep our communities, our parks, and natural areas healthy.
The coronavirus pandemic prevented NH Parks from conducting its usual campground preparation done in early spring.
“In the coming weeks, we will be preparing our campgrounds to open at 50 percent of normal capacity and hiring staff to operate the campgrounds,” according to the State Parks’ recent release. “Under Stay at Home 2.0, reservations will be limited to only New Hampshire state residents. … We want to get up and running as quickly as possible but need to make sure we do so safely.”
The state will soon announce when it will be able to accept reservations.
The division of N.H. State Parks offers camping in 23 natural settings, including at Mount Sunapee State Park. The state operates the Mount Sunapee campground, which is located outside the ski lease area, up a windy round, accessed from parking lot three. 
Awaiting Mount Sunapee plans and advisory meeting
Important Update, May 19, 2020: The Mount Sunapee Advisory Commission will hold a teleconference meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at 9:30 a.m.
The Friends of Mount Sunapee is awaiting the release of plans for the state park ski area and a meeting of the Mount Sunapee Advisory Commission.
- The Annual Operating Plan for Mount Sunapee Resort is due by May 15.
- The five-year Master Development Plan and Environmental Management Plan are due by June 1.
- The Mount Sunapee Advisory Commission meets June 9. See the note and update below.
For Mount Sunapee Resort, this will be Vail Resorts’ second annual plan and first master and environmental plans submitted for the state-owned ski area. Vail’s first operating plan (2019-2020) for Sunapee detailed maintenance projects, no new capital projects. Vail took over the ski area lease and operations in 2018.
Advisory commission meeting
Commissioner Sarah Stewart of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) has called a meeting of the Mount Sunapee Advisory Commission (MSAC) for Tuesday, June 9, at 9:30 a.m.. at Veteran’s Hall, Route 103, in Newbury.
Note: DNCR announced the June 9 meeting before federal and state guidance regarding the coronavirus pandemic. We are looking to see if the meeting will take place as scheduled and how DNCR will provide safe public access. Consequently, FOMS will be providing updates on its website, including the commission’s meeting agenda and the resort’s plans, when available. See the update below.
If past practices follow, we expect Vail/Mount Sunapee Resort will provide an overview of the 2019-2020 year and preview plans for 2020-2021 at the June 9 meeting.
The five-year development and environmental plans for the ski area are subject to a lengthier public review process. The public involvement and oversight policy requires at least one public hearing.
See our Mount Sunapee State Park policies and management page for prior development plans. And please contact us if you’d like to discuss public oversight issues at Mount Sunapee State Park.
Update May 5, 2020: DNCR is working with the IT department on how it might conduct the June 9 meeting by teleconference. If this can be done effectively, New Hampshire State Parks will send a notice and instructions out to the MSAC and the email distribution list. In general, NH State Parks has postponed all other committee meetings, according to a division spokesperson.
Current COVID-19 guidelines
- N.H. Dept. of Health and Human Services COVID-19 website
- N.H. State Parks, response to COVID-19
- State Parks and COVID-19, additional information and planning
In the news
Ski resorts, a virus hot spot, win reprieve in credit market (April 29, 2020) via Bloomberg
Vail Resorts offering credits for next winter at NH sites after COVID-19 cuts ski season short (April 27, 2020) via Union Leader.com
Vail Resorts was struggling, now it is in a perfect storm (April 23, 2020) via Seeking Alpha
Letter from Vail Resorts to U.S. employees on COVID-19 business impacts (April 1, 2020) via Vail Resorts
Let the forests speak through you
Voices & Views: Let the forests speak through you.
The photos and sentiment are courtesy of a Friends of Mount Sunapee organizer and old forest advocate, who hikes and participates in trail work on Mount Sunapee. Views are from hiking the Summit Trail at Mount Sunapee State Park, late March 2020.
FOMS launches Voices & Views
A Mount Sunapee State Park spring wildflower, the red trillium, Trillium erectum. Friends of Mount Sunapee photo.
Welcome to Voices & Views, a Friends of Mount Sunapee blog dedicated to comments and images that speak about experiences in nature, land conservation, and environmental stewardship. With your help, Voices & Views will bring you timely comments and short takes from FOMS members, non-members, bloggers, and newsmakers.
The goal is to encourage and support creative narratives.
We invite YOU to share your interest and your creative side, perhaps in a short story, poem, sketch, painting, photo, video. For more info, contact FOMS or email Catherine@FriendsofMountSunapee.org.
Go to Voices & Views
Everlasting Forests: The Mount Sunapee Story
“Everlasting Forests: The Mount Sunapee Story”—a Friends of Mount Sunapee presentation—is now available online.
View (via YouTube: “Everlasting Forests: The Mount Sunapee Story” 26-minutes).
New Hampshire’s unique natural heritage includes the rare forest on Mount Sunapee, located on public land. A FOMS PowerPoint program—”Everlasting Forests”—tells this under-told story. It is about citizen activism, protection of Mount Sunapee in the early 1900s, and on-going efforts to preserve the exemplary old forest at Mount Sunapee State Park.
Sharing the Mount Sunapee story
In an Earth Day celebration on April 22, 2020, the Friends of Mount Sunapee and the New Hampshire Sierra Club teamed up in a live webinar that included a showing of “Everlasting Forests.” Sierra Club Executive Director Cathy Corkery and Chapter Chair Jerry Curran led the online event with FOMS President Steve Russell. The program included attendee questions.
The Friends of Mount Sunapee welcomes opportunities to share the Mount Sunapee story.
In addition to the video, check out our Natural Heritage page and brochure Mount Sunapee State Park’s Rare Old Forest (pdf 5 MB).
Click below to view “Everlasting Forests: The Mount Sunapee Story.”
See FOMS Current Action
In Mount Sunapee State Park is an exemplary natural community system that encompasses a rare old forest. This forest is an irreplaceable part of New Hampshire’s natural and cultural heritage, which deserves and requires permanent protection. See how you can help: See Current Action.
(Update: Video link changed to a YouTube channel on May 5, 2020.)
Webinar celebrates Earth Day and NH rare forest
Celebrate Earth Day 2020 with us!
Friends of Moun Sunapee joins the New Hampshire Sierra Club hoping that you are safe and healthy as we respond to the coronavirus pandemic. In our effort to encourage you to take care and follow the necessary precautions, FOMS and N.H. Sierra Club will offer a live online webinar to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
Join us from your home computer or tablet on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., for “Everlasting Forests: The Mount Sunapee Story.”
The free webinar will highlight the rare, ancient, and complex forest at Mount Sunapee State Park. A discussion will follow the presentation.
After you sign up, you will receive background information that you can review at your convenience. And closer to Earth Day, you will get another email with a link to the live event.
Register today via Sierra Club events.
“Nature’s peace will flow into you …”
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ―
Friends of Mount Sunapee President Steve Russell shares this photo from a local hike at Mount Sunapee State Park, the home to this “gnarly old guy.”
While we share this photo, we urge all to hike locally and responsibly and follow safe practices. There is still snow and ice in the mountains and an accident can endanger you and the first responders and put further strain on our healthcare providers.
Please see the NH State Parks Response to Covid-19 for updates and information.
When the Sunapee Chapter of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests published the “Manual of Mount Sunapee” in 1915, it chose to include the John Muir quote, shown above. The booklet details Mount Sunapee’s geological history, flora, birds, and ferns. You can view the manual via the Hathi Trust Digital Library.
COVID-19: Mount Sunapee closes for one week, hikers turn to the Summit Trail
Update (April 2, 2020) – Vail/Mount Sunapee Resort did not reopen for the remaining 2019-20 winter ski season after closing on March 14. Cannon Mountain closed the following week.
As we all respond to how to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, ski area operators across the country have responded, as well. Vail – Mount Sunapee Resort closed Sunday for at least one week. And we saw, on Sunday, outdoor enthusiasts turning to quiet hikes of the Summit Trail.
A FOMS volunteer wrote to us about her Sunday outing, “I did not summit, but got to 2300-feet, ate my apple, and listened to a bird’s very soft sweet song.”
Families and solo hikers were out on the trail.
Ski area respond to COVID-19
Vail Resorts decided last Saturday, March 14, it would close for at least one week all of its North American resorts, including the state-owned ski area at Mount Sunapee. According to the company’s news release, Vail was shutting down 34 resorts starting Sunday through March 22.
The other state-owned ski area, Cannon Mountain, is remaining open “with sharply curtailed services,” according to its COVID-19 response:
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY (March 17th)
Under the directive of Governor Sununu, Cannon Mountain is to remain open until further notice, but with sharply curtailed services in order to reduce guest / guest and staff / guest interaction. Thanks for your patience and understanding as we work hard to provide you with skiing services while trying to meet both the Governor’s directives and CDC guidelines.
Concord Monitor recently reported on ski operations around the state, some areas are staying open and have COVID-19 advisories posted on their websites.
PBS Brief But Spectacular take on environmental literacy and old growth
Check out this Brief But Spectacular take aired on PBS. Naturalist John Bates speaks about the purpose of his work, to foster “environmental literacy” by “connecting time through old-growth forests.”
And here is related information about John Bates and old growth, including the exemplary and ancient forest on Mount Sunapee.
- Naturalist John Bates Can Guide You To The Best Old-Growth Forest In Wisconsin (Wisconsin Public Radio, November 1, 2019
- Our Living Ancestors by John Bates (Manitowish River Press)
- Natural Heritage and Ancient Forests (Friends of Mount Sunapee resource page)
- Mount Sunapee State Park’s Rare Old Forest (Friends of Mount Sunapee brochure)
The under-told story: Mount Sunapee’s rare forest
Many people know Mount Sunapee as a fun place to ski. Few know the story of its rare forest. Yet, audiences at the Claremont MakerSpace and Goshen’s Brook Road Inn recently heard Steve Russell, president of Friends of Mount Sunapee, tell that story about an enduring, exemplary forest in Mount Sunapee State Park.
“Everlasting Forests: The Mount Sunapee Story,” is a FOMS presentation about preservation efforts that began over a century ago. It is also about a critical and vulnerable environment, which has no permanent protective status.
“I didn’t even know there were old-growth trees up there,” offered one member of these diverse audiences, “and I ski there all the time.”
The Friends of Mount Sunapee program “Everlasting Story” describes the ancient and exemplary forest at Mount Sunapee State Park.
In cooperation with the Sullivan County Conservation District for its most recent two presentations, FOMS has been informing citizens in towns that surround Mount Sunapee about this irreplaceable old forest.
Russell stressed the importance of thinking of this area on the mountain, not as separate parcels with ancient trees, but as an entire and interdependent biological entity: an exemplary natural community system (ENCS). Through natural processes, the ENCS supports and protects itself through flora and fauna cooperation.
Russell stated that attempts to develop even small areas of this ENCS would damage and diminish the system. If preserved, this exemplary and old forest can be viewed, studied, and enjoyed into an ongoing future.
More about Mount Sunapee’s rare old forest and the Friends of Mount Sunapee
- Mount Sunapee State Park’s Rare Old Forest (FOMS brochure)
- Mt. Sunapee’s exemplary and ancient forests (FOMS article)
- How do you describe Mount Sunapee’s rare old forest? (FOMS article)
- Current Action
- Volunteer
Ice, water, and watersheds
Chandler Brook, Newbury, NH
Friends of Mount Sunapee recently added a Sunapee Mountain Watersheds page to the website. Check it out! And we welcome submissions of water and watershed related articles and media for publication. For more information, see our contact page.
Water: This, that, and the other
Chandler Brook, Newbury, NH.
Now available from New Hampshire Silver Jackets is the Spring Report of State Hydrology and Watershed Conditions, 2020. The report compiles information on the status of hydrology, watershed, lake, and river conditions in preparation for the spring snowmelt and runoff season in the Granite State. You can view and download the 2020 Hydrology Report via the Department of Environmental Services.
Did you know that the Sullivan County Conservation District has a demonstration stream table? It is available to teachers and organizations to loan for use in the classroom or at an event. And if you’re not sure how to use the stream table, the SCCD website offers helpful links to help you out. For more info, contact SCCD Educator Dawn Dextraze.
Additionally, the Sullivan County Conservation District provides “Water Health” educational programs and projects related to water quality monitoring, nitrogen pollution reduction, and rainwater retention.
And from researcher and environmental sciences and biology teacher Susan Pike, learn about pancake, anchor, and border ice in our lakes, rivers, and streams. Susan shares her love of ice in “Nature News: The Magic of Ice” via the seacoastonline.com.
And a reminder from New Hampshire Fish & Game. Be safe when heading outdoors. See the NH F&G Ice Safety brochure.
Photos courtesy of a FOMS volunteer: Chandler Brook, as viewed from along the Beach Access Road at Mount Sunapee State Park in Newbury, N.H. (February 23, 2020).
New NH rule, if made permanent, will put endangered species at risk
A list of threatened and endangered wildlife in New Hampshire is available via Fish and Game.
Environmental organizations in New Hampshire “say a new state rule, which has support from the construction industry and could become permanent, puts endangered species at greater risk from development.” See the reporting of Annie Ropeik for NHPR:
Instead of “no adverse impacts,” the new rule says only that project designs must “not jeopardize the continued existence” of a protected species, or destroy critical habitat.
For groups like the Nature Conservancy, this implied that projects could be allowed to move forward as long as they didn’t cause extinctions – which raised serious concerns.
The Nature Conservancy wrote to DES about the issue in January, along with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Appalachian Mountain Club and the state Audubon and Lakes Association – See NHPR, Enviro. Groups Say New State Rule For Developers Puts Endangered Species At Risk (February 18, 2020)
A list of threatened and endangered wildlife in New Hampshire is available via Fish and Game. Or view endangered-threatened-wildlife-nh (pdf).
Mount Sunapee reports a 16% decline in skier visits last season
Skier visits at Mount Sunapee last season dropped by 36,000 or 16% compared to the 2016-2017 season. Okemo/Mount Sunapee Resort reported 186,000 skier visits for the 2017-2018 season.
The operator of the state-owned ski area at Mount Sunapee State Park reports skier visits in its Annual Operating Plan. The AOP 2018-2019 shows ski season figures for 20 years. The Muellers have operated the ski area at Sunapee since 1998.
Click on the image to enlarge.
See below for reported skier visits or view Winter Operations Schedule in the AOP (page 12):
MSR_AOP 2018-2019_FINAL (pdf 9MB)
These graphs, prepared for Friends of Mount Sunapee, use the Resort’s numbers from the AOP.
The numbers show the 2016-2017 season was the fourth-longest in 20 years. Yet despite the long season, it also was the fourth season in 20 with skier visits below 200,000.
However, the AOP does not provide insight into the numbers.
What affected skier visits at Sunapee last winter? Did the weather and timing of weather events discourage turnout? How are changes in the snow sports industry impacting Sunapee?
The Resort may discuss the operating schedule and skier visits on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at a meeting of the Mount Sunapee Advisory Committee. The 10 a.m. meeting at the Newbury Town Offices is open to the public.
Of course, the huge unknown at Mount Sunapee now involves industry giant Vail Resorts.
Vail announced (June 4, 2018) that it intends to buy out the Mount Sunapee ski area lease from Och-Ziff and ski operations from the Muellers. It is part of a four mountain deal, which includes the three ski areas operated by Triple Peaks (the Mueller family) at Mount Sunapee (NH), Okemo (VT) and Crested Butte (CO).
Related reporting about skier visits
“The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has reported that total US skier and snowboarder visits this season is estimated to be 53.3 million. That is a 2.8 percent downturn from last season’s 54.8 million total,” UnofficialNetworks reported in May 2018.
“The figure is the lowest in seven seasons and the third-worst winter in 18 years. A skier visit is calculated by the purchase of a lift ticket or use of a pass for one day or part of a day.”
Shown here: Skier visits reported to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources by Okemo/MSR in the Annual Operating Plan, dated May 15, 2018.
More boat trailer parking coming to Mount Sunapee State Park
The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation plans to increase the number of boat trailer parking from 12 to 22 spaces at the Mount Sunapee State Park beach.
According to the NH Parks media notice, tree clearing for the project, along the Sunapee Beach Access Road will begin this winter and construction will begin in the spring.
The project worksheet and letter to the Newbury Select Board are posted on the NH Parks website:
And you will find this project on the Newbury Planning Board agenda for February 18, 2020.
FOMS “Everlasting Forests” to be held in Claremont and Goshen
Click above to view and download.
Did you know that Mount Sunapee State Park is the home to a rare and old forest that’s earned the state’s designation of “exemplary”?
Friends of Mount Sunapee will present “Everlasting Forests: The Mount Sunapee Story” on Wednesday, February 19, in Claremont (at the Claremont MakerSpace, 46 Main Street) and on Wednesday, February 26, in Goshen (at the Brook Road Inn, 1171 Brook Road).
Hosted by the Sullivan County Conservation District, the programs start at 6:30 p.m. and are open to the public free of charge.
Visit and share the event on Facebook:
- Wednesday, February 19th at the Claremont MakerSpace in Claremont via
www.facebook.com/events/2914063521945205/ - Wednesday, February 26th at the Brook Side Inn in Goshen
www.facebook.com/events/2678764792201706/
“Everlasting Forests” looks at the forest preservation efforts of the early 1900s and its enduring legacy at Mount Sunapee State Park, an exemplary natural community system (ENCS) that includes old-growth and mature forests. The New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau characterizes this forest as the only ENCS of its type in the State.
FOMS seeks permanent protection of Mount Sunapee’s exemplary and old forest.
Old forests represent valuable and endangered ecosystems and are incredibly scarce. They represent less than one-tenth of one percent of New Hampshire forests. Additionally, we’ve learned that Sunapee’s mature trees are critical to the integrity and viability of Mount Sunapee’s old forest. The mature trees buffer and protect the ancient forest and, with time, will acquire old-growth characteristics if left intact.
The program will include a PowerPoint presentation by FOMS president Steve Russell with a discussion to follow. And “Mount Sunapee State Park’s Rare Old Forest” (a FOMS brochure) will be available at the event. Or view and download it here: FOMS old forest brochure 2020Jan (pdf 5 MB).
The Claremont and Goshen programs follow similar presentations held in Bradford, Newbury, and New London. For more information and how you can help, please contact us.
About the Sullivan County Conservation District
Sullivan County Conservation District (SCCD) offers a variety of environmental resources and opportunities to help support Sullivan County schools, teachers, farmers, growers, and organizations & individuals related to conservation of natural resources and agricultural lands and place-based ecology education.
Our goal is to connect residents to our local lands and help each one develop an understanding of the natural ecosystems are a part of, an appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us and the natural resources that sustain us, and foster a sense of place and stewardship ethic.
Website: www.sccdnh.org
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Programs & Events Mailing List: https://mailchi.mp/943d17c2a213/sccdnhprograms